US 4,941,599 AGranted

Method and apparatus for thoroughly mixing a suspension containing a fluid and solid matter constituents

AssigneeVorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH

InventorsUlrich Reinertz, Wolfgang Troger, Jurgen Wockel

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Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for thoroughly mixing a suspension containing a fluid and solid matter constituents and spraying the thoroughly mixed suspension onto a surface. The apparatus includes a pressure and seal tight container enclosed on all sides for accommodating the suspension therein. The container has a top region and has a base region whereat the solid matter constituents tend to collect to form a sediment. A cylinder and a piston generate a charge of air under pressure which is conducted through a passage into the base region of the container to break up the sediment and thoroughly mix the solid matter constituents in the fluid as the air under pressure rises through the suspension to collect at the top region of the container where it imparts pressure to the suspension. A nozzle unit mounted on the container vents the container to permit the air under pressure to entrain the thoroughly mixed suspension to form a spray. With the invention, the suspension is always thoroughly mixed for each pumping operation and during the spraying operation so that a loss of function because of blockage of the spray system is prevented.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A spray device for spraying a thoroughly mixed suspension of liquid and solid matter constituents onto a surface, the spray device comprising:

a pressure and seal tight container enclosed on all sides to define a chamber for accommodating the suspension therein, said container having a lower portion terminating in a base wall defining a base region of said chamber whereat said solid matter constituents tend to collect to form a sediment and said container also having an upper portion defining a top region of said chamber;
aperture means formed in said base wall for leading directly into said base region;
pressure charging means mounted on said container for pumping air into said chamber, said pressure charging means including a cylinder and a piston for generating a charge of air under pressure in said cylinder;
passage means connecting said cylinder to said aperture means for conducting said charge of air in a first direction from said cylinder to said aperture means so as to permit said charge to enter into said base region to break up said sediment and thoroughly mix said solid matter constituents in said liquid as the air under pressure rises in said chamber and through said suspension to collect in said top region of said chamber to impart pressure to said suspension;
said aperture means being formed only in said base wall so as to permit the full flow of sid charge of air to act on said sediment in said base region;
a nozzle unit mounted on said container and including nozzle channel means leading from said passage means to the ambient;
and, valve means for opening said nozzle channel means to the ambient to thereby vent said chamber and permit the air of said charge to entrain the thoroughly mixed suspension and flow out of said chamber through said aperture means and along said passage means in a second direction opposite said first direction and into said nozzle channel means to enter the ambient as a spray.

4 more elements

A method for thoroughly mixing a suspension containing a liquid and solid matter constituents in a spray device which includes a container closed on all sides to define a chamber for accommodating the suspension therein, the container having a lower portion terminating in a base wall defining a base region of said chamber whereat said solid mater constituents tend to collect to form a sediment and the container also having an upper portion defining a top region of the chamber, the method comprising the steps of:

actuating a cylinder and piston to generate a charge of air under pressure;
directing said charge of air only into said base region via a passage in said spray device so that the air enters said base region only through an aperture in said base wall to break up said sediment and thoroughly mix said solid mater constituents in said fluid as the air under pressure rises through said suspension to collect at said top region to impart pressure to said suspension;
and,
actuating a nozzle and valve unit to vent said chamber to the ambient and permit the air of said charge to entrain the thoroughly mixed suspension and flow out of said chamber through said aperture along said passage in a direction opposite said first direction.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.