Collapsing and telescoping baffles for stirred vessels
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorGerald P. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A baffle system is provided for insertion into a stirred vessel. In order to be able to be inserted through the relatively narrow orifice at the opening of the vessel, the baffle system is collapsible. Due to the structure of the baffle system, it may be inserted through the narrow orifice and then be manipulated, via articulated joints, such that it rests adjacent to the wider walls of the vessel.
Claims21
A collapsible baffle system for a stirred vessel having a chamber and an orifice, wherein the orifice is narrower than the chamber, said collapsible baffle system comprising:
- a plurality of rings;
- a plurality of supports connecting said plurality of rings through a plurality of hinged linking segments;
- said baffle system having a first position, wherein said plurality of linking segments extend axially with respect to said plurality of rings, and a second position wherein said plurality of linking segments extend radially with respect to said plurality of rings.
A stirred vessel comprising:
- a chamber having a closed end and an open end;
- an orifice disposed at said open end of said chamber;
- a stirrer disposed inside said chamber;
- and
- a collapsible baffle system, removeably disposed inside said chamber, wherein said collapsible baffle system comprises:
- a plurality of rings;
- a plurality of supports, connecting said plurality of rings through a plurality of hinged linking segments;
- said baffle system having a first position, wherein said plurality of linking segments extend axially, with respect to said plurality of rings;
- and a second position, wherein said plurality of linking segments extend radially with respect to said plurality of rings.
A method of providing a stirred vessel with a removable baffle system, wherein the vessel has a chamber and an orifice, the orifice being narrower than the chamber, and a stirrer;
- the baffle system having a plurality of rings, and a plurality of supports connecting the plurality of rings through a plurality of hinged linking segments;
- said method comprising:
- inserting the baffle system into the vessel, through the orifice;
- adjusting said baffle system into a first position, wherein one of said plurality of rings is at the bottom of said vessel and at least one other of said plurality of rings is disposed outside said vessel;
- and
- manipulating said baffle system into a second position, wherein each of said plurality of rings is disposed inside said vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.