MIXING APPARATUS AND METHODS

Abstract: A mixer having an elongate barrel (B) with an interior wall defining a mixing chamber, at least a pair of shafts (19, 20) extending axially within the barrel driven in the same direction of rotation and at the same speed of rotation, and mixing elements on each of the shafts. Radially opposite paddles are on each of the shafts, each comprising hub portions (62) and wing portions (60) radially spaced from the hub portions. The wing portions extend axially to overlie the hub portions and each wing portion has a radially inner surface generating the configuration of the radially inner surface of a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle and further has a radially outer surface generating hub portions of the radially adjacent paddle, and the wall of the chamber.

Description: The invention relates to a mixing apparatus comprising: a) an elongate, axially extending barrel with an interior wall defining a mixing chamber adapted to receive and mix material, and having an inlet passage in an inlet end and an outlet opening in an outlet end, said barrel having at least a pair of parallel intersecting cylinders forming said barrel; b) mechanism including at least a pair of barrel mixing shafts having spaced, parallel axes and extending within said cylinders from the inlet end of said barrel to the outlet end, and drive elements for driving said shafts in the same direction of rotation and at the same speed of rotation; c) mixing elements including radially opposite paddle members on each of said shafts which are in radial interwiping relation within said barrel and configured to wipe one another and the cylinder walls. A mixing apparatus of this kind is known from US-A-3,719,350. The shafts of this known mixing apparatus comprise screw sections which are shaped to continuously wipe one another and the chamber walls. They have helical thread portions which gradually are radially enlarged at their upstream ends. Projecting axially rearwardly are cowiping pairs of helical prongs. By this means the material is continuously moved in a direction away from the vent port and toward the discharge end of the mixer so that the chamber which leads to the vent hole is self-cleaning in character and material is prevented from blocking the vent port. It is the object of the present invention to provide a mixer of the character described with paddle members which function well to mix material and to prevent material in the mixer from being forced out through the vent port and which can be fabricated and machined without undue difficulty. According to the invention this object is solved by the following feature: d) each paddle member comprises axially adjacent circumferentially offset paddle elements on one shaft and radially adjacent like paddle elements on the other shaft, the paddle elements each comprising a hub portion and a wing portion, radially spaced from the hub portion, the wing portion on one paddle element extending axially to overlie the hub portion of the axially adjacent paddle element, each wing portion having a radially inner surface movable into intermeshed relation with a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member and generating the configuration of the radially inner surface of said wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member, and further having a radially outer surface generating the hub portions on the radially adjacent paddle member and the wall of one of the barrel cylinders. Further aspects of the invention are subject matter of claims 2 to 18. According to the invention a mixer is provided with paddle members which provide intermeshing wings, and yet are still completely self-wiping in nature, so as to avoid the formation of dead spots in the mixing operation. The winged paddle members are configured to permit material to move radially inwardly, and minimize forces which would tend to force material out the vent opening. The mixer paddle members provide a free flow of the material being mixed past the vent opening. The winged agitator paddle members increase the volume of material exposed to vacuum or vapor draw-off forces at the vent openings without tending to force material out the vent openings. The mixer paddle members tend to enhance heat transfer to the temperature controlled medium which is circulated in the mixer to precisely control the temperature of mixing and the build-up of heat which otherwise would occur from the continuous agitating and working of the material being processed. Some embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is a schematic, sectional, elevational view illustrating a mixer-extruder, in which completely interwiping paddle members of the present invention are employed at the vent openings; Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the vent related paddle members shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4; Figure 8 is an end elevational view, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4; Figures 9-11 are schematic, transverse, sectional views on a reduced scale with the section through the paddle members being taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, views 10 and 11 illustrating progressive positions of the identical paddle elements as they rotate in the same direction and at the same speed; Figure 12 is an enlarged, schematic, geometric view, particularly illustrating the configuration of a paddle element, with the view taken as though on line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 13 is a similar view taken as though along line 6-6 of Figure 4; Figure 14 is a similar view of a modified embodiment similar to Figure 12, in which, however, the wing sections are circumferentially offset; Figure 15 is a view of the modified embodiment similar to Figure 13; Figure 16 is an enlarged, elevational view of one section of another modified mixer paddle assembly; and Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16. Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing for an understanding of the invention and one environment in which it finds use, a mixing barrel housing, generally designated 10 is disclosed, which can be jacketed or cored as at 11 to permit the circulation of a suitable liquid coolant which may be water or any other temperature control medium. Provided within the housing 10, which is supported on the machine frame 12, is a figure 8-shaped barrel B having a barrel portion 13, defining intersecting cylinders 13a, 13b of a figure 8-shaped mixing chamber. At the discharge end of cylinders 13a, 13b a pair of annular, independent, reduced diameter screw chambers 14a and 14b are provided in a discharge section 14 of the barrel B to extend axially from the cylinders 13a, 13b chambers 14a and 14b being separated one from the other by a wall 15. A transition section 16 is provided within barrel B between the cylinders 13a, 13b and the chambers 14a and 14b. Provided downstream from the axially extending chambers 14a and 14b, is an end pass chamber 17a in the downstream end portion 17 of barrel B. A transition section 18 for end pass chamber 17a is provided in the barrel B leading from the two separate chambers 14a and 14b to the end pass chamber 17a, which is of figure 8 cross-section and of the same size as the barrel portion 13 of the barrel B. Transition portion 18 which leads from the two chambers 14a and 14b is of progressively increasing figure-8 cross-section. Provided to extend axially through the cylinders 13a, 13b, chambers 14a, 14b, and chamber 17a are twin shafts 19 and 20, which are supported in roller bearings 19a and 20a suitably provided at both ends of the machine. Gears 21 and 22, keyed to the shafts 19 and 20, can be suitably driven by a suitable motor (not shown) via gears in a gear box G, to rotate the shafts 19 and 20 in the same direction of rotation, and at the same speed. Provided at the charge (right) end of the machine is a material supply passage 23, which can be connected in known manner to any continuous supply of material to be mixed or blended in the mixer-extruder. The shafts 19 and 20, at the upstream end of the mixer, have intermeshing, advancing screw sections 24 and 25 of lenticular cross-section keyed thereon in the usual manner. Immediately downstream of the advancing screw sections 24 and 25, are a series of pairs of lenticular mixing paddle elements, keyed to the shafts 19 and 20 in radially interengaging relationship at right angles one to the other. These mixing elements 26 and 27 wipe one another, and further wipe the interior wall of the mixer, as do the advancing screw sections 24 and 25. Downstream from paddle elements 26 and 27 are advancing screw sections 28 and 29 of the same configuration as screw sections 24 and 25, and downstream from the screw sections 28 and 29 are further lenticular mixing elements 30 and 31 of the same configuration as elements 26 and 27. The sets of elements 30 and 31 are followed by screw sections 32 and 33 of the same configuration as sections 24 and 25, and downstream therefrom are further paddle members 34 and 35, opposite a vent opening O which permits the venting of air, or gases which have developed during the mixing process and are to be drawn off. The unique paddle members 34 and 35 will shortly be described. Downstream from the paddle members 34 and 35, and provided in the terminal end of the mixing chamber, are intermeshing screw sections 36 and 37 of the same lenticular cross-section as sections 24 and 25, which, at their terminal ends, have transition flight portions 36a and 37a of reduced diameter to conform to and wipe the walls of transition section 16. The shafts 19 and 20 within chambers 14a and 14b are provided with material conveying flights. In the chamber 14a, the shaft 19 is provided with single lead helical conveying flights 38 of the same hand as screw sections 36-37, extending from the transition section 16 of progressively decreasing figure 8 cross-section to the transition section 18. The flights 38 convey the material via drag forces only without pressure generation. In the extrusion chamber 14b, the shaft 20 is provided, for a portion of its length, with twin lead helical flights 39, and, downstream from a radial discharge port 40, twin lead flights 41, which are identical to the flights 39, except that they are of opposite hand. Provided axially between flights 39 and 41 is an annular chamber 40a of a predetermined volume, which will receive material in the volume delivered under pressure by both flights 39 and 41 and express it radially in a continuous stream Provided on the shafts 19 and 20, within the end pass chamber 17a, are a first set of mating, interwiping paddles 42, 43 of lenticular cross section, each of which includes a transition section 42a and 43a, respectively, of the same progressively increasing cross-section. Operating in radially interengaging relationship in the end pass chamber 17a immediately downstream of the paddles 42 and 43, are mixing and blending transfer paddles 44 and 45 of lenticular cross-section, which similarly may be keyed to the shafts 19 and 20. Finally, and also provided on each of the shafts 19 and 20, is a helical flight portion, designated 46 on the shaft 19 and 47 on the shaft 20, which is of the same size as the screw sections 32 and 33, for example, but of opposite hand. Conventional low pressure stuffing glands 48 and 49 are all that are necessary at both ends of the machine, inasmuch as the flight portions 46 and 47 are never filled with material, so there is never any material axial pressure on the glands 48 and 49. Connected to the housing 10, opposite the radial discharge port 40 in the discharge section 14, is an extruding orifice block 50, which can be bolted in position as at 51, and which provides an extruding orifice 52 of a particular size or configuration. A nozzle block 53, which is provided in the housing 10, functions as a channeling device in the usual manner. Of course, block 50 may be of varying design to obtain the desired output streams. The present invention relates to the paddle members 34 and 35, which are used opposite the vent opening O disclosed in Figure 1, but which also will find use in other mixing situations. Referring now more particularly to Figures 4-8, each of the identical paddle members 34 and 35, which rotate respectively on the shaft axes x and y , is made up of a pair of identical 180° offset, single land paddle elements 34a-34b, and 35a-35b. Paddle element 34b includes a hub portion 54, and a radially outer, integral wing portion 55, joined to the hub portion 54 by an arm portion 56, at a spaced radial distance from the hub portion 54 to provide an opening 57 between the wing portion 55 and the hub portion 54. Hub portion 54 includes a generated curvilinear flank surface 54a joined to a generated curvilinear flank surface 54b. Similarly, paddle element 35a has a hub portion 58, with flank surfaces 58a and 58b, joined by an arm portion 59 to a wing portion 60 which extends axially oppositely to and intermeshes with wing portion 55 within the opening 57. Wing portion 55 has a radially outer curvilinear surface 55a, generated by the barrel interior wall. Wing portion 55 also has a radial tip end surface 55b, which has co-wiping relation with the radially extending arm portion 59, and a radially inner, axially inclined surface 55d. Finally, wing portion 55 is of progressively decreasing width, and thickness, and conforms to the shape of opening 61 so as to completely wipe its marginal or bounding surfaces. For purposes of clarity of illustration only, clearances are shown between the elements. The surfaces of wing portion 60 comprise a radially outer, curvilinear surface 60a, generated by the barrel interior wall, a tip end surface 60b, in co-wiping relationship with the arm portion 56, and a radially inner, axially inclined surface 60c. Paddle element 35b includes a hub portion 62 with flank surfaces 62a and 62b, joined to a wing portion 63 by an arm portion 64 at a spaced radial distance from the hub portion 62 to provide an opening 65 between the wing portion 63 and the hub portion 62. Similarly, paddle element 34a includes a hub portion 66 with flank surfaces 66a and 66b, joined by an arm portion 67 to a wing portion 68 at a spaced radial distance from the hub portion 66 such as to provide an opening 69 between the hub portion 66 and the wing portion 68. Wing portion 68 extends axially oppositely to the wing portion 63 and intermeshes therewith in the same manner as does the wing portion 55 with the wing portion 60. Thus, wing portion 63 includes a radially outer curvilinear surface 63a, generated by the interior wall of the barrel and a radially inner, axially inclined surface 63c. As previously, the tip surface 63b of wing portion 63 is in co-wiping relationship with the arm portion 67, and the tip surface 68b of wing portion 68 is in co-wiping relationship with the arm portion 64, when the wing portions 68 and 63 are in the intermeshing relationship in which wing portions 55 and 60 are shown in Figure 4. The surfaces 63a, 55a, 60a and 68a, as noted, generate, or are generated by, one of the cylinders 13a and 13b of the figure-8 shaped barrel portion 13 (see Figures 9-11). As Figures 5-11 clearly indicate, the surface 55a is also generated by, or generates, the flank surfaces 62b and 58b. Similarly, surface 60a is generated by, or generates, surfaces 54a and 66a, and surface 63a is generated by, or generates, surfaces 54b and 66b. Surface 68a generates, or is generated by, surfaces 62b and 58b. Surfaces 55d and 60c, and also 63c and 68c, are likewise co-generative. Referring now more particularly to Figure 12, for an understanding of the geometry involved in each of the paddle elements involved in the paddle members 34 and 35, and using the same numerals to describe the various surfaces of paddle element 35a, and wing portion 63, taken from the Figure 7 location as demonstrative, it will be apparent that the surfaces 60a, 58a, 63a and 68a are arcs taken about radius R-1 from the axis y . The arc KL of any of the surfaces 54b, 58a, 62b, and 66a, and the arc EF of surfaces 54a, 58b, 62a, and 66b are arcs circumscribed about the radius R-3 taken from axis y . Arc FH is an arc circumscribed about radius R-2, taken from the point N, and as indicated in Figure 5, is the center-to-center distance between axes x and y of the shafts 19 and 20. Similarly, arc GE is an arc circumscribed about the radius R-2, taken from the point P. The arc GK is an arc circumscribed about radius R-2 taken from the point D, and arc LH is an arc circumscribed about the radius R-2 taken from the point A. Surface 63c, and also surfaces 55d, 60c, and 68c, at the juncture of the wing portions to the arm portions, include a linear or flat central surface BC and side arcs AB and CD. The arc AB is taken from a radially aligned point N, about center-to-center radius R-2, and the arc CD is taken from radially aligned point P, about the same radius R-2. In the geometric figure (Figure 13), which corresponds to the Figure 6 section, the surface 63c is also a linear or flat surface. The reduced width confronting surfaces of the wing portions 55 and 60 are completely flat at the Figure 6 location. As the surface 55d proceeds from the Figure 6 location to the Figure 5 location, the progressively widening surface 55d will gradually take on the configuration AB-BC-CD. The reduced width terminal end portion of the surface 60c of wing portion 60 remains completely flat from the Figure 6 location to its tip end surface 60b. As noted, it is those portions of the radially interior surfaces of wing portions 55, 68, 63 and 60 which, near the arm portions which connect them to their hub portions, have the configuration AB-BC-CD shown in Figure 12. Each of the wing portions, when of the width BC (NP) or less, have linear or flat radially interior surfaces 55b, 60c, 63c and 68c, but, when they increase beyond the width BC to the width AD, they progressively assume the curvature indicated at AB-BC(NP)-CD. For purposes of simplicity, the wing portions 55, 60, 63 and 68, have been shown as linearly axially extending. However, the wing portions may extend helically in a manner which will be described. Also, alternatively, the arm portions 56, 64, 59 and 67 can be inclined to circumferentially offset the linearly extending wing portions 55, 63, 60 and 68 a distance d from the hub portions 54, 62, 58 and 66, from which they respectively extend. Figure 14 indicates what geometrically occurs when this is done to the elements illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, and shows what a section taken approximately at the Figure 7 location would look like. Figure 15 depicts the Figure 6 position. In these figures, surfaces 60a and 63a are generated about the same radius R-1 taken from offset centers M-2 and M-1, respectively. The radially outer exterior surfaces 60a and 63a, however, because of the offsets, scrape material from the interior walls of the barrel at the points C and N, without the whole radially exterior surfaces 60a and 63a of the wing portions being in interwiping engagement with the barrel cylinder, as in the previous embodiment. Here, the radially inner surface 60c of wing portion 60 at the Figure 7 position, comprises a linear portion AB, and an arcuate surface BC which is an arc taken on the center-to-center distance radius R-2 from radially aligned point P. The hub surface arcs EF and HK, are taken on the radius R-3 from the displaced centers M-1 and M-2, respectively. As previously, arc FG is taken about the radius R-2 from point N, and arc DE is taken about the radius R-2 from point P. Arc GK is taken about the radius R-2 from point A and arc DH is taken about the radius R-2 from point C. In this version of the invention, the wing portions 55, 63, 60 and 68, have interior linear flat surfaces when they are of the width AB (NP) or less, but as they progressively increase to the width AC, have surfaces progressively configured as at ABC (NSP). Figures 16 and 17, illustrate the paddle elements which make up paddles 34 and 35, except that the wing portions are helical, rather than axial and extend helically counter to the direction of rotation. Using element 35b, for example to illustrate, it is to be understood that all of the elements 34a, 34b, 35a and 35b are identical. The hub portion 62 is shown as having a recess 70 to receive the arm portion 64 which, previously, has been shown as formed integrally with the hub portion. The arm portion 64 can be rigidly secured to the hub portion 62 in any acceptable manner, such as by welding it in place. With helical wing portions, torque forces are more gradually applied to the wing portions. In operation, material fed through the material supply passage 23 at a rate to only partially fill the barrel (i.e., 10-20% of its volume) is advanced by the screw sections 24 and 25, from right to left in Figure 1, and moved by the various screw sections 28-29, 32-33, and 36-37 through the barrel B. The material is mixed or blended by the paddle elements 26-27, 30-31, and paddle members 34-35, the latter functioning to, also, permit the escape of gases, without loss of material, through the vent opening O. A suction pump communicating with vent opening O may be employed to assist in this draw-off of vapor. With paddle members 34 and 35, material which is moved toward the vent opening O in Figure 9, has a path of escape illustrated by arrow e through opening 69, and is not forced radially outwardly through the vent opening O, which inclines so as to be tangential with the barrel wall on the downstream side of the vent opening. The vent inclination aids the escape of the material which tends to be dragged down along the wall and to move in a counter-direction to paddle rotation through opening 69. While providing the escape route, the wing portions also intermesh in a manner to fully wipe one another without trapping and compressing material between them. Paddle members 34 and 35 are configured to provide a relatively large escape path, and to provide wing portions 55, 63, 60 and 68 which are of sufficiently large cross-section that they possess the requisite strength to withstand the imposition of torsional forces and stresses. In the Figures 16 through 17 version of the invention, the helical wing portions trail the direction of rotation, and function to advance the material from the charge end of the mixer to the discharge end. The mixed and blended material proceeds to the separate annular chambers 14a and 14b, and is conveyed therein. Material in the chamber 14a passes through the paddles 42 and 43, and to the paddles 44 and 45, which transfer it to the flight portions 41. This material is then positively conveyed under pressure to the chamber 40a, where it meets material being advanced under positive pressure by the flights 39, with the result that the increased volume of material is forced in a continuous stream and under high radial pressure, out the extruding ports 40, 53 and 52. Approximately fifty percent of the material proceeding through the system is conveyed by flights 41 and approximately fifty percent by flights 39. The end pass chamber 17a has four times the conveying capacity of extruding chamber 14a, so the material in the chamber 17a is essentially transferred at substantially atmospheric pressure and does not exert any substantial axial pressure on glands 48 and 49 which would tend to force material past the glands to the bearings 19a and 20a. The paddles 42-43 and 44-45, thus, maintain the blend of the material while operating in a partially starved mode at all times. Flight portions 46 and 47 essentially ensure that no material passes axially beyond paddles 44-45.

Claims: Mixing apparatus comprising: a) an elongate, axially extending barrel (B) with an interior wall defining a mixing chamber adapted to receive and mix material, and having an inlet (passage 23) in an inlet end and an outlet (opening 40) in an outlet end, said barrel (B) having at least a pair of parallel intersecting cylinders (13a, 13b) forming said barrel; b) mechanism including at least a pair of barrel mixing shafts (19, 20) having spaced, parallel axes and extending within said cylinders (13a, 13b) from the inlet end of said barrel (B) to the outlet end, and drive elements (gears 21, 22) for driving said shafts in the same direction of rotation and at the same speed of rotation; c) mixing elements including radially opposite paddle members (34, 35) on each of said shafts (19, 20) which are in radial interwiping relation within said barrel (B) and configured to wipe one another and the cylinder walls; characterized by the following feature : d) each paddle member (34, 35) comprises axially adjacent circumferentially offset paddle elements (34a, 34b) on one shaft (19) and radially adjacent like paddle elements (35a, 35b) on the other shaft (20), the paddle elements each comprising a hub portion (54, 58, 62, 66) and a wing portion (55, 60, 63, 68), radially spaced from the hub portion, the wing portion (e.g. 55) on one paddle element (e.g. 34b) extending axially to overlie the hub portion (e.g. 66) of the axially adjacent paddle element (e.g. 34a), each wing portion having a radially inner surface (55d, 60c, 63c, 68c) movable into intermeshed relation with a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member and generating the configuration of the radially inner surface of the said wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member, and further having a radially outer surface (55a, 60a, 63a, 68a) generating the hub portions on the radially adjacent paddle member and the wall of one of the barrel cylinders. Apparatus according claim 1 wherein the radially inner surfaces (55d, 60c, 63c, 68c) of the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) in interengaging position are substantially flat and are flatwisely engaged with only wiping clearance when the wing portions are in radially aligned and centered intermeshed relation. Apparatus according claim 1 wherein the paddle members (34, 35) are eccentrically mounted on said shafts (19, 20) and each hub portion (54, 58, 62, 66) is of a configuration in cross section which comprises an arcuate surface (arc KL) taken on a radius (R₃) from the axis (y) of the shaft (19, 20) on which it is fixed and a radially opposite arcuate surface (arc EF) taken on the same radius (R₃) from the said axis, the said arcuate surfaces being connected by flank surfaces (arc FH, LH, GE, GK) generated about radii (R₂) of a length equal to the center-to-center distance between the axes (x, y) of said shafts (19, 20) taken from the side edges of the wing portion (55, 60, 63, 68) which intermeshes therewith. Apparatus according claim 1 wherein the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) are of progressively decreasing width and thickness. Apparatus according claim 1 wherein the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) extend helically. Apparatus according claim 1 wherein the paddle elements (34a, 34b) on the respective shafts (19, 20) are single land paddle shapes substantially 180° circumferentially offset. Apparatus according claim 1 wherein each paddle member (34, 35) has a pair of axially oppositely extending wing portions (55, 68 and 60, 63) displaced circumferentially substantially 180°. Apparatus according claim 1 wherein the wing portion (55, 60, 63, 68) extends to a free tip and the radially inner surface (55d, 60c, 63c, 68c) of each wing portion from near the intermediate portion thereof to its tip is flat. Apparatus according claim 8 wherein the mid-portion (BC) of said radially inner surface (e.g. 60c) of the remainder of said wing portion (e.g. 60) is flat and bounded at at least one side by a relatively flat arc (AB, CD) taken about radii (R₂) of a length equal to the center-to-center distance between the axes (x, y) of said shafts (19, 20) from the side of the wing portion (e.g. 55) with which it intermeshes. Mixing elements for use in a mixer comprising an elongate, axially extending barrel (B) with an interior wall defining a mixing chamber comprising at least a pair of parallel intersecting cylinders (13a, 13b), at least a pair of mixing shafts (19, 20) having spaced, parallel axes and extending within the cylinders, and drive elements (gears 21, 22) for driving the shafts in the same direction of rotation, and at the same speed of rotation; said mixing elements including radially opposite paddle members (34, 35) on each of the shafts and being characterized by the following features : a) the paddle members each comprise axially adjacent, circumferentially offset paddle elements (34a, 34b) on one shaft (19) and radially adjacent like paddle elements (35a, 35b) on the other shaft (20); b) the paddle elements each comprise a hub portion (54, 58, 62, 66) and a wing portion (55, 60, 63, 68), radially spaced from the hub portion, the wing portion (e.g. 55) on one paddle element (e.g. 34b) extending axially to overlie the hub portion (e.g. 66) of the axially adjacent paddle element (e.g. 34a); c) each wing portion has a radially inner surface 55d, 60c, 63c, 68c movable into intermeshed relation with a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member, and generating the configuration of the radially inner surface of the said wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member, and further has a radially outer surface 55a, 60a, 63a, 68a which is co-generative with the hub portions on the radially adjacent paddle member. Mixing elements according claim 10 wherein the radially inner surfaces (55d, 60c, 63c, 68c) of the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) in intermeshed relation are substantially flat and are flatwisely engaged with only wiping clearance when the wing portions are in radially aligned and centered intermeshed relation. Mixing elements according claim 10 wherein the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) extend helically. Mixing elements according claim 10 wherein the paddle elements (34a, 34b) on the respective shafts (19, 20) are single land paddle-shapes substantially 180° circumferentially offset. Mixing elements according claim 10 wherein the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) extend to a free tip, and the radially inner surface (55d, 60c, 63c, 68c) of each wing portion from near the intermediate portion thereof to its tip is flat. Mixing elements according claim 14 wherein the mid-portion (BC) of said radially inner surface (e.g. 60c) of the remainder of said wing portion (e.g. 60) is flat and bounded axially at each side by a relatively flat arc (AB, CD) taken about radii (R₂) of a length equal to the center-to-center distance between the axes (x, y) of the shafts (19, 20) from the sides of the wing portion (e.g. 55) on the radially adjacent paddle member with which it intermeshes. Mixing elements according claim 10 wherein the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) are radially offset from the hub portions (54, 58, 62, 66) to assume a tilted attitude so that only the one edge of the radially outer surface (55a, 60a, 63a, 68a) of each wing portion is in wiping engagement with the wall of a barrel cylinder (13a, 13b). Mixing apparatus according claim 1 wherein a vent passage (O) leads upwardly from the mixing chamber through the barrel (B) for drawing off vapor, characterized in that said vent passage (O) has an inclined wall tangential with the barrel wall on the downstream side of the vent passage. A method of mixing comprising: a) charging material to be mixed to a mixing chamber comprising at least a pair of mixing shafts (19, 20) having spaced parallel axes, extending within parallel intersecting cylinders (13a, 13b) and having mixing elements including radially opposite paddle members (34, 35) on each of the shafts; b) rotating said shafts (19, 20) and said paddle members (34, 35) in the same direction of rotation and at the same speed of rotation; c) and discharging material from the mixing chamber; characterized by the following features: d) paddle members (34, 35) are used each of which comprising a hub portion (54, 58, 62, 66) and a pair of oppositely axially extending wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68), each wing portion having a radially inner surface (55d, 60c, 63c, 68c) movable into intermeshed relation with a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member and generating the configuration of the radially inner surface of said wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member, and further having a radially outer surface (55a, 60a, 63a, 68a) which is cogenerative with the hub portion on the radially adjacent paddle member; e) in the rotation of said paddle members (34, 35) the outer surface (55a, 60a, 63a, 68a) of the wing portions (55, 60, 63, 68) are brought into wiping engagement with the mixing chamber cylinder in which each paddle member rotates to wipe the cylinder wall around its circumference; f) in the rotation of said paddle members (34, 35) each wing portion (55, 60, 63, 68) on one paddle member is brought into intermeshed relation with a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle member and the radially outer surface of each wing portion is brought into wiping engagement with the hub portions (54, 58, 62, 66) of the radially adjacent paddle member, while at the same time the radially inner surface of each wing portion is brought into wiping engagement over its length and width with the radially inner surface of the wing portion with which it intermeshes.

Inventors: LOOMANS, BERNARD A.
Applicants: APV CHEMICAL MACHINERY INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B29B7
IPC codes: B29B7, B01F7