Sonic Mixer

Abstract

An apparatus designed for the mixing of powders or fluids with the least amount of effort and energy. The mixing is accomplished by using an assembly that is similar in design to an audio speaker which is connected to a container which holds the items to be mixed. The apparatus is charged with an electrical source which causes it to agitate. The agitation of the apparatus will cause an attached container to agitate and thus provide a means to mix the contents in the container, without the need for stirring. Through a variety of different methods, the apparatus is caused to go into mechanical resonance thereby maximizing its agitation and thus its mixing efforts. An internal computer is used to monitor, maintain, and help place the apparatus in mechanical resonance while it is mixing the desired items. There is an option to add a cover to the apparatus which acts as both a sound reduction mechanism and a safety mechanism ensuring that anything that might become loose from the container will not come in contact with the operator.

Claims

1) An apparatus comprising: a magnet assembly comprising a round magnet, a magnet frame, a pole, where the magnet is attached to the magnet frame and is axially aligned with the pole, and where the pole is attached to the magnet frame; a force coil assembly comprising a force coil and a force coil tube, where the force coil is wire wrapped around and axially aligned with the force coil tube, and where the force coil assembly fits over and is axially aligned with the pole and is axially aligned with the magnet; a frame; a spider which is attached to the frame, attached and axially aligned with the force coil assembly; a cone assembly comprising a flexible surround and a cone where the flexible surround is attached to the frame and to the cone; an adapter ring that is affixed to the cone and to the force coil tube; a container comprising a top, a body section, and where the body section attaches to the adapter ring; a touch screen which allows an operator to operate and run the apparatus; an electrical source that generates a variable frequency constant amplitude alternating voltage that charges the force coil causing the same to oscillate; an internal computer which runs the apparatus; a Hall element which is placed in electronic series with the force coil, and where the Hall element outputs a voltage that is proportional to the current running through the Hall element, and where the internal computer adjusts and lowers the frequency of the electrical source from a higher frequency to a lower frequency and to a point where the voltage output of the Hall element is at its minimum at which point mechanical resonance is achieved; and an enclosure.

2) An apparatus as in claim 1: where the internal computer measures the voltage at the electrical source and uses the voltage output of the Hall element to calculate the current running through the Hall element; where the internal computer creates a voltage sine wave from the voltage measured at the electrical source and creates a current sine wave from the current as calculated from the voltage output of the Hall element, where the internal computer compares the two sine waves such that a phase angle between the two sine waves is observed and is measured in degrees and is either positive or negative, and where the internal computer adjusts the frequency of the electrical source such that the phase angle between the two sine curves reaches zero degrees and which is the point where the system is in mechanical resonance.

3) An apparatus as in claim 1: where a resistor is substituted for the Hall element; the voltage across the resistor is measured and the internal computer adjusts the frequency of the electrical source to a point where the voltage across the resistor is at its minimum at which point the system is in mechanical resonance.

4) An apparatus as in claim 2: where a resistor is substituted for the Hall element; where the voltage across the resistor is measured and the current running through the resistor is calculated by the internal computer using Ohm's Law, where the internal computer creates a voltage sine wave from the voltage measured at the electrical source and a current sine wave from the current as calculated from the voltage measured across the resistor, where the internal computer compares the two sine waves such that a phase angle between the two sine curves is observed and is measured in degrees and is either positive or negative, and where the internal computer adjusts the frequency of the electrical source such that the phase angle between the two sine curves reaches zero degrees and which is the point where the system is in mechanical resonance.

5) An apparatus as in claim 1: where the internal computer increases the frequency of the electrical source from a zero frequency to the resonant frequency for a given mixing job's weight.

6) The apparatus as in claim 1: where the electrical source provides a variable frequency constant amplitude alternating current charge to the force coil and where the internal computer measures the amplitude of the voltage across the force coil and adjusts the frequency of the electrical source from high to low until the voltage across the force coil reaches its absolute maximum thereby placing the system in mechanical resonance.

7) An apparatus as in claim 1: where two coils, a first coil and a second coil, are employed and where each coil is made of wire and each being wrapped around and axially aligned with the force coil tube and each other, and axially aligned with the magnet, and where the first coil is energized by the electrical source and replaces the force coil and the second coil is used to measure a voltage created by the force coil assembly movement in relation the magnet, and where the system is in mechanical resonance when the voltage measured is at its maximum.

8) An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: an accelerometer that is attached to the spider and where said accelerometer is used to measure the movement of the force coil assembly with resonance being achieved when movement of the force coil assembly is at its maximum.

9) An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: an external pad type computer which replaces or works in conjunction with the internal computer.

10) An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: a second Hall element and a second magnet where this Hall element has a face and is attached to the frame and second magnet is attached to the cone assembly, and where the movement of the cone assembly causes the second magnet to move across the face of the Hall element creating a voltage output of the Hall element which the internal computer uses to measure the movement of the cone assembly and force coil assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the force coil assembly with container attached.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the enclosure with cover showing the force coil assembly, internal computer and container.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the container and its three subparts.

[0040] FIG. 4A is a chart showing the voltage sine wave and current sine wave where the relationship between the two waves is a positive degree phase angle.

[0041] FIG. 4B is a chart showing the voltage sine wave and current sine wave where the relationship between the two sine waves is a zero degree phase angle.

[0042] FIG. 4C is a chart showing the voltage sine wave and current sine wave where the relationship between the two sine waves is a negative degree phase angle.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a chart showing the relationship between current and frequency.

[0044] FIG. 6 is an electronic schematic showing the resistor in series with the force coil assembly.

[0045] FIG. 6A is an electronic schematic showing the Hall element in series with the force coil assembly.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a chart showing the relationship of the force coil impedance, frequency and phase angle.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sonic mixer and pad computer.

[0048] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the force coil assembly with container attached and showing the two coil embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 show the preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 shows the external view of the invention. The sonic mixer 10 has an enclosure 20, a cover 12, here in its open position, a touch pad 14, an internal computer 16 and a force coil assembly 18. The cover 12 has a top, four sides, with a front and a back, an open bottom, and an attachment portion 82. A hinge 80 is located at the back side and bottom of the cover 12 and allows cover 12 to be moved from its open position to its closed position. The attachment portion 82 is how the cover is attached to the enclosure 20 using any method with the preferred embodiment being nuts and bolts. Affixed to the front of the cover 12 is a handle 62 to aid in moving the cover 12.

[0050] The cover 12 is lifted up to its open position thereby allowing the operator to attach a container 22 to the force coil assembly 18. The cover 12 is then moved to its closed position where it rests on top of the enclosure 20 and encloses the container 22. The cover 12 is made from any clear plastic, or similar, material. The enclosure 20 is made from a medal, or similar, material. The handle 62 is made from either a plastic or metal material.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional of the invention in its operational position. The cover 12 is closed and the container 22 is affixed to the force coil assembly 18 via an adapter ring 26. The internal computer 16 is shown below the touch pad 14. Also shown is an electrical source 44.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional of the force coil assembly 18 and its subparts. The force coil assembly 18 is similar in design and construction to an audio speaker. The force coil assembly 18 consists of magnet assembly 46, a spider 36, a force coil 34, a force coil tube 70, an adapter ring 26, a frame 48 and a cone assembly 78.

[0053] The magnet assembly 46 consists of a magnet frame 30 made from a soft iron material, a permanent round magnet 32 and a pole 52. The pole 52 is part of the magnet frame 30 and is axially aligned with the magnet 32 which is affixed to the magnet frame 30 in a matter known in the industry. Also affixed to the magnet frame 30 is the frame 48 which holds the cone assembly 78.

[0054] The cone assembly 78 has two parts, a flexible surround 50 and a cone 40. The frame 48 is attached to the flexible surround 50 which in turn is attached to the cone 40 in a matter known in the industry. The cone 40 is attached on one end to the flexible surround 50 and attached on the other end to force coil tube 70 in a manner known in the industry. The flexible surround 50 is made from a rubber, form or similar flexible material and the cone 40 is made from a paper based or similar material.

[0055] The force coil 34 consists of wire, typically copper, wrapped around the force coil tube 70, which is made of a paper, plastic or similar material, and with both being axially aligned with the pole 52 and the magnet 32. The force coil tube 70 fits over the pole 52 but is not attached to the same so that it is allowed to oscillate freely, and both are cylindrical in shape.

[0056] The top of the force coil tube 70 is affixed to the cone 40 in a manner known in the industry. A spider 36, a flat bellows spring made of beryllium copper or a stiff impregnated non-ferrous material, is used to refrain the force coil tube 70 from moving off its axis during operation and thus stay aligned with the pole 52 and with the magnet 32. The spider 36 is attached on one end to the force coil tube 70 and is attached on the other end to the frame 48 in a manner known in the industry.

[0057] The adapter ring 26 is attached to the force coil tube 70 and is attached to the cone 40, with the preferred embodiment being an adhesive with an epoxy base material being the adhesive. As both the cone 40 and adapter ring 26 are affixed to the force coil tube 70, and in turn the force coil tube 70 is attached to the force coil 34, all parts will oscillate in unison with the force coil 34. Once the container 22 is attached to the adapter ring 26, it too will oscillate and move in unison with the force coil 34.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows the container 22 and its subparts along with the adapter ring 26. The container 22 consists of a top 28 and a tapered body section 24. The body section 24 has an open top, a side and a solid bottom. The top 28 has an outer section and inner section. The top 28 is designed to engage and affixed to the top of the body section 24, with the preferred embodiment being a threaded connection although other methods could be used. The outside of the top of the body section 24 has a thread portion that is designed to engage a corresponding threaded portion which is in the inner section of the top 28.

[0059] The bottom of the body section 24 is designed to engage the adapter ring 26, which has an outer portion and inner portion. The typical connection would be a threaded connection although other methods could be used. The outside of the bottom of the body section 24 has a threaded portion and the inner portion of the adapter ring 26 has a corresponding threaded portion so the body section 24 can be screwed into and secured in the adapter ring 26. The container 22 and its parts are typically made from a plastic based material.

[0060] The body section 24 of the container 22 is conical in shape with the top being open and the bottom being solid, similar in design to a common drinking glass or cup. The body section 24 is conical in shape, although it may come in a variety of shapes such as cylindrical. The material to be mixed is placed into the body section 24 through its open top and the cover 28 is affixed to the top of the body section 24 as described above.

[0061] The adapter ring 26 is affixed to the force coil assembly 18 as mentioned above and as shown in FIG. 1. When the operator is ready to mix the materials she simply starts by placing the materials to be mix into the body section 24 through its open top. She then attaches the top 28 to the body section 24 as described above. The container 22 is the affixed to the force coil assembly 18 by simply connecting the bottom of the body section 24 to the adapter ring 26 via the threaded connection mentioned above.

[0062] When the materials are ready to be mixed, the operator will close the cover 12 and start the sonic mixer 10. In the preferred embodiment the force coil 34 is charged by the electrical source 44 with the internal computer 16 monitoring the process. The system is placed in mechanical resonance in a number of different methods.

[0063] The preferred embodiment is to have an electrical source 44 generate a variable frequency constant amplitude alternating voltage or variable frequency constant amplitude alternating current. As the force coil 34 is charged by the electrical source 44, it will cause the force coil 34 to oscillate up and down due to its relationship with the magnet 32, a process known in the industry of audio speakers. As mentioned above once the container 22 is attached to the adapter ring 26 it will move and oscillate in unison with the force coil 34.

[0064] This oscillation movement of the system will create the necessary agitation to mix the contents in the container 22 without the need for stirring. The oscillation is increased until the system is placed in mechanical resonance where the mixing efficiency is at its maximum as the agitation caused by being at resonance is at its maximum. This is achieved with the minimal amount of energy.

[0065] In the preferred embodiment a Hall element 64 is placed in electronic series with the force coil assembly 18. FIG. 6A is an electrical schematic of this embodiment. Hall element 64 generates a voltage, Vi, which is directly proportional to the current flowing through the element. The voltage generated by the Hall element 64 is measured, recorded and monitored by the internal computer 16. The Hall element 64 has a hall coefficient, Rh. The Hall element 64 also has an internal magnet that creates a constant magnetic field intensity independent of the electrical current that runs through the Hall element 64.

[0066] The current running through the Hall element 64 can be calculated by the following equation: I=Vi (Rh*B). Where I is the current, Vi is the voltage output, Rh is the hall coefficient and B is the magnetic field intensity created by the internal magnet. As Rh and B are known for the given Hall element 64 the internal computer 16 can then make the above calculation to calculate the current for a given voltage output by the Hall element 64. The internal computer 16 will make these calculations continuously as the system runs and as the voltage output from the Hall element 64 changes from time to time. Therefore, the internal computer 16 in conjunction with the Hall element 64 will be able to provide a continuous stream of the value of the current running through the Hall element 64.

[0067] There are a few ways to achieve placing the system in resonance using the Hall element 64. In the preferred method a variable frequency constant amplitude alternating voltage is used to energize the force coil 34. Resonance is achieved by varying the frequency of the constant amplitude alternating voltage from high to low until the voltage Vi generated by the Hall element 64 output is at its absolute minimum.

[0068] Another method is to monitor and compare the phase angle difference between an applied voltage sine wave and a current sine wave and adjust the same by varying the frequency of the electrical source. The applied voltage sine wave is created from voltage measured at the electrical source 44 by the internal computer 16. The current sine wave is created by the internal computer 16 from the current calculated as described above using the voltage output, Vi, of the Hall element 64, which is directly proportional and in-phase with the current. FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C charts show the change in frequency from high frequency to low frequency and vice versa, and how the change in frequency affects the phase angle, measured in degrees, between the voltage sine wave and current sine wave. At high frequency the phase angle is negative degrees (FIG. 4C) and at low frequency the phase angle is positive degrees (FIG. 4A). In between the phase angle will reach a zero degrees phase angle and that is the resonant point of the particular mixing job (FIG. 4B). The internal computer 16 will monitor the system and will adjust the frequency of the electronic source such that the system reaches and is maintained at the resonant point, a zero degrees phase angle.

[0069] Another embodiment is to use a low value resistor 60 in place of the Hall element 64 and is placed in series with the force coil assembly 18. FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic of this embodiment. The voltage, Vi, across the resistor is measured and monitored by the internal computer 16. Using Ohm's law and the known value of the resistor 60, one can calculate the current the across the resistor 60 using the voltage measured across the resistor 60. The system is placed in resonance using the same methods set forth in the Hall element embodiment described above.

[0070] With the variable frequency constant amplitude alternating voltage method, the voltage, Vi, is monitored and the internal computer 16 will adjust the frequency of the electrical source 44 from high to low until the voltage Vi is at its absolute minimum where the system is in resonance. With the sine wave method, the applied voltage sine wave is created from voltage measure at the electrical source 44, the current sine wave is created by the current as calculated by the internal computer 16 as described above using the voltage, Vi, measured across the resistor, which is directly proportional and in-phase with the current. The internal computer 16 will adjust the frequency of the electrical source 44 so the phase angle between the two sine curves reaches zero degrees, and thus the resonant point.

[0071] Another embodiment uses a constant current as an electrical source. FIG. 7 is a chart showing the same concept as described above and the phase angle relationship with the impedance at the force coil 34. The system is at its resonant frequency when the impedance is at its maximum and the phase angle is at zero degrees. A variable frequency constant amplitude alternating current is used to energize the force coil 34. The internal computer 16 measures the amplitude of the voltage across the force coil 34 and also adjusts the frequency of the electrical source 44. When the frequency of the constant amplitude current varies from high to low the voltage across the force coil 34 will reach its absolute maximum. At the same time the impedance of the system will reach its maximum, and at this point, the system is in resonance.

[0072] In another embodiment the internal computer 16 monitors the system and the electrical source 44 provides a variable frequency constant amplitude alternating voltage or a constant amplitude voltage to the force coil 34. The internal computer 16 will increase the frequency of the electrical source from zero to a point where the resonant point is reached for a particular mixture mass. The internal computer 16 can past the resonant frequency and return the system to the resonant frequency. The resonant frequency will differ from job to job as the weights of the jobs will differ from job to job.

[0073] Another embodiment is to employ two coils and shown in FIG. 9. The two coils are in the same position as with the single force coil embodiment, each wrapped around and axially aligned with the force coil tube 70, axially aligned with the magnet 32, and axially aligned with each other on the force coil tube 70.

[0074] A first coil 74 is charged by the electrical source 44 as the force coil 34 is charged in the single force coil embodiment and acts in the same manner as the force coil 34 causing the system to oscillate up and down. As this first coil 74 oscillates and moves the assembly a second force coil 72 moves and oscillates in unison and moves through the magnetic field of the magnet 32. A second force coil 72 is employed to measure the voltage created as this coil moves through the magnetic field of the magnet 32 in a manner known in the industry. The second force coil 72 will provide a continuous record of the frequency and amplitude of the movement of the force coil assembly 18 and the same is recorded and monitored by the internal computer 16. Using a constant current source, when the voltage recorded is at its highest the system is in resonance.

[0075] In yet another embodiment of the invention an accelerometer 38 is used with the invention. The accelerometer 38 is attached to the spider 36 and thus will thus move in relationship with the force coil assembly 18. Thus, the accelerometer 38 will measure the acceleration of the movement of the spider 36, attached to the force coil assembly 18. The frequency of the electrical source is varied and at the frequency when the acceleration reaches its maximum, the system is in resonance.

[0076] A handheld pad type computer 58 can be employed with the system so the system can be run remotely as opposed to having to use the touch pad 14. FIG. 8 shows the handheld pad type computer 58 which wirelessly interacts with sonic mixer 10 to act in conjunction with the internal computer 16.

[0077] In order to save on wear and tear on the apparatus a second Hall element 90 is used and works in conjunction with a hall magnet 84 which generates the necessary magnetic field intensity. As there is an external magnet the Hall element 90 does not have an internal magnet and works simply as a sensing device.

[0078] The Hall element 90 and magnet 84 are both located under the cone assembly 78. The Hall element 90 is attached to a support 88 that is attached to the frame 48. The magnet 84 is attached to its own support 86 which in turn is attached to the cone 40. The hall element support 86 is made from a non-ferrous material.

[0079] The Hall element 90 is in a parallel orientation with the magnet 84. The Hall element 90 has a face that faces the magnet 84. When the cone assembly 78 oscillates up and down during the mixing process it will causes the magnet 84 to move back and forth across the face of the Hall element 90. As the magnet 84 is attached to the cone 40 of the cone assembly 78, the magnet 84 will naturally move in the same manner as the movement of cone assembly 78.

[0080] The back and forth movement of the magnet 84 across the face of the Hall element 90 generates a magnetic field intensity which varies in intensity as the amplitude and frequency of the up and down movement of the cone assembly varies from time to time. This varying in the amplitude and frequency of the movement of the cone assembly can be monitored and controlled by the internal computer 16.

[0081] In this embodiment the current running through this Hall element 90 is held constant. Using the Hall element equation mentioned above the output voltage can be expressed as follows: Vi=I/(Rh*B). As the current I is constant and Hall coefficient Rh is known, one sees that the voltage output Vi is directly proportional to variable magnetic field intensity B created by the movement of the magnet 84 cross the face of the Hall element 90.

[0082] Therefore, the voltage output of the Hall element 90 will indicate to the internal computer 16 the amplitude and frequency of the movement of the cone assembly 78. The internal computer 16 can adjust the system to limit the movement of the force coil assembly 18 and cone assembly 78 to save on any unnecessary wear and tear.

[0083] In addition, the resonance point can be detected using this method. The resonant point for a given mixing job occurs when the cone assembly 78 and force coil assembly 18 reach actual peak movement. The voltage output of the Hall element 90 will provide this information to the internal computer 16 as voltage output is necessarily related to the movement of the two assemblies.