Bowed Or Angled Out Of Plane Of Rotation Patents (Class 366/330.3)
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Patent number: 11339803Abstract: A rotary machine for mixing, pumping or agitating a fluid includes an impeller for acting on the fluid, a drive unit for rotating the impeller around a rotation axis, a drive shaft connecting the impeller with the drive unit, a mounting flange for fastening the rotary machine to a wall of a vessel, and a support structure for supporting the rotary machine, the support structure comprising at least one leg, each leg extending in a vertical plane from a first end along a longitudinal axis to a second end, each leg including an outer member and an inner member coaxially arranged in the outer member, and the inner member slidingly movable relative to the outer member for adjusting the length of the respective leg. In addition, a method of mounting a rotary machine for mixing, pumping or agitating a fluid to a wall of a vessel is proposed.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AGInventors: Amir Baniameri, Erik Blechingberg, Mikael Andersson
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Patent number: 9353764Abstract: A fan propeller comprises blades (14), each of which has a general profile of the aircraft wing type, with a leading edge (28) and a trailing edge (30), a neutral axis (32) and a span (36) between the leading edge (28) and the trailing edge (30). According to one embodiment, the blade (14) has, on at least part of its length, a profile shaped such that the neutral axis (32) makes possible a point of contraflexure (34), and has two opposite concavities, i.e. a positive concavity (C1) between the leading edge (28) and the point of contraflexure (34), and a negative concavity (C2) between the point of contraflexure (34) and the trailing edge (30). Application to motor vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Valeo Systemes ThermiquesInventors: Manuel Henner, Bruno Demory
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Patent number: 8834015Abstract: A blender comprises a jug and a cutting assembly having an upwardly inclined main blade portion. The jug has an interior portion, and the lower portion has a profile that includes an upwardly reaching portion conforms to the blade shape of the cutting assembly to reduce food accumulation below the main blades.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Breville Pty LimitedInventors: Gerard Andrew White, David Davenport
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Patent number: 8485716Abstract: An agitation apparatus and an agitation method that ensure rapid and homogeneous agitation/mixing of fluids with a wide spectrum of viscosities from low to high levels and fluids with high thixotropy throughout an agitation vessel are provided. In an agitation apparatus, a lowest upper agitation blade is arranged to be vertically adjacent to a lower blade. As viewed from above, a line on a plane connecting a lower end portion of the lowest upper agitation blade to the center of an agitation shaft is arranged by a predetermined angle with respect to the center line of the lower blade in a blade radial direction. As viewed from the side, a horizontal cross section including the lower end portion of the lowest upper agitation blade is located below a horizontal cross section including an upper end portion of the lower blade.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: DIC CorporationInventor: Haruhisa Handa
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Patent number: 8328412Abstract: An impeller, a system for mixing a fluid, and a method of mixing a fluid in a tank are disclosed. For a sufficiently small impeller diameter and maximum blade tip velocity, the disclosed impeller, system, and method are capable of accelerating a near-zero intake velocity fluid, to generate a mixing zone that is collimated enough to have sufficient velocity vectors to suspend particles at a large distance away from the impeller, while minimizing the required power draw. An impeller may include a hub defining a longitudinal axis and plural blades spaced circumferentially about the hub. Each blade may include a root portion and a tip portion. Each blade may define a leading edge having an approximately circular raked helical geometry. A system for mixing a fluid may include a tank for containing the fluid, a drive shaft for extending into the tank, and the impeller.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd.Inventor: Robert W. Higbee
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Patent number: 8277114Abstract: An impeller assembly includes a shaft, multiple scoops spaced circumferentially about the shaft, each scoop including an upper blade portion and a lower blade portion, spaced apart at the leading edges and joined at the inner edges, and a rib extending rearward from the inner edges, each scoop being coupled to the shaft by attachment at the rib. A system and method for mixing gas or liquid into liquid include a vessel for containing liquid, a drive shaft for extending into the vessel, and an impeller assembly adapted for rotating about the drive shaft, adapted for submerging below the liquid surface, and having multiple scoops, each scoop including an upper blade portion and a lower blade portion, spaced apart at the leading edges and joined at the inner edges, and a rib extending rearward from the inner edges, each scoop being coupled to the shaft by attachment at the rib.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd.Inventors: Robert W. Higbee, Wojciech R. Wyczalkowski, Todd Hutchinson
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Patent number: 8220986Abstract: A mixer impeller having high efficiency blades. The impeller may include a central hub and a plurality of blades attached to and extending radially outwardly from the hub such that leading edges thereof are inclined upwardly from trailing edges thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Chemineer, Inc.Inventors: Eric Edward Antonio Janz, Kevin J. Myers, William Fryers, Julian B. Fasano
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Patent number: 8210738Abstract: The invention relates to a horizontal agitator for producing a flow in a clearing basin, wherein a propeller (2) having a plurality of blades (4) is connected to a submersible motor (1) axially disposed thereto. In order to increase the efficiency of the horizontal agitator, according to the invention the propeller (2) and the submersible motor (1) are configured such that during operation of the submersible motor (1) a flow (P2) that is directed from the propeller (2) to the submersible motor (1) is produced.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Invent Umwelt-und Verfahrenstechnik AGInventor: Marcus Hoefken
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Patent number: 8201990Abstract: An impeller for use in association with an extraction plate adapted for defibering liquid slurry stock and causing defibered material to pass through the extraction plate. The impeller includes a cylindrical central body portion and a plurality of vanes extending outwardly in a generally tangential direction from the central body portion. The vane leading face height from an extraction side to an air foil surface is substantially constant from the vane outer end to where the vane is attached to the central body portion at the radially outward edge of the central body portion, and then thereafter gradually decreasing in height from the radially outward edge of the body central portion to the airfoil surface at the vane inner end.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.à r.l.Inventors: Anthony C. Sykora, Bruce R. Crossley, Joseph A. Ducharme, James P. Burns
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Patent number: 8061887Abstract: A cartridge in which bone cement is mixed and from which the cement is discharged. A blade with plural vanes is disposed in the cartridge for mixing the cement. A piston located in one end of the cartridge is actuated to push the mixed cement out of the cartridge. The blade has plural vanes, one for scraping cement off the side of the cartridge, one for scraping cement off the piston and one for scraping cement off the end of the cartridge opposite the end in which the piston is normally located. The blade is collapsible so that when the piston is actuated the blade compresses to allow the cement in the cartridge to be pushed out.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Bruce D. Henniges, Christopher M. Tague, Jared P. Coffeen
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Patent number: 8016479Abstract: There is provided a dispersion method of stirring a material to be dispersed in a cavity of a container, so as to create a laminar flow of the material by the stirring action, and a dispersing apparatus including a bottom member and a column-shaped rotating shaft that rotates in the cavity of the container, in which the rotating shaft is provided with two vanes attached thereto with a predetermined inclination, at positions circumferentially spaced by 180 degrees, and the vanes are located at non-overlapping positions in an axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Printing Ink. Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kengo Imai, Toshinari Sekine, Tatsuya Nozaki, Kazuhiro Kabasawa
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Patent number: 7887230Abstract: A mixer is provided that is configured for attachment to a power tool for mixing a viscous material, and includes a shaft defining a shaft axis, and a plurality of paddles attached to the shaft and extending radially from the shaft. All of the paddles have generally the same axial distance to the first end of the shaft, and the paddles are configured for rotation about the shaft axis in a direction of rotation. Each of the paddles has a general “S”-shape defined between a top end and a bottom end of the paddle, and between a leading surface and a trailing surface of the paddle.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: United States Gypsum CompanyInventors: Aaron Charles Rosso, Matthew Earle Myers, Joseph Z. Wascow, Brian A. Retzke, Salvatore C. Immordino, Jr., Terry L. Rosenstiel
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Patent number: 7874071Abstract: A method of making an ice dispense agitator of a type as may be used in ice and beverage dispensing machines is characterized by manufacturing the agitator as an integral unit by cutting the agitator from flat metal stock and then bending the agitator into a desired final shape.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Inventor: Andrew J. Tobler
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Patent number: 7708257Abstract: Apparatus for treating solids, in particular mixing, pelletizing or drying, includes a vessel receiving a solid product, and a driveshaft which is arranged in the vessel. Disposed in fixed rotative engagement with the driveshaft is at least one mixing member which rotates in a rotation direction and has two mixing arms. Each mixing arm includes a main vane of generally triangular cross section to define an apex which is directed in the rotation direction of the mixing member.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Ekato Solidmix GmbHInventors: Uwe Schmidt, Christian Krumbholz, Martin Amsler
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Patent number: 7677792Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic stirring system that is selectively mounted to a cooking vessel. The cooking vessel includes a handle, an opening for receiving food items, and a lid. The automatic stirring system includes a housing mounted to the handle, a ring gear rotatably mounted to the cooking vessel, a drive assembly for rotating the ring gear, and at least one stirring vane attached to the ring gear. In various other embodiments, the automatic stirring system includes at least one forward swept stirring vane, at least one aperture in the stirring vane, a variable speed control unit, and a component orientation that provides substantially unimpeded access to the opening of the cooking vessel.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc.Inventors: Craig M. Saunders, Sarah N. Antonetti
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Publication number: 20090310436Abstract: A beater for a mixer includes a shaft (14) including a mixer attachment portion (16), the shaft defining a rotational axis (A) of the beater. A first stabilizing arm (18) extends outwardly from the shaft and a second stabilizing arm (20) extends outwardly from the shaft and spaced circumferentially from the first stabilizing arm. A first blade (22) has an upper end connected to the first stabilizing arm at a location spaced from the shaft, a lower end located proximate the rotational axis of the beater and a leading face (40) that transitions from a substantially vertical orientation at the lower end to a downwardly angled orientation at the upper end. A second blade (24) has an upper end connected to the second stabilizing arm at a location spaced from the shaft, a lower end located proximate the rotational axis of the beater and a leading face (42) that transitions from a substantially vertical orientation at the lower end to a downwardly angled orientation at the upper end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventors: Joseph C. Huang, Dana D. Herbst, David S. Dickey
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Publication number: 20090238033Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing a liquid having particulate includes a vessel for containing the liquid and an axial impeller rotating about a substantially vertical axis. The impeller is adapted for submerging below the liquid surface by a distance approximately one-quarter to one-half of the height of the liquid. The impeller is oriented upwardly to produce (a) an inner, upward flow region located along the vertical axis of the vessel, (b) a transition flow region above the impeller in which liquid moves radially outwardly toward the vessel sidewall, and (c) an outer, downward flow region located along the sidewall. The impeller spins at a variable speed, such that the flow is capable of entraining solid particles having a settling velocity of up to approximately 1 foot per minute in the liquid, and the speed of the impeller is chosen to enable particles having a desired settling velocity to settle to the vessel bottom.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventor: Wojclech R. Wyczalkowski
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Publication number: 20090114616Abstract: A blender comprises a jug and a cutting assembly having an upwardly inclined main blade portion. The jug has an interior portion, and the lower portion has a profile that includes an upwardly reaching portion conforms to the blade shape of the cutting assembly to reduce food accumulation below the main blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2006Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Gerard Andrew White, David Davenport
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Patent number: 7401974Abstract: An agitator includes a hub for attachment to an agitator shaft, and at least two agitator blades which are connected to the hub and extend in a radial direction for rotation about an axis, with the agitator blade angled in relation to the axis. Each agitator blade has a free end, with a fin being provided in an area of the free end of the agitator blade and extending in a substantial parallel relationship to a direction of the axis away from the agitator shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2007Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: EKATO Rühr- und Mischtechnik GmbHInventor: Werner Himmelsbach
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Publication number: 20080148780Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for homogenizing a glass melt in a melt receptacle, wherein at least one stirring device (10, 11) is disposed in the melt receptacle, which comprises a stirrer shaft (10) and a plurality of stirrer blades (11), and wherein a gap (16) is formed between a wall region of the melt receptacle (2) and the stirrer blades (11). According to the invention, the respective stirring device causes an axial feed action in an inner stirring region (12) between the stirrer shaft (10) and the stirrer blades (11) in order to feed the melt in the stirring region along the stirrer shaft (10). A melt flow brought about by the axial feed action seals the gap (16) against direct passage of the melt. According to the invention, a very high gap width can be achieved, thus preventing the abrasion of materials in the region of the marginal gap. This also reduces the complexity required for adjusting the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Christoph Berndhaeuser, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Karin Naumann, Hans Duerolf, Holger Hunnius
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Publication number: 20080130400Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a rotor for homogenizing a medium. The invention may be utilized in all areas of industry where mere homogenisation of a medium or mixing of at least two flowing media is needed. A preferred application of the invention can be found in pulp and paper making industry where various chemicals have to be mixed with fiber suspensions. A characterizing feature of the invention is the symmetry of the homogenising operation in the homogenising chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2005Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: SULZER PUMPEN AGInventor: Reijo Vesala
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Patent number: 7374333Abstract: An agitator for use on an agitator shaft having an axis of rotation. The agitator has a blade mount configured and dimensioned to receive the agitator shaft and being further configured and dimensioned so as to hold a plurality of agitator blades radially with respect to the axis of rotation. Each agitator blade has a plurality of segments, including an upper segment relative to the axis of rotation and a lower segment relative to the axis of rotation. The segments are inclined at an acute angle relative to the axis of rotation in the direction of rotation, wherein the acute angle changes continuously or stepwise from about 25° at the upper segment to about 65° at the lower segment.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.Inventors: Detlef Eisenkraetzer, Andreas Haug
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Patent number: 7296925Abstract: An agitator, in particular for dispersing gases in liquids, includes a plurality of blades, with each blade being constructed to have a blade portion bent forwards in a rotation direction. The blade has a trailing end region, which defines a blade portion bent forwards in a rotation direction, and a leading end region, which is bent inwards at an angle in a direction toward the blade portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Ekato Rühr- und Mischtechnik GmbHInventors: Werner Himmelsbach, David Houlton
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Patent number: 7172337Abstract: One or more mixing impellers is carried on a driving shaft received in a mixing vessel. Impeller blades are angularly and/or axially distributed on the shaft and can be single staggered axially-spaced blades or groups of two or more placed angularly around the shaft, e.g., diametrically opposite. Each blade has a radially inner flat plate sloped to produce axial flow, preferably at about 15° from parallel to the rotation axis. An outer plate is joined to the inner plate at a bend line with an angle of about 20° located at about 70% of the outside diameter of the impeller path.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, a division of Philadelphia Gear CorporationInventors: Janusz Roszczenko, Wojciech Wyczalkowski
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Patent number: 6955461Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tickler impeller and agitation system for use in stirred slurry reactors and storage tanks. The tickler impeller when mounted on a shaft is effective for providing an inward and downward swirl in a slurry medium which directs solids suspended in the slurry towards the bottom of the tank and towards the shaft on which the impeller is mounted. Directing solids suspended in a slurry downwards and towards the center of the tank rather than pushing those solids away from the center reduces solid deposits on the side of the tank, facilitates draining of the tank, and reduces nozzle starving and pump starvation.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kishore K. Kar, Richard F. Cope, Steve Sandor, Angela Pennington
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Patent number: 6896246Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: SPX CorporationInventors: Ronald J. Weetman, Gary Hodenius, Richard Howk
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Patent number: 6866414Abstract: The present invention provides component parts for a mixing assembly adapted to be used with clean in place techniques. The component parts may include an impeller assembly, an adjustable hub assembly and a steady bearing assembly. In one embodiment, the blades of the impeller assembly may be adapted to direct a portion of the water initially aimed at the top surface of the blade towards the bottom surface of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: JV Northwest, Inc.Inventor: Frank Kupidlowski
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Publication number: 20040228210Abstract: An agitator, in particular for dispersing gases in liquids, includes a plurality of blades, with each blade being constructed to have a blade portion bent forwards in a rotation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Applicant: Ekato Ruhr- und Mischtechnik GmbHInventors: Werner Himmelsbach, David Houlton
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Publication number: 20040174769Abstract: The present invention provides an improved aeration impeller for use in a mixing assembly having an axis of rotation. The aeration impeller includes a hub and a first and second blades that are connected to the hub. Each blade has a first portion positioned at an angle to the axis of rotation and a second portion positioned at an angle to the first portion. The first portion of each blade has an opening that at least partially extends the width of the first portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: SPX CorporationInventor: Ronald J. Weetman
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Patent number: 6786631Abstract: A mixing and reducing machine with an upward-conveying mixing spiral that rotates around a vertical rotational axle. In order to achieve a more intensive mixing of the mixed product a second mixing spiral is connected in the axial direction after a first mixing spiral, with a transition zone arranged in between. In this way, zones of different axial conveying capacity are connected after each other in the axial direction. The mixing spirals are formed of several mixing blades arranged after each other in the circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: LIPP Mischtechnik GmbHInventor: Eberhard Lipp
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Publication number: 20040145966Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tickler impeller and agitation system for use in stirred slurry reactors and storage tanks. The tickler impeller when mounted on a shaft is effective for providing an inward and downward swirl in a slurry medium which directs solids suspended in the slurry towards the bottom of the tank and towards the shaft on which the impeller is mounted. Directing solids suspended in a slurry downwards and towards the center of the tank rather than pushing those solids away from the center reduces solid deposits on the side of the tank, facilitates draining of the tank, and reduces nozzle starving and pump starvation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kishore K. Kar, Richard F. Cope, Steve Sandor, Angela Pennington
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Publication number: 20030035341Abstract: An impeller assembly is mountable onto a rotatable shaft that has a flange extending radially from the shaft and rotating with the shaft. The impeller has at least one blade pair member having two opposed blades and central hub portion having a hole therethrough with an inner diameter at least as large as the outer diameter of the shaft, a plurality of corresponding mounting holes provided in each of the flange and the blade pairs, and a plurality of bolts for fastening the blade pair to the flange via the mounting hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: February 20, 2003Inventor: Robert A. Blakley
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Publication number: 20020176322Abstract: The present invention provides component parts for a mixing assembly adapted to be used with clean in place techniques. The component parts may include an impeller assembly, an adjustable hub assembly and a steady bearing assembly. In one embodiment, the blades of the impeller assembly may be adapted to direct a portion of the water initially aimed at the top surface of the blade towards the bottom surface of the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventor: Frank Kupidlowski
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Patent number: 6457853Abstract: An impeller for use in a mixing apparatus having a rotating shaft has at least one longitudinal member extending substantially radially from the shaft; and a plurality of individual impeller segments each having a bore therethrough. The segments are stacked together with the longitudinal member extending through said bores. The longitudinal member may be an at least partially threaded rod or may be a beam. A method of assembling an impeller for use in a mixing apparatus having a rotating shaft employs the steps of stacking a plurality of individual impeller segments onto a longitudinal member that extends substantially radially from the shaft; and fastening the stacked impeller segments onto the longitudinal member to retain the impeller segments on the longitudinal member.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2000Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: SPX CorporationInventor: David Engel
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Publication number: 20020085450Abstract: An impeller for use in a mixing apparatus having a rotating shaft has at least one longitudinal member extending substantially radially from the shaft; and a plurality of individual impeller segments each having a bore therethrough. The segments are stacked together with the longitudinal member extending through said bores. The longitudinal member may be an at least partially threaded rod or may be a beam. A method of assembling an impeller for use in a mixing apparatus having a rotating shaft employs the steps of stacking a plurality of individual impeller segments onto a longitudinal member that extends substantially radially from the shaft; and fastening the stacked impeller segments onto the longitudinal member to retain the impeller segments on the longitudinal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2000Publication date: July 4, 2002Inventor: David Engel
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Patent number: 6250797Abstract: An axial flow mixing impeller system for efficient mass transfer by control of size of the bubbles of the fluid which is being dispersed, especially gases and liquids with viscosities greater than the liquid into which dispersion occurs, is obtained by creating passageways through the impeller blades for flow between the suction and pressure sides of the blades which disrupts the flow over the suction sides of the blades thereby reducing the tendency for bubbles to grow or coalesce into large bubbles which instead of being dispersed, rise to the surface without effective mass transfer to the liquid which is pumped by the impeller. The blades of the impeller may be slotted inwardly from the tips thereof to provide the passageways or may be formed from segments, gaps between which provide the flow passageways.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1998Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: General Signal CorporationInventor: Ronald J. Weetman
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Patent number: 6190033Abstract: A glass coated gas dispersing impeller. The impeller comprises a hub, having a centrally located hole. The hole has a central axis and is sized for passage over a drive shaft having an essentially vertically extending longitudinal axis so that the central axis of the centrally located hole corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The impeller has a plurality of angles and edges, all of which have a rounded configuration. The impeller further comprising a plurality of blades secured to the hub that extend radially outward from the central axis. Each of the blades has a leading concave surface and a trailing convex surface both of which are defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, an inner edge and an outer edge. The concave surface is configured so that the upper edge overhangs the lower edge. The blades may be connected to the hub directly or by intermediate connecting means such as a disk or arm integral with the hub and extending radially outwardly from the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1999Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Pfaulder, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Rickman, Philip E. McGrath, Matthias Georg Heinzmann