US 5,626,421 AGranted

Blender construction

OwnerCraig C. Campbellinventor

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Abstract

A blender construction employing a unitary cylindrical body and removable, semicircular segmented, end cap closures wherein a unitary blender body includes an inlet chute at a first end and an exit chute at a second end. A centrally disposed hollow mixing shaft extends through the segmented end caps and is provided with diametrically disposed hollow mixing fingers spaced therealong positioned within the blender body. A high pressure heat exchange fluid source connects the blender, through tubing extending through one of the segmented end caps and, along the interior length of the blender housing. The heat exchange fluid is expelled from openings therein aligned with each of the mixing tool hollow interiors. The blender housing is supported on a platform that also supports the end bearings for the rotating blender shaft. A drive wheel is keyed to the hollow rotating blender shaft at one end thereof to connect with a suitable drive power supply. The removable, semicircular segmented, end caps permit ready assembly, repair and/or removal of the blender interior components without moving the blender housing from its installed site.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A blender for uniformly mixing solid particles with an adhesive to blend the mixture into a unitary mass, comprising in combination:

a unitary elongated tubular blender housing;
said blender housing having first and second oppositely disposed open ends;
a first end cap for closing said first open end of said blender housing, and a second end cap for closing said second open end of said blender housing;
a plurality of latch means for releasably securing said first and said second end caps in sealed relationship, respectively, to said first and said second oppositely disposed open ends of said blender housing;
each of said plurality of latch means including a first portion attached to said blender housing and a second portion attached to one of said first and said second end caps;
inlet means provided adjacent said first end of said blender housing for receiving a quantity of solid particles and a supply of adhesive therefor for mixing in said blender housing;
outlet means provided adjacent said second end of said blender housing to provide an exit for the blended solid particles and adhesive from said blender housing after mixing thereof;
a removable elongated, hollow, mixing shaft extending through said first and said second end caps and said blender housing;
said elongated mixing shaft having a first end supported by and extending through a first bearing assembly;
a drive pulley keyed to said first end of said hollow mixing shaft;
a power supply connected to said drive pulley serving to impart a drive force to said drive pulley and cause rotation of said mixing shaft;
said elongated mixing shaft having a second end supported by and extending through a second bearing assembly;
and
coolant means connected to the interior of said elongated mixing shaft to provide a coolant medium therein during a blending operation.

11 more elements

A blender for uniformly mixing solid particles with an adhesive to blend the mixture into a unitary mass comprising, in combination:

a unitary elongated tubular blender housing;
said blender housing having first and second oppositely disposed open ends;
a first end cap for closing said first open end of said blender housing,
a second end cap for closing said second open end of said blender housing;
means releasably securing said first and said second end caps in sealed relationship with said respective first and second open ends of said blender housing;
inlet means provided adjacent said first end of said blender housing for receiving a quantity of solid particles and a supply of adhesive therefor for mixing in said blender housing;
outlet means provided adjacent said second end of said blender housing to provide an exit for the blended solid particles and adhesive from said blender housing after mixing thereof;
a removable elongated, hollow, mixing shaft extending through said first and said second end caps and said blender housing;
said mixing shaft including a plurality of removable mixing tools disposed about the circumference thereof and confined to the length of said mixing shaft contained within said blender housing;
a first bearing assembly receiving and supporting a first end of said hollow mixing shaft and a second bearing assembly receiving and supporting a second end of said hollow mixing shaft;
said first and said second bearing assemblies being supported by respective first and second prongs of a U-frame;
said U-frame having a base segment integral with said first and said second prongs;
a pair of spaced semi-circular brackets secured to and extending from said base segment of said U-frame and disposed between said first and said second prongs of said U-frame;
said pair of spaced semi-circular brackets serving to contact and provide support to said blender housing;
a pair of spaced legs having a first end connected to said base of said U-frame;
a foot segment integral with and disposed at a second end of each of said spaced legs;
and
each said foot segment including means to provide fixed connection of said U-frame to a support surface.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.