Abstract: A juicing device having a rotating disk with a plurality of protrusions is used to pierce and squeeze the juice from a fruit. The disk is rotated within an enclosure having an access port on top and a conduit near the bottom for diverting the juice into a container or glass. The enclosure provides a set of the protrusions as well so that as the fruit propelled between the disk and the sidewall, the juicing action is efficient.

Abstract: The device (10) for the intermixing of two components, such as synthetic compound and hardener, for the production of a dual or multi-component compound, such as filler for repair work on sheet metal is comprised of an evacuable mixing container (50) which can be opened at the top, in the mixing chamber (20) of which a rotatingly driven mixing disk (30) that is removable from the mixing container (50) and a vane-like (41) mixing member (40) are disposed, which, as compared to the rotating mixing disk (30), is vertically and stationarily arranged in the mixing chamber and, with the aid of a driving means (149), is alternately swivelable about its vertical shaft (49) by small angular values, while the cover portion (54) of the mixing container (50), while in the operative position, is retained by means of a vacuum on the circumferential rim of the container side wall (52) (FIG. 1).

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing plural flowable materials, for example liquids, is disclosed having a disk-shaped rotor connected to a rotating drive shaft and housed in a cylindrical chamber. The rotor has engraved on one or both faces a spiral-shaped groove to provide sufficient mixing turbulence and prevent unmixed solute from exiting the chamber. The chamber is defined by walls of two stationary end plates separated by an outer cylindrical barrel. When configured in multiple stages having a plurality of rotors connected with a single rotating drive shaft and housed in a plurality of axially arranged such chambers, a centrally-drilled passage intervening between chambers connects adjacent chambers. Additional solvent liquid is introduced at each mixing stage through a radially drilled passage. The materials to be mixed are confined to a narrow interstice between the rotor, adjacent walls and barrel, and pass in sequence from one chamber to the next.

Abstract: A process for producing micropellets of lightweight aggregate having a substantially spheroidal configuration which includes continuously mixing ceramic clay and liquid in a high speed rotating pin mixer to encapsulate substantially all other non-volatile inorganic solid materials present in micropellets having a diameter not exceeding about six mesh. The spheroidal micropellets are then fired at a temperature of at least 2,000.degree. F. to oxidize all volatile organic compounds present. The lightweight aggregate of micropellets can advantageously be used to replace sand in a cement or concrete matrix, as a well as for numerous other uses.

Abstract: An improved system is provided for thoroughly chilling a beverage such as water flowing into a refrigerated reservoir. The system includes an injector nozzle disposed generally at an upper end of the reservoir, together with a dispense valve for drawing the beverage in chilled form from a lower end of the reservoir. A vertically elongated and rotatably driven impeller shaft is mounted within the reservoir and carries a spaced plurality of vaneless impeller disks for causing the beverage flowing downwardly through the reservoir to undergo a plurality of directional changes in a radially outward direction for improved heat transfer with a chiller coil wrapped about the reservoir. This improved heat transfer provides for efficient beverage chilling prior to dispensing. The system is particularly useful in dispensing chilled water, juices, and soft drink beverages.

Abstract: An improved water carbonator system is provided for thoroughly mixing a carbonating gas with a water supply flowing through a refrigerated reservoir of the type used in soft drink dispenser stations and the like. The carbonator system includes water and gas injector nozzles disposed generally at an upper end of the reservoir, together with a dispense valve for drawing carbonated chilled water from a lower end of the reservoir. A vertically elongated and rotatably driven impeller shaft carries a spaced plurality of vaneless impeller disks for causing the water flowing downwardly through the reservoir to undergo a plurality of directional changes in a radially outward direction. Such directional changes in flow result in improved intermixing with the carbonating gas and improved chilling of the water prior to dispensing. In one form, the impeller shaft is rotatably driven by a motor mounted outside the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved water carbonator system is provided for thoroughly mixing a carbonating gas with a water supply flowing through a refrigerated reservoir of the type used in soft drink dispenser stations and the like. The carbonator system includes water and gas injector nozzles disposed generally at an upper end of the reservoir, together with a dispense valve for drawing carbonated chilled water from a lower end of the reservoir. A vertically elongated and rotatably driven impeller shaft carries a spaced plurality of vaneless impeller disks for causing the water flowing downwardly through the reservoir to undergo a plurality of directional changes in a radially outward direction. Such directional changes in flow result in improved intermixing with the carbonating gas and improved chilling of the water prior to dispensing. A drive motor has a drive shaft connected in common to a pump for delivering water into the reservoir, and to the impeller shaft.

Abstract: An improved water carbonator system is provided for thoroughly mixing a carbonating gas with a water supply flowing through a refrigerated reservoir of the type used in soft drink dispenser stations and the like. The carbonator system includes water and gas injector nozzles disposed generally at an upper end of the reservoir, together with a dispense valve for drawing carbonated chilled water from a lower end of the reservoir. A vertically elongated and rotatably driven impeller shaft carries a spaced plurality of vaneless impeller disks for causing the water flowing downwardly through the reservoir to undergo a plurality of directional changes in a radially outward direction. Such directional changes in flow result in improved intermixing with the carbonating gas and improved chilling of the water prior to dispensing.

Abstract: Mixing of materials including a first component with a lower pressure and a second component with a higher pressure is performed by introducing the first component with the lower pressure into the second component with the higher pressure, and accelerating the second component by rotation to compensate the pressure difference between the second component and the first component.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous processing, such as mixing, homogenizing, gassing and degassing, polymerizing of liquids, emulsions, suspensions, viscous substances and similar materials, is designed with several shafts (1) arranged vertically in ring fashion, with parallel axes and driven in equal direction. Each shaft carries a number of disk-shaped processing elements (13-15) arranged axially staggered in parallel planes, meshing with elements on adjacent shafts, and enclosing together with the shafts at least one central cavity or chamber (16) in whose area the processing elements are arranged in such a way that their circumferential surfaces are exposed. The material is efficiently mixed and homogenized while being handled gently and evenly, and local shearing stress leading to temperature peaks in the material is avoided by leaving the surfaces (130, 140) of the processing elements exposed on the outside, i.e. on the side facing away from the chamber (16).

Abstract: A method is provided to generate over a confined space precisely defined distributions of the magnitude of the wall shearing stresses in a substrate/fluid boundary layer. A fluid flow is rotated around a center axis in the confined space. Simultaneously a defined fluid volume is removed in the rotational axis of the flow per unit time and recirculated or replenished through return openings in the lid or sidewall.

Abstract: In a mixing device for mixing viscous or pasty materials, in which device there is arranged within a mixing receptacle (1, 2) at least one mixing tool (5) on at least one rotatably supported mixer shaft (6), a pressing plate (3) is sealingly guided within the mixing receptacle and in direction of the mixer shaft (6), the mixer shaft sealingly extending through the pressing plate and being shiftable in direction of its axis. The mixer shaft (6) carries a mxing disc (5), which is arranged between the pressing plate (3) and the bottom (4) of the mixing receptacle (1, 2). In this manner, the mixed materials can be expelled by the pressing plate (3) via a discharge opening (7) arranged within the area of the bottom (4) of the mixing receptacle (1, 2), without the necessity of opening the mixing receptacle.

Abstract: A water bath shaker apparatus including a drive mechanism for producing a shaking motion and equipped with a tube for accommodating water, and a shelf having secured thereto a container of liquid to be shaken such as, for example, Erlenmeyer flasks. The tub has a filling zone for the water bath in the form of a closed ring with a central passage for the drive shaft of the drive mechanism, with the shelf being essentially constructed as a circular ring and being mounted at the upper end of the drive shaft so as to be driven by the drive shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for high shear mixing of material comprising a hub having a rotation axis, a flange attached to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, an impeller operatively attached to the hub for rotation therewith and axially spaced from the flange and an annular skirt attached to the flange, the skirt having a plurality of openings spaced around the circumference, an annular chamber being formed by the hub, the flange, the impeller and the skirt, the impeller having blade formations adapted to pump the materials being mixed into the annular chamber and out through the openings as the apparatus is rotated about the rotation axis.

Abstract: A rotary mill to colloidalize a premixed mortar in a high energy manner so as to increase the degree of hydration comprising a hollow collector casing having a feed inlet to receive the premixed mortar and a discharge outlet for the mixed product, a pair of counterrotating members cooperatively forming a shear zone therebetween wherein the shear zone comprises an inlet region to receive the premixed mortar from the feed inlet, a convergency region to impart a high energy shear to the premixed mortar and an expanding discharge region to feed the premixed mortar to the discharge outlet, and a drive and drive train coupled to the counterrotating members to impart rotational movement thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to generate over a confined space precisely defined distributions of the magnitude of the wall shearing stresses in a substrate/fluid boundary layer. A fluid flow is rotated around a center axis in the confined space. Simultaneously a defined fluid volume is removed in the rotational axis of the flow per unit time and recirculated or replenished through return openings in the lid or sidewall.

Abstract: Chocolate is refined by so-called conching. This is carried out in a device whereby the mass is spread out in a thin film and exposed to the air. Among other things, the viscosity is reduced as a result. By subjecting the chocolate mass directly prior to the spreading in a thin film to high shear stresses, a further reduction in viscosity takes place. The invention provides a device wherein, directly preceding the spreading out in a film, the mass is subjected to high shear stresses by means of arranging radially directed pins on a drive shaft.

Abstract: A rotary processor for high-shear processing of plastic or polymeric materials comprises a rotor having end discs and at least one mixing disc therebetween, the rotor closely surrounded by a housing to defined annular processing chambers flanking each mixing disc, with a high-shear-mixing transfer gap defined between the mixing disc and the housing. Channel blocks are deployed at circumferentially spaced apart positions in adjacent chambers to cause transfer of material through the transfer gaps, with dispersive mixing occurring in the transfer gaps. Some embodiments have plural channel blocks in the chambers, evenly spaced apart. The channel blocks extend generally into and to the bottom of a chamber, and have two working surfaces divergent from a central region of the chamber and convergent toward the disc walls defining the chamber. The working surfaces and disc walls defined two high-shear-mixing recycle gaps through which a portion of the material passes and is mixed.

Abstract: In order to obtain a stable emulsion in a short time and in continuous operation of an apparatus for producing a stable emulsion for use in cleaning and decontamination devices, this apparatus containing solids suspended in water, a solvent and an emulsifier, it is suggested that a feed line for the solvent and the emulsifier which have a specific weight heavier than water be provided at the underside of a tank having a circular cross section, that a supply means for the solids suspended in water lead into the tank above the feed line, that means be provided for causing the contents of the tank to rotate about the longitudinal axis hereof and that the tank be surrounded by a collecting chamber receiving the emulsion overflowing over the upper edge of the tank, an outlet for the finished emulsion exiting from the collecting chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal stirring apparatus for treating loose particles or workpieces, comprising a work vessel and a rotary stirring disc on the floor of the work vessel, is characterized in that at least two work vessels comprising stirring discs are arranged adjacent one another and connected with one another via a common overflow opening. The particles or workpieces to be treated may pass directly from one work vessel to the next through such overflow openings and finally exit from the last vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the heat treatment of polyolefin resin particles. The apparatus is equipped with an autoclave in which the particles are heated and agitated in the presence of an aqueous medium and dispersing agent. The autoclave has a tilted bottom wall portion, over which an impeller, preferably, a turbine-type impeller is provided.

Abstract: A rotary processor has enclosed processing passages defined by channels in the rotor and a stationary coaxial closure. At least one processing passage is used as a stabilizing passage and another as a metering passage, whose volume and cross section are less than the stabilizing passage. A feed of plastic or polymeric material enters the stabilizing passage and may be subject to fluctuations or disturbances arising in external upstream equipment or within upstream stages of the processor itself. Substantially all material in the stabilizing passage is diverted through a first transfer passage to an entrance into the metering passage. An adjustable metering (throttling) element allows a controlled first flow of material to be carried downstream through an adjustable gap between this metering element and the bottom of the metering passage. This controlled first flow is discharged for providing material having uniform flow or at least a marked reduction in such fluctuations and disturbances.

Abstract: A centrifugal stirring apparatus for treating loose particles or workpieces, comprising a work vessel and a rotary stirring disc on the floor of the work vessel, is characterized in that at least two work vessels comprising stirring discs are arranged adjacent one another and connected with one another via a common overflow opening. The particles or workpieces to be treated may pass directly from one work vessel to the next through such overflow openings and finally exit from the last vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispersing pigment in a liquid comprising: a mixing vessel, a stirrer shaft with affixed impeller, a motor for rotating the shaft, and support structure for positioning the rotatable shaft and impeller within the vessel; with the improvement of using as an impeller a wire wheel of radially extending stiff wires, the wheel having corrugated sides formed from the outermost layers of wires. A method of dispersing solids using the apparatus of the invention is also described.

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: A food frying apparatus includes a housing having a front side, a vessel mounted within the housing to contain oil, the vessel having an expansion zone adjacent the front side, and an oil heating container connected to the vessel, the container being positioned adjacent the front side and in communication with the expansion zone. An electrical heater is mounted on the exterior of the container to indirectly heat oil therein. The oil is forcibly circulated between the vessel and the container by means of a motor mounted beneath the container and a rotor coaxially mounted within the container and coupled to the motor. A plug is axially insertable into the top of the container, and an upper end of the rotor is connected to the plug for axial movement therewith. The rotor has a lower end connected to the motor to enable relative telescopic sliding movement therebetween to achieve coupling or uncoupling.

Abstract: Rotary processors and methods for mixing a low viscosity liquid with a viscous material while controlling plugging of the means for introducing low viscosity liquid to the processor. Viscous material is introduced to a mixing rotary processor comprising at least one annular channel carried by a rotor and enclosed by a housing to form a mixing passage. The material is dragged forward by the rotating channel walls from the passage inlet past a spreader as films on the channel walls, forming a void downstream of the spreader between the films. Low viscosity liquid is sprayed from a point within the void to be deposited on and carried downstream with the films of material and to be mixed with material collected at a passage end wall.In one embodiment, pressure sealing means permits spraying into a saturated vapor zone in the void so that liquid vaporizes and is condensed onto the films as well distributed fine droplets.

Abstract: A high-speed fluid blender for liquid fertilizer employs a slurry-type of pump for both mixing and recirculation. The pump has a plurality of parallel spaced-apart blades, each of which comprises a disc having a central circular opening formed therein. One of the discs, such as the top disc, is driven by a shaft powered by a motor. The remaining discs are carried by the driven disc for rotation in unison. The discs are substantially alined coaxially of one another, and the disc assembly is housed within an annular pump housing. The circumferential edges of the discs have a substantial radial clearance with respect to the annular wall of the pump housing. This radial clearance increases in the direction of rotation of the blade assembly towards the discharge opening in the pump housing. A funnel-shaped hollow neck housing is secured to the bottom wall of the pump housing, in communication with the inlet opening therein, and diverges outwardly therefrom.

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 including sealing means to control leakage of pressure and/or material between processing passages which are maintained at significantly different pressure levels. The processors comprise 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 includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that viscous 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 transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors and methods which provide extremely efficient devolatilization of particulate materials which contain substantial amounts of volatiles and in which the boiling point of the volatiles presents separation problems. The processors and methods involve 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 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 transfer grooves formed in the closure surface and are arranged to provide at least a melting stage and a devolatilizing stage which operationally communicates with a vacuum source.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors including sealing means to control leakage of pressure and/or material between processing passages which are maintained at significantly different pressure levels. The processors comprise 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 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 transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.

Abstract: The apparatus serves for the continuous mixing and suspending of material to be extracted, particularly seed material, such as soy material, with solvent or extractant, particularly hexane and other suitable hydrocarbons, provision being made for preventing the influence of atmospheric oxygen on the extraction material as well as the formation of solvent vapors throughout the entire plant.

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: The thin film contact dryer consists of a rotor having flat rotor elements extending in a radial direction. In the central third of the rotor is arranged at least one combination of distributing elements and an annular weir which revolves with the rotor and leaves a narrow annular gap open to the internal dryer wall, the annular weir being arranged immediately downstream of the distributing elements as viewed in the direction of flow.

Abstract: Novel and improved methods and apparatus for processing liquid or viscous materials. Essentially, the methods and apparatus involve feeding liquid materials to an annular processing passage for controlled processing. The annular processing passage is provided by two elements. One is a rotatable element carrying at least one processing channel. The other element is stationary and 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 from the passage, an element near the outlet providing a material collecting end wall surface and an element positioned between the inlet and outlet providing a liquid material spreading surface.

Abstract: A novel, improved rotary processor comprising a rotatable element carrying a plurality of processing channels and a stationary element having a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide a plurality of enclosed processing passages. The plurality of passages provide interconnected processing stages including a first processing stage and a second processing stage having inboard and outboard sections separated by a third processing stage.

Abstract: Novel, improved rotary processors which include 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. The so-formed plurality of processing passages provide a highly efficient processing stage particularly for melting polymer material. Each processing passage of the processing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel member 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.In rotary processors of this invention the clearance between the rotary surface carrying the channels and the stationary coaxial closure surface is relatively wide and permits substantial amounts of material to be interchanged between passages of the processing stage.

Abstract: A dispersion mixer is disclosed for breaking up and dispersing agglomerated particles in a liquid medium. The mixer has the capability of causing high speed particles to strike each other in such a manner as to develop their maximum shear energy potential and thus be more efficient than existing dispersion mixers. The mixer operates in a container and has a first rotor shaft extending downwards at the approximate center of the container, a second rotor shaft substantially parallel to the first rotor shaft, spaced from the first rotor shaft, at least one mixing rotor disc mounted on the first rotor shaft, and at least one mixing rotor disc mounted on the second rotor shaft, a first drive for rotating the first rotor shaft about its own axis, and the second rotor shaft about its own axis, and a second drive for moving the second rotor shaft in a circumferential path about the first rotor shaft.

Abstract: Sealing means for controlling leakage of material between closely spaced apart, relatively moving coaxial annular surfaces. Essentially, leakage is controlled by providing a plurality of helical sealing channels on one of the relatively moving surfaces to resist flow of leakage liquid between the surfaces. The sealing means are particularly adaptable for controlling leakage from processing passages of rotary processing apparatus.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the manufacture of magnetic recording media, in which, immediately before the magnetic dispersion is applied to a base, the dispersion is subjected to shear by means of a disc rotatably mounted in a housing, by introducing it at the center of rotation of the disc and forcing it through a gap formed between the face of the disc and the wall of the housing, which gap tapers toward the rim of the disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved, novel method and time saving food processor and process, easily assembled and cleaned, and safely operably for whipping egg whites, or cream, and making butter, in seconds, in which two elements define two flat surfaces disposed and coacting at a right angle with respect to each other in a circular container. One of the flat surfaces is centrally rotated in a horizontal plane in the circular container to centrifugally direct and progressively drive a stream of liquid food products against the other flat surface in the presence of air, at a substantially high speed and with hard impact. The other flat surface continuously redirects the flow radially inwardly to recycle it with a continuous high frequency.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing solid and viscous plastic material or polymeric material and the like in which plastic or polymeric material is fed through an inlet into an enclosed passage of which opposed side walls are moving simultaneously toward an outlet and the material is processed and dragged forward by the moving side wall against a channel block and with progressive build up of pressure along said passage for discharging the processed material through the outlet from the enclosed passage. Rotary apparatus for practicing the method includes one or more annular channels having opposed side walls and carried by a drive rotor member for movement relative to a housing of which an annular surface coaxial with the rotor cooperates with the walls of the channel or channels to form an enclosed annular passage or enclosed annular passages.

Abstract: Apparatus for homogeneously mixing relative dry particulate material with liquid material comprising a spinning disc for receiving and forming by centrifugal action a continuous annular free falling curtain layer of particulate material and a lower spinning disc within the curtain layer for forming and centrifugally directing a continuous annular film or spray of liquid material into intersecting relation with the curtain layer.

Abstract: An apparatus of the shot mill type includes a substantially vertical vessel, preferably cylindrical, containing shot for use as a dispersing media (also useful for deagglomerating and size-reducing material being dispersed), a bottom inlet for a mixture of particulate material to be dispersed and liquid vehicle for it, and a top outlet, a substantially vertical and axially rotatable agitator and a stationary screen in the vessel at the top thereof through which the dispersed material passes and through which the dispersing media does not pass.