Industrial mixing container and liner and method of use

Abstract

An inner 11 for lining a mixing vessel 1 comprising a feed opening 4 on the upper side and a flange 5 projecting outward in the radial direction and on the lower side a discharge duct 8 with a discharge flap valve 23 that can be adjusted from an open position into a closed position and vice versa, which mixing vessel 1 with bulk material introduced into it for the process of blending can be connected onto a mixing head 18 of an industrial blender 19, said mixing supporting one or multiple mixing tool(s), which inner liner 11 bears a supporting flange joint 17 on the upper side projects outward in the radial direction, and, when inserted into the mixing vessel 1, comes to bear against the flange 5 of the mixing vessel 1 and on its bottom side comprises a discharge duct extension 14, projecting into the discharge duct 8 of the mixing vessel 1, which projects into the discharge duct 8 of the mixing vessel 1 with a length that is at least sufficient to reach the discharge flap valve 23 when it is the closed positon.

Claims

1. A mixing vessel with an inner liner, the mixing vessel having a feed opening on an upper side of the mixing vessel with a first flange that projects radially outward from the feed opening and a discharge duct on a lower side of the mixing vessel having a discharge flap valve that can be adjusted between an open position and a closed position, the mixing vessel configured to be connected onto a mixing head of an industrial blender, said mixing head supports one or multiple mixing tool(s), for a process of blending bulk material introduced into the mixing vessel, the inner liner comprising: a body having an upper side with a second flange that projects radially outward, the second flange bears against the first flange of the mixing vessel; the body having a bottom side comprising a discharge duct extension which projects into the discharge duct of the mixing vessel to at least the discharge flap valve when in the closed position; the discharge duct extension having clamping extensions and diametrically opposed axle recesses that allow the clamping extensions to extend across the discharge flap valve of the mixing vessel in the closed position; wherein the peripheral outside of the discharge flap valve in the closed position acts against the inside wall of each of the clamping extensions so that the clamping extensions are clamped between the discharge flap valve and the inside wall of the discharge duct.

2. The mixing vessel with the inner liner according to claim 1, wherein the inner liner is made of a synthetic material that is inert with reference to the bulk material.

3. The mixing vessel with the inner liner according to claim 2, wherein the inner liner is made of a polyethylene material.

4. The mixing vessel with the inner liner according to claim 2, wherein the inner liner is formed as multiple individual sections that are welded together.

5. The mixing vessel with the inner liner according to claim 3, wherein the polyethylene material is LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene).

6. The mixing vessel with the inner liner according to claim 1, wherein the inner liner has a wall thickness between approximately 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixing vessel with an inner liner to be inserted therein, fitted onto a cart.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view the mixing vessel of FIG. 1 with the inner liner inserted therein, connected to the mixing head of an industrial blender.

(3) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of circle 3-3 of FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of circle 4-4 of FIG. 2.

(5) Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) Referring FIGS. 1 and 2, a mixing vessel 1 manufactured from steel is fitted onto a cart 2. The mixing vessel 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a type of mixing vessel that is known and is already frequently in use. The cart 2 is used for moving the mixing vessel 1. The mixing vessel 1 encloses a cavity 3. The mixing vessel 1 is open on top, wherein the upper opening serves as feed opening 4. The feed opening 4 is surrounded by a mixing vessel flange 5 that radially projects outward. The flange 5 is used to connect the mixing vessel 1 to a mixing head of an industrial blender, wherein said mixing head supports one or multiple mixing tools. The section 6 of the mixing vessel 1 adjacent to the flange 5 of the mixing vessel 1 has an annular cylindrical design in the depicted embodiment. The bottom side of the internal width of the annular cylindrical section 6 has a tapering section 7, said section 7 merging into a bottom discharge duct 8. The discharge duct 8 has a cylindrical inner lateral surface with a discharge flap valve disposed therein, which can be adjusted between an open position and a closed position, and vice versa. The discharge flap valve is adjustable by means of a swivel motion. In FIG. 1, this pivot axis is indicated with reference symbol 9. A handle 10 is used for adjusting the discharge flap valve. In the closed position, the discharge flap valve seals against the inner wall of the discharge duct 8. In the open position, the plane of the discharge flap valve 8 extends parallel or approximately parallel to the inner wall of the discharge duct 8.

(7) Before material to be blended is fed into the cavity 3 of the mixing vessel 1 while the discharge flap valve is closed, an inner liner 11 is inserted into the mixing vessel 1.

(8) The inner liner 11 completely or nearly completely lines the interior of the mixing vessel 1 in the manner of a protective film. The size and dimensions of the inner liner 11 are adapted to the size of the interior 3 of the mixing vessel 1. The outside of the inner liner 11 therefore abuts against the inner wall of the mixing vessel 1. The inner liner 11 likewise has an annular cylindrical section 12 that corresponds to the geometry of the mixing vessel 1, an adjacent tapered section 13, and a discharge duct extension 14 that extends into the discharge duct 8 of the mixing vessel 1. The discharge duct extension 14 extends beyond the discharge flap valve into the discharge duct 8. This is made possible by inserting diametrically opposite axle recesses 15 into the discharge duct extension 15. Because of the illustrated perspective in FIG. 1, only one axle recess 15 is visible.

(9) When the inner liner 11 is inserted into the mixing vessel 1 said recesses are located around the shaft forming the pivot axis 9 on which the discharge flap valve is seated. The axle recesses 15 create two clamping extensions 16, 16.1, which extend beyond the discharge flap valve when it is in the closed position. The clamping extensions 16, 16.1 can extend up to the lower end of the discharge duct 8 or even beyond. Furthermore, a radially outward projecting supported flange joint 17 is molded on the top side of the annular cylindrical section 12 of the inner liner 11. With the inner liner 11 inserted into the mixing vessel 1, said flange joint 17 bears on the upper side of the mixing vessel flange 5.

(10) The inner liner 11 of the illustrated embodiment consists of a low-density polyethylene, a so-called LDPE. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner liner 11 consists of four individual prefabricated parts, which are joined together by welding. The individual components are the discharge duct extension 14, the two sections 12, 13, and the supported flange joint 17. The costs for producing the inner liner 11 are very low compared to the expenditure associated with cleaning the inside of the mixing vessel 1 after a mixing operation. The inner liner illustrated in the Figures is a disposable product. It is designed so that in principle, one mixing operation can be performed therein. Naturally, the inner liner 11 can also be left in the mixing vessel 1 after a first mixing operation if several batches of the same mixture are to be blended consecutively in the mixing vessel 1. The design of the inner liner 11 in the illustrated embodiment is such that it can be used for multiple mixing operations.

(11) FIG. 2 illustrates the mixing vessel 1 connected to the mixing head 18 of an industrial blender 19. Mixing tools that can be rotated are arranged inside the mixing head. An electric motor 20 is used for driving said mixing tools. The mixing vessel 1, together with the inner liner 11 previously inserted therein and the fed-in mixture, was advanced with its flange 5 to a complementary flange 21 of the mixing head 18, and is pressed against the mixing head flange 21 by means of a clamping mechanism 22. The supported flange joint 17 is engaged between the two flanges 5, 21 of the inner liner 11. If it is not possible to do without a seal as otherwise required between flanges 5, 21, a further refinement provides for fitting such a seal onto flange 17 of the inner liner, for example by vulcanizing. The inner liner will then likewise perform the function of providing a seal between the mixing vessel 1 and the mixing head 18, which eliminates the need for disassembly, cleaning, and the subsequent reassembly of the seal of the mixing vessel flange 5 or the mixing head 18. FIG. 3 illustrates this connection, although without the use of a seal, by means of an enlarged longitudinal section of circle 3-3 of FIG. 2.

(12) On the bottom, the inner liner 11 is held clamped in the mixing vessel 1 by its two clamping extensions 16, 16.1 in the discharge duct 8 being held the discharge flap valve 23 in the closed position. The discharge flap valve 23 can be seen in the enlarged longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 4 of circle 4-4 of FIG. 2. There the discharge flap valve 23 is shown in its closed position. In this position, its peripheral side acts against the inside wall of the clamping extensions 16, 16.1 of the discharge duct extension 14, which in turn are pressed with their outside against the inside wall of the discharge duct 8. The inner liner 11 must be fixed in the area of the discharge duct 8 in the manner described above so that it does not move if the unit formed by the mixing vessel 1 and the mixing head 18 is in an over-head configuration for the mixing operation. After connecting the mixing vessel 1 to the mixing head 18, this assembly is rotated so that the mixture contained in the mixing vessel 1 is in contact with the mixing tools disposed in the mixing head 18. This is necessary to perform the mixing operation. Attachment of the liner 11 by clamping its discharge duct extension 14 in the discharge duct 8 of the mixing vessel 1 ensures that the section of the inner liner 1 which is then on the top for the mixing operation does not drop down. Because it is designed as a film, the inner liner 11 does not have sufficient dimensional stability in this respect.

(13) Prior to initiating the mixing operation, a certain amount of positive pressure is built up in the mixing chamber formed by cavity 3 of the mixing vessel 1 and the interior of the mixing head 18. This ensures that the inner liner 11 also remains in its position of abutting against the inner wall of the mixing vessel 1 during the mixing process and does not impede the mixing operation.

(14) The invention was described in greater detail above with reference to the Figures, using a specific embodiment. Without departing from the scope of the current claims, further refinements will become apparent to a person skilled in the art, to be able to implement the invention.

(15) While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations are within their true spirit and scope. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.

(16) The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure.

(17) In general the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(18) 1 Mixing vessel

(19) 2 Cart

(20) 3 Cavity

(21) 4 Feed opening

(22) 5 Mixing vessel flange

(23) 6 Section

(24) 7 Section

(25) 8 Discharge duct

(26) 9 Swivel axis

(27) 10 Handle

(28) 11 Inner liner

(29) 12 Section

(30) 13 Section

(31) 14 Discharge duct extension

(32) 15 Axle recess

(33) 16: 16.1 Clamping extension

(34) 17 Supported flange joint

(35) 18 Mixing head

(36) 19 Industrial blender

(37) 20 Electric motor

(38) 21 Flange

(39) 22 Clamping mechanism

(40) 23 Discharge flap valve