Apparatus for mixing and blending of an additive material into a fluid and method

Abstract

Apparatus and method in which a solid or liquid additive is dispensed within a mixing chamber for mixing with a fluid from the pressurized fluid flow line and is effective mixed in a vortex under vacuum while precluding contamination of the unused additive.

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for mixing of an additive material into a fluid (180), comprising: a cylindrical mixing container (102), said cylindrical mixing container (102) having a mixing container top wall (104), a mixing container bottom wall (106), a mixing container sidewall (138), and a longitudinal cylindrical mixing container axis (110); said cylindrical mixing container (102) having a cylindrical mixing container outlet (114) through said mixing container bottom wall (106) aligned with said longitudinal cylindrical mixing container axis (110); said cylindrical mixing container (102) having a cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet (112) through said mixing container sidewall (138) bounded at a cylindrical mixing container inlet bottom (142) by said cylindrical mixing container bottom wall (106) and generally tangentially disposed to an inner peripheral surface (150) of said cylindrical mixing container (102); an additive supply unit (116), said additive supply unit (116) having an additive supply unit longitudinal axis (152) aligned with said longitudinal cylindrical mixing container axis (110), said additive supply unit (116) having an additive supply unit outer piping (118), said additive supply unit outer piping (118) having an additive supply unit outer piping top end (120) and an additive supply unit outer piping bottom end (122), said additive supply unit (116) having an additive supply unit inlet (126) into said additive supply unit outer piping (118) at said additive supply unit outer piping top end (120), said additive supply unit (116) having an additive supply unit shaft (128) slidably positioned within said additive supply unit outer piping (118) from said supply unit outer piping top end (120) to beyond said supply unit outer piping bottom end (122), an additive supply unit collar (130) at said supply unit outer piping bottom end (122) maintaining said additive supply unit shaft (128) on said additive supply unit longitudinal axis (152), an additive supply unit disc (134) affixed perpendicular to said additive supply unit shaft (128) at a bottom end of said additive supply unit shaft (128); a motor (148) coupled to said additive supply unit shaft (128); an isolating valve (146) adapted to terminate communication between said additive supply unit outer piping (118) and said cylindrical mixing container (102), said isolating valve (146) positioned above said mixing container top wall (104); and a linear actuator (124) coupled to said additive supply unit (116), said linear actuator (124) adapted to withdraw said additive supply unit (116) from said cylindrical mixing container (102) and above said isolating valve (146); and an outlet line (153) adapted for connection to said cylindrical mixing container outlet (114) and to an inlet (176) of a pump (154); a fluid supply (156) adapted for communication with a pressure controller (184); said pressure controller (184) adapted for communication with a restricting valve (158); and said restricting valve (158) adapted for communication with said cylindrical mixing container (102) at said cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet (112).

2. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, wherein said pressure controller (184) includes a float valve (182) in a pressure controller tank (186), said float valve (182) in communication with said fluid supply (156), said pressure controller tank (186) vented to atmosphere.

3. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, further comprising: said motor (148) is a variable-speed motor.

4. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid additive delivery nozzle (160) inside said cylindrical mixing container (102) proximate said mixing container top wall (104).

5. The apparatus for mixing of claim 4, further comprising: a fluid additive controller (162) adapted to permit a fluid additive (164) to flow to said fluid additive delivery nozzle (160).

6. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, further comprising: a motor controller (164) adapted to control said motor (148).

7. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, further comprising: a linear actuator controller (166) adapted to control said linear actuator (124).

8. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, further comprising: a pump controller (168) adapted to control said pump (154).

9. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, further comprising: a restricting valve controller (170) adapted to control said restricting valve (158).

10. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, further comprising: a controller (172) adapted to control said isolating valve (146).

11. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, wherein said isolating valve (146) is a ball valve.

12. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, wherein said additive material is a solid.

13. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, wherein said additive supply unit (116) further comprises: a second linear actuator (174) coupled to said additive supply unit shaft (128), said second linear actuator (174) adapted to retract said additive supply unit disc (134) toward said supply unit outer piping bottom end (122) and to move said additive supply unit disc (134) away from said supply unit outer piping bottom end (122).

14. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, wherein said motor (148) is magnetically coupled to said additive supply unit shaft (128).

15. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1 further comprising a liquid-delivery tube (192) having a liquid-delivery tube first end (194) and a liquid-delivery tube second end (196) positioned in said outer piping (118), said liquid-delivery tube (192) extending through said additive supply unit inlet (126) at said liquid-delivery tube first end (194) and terminating adjacent to said supply unit disc (134) at said liquid-delivery tube second end (196).

16. The apparatus for mixing of claim 1, wherein said pump (154) generates a negative pressure on said outlet line (153) in operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) So that the manner in which the described features, advantages and objects of the disclosure, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular description of the disclosure briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typical preferred embodiment of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the apparatus in a deployed or second position.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the cylindrical mixing container when viewed downward along plane A-A.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a method of blending or mixing is accomplished according to the present disclosure,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of an embodiment of an apparatus 100 for mixing and blending of an additive material 190 into a fluid 180 is illustrated in a deployed or second position. The apparatus includes a vertically-oriented cylindrical mixing container 102 and an additive supply unit 116, together with a linear actuator 124 coupled to the additive supply unit 116, an outlet line 153 in communication with the cylindrical mixing container 102, and a fluid supply 156, which may be a container, in communication, via a pressure controller 184 and a restricting valve 158, with the cylindrical mixing container. The additive 190 may be a liquid or solid and may be a combination of additives. The fluid 180 from the fluid supply 156 is preferably provided to the cylindrical mixing container 102 at a predetermined or adjusting pressure by a pressure controller 184, which may be accomplished by maintaining a level of the fluid 180 in a pressure controller tank 186 at a constant level, such as by use of a float valve 182, or other systems known in the art, to maintain a level of fluid 180, in connection with an open, i.e. vented to atmosphere, pressure controller tank 186, or by use of a another system configured to provide flow of the fluid 180 from the fluid supply 156 at a fixed and/or constant pressure. Where a pressure controller 184 incorporating a float valve 182 is used, the level of fluid 180 in the pressure controller 184 is maintained at a constant height, so that when fluid 180 is dispersed into the cylindrical mixing container 102, additional fluid 180 is permitted to enter the pressure controller 184 from the fluid supply 156. Alternatively, the pressure controller 184 may be adjusted to ensure the height of the vortex of the fluid 180 generated within the cylindrical mixing container 102 does not rise so far along the mixing container sidewall 138 as to result in fluid 180 rebounding onto the additive supply unit 116, potentially immediately altering the pressure of the fluid 180 entering the cylindrical mixing container 102 to compensate for the volume of additive material 190 being introduced.

(6) The cylindrical mixing container 102, which is vertically oriented, provides a container for mixing or blending of a fluid 180 with an additive material 190, which additive material 190 may be liquid or solid in form. Mixing or blending is accomplished by generating a vortex of the fluid 180 within the cylindrical mixing container 102. The cylindrical mixing container 102 is defined by a mixing container top wall 104, a mixing container bottom wall 106, a mixing container sidewall 138, and a longitudinal cylindrical mixing container axis 110. The cylindrical mixing container 102 has a cylindrical mixing container outlet 114 which is positioned through the mixing container bottom wall 106 and which is aligned with the longitudinal cylindrical mixing container axis 110. The cylindrical mixing container 102 likewise has a cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet 112 through the mixing container sidewall 138 which is bounded at a cylindrical mixing container inlet bottom 142 by the cylindrical mixing container bottom wall 106 and which is generally tangentially disposed toward an inner peripheral surface 150 of the cylindrical mixing container 102. A top view of an embodiment of the apparatus when viewed downward from a plane A-A, provided in FIG. 1 equivalent with the additive supply unit inlet 126, is illustrated in FIG. 2, providing the cylindrical mixing container 102, the mixing container sidewall 138, the additive supply unit inlet 126, the outer piping 118, the additive supply unit 116, the cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet 112, the longitudinal cylindrical mixing container axis 110, and the additive supply unit longitudinal axis 152. One embodiment of the relative angle of the cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet 112 is illustrated in FIG. 2, showing the tangential alignment of the cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet 112 with respect to the mixing container sidewall 138 of cylindrical mixing container 102, preferably at the mixing container bottom wall 106.

(7) Referring again to FIG. 1, addition of an additive material 190 is accomplished with the additive supply unit 116. The additive 190 may contain one or more selected additives in a predetermined ratio. The additive supply unit 116 has an additive supply unit longitudinal axis 152 aligned and co-axial with the longitudinal cylindrical mixing container axis 110, thus positing the additive supply unit in the center of the mixing container top wall 104. The additive supply unit 116 includes an additive supply unit outer piping 118, which has an additive supply unit outer piping top end 120 and an additive supply unit outer piping bottom end 122. The additive supply unit 116 has one additive supply unit inlet 126 into the additive supply unit outer piping 118 at the additive supply unit outer piping top end 120, but may have a plurality of additive supply unit inlets 126. The additive supply unit 116 further has an additive supply unit shaft 128 slidably positioned within the additive supply unit outer piping 118 from the supply unit outer piping top end 120 to beyond the supply unit outer piping bottom end 122. An additive supply unit collar 130 is positioned at the supply unit outer piping bottom end 122 to maintain the additive supply unit shaft 128 on the additive supply unit longitudinal axis 152. An additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 is affixed perpendicular to the additive supply unit shaft 128 at a bottom end of the additive supply unit shaft 128. A motor 148 is coupled to the additive supply unit shaft 128. Additionally, the additive supply unit 116 includes an isolating valve 146 which is adapted to terminate communication between the additive supply unit outer piping 118 and the cylindrical mixing container 102 and which is positioned above the mixing container top wall 104.

(8) Because the additive supply unit shaft 128 is slidably positioned within the additive supply unit outer piping 118, it provides for vertical adjustment of the additive supply unit shaft 128 and therefore the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134. Vertical adjustment changes the clearance between the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 and the supply unit outer piping bottom end 122, allowing for adjustment of the amount of additive 190 that can exit the additive supply unit outer piping 118 and enter the additive supply unit outer piping 118. While the flow rate existing the additive supply unit outer piping 118 might be reduced to zero, the vertical adjustment of the additive supply unit shaft 128 is not intended primarily to function as a shut-off. A second linear actuator 174 may be coupled to the additive supply unit shaft 128 and adapted to retract the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 toward the supply unit outer piping bottom end 122 and to move the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 away from said supply unit outer piping bottom end 122.

(9) Because the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 is affixed to the additive supply unit shaft 128, the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 rotates based on fixation to the additive supply unit shaft 128.

(10) The motor 148 may be of any type, such as electric or fluid and may be of fixed or variable-speed operation. Operation of the motor 148 may be controlled by a motor controller 164. Moreover, the motor 148 may be coupled to the additive supply unit shaft 128 by any of various systems known in the art, but preferably is coupled so as to not to create a seal across the additive supply unit outer piping 118. Coupling may be accomplished, for example, by use of a magnet couple between the motor 148 and the additive supply unit shaft 128. A coupling which does not create a seal avoids the potential for creation of vacuum in the cylindrical mixing container 102 during retraction of the additive supply unit 116 from the cylindrical mixing container 102 from the second, deployed position depicted in FIG. 1 to a first, ready position and avoids pressurization of the cylindrical mixing container 102 during deployment of the additive supply unit 116 into the cylindrical mixing container 102 from a first, ready position to the second, deployed position.

(11) The linear actuator 124 is coupled to the additive supply unit 116, such as by a shaft 117, and is adapted to withdraw the additive supply unit 116 from the cylindrical mixing container 102 and above the isolating valve 146. To the extent any additive 190 remains in the additive supply unit outer piping 118, it is isolated from the contents of the cylindrical mixing container 102 due to the retraction of the additive supply unit 116 by the linear actuator 124 and by the closure of the isolating valve 146. Operation of the linear actuator 124 may be controlled by a linear actuator controller 166. Operation of the isolating valve 146 may be controlled by an isolating valve controller 172. The isolating valve 146 may be of any type of valve providing a full closure, such as a ball valve.

(12) The outlet line 153 is adapted for connection to the cylindrical mixing container outlet 114 and to an inlet 176 of a pump 154. Preferably, the pump 154 provides a negative pressure (vacuum), and preferably of 5-10, in the cylindrical mixing container 102 during operation. Operation of the pump 154 may be controlled by a pump controller 168.

(13) The fluid supply 156 is adapted for communication, via the pressure controller 184, with the restricting valve 158, which is adapted for communication with the cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet. In operation, this permits the supply of a liquid 180, which may be contained in the fluid supply 156, to the cylindrical mixing container 102 at a constant, or first, pressure. Operation of the restricting valve 158 may be controlled by a restricting valve controller 170.

(14) For operation, an additive 190 is introduced to the additive supply unit outer piping 118 at the additive supply unit inlet 126. The additive supply unit inlet 126 can be perpendicular, at an angle (such as to form a y), or can intersect the additive supply unit outer piping 118 tangentially to provide a cyclonic effect of the additive 190 upon entering the additive supply unit outer piping 118. An additive 190 may be composed of one or more selected additives.

(15) Where desired, one or more fluid additive delivery nozzle 160 may be positioned inside the cylindrical mixing container 102 proximate the mixing container top wall 104. Where used, a fluid additive controller 162 may be used to control a fluid additive valve 163 provision of a fluid additive 164 to flow from an associated fluid additive reservoir or supply 165 to the fluid delivery nozzle 160 and into the cylindrical mixing container 102. More than one fluid additive 164, and therefore more than one fluid delivery nozzle 160 and more than one associated fluid additive reservoir or supply 165 may be utilized.

(16) Additionally, where an additive 190 is a liquid, a liquid-delivery tube 192 having a liquid-delivery tube first end 194 and a liquid-delivery tube second end 196 may be positioned in and through the outer piping 118 from its first end 194 to its second end 196. to the other. As a result, the liquid-delivery tube 192 extends through the particle inlet 126 at the liquid-delivery tube first end 194 and terminates adjacent to the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 at the liquid-delivery tube second end 196. This provides liquid communication rather than communication of the solid additive 190. In operation, the liquid-delivery tube 192 is in fluid communication with a fluid additive reservoir or supply 165 of additive 190 so that a fluid additive 192 may be introduced rather than a solid additive 190.

(17) In operation, blending or mixing is accomplished according to the method illustrated in FIG. 3.

(18) Referring to FIG. 3, in step 302, the apparatus 100 is provided.

(19) In step 304, a vacuum is exerted on the cylindrical mixing container 102 by the pump 154. Absent the exertion of a vacuum by pump 154, it is not possible to force the fluid 180, even if pressurized, into the cylindrical mixing container 102 and obtain a vortex. The combination of the pressurization of the fluid 180, due to its relative position, and the vacuum in the cylindrical mixing container 102 draws the fluid 180 into the cylindrical mixing container and causes formation of the vortex. The extent of the vacuum may be adjusted by the restricting valve 158.

(20) In step 306, the restricting valve 158 is opened to permit communication of the fluid 180 from the fluid supply 156 to the cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet 112 at the first pressure via the pressure controller 184. A high energy vortex is formed by the fluid 180 in the cylindrical mixing container 102 due to the cylindrical construction of the cylindrical mixing container 102, the lower position and relative angle of the cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet 112, and the vacuum on the cylindrical mixing container 102 by the pump 154. Thus, the cylindrical mixing container 102 receives the fluid 180 through the cylindrical mixing container liquid inlet 112 tangentially at the mixing container bottom wall 106. The centrifugal force of the fluid 180 and the vacuum from the cylindrical mixing container outlet 114 cause the fluid 180 to form a vortex which eventually exits the cylindrical mixing container 102 through the cylindrical mixing container outlet 114 located in the mixing container bottom wall 106.

(21) In step 308, the isolating valve 146 is opened.

(22) In step 310, the additive supply unit outer piping bottom end 122 is deployed through the isolating valve 146 into the cylindrical mixing container 102 by the linear actuator 124, maintained in positive relative to the cylindrical mixing container 102 by a frame 125, preferably so the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 is vertically centered in the cylindrical mixing container 102. After the vortex is established in the cylindrical mixing container 102, the additive supply unit 116 is transported down into the cylindrical mixing container 102 where feeding begins based on the speed and vertical adjustment of the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134. Since the centrifugal action of the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 projects the additive 190 horizontally from the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134, the additive 190 contacts the nearly vertical wall of fluid 180 within the vortex undergoes blending. Volume and velocity of additive 190 as projected into vortex is thus controlled, and not a result of a gravity feed.

(23) In step 312, the additive supply unit shaft 128 and the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 are caused to rotate by the motor 148.

(24) In step 314, the additive material 190 is introduced into additive supply unit outer piping 118 at the additive supply unit inlet 126. During operation, the rate of additive 190 delivered to the fluid 180 in the resulting high energy vortex in cylindrical mixing container 102 is a function of the speed of the motor 148, and therefore the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134, the feed rate of additive 190 into the additive supply unit outer piping 118, and the vertical position of the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 relative to the additive supply unit outer piping bottom end 122.

(25) In step 316, the additive supply unit outer piping bottom end 122 is retracted out of the cylindrical mixing container 102. Thus, when the blending cycle is complete, the additive supply unit centrifugal supply disc 134 stops, and the linear actuator 124 raises the additive supply unit 116 past the isolating valve 146.

(26) In step 318, the isolating valve 146 is closed, isolating the moisture sensitive additive 190 from the moist environment.

(27) While the present disclosure has been described in connection with presently preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to those embodiments. It is therefore, contemplated that various alternative embodiments and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.