Patent ID: 6029955
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B01F,C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
An apparatus for mixing a viscous fluid within which the apparatus moves, the apparatus comprising:a structural, mixer support providing a first means for mechanical pivoting at a terminal end thereof;a structural, linearly elongate balance bar pivotally joined at its centerpoint to the first mechanical pivoting means such that the balance bar is pivotally enabled for moving opposing ends of the balance bar in opposing directions to alternately raised and lowered positions, the opposing ends of the balance bar each providing a second mechanical pivoting means;a vertically oriented, pair of structural, linearly elongate mixer tubes, each of the mixer tubes pivotally engaged with one of the second mechanical pivoting means so as to maintain the vertical orientation of the mixer tubes as the opposing ends of the balance bar move between the raised and lowered positions;a pair of rigid cap means, each one of the rigid cap means joined adjacent a bottom terminal end of one of the mixer tubes, the rigid cap means presenting a downwardly facing concave surface means so as to enable capture of upwardly moving gas bubbles thereunder;the raised and lowered positions established by the balance bar enabling the rigid cap means to move between a bottom and a surface of the viscous fluid in which the rigid cap means are immersed;the mixer tubes providing a conduit therein for conducting a gas from a gas entry port adjacent to the second mechanical pivoting means to a gas discharge port adjacent the concave surface such that a gas may be injected under the concave surface and such that a gas under the concave surface may be exhausted therefrom.