US4483623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic stirring apparatus
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1983-04-15
•
Granted: 1984-11-20
•
Expires: 2003-04-15
Abstract
Abstract An improved magnetic stirring apparatus capable of suspending solids in a liquid medium comprising: a vessel for containing fluids and solids, having walls, a bottom, and an opening; a stirrer having a magnetic impeller and a shaft, a means for rotating the magnetic impeller; and a closure; wherein the improvement is characterized by: (a) the shaft having; (i) an upper portion; and (ii) a narrower lower portion; an upper bearing surface being formed where the lower portion extends outwardly to the upper portion; (b) an elongated shaft support member which (i) is attached to the closure; and (ii) has an aperture dimensioned and configured to receive the lower shaft portion and allow free rotation, opposed aperture margins forming a lower bearing surface; and (c) a sling bearing formed by the upper bearing surface engaging the lower bearing surface in the direction of the vessel bottom, thereby suspending the stirrer.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Eaton
- 👤 William P. Vann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:52
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F33/00; B01F33/45; B01F33/453
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An improved magnetic stirring apparatus capable of suspending solids in a liquid medium comprising: a vessel for containing fluids and solids, having walls, a bottom, and an opening; a suspend stirrer having a magnetic impeller and a shaft, a means for rotating the magnetic impeller; and a closure; wherein the improvement is characterized by: (a) the shaft having; (i) an upper portion having a first diameter; and (ii) a lower portion extending upwardly and outwardly toward said upper portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter; an upper bearing surface being formed where said lower portion extends outwardly to said upper portion; (b) an elongated planar shaft support member having two support ends, an aperture and two opposed aperture margins on either side of said aperture and between said support ends; said support member being attached to the closure at the support ends and projects downwardly thereform, forming a sling; and said aperture being dimensioned and configured between the support ends to receive the lower shaft portion and allow free rotation of said suspended stirrer, said opposed aperture margins forming a lower bearing surface for engaging the upper bearing surface; and (c) a sling bearing formed by the lower bearing surface engaging the upper bearing surface in the direction of the vessel bottom, thereby suspending the stirrer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An improved magnetic stirring apparatus capable of suspending solids in a liquid medium comprising: a vessel for containing fluids and solids, having walls, a bottom, and an opening; a suspend stirrer having a magnetic impeller and a shaft, a means for rotating the magnetic impeller; and a closure; wherein the improvement is characterized by: (a) the shaft having; (i) an upper portion having a first diameter; and (ii) a lower portion extending upwardly and outwardly toward said upper portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter; an upper bearing surface being formed where said lower portion extends outwardly to said upper portion; (b) an elongated planar shaft support member having two support ends, an aperture and two opposed aperture margins on either side of said aperture and between said support ends; said support member being attached to the closure at the support ends and projects downwardly thereform, forming a sling; and said aperture being dimensioned and configured between the support ends to receive the lower shaft portion and allow free rotation of said suspended stirrer, said opposed aperture margins forming a lower bearing surface for engaging the upper bearing surface; and (c) a sling bearing formed by the lower bearing surface engaging the upper bearing surface in the direction of the vessel bottom, thereby suspending the stirrer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces are made of low friction materials.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the closure comprises: (a) a bearing support structure comprising: (i) an annulus about the opening; (ii) a central disc, for attachment of the shaft support to the closure, positioned above the center of the vessel bottom; and (iii) at least two radial arms connecting the annulus with the disc; and (b) a gas-permeable membrane covering the remainder of the closure which is impermeable to cell culture contaminents.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 further characterized by a means for adjusting the bearing height with respect to the vessel walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the liquid medium is stirred at speeds of from about 10-100 revolutions per minute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the impeller has fins vertically oriented to form an angle between the shaft axis and the fin of about 0°-180°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the vessel walls have resealable side ports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the bearing adjustment means comprises: (a) a movable, vertical adjustment member which has external threads; (b) a correspondingly threaded central opening in the closure into which the adjustment member is threaded; and (c) an attachment means which connects the adjustment member to the shaft support; whereby movement of the adjustment member is translated to a movement of the shaft support bearing surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1328652A
Cited
US1504867A
Cited
US2932493A
Cited
US2996363A
Cited
US3572651A
Cited
US3622129A
Cited
US3649465A
Cited
US3744764A
Cited
US3854704A
Cited
US4286885A
Cited
US4382685A
Cited
US4289854A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-11-20 | 1988-05-21 | 1988-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-20 | 1992-05-21 | 1992-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-20 | 1996-05-21 | 1996-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |