Abstract: For mixing and conveying of highly viscous fluids, the invention provides a single-stage or multi-stage axial centrifugal pump to which the components to be mixed are fed through lateral connections (10, 12) in front of the first rotor (FIG. 1). The blades (4, 4') of the or of each rotor (FIG. 2) have at least one hole (5). The lateral connections (10, 12) have at least one mixing nozzle (12) with several holes (13). The pump housing consists of two parts. Fixed guide blades (2, 2') are provided in the lower part (1), out of which the upper part (5) together with rotor shaft (3), its bearings (7, 8) and the rotors can be lifted. A relief and control opening (15) is provided above a gasket (14) which separates the upper part (5) from the inside of the pump.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-contained, portable apparatus for admixing a plurality of liquids. The liquids, generally a diluent (such as water or an organic solvent), together with dilutable liquid chemical concentrates such as pesticides, fertilizers, and the like, are automatically proportioned and blended together to produce a resultant mixture, with controlled dispensing of the resultant mixture. The apparatus, which may be hand carried, is preferably powered by a battery source that is operatively connected to a positive-displacement pump. Such positive-displacement pump draws the liquids into the pump, utilizing the pump vacuum force, mixes the liquids in the pump chamber or housing, and thereafter discharges the resultant mixture from the apparatus, utilizing a suitable dispensing device.

Abstract: A device with vertical buoyancy tanks fitted to its upper part is provided with rotors which generate horizontal and vertical propulsion, and which stirs the liquid uniformly as it moves freely through a liquid storage tank, thereby preventing the accumulation of sludge. The vertical buoyancy tanks stabilize the stirrer and provide a restoring force if the stirrer is upset. The stirrer is fitted with an ultrasonic ultrasonic wave emitter, and ultrasonic receptors are installed at several positions in the liquid tank. An ultrasonic pulse is emitted after a certain interval when the stirrer is at rest on the bottom of the tank. The position of the stirrer is computed for each pulse emission, and the average is taken to give the actual position of the stirrer.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors and devolatilizing methods which provide extremely efficient devolatilization of materials, including viscous and visco-elastic materials and which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material to transfer grooves formed in the closure surface and operationally communicate with a vacuum source to provide a highly efficient devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors and devolatilizing methods which provide extremely efficient devolatilization of materials, including viscous and visco-elastic materials and which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material to transfer grooves formed in the closure surface and operationally communicate with a vacuum source to provide a highly efficient devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for the preparation of sterile suspensions and solutions is disclosed which includes a container wherein a starting mixture is subjected to high intensity mixing by means of a high speed, high shear external mixer disposed in an external recirculation loop. The mixer used in the present invention is a revolving hollow cylinder open at the bottom thereof and having grooves in the sides thereof, such that the mixture is drawn through the bottom of the mixer head and forced radially outwardly through the grooves. The mixer head is preferably disposed in the upper leg of a T-shaped fitting of the recirculation loop, and a special shaft seal is used to prevent leakage of the materials being treated along the drive shaft used to rotate the mixer head.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing free descent of a motor-pump unit. The motor-pump unit is mounted within a manure-containing pit for vertical sliding movement on a fixed column, and an elevating mechanism is employed for raising and lowering the pump within the pit and includes a cable having one end which is coiled on a drum while the opposite end of the cable is connected to the motor-pump unit. The weight of the motor-pump unit normally applies substantial tension to the cable. A mechanism is incorporated which is responsive to slackening of the cable and acts to arrest free descent of the motor-pump unit, as well as discontinuing operation of the cable drum mechanism.

Abstract: A blending apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical casing bounded by top and bottom walls, the top wall having a central solids inlet for introduction of solids by gravity flow into an impeller mounted for rotation in the casing and in coaxial alignment with the solids inlet. The impeller has one or more spaced plates and impeller vanes mounted thereon which extend radially away from a central opening in the upper plate thereof, the central opening being aligned in open communication with the solids inlet and disposed in closely spaced relation to the top wall in such a way to prevent backflow of materials from the chamber formed in the casing through the upper solids inlet. Tangentially directed fluid inlet and outlet ports are disposed in the casing's cylindrical wall and the inlet port is disposed in outer radially spaced relation to the impeller preferably with the outlet port spaced below the inlet port and impeller for discharging intermixed materials from the chamber.

Abstract: Improved draft tube mixing apparatus having one or more of the following features: (a) controlled circulation at the inlet of the tube which allows operation at reduced submergence by preventing formation of a vortex; (b) an additional passage for controlled flow into the draft tube along its length to allow operation without the tube being entirely submerged; (c) the recovery of dynamic energy from the flow at the outlet of the tube by wide area diffusion without separation from the walls of the tube in the diffusing region thereof; (d) improved guidance of radially directed to axially directed flow at the inlet of the draft tube for efficient axial pumping by the impeller by maintaining generally uniform axial flow velocity radially of the impeller; and (e) separation of coarse and fine particles in suspension in the tank to allow selective draw-off of the coarse and/or fine particles thereby increasing efficiency of mixing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus useful for blending solids with fluids. In a specific application of the blender, sand is mixed with a gel composition to obtain a fluid mixture suitable for stimulation treatments of oil and gas wells. Basic components of this blender are a slinger member and an impeller member, which are enclosed within a casing. The slinger and impeller are fastened together, with the impeller being positioned underneath the slinger. In addition, the slinger has a toroidal configuration and the impeller has a vortex configuration, and the slinger has a larger surface area than the impeller. The toroidal shape of the slinger, and its larger size, contribute to a good pressure balance within the fluid composition as it circulates inside the casing during the mixing operation. A more thorough mixing of the sand and gel composition is achieved by improving the pressure balance in the manner described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for thoroughly mixing the liquid contents of first and second containers without exposing either the liquid contents or the resultant mixture to outside contamination. The device features a movable pumping diaphragm which traverses a pumping chamber so that the pumping chamber is divided into an upper and lower chamber. In a first position, the diaphragm causes the upper chamber to have a reduced volume while the lower chamber has an increase volume. In a second position, the pumping diaphragm causes the lower chamber to have a decreased volume while the upper chamber has an increased volume. Valving assemblies are utilized in conjunction with both the upper and lower chamber to selectively allow for the ingress and egress of fluids from these chambers dependent upon the position of the pumping diaphragm.

Abstract: Novel and improved processes and apparatus for processing particulate materials which can be converted to the liquid state. Essentially, the process and apparatus involve feeding a particulate material to an annular processing passage for melting and controlled processing. The annular processing passage is provided by a rotatable element carrying at least one processing channel, and a stationary element which provides a complementary, coaxial surface arranged with the channel to provide the enclosed processing passage. Also associated with the stationary element are an inlet for feeding material to the passage, an outlet for discharging material, a material collecting end wall surface for the passage and a member or members extending into the processing channel providing a material restraining surface between the inlet and outlet and occupying a predetermined portion of the melt pool space between the end wall and the restraining surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating and transforming settled sludges into slurries which are then capable of being pumped by conventional means. The apparatus comprises a housing immersible in the contents of a tank or chamber and containing separate variable drive means for an impeller and an impeller casing. The impeller casing forms an inlet to the impeller and has a plurality of radially directed outlet nozzles whereby rotation of the impeller effects circulation of the contents of the tank or chamber from the inlet to the outlets and rotation of the casing causes the discharge at the outlets to agitate the contents. The discharge at the outlets breaks up solid sediment at the bottom of the tank or chamber and a continuous recirculation of the contents results in the formation of a slurry.

Abstract: Improved draft tube mixing apparatus having one or more of the following features: (a) controlled circulation at the inlet of the tube which allows operation at reduced submergence by preventing formation of a vortex; (b) an additional passage for controlled flow into the draft tube along its length to allow operation without the tube being entirely submerged; (c) the recovery of dynamic energy from the flow at the outlet of the tube by wide area diffusion without separation from the walls of the tube in the diffusing region thereof; (d) improved guidance of radially directed to axially directed flow at the inlet of the draft tube for efficient axial pumping by the impeller by maintaining generally uniform axial flow velocity radially of the impeller; and (e) separation of coarse and fine particles in suspension in the tank to allow selective draw-off of the coarse and/or fine particles thereby increasing efficiency of mixing.

Abstract: A gas trap used to separate at least a portion of the gases entrained in drilling fluids used in an oil well drilling operation which is associated with the shale shaker box and an analyzer such as a hot wire analyzer. The gas trap includes a receptacle or can vertically adjustably supported from the shaker box by a supporting assembly with the can including a top supporting the can by a unique connecting assembly enabling rotational adjustment of the can about a vertical axis to orient the inlet and outlet from the can in a desired location in relation to the shaker box. The top is provided with a standpipe and a motor shaft extends through the top and is provided with plastic fingers radiating from the lower end thereof for agitating the drilling fluid to assist in gas removal.

Abstract: Mixing apparatus is described in which a plurality of chemical materials are to be incorporated in a carrier liquid, which may be a solvent, such as water, and which is quantitatively predominant, some of the chemical materials being incompatible if brought together directly, or in a wrong sequence, or which are difficult to combine, the materials being combined in the desired proportions in a cascaded arrangement of liquid filled chambers, the respective materials in the desired proportions preferably being supplied from separate sources of materials by pumps, the delivery of the carrier liquid being to a first mixing chamber to which a first chemical material is supplied, the contents of the first mixing chamber being delivered to a second mixing chamber to which another material is supplied, with provisions to prevent back flow, the fluid from the second mixing chamber being delivered to a third mixing chamber to which another chemical material may be added, with additional mixing chambers and pumps as des

Abstract: The density profile of a halocline, which increases monotonically with depth, is modified by drawing water from different levels of the halocline (and therefore of different densities) into a mixing chamber, mixing the water in the mixing chamber and discharging the water in the mixing chamber into the halocline intermediate the levels from which the water is drawn. In one technique, a closed chamber is inserted into the halocline, the chamber having a vertically oriented slot defining a preselected layer of the halocline. The contents of the chamber are mixed to establish a uniform density equal to the average density of the water in the preselected layer. As a consequence, the vertical variation in density across the slot between the water inside and outside the chamber establishes a static pressure differential which causes water in the layer to flow into and out of the chamber until the density of the layer is uniform.

Abstract: Mixing apparatus is described in which a plurality of chemical materials are to be incorporated in a carrier liquid, which may be a solvent, such as water, and which is quantitatively predominant, some of the chemical materials being incompatible if brought together directly, or in a wrong sequence, or which are difficult to combine, the materials being combined in the desired proportions in a cascaded arrangement of liquid filled chambers, the respective materials in the desired proportions preferably being supplied from separate sources of materials by pumps, the delivery of the carrier liquid being to a first mixing chamber to which a first chemical material is supplied, the contents of the first mixing chamber being delivered to a second mixing chamber to which another material is supplied, the fluid from the second mixing chamber being delivered to a third mixing chamber to which another chemical material may be added, with additional mixing chambers and pumps as desired to accommodate additional chemica

Abstract: A peristaltic batcher comprises an elastic hose with a movable portion and immovable portions, passed between a roller and the shaft of an electric drive motor and carrying a squeezing means on one of its immovable portions. The roller and the shaft are connected by a means for transmitting counter-rotation from the shaft to the roller and permitting the distance between them to be changed. Connected to the drive for moving the roller and the squeezing means by a batching direction reversing switch, to the electric drive motor and to two transmitters indicating the terminal positions of the movable portion of the elastic hose is a reversing device of the control unit which also comprises a pulse-controlled cut-in switch connected with the reversing device, and a pulse-controlled cut-out switch. The peristaltic batching system is comprised of at least two tandem-connected peristaltic batchers.

Abstract: Material to be mixed is fed into the upper portion of a container from where the material descends by means of the force of gravity. The container is provided with a partition extending across the interior of the container and operative to divide the descending material into two separated substreams. The container is further provided with two outlets which are adjustable so as to separately control the respective speeds of descent of the material of the two substreams in the container. The material which is withdrawn at the lower portion of the container is returned back to the upper portion of the container for further mixing. Because of the two substreams in the container, the relative elevations of arbitrarily selected samples, located in respective ones of the substreams, changes during material descent, thereby improving mixing action.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a liquid solution from a mixture of a dry powder formulation and a liquid which is particularly useful for making a fountain solution for lithographic printing operations including pump means and circulation means to maintain confined liquid in an agitated state, to completely dissolve a dry powder formulation and to sustain ingredients which dissolve in water at different rates.

Abstract: A rotating fluid jet agitator for mixing, dispersing, dissolving and suspending powders in liquids comprising at least one primary jet mixing nozzle arranged to rotate about a generally vertical axis submerged at a predetermined elevation in a tank to project a stream of liquid radially outward from said vertical axis. The agitator includes a drive nozzle arranged to deliver a generally horizontal component of thrust which causes the agitator to rotate about the vertical axis, a speed control means and a pump for circulating liquid from the tank to the mixing nozzle and drive nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing photographic process chemicals, and supplying the mixed chemical to a film processing unit. The apparatus provides a chemical holding tank having a water supply inlet and a chemical discharge outlet thereon. The tank is provided with submersible pumps for agitating the contained chemical. Sensors on the inner portion of the tank detect when the process chemical reaches a minimal level whereupon water is added through the water inlet to fill the tank to its maximum whereupon the water supply is automatically shut off. In the preferred embodiment, an operation can add dry chemicals or liquid concentrate to form the finished process chemical. The sensors can be adjusted to vary water levels as needed for adapting the system to different chemical-water mix ratios as specified with the concentrated chemicals supplied by different manufactures.

Abstract: A top-to-bottom mixer suitable for extending through a small opening in a closed top drum for mixing liquid. The mixer has a tube for extending axially downward into the drum. Since closed top drums in commerce have a maximum top opening of 2" pipe size, this mixer is additionally unique in that it will insert into this small opening.The tube has a circumferentially located opening adjacent the lower end and a shaft extending concentrically into the tube, connected to a turbine at the bottom of the tube or other means for causing downflow. Four spaced inlet openings at the top are provided in the tube adjacent the upper end.

Abstract: Premixing apparatus includes a number of elongated interdigitated rotors and stators. At least some of the rotors and/or stators include a first longitudinal portion with a transverse axis oriented at a first angle with respect to the horizontal axis and a second longitudinal portion with a transverse axis which forms an acute angle with the transverse axis of the first portion.

Abstract: Sealing device for preventing leakage of pressurized medium from the housing of a defibrator, refiner and the like, in which lignocellulosic pulp material is ground between two grinding discs, one of which is mounted on a drive shaft to rotate relative to the other within the pressurized housing. The sealing device comprises a pump having a stationary housing sealed to the defibrator housing and spaced from the drive shaft to define a gap extending into the interior of the defibrator housing. The pump impellers are mounted to rotate with the drive shaft to pump a sealing fluid to a pressure higher than that prevailing within the defibrator housing and propel the thus pressurized fluid through the gap into the defibrator housing to thereby prevent leakage of the pressurized medium through the drive shaft opening in the defibrator housing.

Abstract: A thermal syphon-pressure pump neutralizer for neutralizing nitric acid with ammonia, comprising a reaction vessel for containing an aqueous reaction medium and having a gas outlet in its upper end and a product outlet spaced therebelow, a fluid impervious vertically disposed cylindrical member in the vessel defining a second reaction zone therewithin and a first reaction zone between the member and the vessel, the lower inlet end of the cylindrical member being spaced above the bottom of the vessel, ammonia inlet means leading into the bottom of the vessel in close proximity to but spaced below the cylindrical member inlet, nitric acid inlet means leading into the first reaction zone being spaced a predetermined distance above the cylindrical member inlet and below the product outlet, a free gas zone being provided between the reaction zones and the gas outlet and deflector means above the second reaction zone and in communication with the first reaction zone so that solution and gases evolved from the outle