Propeller Blade Type Patents (Class 366/270)
  • Patent number: 11148107
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop a mechanism capable of more effectively performing processing such as emulsification, dispersion, dissolution, atomization, mixing, or stirring on a processing object with fluidity using an atomization device including a rotor-stator type mixer while an inside of a processing tank is maintained in a pressured state, at atmospheric pressure, or in a vacuum state, and occurrence of a negative pressure state on a center side (inner diameter side) of a rotor is actively suppressed or prevented. An atomization device comprises a rotor-stator type mixer in a processing tank. The atomization device performs processing such as emulsification, dispersion, atomization, mixing, or stirring on a processing object with fluidity using the rotor-stator type mixer while an inside of the processing tank is maintained in a pressured state, at atmospheric pressure, or in a vacuum state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Meiji Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keigo Hanyu, Tetsu Kamiya, Masashi Onozato
  • Patent number: 10758876
    Abstract: A stirring tool for a stirrer for stirring a mixture comprises a connecting element for connecting the stirring tool to a stirring drive, drivable about a rotational axis, of the stirrer, a carrier ring, a plurality of stirring spokes disposed between the connecting element and the carrier ring, and at least one stirring boss which projects radially on the carrier ring. Two adjacent stirring spokes are arranged mutually offset in the direction of the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAMIX GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Muhs
  • Patent number: 10751674
    Abstract: The mixing device for mixing a powder with a pressurized gas, comprising a mixing chamber (20) with an inlet area (22), which has at least one inlet opening (24), by way of which powder and/or pressurized gas and/or a mixture thereof may be introduced into the mixing chamber (20), and at least one outlet area (26), which is designed for withdrawing from the mixing chamber (20) a main flow (HR) of a gas or powder or a powder and gas mixture directed along the mixing chamber (20) which essentially extends from the inlet area (22) to the outlet area (26), characterized in that a regulating device (10) is arranged along and/or in continuation of the main flow (HR), regulating the main flow (HR) of the gas or powder or powder and gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FERTON HOLDING S.A.
    Inventor: Marcel Donnet
  • Patent number: 10493413
    Abstract: A stirring tool for a stirrer for stirring a mixture comprises a connecting element for connecting the stirring tool to a stirring drive, drivable about a rotational axis, of the stirrer, a carrier ring, a plurality of stirring spokes disposed between the connecting element and the carrier ring, and at least one stirring boss, which projects radially on the carrier ring, wherein two adjacent stirring spokes are arranged mutually offset in the direction of the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SAMIX GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Muhs
  • Patent number: 10239028
    Abstract: The boundary layer drum mixer is an apparatus which can pass through the narrow top port of a standard chemical drum or bulk container without the need to disassemble any part of the mixer or the vessel. The invention is an enclosed system with an internal arrangement of impellers and stators which draw liquid-based media from the adjacent vessel and strategically distributes it throughout the vessel through an array of outlet ports. The strategic mixing requires low energy input, minimizes the risk of media aeration and works with a wide range of fluid levels. The apparatus imparts no net external torque, and therefore, requires no rigid mounting. The upper impeller flow positively entrains particles or liquid phases that tend to float. The lower impeller flow positively entrains particles or liquid phases that tend to sink and/or remain static in boundary layers against or near the vessel walls and base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventors: Jonathan William Smith, Matthew William Smith, Hugh Hunter Chant
  • Patent number: 9808780
    Abstract: A system for mixing content of a container comprises a container includes an interior mixing element, an exterior drive system and a mixing device comprising an exterior bearing for coupling the exterior drive system to the interior mixing element of the container. The exterior bearing provides a driven non-rotating, nutating motion that drives the interior mixing element of the container so that it performs a mixing motion inside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SARTORIUS STEDIM NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan Cutting
  • Patent number: 9541061
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade (60) damped by viscoelastic material (54, 54A-F) sandwiched between stiffer load-bearing sublayers (52A, 52B, 56A, 56B) in portions of the blade effective to damp oscillations (38) of the blade. The viscoelastic material may be located in one or more of: a forward portion (54A) of the shell, an aft portion (54D) of the shell, pressure and suction side end caps (54B) of an internal spar, internal webbing walls (54C, 54E), and a trailing edge core (54F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sievers, Justin L. Mullings
  • Patent number: 9393534
    Abstract: The invention relates to a horizontal agitator for producing a substantially horizontal flow in a wastewater treatment tank, a propeller being installed on a polygonal shaft driven by means of a submersible motor, wherein the propeller is produced form a first material, which is formed from a polymer reinforced with first fibers, and as hub has a sleeve which corresponds to the outer shape of the polygonal shaft and which is produced from a second material which is different from the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: INVENT UMWELT-UND VERFANRENSTECHNIK AG
    Inventors: Marcus Hoefken, Thomas Hagspiel
  • Patent number: 9289733
    Abstract: A mixing system for mixing fluids or the like in a mixing vessel. The mixing system includes a fixed conduit connected to the top portion of the vessel extends into the vessel. The system also has a rotating shaft having disposed within the fixed conduit that rotates within the fixed conduit while the mixing system is in operation. An impeller is attached to the rotating shaft. The impeller blade has a flat central disk portion, at least a pair of extensions extending from a central disk portion, and at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the disk portion. Each leading edge spans from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge has at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve. Each leading edge forms an increasing radius spiral edge surface in between the extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SPX FLOW, INC.
    Inventors: James Maxon, Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 9284586
    Abstract: Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Patent number: 9010991
    Abstract: A mixer system includes a mixing chamber with a drive panel, open top, discharge opening in a side of the mixing chamber, and door configured to open and close the discharge opening. A first mixing auger is disposed inside the mixing chamber, and a first auger drive is disposed on another side of the drive panel and connected to the first auger through the drive panel and connected to a driveline. A second mixing auger is disposed inside the mixing chamber on the first side of the drive panel, and another auger drive is connected to the second auger through the drive panel. A clutch is connected between the second auger drive and the driveline and configured to mechanically connect and disconnect the second auger drive from the driveline based on an input. A method of sequentially starting different augers within a mixing chamber is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kuhn North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude McFarlane, Chris Albright, William Bassett
  • Patent number: 8967763
    Abstract: A liquid containing chamber that supplies liquid to a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first liquid container that is capable of containing the liquid and has a vertically long shape in a mounted position when mounted in the liquid ejecting apparatus, a first projection provided in the first liquid container and a first stirring member supported by the first projection, wherein when the first liquid container in the mounted position is divided into an upper container which is located above the first projection and a lower container which is located below the upper container, the lower container contains the liquid and the upper container contains the liquid and a predetermined amount of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 8939637
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and pumping manure slurry from a manure pit comprises a pump unit having first and second mixing rotors and a pumping rotor. In operation, the first mixing rotor draws solids downwardly towards the pump unit while the second mixing rotor redirect a portion of the solids drawn by the first mixing rotor away from the pump unit, thereby allowing to control the ration of solid contents in the slurry pumped by the pumping rotor. A non-diverted flow distribution arrangement is also provided for selectively connecting the pump outlet in straight-through flow connection with either a drainage pipe or a re-circulation pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Marcel Depault
  • Publication number: 20140349379
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispersing and entraining and controlling the residence time, absorption and release of gas bubbles or particles in a fluid without losing gas utilization efficiency from escaping surface gas events. A mechanical, rotating plurality of hollowed blades that induce both an axial and radial controlled circulatory flow and provide a means of gas introduction into the discharge flow that has a conical helical, axial and radial outward flow from the axis of rotation and allows entrained gas bubbles to be trapped as particles and recirculated by means of a circulatory flow back into the intake vortex of said mechanical, rotating plurality of blades. The flow is characterized by a forced intake vortex caused by a low pressure zone with a radial component, and subsequent axial component drawing fluid in a circular fashion toward the eye of the rotating device and impelling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Carl Roy Bachellier
  • Publication number: 20140313852
    Abstract: Disclosed is an agitator having a drive unit coupled by means of a coupling to a first end of a drive shaft, a propeller attached to a second end of the drive shaft, the drive unit being attached to a mounting flange adapted for fastening the agitator to a wall of a mixing vessel, the agitator further comprising a support housing having at least a tubular support frame with a first end and a second end, the first end of the tubular support frame being attached to the mounting flange, the second end of the tubular support frame being provided with a support bearing for supporting the second end of the drive shaft, wherein a shaft seal is arranged at the first end of the tubular support frame and sealing means is arranged in connection with the second end of both the drive shaft and the tubular support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventor: Ottelin Juha
  • Patent number: 8851457
    Abstract: A low-turbulent aspirating type aerator, introduced into a body of liquid, comprising of: a gas conveyance tube having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end; a gas-liquid mixture chamber incorporating; an impeller affixed to a rotatable shaft, at the least one gas intake opening and at the least one gas-liquid discharge opening at or near bottom end of gas-liquid mixture chamber. Rotation of the impeller creates a low-pressure zone (vacuum) allowing gas conveyed via gas conveyance tube to come into contact with rotating impeller forming a gas-liquid mixture at the impeller interface wherein bubbles are formed. Gas-liquid mixture chamber confines gas bubbles thereby allowing the action of impeller and liquid shearing force to produce and discharge micro-sized gas bubbles of predominantly less than 0.85 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Ladouceur
  • Patent number: 8764278
    Abstract: A mixer assembly comprises a motor, a motor shaft, a propeller connected to the motor shaft and in operation driven by the motor in a first direction of rotation about a propeller axis, the propeller fully submersed in liquid during operation and in rotation generating liquid flow from a suction side to a pressure side of the propeller. Flow control vanes are arranged on the suction side of the propeller, and oriented in an axial plane to deflect the liquid from substantially axial flow into a flow containing a circumferential component of direction which is opposed to the direction of rotation of the propeller. A method for providing axial liquid flow from a mixer propeller that is fully submerged in liquid during operation comprises the steps of applying flow control on the suction side of the mixer propeller through the arrangement of flow control vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xylem IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Johan Fondelius
  • Patent number: 8716009
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is dispersed in a liquid medium and then saccharified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Patent number: 8697761
    Abstract: There are disclosed a regenerated rubber, a method and apparatus for obtaining regenerated rubbers from vulcanized crumb rubber, such as rubber from scrap. The apparatus is a thermokinetic mixer having the particularity to have an air tight stationary chamber with inner non-uniform surface. The method comprises the steps of raising the speed of the rotor shaft in order to increase a temperature of a mixture made of vulcanized crumb rubber and a lubricant, such as oil, until a devulcanizing temperature is reached; and reducing the temperature of the mixture to a lower temperature during a second period of time. The method of the invention is environmentally friendly or “green”, since the regeneration method does not use chemicals, includes a shorter period of treatment at higher temperature avoiding the risks of rubber cracking and spontaneous combustion, and further allowing mass-production of regenerated rubber with lower energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Phoenix Innovation Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain Martel, Stephen Murphy, Patrick Legault
  • Patent number: 8684590
    Abstract: A device for mixing powder of the like with a liquid, the device including both a dispersion tube having its bottom portion open and designed to be in the liquid and having a delivery orifice for powder or the like in its top portion, and a mixer located in the dispersion tube and including a first rotary stirrer disposed in the vicinity of the bottom end of the dispersion tube and suitable for creating a first downward stream in the dispersion tube. The mixer further includes a second rotary stirrer disposed between the delivery orifice for powder or the like and the first rotary stirrer, and suitable for creating a second downward stream in the dispersion tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sodimate
    Inventors: Carlo Giangrande, Francois-Eudes Lefevre
  • Patent number: 8669099
    Abstract: Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Patent number: 8641266
    Abstract: A novel apparatus is disclosed which comprises: (a) pumping means for injecting a fluid through a conduit means into an inlet pipe of a fluid mixing tank, (b) said fluid mixing tank comprising a plurality of compartments connected in series and in fluid communication with adjacent compartments in the series, and designed to provide for a horizontal flow of fluids from the first compartment to the last compartment in the series, (c) at least one compartment being equipped with one or more radial-flow impellers connected to a vertical shaft, and means for rotating such impellers at a rate designed to stir the contents of the compartment radially with high shear and prevent fluid stagnation, (d) at least one compartment being equipped with one or more axial flow impellers connected to a vertical shaft, and means for rotating such impellers at a rate designed to circulate the contents of the compartment vertically, (e) the inlet pipe being designed to introduce fluids into the first compartment, and (f) a means
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: William Ray McIntire
  • Patent number: 8485716
    Abstract: An agitation apparatus and an agitation method that ensure rapid and homogeneous agitation/mixing of fluids with a wide spectrum of viscosities from low to high levels and fluids with high thixotropy throughout an agitation vessel are provided. In an agitation apparatus, a lowest upper agitation blade is arranged to be vertically adjacent to a lower blade. As viewed from above, a line on a plane connecting a lower end portion of the lowest upper agitation blade to the center of an agitation shaft is arranged by a predetermined angle with respect to the center line of the lower blade in a blade radial direction. As viewed from the side, a horizontal cross section including the lower end portion of the lowest upper agitation blade is located below a horizontal cross section including an upper end portion of the lower blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: DIC Corporation
    Inventor: Haruhisa Handa
  • Patent number: 8444823
    Abstract: A method of mixing paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes: (a) feeding liquid and feeding paper pulp into a vessel to form a mixture; (b) providing at least one counterflow impeller that is submerged in the mixture, the counterflow impeller being capable of simultaneously inducing both upward flow and downward flow; (c) rotating the counterflow impeller such that downward flow from the impeller is partially recirculated by upward flow from the impeller to form a mixing zone; (d) sensing a parameter of the mixture discharged from the vessel; and (e) controlling the feed rate of the liquid and the feed rate of the paper pulp in the feeding step (a) based on the sensing step (d). An apparatus for mixing of paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes a vessel for containing liquid and paper pulp, at least one counterflow impeller, and a feedback system for controlling outlet consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wojciech Roman Wyczalkowski, Todd Michael Hutchinson, Marc Robards Moseley
  • Patent number: 8425109
    Abstract: A device and method prevents freeze over of a fishing hole cut through a layer of ice overlying a body of water. The device has a housing; a motor; at least one water inlet in the housing; at least one water outlet in the housing; and at least one water-moving element driven by the motor and moving water out of the at least one water outlet. The device may spin within the hole and stir water to prevent too rapid ice buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel V. Foss
  • Patent number: 8371742
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and mixing materials includes a horizontally disposed container supported by a trailer, a motor mounted on the outside of the container, a shaft coupled to the motor and horizontally disposed in the container, and a mixing pedal coupled to the shaft and horizontally disposed in the container. The apparatus may include adjustably angled mixing pedals, and also adjustably angled fins. The apparatus may include a second chamber in the container including a second motor, a second shaft and a second mixing pedal. The apparatus may include a centrifugal pump for moving fluids into and out of the two chambers, as well as between the two chambers. The centrifugal pump may also power the two motors hydraulically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel A. Doron, Leo S. Doron
  • Patent number: 8328412
    Abstract: An impeller, a system for mixing a fluid, and a method of mixing a fluid in a tank are disclosed. For a sufficiently small impeller diameter and maximum blade tip velocity, the disclosed impeller, system, and method are capable of accelerating a near-zero intake velocity fluid, to generate a mixing zone that is collimated enough to have sufficient velocity vectors to suspend particles at a large distance away from the impeller, while minimizing the required power draw. An impeller may include a hub defining a longitudinal axis and plural blades spaced circumferentially about the hub. Each blade may include a root portion and a tip portion. Each blade may define a leading edge having an approximately circular raked helical geometry. A system for mixing a fluid may include a tank for containing the fluid, a drive shaft for extending into the tank, and the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert W. Higbee
  • Patent number: 8277114
    Abstract: An impeller assembly includes a shaft, multiple scoops spaced circumferentially about the shaft, each scoop including an upper blade portion and a lower blade portion, spaced apart at the leading edges and joined at the inner edges, and a rib extending rearward from the inner edges, each scoop being coupled to the shaft by attachment at the rib. A system and method for mixing gas or liquid into liquid include a vessel for containing liquid, a drive shaft for extending into the vessel, and an impeller assembly adapted for rotating about the drive shaft, adapted for submerging below the liquid surface, and having multiple scoops, each scoop including an upper blade portion and a lower blade portion, spaced apart at the leading edges and joined at the inner edges, and a rib extending rearward from the inner edges, each scoop being coupled to the shaft by attachment at the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert W. Higbee, Wojciech R. Wyczalkowski, Todd Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 8235577
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coating particulate material are provided. The apparatus includes a vessel having a top and a bottom, a vertically extending conduit having an inlet in the vessel and an outlet outside of the vessel, a first fluid inlet in the bottom of the vessel for introducing a transfer fluid, a second fluid inlet in the bottom of the vessel for introducing a coating fluid, and a fluid outlet from the vessel. The method includes steps of agitating a material, contacting the material with a coating material, and drying the coating material to produce a coated material. The invention may be adapted to coat aerogel beads, among other materials. A coated aerogel bead and an aerogel-based insulation material are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Howard Littman, Joel L. Plawsky, John D. Paccione
  • Publication number: 20120189746
    Abstract: A stirring assembly, including a vessel and a stirring apparatus. The vessel includes a baffle plate fixed to an interior wall of the vessel. The stirring apparatus, includes: a lid assembly including a variable speed motor, the lid assembly removeably securable to the vessel; a shaft connected to the motor and extending into an interior space of the vessel; and a single scrapper attached to a distal end of the shaft, extending radially outward from the shaft, and in contact with a bottom interior surface of the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy DeLong
  • Publication number: 20120188843
    Abstract: An axially operating stirring element, preferably a propeller manufactured from sheet metal, having propeller blades arranged radially around an axis (A) and in which at least one propeller blade has a sharpened edge on the discharge or trailing edge side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf HAHN, Thomas PENSLER, Peer SPRINGER
  • Publication number: 20120091035
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks are processed to produce useful intermediates or products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can process a petroleum-containing feedstock, such as oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, and other naturally-occurring and synthetic materials that include both hydrocarbon components and solid matter, to obtain a useful intermediate or product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Patent number: 8100577
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for blending a predetermined fluid with a main fluid wherein a source of a predetermined fluid is mixed with a main fluid. The predetermined fluid flows through an inlet of a positive displacement pump assembly and transferred to a mixing chamber through an outlet of the positive displacement pump assembly. A turbine blade assembly located within the mixing chamber is used to mix a main fluid flowing into the mixing chamber with the predetermined fluid for eventual dispensing through an outlet in the mixing chamber when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Jose Elias Sardina, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8057091
    Abstract: Circulation systems for ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water using a flotation platform, dish, and impeller. One embodiment has a connecting arrangement between the drive motor and the impeller that permits the two to be easily and quickly coupled and uncoupled. The connecting arrangement also is designed to accommodate slight misalignments between the shafts. An arrangement to adjust and calibrate the depth of the inlet to the draft tube is disclosed. The system further includes solar panels that can be pivotally swung outwardly to open positions, angularly adjusted about a horizontal axis, and mounted to face toward the central axis of the flotation platform rather than away from it. Arrangements are further provided to monitor and control the components of the system including remotely from shore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Willard R. Tormaschy, Gary A. Kudrna, Tait J. Obritsch, Joel J. Bleth, Corey M. Simnioniw
  • Publication number: 20110261643
    Abstract: An agitation apparatus and an agitation method that ensure rapid and homogeneous agitation/mixing of fluids with a wide spectrum of viscosities from low to high levels and fluids with high thixotropy throughout an agitation vessel are provided. In an agitation apparatus, a lowest upper agitation blade is arranged to be vertically adjacent to a lower blade. As viewed from above, a line on a plane connecting a lower end portion of the lowest upper agitation blade to the center of an agitation shaft is arranged by a predetermined angle with respect to the center line of the lower blade in a blade radial direction. As viewed from the side, a horizontal cross section including the lower end portion of the lowest upper agitation blade is located below a horizontal cross section including an upper end portion of the lower blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: DIC Corporation
    Inventor: Haruhisa Handa
  • Publication number: 20110211421
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and mixing materials includes a horizontally disposed container supported by a trailer, a motor mounted on the outside of the container, a shaft coupled to the motor and horizontally disposed in the container, and a mixing pedal coupled to the shaft and horizontally disposed in the container. The apparatus may include adjustably angled mixing pedals, and also adjustably angled fins. The apparatus may include a second chamber in the container including a second motor, a second shaft and a second mixing pedal. The apparatus may include a centrifugal pump for moving fluids into and out of the two chambers, as well as between the two chambers. The centrifugal pump may also power the two motors hydraulically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel A. Doron, Leo S. Doron
  • Publication number: 20110085945
    Abstract: A mixing unit, a mixing device, an agitation impeller and a pump mixer can mix a large amount of fluid while having significant mixing effects in a small space. There are also provided a mixing system that uses the pump mixer and achieves a continuous operation and a reaction device that uses the mixing unit and achieves an efficient operation. The mixing unit (1) includes: a stacked member (2) in which a plurality of mixing elements (21) are stacked; and a first plate (3) and a second plate (4) between which the stacked member (2) is sandwiched and which are arranged opposite each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: ISEL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noboru Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20090238032
    Abstract: A mixer system includes a mixing chamber with a drive panel, open top, discharge opening in a side of the mixing chamber, and door configured to open and close the discharge opening. A first mixing auger is disposed inside the mixing chamber, and a first auger drive is disposed on another side of the drive panel and connected to the first auger through the drive panel and connected to a driveline. A second mixing auger is disposed inside the mixing chamber on the first side of the drive panel, and another auger drive is connected to the second auger through the drive panel. A clutch is connected between the second auger drive and the driveline and configured to mechanically connect and disconnect the second auger drive from the driveline based on an input. A method of sequentially starting different augers within a mixing chamber is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Kuhn North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude MCFARLANE, Chris Albright, William Bassett
  • Publication number: 20090134083
    Abstract: A circulation system for bodies of water. In one set of embodiments for larger bodies of water, modified horizontal plate designs are provided at the entrance of the draft hose. The plate designs have sections that pivot downwardly as the flotation platform and depending draft hose are rapidly raised in high wave conditions to let the water escape downwardly out of the hose. Adaptations to the floats for the elongated arms of the platform are also made to essentially eliminate the creation of any damaging torques on them from high waves. Another set of embodiments are particularly adapted for smaller systems in municipal water tanks for thorough mixing of the water and treatment to kill undesirable ammonia oxidizing bacteria and prevent or at least inhibit their return.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Medora Environmental, Inc., a North Dakota corporation
    Inventors: Willard R. Tormaschy, Gary A. Kudrna, Tait J. Obritsch, Corey M. Simnioniw, Joel J. Bleth, Lawrence John Weber, Jonathan L. Zent, Ronald J. Crail
  • Publication number: 20090016153
    Abstract: An improved fluid mixing apparatus is disclosed for the mechanical mixing of fluids or solids-laden slurries contained within a vessel. The invention utilizes a fluid driven turbine to drive a submerged mixing impeller through a speed reducing gearbox. A fluid conducting stator houses one or more turbine blade row(s) that are rotated as a working fluid is pumped through the turbine section by an external pump that circulates fluid at the required flow rate and head. The turbine shaft is rigidly connected to the high speed input shaft of a speed reducing gear box. The low speed output of the gearbox is rigidly attached to submerged mixing impeller(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Michael R. Morgenthaler
  • Patent number: 7473025
    Abstract: An impeller blade has a flat central disk portion, at least a pair of extensions extending from a central disk portion, and at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the disk portion. Each leading edge spans from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge has at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve. Each leading edge forms an increasing radius spiral edge surface in between the extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 7331704
    Abstract: A method for suspending settled solids in a liquid using a mixing assembly having a mixing vessel, draft tube disposed within the mixing vessel and an impeller disposed within the draft tube. The method includes rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction for a first period of time so as to cause the liquid to flow in a first axial direction. The method also includes rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction so as to cause the liquid to flow in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Howk, Michael Giralico
  • Publication number: 20080025144
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus has a vessel for containing material to be mixed has an inlet and a outlet and a driven impeller shaft inside the vessel. A first axial direction impeller is at a first axial position on the shaft; and a second axial direction impeller at a second axial location on the shaft. The first and second impellers are configured to pump in opposite directions from each other so that material is between is pumped between the impellers towards the other impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Tony Kocienski, Steve Markle, Ron Metz
  • Patent number: 7201884
    Abstract: An improved process, such as a microbiological or enzymatic process, and apparatus, such as an apparatus for producing a cellular product, comprising introducing a gaseous feed stream of at least one gas of low solubility into an aqueous medium containing a microorganism capable of converting said gaseous feed stream to a cellular product, entraining the gas in the aqueous medium, stirring the gas-entrained aqueous medium so that the gas is retained within the reactor for a time sufficient for the microorganism to convert the majority of the gas to product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Cohen
  • Patent number: 7172337
    Abstract: One or more mixing impellers is carried on a driving shaft received in a mixing vessel. Impeller blades are angularly and/or axially distributed on the shaft and can be single staggered axially-spaced blades or groups of two or more placed angularly around the shaft, e.g., diametrically opposite. Each blade has a radially inner flat plate sloped to produce axial flow, preferably at about 15° from parallel to the rotation axis. An outer plate is joined to the inner plate at a bend line with an angle of about 20° located at about 70% of the outside diameter of the impeller path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, a division of Philadelphia Gear Corporation
    Inventors: Janusz Roszczenko, Wojciech Wyczalkowski
  • Patent number: 7168849
    Abstract: An agitation system for producing a slurry, mixture, or solution from addition of dry solids to a liquid is provided. A first tank has a first longitudinal axis, a static liquid level, a dynamic liquid level, and a holdup. A solid inlet is configured to feed dry solids into the first tank. A first drive shaft is disposed in the first tank generally along the first longitudinal axis and a first impeller is attached to the first drive shaft at a first location. The first impeller is configured to pump material in a generally upward direction. A second tank having a second longitudinal axis is in fluid communication with the first tank. A second drive shaft is disposed in the second tank generally along the second longitudinal axis and a second impeller is attached to the second drive shaft at a first location and a third impeller is attached to the second drive shaft at a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel M. Adams
  • Patent number: 7168848
    Abstract: An impeller apparatus for use with a magnetically coupled mixer includes in one embodiment an axial-pumping impeller spaced axially apart from a driven magnet by a shaft. In another embodiment the impeller apparatus includes an up-pumping impeller spaced axially apart from a magnetic element by a shaft, the magnetic element cooperates with a superconducting element for levitating the impeller apparatus away from the bottom of the tank and cooperates with a motive device to rotate the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Richard Howk
  • Patent number: 7127919
    Abstract: The level of precious-metal inclusions in glass products, e.g., glass substrates for liquid crystal displays, is reduced by stirring molten glass in a stir chamber (11) under conditions such that the magnitude of the shear stress ? on the chamber's wall (19) and on the surfaces of the stirrer (13) is reduced while at the same time, the Q•E product for the system is kept high, where Q is the flow of glass through the stirring system and E is the system's stirring effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Martin H. Goller, James P. Murphy, Daniel A. Nolet, Robert R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6964511
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus including a frame, a housing, and a pair of thrust generators are disclosed. The housing is pivotably mounted to the frame and is movable between a retracted position substantially parallel with the frame and an extended position substantially perpendicular to the frame. The thrust generators are opposingly mounted to the housing and face opposite directions both when the housing is in the retracted position and when the housing is in the extended position. Various mixing and disposal methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: The Maitland Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Rumph
  • Publication number: 20040095842
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for mass transfer of gas or other fluids into a liquid and/or liquid suspension. The present invention is preferably used in conjunction with waste treatment processes and/or fermentation processes that are commonly carried out in a mixing vessel. In such an arrangement, the mass transfer process is utilized to contact air to liquid in a mixing vessel or aeration basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald J. Weetman