Patent ID: 8353621

Claim:
A mixing system for use with viscous substances, comprising: (a) a mixing apparatus; (b) a mixing bowl mounted within the mixing apparatus, wherein the mixing bowl further includes: (i) a bowl sheet; and (ii) a flexible cooling jacket mounted on the bowl sheet, wherein the cooling jacket further includes a plurality of individual channel forming structures running parallel to one another across the length of the bowl sheet, wherein the channel forming structures are in fluid communication with one another, and wherein each of the channel forming structures further includes: (a) a least one substantially vertical portion, relative to the surface of the bowl sheet, wherein the at least one substantially vertical portion is welded at one end thereof to the bowl sheet at a weld joint; and (b) a substantially horizontal portion, relative to the surface of the bowl sheet, wherein each horizontal portion further includes a contoured region having a plurality of parallel ridges and parallel valleys formed therein and running lengthwise therethrough, and wherein the plurality of parallel ridges and parallel valleys are operative to provide increased strength, flexibility and fatigue resistance to the cooling jacket by transferring operational stresses from the weld joint to the material of the contoured region; and (c) a source of coolant, wherein the source of coolant is in fluid communication with the cooling jacket for reducing the temperature of a viscous substance being mixed in the mixing bowl.