Abstract:
An improved magnetic drive for a mixing system and method, wherein stagnation or collection of material in the region of the containment shell and any magnetic rotor are alleviated by the provision of pitched blades provided as radially extending spokes in the inner magnetic rotor. This bladed rotor design may be particularly advantageous in the case of a side entry mixer.
Abstract:
A system for automatically centering and rigidly retaining a mixer shaft in a mixer drive. A hollow quill in a mixer drive is provided with an axial bore having a first diameter along a central portion thereof and tapering linearly and axially in opposite directions away from the central portion with increasing diameter to define a pair of opposed conical portions of the axial bore on either side of the central bore. A smooth-surface cylindrical mixer shaft inserted into the bore is retained by the tightening of upper and lower tapered cylindrical locks which are slidable along the mixer shaft and have conical outer surfaces which are matable with the upper and lower conical portions of the quill bore. The locks, when urged into wedged relationship between the shaft and the quill bore, automatically center the shaft in the quill in rigid retention. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a thrust plate secured by throughbolts into the quill to press the upper lock into locking relationship. At the lower end of the quill, a bearing retainer ring threaded onto the outer surface of the quill is bored to receive bolts extending through a flange on the lower lock to press the lower lock into locking relationship. The rigidity of the lock increases the first critical frequency of the mixer system and therefore permits operation at high speeds, including rotational frequencies greater than the first critical (natural) frequency of the mixer system.
Abstract:
A mixer assembly including a driven hollow quill having first and second conical portions in an axial bore and being adapted to receive and mate with a mixer shaft assembly including a mixer shaft having a conical chamfer to mate with the first conical portion and a quill shaft disposed on and removable from the end of the mixer shaft. The quill shaft has a threaded aperture which cooperates with a jack screw rotatably mounted within the quill bore to draw the conical chamfer into preloaded centered relationship with the first conical portion of the quill bore. A tapered sleeve lodged between the mixer shaft and the second conical portion of the quill bore distributes radial loads on the shaft over a large area of the quill, thereby preventing damage to the shaft and quill. A seal assembly on the mixer shaft isolates the housing from the interior of the vessel. The seal is readily removed for replacement. First, the tapered sleeve is released from the second conical portion. Then the jack screw is rotated to drive the mixer shaft assembly axially from the quill bore. When the mixer shaft is free of the seal assembly, the shaft is secured to the vessel wall. The quill shaft is disconnected from the mixer shaft, and the jack screw is counter-rotated to withdraw the quill shaft from the seal assembly, permitting the seal assembly to be removed in a radial direction from the mixer assembly.
Abstract:
A mixing apparatus and system includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a respective hinge for each blade to pivotally secure each blade to the hub. Each hinge including a lock having a tab and a detent to secure the respective blade in an operating conformation.
Abstract:
A drive mounting apparatus and method for mixing assemblies, such as a side-entry mixer, that can move the drive of a mixer between a closed position and an open position, and by doing so, can provide an access opening through which maintenance operations can be executed inside the mixer. The apparatus has a bearing housing and a pivoting mounting door. The drive is mounted to the pivoting mounting door, and the pivoting mounting door can move between an open and closed position relative to the bearing housing.
Abstract:
A mixer system for aggressive (toxic, hazardous, corrosive, etc.) materials which are mixed (agitated, suspended, circulated, etc.) in a vessel with an impeller connected to a drive shaft has the impeller and its shaft mounted in an assembly which extends through an opening into the tank and closes that opening. The assembly has a cylindrical hub with a passageway through which the shaft extends out of an open end of the hub. Bearings which are made of materials resistant to the aggressive material in the tank are mounted in the hub and journal and support the shaft. The passageway is part of a confinement region which is terminated by a confinement shell which separates inner and outer rotors of a magnet coupling. The inner rotor is connected to the shaft, directly or through a gear train (preferably a planetary gear set). The outer rotor is connected to a drive shaft.
Abstract:
A mixer system for aggressive (toxic, hazardous, corrosive, etc.) materials which are mixed (agitated, suspended, circulated, etc.) in a tank with an impeller connected to a drive shaft has the impeller and its shaft mounted in an assembly which extends through an opening into the tank and closes that opening. The assembly has a cylindrical hub with a passageway through which the shaft extends out of an open end of the hub. Bearings which are made of materials which are resistant to the aggressive material in the tank are mounted in the hub and journal and support the shaft. There are no dynamic seals which close the confinement region so that the aggressive materials can be present therein. In the event that it is desirable that the bearings be replaceable or the confinement region be sterilized, or purged, an expandable elastomeric collar may be disposed either at the end of the hub below the bearings, which may then be mounted in a cartridge in a hub which is removable therefrom, or in a plate spaced from the hub. Purge or pressure release passages may be provided which are opened and through which purging or sterilizing gas is introduced into the confinement region.
Abstract:
Mixing apparatus having a sealed impeller shaft provided by a seal unit which supports the shaft and to which a motor drive unit may be detachably connected. When the motor drive unit is disconnected, the mixing apparatus may be sterilized, along or together with the vessel containing the material to be mixed and to which the seal unit is attached. The seal unit has a seal assembly with a movable part engageable by a drive shaft in the drive unit when the drive unit is mounted on the seal unit. The movable seal part is biased to move to a position against a mounting plate on which the drive unit is mounted when the drive mounted is removed so as to provide a static seal. When the drive unit is attached to the seal unit, the driven shaft engages the moveable seal unit part and moves it to another position away from the mounting plate, where the seal assembly may freely rotate with the impeller shaft and maintain a dynamic seal.