Mixing element for a static mixer

A static mixer comprising:

• a mixing element;
• and
• a tubular mixer housing surrounding the mixing element and having an inner wall,
• the mixing element including at least one first installation body and one second installation body arranged behind one another along a longitudinal axis of the mixing element;
• and
• an inlet element arranged upstream of the first installation body, the inlet element and the first installation body being integrally connected via a connection element, the inlet element having a body sealingly taken up peripherally in the tubular mixer housing,
• the body of the inlet element having a first inlet passage and a second inlet passage, the first inlet passage having a first entry opening and a first exit opening, the first exit opening being disposed in an outer surface of the body of the inlet element, the second inlet passage having a second entry opening and a second exit opening so that corresponding components can be conducted through the first inlet passage from the first entry opening to the first exit opening and through the second inlet passage from the second entry opening to the second exit opening, the first inlet passage extending spatially separately from the second inlet passage,
• the first inlet passage opening into a pre-chamber that is external to the body of the inlet element, and defined by the outer surface of the body of the inlet element, by the connection element, by the inner wall of the mixer housing and by the first installation body, the first inlet passage being upstream of the outer surface of the body and configured to be disposed within the mixer housing,
• the second inlet passage extending from the second exit opening into an inner space of the connection element such that a continuation passage opens into a mixing space of the first installation body from the inner space of the connection element, the pre-chamber and the inner space being separated by the connection element such that components in the pre-chamber are separated from components in the inner space,
• the inlet element includes a wall element separating the first exit opening from the second exit opening to maintain separation of the components in the pre-chamber and the inner space of the connection element,
• a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the continuation passage to a remaining free cross-sectional area being at most 1:4, the cross-sectional areas being taken on a sectional plane normal to the longitudinal axis and arranged at a mixer entry.

A method of mixing flowable components, comprising:

• providing a mixing element for a static mixer for installation into a tubular mixer housing, the mixing element comprising
• at least one first installation body and one second installation body arranged behind one another along a longitudinal axis of the mixing element, and
• an inlet element arranged upstream of the first installation body, the inlet element and the first installation body being integrally connected via a connection element, the inlet element having a body configured to be sealingly taken up peripherally in a tubular mixer housing,
• the body of the inlet element having a first inlet passage and a second inlet passage, the first inlet passage having a first entry opening and a first exit opening, the first entry opening being disposed in a first outer surface of the body of the inlet element that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mixing element, the first exit opening being disposed in a second outer surface of the body of the inlet element opposite the first outer surface and that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mixing element, the first inlet passage extending through the body of the inlet element from the first entry opening to the first exit opening, the second inlet passage having a second entry opening and a second exit opening so that corresponding components can be conducted through the first inlet passage from the first entry opening to the first exit opening and through the second inlet passage from the second entry opening to the second exit opening, the first inlet passage extending spatially separately from the second inlet passage,
• the first inlet passage configured to open into a pre-chamber external to the body of the inlet element and that is defined by the second outer surface of the body of the inlet element, by the connection element, by an inner wall of the mixer housing and by the first installation body, the first inlet passage being upstream of the second outer surface of the body and configured to be disposed at least partially within the mixer housing,
• the second inlet passage extending from the second exit opening into an inner space of the connection element such that a continuation passage opens into a mixing space of the first installation body from the inner space of the connection element, the pre-chamber and the inner space being separated by the connection element such that components in the pre-chamber are separated from components in the inner space,
• the inlet element includes a wall element separating the first exit opening from the second exit opening to maintain separation of the components in the pre-chamber and the inner space of the connection element,
• a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the continuation passage to a remaining free cross-sectional area being at most 1:4, the cross-sectional areas being taken on a sectional plane normal to the longitudinal axis and arranged at a mixer entry;
• and
• operating a device to mix the flowable components with the mixing element.

A method of mixing flowable components, comprising:

• providing a mixing element for a static mixer for installation into a tubular mixer housing, the mixing element comprising
• at least one first installation body and one second installation body arranged behind one another along a longitudinal axis of the mixing element, and
• an inlet element arranged upstream of the first installation body, the inlet element and the first installation body being integrally connected via a connection element, the inlet element having a body configured to be sealingly taken up peripherally in a tubular mixer housing,
• the body of the inlet element having a first inlet passage and a second inlet passage, the first inlet passage having a first entry opening and a first exit opening, the first entry opening being disposed in a first outer surface of the body of the inlet element that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mixing element, the first exit opening being disposed in a second outer surface of the body of the inlet element opposite the first outer surface and that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mixing element, the first inlet passage extending through the body of the inlet element from the first entry opening to the first exit opening, the second inlet passage having a second entry opening and a second exit opening so that corresponding components can be conducted through the first inlet passage from the first entry opening to the first exit opening and through the second inlet passage from the second entry opening to the second exit opening, the first inlet passage extending spatially separately from the second inlet passage,
• the first inlet passage configured to open into a pre-chamber external to the body of the inlet element and that is defined by the second outer surface of the body of the inlet element, by the connection element, by an inner wall of the mixer housing and by the first installation body, the first inlet passage being upstream of the second outer surface of the body and configured to be disposed at least partially within the mixer housing,
• the second inlet passage extending from the second exit opening into an inner space of the connection element such that a continuation passage opens into a mixing space of the first installation body from the inner space of the connection element, the pre-chamber and the inner space being separated by the connection element such that components in the pre-chamber are separated from components in the inner space,
• the inlet element includes a wall element separating the first exit opening from the second exit opening to maintain separation of the components in the pre-chamber and the inner space of the connection element,
• a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the continuation passage to a remaining free cross-sectional area being at most 1:4, the cross-sectional areas being taken on a sectional plane normal to the longitudinal axis and arranged at a mixer entry;
• and
• operating a device to mix at least one of multicomponent adhesives, sealing materials and dental impression materials with the mixing element.