Abstract: A reactor system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber, the chamber having a vertically extending central longitudinal axis. A flexible bag is disposed within the chamber of the support housing and has an interior surface bounding a compartment. A mixing element is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag. A drive element, such as a drive shaft, is secured the mixing element, wherein the mixing element is laterally offset from and/or is angled relative to the vertically extending central longitudinal axis of the support housing.

Abstract: a reactor for conducting laboratory reactions comprises includes reaction vessel, a catalyst holder in the reaction vessel, and a drive system configured to drive reciprocating linear movement of the catalyst basket. The catalyst holder can be configured to hold a plurality of catalyst particles so the catalyst particles remain spaced apart from one another. A reactor for conducting laboratory reactions can also include a reaction vessel, an impeller in the reaction vessel, and a drive system configured to drive reciprocating linear movement of the impeller.

Abstract: A clay mixing apparatus includes a mixing chamber, a rotor arranged within the mixing chamber, a drive unit arranged to rotate the rotor, an ejecting unit, a pressure reducing unit; and an exhaust flow path. The rotor includes a shaft rotated by the drive unit, an extruding member and a mixing member. The mixing member includes a plurality of arms and a plurality of blades arranged at tip ends of the arms. The exhaust opening is opposed, in a radial direction about the center axis, to a portion of the mixing member lying near the extruding member and/or a portion of the extruding member lying near the mixing member.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus has a shaft, at least one arm radiating outwardly of the shaft, and a mixing element affixed to the arm away from the shaft. The mixing element has a generally frustoconical member with a wide opening at an end thereof and a narrow opening at an opposite end thereof. The mixing element also includes a throat section of a generally constant diameter connected to the narrow opening of the frustoconical member and a diffuser section having an end affixed to an end of the throat section opposite the frustoconical member. The mixing elements have a longitudinal axis extending at an acute angle to horizontal. A motor is cooperative with the shaft so as to rotate the shaft. Each of the mixing elements includes a Venturi.

Abstract: A kneading apparatus has a pair of rotary shafts mounted to undergo rotation in different directions of rotation and at different rotational speeds from one another. Stirring members are helically arranged on outer peripheries of the rotary shafts at predetermined helical and angular pitches for kneading an object during rotation of the rotary shafts. The helical pitch of the stirring members of one of the rotary shafts has an inverse helix from that of the stirring members of the other rotary shaft. The stirring members have surfaces with a first phase configured to move the kneaded object in a feed direction or a second phase symmetrical to the first phase and configured to move the kneaded object in a direction reverse to the feed direction. The stirring members are arranged so that the first and second phases cyclically repeat in a predetermined sequence in axial directions of the rotary shafts.

Abstract: Stirring apparatuses for stirring molten glass are disclosed. The method includes stirring a molten glass with a stirrer comprising a layer containing at least about 50% iridium. An apparatus comprising an iridium-containing layer is also presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus for stirring molten glass includes a cylinder comprising a bore. A stirrer may be disposed in the bore. The stirrer may include a platinum or platinum alloy shaft coaxial with the cylinder. A plurality of impellers may project radially from the shaft into close proximity of a wall of the cylinder. Each impeller may include an arcuate distal end portion farthest from the shaft. The distal end portion of each impeller consists of iridium or an iridium alloy and the remainder of the impeller consists of platinum or a platinum alloy. The stirring apparatuses reduce metal loss from the refractory metal of the stirring apparatus.

Abstract: Stirring apparatuses for stirring molten glass are disclosed. The method includes stirring a molten glass with a stirrer comprising a layer containing at least about 50% iridium. An apparatus comprising an iridium-containing layer is also presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus for stirring molten glass includes a cylinder comprising a bore. A stirrer may be disposed in the bore. The stirrer may include a platinum or platinum alloy shaft coaxial with the cylinder. A plurality of impellers may project radially from the shaft into close proximity of a wall of the cylinder. Each impeller may include an arcuate distal end portion farthest from the shaft. The distal end portion of each impeller consists of iridium or an iridium alloy and the remainder of the impeller consists of platinum or a platinum alloy. The stirring apparatuses reduce metal loss from the refractory metal of the stirring apparatus.

Abstract: A dynamic mixer includes a housing structure having a mixing chamber, having an inlet opening through which a material or materials to be mixed is passed into the mixing chamber and an outlet. A mixer rod has mixing rod portion disposed in the housing structure and a plurality of mixing paddle portions each having a mixing surface. The mixing rod is adapted for attachment to a drive unit which imparts a rotational mixing force to the rod. In one exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a mixer, the housing structure includes a hollow tubular structure with first and second open ends, a hollow T fitting having a first opening attached to the first end of the hollow tubular structure, a second opening opposed to and in alignment with the first opening and a third opening transverse to the first and second openings, and a coupler fitting attached to the second open end of the tubular structure.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus has a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber, a motor drivingly interconnected to the shaft, a nozzle support affixed to the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom within the chamber, and a nozzle having an interior passageway affixed to the nozzle support such that the nozzle moves in the chamber as the motor drivingly rotates the shaft. The chamber has a multi-phase fluid therein. The nozzle moves through the fluid such that fluid is channeled through the interior passageway at a same rate that the nozzle moves through the fluid. Another nozzle can be affixed to the nozzle support diametrically opposite to the nozzle.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus has a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber, a motor drivingly interconnected to the shaft, a nozzle support affixed to the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom within the chamber, and a nozzle having an interior passageway affixed to the nozzle support such that the nozzle moves in the chamber as the motor drivingly rotates the shaft. The chamber has a multi-phase fluid therein. A flow restrictor is affixed to an inner wall of said chamber so as to extend inwardly therefor. The flow restrictor is a plurality of flat panels arranged in spaced relation around the interior of the chamber and within a liquid phase of the multi-phase fluid.

Abstract: A water treatment system comprising: a container having a first end, a second end and a container wall defining an interior and an exterior; an aerator completely disposed within the interior, the aerator comprising an aerator wall having a plurality of perforations, the aerator configured to rotate in a liquid contained in the interior such that the aerator is partially disposed in the liquid, the aerator configured to aerate the liquid, wherein the plurality of perforations are configured to lift a thin film of the liquid from the container by exploiting the surface tension of the liquid, wherein the thin film bridges the plurality of perforations, and the aerator is configured to create a cascading bubbling turbulent flow in the liquid flowing along the aerator wall, as well as the liquid contained in the container; and a rotary motive force element coupled to and configured to rotate the aerator.

Abstract: A mixing and dispensing apparatus having a lid with an opening extending from a first side to a second side of said lid. A shaft is rotatably positioned through said lid so that a first end of the shaft terminates on the first side of said lid and a second end of the shaft terminates on the second side of the lid. Two or more inner paddles are connected to the shaft and two or more outer paddles are connected to the shaft. The outer paddles extend further away from the shaft than the inner paddles.

Abstract: A mixing and dispensing apparatus having a lid with an opening extending from a first side to a second side of said lid. A shaft is rotatably positioned through said lid so that a first end of the shaft terminates on the first side of said lid and a second end of the shaft terminates on the second side of the lid. Two or more inner paddles are connected to the shaft and two or more outer paddles are connected to the shaft. The outer paddles extend further away from the shaft than the inner paddles.

Abstract: The disclosed device is directed toward a rotary water treatment system comprising at least one open channel cell configured to contain a liquid. A cylinder partially disposed in the open channel cell. The cylinder having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a cylinder wall coupled between the first end and the second end. The cylinder wall including a plurality of perforations formed in the cylinder wall. A motive force element is coupled to the cylinder configured to impart rotary motion to the cylinder. At least one influent supply is coupled to the at least one open cell. At least one effluent discharge is coupled to the at least one open cell. A pump is fluidly coupled to the at least one influent supply.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for mixing material in a container comprising a base mixing element and an upper mixing element wherein the upper mixing element can be rotatably and reciprocatably coupled to the base mixing element. The base mixing element can be formed by an elongate member that is fixed to a base plate. The upper mixing element can be formed by an elongate member, which can comprise a cylinder, that has a plurality of mixing arms fixed thereto. An aperture can be disposed adjacent to a proximal end of the elongate cylinder of the upper mixing element for allowing material to be exhausted and cleaned from within the elongate cylinder. The mixing arms can have a plurality of apertures therein, and the base plate can have a peripheral rim for maintaining the base plate spaced from the bottom surface of the container. A plurality of angled blades can be formed in the base plate for drawing material through apertures in the base plate.

Abstract: A mix head assembly for a rapid discharge multiple material delivery molding system includes an output chamber assembly having a plurality of impellers, a main body assembly, and a drive assembly. The main body assembly preferably includes a plurality of input ports which correspond to the number of fluid material supplies. In one disclosed embodiment, the mix head assembly include a flush assembly to communicate a flushing fluid from a supply through the gates and into the feed chambers to minimize residual fluid material after each molding cycle. In operation, the fluid materials are directed by their respective input ports to a first impeller. The first impeller is driven by the drive shaft such that the impeller drives the fluid materials back toward the input ports. The pressure in the material builds up and it eventually is driven back past the first impeller.

Abstract: With a liquid ejection apparatus where a liquid-transporting body is attached to an agitator shaft, the liquid-transporting body is revolved about the agitator shaft, with the rotational speed being changed in accordance with a change in liquid depth. Hence ejection liquid ejected from an upper opening of the liquid-transporting body over a large ejection distance and in sufficient volume, is distributed onto the inner surface of the tank and/or into the space above the liquid surface, thereby washing the inner surface of the tank, maintaining the heat transfer area, dispersing a foam layer on the liquid surface, and promoting evaporation of liquid in the tank.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus to automatically heat and froth milk for beverages. The apparatus includes a container, a lower paddle group and upper paddle group located above the container bottom. Each paddle group includes at least two paddles. The lower paddle group is adapted to rotate in a direction that is counter to the rotation of the upper paddle group. The apparatus further includes a heater disposed firmly against and below the container bottom.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic beverage frother. The beverage frother includes a lower housing assembly having a motor coupled to a gear train. The gear train may be removeably coupled to an upper paddle group and a lower paddle group disposed within a container. Each paddle group rotates about the longitudinal axis of the container in opposite directions. Within each paddle group is at least one paddle where each paddle is formed of a frame having mesh disposed within the frame. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a reconstitutable dehydrated food product and an apparatus for producing such a product are described. The method calls for the use of a stationary vessel that is used as both a hydration device and a pressure cooker. A rotating member within the vessel ensures that the vessel contents are continuously mixed, and that fluids within the vessel are continuously spread through the contents. The apparatus also comprises a channel, wherein the food product is chopped and sized as desired, before going through a forming conduit that spreads the product into a generally flat sheet of texturized composition. The method and apparatus produce a dehydrated food product of a desired texture, with improved water absorption qualities and enhanced digestibility.