Patent ID: 6286989
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: B01F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of mixing fluid comprising:isolating a fluid to be mixed in a container;providing a mixing device comprising a shaft extending along an axis, a support mounted for rotation by said shaft, a number of vanes having a first end and a second end, said First ends connected to said support and said second ends positioned outwardly of said support in a direction generally parallel to said axis to define an open first end, said vanes positioned radially outward from said axis, said vanes having an outer edge and an inner edge, said inner edge or said vanes sloping from said second end to said first end in a direction towards said axis, and at least a portion of said inner edge of said vanes extending inwardly towards said axis no more than about 0.3 of tile distance between the outer edge of said vanes and said axis;positioning said device in said container containing fluid to be mixed;rotating said mixing device within said fluid in said container;drawing fluid through said open first end defined by said vanes;expelling said fluid through said vanes; andshearing fluid as it passes through said vanes, shearing and dispersing particulate material within said fluid, thereby homogenizing said fluid.