Abstract
A stirring member (90) for an industrial stirrer, in particular for a stirring rod arrangement, for connecting to a stirring mechanism combinable with a container for receiving liquids, wherein the container comprises a filling opening closable with a lid for filling the container in an upper bottom wall, wherein the stirring member is connectable to a rod-shaped stirring member carrier of the stirring rod arrangement, wherein the stirring member comprises a bearing end (91) and a stirring member end (94) connected to the bearing end (91) via a link (92) and having a flow tube (93), wherein the flow tube comprises a tube wall, wherein the flow tube comprises an annularly formed accumulating surface (95) at its flow inlet cross section, wherein the accumulating surface comprises at least one circular ring sector (96) which is inclined with respect to an inflow plane of the flow inlet cross section.
Claims
1. A stirring rod arrangement for connecting to a stirring mechanism of an industrial stirrer and combinable with a container (20) for receiving liquids, wherein the container comprises a filling opening closable with a lid (28) for filling the container in an upper bottom wall (26), wherein the stirring rod arrangement comprises a rod-shaped stirring member carrier (30) formed as a hollow shaft for receiving a stirring mechanism shaft (38), characterized in that the stirring rod arrangement comprises stirring members (32, 82) pivotably connected to the stirring member carrier, wherein the stirring members comprise a bearing end (91) and a stirring member end (94, 108, 114) connected to the bearing end via a link (92) and having a flow tube (93, 111, 116), wherein the flow tube comprises a tube wall (128, 129) characterized in that the flow tube comprises an annularly formed accumulating surface (95, 105, 109, 117, 122) with an outer edge at its flow inlet cross section (98), wherein the accumulating surface comprises at least one circular ring sector (96, 103) which is inclined with respect to an inflow plane (97) of the flow inlet cross section.
2. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclined circular ring sector (96, 103) extends over at least 90, preferably at least 180, particularly preferably at least 270, of the accumulating surface (95, 105, 109, 117, 122) with respect to an circular ring center (101, 104, 118).
3. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the accumulating surface (95) comprises at least one surface sector (99) which is inclined at a surface sector angle with respect to a level partial surface (100) of the accumulating surface, wherein the surface sector angle is 5 to 20, preferably 10.
4. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclined circular ring sector (103) extends over more than 360 of the accumulating surface (105, 109, 117, 122) based relatively on an circular ring center (101, 104, 118, 127).
5. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the circular ring sector (96, 103) is inclined at a surface sector angle , wherein the surface sector angle is consistent.
6. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the circular ring sector (96, 103) is inclined at a surface sector angle , wherein the surface sector angle is continuously changed along the circular ring sector regarding a non-linear, preferably trigonometric, function.
7. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the circular ring sector is inclined at a surface sector angle , wherein the surface sector angle continuously increases relative to an circular ring center (127) with decreasing distance to the accumulating surface (109).
8. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the accumulating surface (109) is formed as a bell-shaped opening (110).
9. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the circular ring sector is inclined at a surface sector angle , wherein the surface sector angle is continuously changed relative to an circular ring center (118) with decreasing distance of the accumulating surface (117) regarding a non-linear function.
10. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the accumulating surface (122) is formed as a wavelike opening.
11. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a free stirring member end (48, 83) of the stirring members (90, 102, 107, 115, 121) is pivoted against a rotational axis (47) of the stirring member carrier in a mounting configuration, wherein a spring device is arranged between the stirring members (90, 102, 107, 115, 121) and the stirring member carrier in such a way that a centrifugal force is applied to the stirring members in an operational configuration in consequence of a rotation of the stirring member carrier and the stirring members take up a pivoted position, which is dependent on the rotational speed of the stirring member carrier, at a stirring angle formed with respect to the rotational axis, wherein the free stirring member ends are arranged at a stirring distance r from the rotational axis and the spring force acts against the centrifugal force, the spring force becoming stronger as the stirring angle increases.
12. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the free stirring member ends (94, 108, 114) of the stirring members (90, 102, 107, 115, 121) are arranged underneath pivot bearings (43) formed at the stirring member carrier (30) in the mounting configuration.
13. The stirring rod arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the spring device is formed as a leg spring.
14. A transport and storage container for liquids having a container (20) formed as an internal container made of plastic, said container (20) comprising a filling opening closable with a lid (28) for filling the container in an upper bottom wall (26), as well as a lower bottom wall connecting two lateral walls (23, 24), a rear wall (25) and a front wall (22) of the container for supporting the container on a pallet floor of a transport pallet having an outer jacket for receiving the container, characterized in that the lid is provided with a stirring rod arrangement according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
(1) In the following, the invention is further described by means of the drawings.
(2) In the figures:
(3) FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross sectional view through a container usable as an internal container for a transport and storage container for liquids having a stirring rod arrangement not according to the invention in a mounting configuration;
(4) FIG. 2 shows a partial view of an upper axial end of the stirring rod arrangement of FIG. 1 having an inserted stirring mechanism shaft;
(5) FIG. 3 shows the stirring rod arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 having an axially elevated stirring mechanism shaft;
(6) FIG. 4 shows the stirring rod arrangement shown in a transport state in FIG. 1 in an enlarged partial cross sectional view:
(7) FIG. 5 shows an explosive view of another embodiment of the stirring rod arrangement not according to the invention;
(8) FIG. 6 shows the stirring rod arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5 in a mounted state;
(9) FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a connecting device formed at the upper axial end of the stirring rod arrangement;
(10) FIG. 8 shows the lower axial end of the stirring rod arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 in an enlarged view having a plurality of stirring members;
(11) FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of stirring members illustrated in FIG. 8 in a cross sectional view according to cutting line IX-IX;
(12) FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of stirring members illustrated in FIG. 8 in an operational configuration;
(13) FIG. 11 shows an individual stirring member not according to the invention in top view;
(14) FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 11 in a rear view;
(15) FIG. 13 shows the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 11 in a cross sectional view according to cutting line XIII-XIII;
(16) FIG. 14 shows the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 11 according to cutting line XIV-XIV;
(17) FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of a stirring member not according to the invention in side view;
(18) FIG. 16 shows the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 15 in isometric view;
(19) FIG. 17 shows a first embodiment of a stirring member according to the invention in top view;
(20) FIG. 18 shows the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 17 in sectional view according to cutting lint XVIII-XVIII;
(21) FIG. 19 shows an isometric view of the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 17;
(22) FIG. 20 shows a second embodiment of an individual stirring member according to the invention in top view;
(23) FIG. 21 shows the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 20 in sectional view according to cutting line XXI-XXI;
(24) FIG. 22 shows a third embodiment of an individual stirring member according to the invention in isometric view;
(25) FIG. 23 shows a stirring member end of the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 22 in cross sectional view;
(26) FIG. 24 shows the stirring member end of the stirring member illustrated in FIG. 23 in longitudinal sectional view;
(27) FIG. 25 shows a fourth embodiment of a stirring member end according to the invention in longitudinal sectional view;
(28) FIG. 26 shows a cross sectional view of the stirring member end from FIG. 25;
(29) FIG. 27 shows a fifth embodiment of an individual stirring member according to the invention in isometric view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(30) FIG. 1 shows a container 20 for receiving liquids formed as an internal container for a not further illustrated transport and storage container. The container 20 comprises a front wall 22 connected to a lower bottom wall 21 meant to serve as a support on a not further illustrated pallet floor of a transport pallet, which is provided with a grid jacket, also not further illustrated, for receiving the container 20, two opposing lateral walls 23, 24, a rear wall 25 as well as an upper bottom wall 26 opposite the lower bottom wall 21.
(31) The upper bottom wall 26 is provided with a filling connection 27 closable with a lid 28 formed a screw-on lid in this case.
(32) In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 28 forms a component of a stirring rod arrangement 29, the latter comprising as essential components a stirring member carrier 30 formed as a hollow shaft made of electrically conductive plastic in the case at hand as well as a stirring rod arrangement 31, which comprises three stirring members 32 in the case of the embodiment at hand, said stirring members connected to the stirring member carrier 30 by means of a shaft hub 33.
(33) As in particular a synopsis of FIGS. 1, 8 and 10 shows, spring devices, formed as leg springs 34 in this case, are provided between the stirring members 32 and the stirring member carrier 30, said spring devices indirectly connected to the stirring member carrier 30 via the shaft hub 33, wherein the shaft hub comprises locking receivers 36 for the form-fitting connection with free leg ends 35 of the leg springs 34, locking extensions 37 formed at the leg ends 35 being locked into said locking receivers 36. The leg springs 34 are integrally formed at the stirring members 32 in this case, wherein a material-fitting linking of the leg springs 34 is formed at the stirring members 32 in the case of this embodiment in that the stirring members 32 are produced in an injection molding process together with the leg springs 34. In the pre-tensioned state, the leg springs are s-shaped.
(34) The leg springs 34 are formed, like the stirring members 32 and the shaft hub 33, out of an electrically conductive plastic material analog to the stirring member carrier 30.
(35) In FIGS. 1 and 8, the stirring rod arrangement is illustrated in a mounting configuration, in which a rotation of the stirring member carrier 30 is not carried out by means of a stirring mechanism shaft 38 connected rotationally rigid to the stirring member carrier 30 via the shaft hub 33, said stirring mechanism shaft 38, as illustrated in FIG. 2, being inserted from the top into the stirring member carrier 30 and inserted into the shaft pin receiver 40, illustrated in FIG. 9, formed in the shaft hub 33 with a shaft pin 39, illustrated in FIG. 5, formed at the lower axial end of the stirring mechanism 38. In order to axially secure the turning-moment transferring connection between the stirring mechanism shaft 38 and the shaft hub 33, the shaft pin receiver 40 is provided with locking legs 41 which lock into locking recesses not further illustrated at the shaft pin 39.
(36) As in particular a synopsis of FIGS. 9 and 10 shows, the stirring members 32, having bearing ends 42 formed as a bearing eye in this case for forming a pivot bearing 43, are each arranged on a pivot pin 44 formed at the shaft hub 33. The axial securing of the bearing ends 42 on the pivot pins 44 is carried out via a form-fitting connection in such a way that a locking collar 45 formed at the bearing ends 42 engages on the pivot pins 44 behind a locking collar 46 of the pivot pins after positioning of the stirring members 32.
(37) As a comparison of FIGS. 8 and 10 illustrates, the stirring members 32 are conveyed into a pivoted position dependent on the rotational speed of the stirring member carrier 30 against the resetting spring force of the leg springs 34 with a stirring angle formed with respect to the rotational axis 47 in such a way that the stirring member ends 48 are arranged in a stirring distance r to the rotational axis 47, said stirring distance r being proportional to the stirring angle and to the rotational speed of the stirring mechanism shaft, respectively, when the stirring rod arrangement 29 is in an operational configuration, in which the stirring member carrier 30 rotates about a rotational axis 47 in consequence of a rotation drive of the stirring mechanism shaft 38 coupled to the stirring member carrier 30 via the hollow shaft 33.
(38) As in particular a synopsis of FIGS. 9, 11 and 13 shows, the stirring member ends 48 are formed with a flow tube provided with an annular accumulating surface 51 at the flow inlet cross section 53, thus at the side pointing towards the inflow direction 50 during the stirring process. The accumulating surface 51 is inclined in the inflow direction 50 at an accumulating surface angle with respect to the rotational axis 47. The flow tube 49 comprises a tube wall 52 which is formed as a slanted cone in such a way that the flow inlet cross section 53 is inclined by a tube angle towards a flow outlet cross section 54 of the flow tube 49. Wherein, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the length L.sub.1 of the tube wall in the flow direction 50 in a cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 55 (FIG. 11) of a link 56 connecting the bearing end 42 of the stirring member 32 to the stirring member end 48 above a tube axis 57 is larger than the length L.sub.2 of the tube wall 52 underneath the flow axis 57.
(39) As further shown in FIG. 13, a surface base 58 of a concave lift surface 60 formed by an upper part 59 of the tube wall 52 is inclined at an angle of attack towards the inflow direction 50.
(40) A stirring member 82 is illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 which, in contrast to the stirring member 32 illustrated in particular in FIGS. 13 and 14, comprises a stirring member end 83 which, in contrast to the stirring member end 48 of the stirring member 82, is provided with an accumulating surface 84 which is assembled from a level partial surface 85 having surface segments 86 and 87 formed at the circumferential edge of the accumulating surface 84, wherein the surface segments 86, 87 are inclined against the inflow direction 50 by a surface segment angle .sub.1 or .sub.2, respectively, with respect to the level partial surface 85 in the case at hand.
(41) As in particular FIG. 16 shows, the surface segments 86, 87 are formed as circular ring segments, wherein an outer edge 88 of the surface segments 86, 87 each tangentially passes through the circumferential edge of the accumulating surface 84 and a connecting edge 89 of the surface segments 86, 87 in the transition to the partial surface 85 extends tangientially to the flow inlet cross section 53 of the flow tube 49 of the stirring member end 83, wherein the connecting edges 89 run parallel to each other in the case at hand.
(42) The two surface segments are formed levelly in the embodiment illustrated and further comprise a conforming size in the case at hand.
(43) Apart from the stirring member end 83, which comprises the accumulating surface 84 instead of the accumulating surface 51, the stirring member 82 illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 is formed identical to the stirring member 32 illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, so that conformingly formed components of the stirring member 82 comprise correspondingly conform reference numerals.
(44) As in particular a synopsis of FIGS. 11 and 14 shows, a lift pocket 61 is formed in a middle link section of the link 56 in such a way that starting from an essentially straight inflow edge 62 of the link 56, a lift surface 63 inclined by the angle of inclination a with respect to the rotational axis 47 and an angle of attack .sub.2 with respect to the inflow direction 50 is formed, said lift surface 63 being lowered with respect to the adjacent link surface 66 via inclined flanks 64, 65 slanted with respect to the lift surface 63.
(45) As is in particular illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, the stirring member carrier 30 of the stirring rod arrangement 29 is provided with connecting devices 67, 68 and 69, illustrated in three different embodiments, at the upper axial end, said connecting devices 67, 68 and 69 receiving a, in this case, conformingly formed circlip 73 in differently formed circlip receivers 70, 71, 72. FIGS. 4 and 6 show the connecting devices 67 and 68 in the transport state of the stirring rod arrangement 29. As can be particularly seen from the connecting device 68 illustrated in a part sectional view in FIG. 5, the connecting device 68 serves for connecting the stirring member carrier 30 of the stirring rod arrangement 29 to the lid 28. Therefor, the stirring member carrier 30 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises a circlip receiver 71 formed as a socket and welded to the upper axial end of the stirring member carrier 30. For mounting, the upper axial end of the stirring member carrier 30 is inserted with the circlip receiver 71 formed thereon from the bottom through a insertion opening 74 formed in the lid 28, so that subsequently the circlip 73 can be inserted from the top into a plug depression 76 formed in the lid for receiving a drum plug 75 and can be locked onto the circlip receiver 71, which comprises a receiving groove 78 limited by two collar links 77. This results in a relative arrangement between the lid 28 and the connecting device 68 in which the circlip 73 abuts to a supporting edge 79 limiting the insertion opening in the bottom of the lid 28, so that the circlip 73 forms an axial abutment against the supporting edge 79.
(46) If the drum plug 75 is now screwed into the plug depression 76 of the lid 28, a lower edge 80 of the drum plug 75 now limits a ring receiving space 81 together with the supporting edge 79 of the lid 28, in which the circlip can carry out a limited or essentially no axial movement, if anything, so that a secure connection between the lid 28 and the stirring member carrier 30 is formed.
(47) In this way, the container 20 can be combined with a stirring rod arrangement 29 independent of the installation of a stirring mechanism as well. If a stirring mechanism is to be connected to the stirring rod arrangement 29 in order to mix a liquid received in the container, it will suffice to remove the drum plug 75 from the plug depression 76 of the lid 28 and to insert the stirring mechanism shaft 38 into the stirring member carrier 30 from above and to couple the two. Thereby the stirring mechanism can be set on and connected to the container 20 or a support structure connected to the outer jacket of the container 20, respectively, as usual. Preferably, a slight axial lifting of the stirring member carrier 30 out of the container 20 is carried out, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3, in order to prevent a physical contact between the circlip 73 and the supporting edge 79 of the lid 28 while the stirring member carrier 30 is driven to rotate by means of the stirring mechanism shaft 38 and thereby preventing the forming of contact abrasions which can possibly contaminate the liquid.
(48) A synopsis of FIGS. 17 and 19 shows a first embodiment of a stirring member 90 according to the invention having a bearing end 91 and a stirring member end 94 connected to the bearing end 91 via a link 92 and having a flow tube 93. The stirring member 90 can be connected to a rod-shaped stirring member carrier of the stirring rod arrangement not illustrated here. The flow tube 93 comprises a tube wall 128, wherein the flow tube 93 comprises an circularly formed accumulating surface 95 at the flow inlet cross section, and wherein the accumulating surface 95 comprises at least one circular ring sector 96 which is inclined with respect to an inflow plane 97 of the flow inlet cross section 98. Consequently, in contrast to the stirring members described in FIGS. 1 to 16, the stirring member 90 comprises the circular ring sector 96 at the circularly shaped accumulating surface 95, the circular ring sector 96 being tilted at a constant surface sector angle of 10 in the area of a surface sector 99 of the circular ring sector 96 with respect to the inflow plane 97 of the flow inlet cross section 98. The surface sector 99 of the accumulating surface 95 formed in this manner is consequently inclined at this constant surface sector angle with respect to a level partial surface 100 of the accumulating surface 95. The partial surface 100 directly abuts to the link 92. The surface sector 99 extends over 180 based on an circular ring center 101 of the accumulating surface 95. Additionally to the surface sector 99 (having the constant surface sector angle ), the circular ring sector 96 comprises two intermediate sectors 200, 201, wherein the surface inclination angle increases nearly linearly from 0 (adjacent to the partial surface 100) to 10 (adjacent to the surface sector 99) in the circumferential direction in each of the intermediate sectors. Both of the intermediate sectors 200, 201 each extend over approximately 45 in the circumferential direction, in total therefore 90.
(49) FIGS. 20 and 21 show a second embodiment of a stirring member 102 according to the invention. In particular in contrast to the stirring member described in FIGS. 17 to 19, the stirring member 102 comprises an circular ring sector 103, in contrast to the stirring member illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 19, formed in such a way that it extends over 360 of an accumulating surface 105 based relatively on an circular ring center 104. The circular ring sector 103 therefore forms a cone 106. The inclined surface sector angle is formed constant here as well, namely in the circumferential direction and in the radial direction, each based on the circular ring center 104.
(50) A synopsis of FIGS. 22 to 24 shows a third embodiment of a stirring member 107 according to the invention, wherein, in contrast to the stirring member described in FIGS. 17 to 19, the stirring member 107 comprises a stirring member end 108 having a trumpet-shaped accumulating surface 109. Starting from an outer edge 125 and based on an outer edge plane 126 of the accumulating surface 109, the surface sector angle continuously increases linearly as the distance relative to an circular ring center axis 127 or an circular ring center of the accumulating surface 109 decreases. The accumulating surface 109 forms a bell-shaped opening 110 having a surface sector angle of at least 10. The accumulating surface 109 merges into a flow tube 111. An circular ring 112 of the accumulating surface 109 is inclined at an angle relative to a flow direction 113 of the flow tube 111. Therefore, a tube wall 129 of the flow tube 111 essentially extends in the inflow direction or is inclined in the inflow direction by said angle .
(51) FIGS. 25 and 26 show a stirring member end 114 of an only partially illustrated fourth embodiment of a stirring member 115 according to the invention having a flow tube 116 and an circularly formed accumulating surface 117. In contrast to the stirring member described in FIGS. 17 to 19, the stirring member 115 and the accumulating surface 117, respectively, are formed continuously wavelike based on an circular ring center axis 118 or an circular ring center 118 of the accumulating surface 117, respectively, according to a sine function. Thus, the accumulating surface 117 forms concentric wave crests 119 and wave troughs 120. Thereby, originating from an outer edge 128 and based on an outer edge plane 129 of the accumulating surface 117, the surface sector angle continuously increases and decreases in turn as the distance relative to the circular ring center axis 118 decreases. The surface sector angle is therefore continuously changed with a decreasing distance of the accumulating surface 117 relative to the circular ring center 118 according to a non-linear, trigonometric function.
(52) FIG. 27 shows another stirring member 121 according to the invention in an embodiment in which, in contrast to the stirring member described in FIGS. 17 to 19, an accumulating surface 122 is inclined and an inclination, or more specifically a surface sector angle not illustrated, of 10 along the accumulating surface 122 continuously changes according to a sine function in such a way that the accumulating surface 122 forms a wave in the radial direction. The accumulating surface 122 also comprises wave crests 123 and wave troughs 124. The surface sector angle is therefore continuously changed according to a non-linear, trigonometric function along the accumulating surface 122 or rather an circular ring sector.
