Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MIXER FOR LIQUID CHARGES
The present invention relates to a conditioner and par-
ticularly to the application of the wobble principle as
applied to a conditioner for liquid-like charges.
Although the wobble principle has been made use of in
5 mixing such ingredients as concrete, such mixers are not always
capable of being effectively and economically produced in
small sizes such, for example, as might be useful in mi~ing
laboratory samples or in another fi~ld in the washing of
clothes. For more sophisticated mixing of many of the more
lO recent plastic materials, some loaded with fillers, and with
various rapid set up times, aided by heat and catalysts, slow
motion but rapidly effective mixing techniques need to be made
use of. There is fur,ther, in sundry industrial processes,
need for a wa~hing machine capable of washing both hard and
15 soft objects where the washing takes place in presence of
liquid, liquid detergent, or other washing media, and for the
washing of various materials, both hard objects and soft
objects such as fabric. It is also necessary in some types
of laboratory conditioning operations to wash or agitate a
20 liquid in the presence of a vacuum, in the presence of a
pressure above atmospheric, and perhaps in other assor~ed
special environments.
The present invention provides a conditioner for liquid~
like charges comprising: a frame; a closed housing on the
frame; a composite container for said charges comprising a
lower flexible section located within said housing and an
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upper rigid section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of
the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journal~d in
a lower wall of said housing and having a driving relationship
witll said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location
below said housing; said motor having a driving connection
with the wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion
to the flexible section and li~uid-like charge therein; both
the lower flexible section and the upper rigid section being
entirely within the housing and means attaching the upper rigid
sect~ion to the housing.
According to another aspect there is provided a con-
ditioner for liquid-like charges comprising: a frame; a closed
housing on the frame; said housing having lower, side and top
wall structures and a removable closure on one of said structures;
a composite container for said charges comprising a lower flex-
ible section located within said housing and an upper rigid
section; a wobble plate mounted on the bottom of the flexible
section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled in a lower wall
structure of said housing and having a driving relationship
with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame at a location
below and exterior relative to said housing; said motor having
a driving connection with the wobble drive whereby to impart
an oscillatory motion to the flexible saction and liquid~
like charge therein, said housing surrounding both the flexible
section and the rigid section and a partition separating the
interior of the housing into a lower chamber
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surrounding the flexible section and an upper chamber surroun-
ding the rigid section, both said sections having openings
through the respective walls; and means for draining said
container.
S According to a further aspect there is provided a con-
ditioner of liquid-like charges comprising: a ~r:ame; a closed
housing on the frame; said housing having a lower, side and
top wall structures and a removable closure on one of said
structures; a composite container for said charges comprising
a lower flexible section located within said housing and an
upper rigid section; a wo~ble plate mounted on the bottom
of the flexible section; a wobble drive rotatably journaled
in a lower wall structure of said housing and having a driving
relationship with said wobble plate; a motor on said frame
at a location below and exterior relative to said housing; said
motor having a one direction dri~ing connection with the
wobble drive whereby to impart an oscillatory motion to the
flexible section and liquid-like charge therein; a rotatable
drive connection between said upper rigid section and the
housing; and a supporting structure for said container loc-
ated in said housing, a lower portion of said supporting
structure being rotatable mounted on said housing and said
rigid section being mounted on and carried by said supporting
structure, and means for draining said container.
The features and objects of the present invention will
be best understood from the following description of the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form
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of the device set up and ready for operation.
FIGURE 2 in a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of
Figure l;
EIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view o~ another
form of the device showing a li~uid-like charge of material
in the inner moving container preparatory to the conaitioning
operation;
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a somewhat
simpler version of the conditioner picture in Figure 3; and
~IGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of still
another form of the invention.
In one of a variety of forms of the invention chosen for
the purpose of illustration, there is shown in Figure 1 a
frame indicated generally by the reference character 10 con-
sisting of a base 11 and upright legs 12 and 13 stiffenedby braces 14 and 15 respectively. A yoke 16 consisting of a
platform 17 and arms 18 and 19 i9 tiltably supported on the
legs 12 and 13 by employment of a pivot connection 20 for
the arm 18 and a pivot connection 21 for the arm 19. A
handle 22 may be employed to tilt the yoke and its load, when
desired.
Supported by the yoke on the platform 17 is a housing 25
having a bottom wall 26 and a side wall 27, the side wall
housing a chamber 28.
At the upper end of the housing 25 is a section 27'
joined to the housing 25 by a flexible band 29. The section
27~ is attached to an annular band 30 on which are lugs 30'
by which the section 27' is supported at the tops of the arms
18 and 19. Also supported by the annular band 30 is an
agitating container indicated generally by the reference
character 31.
It is of material significance that the container be a
two-part construction, which consists of two sections, namely
an upper rigid section 32 and a lower flexible section 33.
In the form of the invention of Figure 1 as in the other
forms of tha invention the object is to mix, wash or other-
10 wise condition a specific charge of material in batch lots.
Although the volume of the charge may vary to some extent,
there is a relationship to the volume of the contalner which
should be observed. Obviously the aggregate volume of the
upper rigid section and the lower flexible section must exceed
15 the volume of the charge. Of greater importance is that the
volume of the charge be in excess of the volume of the lower
flexible section. This means that the volume of the upper
rigid section be at:least comparable to that of the lower
flexible section though preferably greater by a measurable
20 amount.
Where the upper rigid section has a cylindrical form and
the lower flexible sec~ion is connected directly to it and has
at that point substantially the same cylindrical form, the
depth of the upper rigid section will be materially greater
25 than the depth of the lower flexible section.
With the relationship as described, the charge will
occupy both sections, and experience a dif~erent mixing effect
in each, portions of the charge passing cyclically out of one
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section and into the other and then returning. sy having a
substantial portion of the charge in the upper rigid section a~
all times, the lower flexible section will be required to move
only a smaller fraction of the charge during its cyclical
5 wobble operation while portions of the charge merely change
places in the container as a whole. The result is a more
thorough, more rapid mixing or washing operation, as the case
may be, without, however, requiring any more appreciable speed
up in the oscillatory wobble motion.
In the embodiment of Figure 1 the liquid level of the
charge will normally be somewhere near the mid portion of the
upper rigid section. If a fold-in type of mixing is to be
done, as where solid ingredients are to be mixed with a
liquid mass, the level may be below the free end of such
15 agitator post 46 as may be employed. For washing operations
the upper rigid section may be almost full.
In the e~emplary embodiment of the invention of Figure 1,
the upper edge of the lower flexible section is anchored to
the lower edge of the upper rigid section by a band 34. A
20 cover 35 provided with a handle 36 is shown and there may be
provided a seal 37 which makes a sealing connection with an
upper rim 38 of the rigid section 32.
Fastened to the bottom of the lower flexible section is
a wobble assembly indicated generally by the reference char-
25 acter 39. The wobble assembly consists of an inner plate 40and an outer plate 41, outer perimet~rs of which secure be-
tween them an annular edge 42 of the lower flexible section
by means of bolts 43. To give the charge an adequate lift when
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the wobble plate 40 is oscillated, it is advisable to have the
diameter of the wobble relatively large as compared to the
diameter o~ the lower flexible section measured, for example,
at the upper perimetrical edge.
An electric motor 50 is hung on the un~er side of the
platform 17 and connected thereto by a casing 51 housing a
gear reducer. A drive shat 52 from the gear reducer extends
upwardly through a hole 53 into the chamher 28. A liquid-
tight packing 54 forms a rotating seal, being held down by a
10 flange 55 secured by screws 56.
On the upper end of the drive shaft 52 is a fitting 57
providing an offset head 58. A tilted shaft 59 extendin~
obliquely upwardly from the offset head is rotatably contained
in a disc 45 which is anchored to the inner plate 40.
An agitator post 46 secured to the inner plate 40 by a
bolt 47 extends into the interior of the container 31 and moves
with the wobble assembly 39. ~ relatively short post is
shown. Occasions may, however, be such as to require a much
longer post extending well into the upper rigid section.
By rotation of the fitting 57 and offset head 58 at a
relatively slow speed achieved by employment of the gear re-
ducer, an oscillating movement or wobble motion is imparted to
the disc 45 and, accordingly, to the bottom of the lower
flexible section 33 and its contents. Oscillation as des-
25 cribed provides the agitation for the conditioning, cleaning
or mixing of a charge in the container 31.
Where some special condition is desired a~j for example,
conditioning in the presence of a vacuum, there may be provlded
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a vacuum line 60 in communication with the chamber 28 in the
housing 25. A vent 61 protected by a baffle 62 is in communi-
cation with the interior of the container 31 to equalize pres-
sure between the exterior and the interior of the flexible
5 section 33 thereby permitting it to operate freely as long as
the containers are being subjected to a vacuum condition.
Conversely, a pressure condition could be maintained through
the same line 60.
After conditioning of the charge within the con.ta.iner 31
10 by the wobble motion described, the charge can be discharged
after first removing the cover 35 by manipulating the handle
22 in order to tilt the yoke and consequently the container 31
to a partially inverted position whereby the contents can be
discharged. In this tilting operation the entire apparatus,
15 namely the yoke, the container 31, and motor 50 is tilted
about the axis of rotation of the pivot connections, 20 and 21.
By so balancing the assembly that the greater load is on the
side occupied by the electric motor 50, when the container 31
is loaded with a charge, the yoke will always tend to assume
20 the position of Figure 1 which may be designated as upright
position with the cover 35 at the top~..
In a second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures
3 through 7, the frame consists of a cylindrical base 65 in
which a chamber 66 houses an electric motor 67 with its gear
25 reducer 68 arranged to drive a drive shaft 69. A conical
clutch 70 when in engagement transfers the drive to a driven
shaft 71 which extends through the bottom 72 of a housing
indicated generally by the reference character 73 embodied
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in part in a cylindrical wall 74. A thrust ring 75 attached
to the bottom 72 above an opening 76 therein accomodates the
drived shaft permitting it to rotate freely. At the upper end
of the driven shaft is a fitting 77 having an offset head 78
5 on which is a tilted shaft 79 forming part of the wobble action.
The tilted shaft 79 is rotatably secured in a disc 80 which is
part of an inner plate 81. The inner plate 81 and an outar
plate 82 hold between them an annular edge 83 o~ a flexible
section 84, the flexible section being part of a container indi-
lO catèd generally by the reference character 85, of which a rigidsection 86 forms the other part. The upper edge of the flexi-
ble section is anchored to the lower edge of the rigid section
by means of a band 87.
For mounting the container in the housing 74 there is
15 provided a p3~ti:~ti~0n 88 on which is an annular flange 89,
the rigid section 86 being secured to the annular flange 89
by welding or other appropriate attachment.
In addition to providing a support for the container 85,
the partition 88 devides the interiGr of the housing 73 into
20 an upper chamber 90 and a lower chamber 91, the container 85
is in communication with the upper chamber 90 not only by reason
of the rigid section having an open top, but also by use of
the multiplicity of performations 92 which extend through the
wall of the rigid section. If desired the ~lexible section
25 84 may be provided with perforations 184 to communicate with
the lower chamber 91. A solenoid actuated dra~in valve 93 is
adapted to be opened and closed by remote dontrol when the
liquid contents of the container are to be discharged. After
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the liquid contents pass through the open drain valve into
the lower chamber 91, they can be discharged therefrom by a
discharge valve 94.
A~ pictured by way o~ example, the machine is set up
5 for washing a charge consisting of bundles 98 of fabric
in a detergent liquid 97. It will be appreciated, however,
that this is by way of example only inasmuch as the charge
could be solid objects or virtually any type or description
of article which might need conditioning, as for example,
10 washing, dyeing, impregnating, bleaching, softening, etc.
Here the volume of the charge is about twice the volume of
the lower flexible section, and the liquid level is near the
top of the upper rigid section.
A lid 99 is shown closing the top of the container 73
15 where an occasion might require conditioning under special
designated pressure as, for example, either a vacuum or neg-
ative pressure on the one hand, or a positive pressure on
the other hand. On other occasions the chamber 90 may be
filled with a selected gas of some predetermined mixture.
After the charge has been conditioned, as suggested in
the foregoing description, and i~ should become desirable to
rid the bundles 98 of surplus moisture, there is an arrange-
ment built into the housing 73 making it possible to spin
dry the contents. To accomplish this an annular bearing com-
prising upper and lower races 103 and 104 serves to mount
the housing 73 on the c~lindrical base 65. A gear train con-
sisting of a large gear 105 on the drive shaft 69 meshing
with a small gear 106 on a driven shaf-t 107 is made use of to
rotate the driven shaft 107 at a relatively higher speed. The
driven shaft is journaled on a brack~t 108.
The second drive shaft 109 in axial alignment with the
driven shaft 107 has a magnetic clutch 110 asso~iated therewith
5 the second drive sha~t being rotatably mounted in a bracket
111. On the second drive shaft 109 is a pulley 112 over which
passes a belt 113, the belt passing over a pulley 114 on the
drive shaft 71. The pulley 114 is made fast to the bottom
72 of the housing 73 so that when the pulley 114 is rotated,
10 the housing 73 will be rotated. When the housing 73 is being
rotated at the higher speed made possible by the gear ratios
of the gears 105 and 106, the clutch 70 is disengaged by mani-
pulation of the plunger 115 and rocker arm 116 in a substan-
tially conventional ~ashion.
Holes 88' through the partition 88 allow liquid to en-
tirely surround both upper and lower portions of the container
85. A seal 76' effectively seals the opening 76 through
which the drive shaft 71 passes. In the form of invention of
Figure 4 which xesembles Figure 3 as to its general aspects,
20 a partition 188 whichcarries the upper rigid section 86 of a
container 85' on the cylindrical wall 74 is imperforate.
Holes 184 through the lower flexible section 84' permit liquid
to pass freely between the interior of container 85' and the
lower chamber 91. A housing 118 contains a fixed outer bearing
25 ring 119 and an inner bearing ring 119' attached to the uppex
rigid section 86 so that if need be the container 85' is free
to rotate. A discharge valve 94' drains the upper chamber 90.
~n the form of invention of Figure 5, spin dry is
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accomplished in a differ~nt fashion. To make this possible
an annular bearing 120 is made use of. One bearing ring 121
is mounted on a partition 122, and a second bearing ring
123 is secured to a bushing 124 anchored in a platform 125.
5 The partition 122 is at the top of a base 126 on a supporting
surface 127. More particularly the partition is the bottom
of a housing 128, the housing forming a chamber 129 ~or a
reservoir o~ liquid 130.
Within the chamber 129 is an agitating container indi-
10 cated generally ~3y the reference character 131. In this formof the invention the agitating container 131 has a rigid
upper section 132 and a flexible lower section 133 secured to
the upper section by a band 134. A rotating yoke 135, of
which the platform 125 is part, has arms 136 and 137, the tops
15 of which have plates 138 and 139 to which the upper section
132 is anchored. Perforation 140 allow the li~uid 130 to
pass into the container 131 and a lid 141 keeps the liquid
from splashing out.
At the bottom of the lower section a solenoid actuated
20 discharge valve 143 can be opened to completely drain the con
tainer when needed. To empty the chamber 129 a drain valve
146 is provided.
For agitating the contents 147 of the container 131 while
the yoke 135 remains stationary, use is made of a wobble
assembly 150. As in other forms of the invention, the wobble
assembly consists of an inner plate 151 and an outer plate
152 which clamp between them an annular edge 153 of the lower
section.
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c~- Power for the operation is provided by a motor 155 in
the base 126 acting through a speed reducer 156 to rotate a
motor shaft 157. A fitting 158 on the sha~t 157 has an offset
head 159 on which is a freely rotating shaft 160 journaled
5 in a disc 161, the disc being part of the inner plate 151.
A bearing unit 162 secured by a flange 163 to the under-
side of the partition 122 contains a bearing 164 which
rotatably supports the shaft 157, the shaft extending through
an opening 165 in which is a seal 166.
Where a spin dry action is desired~ there is employed
a clutch 170 of substantially conventional construction
mounted in the bushing 124, and when desired/ operated by
electrical means (not shown) from an exterior station.
Action of the clutch is to interconnect the shaft 157 and the
15 yoke 135 so that the yoke and all that is mounted on it rotates.
In this form of the device perforations 168 may be pro~
vided in the flexible lower section 133.
The motor 155 may, for example, be a two~spe.ed motor
controlled by an appropriate motor switch 171 whereby when
20 the device is being used for conditioning such, Eor example,
as washing, the low speed rate is employed. When the spin
dry operation is to take place, the motor can be shited to
high speed operation. Consequently, the rotation of the yoke
135 at the relatively higher speed spins the container 131
25 thereby to rid the bundles of presence of liquld by operation
of centrifugal forceO Such liquid as may be thus spun from
the bundles can again be drained off through the drain valve
146.
5~
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While the invention has herein been shown and described
in what is conceived to be a practical and effective embodi-
ment r it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom
within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited
5 to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the
full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equiva-
lent devices.
