MIXING SHAFT

Abstract

The present invention concerns a mixing shaft comprising a tool holder and a mixing blade, wherein the tool holder has a recess in which a portion of the mixing blade is fixed. To provide a simple mixing shaft, there is proposed a clamping portion fitted into the recess for fixing the mixing blade portion in the recess, wherein the clamping portion, the recess and the mixing blade portion are of such a configuration that a force-locking connection of the mixing blade in the recess is implemented by means of the clamping portion.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. A mixing shaft comprising a tool holder and a mixing blade (3), wherein the tool holder has a recess in which a portion of the mixing blade (3) is fixed, wherein there is provided a clamping portion (11) fitted into the recess for fixing the mixing blade portion in the recess, wherein the clamping portion (11), the recess and the mixing blade portion are of such a configuration that a force-locking connection of the mixing blade (3) in the recess is implemented by means of the clamping portion, wherein the recess has a first and a second recess portion, wherein the mixing blade portion is arranged in the first recess portion and the clamping portion (11) is arranged at least partially in the second recess portion, wherein the tool holder has an axis of rotation and the mixing shaft (1) is adapted to be rotated about the axis of rotation, wherein the second recess portion is arranged in the axial direction beside the first recess portion, characterised in that the clamping portion (11) is supported both at the mixing blade portion and also at a wall of the second recess portion, wherein both the clamping portion (11) and also either the mixing blade portion or the wall of the second recess portion have mutually corresponding wedge surfaces (13), or the clamping portion (11) is of a two-part structure and the two parts of the clamping portion (25, 26) have mutually corresponding wedge surfaces (27).

20. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the first part of the clamping portion (25) has a threaded bore and the second part of the clamping portion (26) has a through bore which are so arranged that the second part of the clamping portion (26) can be fixed to the first part of the clamping portion (25) by means of a screw which engages through the through bore in the second clamping portion (26) into the threaded bore in the first part of the clamping portion, so that the corresponding wedge surfaces (27) bear against each other, and the two parts of the clamping portion (25, 26) can be displaced relative to each other by rotation of the screw.

21. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the tool holder comprises a tool shaft (10) and a plurality of tool holder disks (2) connected to the tool shaft (10), wherein the recess is arranged in at least one tool holder disk (2).

22. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 21 characterised in that the recess comprises two recess parts, wherein the first recess part is arranged in a first tool holder disk (2) and the second recess part is arranged in a second tool holder disk (2), wherein the tool holder disks (2) are positioned in mutually juxtaposed relationship in such a way that the first and second recess parts form the recess.

23. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 22 characterised in that each tool holder disk (2) has both a first and also a second recess part which are respectively provided together with a second recess part and a first recess part respectively of an adjacently positioned further tool holder disk (2) to form a recess.

24. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the clamping portion (11) is screwed to the tool shaft (10).

25. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 24 characterised in that there is provided a protective element which is arranged in the second recess portion and covers the clamping portion (11), wherein the protective element completely closes the second recess portion, the protective element.

26. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the mixing blade portion and the tool holder are connected together by way of a positively locking connection.

27. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 26 characterised in that the mixing blade portion has a through opening arranged in the first recess portion is a pin connected to the tool holder, wherein for fixing the mixing blade portion same can be pushed with its through opening over the pin.

28. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 23 characterised in that the mixing blade portion and the tool holder are connected together by way of a positively locking connection and the tool holder disk is substantially in the form of a circular ring in a cross-section perpendicularly to the axis of rotation, wherein the positively locking connection is arranged closer to the inner radius of the circular ring shape than to the outer radius.

29. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 27 characterised in that the mixing blade portion has an opening as part of the positively locking connection and the clamping portion (11) at least partially covers the opening.

30. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that in the peripheral direction the clamping portion (11) is of a maximum extent greater than the maximum extent of the mixing blade portion.

31. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 26 characterised in that the smallest spacing (a) between the mixing blade portion and the tool holder in the axial direction is less than the necessary displacement travel (c) of the mixing blade portion in the axial direction to release the mixing blade (3) from the positively locking connection.

32. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the clamping portion (11) is screwed to the tool holder.

33. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 25 wherein the protective element is a protective cap (6).

34. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 26 characterised in that the mixing blade portion and the tool holder are connected together by way of a pin connection.

35. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 27 characterised in that through opening has a circular cross-section.

36. A mixing shaft as set forth in claim 29 wherein the clamping portion (11) completely covers the opening.

Description

[0036] Further advantages, features and possible uses will be clearly apparent from the description hereinafter of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying Figures in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mixing shaft according to the invention,

[0038] FIG. 1a shows a perspective partial view of the embodiment of FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through an embodiment according to the invention of a mixing shaft,

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a tool holder disk of the embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 shows an isometric detail view of a mixing shaft according to the invention,

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a further isometric detail view of a mixing shaft according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1,

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a perspective front view of a clamping portion, FIG. 8 shows a perspective rear view of the clamping portion of FIG. 7,

[0044] FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section through the shaft when using half-round dogs,

[0045] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a mixing blade of the embodiment of FIG. 9,

[0046] FIG. 11 shows a partial sectional view of a second embodiment,

[0047] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a closure cap,

[0048] FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of a third embodiment, and

[0049] FIG. 14 shows a perspective sectional view of the third embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mixing shaft 1. The mixing shaft 1 has a tool holder which in this embodiment comprises a plurality of tool holder disks 2. The tool holder disks 2 together form a cylindrical body which in operation is rotated about its cylinder axis. A plurality of mixing blades 3 project beyond the outside surface of that cylinder. Those mixing blades 3 can have inclined edges 4 but that does not have to be the case.

[0051] For that reason in the Figure some mixing blades 3 are shown with corresponding inclined edges while other mixing blades do not have such edges.

[0052] At its upper end the mixing shaft 1 has a fixing flange 5 with which it can be fixed to a corresponding drive shaft.

[0053] Protective caps 6 can be seen immediately above or below the mixing blades 3. The protective caps 6 can be fitted into corresponding recess portions in the tool holder disks 2 and terminate flush therewith. The protective caps 6 can be made for example from plastic.

[0054] FIG. 1a shows a perspective partial view of the FIG. 1 embodiment. Various mixing blade geometries are shown both in FIG. 1 and also in FIG. 1a. In general however only a single geometry is used in a mixing shaft. The Figures however are intended to clearly show that in principle different geometries can be used.

[0055] In addition the protective caps 6 are shown in part above and in part below the mixing blades 3. In general preferred embodiments are those in which the protective caps are arranged either all above the mixing blades or all below the mixing blades.

[0056] The individual tool holder disks 2 are arranged on a mixing shaft 10 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a). To press the individual tool holder disks 2 against each other the arrangement has an upper annular termination disk 7, a bracing ring 8 and a plurality of bracing screws 9. A plate spring in the form of a circular ring (not shown) is installed beneath the termination disk 7 and the upper edge of the uppermost tool holder disk 2. The bracing screws 9 can be so fixed in corresponding threaded bores in the bracing ring 8 that they press the termination disk 7 on to the pack of tool holder disks 2 and brace same. In the braced condition the plate spring produces a counteracting force on the termination disk 7 in order reliably to prevent loosening of the bracing screws in operation. The tool holder disks are supported at the lower end of the tool shaft on a termination disk 7 which is in the shape of a circle or a circular ring and which is screwed to the shaft.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the shaft 10 with a section through the clamping portion 11. It is also possible to see here the tool holder disk 2 having a threaded bore 13. A clamping portion 11 is screwed fast by means of the fixing screw 12 in the threaded bore 13 of the tool holder disk 2. The mixing blade 3 is braced within the tool holder by means of the clamping portion 11. To avoid soiling of the fixing screw 12, in particular its screw head, during operation the recess in the tool holder disk is of such a configuration that the protective cap 6 can be fitted into the recess in such a way that it terminates substantially flush to avoid dirt getting into the recess.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a tool holder disk 2. The Figure clearly shows the hexagonal recess 14 serving to receive a correspondingly shaped tool shaft 10.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment the tool holder disk 2 has two recesses, into respective ones of which a portion of a mixing blade 3 is fitted. In the illustrated embodiment a mixing blade 3 has a circular opening through which a pin 15 connected to the tool holder disk 2 is passed.

[0060] In contrast the portion of the other mixing blade 3 has two indentations at the left and right edges, into which two pins 16 which are both mounted to the tool holder disk engage. The fact that the Figure shows two different fixing systems, that is to say fixing with a pin 15 or fixing with two pins 16, only serves to illustrate that different fixing systems can be used to make a positively locking connection. In general an embodiment in which only one of the two fixing systems is used is to be preferred to reduce the stocking requirement of the corresponding mixing blades. It is only for the situation where mixing blades of different geometries are used within the mixing shaft that different fixing systems can be used to identify the mixing blade geometry, in order to ensure that the correct mixing blade geometry is always positioned in the correct recess. The pins, projections or recesses can also be formed with a part-circular, for example semicircular cross-section, or another cross-section.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a further isometric detail view of a mixing shaft according to the invention.

[0062] It will be seen here that the recess in the tool holder extends over two tool holder disks 2. The part of the recess that is arranged in the lower tool holder disk 2 includes the first recess portion. A portion of the mixing blade 3 is positioned in that recess portion. The second recess portion is partly arranged in the part of the recess, that is provided by the upper tool holder disk 2. The clamping portion 11 is thus partly arranged in the recess part provided by the lower tool holder disk and partly in the recess part provided by the upper tool holder disk 2. In the illustrated embodiment the protective cap 6 is of a U-shaped form, wherein arranged at the outside of a limb of the U-shape is a rib engaging into a corresponding groove 18 in the inside wall of the second recess portion. The protective cap 6 preferably made from plastic can then be clipped into the corresponding recess so that it engages into the groove 18. For removal purposes the protective cap can be pierced for example with a tool and levered out of the recess.

[0063] The recess is of a stepped configuration in the axial direction, that is to say the recess has a part of a smaller width in the peripheral direction and a part of a larger width in the peripheral direction. The width of the mixing blade portion approximately corresponds to the smaller width so that the mixing blade portion can be fitted into the part of smaller width.

[0064] The height of the mixing blade portion in the axial direction is however somewhat greater than the height of the part of the smaller width so that the mixing blade portion projects somewhat into the part of greater width.

[0065] That arrangement ensures that the clamping portion 11 is supported on the mixing blade portion and not on the top side of the lower tool holder disk in order in that way to permit a secure force-locking connection.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows a further isometric detail view of a mixing shaft according to the invention. In this embodiment the mixing blade 3 has a through opening 15, into which a pin engages. In the embodiment shown here the pin is in one piece with the tool holder disk 2.

[0067] In addition the section here through the clamping portion 11 is so selected that it is possible to see a further bore 17 with an adjoining pushing-off thread 17. That bore 17 with the pushing-off thread 17 is required only for dismantling of the clamping portion 11. Firstly the screws 12 are released. In order to press the clamping portion 11 out of its position a screw is screwed into the bore 17, the base of the screw then pressing for example against the tool shaft 10 to push the clamping portion 11 radially outwardly.

[0068] That will be still more clearly apparent by referring to the cross-sectional view in FIG. 6 through the clamping portion 11. It will be seen here that the clamping portion 11 is held to the tool holder disk 2 by means of two fixing screws 12. The further bore 17/17 can be used for pressing the clamping portion 11 off the tool holder disk 2.

[0069] FIGS. 7 and 8 show two perspective view of the clamping portion 11. The clamping portion 11 has an inclined wedge surface 19. By fitting the clamping portion 11 to a tool holder disk 2, the clamping portion 11 can be pressed radially inwardly by means of the fixing screws 12 which engage into the corresponding bores 20 so that the wedge surface 19 which bears against a corresponding wedge surface of the tool holder disk 2 braces the portion of the mixing blade in the tool holder.

[0070] FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section through the shaft when using half-round dogs for fixing the mixing blade in the tool holder. A perspective view of the mixing blade 3 of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment the mixing blade 3 has two semicircular dogs 21 engaging into corresponding bores 16 in the tool holder disk 2. In the illustrated embodiment the dogs are joined in one piece to the mixing blade. In principle, instead of that the dogs could be fixed to the tool holder disk 2, in which case then the portion of the mixing blade 3 would have to have corresponding bores or recesses for receiving the dogs.

[0071] An alternative fixing option is shown in the isometric view in FIG. 11 as a second embodiment of the invention. On the one hand the wedge-shaped clamping portion 11 is here arranged beneath the mixing blade 3. On the other hand a separate pin 21 is provided here, that engages both into a corresponding opening 15 in the mixing blade and also into a corresponding opening 22 in the tool holder disk 2. In that respect the length of the pin portion of the pin 21, that engages into the mixing blade 3, is less than the height of the mixing blade 3 in order to permit easier removal and a more compact configuration in respect of the tool holder disks. In this case the clamping portion 11 completely covers the through opening 22 in the mixing blade 3. In this embodiment the smallest spacing a between the mixing blade portion 3 and the tool holder 2 in the axial direction is greater than the height b of the mixing blade portion 3 in the axial direction. Alternatively however it can also be less. It is even possible for the smallest spacing a between the mixing blade portion and the tool holder in the axial direction to be less than the necessary displacement travel c of the mixing blade portion in the axial direction to release the mixing blade from the positively locking connection.

[0072] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the inside of the protective cap 6. It will be seen that the cap 6 has a rib 18 extending around three sides, that engages into corresponding grooves 19 in the tool holder disk 2. In addition on the fourth edge it has a recess 23 in order in that way to permit closure which is as gap-free as possible relative to the mixing blade 3.

[0073] FIG. 13 shows an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention. As far as possible identical components are denoted by the same references.

[0074] By way of example two tool holder disks 2 are shown here, which together have a recess for receiving a mixing blade 3 and a clamping portion 25, 26. The clamping portion 25, 26 comprises a first part 25 and a second part 26. The two parts 25, 26 have mutually corresponding wedge surfaces 27. The two parts 25, 26 are placed upon each other in such a way that the corresponding wedge surfaces 27 bear against each other. The second part 26 of the wedge element has a bore 29 which here is in the form of a stepped bore. The first part of the clamping portion 25 has a threaded bore 28. The second part 26 can be fixed to the first part 25 by means of a fixing screw 30. The first part 25 is drawn in the direction of the second part 26 by tightening of the screw 30 so that it is displaced on the wedge surfaces 27 and the two-part wedge element 25, 26 expands in the axial direction, thereby producing the clamping action.

[0075] As can be seen from a perspective sectional view in FIG. 14 the second part 26 of the clamping portion is fixed to the tool holder disk 2 by means of the fixing screw 12. In this case the second part 26 of the clamping portion is of such a configuration that it terminates substantially flush with the peripheral surface of the tool holder disks 2. If now the fixing screw 30 is tightened or loosened that results in a relative movement of the first part of the clamping portion 25 in the radial direction by virtue of the force applied by the fixing screw 30 and in the axial direction by virtue of the wedge surfaces 27 being of a mutually corresponding configuration, whereby the wedge element becomes thicker and thinner respectively in the axial direction in order to clamp the mixing blade 3 in position within the recess in the tool holder disk 2 or to release it.

[0076] To prevent soiling of the heads of the screws 12, 30 during operation plugs are fitted into the stepped bores.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0077] 1 mixing shaft [0078] 2 tool holder disks [0079] 3 mixing blades [0080] 4 inclined edges [0081] 5 fixing flange [0082] 6 protective caps [0083] 7 termination disk [0084] 7 screwed termination disk [0085] 8 bracing ring [0086] 9 bracing screws [0087] 10 tool shaft [0088] 11 clamping portion [0089] 12, 30 fixing screw [0090] 13, 28 threaded bore [0091] 14 hexagonal recess [0092] 15 pin [0093] 16 two pins [0094] 17, 29 bore [0095] 17 pushing-off thread [0096] 18 groove/rib [0097] 19 wedge surface/groove [0098] 20 bores [0099] 21 dogs/separate pin [0100] 22 corresponding opening [0101] 23 recess [0102] 24 plug [0103] 25 first part of a clamping portion [0104] 26 second part of a clamping portion [0105] 27 wedge surfaces