Tank agitation system with moveable shaft support

An apparatus for mixing a load of liquids and solids, adapted to be configured within an elongated tank that includes a lower portion and an upper portion, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated rotatable shaft;
• at least one blade connected to the shaft, the blade being configured to mix the liquids and solids when the shaft is rotated;
• a movable shaft support configured for maintaining the shaft in a rotatable manner within the tank, the shaft support being selectively moveable in a manner permitting the shaft to move in an upward direction from the lower portion toward the upper portion, and in a downward direction from the upper portion toward the lower portion;
• an actuator for moving the shaft support in the upward direction and the downward direction;
• and
• a sensor and a processor for determining when to move the shaft in the downward direction.

An apparatus for containing and mixing a load of liquids and solids, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated tank for containing the load;
• at least one baffle partitioning the tank into at least two sections;
• an elongated rotatable shaft within the tank, passing through the at least one baffle, the shaft having opposing shaft ends completely contained within the tank such that tank walls are impervious to the shaft;
• and
• at least one blade connected to the shaft, the blade being configured to mix the liquids and solids when the shaft is rotated.