Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for mixing viscous materials comprising: a container; a pair of spaced-apart shafts pivotably disposed through said container, and defining a zone of interaction between the axes of said shafts; a plurality of double-wedge working tools each comprising two substantially triangular planes inclined relative to each other and connected at one edge thereof, said working tools being connected to the periphery of each shaft in spaced-apart relationship so as to overlap in the zone of interation; drive means coupled to each of said shafts for moving the shafts and the working tools oppositely with respect to each other so that adjacent working tools of the shafts co-act in mixing the viscous material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for mixing viscous materials comprising: a container; a pair of spaced-apart shafts pivotably disposed through said container, and defining a zone of interaction between the axes of said shafts; a plurality of double-wedge working tools each comprising two substantially triangular planes inclined relative to each other and connected at one edge thereof, said working tools being connected to the periphery of each shaft in spaced-apart relationship so as to overlap in the zone of interation; drive means coupled to each of said shafts for moving the shafts and the working tools oppositely with respect to each other so that adjacent working tools of the shafts co-act in mixing the viscous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said container comprises two cylindrically shaped chambers which intersect between the axes of said shafts to form the bottom thereof, the axes of said shafts being disposed along the axes of said intersected cylinders, said chambers including two flat walls at the ends thereof, and a lateral opening on the top surface thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said container has flat end walls, and said working tools comprise a first plurality of said working tools having said two triangular planes having said one edge pointing in the direction of rotation, and single wedges having a flat profile and mounted on said shafts adjacent to the flat end walls of said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the open side of said chamber includes a cover and a plurality of clamps for sealing the cover to said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises a motor coupled to one of said shafts for rotating said shaft in one direction, and a gear drive coupled to the other shaft for rotating said other shaft at the same speed in an opposite direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said shafts are parallel to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said working tools rotate in a direction to urge the viscous material into the bottom of the container before dividing the material into two paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 additionally comprising means for pivoting said container on the axis of one of said shafts so that its contents can be emptied from its top opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said pivoting means comprises a hydraulic cylinder coupled to said container, and a hydraulic pump connected to said cylinder for activating said cylinder to pivot said container.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
215 words
A method of mixing viscous, shear sensitive materials in a double mixing container comprising the steps of: interacting the material between a pair of oppositely driven shafts in the mixing container, with working tools so that mechanical forces are applied through these working tools to move individual particles and layers of material, in oblique directions, the resultant force having component forces exerted in directions circularly, laterally, and toward the center of the container; randomly dividing the individual particles by means of the working tool and imparting varying velocity and velocity paths to the particles so as to promote constant and positive recirculation of all particles of the batch; radially inverting the individual particles of the material so as to change its direction, path of travel and velocity so that mechanical shear forces imparted by the working tool, as well as hydraulic shear forces created by the particles of the material slipping on each other by their different velocities, are averaged over an extremely short period of time; averaging and making uniform the shear stresses resulting from the mechanical and hydraulic shear forces, for each particle, whereby as a result of the uniform work input, uniform temperature gradient, uniform shear stress, a uniform and predictable viscosity throughout the complete batch of shear sensitive material is provided.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
215 words
A method of mixing viscous, shear sensitive materials in a double mixing container comprising the steps of: interacting the material between a pair of oppositely driven shafts in the mixing container, with working tools so that mechanical forces are applied through these working tools to move individual particles and layers of material, in oblique directions, the resultant force having component forces exerted in directions circularly, laterally, and toward the center of the container; randomly dividing the individual particles by means of the working tool and imparting varying velocity and velocity paths to the particles so as to promote constant and positive recirculation of all particles of the batch; radially inverting the individual particles of the material so as to change its direction, path of travel and velocity so that mechanical shear forces imparted by the working tool, as well as hydraulic shear forces created by the particles of the material slipping on each other by their different velocities, are averaged over an extremely short period of time; averaging and making uniform the shear stresses resulting from the mechanical and hydraulic shear forces, for each particle, whereby as a result of the uniform work input, uniform temperature gradient, uniform shear stress, a uniform and predictable viscosity throughout the complete batch of shear sensitive material is provided.