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US 8,961,000 B2Granted
Stirring system with interspaced stirring elements and baffles, and method for homogenizing glass melts
AssigneeUmicore AG & Co. KG
InventorRudolf Singer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stirring system for molten glass having a stirring vessel and a stirrer; and a method for homogenizing glass melts. The stirrer has a shaft and at least one stirring element, and the stirring vessel has at least two baffles extending from an inner circumferential surface. The stirring element and baffles are formed in such a way that insertion of the stirrer into the stirring vessel requires at least one translatory movement of the stirrer in relation to the stirring vessel, at least one subsequent or simultaneous relative rotation of the stirrer in relation to the stirring vessel, and a further translatory movement of the stirrer in relation to the stirring vessel. In an operating state, the stirrer is rotatable in the stirring vessel.
Claims20
A stirring system for molten glass with a stirring vessel and a stirrer,
- wherein the stirring system comprises:
- a. at least one stirrer with a shaft having a longitudinal axis and at least one stirring element,
- b. wherein the at least one stirring element has a contour that at least partially narrows along a length extending in a direction essentially transverse to the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the stirrer extends, with the contour narrowing as the length extends away from the shaft of the stirrer,
- c. wherein, in an operating state, the stirrer is rotatable in the stirring vessel,
- wherein the stirring vessel comprises:
- d. a longitudinal axis, and
- e. an inner circumferential surface,
- f. wherein the inner circumferential surface has at least two baffles that extend from the inner circumferential surface, or the wall thereof, into the interior of the stirring vessel,
- g. wherein the at least two baffles have contours that at least partially narrow along a length extending in a direction essentially transverse to the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the stirring vessel extends, with the contours of the at least two baffles narrowing as the length extends away from the inner circumferential surface of the stirring vessel, and wherein
- h. the narrowing contour of the at least one stirring element corresponds to the narrowing contours of the at least two baffles, and
- i. the configurations of the at least one stirring element and the at least two baffles are such that insertion of the stirrer into the stirring vessel requires at least:
- a first translatory movement of the stirrer along the longitudinal axis of the stirring vessel;
- a rotary movement of the stirrer about the longitudinal axis of the stirrer;
- and a second translatory movement of the stirrer along the longitudinal axis of the stirring vessel;
- with the rotary movement occurring subsequent to or simultaneously with the first translatory movement, and prior to the second translatory movement.
12 more elements
A stirring system for molten glass with a stirring vessel and a stirrer,
- wherein the stirring system comprises:
- a. at least one stirrer with a shaft having a longitudinal axis and at least one stirring element,
- b. wherein the at least one stirring element has a contour that at least partially narrows along a length extending in a direction essentially transverse to the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the stirrer extends, with the contour narrowing in a height direction as the length extends away from the shaft of the stirrer,
- c. wherein, in an operating state, the stirrer is rotatable in the stirring vessel,
- wherein the stirring vessel comprises:
- d. a longitudinal axis, and
- e. an inner circumferential surface,
- f. wherein the inner circumferential surface has at least two baffles that extend from the inner circumferential surface, or the wall thereof, into the interior of the stirring vessel,
- g. wherein the at least two baffles have contours that at least partially narrow along a length extending in a direction essentially transverse to the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the stirring vessel extends, with the contours of the at least two baffles narrowing in a height direction as the length extends away from the inner circumferential surface of the stirring vessel
- and wherein
- h. the narrowing contour of the at least one stirring element corresponds to the narrowing contours of the at least two baffles, and
- i. the configurations of the at least one stirring element and the at least two baffles are such that the stirrer cannot be placed into an operating state, from outside the stirring vessel, by a translatory movement alone.
9 more elements
A stirring system for molten glass with a stirring vessel and a stirrer,
- wherein the stirring system comprises:
- a. at least one stirrer with a shaft having a longitudinal axis and at least one stirring element,
- b. wherein the at least one stirring element has a contour that at least partially narrows along a length extending in a direction essentially transverse to the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the stirrer extends, with the contour narrowing as the length extends away from the shaft of the stirrer,
- c. wherein, in an operating state, the stirrer is rotatable in the stirring vessel,
- wherein the stirring vessel comprises:
- d. a longitudinal axis, and
- e. an inner circumferential surface,
- f. wherein the inner circumferential surface has at least two baffles that extend from the inner circumferential surface, or the wall thereof, into the interior of the stirring vessel,
- g. wherein the at least two baffles have contours that at least partially narrow along a length extending in a direction essentially transverse to the direction along which the longitudinal axis of the stirring vessel extends, with the contours of the at least two baffles narrowing as the length extends away from the inner circumferential surface of the stirring vessel
- and wherein
- h. at least a portion of the narrowing contour of the at least one stirring element presents a profile that mirrors a profile presented by at least a portion of the narrowing contours of the at least two baffles.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.