DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT MECHANICAL, CHEMICAL, AND/OR THERMAL PROCESSES

Abstract

A device for carrying out mechanical, chemical, and/or thermal processes in a housing (3), comprising mixing and cleaning elements (5) on at least two shafts (1, 2), the mixing and cleaning elements (5) on the shafts (1, 2) meshing with each other and being equipped with disk elements that include kneading bars. The number of disk elements including kneading bars is adjusted to the speed ratio between the shafts.

Claims

1-26. (canceled)

27. A device for carrying out mechanical, chemical and/or thermal processes in a housing comprising mixing and cleaning elements on at least two shafts, wherein the mixing and cleaning elements of the shafts engage in one another and have disk elements with kneading bars, the disk elements have a number of points corresponding to a ratio of rotational speed, and a kneading bar is arranged at each point, and the shafts rotate in the same direction.

28. The device as claimed in claim 27, wherein a rotational speed of one shaft is at max. 1.5 times quicker than that of the other shaft.

29. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the kneading bars of the mixing and cleaning elements have sharp edges.

30. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the kneading bars are arranged in an offset manner on the mixing and cleaning elements.

31. The device as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one shaft is temperature controlled.

32. The device as claimed in claim 31, wherein at least one shaft is divided axially into two different temperature zones.

33. The device as claimed in claim 27, wherein disk elements are provided on at least one shaft in twin form consecutively without a spacing and rotate with respect to one another.

34. The device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the rotation about a circular measure of 360 takes place divided by the ratio of the speed.

35. A method for carrying out mechanical, chemical and/or thermal processes, comprising: mixing reactants in a housing comprising mixing and cleaning elements on at least two shafts, rotating the at least two shafts in the same direction and at a ratio of rotational speed to each other, wherein the mixing and cleaning elements of the shafts engage in one another and have disk elements with kneading bars, the disk elements have a number of points corresponding to the ratio of rotational speed, and a kneading bar is arranged at each point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and also with reference to the drawing, in which

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a device according to the invention for carrying out mechanical, chemical and/or thermal processes (mixing kneader) with a removed end disk;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a partially illustrated longitudinal section through a mixing kneader similar to FIG. 1;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of part of a developed view of a mixing kneader according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a partially illustrated longitudinal section through a device according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of two intermeshing shafts of a mixing kneader according to the invention with a rotational speed ratio of 2:3;

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of two intermeshing shafts of a mixing kneader according to the invention with a rotational speed ratio of 3:3;

[0060] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of two intermeshing shafts of a mixing kneader according to the invention with a rotational speed ratio of 3:4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two shafts 1 and 2 in a housing 3 of a mixing kneader P1, it being possible for both the shafts 1 and 2 and the housing 3 to be filled with a temperature-controlled medium. For this purpose, the housing 3 is then formed as a twin-shell housing. On the front side, the housing 3 is closed by an end plate 4.

[0062] Mixing and cleaning elements 5 of a substantially identical form sit on the shafts 1 and 2. They consist of a disk element 6, having a marginal edge 7 which extends approximately in a radius R about an axis A of the shaft 1 or 2 and in an arc segment of about 90. Side edges 8.1 and 8.2 then extend from the marginal edge 7 in an arcuate manner toward the shaft 1 or 2. Such disk elements are arranged in succession on the shaft 1 or 2 such that they are rotationally symmetrical by 180.

[0063] Furthermore, it can be seen that the marginal edge 7 is occupied by two bars 9.1 and 9.2, which extend approximately parallel to the axis A but, in the developed views shown in FIG. 3, are formed obliquely. It is thereby possible to influence the conveying activity of the product to be processed.

[0064] The mode of operation of the present invention is as follows:

[0065] A product to be treated passes via an entry 10 into the interior of the housing 3, where it is detected by the rotating mixing and cleaning elements 5 on the shafts 1 and 2. In the process, the product is intensively kneaded and sheared by the mixing and cleaning elements 5, such that it can be intensively mixed with other products, additives, solvents, catalysts, initiators, etc. In contrast to known mixing kneaders, in the present invention it is no longer possible to distinguish between a stirring shaft with stirring elements and a cleaning shaft with cleaning elements. According to the present invention, the shafts 1 and 2 with the mixing and cleaning elements thereof take on to an equal extent the mixing of the product and the cleaning of the other shaft or of the inner wall of the housing or of the mixing and cleaning elements on the other shaft.

[0066] The described arrangement of the disk element and the configuration thereof implement optimum radial mixing and, in particular, make a labyrinth effect possible, as is illustrated by the arrows 11.1 and 11.2 for the product. Here, it is assumed that both shafts rotate in a co-rotating manner in a ratio of 1:1, in the present case in the clockwise direction.

[0067] As soon as the product passes in the direction of the end plate 4, i.e. to a discharge 12 (indicated by dashed lines), according to the invention it should be deflected toward said discharge 12. This is done using a deflector 13 in cooperation with a discharge star 14. Whereas the deflector 13 is fixed statically in the housing, the discharge star 14 rotates together with the shaft 1, the discharge star being provided with a plurality of cutting teeth that press the product to be discharged into the discharge opening 12. The cutting teeth have cutting edges 17 in the direction of rotation. As a result, a portion is always cut off from the product stream and pressed through the discharge opening 12.

[0068] FIG. 4 illustrates a part of the device according to the invention, in particular in the region of a bearing lantern 20. A sleeve 21 which is supported against parts 24 and 25 of a bearing housing 26 via two bearings 22 and 23 provided spaced-apart rotates in said bearing lantern 20. Said bearing housing 26 is flange-mounted onto the housing 3.

[0069] According to FIGS. 5 to 7, the disk elements are configured differently in each case depending on the ratio of the rotational speed of the individual shafts to one another. According to FIG. 5, the shaft 1 rotates in a rotational speed ratio to the shaft 2 of 2:3. According to the present invention, the disk element 6.1 on the shaft 1 is thus formed in an elliptical manner, i.e. it has two opposite points 30.1 and 30.1.1 which are both occupied by a kneading bar 9.1, 9.2.

[0070] Preferably directly following the disk element 6.1, there is a further identical disk element 6.1.1 behind the latter, but rotated by 90.

[0071] Further disk elements 6.2 and 6.2.2 on the shaft 2 interact with said disk elements 6.1 and 6.1.1 on the shaft 1. Said shaft 2 rotates with the rotational speed ratio of the ratio 2:3, and therefore the disk elements 6.2 and 6.2.2 are configured with three points 30.2, 30.2.2 and 30.2.3. The points are in each case arranged offset by 120 with respect to one another about the shaft 2. The shaft 6.2.2 is assigned rotated by 60 to the shaft 6.2.

[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates the rotational speed ratio 3:3, with correspondingly also only disk elements 6.2 and 6.2.2 being provided.

[0073] FIG. 7 illustrates the rotational speed ratio of 3:4. Accordingly, disk elements 6.2 and 6.2.2 are located on the shaft 1 while disk elements 6.3 and 6.3.3 having four points 30.3.1 to 30.3.4 are arranged on the shaft 2. The disk elements 6.3 and 6.3.3 are provided rotated by 45 with respect to each other on the shaft 7.

[0074] Any rotational speed ratios to one another are possible in accordance with this pattern.