Fluid mixing device

Claim 2

A mixing device for stirring and blending fluids, comprising a disc-like impeller having a multiplicity of blades integrally formed for mounting upon a rotatable shaft defined by a vertical shaft axis, each of said blades extending radially outwardly along a radial axis which is substantially perpendicular with respect to said shaft axis, means defining a hub portion of said impeller for affixing the impeller to said rotatable shaft, means defining a substantially elliptical hole in each of said blades for allowing fluid flow-through as each blade attacks the fluid, each of said blades having a 15°±2° angle of attack with respect to said fluid and said radial axis, each blade further having a forward, circumferential edge which is rounded and a trailing circumferential edge which is terminated in a beveled cut with respect to said radial axis, and wherein said beveled cut allows said trailing circumferential edge to rest flush on a bottom wall of a container housing said fluid to be mixed.

Claim 3

The mixing device of claim 1, wherein each beveled cut in angled at approximately 15°±2° with respect to said angle of attack.

Claim 4

The mixing device of claim 1, wherein said disc-like impeller has five blades.

Claim 5

The mixing device of claim 1, wherein there are two spaced-apart, disc-like impellers mounted upon said shaft.

Claim 6

The mixing device of claim 4, wherein said two impellers are separated upon said shaft in a range from approximately 4 to 5 inches.

Claim 7

The mixing device of claim 1, wherein said disc-like impeller comprises polypropylene.

Claim 8

The mixing device of claim 1, wherein said disc-like impeller comprises non-porous plastic.

Claim 9

The mixing device of claim 1, wherein each elliptical hole is disposed in a mid-portion of each respective blade.

Claim 10

The mixing device of claim 1, wherein each of said forward, circumferential edges provide streamlining to allow said fluid to flow more easily past each respective blade, and furthermore, to prevent blade penetration into a container wall.

Claim 11

The mixing device of claim 9, wherein said forward circumferential edges have a radius of approximately 0.32 to 0.35 R, where R is the radius of the entire disc-like impeller.

Claim 12

A mixing device for stirring and blending fluids, comprising two spaced-apart, disc-like impellers having a multiplicity of blades integrally formed for mounting upon a rotatable shaft defined by a vertical shaft axis, each of said blades of each impeller extending radially outwardly along a radial axis which is substantially perpendicular with respect to said shaft axis, means defining a hub portion of said impeller for affixing the impeller to said rotatable shaft, means defining a substantially elliptical hole in each of said blades for allowing fluid flow-through as each blade attacks the fluid, each of said blades having a 15°±2° angle of attack with respect to said fluid and said radial axis, each blade further having a forward circumferential edge which is rounded and a trailing circumferential edge which is terminated in a beveled cut with respect to said radial axis, and wherein said beveled cut allows said trailing circumferential edge to rest flush on a bottom wall of a container housing said fluid to be mixed.

Claim 13

A mixing device for stirring and blending fluids, comprising two spaced-apart, disc-like impellers having a multiplicity of blades integrally formed for mounting upon a rotatable shaft defined by a vertical shaft axis, each of said blades of each impeller extending radially outwardly along a radial axis which is substantially perpendicular with respect to said shaft axis, means defining a hub portion of said impeller for affixing the impeller to said rotatable shaft, means defining a substantially elliptical hole in each of said blades for allowing fluid flow-through as each blade attacks the fluid, each of said blades having a 15°±2° angle of attack with respect to said fluid and said radial axis, each blade further having a forward circumferential edge which is rounded and a trailing circumferential edge which is terminated in a beveled cut with respect to said radial axis, and wherein said beveled cut allows said trailing circumferential edge to rest flush on a bottom wall of a container housing said fluid to be mixed.