Sanitary mixing assembly for vessels and tanks
AssigneeJV Northwest, Inc.
InventorFrank Kupidlowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides component parts for a mixing assembly adapted to be used with clean in place techniques. The component parts may include an impeller assembly, an adjustable hub assembly and a steady bearing assembly. In one embodiment, the blades of the impeller assembly may be adapted to direct a portion of the water initially aimed at the top surface of the blade towards the bottom surface of the blade.
Claims29
An impeller assembly for a mixing vessel, the impeller assembly being rotatably engaged with a shaft, the impeller assembly comprising a plurality of blades radiating from a central hub, each of said blades having:
- an top surface and a bottom surface;
- a generally curved leading edge adapted to direct a liquid initially aimed at the top surface towards the bottom surface;
- and
- a trailing edge having an outer portion generally tapered outwards and an inner portion generally tapered inwards, thereby forming a central apex corresponding to a widest point of the blade.
A hub assembly comprising:
- a bushing adapted to receive a shaft;
- and
- a housing including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being adapted to sealingly engage the second portion, the first and second portions each having an external surface and an internal surface, the external surfaces being generally tapered at opposing ends, the internal surfaces being adapted to enclose the bushing.
A bearing assembly for a mixing vessel, the bearing assembly including:
- a supporting structure having
- a fitting;
- and
- a plurality of legs extending from the fitting and securely engaging the vessel;
- and
- a guide bearing having a bore adapted to receive a shaft, the guide bearing being adapted to be removably engaged by the supporting structure;
- the guide bearing being removable from the supporting structure and shaft without necessitating removal or lifting of the shaft.
A mixing assembly for a vessel, the mixing assembly comprising:
- a shaft;
- a hub assembly adapted to rotatably engage the impeller with the shaft, the hub including:
- a bushing adapted to receive the shaft;
- a housing including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being adapted to sealingly engage the second portion, the first and second portions each having an external surface and an internal surface, the external surfaces being generally tapered at opposing ends, the internal surfaces being adapted to receive the bushing;
- and
- a plurality of blades radiating from the housing, each of the blades having:
- a top surface and a bottom surface;
- a generally curved leading edge adapted to direct a liquid initially aimed at the top surface towards the bottom surface;
- and
- a trailing edge having an outer portion generally tapered outwards and an inner portion generally tapered inwards;
- a bearing assembly having:
- a supporting structure having
- a fitting;
- and
- a plurality of legs extending from the fitting and securely engaging the vessel;
- and
- a guide bearing having a bore adapted to receive a shaft, the guide bearing being adapted to be removably engaged by the supporting structure;
- the guide bearing being removable from the supporting structure and shaft without necessitating removal or lifting of the shaft.
A sanitary impeller comprising:
- a hub having a bore for fixing the impeller to a shaft along an axis defined by the bore;
- a blade extending from the hub, wherein a cross section of the blade viewed in a plane generally parallel the axis of the bore progresses from a near linear shape to a curvilinear S-shape, and then to a curvilinear L-shape as a point of view progresses along the blade from an attachment edge adjacent the hub to a distal end of the blade.
A mixing assembly comprising:
- a shaft;
- a hub operatively engaged to the shaft;
- and
- a blade extending from the hub, wherein a cross section of the blade viewed in a plane generally parallel the axis of the bore progresses from a near linear shape to a curvilinear S-shape, and then to a curvilinear L-shape as a point of view progresses along the blade from adjacent the hub to a distal end of the blade.
A mixing vessel comprising:
- a plurality of nubbins operatively connected to the mixing vessel, and defining a bearing receptacle spaced away from a surface of the vessel;
- a shaft extending into the bearing receptacle;
- and
- a guide bearing having a bore and mounted on the shaft, the guide bearing being removably engaged by the nubbins, and including a channel into which at least one of the nubbins extends;
- wherein the guide bearing may be slid out of the bearing receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.