Dispersion tool, dispersion device and dispersion assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispersion tool (4) that can be cleaned more easily. For this purpose, the dispersion rotor (8) is arranged on the dispersion tool (4) axially moveable between the working position in the shaft tube (5) and the cleaning position outside the shaft tube (5), the dispersion rotor (8), in the cleaning position, being preferably completely arranged outside the shaft tube (5) and therefore being more easily cleanable.

Claims

1. A dispersion tool (4) with a shaft tube (5) and a rotor shaft (6) rotatable in the shaft tube (5), wherein a dispersion rotor (8) is arranged on a free end (7) of the rotor shaft (6) such that the dispersion rotor (8) is drivable by the rotor shaft (6), wherein, the rotor shaft (6) is axially displaceable relative to the shaft tube (5) to displace the dispersion rotor (8) between a working position located inside the shaft tube (5) and a cleaning position located outside the shaft tube (5) wherein, a radial bearing (12) is located between the rotor shaft (6) and the shaft tube (5), and, wherein, the rotor shaft (6) has a reduced-diameter section which is axially aligned with the radial bearing (12), with the dispersing rotor (8) being in the cleaning position, to define a flushing gap (14) between the reduced-diameter section of the rotor shaft (6) and the radial bearing (12).

2. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 1, wherein, the dispersion tool (1) has a cleaning limit stop (11) that defines the cleaning position of the dispersion rotor (8).

3. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 2, wherein, at least one of the dispersion rotor (4) and the rotor shaft (6) are mounted inside the shaft tube (5) so as to be axially displaceable between a working limit stop (10) that defines the working position of the dispersion rotor (4) and the cleaning limit stop (11) that defines the cleaning position of the dispersion rotor (4).

4. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 2, wherein, the cleaning limit stop (11) is formed inside the shaft tube (5) and that the rotor shaft (6) has a shaft shoulder (15) constructed to be compatible with the cleaning limit stop (11), wherein an internal diameter of the shaft tube (5) defined by the cleaning limit stop (11) is smaller than an external diameter of the shaft shoulder (15).

5. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 4, wherein, a distance between the dispersion rotor (8) and the shaft shoulder (15) of the rotor shaft (6) is at least as large as a distance between a free end of the shaft tube (5) and the cleaning limit stop (11).

6. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 1, wherein, the distance between the working position and the cleaning position of the dispersion rotor (8) is at least as large as an axial dimension of the radial bearing (12).

7. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 1, wherein, the dispersion tool (4) has an actuating element (17) arranged on an outer side (16) of the shaft tube (5), which is connected to at least one of the dispersion rotor (8) and the rotor shaft (6) in such manner that the dispersion rotor (8) is axially displaceable between the working position and the cleaning position relative to the shaft tube (5) by means of the actuating element (17).

8. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 7, wherein, the actuating element (17) comprises a slider (19) which is guided in a slot (18) that is arranged and extends in axial direction in the shaft tube (5), and, wherein the slider (19) has a pin (20) which protrudes through the slot (18) and into the shaft tube (5), such that the pin clasps behind at least one pin shaft shoulder (21) of the rotor shaft (6) to axially displace the dispersion rotor (8) between the working position and the cleaning position relative to the shaft tube (5).

9. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 8, wherein, an axial dimension of the slot (18) is at least as large as a distance between the working position and the cleaning position of the dispersion rotor (8).

10. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 7, wherein, the actuating element (17) has a magnetic coupling element such that a movement of the actuating element (17) causes the rotor shaft (6) to be magnetically coupled to the magnetic coupling element in the working position.

11. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 10, wherein, the magnetic coupling element includes at least one magnet, and the rotor shaft (6) has/have has a countercoupling element with which the magnet of the coupling element can be magnetically coupled.

12. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 7, wherein, the actuating element (17) is displaceable on the shaft tube (5) between a first detent point (22) associated with the working position of the dispersion rotor (8) and a second detent point (23) associated with the cleaning position of the dispersion rotor (8).

13. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 1, wherein, the rotor shaft (6) is equipped with a coupling (25) on a power-unit side end (24) of the dispersion tool (4) for detachable connection with a drive unit (3) of a dispersion device (1) for transmitting torques from a drive unit (3) to the rotor shaft (6), wherein the coupling (25) is constructed to be compatible with a countercoupling (26) formed on the drive unit (3).

14. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 13, wherein, the power-unit side end (24) of the rotor shaft (6) of the dispersion tool (4) contains a ferromagnetic material.

15. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 1, wherein, at least one sensor (27) is arranged on the dispersion tool (4).

16. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 15, wherein, the dispersion tool (4) is equipped with a writable transponder (31), wherein the transponder (31) has a data memory (32) in which is stored at least one of: data specific to the dispersion tool, operating data of the dispersion tool (4), data received from the at least one sensor (27) of the dispersion tool (4), and data transmitted to the transponder (31) by a transmitter/receiver unit (33).

17. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 15, wherein, the at least one sensor (27) is connected to a transponder (31), wherein the transponder (31) is equipped with an electronic evaluation unit (34) for processing measurement data received from the at least one sensor (27) and is configured for wirelessly transmitting measurement data to a drive unit (3) of a dispersion device (1).

18. The dispersion tool (4) according to claim 1, wherein, the dispersion tool (4) is at least partially furnished with a non-stick coating.

19. A dispersion device (1) comprising: a drive unit (3) having a power unit (2); and a dispersion tool (4) mounted to the drive unit (3), the dispersion tool (4) including a shaft tube (5) and a rotor shaft (6) rotatable in the shaft tube (5), wherein a dispersion rotor (8) is arranged on a free end of the rotor shaft (6) such that the dispersion rotor (8) is drivable by the rotor shaft (6), wherein, the rotor shaft is axially displaceable relative to the shaft tube (5) to displace the dispersion rotor (8) between a working position located inside the shaft tube (5) and a cleaning position located outside the shaft tube (5), wherein, the drive unit (3) is equipped with a magnet (35) to create a magnetic coupling between the drive unit (3) and the rotor shaft (6) to allow turning torque from the power unit (2) to be transmitted to the rotor shaft (6).

20. The dispersion device (1) according to claim 19, wherein, a working limit stop (10) defining the working position of the dispersion rotor (8) is formed on the dispersion device (1).

21. The dispersion device (1) according to claim 19, wherein, a bayonet-style tool coupling (36) is provided between the dispersion tool (4) and the drive unit (3) for detachably connecting the dispersion tool (4) to the drive unit (3).

22. The dispersion device (1) according to claim 21, wherein, a vertex is arranged for formed between a lengthwise slot and a transverse slot of a guide for the bayonet-style tool coupling (36) in such manner that a power-unit side end (24) of the rotor shaft (6) comes close enough to the magnet (35) of the drive unit (3) in the operating position so that the magnetic coupling can be created between the drive unit (3) and the rotor shaft (6) when the bayonet-style tool coupling (36) is closed.

23. The dispersion device (1) according to claim 19, wherein, the drive unit (3) is equipped with a transmitter/receiver unit (33) which is configured to read from and write to a transponder (31) of the dispersion tool (4).

24. The dispersion device (1) according to claim 23, wherein, the drive unit (3) is equipped with a control regulating unit (37) that is connected to the power unit (2) and to the transmitter/receiver unit (33), with which the power unit (2) can be controlled on the basis of data transmitted by the transmitter/receiver unit (33) to the control unit (37).

25. The dispersion device (1) according to claim 24, wherein, the dispersion device (1) is equipped with a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of a medium that is to be dispersed, wherein, the temperature control device is controlled by the control unit (37) of the dispersion device (1), on the basis of data transmitted by the transponder (31).

Description

(1) In the following text, an embodiment of the invention will be described in greater detail. The partly diagrammatic representation shows:

(2) FIG. 1: a perspective side view of a dispersion device according to the invention, wherein a drive unit of the dispersion device and a dispersion tool according to the invention connected thereto are shown,

(3) FIG. 2: a side view of a dispersion tool according to the invention with a bayonet-style tool coupling on a power-unit side end of the dispersion tool and a stator on the free end of the dispersion tool opposite the power unit side, wherein a dispersion rotor and a rotor shaft of the dispersion tool are shown in their working position inside a shaft tube of the dispersion tool,

(4) FIG. 3: the dispersion tool according to the invention represented in FIG. 2 with the dispersion rotor and the rotor shaft in the cleaning position,

(5) FIG. 4: a cutaway side view of the dispersion tool according to the invention represented in FIGS. 2 and 3,

(6) FIG. 5: a cutaway side view of the dispersion device according to the invention represented in FIG. 1,

(7) FIG. 6: a perspective side view of the dispersion device represented in FIG. 1 with a further dispersion tool according to the invention, with a temperature sensor arranged on the outside thereof,

(8) FIG. 7: a side view of the dispersion tool according to the invention represented in FIG. 6, wherein a dispersion rotor of the dispersion tool is represented in working position inside the shaft tube of the dispersion tool,

(9) FIG. 8: the dispersion tool according to the invention represented in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the dispersion rotor is represented in its cleaning position outside the shaft tube of the dispersion tool,

(10) FIG. 9: a cutaway side view of the dispersion tool according to the invention represented in FIGS. 6 to 8 with dispersion rotor in the cleaning position, and

(11) FIG. 10: a cutaway partial view of the dispersion device according to the invention represented in FIG. 6 with a dispersion tool equipped with a temperature sensor.

(12) FIGS. 1 and 6 show a dispersion device designated as a whole with 1, with a drive unit 3 having a power unit 2 and with a dispersion tool 4.

(13) FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 show detailed views of various embodiments of two dispersion tools 4 according to the invention.

(14) In the following description of the various embodiments of the dispersion tool 4 according to the invention, elements with equivalent function are denoted with the same reference numerals even if the structure or shape thereof is different.

(15) Each of the dispersion tools 4 represented is equipped with one shaft tube 5 and one rotor shaft 6 mounted so as to be rotatable in shaft tube 5. A dispersion rotor 8 is arranged on a free end 7 of dispersion tool 4 farthest from power unit 2 in the operating position, which rotor is drivable with the aid of rotor shaft 6 and is at least partly surrounded by shaft tube 5. While dispersion tool 4 is in operation, said dispersion rotor 8 rotates relative to a stator 9 constructed in fixed manner on shaft tube 5. As the figures show, stator 9 is slotted, so that dispersed medium is able to enter and exit through it.

(16) A comparison of FIGS. 2 to 5 and FIGS. 7 to 10 reveals that dispersion rotor 8 is arranged on dispersion tool 4 so as to be displaceable axially between a working position inside the shaft tube (see FIGS. 2 and 5 and FIGS. 7 and 10) and a cleaning position outside shaft tube 5 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 8 and 9).

(17) The cutaway representations of FIGS. 4 and 5 and 9 and 10 reveal that dispersion rotor 8 is mounted so as to be displaceable together with rotor shaft 6 axially inside shaft tube 5 between a working limit stop 10 that defines the working position of dispersion rotor 8 and cleaning limit stop 11 that defines the cleaning position of dispersion rotor 8.

(18) All cutaway representations of dispersion tool 4 also show that dispersion rotor 8 is mounted so as to be rotatable together with rotor shaft 6 inside shaft tube 5 of dispersion tube 6 by means of a radial bearing 12, which in the embodiments of dispersion tool 4 shown in the figures has the form of a ceramic radial plain bearing.

(19) In this context, a distance between the working position and the cleaning position and an axial advance of dispersion rotor 8 and rotor shaft 6 from the working position into the cleaning position is at least as large as an axial dimension of radial bearing 12. When dispersion rotor 8 has been displaced into the cleaning position, a flushing gap 14 is present between a bearing outer surface 13 of radial bearing 12 and rotor shaft 6, which gap facilitates cleaning of dispersion tool 4. Shaft tube 5 further has two openings, which serve as flushing openings 14a during cleaning of the dispersion tool and through which the cleaning means and/or cleaning fluid can enter shaft tube 5.

(20) The figures also show that cleaning limit stop 11 is formed inside shaft tube 5, and that rotor shaft 6 has a shaft shoulder 15 which is constructed to match cleaning limit stop 11, wherein an internal diameter of shaft tube 5 delimited by cleaning limit stop 11 is smaller than an external diameter of shaft shoulder 15. At the same time, a distance between dispersion rotor 8 and shaft shoulder 15 of rotor shaft 6 is larger than a distance between free end 7 of shaft tube 5 and cleaning limit stop 11, at when said stop is arranged in its position assigned to the cleaning position of dispersion rotor 8. This is represented in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9.

(21) Dispersion tool 4 is equipped with an actuating element 17 arranged on an outer side 16 of shaft tube 5, which is connected to dispersion rotor 8 and rotor shaft 6 in such manner that dispersion rotor 8 is displaceable together with rotor shaft 6 between the working position and the cleaning position by means of actuating element 17.

(22) Actuating element 17 comprises a slider 19 guided in a slot 18 that is arranged and extends axially in shaft tube 5. Slider 19 includes a pin 20 which protrudes through slot 18 and into shaft tube 5, and clasps behind at least one pin shaft shoulder 21 of rotor shaft 6 to move the dispersion rotor 8 between the working position and the cleaning position in at least one direction of movement of dispersion rotor 8 and rotor shaft 6. It is evident particularly from the cutaway representations of the dispersion tools 4 that the cleaning limit stop 11 in the present embodiments according to the invention of dispersion tools 4 is formed on actuating element 17 and in particular on the pin 20 of actuating element 17 which protrudes into shaft tube 5. In conjunction with shaft shoulder 15, pin 20 prevents rotor shaft 6 from being pulled completely out of shaft tube 5.

(23) Actuating element 17 may be displaced in the longitudinal direction of shaft tube 5 between a first detent point 22 associated with the working position of dispersion rotor 8 and a second detent point 23 associated with the cleaning position of dispersion rotor 8 on shaft tube 5. The figures further show that an axial dimension of the slot 18 is as least as large as a distance between the working position and the cleaning position of dispersion rotor 8.

(24) Another embodiment of actuating element 17, which is not represented in the figures but also falls within the scope of the invention provides that actuating element 17 includes or comprises a magnetic coupling element. Actuating element 17 is connected to dispersion rotor 8 and/or rotor shaft 6 magnetically via this magnetic coupling element. In this context, it is also possible to speak of a magnetic coupling between actuating element 17 and dispersion rotor 8 and/or rotor shaft 6. The magnetic coupling between actuating element 17 and dispersion rotor 8 and/or rotor shaft 6 is of such a kind that and/or rotor shaft 6 may be displaced between the working position and the cleaning position by a displacement of actuating element 17.

(25) In such a case, the magnetic coupling element of actuating element 17 comprises at least one magnet. The magnet may have the form of a permanent magnet, for example, or it may also be an electromagnet. Dispersion rotor 8 and/or rotor shaft 6 are equipped with a countercoupling element, with which the magnet of the coupling element is or may be magnetically coupled to transmit a displacement movement of actuating element 17 to the dispersion rotor 8 and/or rotor shaft 6. The transmission of the movement of actuating element 17 via the magnetic coupling to dispersion rotor 8 and/or rotor shaft 6 may cause dispersion rotor 8 and/or rotor shaft 6 to be displaced between the working position and the cleaning position.

(26) Rotor shaft 6 of dispersion tool 4 is equipped with a coupling 25 on an end 24 on the power unit side of dispersion tool 4 closest to the drive unit 3 in the operating position for detachable connection with drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1 and for transmitting torques from drive unit 3 to rotor shaft 6. Said coupling 25 is designed to be compatible with a countercoupling 26 provided on drive unit 3.

(27) The power-unit side end 24 of rotor shaft 6 of dispersion tool 4 farthest from dispersion rotor 8 is magnetic and/or ferromagnetic. In such case, it may be provided for example that at this point rotor shaft 6 is made from a ferromagnetic material, ferromagnetic stainless steel for example, or has a ferromagnetic material coating.

(28) In the embodiments of the dispersion tool represented in FIGS. 6 to 10, it is provided that at least one sensor 27 is arranged on the dispersion tool 4, specifically adjacent to the free end 7 of shaft tube 5. In the embodiment of the dispersion tool represented in FIGS. 6 to 10, said sensor 27 is a temperature sensor. In other embodiments of dispersion tool 4 which are not represented in the figures, it is provided that dispersion tool 4 is equipped with a PH-value sensor and/or a pressure sensor or other sensors of such kind instead of a temperature sensor.

(29) It is further evident from FIGS. 6 to 10 that the sensor 27 in the form of a temperature sensor here is recessed into a depression 28 on the outer side 16 of shaft tube 5. A sensor connection 30 on the outer side 16 of shaft tube 5 is arranged to extend in a groove 29 starting from sensor 27 towards the power-unit side end 24 of shaft tube 5 of dispersion tool 4.

(30) This sensor connection 30 may be realized for example in the form of a cable or also in the form of an electrically conductive coating. In the context of this Application, the term sensor connection is understood to mean any means that allows a transmission of information from sensor 27 to the power-unit side end 24 of dispersion tool 4, or also to drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1. Thus, the sensor connection 30 is explicitly not limited to a cable-based connection between sensor 27 and the power-unit side end 24 of dispersion tool 4 or between sensor 27 and drive unit 3 of the dispersion device.

(31) All of the dispersion tools 4 represented in the figures are equipped with a writable transponder 31, which is in the form of a RFID chip, for example, and comprises a data memory 32. Data memory 32 may be used to store specific dispersion tool data, for example operating data such as permissible rotating speeds for the dispersion tool 4, data received from the at least one sensor 27 of dispersion tool 4, and data transmitted to transponder 31 by a transmitter/receiver unit 33 of drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1.

(32) Sensor 27 is connectible and in the operating position connected to drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1 in order to transmit measurement data. It is further provided that sensor 27, is connectible or connected, in particular connected by cable, to transponder 31. In this case, the connecting means is sensor connection 30.

(33) In the present embodiments, it is provided that transponder 31 is equipped with an electronic evaluation unit 34 for processing measurement data received from the at least one sensor 27 and is configured for wireless transmission of measurement data to drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1, in particular to transmitter/receiver unit 33. Dispersion tool 4 is detachably connectible to dispersion device 1 and is connected in the operating position.

(34) Dispersion tool 4 or at least elements of dispersion tool 4 that come into contact with the medium that is to be dispersed during use of the dispersion tool 4, that is to say at least the dispersion rotor 8 and at least parts of rotor shaft 6 and stator 9 of dispersion tool 1, may be provided with a non-stick coating if necessary. The purpose of this coating is to prevent the adhesion of dirt particles or at least make it more difficult. In this way, dirt particles may be removed from said elements or parts of dispersion tool 4 more easily, thereby improving the cleanability of dispersion tool 4. Accordingly, such coatings may also be referred to as easy-to-clean coatings. Suitable coatings in this context may consist of carbon and/or amorphous carbon and/or diamantine carbon and/or diamond-like-carbon (DLC). It is further provided that at least particularly heavily exposed parts of the dispersion tool 4, such as the dispersion rotor 8, at least parts of the rotor shaft 6 or also the stator 9 are furnished with a coating that has greater hardness than uncoated stainless steel. Coatings that are suitable for are those with a hardness greater than 1000 HV (Vickers hardness). This results in increased stability of the dispersion tool and may also improve the chemical resistance of the parts of the dispersion tool 4 that are provided with such a coating. It is also conceivable to furnish dispersion tool 4 with diamond coatings, which not only maximize the surface hardness of the coated parts but may also maximize the resistance to wear of the parts of dispersion tool 4 that are provided with such a coating.

(35) As was noted previously, dispersion device 1 is equipped with a countercoupling 26 constructed to be compatible with the coupling 25 of dispersion tool 4, via which turning torques may be transmitted from power unit 2 of drive unit to rotor shaft 6.

(36) Drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1 has a permanent magnet 35 on the countercoupling 26 of drive unit 3 for rotor shaft 6 to create a magnetic coupling between drive unit 3 and rotor shaft 6. The magnetic power-unit side end 24 of rotor shaft 6 is magnetically coupled to said permanent magnet 35 and connected therewith in the operating position. Consequently, a separate axial bearing of rotor shaft 6 such as is usual in the dispersion tools 4 known from the prior art may be dispensed with.

(37) A bayonet-style tool coupling 36 is provided between dispersion tool 4 and drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1 for detachably connecting dispersion tool 4 to drive unit 3.

(38) In this context, a vertex between a longitudinal slot and a transverse slot of a guide for bayonet-style tool coupling 36 is arranged or constructed in such manner that the magnetic power-unit side end 24 of rotor shaft 6 in the operating position approaches close enough to the permanent magnet 35 of drive unit 3, to enable the magnetic coupling to be created between drive unit 3 and rotor shaft 6 automatically when the bayonet-style tool coupling 36 is closed.

(39) As was noted previously, dispersion device 1, and here in particular drive unit 3 has a transmitter/receiver unit 33, which is configured to read from and write to transponder 31 of dispersion tool 4. In this way, drive unit 3 of the dispersion device is configured to identify dispersion tool 4 by means of data that is or can be stored on transponder 31. Drive unit 3 is also equipped with a control and/or regulating unit 37 which is connected to both the power unit 2 and the transmitter/receiver unit 33, and with which the power unit 2 may be controlled and/or regulated on the basis of the data transmitted by the transmitter/receiver unit 33 to the control and/or regulating unit 37.

(40) In an embodiment of dispersion device 1 not represented in the figures, it is provided that dispersion device 1 has a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the medium that is to be dispersed, that is to say heating or cooling it, or is connectible and in the operating position connected with such a device. In such case, the temperature control device may also be controlled or regulated on the basis of data from the at least one sensor 27 transmitted by transponder 31, in particular via the control/regulating unit 37 of dispersion device 1.

(41) A user interface 38 is provided on the drive unit 3 of dispersion device 1. Said user interface 38 has various displays and screens as well as operating elements, with which the drive unit 3 may be operated.

(42) Together with at least two replaceable dispersion tools 4 according to the invention, dispersion device 1 forms a dispersion assembly according to the invention.

(43) For the purpose of simplified cleaning of dispersion tool 4, it is herewith provided that dispersion rotor 8 is arranged on dispersion tool 4 so as to be displaceable axially between the working position located inside shaft tube 5 and the cleaning position located outside shaft tube 5, wherein dispersion rotor 8 is located preferably entirely outside shaft tube 5 in the cleaning position, and may thus be cleaned without difficulty.