A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.

The present disclosure provides for a first embodiment, where, a first, lower shaft speed mixing of the component combination takes place in a thermokinetic mixer, where monitoring of the batch by temperature rate increase determination results in a determination that a substantial portion of desired thermokinetic mixing has occurred, whereafter a different shaft speed is used to complete the desired thermokinetic mixing of the component combination.

A method of controlling a portable appliance includes measuring an input current supplied to a motor of the portable appliance and measuring a rotational speed of a shaft of the motor. The method also includes determining a current limit based on the rotational speed of the shaft using a substantially continuous function which relates a domain of rotational speeds to a range of current limits. The method further includes reducing, when the input current exceeds the current limit, the rotational speed of the shaft incrementally along the substantially continuous function until the input current is approximately equal to the current limit.

Methods and a slaker for removal of heavy grit during batchwise slaking of burnt lime in a slaker (2) for the production of lime slurry with a high degree of fineness and prolonged sedimentation time are described, where the following processing steps are carried out during the slaking process: a)—reduction of the stirring of the slaker (2) from a normal stirring speed to a lower stirring speed, b)—opening of an upper inlet valve (60) in a collector (70) mounted in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) to lead sinking grit in the slurry batch to the collector (70), whereupon the upper inlet valve (60) is closed after a given time period, c)—increase the stirring in the slaker (2) back to the normal stirring speed, d)—after a given time period with normal stirring speed, a regulating valve (22) in the lower part (54) of the slaker (2) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry to an external storage tank (3), and e)—when said regulating valve (22) is opened for emptying of a batch of slurry, a lower outlet valve (62) in the collector is optionally opened for emptying of collected grit.

A bioreactor apparatus includes a vessel establishing an interior space environmentally separable from an exterior space outside of the vessel, an agitation system including mixing means arranged in the interior space and drive means adapted to rotate the mixing means. The drive means includes a drive motor that is arranged in the interior space.

A mini mixer system includes a mixer, for executing a continuous mixing operation for an extended period of time, the mixing operation includes a mixing production process with corrosiveness, high viscosity and high mixing risks. The mixer includes a motor, a coupling and torsion meter, a reduction gear, a plurality of couplings, a frame group, a gear box group, at least one mixing element, a mixing can and a lifting mechanism group. The motor, the coupling and torsion meter and the reduction gear are connected to one another by the couplings. The reduction gear is connected to the gear box group by the coupling. The motor, the reduction gear, the gear box group and the lifting mechanism group are all fixed on the frame group. The mixer is assembled in a gear mechanism of the gear box group. The mixing can is disposed on the lifting mechanism group.

A mixing method, a controller and a mixing device for mixing components in a mixing vessel are provided. The mixing method includes providing a mixing impeller in the mixing vessel; accelerating the mixing impeller from an inactive state to a rotating state in which the mixing impeller rotates at a first desired speed in a first rotation direction; rotating the mixing impeller at the first desired speed for a first time t.sub.steady,1 in the first rotation direction; changing the rotation direction of the mixing impeller, so that the mixing impeller rotates in a second rotation direction at a second desired speed; and rotating the mixing impeller at the second desired speed for a second time t.sub.steady,2.

A method is provided for monitoring a flow behavior of mixed components without requiring additional instrumentation or sampling. The method is carried out by determining ratios of the power required to rotate a mixing impeller at different rotational speeds and then comparing the ratios. Characteristics about the mixed components are determined based on differences between the ratios.

A wine decanter pedestal system includes a base supported above a surface, the base having a base center axis and a ledge extending outward from its top surface to support a bottom surface of a decanter placed on the top surface. A wireless receiver receives wireless commands from a wireless device to control a rotary motor operably coupled to the base at an attachment point off-center from the base center axis such that rotation of the rotary motor causes the base center axis to orbit about the rotary drive in a circular orbital motion and in a circular spin motion. A weight sensor measures a weight of a decanter placed upon the base, and a controller automatically adjusts the torque of the rotary drive in response to the weight measured by the weight sensor to increase torque for heavier weights measured and decrease torque for lighter weights measured.

Viscosity and other properties are determined at desired temperatures in drilling mud and other fluids by using a versatile cavitation device which, operating in the cavitation mode, mixes and heats the fluid to a specified temperature, and, operating in the shear mode, acts as a spindle for application of Couette principles to determine viscosity as a function of shear stress and shear rate. The invention obviates the practice of adjusting rheology of a drilling fluid by passing it through the drill bit. Drilling fluid may be managed by a “straight-through” method to the well, or by placing the cavitation device in a loop which isolates an aliquot of known volume and circulating the fluid through the loop including the cavitation device. A controller may be programmed to manage the viscosity and other properties at various temperatures by controlling the power input and angular rotation of the “spindle” (which has cavities on its cylindrical surface), and feeding viscosity-adjusting agents and other additives to the fluid. Data may be collected from the loop and used in the “straight-through” mode until it is determined that conditions require a new set of data, or the loop may be used continuously. The system may be used with a supplemental viscometer, density meter, and other instruments.