DYNAMIC MIXER HAVING BALANCEABLE FEEDING DUCTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dynamic mixer, in particular for dental materials having different viscosity. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a dynamic mixer, in particular for dental materials of different viscosity.

Claims

1. Dynamic mixer (1), in particular for dental materials having different viscosity, the dynamic mixer (1) comprising: a chamber part (2) being largely cylindrical at least in part, having a discharge opening (3) at the front end of the chamber part (2), the chamber part (2) comprising a mixing chamber (4), and a closing part (5) arranged at the back end of the chamber part (2), having a first and second inlet opening (6, 7) for single components to be inserted, as well as a centrical opening (8) for a mixer shaft (9) of a rotor (10) being rotatable about its longitudinal axis in the chamber part (2), the chamber part (2) and the closing part (5) being mounted against each other in a rotationally symmetric manner to the mixer shaft (9), the closing part (5) having at least two substantially parallel planes (11, 12) at the side averting the rotor tip that are axially put in a row, the plane (11) averting the rotor (10) comprising the first and the second inlet opening (6, 7), the plane (12) facing the rotor (10) having a first and a second passage opening (13, 14) to the mixing chamber (4), the first inlet opening (6) and the first passage opening (13) forming a linear duct (18), the at least two substantially parallel planes (11, 12) axially put in a row forming a feeding duct (15) between the second inlet opening (7) and the second passage opening (15) to the mixing chamber, the feeding duct (15) extending on an inner partial circle of the closing part (5), characterised in that the dimensions of the feeding duct (15) are variable depending on the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part (2) and closing part (5), the dimensions of the feeding duct (15) comprising a length, a width and/or height of the feeding duct (15), wherein the partial circle formed by the feeding duct (15) encloses an angle of 20 to 170 degree depending on the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part (2) and closing part (5).

2. (canceled)

3. Dynamic mixer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the feeding duct (15) de- or increases in the direction of the mixing chamber (4), the height and/or width of the feeding duct (15) de- or increasing in the direction of the mixing chamber (4), the height and/or width of the feeding duct at the second passage opening (14) to the mixing chamber (4) depending on the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part (2) and closing part (5).

4. Dynamic mixer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the height and/or width of the feeding duct (15) at transition to the second inlet opening depends on the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part (2) and closing part (5).

5. Dynamic mixer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the feeding duct (15) has a spatially restricted partition wall (16) on another inner partial circle or on an inner ellipsoidal path, the partition wall (15) being part of the chamber part (2), the partition wall separating the feeding duct (15) from the mixing chamber (4), the partition wall (16) taking a different relative position to the feeding duct (15) respectively depending on the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part (2) and closing part (5).

6. Dynamic mixer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber part (2) has at least one trunnion (17), the at least one trunnion (17) projecting with its longitudinal axis into the feeding duct (15).

7. Dynamic mixer (1) according to claim 6, wherein the relative position of the at least one trunnion (17) in the feeding duct (15) depends on the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part (2) and closing part (5).

8. Dynamic mixer (1) according to claim 1, wherein one of the relative rotationally symmetric positions possible of chamber part (2) and closing part (5) is selected depending on the viscosity of the dental materials and fixed by welding.

9. Dynamic mixer according to claim 1, wherein the linear duct (18), which directly leads into the mixing chamber (4) without a circuitous route, is attached to the first inlet opening (6), the feeding duct (15), which leads into the mixing chamber (4) by a circuitous route between the at least two substantially parallel planes (11, 12) of the closing part (5) that are axially put in a row, being attached to the second inlet opening (7), the linear duct (18) being adapted to transport a first volume flow, the feeding duct (15) being adapted to transport a second volume flow, the second volume flow amounting between 100% and 10% of the first volume flow.

10. Method for producing a dynamic mixer (1), in particular for dental materials of different viscosity, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing a chamber part (2) being largely cylindrical at least in part, having a discharge opening (3) at the front end of the chamber part (2), the chamber part (2) comprising a mixing chamber (4), b) providing a closing part (5) having a first and second inlet opening (6, 7) for single components to be inserted, as well as a centrical opening (8) for a mixer shaft (9) of a rotor (10) being rotatable about its longitudinal axis in the chamber part (2), the closing part (5) having at least two substantially parallel planes (11, 12) at the side averting the rotor tip that are axially put in a row, the plane (11) averting the rotor (10) comprising the first and second inlet opening (6, 7), the plane (12) facing the rotor (10) having a first and a second passage opening (13, 14) to the mixing chamber (4), the first inlet opening (6) and the first passage opening (13) forming a linear duct (18); c) arranging the closing part (5) at the back end of the chamber part (2) and introducing the rotor (10) into the mixing chamber (4); d) rotating the closing part (5) against the chamber part (2), the dimensions of a feeding duct (15) between the second inlet opening (7) and the second passage opening (14) to the mixing chamber (4), which is formed by the at least two substantially parallel planes (11, 12) of the closing part (5) at the side averting the rotor tip that are axially put in a row, changes depending on the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part (2) and closing part (5), the dimensions of the feeding duct (15) comprising a length, a width and/or a height of the feeding duct (15); and optionally e) fixing the closing part (15) with the chamber part (2) in the relative position, in which the feeding duct (15) has optimal dimensions to make the dental materials having different viscosity meeting at the first and second passage opening (13, 14) at the same time, in particular welding of the closing part (5) with the chamber part (2) in the relative position, in which the feeding duct (15) having optimal dimensions to make the dental materials having different viscosity meeting at the first and second passage opening (13, 14) at the same time.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises the steps of: f) filling the dynamic mixer (1) with the dental materials having different viscosity at the first and second inlet opening (6, 7); g) operating the rotor (10); h) observing the behaviour of the dental materials having the different viscosity at the first and second passage opening (13, 14) depending on a relative rotational position of closing part (5) and chamber part (2); i) selecting the relative rotational position of closing part (5) and chamber part (2), in particular depending on the course of the filling process of the mixer, so that the dental materials having the different viscosity meet at the first and second passage opening (13, 14) at the same time.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein a relative position of a partition wall (16) to the feeding duct (15) changes when rotating the closing part (5) against the chamber part (2), the partition wall (16) being part of the chamber part (2), the partition wall (16) separating the feeding duct (15) from the mixing chamber (4), the partition wall (16) extending on another inner partial circle or on an inner ellipsoid path of the feeding duct (15).

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein a relative position of at least one trunnion (17) which projects with its longitudinal axis into the feeding duct (15) changes in relation to the feeding duct (15) when rotating the closing part (5) against the chamber part (2).

14. Method according to claim 11, steps f) to i) being run through iteratively.

15. Method of using a dynamic mixer (1) for mixing dental materials having different viscosities according to claim 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a dynamic mixer 1 in cross-section profile.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a rotor 10 of a dynamic mixer 1.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a closing part 5 of the dynamic mixer 1.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a chamber part 2 of the dynamic mixer 1.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a closing part 5 in interior view.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a closing part 5 with inserted rotor 10.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a closing part 5 with marked feeding duct 15.

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a closing part 5 with marked feeding duct 15 and marked partition wall 16 between feeding duct 15 and mixing chamber 4.

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a chamber part 2 with a marked partition wall 16 for the feeding duct 15.

[0052] FIG. 10 shows a cross-section through the dynamic mixer 2 with feeding duct 15 according to the invention and partition wall 16.

[0053] FIG. 11 shows a minimum and a maximum rotation of chamber part 2 and closing part 5 to each other.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0054] FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b show a dynamic mixer 1, in particular for dental materials, in cross-section profile. The mixer housing, in particular for dental materials, comprises a largely cylindrical chamber part 2 with internal mixing chamber 4 and a closing part 5 with a first and second inlet opening 6, 7 as well as a centrical opening 8 for a mixer shaft 9, located in the chamber part 2 and rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis, of a rotor 10, which is centrally and rotationally symmetrically arranged in the mixing chamber 4.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a rotor 10 of a dynamic mixer 1. The rotor 10 has rotor blades for the part intended for the mixing chamber 4, that are rotationally symmetrically arranged on the rotor. The rotor has two plateaus in the part indented for the closing part 5, wherein the plateau facing the rotor blades has a passage opening 13, 14 to the mixing chamber 4. The mixer shaft 9 is centrally mounted in the lower region of the rotor 10.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a closing part 5 of the dynamic mixer 1. The closing part 5 has at least two substantially parallel planes 11, 12 at the side averting the rotor tip, that are axially put in a row, wherein the plane 11 averting the rotor 10 comprises the first and second inlet opening 6, 7. The plane 12 facing the rotor 10 has a first and a second passage opening 13, 14 to the mixing chamber, wherein the first inlet opening 6 and the first passage opening 13 form a linear duct 18. The at least two substantially parallel planes 11, 12 axially put in a row form a feeding duct 15 between the second inlet opening 7 and the second passage opening 14 to the mixing chamber 4, wherein the feeding duct 15 extends on an inner partial circle of the closing part 5.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a chamber part 2 of the dynamic mixer 1. The at least largely cylindrical chamber part 2 has a discharge opening 3 at the upper end of the chamber part 2. The chamber part comprises a mixing chamber 4. A passage opening 13, 14 to the mixing chamber 4 is shown in the lower part of the chamber part 2.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a closing part 5 in interior view, quasi looking from the mixing chamber to the passage openings 13, 14. A first inlet opening 6 and the first passage opening 13 form a linear duct 18, which directly runs from outside into the mixing chamber 4.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a closing part 5 with inserted rotor 10. The first passage opening 13 and the second passage opening 14 are shown on the side of the rotor 10.

[0060] FIG. 7 shows a closing part 5 with marked feeding duct 15. The at least two substantially parallel planes 11, 12 axially put in a row form a feeding duct 15 between the second inlet opening 7 and the second passage opening 14 to the mixing chamber 4, wherein the feeding duct 15 extends on an inner partial circle of the closing par 5.

[0061] FIG. 8 shows a closing part 5 with marked feeding duct 15 and marked partition wall 16 between feeding duct 15 and mixing chamber 4. the feeding duct 15 has a spatially restricted partition wall 16 on another inner partial circle or on an inner ellipsoidal path. The partition wall 16 may be part of the chamber part 2 or part of the closing part 5. In FIG. 8, the partition wall is part of the closing part 5. The partition wall separates the feeding duct 15 from the mixing chamber 4. The partition wall 16 respectively takes a different relative position the feeding duct 15 depending from the relative rotationally symmetric position of chamber part 2 and closing part 5.

[0062] FIG. 9 shows a chamber part 2 with a marked partition wall 16 for the feeding duct 15. The partition wall is part of the chamber part 2.

[0063] FIG. 10 shows a cross-section through the dynamic mixer 1 with feeding duct 15 according to the invention and partition wall 16. When chamber part 2 and closing part 5 being rotated against each other, the partition wall 16 is displaced as well. This affects the length of the flow path and thus the flow resistance of the feeding duct 15. The feeding duct 15 may be balanced, so that the discharge quantity corresponds to the later mixing ratio.

[0064] FIG. 11 shows a minimum and a maximum rotation of chamber part 2 and closing part 5 against each other. Flow obstacles (trunnions 17 shown as circles) reduce the flow in the feeding duct. These trunnions 17 are arranged at the chamber part 2 and protrude in the feeding duct 15 with the closing part 5 after assembly. The feeding duct 15 is getting smaller with increasing flow path. By positioning chamber part 2 and closing part 5 differently, the flow obstacles in the feeding duct 15 are positioned differently and may thus modify the open duct cross-section at this point. This may also be used to balance the flow duct.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0065] 1 dynamic mixer [0066] 2 chamber part (=housing of the mixer lid) [0067] 3 discharge opening [0068] 4 mixing chamber [0069] 5 closing part (=housing of the mixer bottom) [0070] 6 first inlet opening [0071] 7 second inlet opening [0072] 8 centrical opening [0073] 9 mixer shaft [0074] 10 rotor [0075] 11 plane averting the rotor [0076] 12 plane facing the rotor [0077] 13 first passage opening [0078] 14 second passage opening [0079] 15 feeding duct [0080] 16 partition wall [0081] 17 trunnion [0082] 18 linear duct