Mixing device with axially movable shaft for maintenance purposes

An apparatus for mixing a processing medium with a suspension contained in a vessel comprising:

• a housing adapted for attachment to a wall of said vessel, said housing including an opening, a rotary shaft extending through said opening in said housing into said vessel, bearing means supporting said rotary shaft within said housing, sealing means for sealing said rotary shaft within said housing, a propeller including a hub attached to said rotary shaft within said vessel, said hub including a sealing portion adopted for sealingly engaging said opening in said housing, said rotary shaft being axially movable between a normal operating position wherein said hub and said opening in said housing are separated by a gap and a sealed position wherein said gap is closed and said sealing portion of said hub sealingly engages said opening in said housing, and locking means for locking said rotary shaft in said sealed position, said locking means comprising a split clamp which is attached to said rotary shaft and, thereafter, supported within said housing, whereby said locking means can support said rotary shaft in place of said bearing means when said rotary shaft is in said sealed position and whereby when said rotary shaft is locked in said sealed position, said housing is accessible and said bearing means and sealing means may be maintained or replaced while said vessel remains filled with said suspension.