Abstract: A mixer for liquids and liquid suspensions has a motor drive and housing which is portable and can be carried from tank to tank and attached to the tank where mixing is carried out. The housing depends from the yoke and contains a quill which is driven by the motor drive. A chuck mechanism is associated with the housing and quill to enable mixer impeller shafts to be held in assembled relationship in the mixer and readily removed and replaced with shafts having impellers specially adapted for the particular mixing application of interest. The chuck mechanism is operable even though the quill is hidden in the mixture housing.

Abstract: A method for making an end connection for a shaft made of composite material, which accommodates for differences in stiffness, thermal expansion, and chemical resistance between the shaft and the member connected thereto and operates under oscillating torque, thrust, and bending loads, and also provides for manufacturing flexibility in enabling the shaft and connection to be produced as separate parts which are formed when final assembly is to occur. The connection has a male insert which is inserted into the end of the composite shaft. Axial and circumferential grooves are cut in the surfaces of the male insert and the shaft. These grooves are aligned to form circumferential and axial keyways which intersect each other. Material is injected into the keyway and polymerizes to form structural keys which transmit the thrust and torque, while locking the insert member and the shaft permanently together.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing liquid and liquid suspension mediums in vessels with a mixing impeller shaft system of a composite of fibrous and plastic material of a structural configuration to enable the use of such material in commercial and industrial applications where the reaction loads of the medium on the system militate against the use of composite fibrous and plastic material. The system utilizes impellers having blades which distribute the reaction load through a hub on a mounting area of a shaft with keys and keyways in a manner to avoid stress risers unamicable to the composite material and which can cause failure thereof. Separate keys and keyways are provided to oppose the thrust due to the reaction loads and to oppose the torque due to such loads. Plural thrust keyways may be used to enable the impeller to be located at different positions on the shaft and at selected heights above the floor of the mixing vessel.

Abstract: An end connection for a shaft made of composite material, which accommodates for differences in stiffness, thermal expansion, chemical resistance between the shaft and the member connected thereto and operates under oscillating torque, thrust, and bending loads, and also provides for manufacturing flexibility in enabling the shaft and connection to be produced as separate parts which are formed when final assembly is to occur. The connection has a male insert which is inserted into the end of the composite shaft. Axial and circumferential grooves in the surfaces of the male insert and the shaft. These grooves are aligned to form circumferential and axial keyways which intersect each other. Material is injected into the keyway and polymerizes to form structural keys which transmit the thrust and torque, while locking the insert member and the shaft permanently together. The bending loads are transmitted through the tight fit extending axially between the shaft, insert member and keys.

Abstract: At least two levels of mixing, one adjacent the top of the vessel and one adjacent the bottom of the vessel are provided and individually driven at appropriate speeds to produce a single flow pattern in the fluid in the vessel. The bottom mixing apparatus is preferably a single large diameter impeller whereas the top mixing apparatus includes a plurality of smaller diameter impellers positioned equally distant from and symmetrical about the lower impeller's vertical axis of rotation. Each of the impellers have a converging flow field exiting the impeller.

Abstract: A submersible mixer with a housing, within which housing sits a motor and gear box or other drive means, attached to said housing is a high-efficiency impeller, said housing being supported by vanes which baffle liquid flow when being mixed, and which when said impeller axis is aligned vertically form the base, and which when said impeller axis is aligned horizontally form two points of a tripod.

Abstract: An in-line blender is provided for mixing a single fluid or blending it with at least one other substance. The blender includes a conduit having a hollow interior disposed about a central axis and a shaft extending longitudinally through the conduit along the central axis. The blender also includes a plurality of stationary mixing stages extending in series along the central axis with each of the mixing stages defining a plurality of spiral channels within the hollow interior of the conduit. Each of the mixing stages includes a plurality of distinct segments extending in series along the central axis. The blender further includes means for adjusting both the angular and the axial position of each of the segments with respect to adjacent segments along the shaft.