Abstract: An improved immersible magnetically-coupled mixer has a plurality of rollable bearing assemblies readily cleanable by flushing in place and easily removable and replaceable without damage to either the mixer impeller or the bearings. The rollable bearings are resistant to corrosion, capable of running without lubrication, and have low propensity for batch contamination through wear. The rolling and fixed elements of the bearings are impervious to attack by the process materials being mixed, the rollable elements, preferably balls, can be formed of a hybrid ceramic such as silicon nitride, and the races can be formed of a nickel-beryllium or cobalt-chromium-tungsten alloy.

Abstract: An improved immersible magnetically-coupled mixer has rollable bearings readily cleanable by flushing in place and easily removable and replaceable without damage to either the mixer impeller or the bearings. The rollable bearings are resistant to corrosion, capable of running without lubrication, and have low propensity for batch contamination through wear. The rolling and fixed elements of the bearings are impervious to attack by the process materials being mixed, the rollable elements, preferably balls, being formed of a hybrid ceramic such as silicon nitride, and the races being formed of either a nickel-beryllium or cobalt-chromium-tungsten alloy. A mixer impeller having a central bore is rotatably mounted on the rollable bearings on a fixed impeller shaft attached to the inner wall of a vessel at the bottom of the mixing space, which shaft extends through the impeller bore. The impeller contains magnets and is couplable in driving relationship to an external magnetic mixer drive.

Abstract: A mixer seal assembly for a closable vessel having a dynamic mixer shaft seal in a bore in a vessel flange and a static seal for vessel transport formable by insertion of a disconnected lower portion of a fast connect coupling which is fast to install on the mixer shaft into the flange bore above the dynamic seal. The resulting seal assembly can seal the vessel for over-the-road transport. The dynamic seal includes a circular lip which sealingly engages the surface of the mixer shaft. The static seal includes an O-ring disposed in a first annular groove in the coupling portion. A shaft bushing disposed adjacent to the shaft seal in the flange bore minimizes shaft runout in the shaft seal and permits use of relatively rigid and dry running materials such as fluorocarbon polymer in the shaft seal.

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: An in-place flush-cleanable mixer system for mixing materials in a vessel. The mixer has an impeller connected to a mixer drive shaft, the impeller and shaft being mounted in an assembly which extends through an opening into the vessel and closes that opening. The assembly has a cylindrical hub with bearings which support the shaft and with an open passageway through which the shaft extends out of an open end of the hub. The open passageway is part of a confinement region which is terminated at its outer end by a confinement shell which separates inner and outer rotors of a magnet coupling. The inner rotor is connected to the mixer shaft, and the outer rotor is connected to a drive shaft. There are no dynamic seals which close the confinement region so that the working materials can be present throughout.

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.

Abstract: A mixer impeller, which is adapted to mix and blend liquids and liquid suspensions in industrial and commmercial applications and is subject to forces which tend to work the impeller loose from attachment with its driving shaft, is secured to the shaft by collars (locking rings) which are threaded on the ends of hubs from which the blades of the impeller extend. In order to secure the attachment of the collars to the hub, a locking key is inserted between the collar and the shaft. The inner periphery of the collars are tapered outwardly away from the shaft. The neck of the locking key has portions which are deflected against these tapered inner peripheries when a pin is inserted through the neck of the locking key. A ramp on the collar mates with a ramp on the key to prevent reverse rotation (working loose) of the collar. The impeller is restrained against axial movement by the collar and against rotational movement by being keyed to the shaft and restricted by the ramp on the collar.

Abstract: A steady bearing for the free end of a mixer shaft, which may be made from composite (fiber reinforced plastic) materials in substantial part, has a generally bell-shaped body with a neck in which the free end of the shaft or a shaft extension is disposed. A bearing assembly is removably disposed in the neck. The bearing has a bushing which is keyed to an inner sleeve around the shaft and to an outer sleeve by keyways which are open at one end so that the bushing and outer sleeve can be axially displaced for initial installation of the steady bearing and also when the bushing thereof requires replacement. When the shaft is too large to fit inside of the steady bearing. A reduced diameter shaft extension is provided to fit the steady bearing.