Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades. Each blade extends out from the hub. The impeller has an original diameter defined by respective tips of the plurality of blades. Each blade includes a central axis, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an original profile, and a plurality of trim profiles. The original profile has an outside portion and a trailing portion. The outside portion has an angle within a range of about 40° to about 90° from the central axis and the trailing portion having an angle within a range of about 10° to about 50° from the central axis. A first selected trim profile of the plurality of trim profiles extends along a first line parallel to the outside portion and a second line parallel to the trailing portion.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades. Each blade extends out from the hub. The impeller has an original diameter defined by respective tips of the plurality of blades. Each blade includes a central axis, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an original profile, and a plurality of trim profiles. The original profile has an outside portion and a trailing portion. The outside portion has an angle within a range of about 40° to about 90° from the central axis and the trailing portion having an angle within a range of about 10° to about 50° from the central axis. A first selected trim profile of the plurality of trim profiles extends along a first line parallel to the outside portion and a second line parallel to the trailing portion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A radial disc impeller for use with a liquid or liquid suspension mixing assembly, having an axis of rotation. The radial disc has a hub and at least one disc extending radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc is connected to the hub at first axial location. The disc impeller includes a first blade connected to the disc. The first blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc impeller also includes a second blade connected to the disc. The second blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved surface aeration impeller for use in a mixing assembly. The improved surface aeration impeller includes a hub and a first blade that is connected to the hub. The blade has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion. The impeller also has a second blade connected to the hub that has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion.

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.

Abstract: A radial disc impeller for use with a liquid or liquid suspension mixing assembly, having an axis of rotation. The radial disc has a hub and at least one disc extending radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc is connected to the hub at first axial location. The disc impeller includes a first blade connected to the disc. The first blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation. The disc impeller also includes a second blade connected to the disc. The second blade has an extension that extends radially away from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A two bladed dual direction impeller includes blades that each have an inner blade portion that forces material in a first direction and a second blade portion that forces material in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first and second blade portions are radially spaced from each other by a connector element. Either one or both of the blade portions may be twisted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved surface aeration impeller for use in a mixing assembly. The improved surface aeration impeller includes a hub and a first blade that is connected to the hub. The blade has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion. The impeller also has a second blade connected to the hub that has a substantially straight first portion and a substantially curved second portion.

Abstract: A two bladed dual direction impeller includes blades that each have an inner blade portion that forces material in a first direction and a second blade portion that forces material in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first and second blade portions are radially spaced from each other by a connector element. Either one or both of the blade portions may be twisted.

Abstract: In order to sparge gas into a liquid or liquid suspension in a tank wherein a principally axial flow pattern downwardly towards the bottom of the tank and then upwardly along the side wall of the tank returning axially downward is established by an axial flow impeller, a disc of a diameter less than the diameter of the impeller is spaced axially therefrom in the direction of the outlet flow towards the bottom of the tank from the impeller so as to turn the axial flow, radially, thereby establishing a pressure gradient which prevents the collection of gas released by a sparge between the disc and the bottom of the tank and flooding of the impeller. The gas is released in the axial flow from the tip region of the impeller thereby facilitating the shearing of the gas into fine bubbles promoting mass transfer of the gaseous phase into the liquid phase in the tank. Since flooding is inhibited, as much as six times the volume of gas (gas rate) can be handled as may be the case without the disc.

Abstract: A mixing system in a tank provides a flotation cell for froth collection of minerals such as metallic ores thereby separating such ores from other materials with which they are mined and enabling a concentrated ore component to be collected. The mixing system maintains particles containing the ores in a circulating liquid suspension in a contact zone where bubbles are discharged. Ore particles are attracted and attached to the bubbles. The bubbles rise and float to the top of the liquid for collection of the concentrated ores. The mixing system includes a radial flow impeller and an axial flow impeller which are attached for rotation on a common shaft, with the axial flow impeller below the radial flow impeller. The radial flow impeller is disposed in a space between a disc, which rotates with the radial flow impeller and another disc which is stationary, and may be a flange of a pipe around the shaft and extending above the surface of the liquid.

Abstract: In order to efficiently mass transfer from gas, particularly air, into liquid or liquid suspensions with enhanced efficiency in terms of the mass of the gas transferred to the liquid, the gas is released or sparged through a plurality of open pipes which are disposed in a space between the bottom of the tank containing the liquid or liquid suspension and an axial flow impeller which creates a flow path downwardly past the outlet ends of the pipes. Turbulence is enhanced even though the air leaves the pipes at low velocity rather than in a jet through the use of a Bernoulli air trapping ring and plates. The ring and plates encounter the flow produced by the axial flow impeller successively. The ring distributes the air and assists in defining a low pressure region below the ring. A low pressure region also is defined by the plates on the underside thereof. The underside of the plates is in the vicinity of the outlets of the pipes.

Abstract: A rotatably driveable enhanced-flow impeller system is provided for pumping at least one liquid in a tank through an outlet port thereof. A radial flow impeller has a first impeller face disposed proximate the bottom of the tank and proximate or extending into an inlet port for liquids in the tank bottom. The radial flow impeller has a plurality of blades with radially outermost blade tips terminating along a blade terminating circle. Disposed adjacent a second opposing face of the radial flow impeller is a radial flow extension plate which preferably extends radially outwardly along the second face by a radial distance beyond the blade terminating circle. The radial flow extension plate may be fixedly attached to the second impeller face.

Abstract: A rotatably driveable enhanced-flow impeller system has a radial flow impeller with a first impeller face disposed proximate the bottom of the tank and proximate or extending into an inlet port for liquids in the tank bottom. The radial flow impeller has a plurality of blades with radially outermost blade tips terminating along a blade terminating circle. The blades and inlet port are contoured to reduce shear stress on the liquids. Disposed adjacent a second opposing face of the radial flow impeller is a radial flow extension plate which preferably extends radially outwardly along the second face by a radial distance beyond the blade terminating circle. The radial flow extension plate may be fixedly attached to the second impeller face.