# US 10,864,488 B2 · Anti-segregation mixer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,488 B2 - Document ID: US10864488B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/899,603 - Filed: 2014-06-20 - Published: 2016-05-19 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-20 - Assignees: Hatch Pty Ltd - Applicants: Hatch Pty Ltd - Inventors: Wesley Adam Taylor; Ross Jeffrey Haywood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864488B2 ## CPC - F27B 7/162: {the projections consisting of separate lifting elements, e.g. lifting shovels} - B01F 29/40221: {provided with baffles, plates or bars on the wall or the bottom} - B01F 29/64: with stirring devices moving in relation to the receptacle, e.g. rotating - F27B 7/14: with means for agitating or moving the charge - F27B 7/161: {the means comprising projections jutting out from the wall} - F27B 7/18: the means being movable within the drum - F27B: FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) ## Abstract An anti-segregation mixer for a bed of material, the anti-segregation mixer comprising: an elongate and substantially cylindrical shell having an inner surface; and a plurality of independent lifting means provided within the shell, wherein the plurality of lifting means each comprise a vane with a leading end and a trailing end, and are arranged with respect to the cylindrical shell such that the vane is spaced apart from the inner surface and the entire lifting means may pass through the bed of material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anti-segregation mixer for a bed of material, the anti-segregation mixer comprising: an elongate and substantially cylindrical shell having an inner surface; and a plurality of independent lifting means provided within the shell, wherein the plurality of lifting means each comprise a vane with a leading end and a trailing end, wherein the plurality of lifting means are arranged with respect to the cylindrical shell such that the vane is spaced apart from the inner surface, and when the cylindrical shell comprises a lining, the lining is adjacent to the inner surface, wherein the plurality of lifting means are substantially concentric with the cylindrical shell, and wherein the entire lifting means passes through the bed of material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein the entire lifting means will pass through an approximate center of the bed of material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein during operation of the anti-segregation mixer the leading end will pass through the bed of material before the trailing end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein the lifting means are arranged whereby a distance between the leading end and the elongate cylindrical shell is smaller than a distance between the trailing end and the elongate shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein the lifting means are curved in shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 5, wherein the lifting means are non-uniformly curved along their length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 5, wherein the lifting means are shaped such that a radius of curvature of the lifting means increases towards the trailing end of the lifting means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 5, wherein a radius of curvature of the leading end is substantially smaller than a radius of curvature of the elongate shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 8, wherein the curvature of the leading end is internally tangent to a pitch circle at the leading end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 5, wherein the lifting means becomes substantially straight towards the trailing end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein the mixer further comprises a series of separate rows of the plurality of lifting means that are spaced along a length of the elongate cylindrical shell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein a width of each lifting means in a kiln axial direction is between 25% of, and 100% of, the inner diameter of the cylindrical shell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein a length of each lifting means in a kiln circumferential direction is between 5% of, and 25% of, the inner diameter of the cylindrical shell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein each of the lifting means are mounted on one or more posts extending radially from the cylindrical shell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein the lifting means are mounted on a mounting ring which runs concentrically within a kiln section such that it passes through the lifting means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 15, wherein the mounting ring is hung by short chain sections or posts from the elongate cylindrical shell at various locations. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 15, wherein the mounting ring is supported by pivoting link rods extending from the elongate cylindrical shell at various locations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A rotary kiln comprising: the anti-segregation mixer as described in claim 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The anti-segregation mixer according to claim 1, wherein the lining is a refractory lining. ### Claim 20 An anti-segregation mixer for a bed of material, the anti-segregation mixer comprising: an elongate and substantially cylindrical shell having an inner surface; and a plurality of independent lifting means disposed within and substantially concentric with the cylindrical shell, wherein the plurality of lifting means each comprise a vane with a leading end and a trailing end and the lifting means are arranged whereby a distance between the leading end and the elongate cylindrical shell is smaller than a distance between the trailing end and the elongate shell; and wherein the plurality of lifting means are arranged with respect to the cylindrical shell such that the vane is spaced apart from the inner surface and in each instance the entire lifting means passes through the bed of material.