Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
f'~
CENTER DISCHARGE MIXER FOR FLUENT AND NONFLUENT MATERIAL
Background of the Inv ntlon
The present invention is directed generally to an
improved mixer for fluent and nonfluent material and to an
improved method of mixing material within a mixer tank.
More speciEically, the present invention is directed
to an improved mixer wherein material is mixed by a large
rotor within a main chamber of a tank and then moved
over a ridge into a lower portion of an auxiliary
chamber wherein the material is axially converged toward
a generally centrally located discharge openingO When
the opening is closed, the material is piled upwardly
into an upper portion of the auxiliary chamber and
advanced toward an end wall for spillage back into
; the main chamber and for downward movement back to
the lower portion of the auxiliary chamber.
In the cattle industry, there is a recent trend
~ back to the farmer feeder. In such operations, the
20 ~ cattle are fed a greater proportion of roughage such
as hay and silage and a less proportion of grain.
Furthermore, in large cattle operations, a
farmer may have to mix and distribute as many as Eorty or fifty
tank loads of feed per day. Accordingly, there is a need for an
improved mixer capable of quickly and efficiently mixing and
discharging large quantities of hay, silage and/or grain.
I Feed ~ixers generally are known in the art. Copeland et
al 3,090,605, in which inventor Neier herein was a co-inventor,
disclosed a mixer capable of efficient end-to-end mixing. That
mixer included an arrangement of upper and lower augers for
llmoving material in opposite directions. That mixer was not
llsuited for handling roughage such as long stringy hay, however,
¦since the hay would become wedged between the lower auger and
~the downwardly and inwardly tapering side walls of the main
chamber.
Crose 3,672,640 disclosed another mixer wherein a
combination auger with rotor paddles was rotatably supported in
a main chamber with a single discharge auger in a side chamber.
A problem of this arrangement is the lack of end-to-end mixing.
For example, if additives are poured into the tank at the
¦¦downstream end of the main auger, no mixing of the additive
Iwith the material at the upstream end of the tank will occur.
~¦Furthermore, the Crose mixer is limited to the handling of
fluent materials. The wall between the main and side chambers
~¦is so low that material is thrown laterally wi-th substantial
I~Eorce. If hay were to be handled, it would be poked into the
discharge auger by the rotors causing a binding action and
~potential da~nage.
;l A mixer designed to handle hay was disclosed in Walley
U. S. Patent 4,298,283~ A rotor in a main chamber mixes the
llmaterial and feeds it to a single rotating agitator in a side
discharge chamber. Whereas this mixer is capable of handling
l hay, it has limited mixing capabilities and virtually no end-to-
end mixing action.
--2--
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is
to provide an improved material mixer.
A more specific object is to provide a feed mixer capable
of handling hay and roughage without binding action of the
material therein.
Another object is to provide such a mixer with efficient
end-to end mixing capability.
Another object is to provide a mixer wherein material is
~ mixed in a main chamber by a plurality of rotating rotor bars
10 lland wherein material is cycled through an auxiliary chamber
j wherein the material is advanced from end-to-end in opposite
Illdirections.
,1 Another object is to provide a mixer wherein material is
continuously cycled between the main and auxiliary chambers
jthereof and back and forth from end-to-end prior to discharge.
Another object is to provide an improved mixer capable oE
cleaning and discharging substantially all of the material from
the main chamber.
Another object is to provide an improved mixer which is
~ li simple and rugged in construction, economical to manufacture and
efficient in operation~
Summary of the Invention
I . . . _ _ ~
The improved mixer of the present invention includes a
mixer tank having a bottom wall which is shaped to provide a
relatively large curved wall portion defining the bottom of a
! main chamber and a second smaller curved wall portion deEining
the bottom of an auxiliary chamber with an elongated ridge at
the junction of the curved wall portions. ~ rotor having
several elongated rotor bars adjacent the outer periphery
I thereof, is supported in the main chamber for rotation in a
direction for movement oE the rotor bars across the first wall
portion toward the auxiliary chamber.
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1 2~ ,62
The auxiliary chamber includes a pair of stacked augers
adapted for moving material axially of the tank in opposite
directions. Material is thus continuously cycled first in a
mixing rotary motion within the main chamber whereupon material
is presented to the lower auger in the auxiliary chamber for
movement axially of the tank. A discharge gate is provided in
the auxiliary chamber at a position between and substantially
spaced from both end walls. Feed is thus continuously cycled
I past the discharge gate and is ready to be emptied at any time.
',IWhen the gate is closed, material piles up at the closed gate
and the upper auger directs it toward the opposite ends of the
tank. Much of the feed spills back in~o the main chamber with
the remaining feed being recycled back downwardly to the lower
~lauger in the auxiliary chamber.
The ridge between the main and auxiliary chambers is so
positioned that material is fluffed upwardly by the rotor toward
the auxiliary chamber but not forced or pinched between the
rotor and lower auger. Finally, spring actuated wiper blades
are provided on one or more of the rotor bars for cleaning and
~Idischarging substantially all of the material from the main
chamber~
Brief Description of the Drawings
l ~
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mixer of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the
¦Imixer;
Figure 3 is a rear sectional view of the drive train for
the rotor and augers, taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2;
Il Figure 4 is a partial rear sectional view taken along line
30 1l 4-4 in Figure 2 and showing the movable door over the discharge
opening of the mixer;
Figure 5 is a partially sectional side view showing the
stacked augers in the auxiliary chamber;
Figure 6 is a partial sectional rear view of the mixer
taken along line 6~6 in Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of -the upper auger;
; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lower auger;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the rotor;
Figure 10 is an enlarged partially sectional end view of
; the spring-loaded wiper blade on a rotor bar;
I Figure 11 is an enlarged partially sectional end view of
¦the spring-mounted rotor bar, as seen on line 11-11 in Figure 9;
ll Figure 12 is an enlarged foreshortened and partially
sectional side view of the rotor bars, taken along line 12-12 ir.
~Figure 9;
j Figure 13 is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of
the flow path of naterial through the mixer;
Figure 14 is a partially sectional end view through an
alternate embodiment of the mixer including dual upper augers;
I Figure 15 is a partially sectional side view showing the
stacked augers in the auxiliary chamber of a 10-foot center
l¦discharge mixer;
I Figure 16 is a perspective view of the upper auger
~¦thereoi;
Il Figure 17 is a perspective view of the lower auger
j thereof;
igure 18 is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of
~the flow path of material through the mixer of E'igure 15;
Figure 19 is a partially sectional side view showing the
stacked augers in the auxiliary chamber oE a 12-foot center
discharge mixer;
Figure 20 is a partially sectional side view show.ing the
I stacked augers in the auxiliary chamber of a 14-foot center
discharge mixer;
Figure 21 is a perspective view oE the upper auger
thereof,
--5
Figure 22 is a perspective view of the lower auger
~thereof;
Figure 23 is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of
the flow path of material through the mixer of Figures 20 and
124; and
Figure 24 ~s a partially sectional side view showing the
~ stacked augers in the auxiliary chamber of a 15-foot center
I discharge mixer.
~ Description of the Preferred Embodiments
~I The feed mixer 10 of the present invention is illustrated
I in Figures 1 and 2 as supported on a single axle trailer frame
¦ 12 having a forwardly extended tongue 14 and a pair of ground
wheels 16. It will be apparent that the mixer could alternately
~¦be mounted stationarily or on a truck or other vehicle but the
trailer frame mounting is advantageous for ease of handling and
¦I for convenient use of the PTO drive train.
¦ Mixer 10 includes a mixer tank 18 having forward and
rearward end walls 20 and 22, opposite side walls 24 and 26 and
a bottom wall 28 (Fig. 6). A peripheral frame, referred to
ll generally at 30, surrounds, supports and connects the various
tank walls together.
Referring to Figure 6, bottom wall 28 includes a first
relatively large radius curved wall portion 32 defining the
Il bottom of a main chamber 34 and a second relatively smaller
I radius curved wall portion 36 defining the bottom of an
auxiliary chamber 38 which is laterally disposed relative to
main chamber 34. An elongated ridge 40 spans the length of the
tank at the junction of the curved wall portions 32 and 36. An
~ elongated generally wedge-shaped divider 42 spans the length of
30 1l the tank on the interior surface of side wall 24 as a partial
Il divider between upper and lower portions 44 and 46 of auxiliary
chamber 38.
-6-
Figure 6 also illustrates the arrangement of mixing units
within the tank. These include a large rotor 48 in main chamber
34 and a pair of stacked augers including a lower auger 50 and
upper auger 52 in auxiliary chamber 38. Each of these units
include central shafts which are rotatably supported in the
Irespective chambers and which extend rearwardly through rearward
;lend wall 22 for driven connection to the PTO drive shaft 54
which extends along the underside of mixer 10 below bottom wall
1 28. Drive shaft 54 carries a small drive sprocket 56 which is
l¦connected by chain 58 to a large driven sprocket 60 on upper
I auger S2 for a speed reduction drive connection therebetween.
Upper auger 52 carries a smaller drive sprocket 62 which is
connected by chain 64 to a large driven sprocket 66 on lower
auger 50 for a further speed reduction drive connection
therebetween. Finally, a small drive sprocket 68 on lower auger
~¦50 is connected by chain 70 to a large driven sprocket 72 on
rotor 48 for a substantial spe2d reduction drive connection
¦therebetween. Various spring arm mounted idler sprockets are
~ provided as illustrated in Figure 3 for each of the three drive
1 chains 58, 64 and 70.
~ discharge opening 74 is shown in Figures lt 2 and 4 at
an exterior lower forward location on auxiliary chamber 38. For
~,side discharge mixers, the discharge opening 74 is preferably
¦¦situated at the junction between side wall 24 and bottom wall
! portion 36. A movable door 76 is hinged along its upper edge
~for pivotal movement between the solid and dotted line posi~ions
lillustrated in E`igure 4 for closing and opening discharge
l~opening 74 respectively. Movement of door 76 is controlled by a
1l! pair of hydraulic cylinders 78 and 80 which are connected to a
30 1l pair of hydraulic lines 82 and 84 which extend forwardly for
connection to a tractor hydraulic system.
A discharge chute 86 extends downwardly and outwardy from
discharge opening 74 and has a movable discharge guide 88
--7--
pivotally connected at the base of the chute B6 Eor up and down
pivotal movement by hydraulic cylinder 90 as indicated by arrow
92 in Figure 4.
The structure and arrangement of lower and upper augers 50
and 52 are illustrated in Figures 5-8. The term aug~r is used
loosely to refer to a rotatable mixer capable of advancing
material axially therealong and is not limited to the
conventional structure wherein flighting is extended along
~substantially the entire length thereo~. Lower auger 50 is
'l~rotatably supported on forward and rearward end walls 20 and 22
by bearings 35 and 97 respectively. Central shaft 94 has
flighting 96 beginning at a position adjacent rearward end wall
22 and extending forwardly ovPr slightly more than half of the
length of the shaft for conveying material forwardly in the
direction of arrow 98 in response to rotation of the lower auger
in the direction of arrow 100. Forwardly of flighting 96,
central shat 94 carries a number of radially extended paddles
~l arranged in axially and circumferentially spaced-apart relation.
~I These paddles include several radially directed fins 102
20 11 adjacent the forward end oE the shaft, which fins are inclined
1 45 relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of lower auger
l 50 so as to operatively retard the forward motion of material in
response to rotation of the auger in the direction of arrow 100.
This facilitates the upward movement of material toward the
upper auger 52. ~etween flightiny 96 and fins 102 additional
paddles are provided in the form of radially directed angle iron
members 104 for chopping the feed material being advanced
forwardly by the auyer flighting 96. The angle iron members 104
I are also so disposed that the inclined Elanges thereof tend to
move material forwardly toward the fins 102 in response to
rotation of the lower auger.
! Upper auger 52 is shown as being supported directly above
lower auger 50 between forward and rearward end walls 20 and 22
--8--
by bearings 106 and 108. Central shaft 110 carries flighting
112 from a position adjacent forward end wall 20 to a position
just beyond the halfway point between forward and rearward end
walls 20 and 22. The upper auger also includes a number of
radially extended paddles arranged in axially and
circumferentially spaced~apart relation between the flighting
112 and rearward wall 22. These paddles are shown as radially
extended angle iron members 114 and 116. Mesnbers 114 are so
Idisposed that the inclined flanges thereof tend to advance
llmaterial rearwardly in the direction of arrow 118 in response to
rotation of the upper auger in the direction of arrow ll9o The
~endmost members 116, however, are oppositely directed for
retarding the rearward flow of material in response to rotation
of upper auger S2 in the direction of arrow 119.
! Rotor 48 is illustrated in Figure 9 as including a central
shaft 120 having a forward end 122 with forward and rearward
¦rotor sections 124 and 126 fixed thereon for rotation therewith.
Whereas the forward and rearward rotor sections 124 and 126
llappear to be ro~a~ed 90 relative to one another, they are
otherwise identical and accordingly like reference numerals will
I be used to refer to like parts of each.
Each rotor section includes forward rotor arms 128 which
~are circumferentially aligned with a set of rearward rotor arms
130. An elongated rotor bar 132, preferably in the form oE a
pipe, is axially extended between and connected to the outer
ends oE each aligned pair of forward and rearward rotor arms 128
and 130. These pipes turn and mix the feed in main chamber 34
in response to rotation of the rotor in the direction of arrow
134. The number oE rotor arms at each end oE a rotor section is
not critical to the present invention although a single arm
would result in rather slow mixing and more than five arms may
tend to churn the feed as a unit without adequate mixing action.
~9_
~2~
Referring to Figure 11, each rotor bar 132 is supported
for limited radial movement relative to the associated rotor
arms 128 and 130. Specifically, a channel member 136 on the
surface of the rotor arm facing the rotor bar is provided with
an open ended slot 138 for receiving one end of a rotor bar 132.
he open end of slot 138 is closed by a generally inverted U-
shaped closure 140 which is bolted to channel member 136 as
shown. A compression spring 142 has its lower end fixed within
channel 136 and its upper end bearing against the underside of
llrotor bar 132 to urge it radially outwardly of the rotor.
The rotor arms 128 and 130 are of a length such that the
rotor bars 132, in their outermost positions, travel in an arc
~IsubstantiallY conforming to and adjacent to the first curved
llwall portion 32 of bottom wall 28 as shown in Figure 6.
¦~ An elongated wiper assembly 144 may be substituted for one
or more rotor bars 132 on each rotor section. ~eferring to
~IFigures 10 and 12, wiper assembly 144 includes an elongated
,I wiper blade 146 having a straight continuous outer edge 148 and
~ an inner edge fixed to a sleeve 150 for pivotal movement on pipe
Il 152 which is fixed in radially offset relation from a pair of
l~end sleeves 154 by a pair of end plates 156. End sleeves 154
each include a depending rod 158 for insertion into compression
spring 142 as shown in Figure 12. Sleeve 150 has a pair of
tangential flanges 160 adjacent the opposite ends thereof which
¦1 include an upstanding stub 162 for engaging one end of a
compression spring 164. The other end of spring 64 is engaged
upon an oppositely directed stub 166 on end plate flange 168 for
urging wiper blade 146 in the direction of arrow 170 in Figure
1 10 toward engagement with a stop member 172. Wiper blade 146 is
thus free to pivot from the solid line position to the dotted
line position indicated in Figure 10 against the urging of
compression spring 164 in response to encountering an
obstruction. Each wiper blade is thus radially movable under
--10--
the influence of compression springs 142 and pivotally movable
under the influence of compression springs 164.
In operation, feed material is loaded into mixer tank lS
and any suppiements or additives may be poured in with or over
the feed material at any location along the tank. Upon
engagement of the PTO drive linkage, the ro~or 48 and upper and
lower augers 50 and 52 are rotated in the directions indicated
in Figure 6 to cause movement of feed in a circulating path
lindicated in Figure 13. Line 174 in Figure 6 indicates the top
llsurface of material when the tank is full. It is preferred that
l¦the tank be filled only to such a level that the rotor bars 132
I remain exposed at their uppermost positions. This facilitates a
falling action of the feed material over the rotor bar which
results in improved mixing. As the rotor 48 turns, some of the
! material is simply circulated in a rotary path within main
chamber 34 while being agitated by the rotor bars 132. Other
material is fluffed upwardly over ridge 40 toward lower auger 50
for movement rearwardly along a lower portion of auxiliary
llchamber 38 in the direction of arrow 176. That material is
¦chopped by the paddles 102 and 104 forwardly of the flighting
for further mixingO When door 76 is in its closed position,
rearward movement of material in the lower portion of auxiliary
chamber 38 is retarded by the fins 102 whereupon the material
moves upwardly in the direction oE arrow 178 to a forward upper
portion of auxiliary chamber 38. Upper auger 52 further mixes
the material and advances it rearwardly along the upper portion
I of auxiliary chamber 38. The material closest to main chamber
jl 34 spills over into the main chamber for recycling therein by
the rotor 48. Other material is advanced to the rearward end of
30 1l auxiliary chamber 38 where it is circulated back downwardly in
the direction of arrow 180 to lower auger 50.
Whereas rotor 48 is not designed to induce axial movement
of material in the main chamber 34, that material is
--11--
continuously cycled back and forth in the auxiliary chamber and
recirculated back to the main chamber at various axial positions
therealong for thorough mixing of feed in the tank regardless o
where it was initially deposited. Furthermore, the material is
constantly circulated past discharge opening 74 so that the tank
can readily be emptied at any time when the door 76 is opened.
The retarding action of the fins 102 at the forward end of the
lower auger 50 facilitates the discharge of material through
~ discharge opening 74.
10 ll Another characteristic of the feed mixer 10 is that when
the tank is full, material tends to pile up at the end of the
auxiliary chamber 38 which is opposite to the end ~here the
discharge opening 74 is situated.
Note that the discharge opening 74 could be situated at
the rearward end of auxiliary chamber 38 and the operation would
remain the same so long as the upper and lower augers 50 and 52
were reversed for movement of material in the opposite axial
direction. Likewise, the discharge opening could be situated
~ centrally of the auxiliary chamber in which case the lower auger
~ would be designed to pull material from both ends toward the
middle and the upper auger would direct material toward both
ends from the middle. In all of these embodiments, the upper
auger moves material in an a~ial direction opposite to the
direction oE flow of material therebelow by the lower auger.
This is generally true at any position along the upper and lower
augers but for those end positions where one or the other auger
, may have reverse operating paddles or kickers.
Another e~lbodiment of the feed mixer 10 is shown in Figure
14 wherein a pair of upper augers 182 and 18~ have been
~l substituted for the single upper auger 52 in the prior
embodiment. These augers are of similar construction but of
smaller diameter than the single upper auger and cooperate with
one another to effect the same movement of material as described
-12-
6~
above in connection with the previous embodiment.
The vertical height of ridge 40 relative to rotor 48 andlower auger 52 is important for maximum efficiency of the feed
.
mixer 10. PreEerably ridge 40 is situated so that the material
advanced over the ridge by rotor 48 is moving more in an upward
vertical direction than in an outward lateral direction so that
the rotor 48 feeds lower auger 50 but does not force feed it.
Referring to Figure 6, material moved onto and over ridge 40 is
llfluffed, not pinched, by the cooperating action of the rotor and
Illower auger. Any material which would tend to become pinched
bet~een the second curved wall portion 36 of bottom wall 38 and
the lower auger is simply recirculated through the main chamber
~by rotor 48. Certainly ridge 40 should be lower than the
central axis of rotor 48 and it i~ preferred that the auxiliary
chamber is so designed that ridge 40 may also be lower ~han the
llcentral axis of lower auger 50 which is preferably situated
I lower ~han ~he central axis of the rotor 48. Whereas there is
no critical location for ridge 40, there is a position of
¦~maximum efficiency. If the ridge is too high, there will be a
20 1,1 slow discharge of material from the main chamber to the
j¦auxiliary chamber with resultant slow end-to-end mixing. If the
ridge is too low good clean out is not achieved because of the
resulting gap between the rotor and lower auger.
Likewise, whereas specific dimensions are not critical to
¦ the Eeed mixer 10, one operative embodiment has been constructed
with the following dimensions. The first curved wall portion 32
of main chamber 34 has an inside radius dimension of 34-1/4
inches for a 10 foot long tank. A 16 lnch diameter upper auger
I rotating at 75 rpm drives a 20 inch lower auger rotating a~ 50
rpm which, in turnl drives the rotor at approximately 7 to 8
rpm.
Specific rotational speeds for the rotor and augers are
not critical to the present invention but are preferably set to
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~oJ~2~
achieve maximum use capacity for the mixer. If the rotor isrotated too slowly, for example, the mixing rate is likewise
slowed and if the rotor is moved too fast, the falling action of
material over the rotor bars, which greatly facilitates mixing,
is inhibited.
To substantiate the improved operating efficiency of the
present invention, a trailer model 560 "Quick Mixer"
manufactured by Stirco, Inc. of Chatham, Ontario, Canada, was
modified to embody the mixing elements of the present invention
1 as described in the specific example above. This mixer had a 10
~foot long mixing chamber and a 32 inch discharge under the
Isecondary rotor. The mixer was loaded with 7350 pounds of one
¦year old corn silage but since it was too full to see the rotor
bars, it was unloaded to 6570 pounds. After the mixer was
leveled and run for three minutes, silage sample 0 from the
¦chart below was taken from the mixer. One hundred pounds oE
fine rock salt (39% sodium) was then added at a point A centered
over the rotor and 12 inches from the rear of the mixer. The
I'ltractor used was a 4020 John Deere and the engine speed was set
llat 1250 to 1400 rpm. Other samples were to be taken at point B
situated 32 inches forwardly of point A, point C situated 32
inches forwardly of point B and point D situated 32 inches
forwardly of point C and 12 inches rearwardly of the front of
~he mixer.
The mixer was run for thirty seconds and was then stopped
llto take the first samples 1/2 A, 1/2 B, 1/2 C and 1/2 D by
taking three handsful at each point A, B, C and D and placing
the samples in sealed plastic bags. The mixer was then run
llanother thirty seconds for samples lA, lB, lC and lD and
continuously thereafter at thirty second intervals until a five
minute mixing time was complete. At each interval, a sample was
also taken from clischarge while unloading. The parts per
million of sodium for each sample are recorded in the chart
-14-
6~
.
below. The First Test was run on the mixer prior to
modification and the Second Te~t reflects the improved
, .
performance after modiication to include the features of ~hepresent invention as shown in Figures 1 13. Since the pure
silage sample 0 in the First Test had 80 parts pee million of
sodium~ 80 P.P.M. should be deducted from each sample for true
results.
Likewise, the results recorded in the Second Test are a
Il multiple of a certain fac-tor, but are proportionally correct and
10 show the improved mixing performance.
SALT TEST RESULTS
First Test Second Test
'I Sample No. Sodium,(p.p.ma) Sample No. Sodium,(p.p.m.)
,i ,
0 80 0 30
0 Unload 4210 1/2A 1872
1/2A 3330 1/2B 330
1/2B 12500 1/2C 722
1/2C 1060 1/2D 83
1/2D 173 lA 452
1/2 Unload 5430 lB 440
!l lA 10100 lC lS56
il lB 12900 lD 550
20 11 lC 1290 1-1/2A 690
l lD 283 1-1/2B 720
I 1 Unload 8070 1-1/2C 500
i l-l/2A 5410 1-1/2D 282
l 1-1/2B 9910 2A 900
i 1-1/2C 2330 2B 858
i l-l/2D 443 2C 878
1-1/2 Unload 5530 2D 824
2A 3660 2-1/2A 966
2B 7580 2-1/2B 898
2C 3650 2-1/2C 620
2D 359 2-1/2D 444
Il 2 Unload 4630 3A 720
il 2-1/2A 4590 3B 872
2-1/2B 3270 3C 902
2-1/2C 2060 3D 102
2-1/2D 667 4A 764
!~ 2-1/2 Unload 3690 4B 796
3A 2770 4C 738
Il 3B 7150 4D 644
30 l 3C 4590 5A 674
i 3D 478 5B 774
3 Unload 2350 5C 638
4A 5780 5D 634
4B 6270 0 Unload 206
4C 2090 10 Unload 348
4D 561 20 Unload 164
4 Vnload 3580 30 Unload 702
-15-
5A S640 40 Unload 308
5B 3440 50 Unload 186
5C 2480 60 Unload 200
5D 1220 Final Unload 201
' 5 Unload 2~90
I` Final Unload 1120
In the second test/ it is apparent that substantially
uniform distribution oE the salt was achieved after two minutes
oE mixing.
In addition to the salt tests, other performance
comparisons were made on the same mixer before and after
~modification. Those results are reported in the chart below.
ADDITIONAL TEST RESULl'S
I
IlCapacity Before Modification After Modification
_ _
Full capacity lbs.
of Whole Corn 13,000 14,860
¦Cu. Ft. Capacity 285 325
iLbs. Silage - Full Test 7,190 9,570
Lbs. Silage - Maximum 7,720 10,920
IEmpty Mixer Weight 6,940 8,160
¦IUnloading Time - Silage 6,650 lb. in 9,120 lbo in
il 4 min. (13~000 1-1/4 min. (15,800
lb. load) lb. load)
IlUnloading Time - Corn 6 min.-1,000 lb. 1 min.-300 lb.left
li let
,1 20 min.-380 lb. 1-1/2 ~in.-120 lb.
20 11 left left
Unloading Time - Corn, 4 min. 80% out 45 secO all out
Silage, Hay and 6 min. 95% out
Feed Mix 8 min. 98~ out
Visual Test with Lima Beans found at Beans found at
¦ Beans Loaded in Front rear aEter 5 rear aEter 2
min. mix. min. mix.
IBeans Loaded at Front Very few Even all over
¦ on Silage
~380 lb. whole corn in Corn stayed in Both went to front
, rear. Equal bullc of rear almost no & mixed. All feed
Il silage in front mix.; after 5 in front. Mix
l min., silage complete in 1 min.
~tayed in front
Discharge Location Center - Cannot Front
see from Good vision
tractor
Spout Wind Loss High Minimum
Figures 15-24 are directed to several additional
embodiments oE the invention which are collectively referred to
-16~
as "center discharge" mixers. Actually, the discharge openings
are not longitudinally centered on the tanks but are offset
Eorwardly thereof. Figures 15-17 are directed to a mixer having
a 10-foot long mixing chamber; Figure 19 shows a mixer wi~h a
12-foot long mixing chamber; Figures 20-22 show a mixer with a
14-foot long mixing chamber; and finally, Figure 24 shows a
mixer with a 16-foot long mixing chamber. Since many of the
parts of these mixers are identical to those disclosed in the
ll~ prior embodiment of Figures 1-13, like reference numerals are I
used to identify like parts of each.
In the 10-foot mixer of Figure 15, lower auger 190 is
supported on end walls 20 and 22 by bearings 95 and 97. Shaft
192 has a forward flighting section 194 and a rearward flighting
section 196 which extend Erom positions closely adjacent the
forward and rearward end walls 20 and 22 to positions
substantially registered with -the forward and rearward edges oE
discharge opening 200~ indicated by dotted line in the drawingO
Four radially extended paddles in the form of angle iron members
Il 202 are arranged in axially and circumferentially spaced-apart
l~ relation on the lower auger 190 between flighting sections 194
and 196 at positions registered with the discharge opening 200,
i.e. within the longitudinal extent of the discharge opening as
, indicated in Figure 15.
The forward and rearward flighting sections 194 and 196
are reverse flighting sections such that upon rotation of lower
auger 190 in the direction of arrow 204 in Figure 18, material
is converged toward the discharge opening -from opposite ends of
the mixer as indicated by arrows 205 and 206 in Figure 15. The
I angle iron members 202 situated adjacent the reverse flighting
I sections 194 and 196 include respective surfaces which are
inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis oE the
auger for retarding the axial movement of material toward the
discharge opening in response to rotation of the lower auger.
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C~
~These facilitate the discharge of material, as indicated byarrows 207 in Figure 18, when the discharge opening is opened;
and facilitate the piling up of material toward the upper auger
208, as indicated by arrows 210 in Figure 18 when the discharge
opening is closed.
Upper auger 208 is likewise rotatably supported by
bearings 106 and 108. The shaft 212 carries an elongated
flighting section 214 for directing material rearwardly in the
lldirection of arrow 216 in response to rotation of the upper
1 auger in the direction of arrow 218 indicated in Figure 18. The
l;opposite ends of the flighting section 214 are substantially
¦,spaced from the forward and rearward end walls 202 and 22 and a
plurality of radially extended paddles are arranged in axially
and circumferentially spaced-apart relation on the upper auger
between each end of the flighting section 214 and the adjacent
end wall. At the forward end, a series of angle iron members
~1220 are oriented with their inclined surfaces directed for
advancing material rearwardly in response to rotation of the
llauger. At the rearward end, another series of angle iron
20 1ll members 222 are provided for chopping material and advancing it
~rearwardly. At least the endmost angle iron member 224 is
oriented for retarding the rearward movement of material toward
~end wall 22 to prevent any piling up of material at that end
wall. Rather, material simply spills over into the main chamber
as indicated by arrow 226 in Figure 18 for circulation through
¦the main chamber back to the lower portion of the auxiliary
~chamber. As indicated by the various arrows in Figure 18,
material is continuously circulated both circumferentially and
~ axially throughout the mixing unit.
l; In the l~-foot mixer of Fiyure 19, the structure and
operation of parts is similar to that described for the 10-foot
mixer but for certain dimensional variations including the
longitudinal extension of the various flighting sections on the
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augers. Accordingly, like parts of the 12-foot mixer are
referred to by like reference numerals but with an added suffix
~.. ., i
a ~
In the 14~foot mixer of Figure 20, the lower auger l90b is
similarly constructed as in the 10 and 12-foot mixers, again but
jfor the longitudinal extension of the flighting sections. The
! upper auger 228, however, has several structural distinctions.
Upper auger 228 is provided with reverse flighting
! sections including forward flighting section 230 for moving
l~material forwardly in the direction of arrow 231 and a rearward
flighting section 232 for moving material rearwardly in the
direction of arrow 233 in response ~o rotation of the upper
~auger in the direction of arrow 234 in Figure 21. The adjacent
ends of the forward and rearward flighting sections terminate at
positions within the longitudinal extent of ~he discharge
opening 236 as seen in Figure 20. Between end wall 20 and
forward flighting section 230, a plurality of angle iron paddles
238 are provided on the upper auger. These paddles are
llgenerally oriented for urging material forwardly in the
20 il direction of arrow 231, although the endmost one or two angle
~¦iron members adjacent wall 20 may be reversed for retarding the
¦forward movement of material to facilitate spillage over into
¦ the main chamber as indicated by arrow 240 in Flgure 23.
ust rearwardly of rear flighting section 232, the upper
~auger 228 is provided with several radially directed fins 242,
! which fins are inclined 45 relative to a plane perpendicular to
the axis of the upper auger so as to operatively urge material
rearwardly in the direction of arrow 233 in response to rotation
I of the upper auger. Rearwardly of fins 242, a plurality of
~ angle iron members 244 are arranged in axially and
lcircumferentially spaced-apart relation for further mixing of
material. Again, these angle iron members 244 are oriented for
moving material rearwardly in the direction of arrow 233, but
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for the one or two angle iron members closest to rearward wall
22 which are reversed for retarding the rearward movement of
~material to facilitate spillage back into the main chamber as
!
indicated by arrow 246 in Figure 23.
Figure 24 illustrates a 16-foot mixer and includes parts
generally corresponding to those described in connection with
the 14-foot mixer of Figure 20, but for the longitudinal extent
of the flighting sections and axial positions of ~he various
Ipaddles as indicated in Figure 24. Accordingly, like parts are
¦Ireferred to by like reference numerals, but with the suffix "c".
The flow diagrams of Figures 18 and 23 illustrate that the
center discharge mixers are operative to provide thorough mixing
llof materials both radially and axially throughout the mixersO
I These center discharge mixers tend to overcome the problem of
material tending to pile up against one end wall and thereby
slowing the mixing action. Test samples taken from the center
l~discharge mixers according to the invention indicate that the
¦ mixing action i5 SO efficient that substantial consistency on
I the basis of moisture content and protein can be achieved
20 1I throughout the mixer after only three minutes of operation.
Whereas preferred embodiments of the mixer have been shown
and described herein, it is apparent that various modifications,
addit:ions and substitutions may be made which are within the
intended broad scope of the appended claims~ For example, in
I mixers used to handle fertilizer or sludge, the endmost paddles
on the augers may be replaced by a single section or pitch of
reverse flighting and the discharge opening may be situated on
the underside of the auxiliary chamber. Even on side discharge
models for grain and tAe like, it is advantageous to provide, as
1 an accessory, a trap door through the underside of the auxiliary
chamber for discharge through the floor screen of a grain
elevator. In mixers used for hay and like roughage~ the
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,j
flighting on the lower auger may be provided with peripheral
knotching to grab and pull the hay in the desired direction.
Thus there has been shown and described herein a feed
' mixer and method of mixing material therein which accomplish at
least all of the stated objects.
ll
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