The present invention relates to a mixing unit for mixing a fluid such as a liquid or a gas and a device using such a mixing unit, and, more particularly, relates to a mixing unit that can be suitably utilized for static mixing where a fluid is mixed by being passed, dynamic mixing where a fluid is mixed by rotation within the fluid, and to a device and a method using such a mixing unit.
As a static mixing device for mixing a fluid, a Kenics-type static mixer or the like is widely used. Since this type of static mixing device generally does not include a movable component, the static mixing device is widely used in fields, such as the chemical industry and the food industry, in which fluids are required to be mixed in piping. On the other hand, as a dynamic mixing device, a product is widely used in which an agitation impeller is provided in a fluid within an agitation vessel and which rotates the agitation impeller to mix the fluid.
As a conventional static fluid mixing device, there is a static fluid mixing device which includes a tubular case body and a plurality of types of disc-shaped elements where a plurality of holes are drilled a predetermined space apart within the tubular case body, and in which the elements are sequentially combined in the direction of thickness thereof, are fitted and are fixed with connection hardware.
In the fluid mixing device described above, a plurality of types of elements are sequentially combined, and thus static mixing agitation caused by the division and combination of a fluid is performed, and mixing agitation is also performed such as by eddies and disturbance resulting from enlarged and reduced cross sections and shearing stress.
However, in the fluid mixing device described above, since the direction from the inlet to the outlet of the mixing device is the same as the direction of the division and aggregation of the fluid, its static mixing effect is low. Although the cross sections of holes are enlarged and reduced to increase its flow resistance and thus the mixing effect is improved, the loss of pressure in the entire device is increased. Since the holes are trapezoidal and have a flow reduction portion, it is difficult to process the holes.
As a conventional agitation device for dynamic mixing, there is an agitation device in which a propeller-like agitation blade provided on a rotation shaft and a plate-like auxiliary blade provided below the agitation blade. In the conventional agitation device, if only one auxiliary blade is provided, or in the case where a plurality of auxiliary blades are provided, at least one auxiliary blade is disposed so that the center angle is shifted from the equiangular position, or is formed in a shorter than the other auxiliary blade, whereby a low speed region formed at a bottom of an agitation vessel is not staid in the same region and the adhesion of an object to be agitated to the bottom part of the agitation vessel is suppressed.
According to the conventional agitation device, however, although the position of the low speed region at the bottom of the agitation vessel can be displaced from the center by the auxiliary blade and particles are liable to accumulate in the low speed region, the propeller-like agitation blade or the plate-like auxiliary blade roles up the particles accumulated in the low-speed region in the liquid and has been difficult to highly mix the fluid.
As a conventional adhesive dispensing unit for mixing fluids and dispensing the mixed fluid, there is a dispensing unit having a storage container for storing a main agent and a curing agent of a two-component curing type adhesive, a nozzle in which mixing blades are disposed, an extruder for extruding the main agent and the curing agent from the storage container to the nozzle, and an operating lever for driving the extruder. When an operator operates the operating lever, the main agent and the curing agent pass through the mixing blades in the nozzle from the storage container to be mixed, and are dispensed from a tip portion of the nozzle.
In the conventional adhesive dispensing unit, the mixing blades are formed such that spirally twisted blades are continuously formed while changing the twist direction of the blades. The mixing blades mix a liquid (fluid) such as a main agent and a curing agent by spirally flowing the liquid. In the case of the two-component curing type adhesive, even if the main agent and the curing agent are mixed at a predetermined ratio, if the mixing is insufficient, appropriate adhesive strength may not be obtained in some cases. Therefore, it is necessary to form the mixing blades long in order to sufficiently mix the liquid, and the nozzles in which the long mixing blades are arranged are also necessary to be long. If the nozzle becomes long, it becomes difficult to position the nozzle with respect to the object to be ejected and to operate making coating. In addition, the amount of fluid remaining in the nozzle to be discarded after application and use is liable to be large, which wastefully consumes the fluid. Further, due to the long nozzle, the total length of the adhesive dispensing unit also becomes long, and also handling of the adhesive dispensing unit is inconvenient.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a mixing unit or device, an agitation impeller, or an adhesive dispensing unit using such a mixing unit, which has a simple structure and is easy to be made, applicable to versatile use according to desired mixing degrees.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a mixing unit including a mixing body having a plurality of mixing elements that are stacked are stacked in a stacking direction and that extend in an extending direction; wherein the mixing elements include a plurality of through holes to form a flow path therein and are arranged such that part or all of the through holes in one of the mixing elements, whose upper surface is in contact with another mixing element and whose lower surface is in contact with another mixing element, communicate with through holes in the adjacent mixing elements to allow fluid to be passed and divided in the extending direction in which the mixing elements extend; and wherein the extending direction is perpendicular to the stacking direction.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an agitation impeller including the mixing unit having a plurality of mixing elements, wherein one of through holes of each of the mixing elements constitutes a hollow portion by stacking the mixing elements, the mixing unit is connected to a rotation shaft and provided with a suction port and a discharge port for a fluid, the flow path is connected with the suction port and the discharge port through the hollow portion within the mixing unit, the suction port is disposed at a position on a rotation axis of the rotation shaft or at a position close to the rotation axis, and the discharge port is disposed at a position more outside than the suction port relative to the rotation axis.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an agitation impeller including a mixing unit connected to a rotation shaft provided with a suction port and a discharge port for a fluid, wherein a flow path connecting the suction port and the discharge port is provided within the mixing unit, the suction port is disposed at a position on a rotation axis of the rotation shaft or at a position close to the rotation axis, and the discharge port is disposed at a position more outside than the suction port relative to the rotation axis, and a nozzle for sucking the fluid is disposed at the suction port.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for agitating a fluid by the agitation impeller including the steps of: flowing out the fluid within the mixing unit from the discharge port to outside of the mixing unit by rotational motion of the agitation impeller to generate a suction force at the suction port, and sucking the fluid outside the mixing unit from the suction port to flow the fluid into the mixing unit.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an adhesive dispensing unit including the mixing unit including a storage container in which two or more kinds of fluids are stored, and a nozzle for dispensing a mixed fluid of the two or more kinds of fluids supplied from the storage container, wherein the mixing unit is disposed to mix the two or more kinds of fluids supplied from the storage container disposed in the nozzle.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for dispensing a fluid by the adhesive dispensing unit including the steps of accommodating two or more kinds of fluids in the storage container, simultaneously supplying the two or more types of fluids from the storage container into the nozzle, mixing the two or more kinds of fluids with a mixing unit within the nozzle, and dispensing a mixed fluid obtained by mixing the two or more fluids from the nozzle.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention.
Returning to
As shown in
First plate 3 is a disc that has holes 13 for the bolts and no other holes. Second plate 4 has not only holes 14 for the bolts but also a circular opening portion 41, in a center portion, through which fluid A flows in and out as shown in
The two types of mixing elements 21a and 21b each have a plurality of first through holes 22 penetrating in the direction of thickness thereof. In other words, a plurality of first through holes are provided along an extending surface that extends in a direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b extend. Moreover, the two types of mixing elements 21a and 21b each has substantially circular second through holes 23 in the center portion. Second through hole 23 is substantially equal in inside diameter to and is substantially concentric with opening portion 41 of second plate 4. As mixing elements 21a and 21b are stacked, the second through holes 23 form a hollow portion 24.
Each of the first through holes 22 is substantially rectangular as seen in plan view, and is arranged concentrically with respect to the center of the second through hole 23. The first through holes 22 are staggered; the two types of mixing elements 21a and 21b differ from each other in the arrangement pattern of the first through holes 22 itself.
First through holes 22 of mixing elements 21b and 21c are partially displaced and overlapped in a radial direction and in a circumferential direction, and communicate with each other in the direction in which mixing elements 21b and 21c extend. In other words, among partition walls between first through holes 22, the partition walls that extend in a direction intersecting the direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b extend are displaced between their adjacent mixing elements, and are arranged such that a fluid may be sequentially passed through first through holes 22 of the adjacent mixing elements 21a and 21b in the direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b extend.
As shown in
The mixing body 2 is formed by stacking the mixing elements 21a and 21b described above.
As shown in
Therefore, fluid A is passed within mixing unit 1a from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion or vise verse, that is, from the outer circumferential portion to the inner circumferential portion. As described above, a plurality of first through holes 22 are formed to communicate with each other such that fluid A may be passed between first through holes 22 in the direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b extend.
In mixing unit 1a described above, for example, fluid A flows through the opening portion 41 of the second plate 4 into the hollow portion 24 with appropriate pressure applied by an external pressurizer (not shown in drawings), and then fluid A flows into mixing body 2 through first through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b which are open to the inner circumferential surface of the hollow portion 24. Then, fluid A is passed through other first through holes 22 that communicate with the above-mentioned first through holes 22, and is further passed through first through holes 22 that communicate with the above-mentioned other first through holes 22 whereby the division and combination of fluid A may be performed planarly. Finally, fluid A flows out of mixing body 2 through first through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b which are open to the outer circumferential surface of mixing body 2.
As described above, fluid A within mixing body 2 substantially radially flows through first through holes 22 communicating with each other within mixing body 2 from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion.
A plurality of layers of flow paths along which fluid A flows are provided in the direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b are stacked; in the example of
While the flow described above is performed, fluid A is mixed by repeating dispersion, combination, reversal, turbulent flow, eddying flow, collision and the like.
Since first through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b are staggered, when the fluid flows from the above-mentioned first through holes 22 to other first through holes 22 on the upper and lower surfaces, the flow is easily divided or easily combined, and thus the fluid is efficiently mixed.
On the contrary to what has been described above, fluid A may be made to flow in through the outer circumferential portion of mixing body 2 of mixing elements 21a and 21b and flow out through the inner circumferential portion.
Hollow portion 24 is sufficiently larger in size than first through holes 22; second through holes 23 of mixing elements 21a and 21b constituting hollow portion 24 are substantially equal in inside diameter to each other, and are substantially concentric with each other. Hence, the flow resistance to fluid A flowing through hollow portion 24 is smaller than that of fluid A flowing within mixing body 2, and the loss of pressure is also smaller. Therefore, even when a large number of mixing elements 21a and 21b are stacked, fluid A substantially uniformly reaches the inner circumferential portion of mixing elements 21a and 21b regardless of the position in the direction which mixing elements 21a and 21b are stacked, and substantially uniformly flows within mixing body 2 from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion.
Since hollow portion 24 is provided, as compared with a case where there is no hollow portion 24, the fluid is more likely to enter mixing unit 1a and to be passed to first through holes 22. Likewise, the fluid entering mixing unit 1a through the outer circumferential side thereof and passing through first through holes 22 is made to smoothly flow out without being disturbed. If desired, hollow portion 24 in size may be same as or smaller than first through holes 22, or second through holes 23 constituting hollow portion 24 may be different in inside diameter to each other.
In first through holes 22 of mixing element 21a whose upper surface and lower surface are in contact with other mixing elements 21b respectively within mixing unit 1a, since fluid A flows out from the above-mentioned first through holes 22 to the above-mentioned other first through holes 22 on the upper and lower surfaces, fluid A is dispersed through the above-mentioned other first through holes 22 on the upper and lower surfaces. Moreover, since fluid A flows in from the above-mentioned other first through holes 22 on the upper and lower surfaces to the above-mentioned first through holes 22, fluid A from the above-mentioned other first through holes 22 on the upper and lower surfaces is combined. Therefore, significant mixing effects are acquired and fluid A is mixed.
In particular, when the flow rate is increased and thus the flow state is transferred to the turbulent flow, the effects of the turbulent flow and the eddying flow are increased, and thus the mixing effects of the fluid resulting from the dispersion and the combination described above are further increased. Even when the flow rate is low and thus the flow state is a laminar flow, the fluid is dispersed toward the upper and lower surfaces and is combined, with the result that the fluid is mixed.
Since first through holes 22 on both end surfaces in the stacking direction of mixing body 2 are blocked by the removable first plate 3 and second plate 4, it is possible to separately produce the individual members. For example, it is possible to produce a large number of mixing elements 21a and 21b for a short period of time by punching holes in a metal plate having a given thickness or the like. Hence, it is possible to easily and inexpensively produce mixing unit 1a.
Since mixing elements 21a and 21b and first plate 3 and second plate 4 may be divided into individual pieces, it is possible to easily perform a washing operation such as the removal of stuff and foreign matter left in first through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b. Since the first through holes are holes that penetrate in the direction of thickness, it is easy to clean first through holes 22 by the washing operation.
Since mixing elements 21a and 21b, first plate 3 and the second plate 4 have simple structures and may be made by plates or layers, it is possible to produce them with any applicable material such as ceramic, resins or the like. Thus, it is possible to apply mixing unit 1a to applications in which corrosion resistance and heat resistance are required, and to produce the mixing unit forming a single unit by 3D-printing.
Moreover, when first plate 3 and second plate 4 are appropriately held, it is possible to freely apply mixing unit 1a to various portions. Thus, it is possible to apply mixing unit 1a to various devices, and it is therefore possible to widely utilize its high mixing capability.
Thus, according to this first embodiment, there is provided a mixing unit including a mixing body including mixing elements that are stacked in a stacking direction and that extend in an extending direction; wherein the mixing elements have a plurality of first through holes to form a flow path therein, and the mixing elements are arranged such that part or all of the first through holes in one of the mixing elements, whose upper surface is in contact with another mixing element and whose lower surface is in contact with another mixing element, communicate with first through holes in the adjacent mixing elements to allow fluid to be passed in the extending direction in which the mixing element extends and to be divided as the fluid passes into the mixing elements.
Further there are provided a first layer and a second layer disposed opposite the first layer, wherein the mixing body is sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer. Though the first and second layers are respectively represented by first plate 3 and second plate 4, they may be any layers made of any applicable materials including sealant.
Mixing unit 1b of this second embodiment differs from mixing unit 1a of the first embodiment in that first through holes 22 are formed to be circular as seen in plan view and that the number of mixing elements 21c is changed from three to six. The inside diameter and the pitch of first through holes 22 are substantially equal to each other. As shown in
Among first through holes 22, first through holes 22 on the inner circumferential edge are open to the inner circumferential surface of mixing elements 21c, and first through holes 22 on the outer circumferential edge are open to the outer circumferential surface of mixing elements 21c.
Even with the mixing unit 1b configured described above, fluid A made to flow into the mixing unit 1b with appropriate pressure flows into mixing body 2 through opening portion 41 of second plate 4 and first through holes 22 open to the inner circumferential surface of mixing elements 21c. Then, while fluid A is being passed radially within mixing body 2, fluid A is passed through first through holes 22 communicating with mixing elements 21c, with the result that fluid A is mixed.
In particular, since a larger number of mixing elements 21c are provided than three, a larger number of flow paths extending in the direction in which mixing elements 21c extend are provided than the two layers. Hence, a large number of flow paths that divide the fluid in the direction in which mixing elements 21c are stacked are obtained in the stacking direction, and the division and combination of fluid A is three-dimensionally performed in a wide area in the direction in which mixing elements 21c are stacked. Consequently, it is possible to obtain higher mixing effects. It is also possible to reduce the loss of pressure.
The other parts of the configuration of and the other effects of the mixing unit 1b of the second embodiment are the same as those of mixing unit 1a of the first embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the mixing body may provide division and combination of a fluid within the mixing body in three-dimensional plural directions. If desired, the mixing body of the third embodiment may be formed by die casting, 3D printing or other conventional way. Further, the mixing body may be employed in the mixing bodies as explained in other embodiments.
In order to realize the configuration described above, the two types of mixing elements 21a and 21b are configured such that, among the partition walls between first through holes 22, partition walls 25a extending in the radial direction are arranged at different angles with respect to an imaginary straight line passing through the center of mixing elements 21a and 21b and connecting bolt holes 26.
Even with the mixing unit including mixing elements 21a and 21b described above, the fluid is highly mixed as described above; in this case, in particular, the fluid passing through first through holes 22 is unevenly divided in the circumferential direction. Consequently, it is possible to further enhance the mixing efficiency.
The other parts of the configuration of and the other effects of the mixing unit of this fourth embodiment are the same as those of mixing unit 1a of the first embodiment. According to this fourth embodiment, there may be provided a mixing body or a mixing unit including the mixing elements, wherein the mixing elements are arranged such that the first through hole in the one of the mixing elements overlaps the first through hole in the adjacent one of the mixing elements to allow the fluid to be unevenly divided in the extending direction.
In mixing unit 1a configured as described above, when fluid A flows in the direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b extend, fluid A likewise flows separately in the direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b are stacked and in the direction along the extending surface extending in the direction of the extension. However, since a flow path along which fluid A flows from first through hole 22 of one mixing element 21a to first through hole 22 of mixing element 21b adjacent to the above-mentioned mixing element 21a is narrow, it is possible to provide a shearing force to the fluid, with the result that it is possible to enhance the degree of mixing of the fluid.
In the case where the width of the flow path is made narrower than one-fourth of the thickness of partition wall 25b, when the fluid flows through the flow path from one first through hole 22 into other two first through holes 22, each flow rate is increased to be twice or more as high as before, with the result that it is possible to further increase the effect of enhancing the degree of mixing of the fluid. The other parts of the configuration of and the other effects of mixing unit 1a of this fifth embodiment are the same as those of mixing unit 1a of the first embodiment.
This mixing unit 1c differs from mixing unit 1a of the first embodiment in that, as shown in
Even with the mixing unit 1c configured as described above, fluid A made to flow into the mixing unit 1c with appropriate pressure flows into mixing body 2 through the opening portion 41 of the second plate 4. The fluid entering mixing body 2 is passed radially within mixing body 2 and is passed through first through holes 22 with which mixing elements 21d communicate. Here, since the flow is performed in the direction in which the mixing element 21d extends, and fluid A is repeatedly divided and combined while extending in the direction in which mixing elements 21d are stacked, fluid A is mixed. Finally, fluid A flows out through first through holes 22 that are open to the outer circumferential portion of first plate 3 arranged on one end of mixing body 2.
As described above, since, in mixing unit 1c of this seventh embodiment, first through holes 22 are formed over the entire surface of the mixing element 21d, it is unnecessary to provide the second through hole 23 in the center portion, with the result that it is easy to produce the mixing unit 1c.
The other parts of the configuration of and the other effects of the mixing unit 1c of this seventh embodiment are the same as those of mixing unit 1a of the first embodiment.
Mixing unit 1 of the present invention is not limited to those described in the foregoing first to seventh embodiments; many variations are possible.
For example, first through holes 22 of mixing element 21 is not limited to be circular nor rectangular. As shown in
Although the outer circumferential shape of mixing elements 21 is substantially circular and the outer circumferential shape of first plate 3 and the second plate 4 is circular as shown in
Mixing unit 1 may be formed as follows. Mixing elements 21 having a plurality of first through holes 22 arranged in the same positions and having tile same shape are used; first through holes 22 are displaced such that first through holes 22 overlap each other in the radial direction and the circumferential direction.
Two types of mixing elements having different inside and outside diameters are used, and thus first through holes 22 in the inner circumferential portion and the outer portion may be open.
Even when only two mixing elements 21 and 21b are stacked, in these mixing elements 21a and 21b, two or more layers of the flow paths aligned in the stacking direction are provided.
Specifically, among the partition walls between first through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b, in the partition walls 25b extending in the direction intersecting the direction in which mixing elements 21a and 21b extend, cut portions 25c whose height is lower than that of the partition walls 25a extending in the radial direction of mixing elements 21a and 21b are formed. When the two mixing elements are stacked, mixing elements 21a and 21b are stacked with the sides where the cut portions 25c are not present in mixing elements 21a and 21b arranged to face the contact surface.
The shape of first through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b, that is, the shape of the partition walls, is the same as in the first embodiment of the mixing unit shown in
That is, in partition walls 25b extending in the circumferential direction, the position in the circumferential direction differs from the position in the stacking direction. In other words, each of the two types of mixing elements 21a and 21b stacked has a flow path that divides the fluid in the direction in which mixing elements 21a are stacked. Hence, unlike the case where one flow path that divides the fluid in the direction in which mixing elements 21a are stacked is present as shown in
In the configuration described above, even when a small number of mixing elements 21a and 21b stacked are provided, it is possible to provide a multilayer structure where two or more layers of the flow paths along which fluid A flows, with the result that it is possible to obtain a high mixing capability.
Although, in
Thus, according to this second variation of the mixing unit, there is provided a mixing unit including mixing elements, wherein each of the mixing elements has a partition wall between the first through holes, and the partition wall is disposed such that each of the mixing element is formed to have two layers of flow paths.
When rounded corner portions 22a are provided as described above, the fluid is unlikely to be left in the corner portions. Consequently, the leaving of the fluid in the mixing element is reduced, and thus it is possible to perform satisfactory mixing and washing.
Mixing element 21, first plate 3, second plate 4 and the like may be divided into separate structures of various shapes as a fourth variation of the mixing units of the foregoing embodiments. Herein, it is possible to easily produce even large mixing unit.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In addition to partition walls 25d, partition walls 25e that substantially perpendicularly interest partition walls 25d and that extend so as to connect partition wails 25d are provided.
The arrangements of partition walls 25d and 25e are made to differ between the two types of mixing elements 21e and 21f; among the partition walls, the positions of the partition walls extending in the direction intersecting the direction in which mixing elements 21e and 21f extend, that is, partition walls 25d and 25e, are displaced between the adjacent mixing elements 21e and 21f; the fluid is passed by being made to sequentially pass through first through holes 22 of the adjacent mixing elements 21e and 21f in the direction in which mixing elements 21e and 21f extend.
First through holes 22 are non-linearly arranged as described above, and thus it is possible to increase the path length of fluid as compared with the case where first through holes 22 are linearly arranged. In other words, since the number of times the fluid passes through first through holes 22 may be increased, it is possible to satisfactorily mix the fluid.
Even when mixing elements 21e and 21f are small, it is possible to increase the path length and obtain high mixing effects, with the result that it is possible to reduce the size of the mixing unit.
As the non-linear configuration, a configuration where the curvature of a curve is increased toward the direction in which the mixing element extends or the like may be employed as necessary. In the direction in which mixing elements 21e and 21f extend, first through holes 22 may be spaced regularly along the same direction in the form of a substantially same curve or an involute curve; moreover, mixing elements 21e and 21f may be spaced irregularly.
In mixing elements 21e and 21f shown in
In mixing elements 21e and 21f described above, it is possible to perform satisfactory mixing as described above; in particular, when the mixing unit is actively rotated to perform mixing, since a rotational force may be efficiently transmitted to the fluid, it is possible to enhance the mixing effects. Thus, according to this fifth variation of the mixing unit, there is provided a mixing body or mixing unit including mixing elements each having plurality of first through holes that are stacked in a stacking direction and each of the mixing element which are to form a flow path therein, wherein the first through holes in each of mixing elements are non-linearly arranged in the extending direction.
The partition walls between first through holes 22 in the mixing element 21 described above may be formed in a shape other than a square as seen in cross section. Further variations of the mixing unit will be shown in
As shown in
The flow of the fluid within mixing elements 21g and 21h having partition walls 25e and 25f shaped as described above is the same as in, for example, the first embodiment of the mixing unit; as compared with partition walls whose end surfaces rise steeply, an impact at the time of collision with the fluid is reduced, and thus it is possible to make the fluid flow smoothly. This type of flow is suitable for a fermentation process that deals with y east or the like.
The partition walls between first through holes 22 in mixing elements 21 may have a cross-sectional shape including a chamfered portion as seen in cross section.
As shown in
In the flow of the fluid within mixing elements 21g and 21h having partition walls 25e and 25f shaped as described above, since the chamfered portions 28 are provided, as compared with partition walls whose end surfaces rise steeply, an impact at the time of collision with the fluid is reduced. Thus, it is possible to make the fluid flow smoothly.
As shown in
Hence, the surface opposite the direction in which mixing elements 21g and 21h extend is inclined in such a direction that, as the surface extends upwardly or downwardly, the thickness of partition walls 25e and 25f is decreased. The inclined portion described above is the chamfered portion 28, and forms inclined surfaces 29.
In the flow of the fluid within mixing elements 21g and 21h having partition walls 25e and 25f shaped as described above, since the chamfered portions 28 are provided as shown in
The angle of inclined surfaces 29 is set as necessary, and thus it is possible to adjust and control the direction in which the fluid flows.
As shown in
The control of the direction in which the fluid flows may be performed such as by setting the cross-sectional shape of partition walls 25e and 25f as necessary, inclining partition walls 25e and 25f of the cross-sectional shape as in the example described above or twisting partition walls 25e and 25f.
As shown in
As mixing elements 21g and 21h are relatively moved, differences in the resistance between partition walls 25e and 25f are made, and thus directivity is given to the fluid within mixing elements 21g and 21h having partition walls 25e and 25f shaped as described above. Since the fluid is made to flow easily in the circumferential direction along partition walls 25e by partition walls 25f inclined to the circumferential direction and extending in the radial direction, it is possible to obtain spiral flow shown conceptually in
When the cross-sectional shape of partition walls 25e and 25f is formed in the shape of a rhombus, among the partition walls, the resistance of the partition walls extending from the center portion of mixing elements to the outer circumference to fluid and the resistance of the other partition walls to fluid are made to differ from each other, and thus it is possible to likewise achieve spiral flow.
As shown in
In the fluid within mixing elements 21g and 21h having partition walls 25e and 25f shaped as described above, the flow in the circumferential direction is promoted more than in the radial direction, and resistance is given to the flow of the fluid in the radial direction by partition walls 25e in the circumferential direction, with the result that it is possible to produce spiral flow as shown in
Thus, according to this sixth variation of the mixing unit, there is provided a mixing body or mixing unit including mixing elements each of which has a plurality of first through holes and a partition wall between the first through holes, wherein the partition wall is disposed in each of the mixing elements so as to produce a spiral flow.
Since mixing elements 21 may be formed to have various cross-sectional shapes as described above, as necessary, a plurality of members may be stacked.
As shown in
By stacking a plurality of plate member as described above, it is possible to freely obtain mixing elements 21g and 21h having various cross-sectional shapes that cannot be formed by pressing or the like.
Although partition walls 25e and 25f shown in
In
In the side of inlet 51 of casing 50, a second plate 4 having an opening portion 41 in the center portion serving as an inlet of a first mixing body 2a and an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the casing 50 is provided, and first mixing body 2a having mixing elements 21 is provided on a bottom surface of second plate 4. On a bottom surface of first mixing body 2a, a first plate 3 having an outside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of mixing elements 21 is provided. Then, second mixing body 2b, second plate 4, third mixing body 2c, first plate 3, fourth mixing body 2d and second plate 4 are sequentially disposed.
In mixing device 5a shown in
Each of mixing elements 21 has a plurality of first through holes 22 and a substantially circular second through hole 23 in the center portion. The inside diameters of second through holes 23 of mixing elements 21 are substantially equal to the inside diameter of the opening portion 41 of second plates 4. Second through holes 23 are substantially concentric with opening portions 41 of second plates 4. Mixing elements 21 are stacked, and thus second through holes 23 constitute a first hollow portion 24a, a second hollow portion 24b, a third hollow portion 24c and a fourth hollow portion 24d, which are hollow space portions. Hollow portions 24a to 24d are hollow portions corresponding to mixing bodies 2a to 2d, respectively.
A first annular space portion 55a is formed between an inner circumferential portion of casing 50 and the outer circumferential portion of first mixing body 2a and second mixing body 2b. A second annular space portion 55b is formed between an inner circumferential portion of casing 50 and the outer circumferential portion of third mixing body 2c and fourth mixing body 2d.
Within mixing bodies 2a to 2d, first through holes 22 communicate with each other in a direction in which mixing element 21 extends, and part thereof are open to the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface of mixing elements 21.
First plate 3 and second plate 4 arranged on both end portions of each of the mixing bodies 2a to 2d and opposite each other close first through holes 22 in both end portions of each of mixing bodies 2a to 2d in the stacking direction. This prevents fluid A within mixing body 2 from flowing out through first through holes 22 in both end portions of each of mixing bodies 2a to 2d in the stacking direction. Fluid A is reliably passed within mixing bodies 2a to 2d in the direction in which each of mixing elements 21 extends.
In mixing device 5a configured as described above, for example, fluid A flows in through inlet 51 with appropriate pressure, and flows into first hollow portion 24a. Then, fluid A flows into first mixing body 2a through first through holes 22 open to inner circumferential surface of first hollow portion 24a, and is passed in the outer circumferential direction through first through holes 22 communicating with each other. Then, fluid A flows out through first through holes 22 open to the outer circumferential surface of first mixing body 2a, and flows into first annular space portion 55a.
Then, fluid A flows into second mixing body 2b through first through holes 22 open to the outer circumferential surface of second mixing body 2b, and is passed in the inner circumferential direction through first through holes 22 communicating with each other. Then, fluid A flows out through first through holes 22 open to the inner circumferential surface of second hollow portion 24b, and flows into second hollow portion 24b.
Thereafter, fluid A flows from third hollow portion 24c to third mixing body 2c to second annular space portion 55b to fourth mixing body 2d and to fourth hollow portion 24d, and flows out through outlet 52 via opening portions 41 of second plates 4 serving as an outlet of the mixing unit 2d.
As described above, fluid A is passed through holes 22 communicating with each other while flowing within mixing bodies 2a to 2d from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion or from the outer circumferential portion to the inner circumferential portion in a meandering manner, with the result that fluid A is highly mixed. In this way, fluid A flows in through inlet 51 of mixing device 5a, is highly mixed and flows out through outlet 52.
In mixing device 5a described above, first plate 3 and second plate 4 are arranged on both end portions of each of mixing bodies 2a to 2d and opposite each other to allow the direction in which fluid A flows within mixing body 2 to be changed from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion or vice versa, that is, from the outer circumferential portion to the Inner circumferential portion. Thus, fluid A is passed through a larger number of first through holes 22 communicating with each other, with the result that the degree of mixing may be further increased.
Even in mixing device 5, each of the hollow portions 24a to 24d is sufficiently larger in size than first through holes 22, and second through holes 23 of mixing elements 21 constituting hollow portion 24 are substantially equal in inside diameter to each other, and are substantially concentric with each other. Hence, the flow resistance to fluid A flowing through hollow portions 24a to 24d is smaller than that of fluid A flowing through mixing bodies 2a to 2d, and so the loss of pressure is also smaller. Therefore, even when a large number of mixing elements 21 are stacked, fluid A substantially uniformly reaches the inner circumferential portions of mixing elements 21 regardless of the position in the mixing direction, and substantially uniformly flows within mixing bodies 2a to 2d from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion or vice versa, that is, from the outer circumferential portion to the inner circumferential portion.
Fluid A flows from annular space portions 55a and 55b into mixing bodies 2b and 2d in the same manner as hollow portions 24a and 24d described above.
Furthermore, since, in mixing device 5a described above, fluid A may be mixed within casing 50 having inlet 51 and outlet 52, it is possible to use mixing device 5a as an in-line static mixing device and mix fluid A continuously.
Moreover, since the outer circumferential shapes of mixing element 21, first plate 3 and second plate 4 are circular and thus casing 50 may be cylindrical, it is possible to increase the pressure resistance of casing 50. Thus, it is possible to mix fluid A at a high pressure.
Instead of mixing unit 1, mixing elements 21d of
In the above described mixing devices 5b and 5c of
As in the variations of the mixing unit, mixing device 5 (5a to 5c) according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the mixing devices described above. Variations are possible within the scope of the present invention, and it is possible to practice variations.
In order for mixing unit 1 to be fixed to tube member 56, first plate 3 of mixing unit 1 is inserted into tube member 56, and second plate 4 is joined to the outer side surface of flange 56a.
Mixing unit 1 is provided at each end of tube member 56 in
Since in mixing device 5b configured as described above, the mixing unit 1 does not protrude in the longitudinal direction of tube member 56, mixing device 5b may be used by being attached to the pipe line 57 that has been already provided. Thus, it is possible to mix fluid within a piping system as necessary. It is also easy to perform maintenance.
Since mixing unit 1 has mixing effects as described above, it is possible to sufficiently perform mixing, it is not necessary to provide a mixing device separately and it is also possible to save space.
In addition to the example described above, mixing device 5 (5b, 5c) of the present invention may be configured as follows.
The outer circumferential shapes of mixing element 21, first plate 3 and second plate 4 are not limited to be circular. This is because, even if the outer circumferential shapes are not circular, there is no problem at all in practicing the invention.
Returning to
Fluid supplying units 101 and 102 may be any device or system for supplying fluids A and B to mixing device 5d with driving means (not shown in drawings) so that fluids A and B flow into one mixing unit 1 to be mixed thereby by avoiding a first plate 3 and passing through a mixing body 2, a hollow portion 24 and an opening portion 41a of a second plate 4.
Fluids A and B mixed by the one mixing unit 1 pass through within tube member 56 to be blocked by a first plate 3 of another mixing unit 1 but further mixed by another mixing body 2, and pass through another hollow portion and an opening 41b of another second plate to be fed out to an external device (not shown) or externally through pipe 59 as a mixed fluid C.
A pair of mixing units 1 are employed in
A fluid that is mixed is not limited to a gas or a liquid; it may be a solid mixture consisting of a liquid and a powder and granular material or the like.
With respect to applications, in addition to an application for making the concentration of a fluid uniform, for example, the mixing device can also be used for mixing the same type of fluid having different temperatures so that the fluid has a uniform temperature.
Mixing unit 1 or mixing device 5 may be used in a place, such as a diesel automobile, an exhaust gas line, or any device or system demanding high degree mixing.
As shown in
Casing 50 has an inlet 51 serving as a suction port and an outlet 52 serving as a discharge port formed in the shape of a flange; fluid A is sucked into pump mixer 6a through inlet 51 and is discharged through outlet 52.
As shown in
As the mixing unit 1 is driven to rotate by electric motor 59, fluid A sucked through inlet 51 of pump mixer 6a flows into hollow portion 24 having a cylindrical shaped hole through opening portions 31 of first plate 3 and opening portion 41 of second plate 4 of mixing unit 1. Then, fluid A flows into mixing body 2 through first through holes 22 in mixing elements 21 open to the inner circumferential portion of hollow portion 24.
A force acting outwardly in a radial direction resulting from the centrifugal force is applied to fluid A that has flowed into mixing body 2. Fluid A receiving the force is radially passed through first through holes 22 communicating with each other within mixing body 2 from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion, and is discharged outwardly from the outer circumferential portion of mixing body 2 through first through holes 22 open to the outer circumferential portion. Fluid A that has flowed out is discharged from pump mixer 6a through outlet 52.
Part of fluid A that has flowed out of mixing unit 1 flows again into hollow portion 24 through the opening portion 31 of first plate 3 and opening portion 41 of second plate 4, further flows into mixing body 2 and flows out from the outer circumferential portion of mixing body 2, with the result that fluid A circulates within mixing body 2 of mixing unit 1.
Then, while fluid A substantially radially flows through first through holes 22 communicating with each other within mixing body 2 from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion, the fluid is repeatedly dispersed, combined, reversed and subjected to turbulent flow, eddying flow, collision and the like, and thus the fluid is highly mixed.
Although, in tenth embodiment, casing 50 is cylindrical, the present invention is not limited to this con figuration. The opening portion 31 may be omitted in first plate 3 if desired.
When the required degree of mixing is low, the clearance between mixing unit 1 and inlet 51 is reduced as in a conventional centrifugal pump and thus the flow rate of fluid A circulating within the pump mixer 6a may be reduced.
In this modification, first plates 3 and second plate 4 of
As the mixing unit 1 of
A force acting outwardly in a radial direction resulting from the centrifugal force is applied to fluids A1 and A2 that have flowed into mixing body 2. Fluids A1 and A2 receiving the force are radially passed through first through holes 22 communicating with each other within mixing body 2 for mixing from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion, and are discharged outwardly from the outer circumferential portion of mixing body 2 through first through holes 22 open to the outer circumferential portion as mixed fluid B as shown in
Mixing elements 21 may be replaced with mixing elements of the foregoing embodiments including mixing elements having concentric circular partitions like mixing elements 21 of
According to mixing units of
In pump mixer 6b, fluid A taken into mixing unit 1 from an inlet 51 by rotation of mixing unit 1 is mixed by passing flow paths 10 from hollow portion 24 of mixing unit 1 to the external circumferential portion. A part of fluid A passing out from the external circumferential portion of mixing unit 1 re-enters into hollow portion 24 to be re-circulated, and remaining part of fluid A is fed out through outlet 52 outwardly.
The pump mixer 6d differs from the pump mixer 6a of
As mixing unit 1 rotates, fluid A that has flowed out of the outer circumferential portion of mixing body 2 flows out of the mixing unit 1 by receiving a force from blades 15. Since the ends of blades 15 are closed by first plate 3 and second plate 4, fluid A that has flowed out of the outer circumferential portion of mixing body 2 efficiently receives the force from blades 15, and thus it is possible to increase the pressure of fluid A discharged from pump mixer 6d.
As mixing elements of the mixing unit 1, mixing elements 21e and 21f shown In
Although blades 15 are provided in the space formed by first plate 3 and second plate 4, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, another disc may be attached to mixing unit 1 to fix blades 15. Although blades 15 are provided to extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which mixing elements 21 extend, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Blades 15 may be inclined as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved. The shape of blades 15 may be formed to other shape as necessary.
The other parts of the configuration of and the other effects of pump mixer 6d according to this modification of the pump mixer 6 are the same as those of pump mixer 6a of
According to this tenth embodiment, there is provided a mixer including, a casing having a suction port that sucks fluid, and a discharge port that discharges fluid mixed within the casing, a mixing unit supported by the casing for a rotatable movement around a rotational axis within and relative to the casing, and having a hollow part provided with an opening port around the rotational axis; and a flow path disposed within the mixing unit communicating the hollow part with a periphery of the mixing unit, wherein the casing sucks the fluid through the suction port from an outside of the casing into an inside of the casing, mixes the fluid within the casing, and discharges the fluid through the discharge port to the outside of the casing.
A fluid B and a fluid C are fed to a fluid storage vessel 80 from pipe lines 77a and 77b through valves 78a and 78b, respectively. Fluid storage vessel 80 is provided with an agitation impeller 81 for agitating fluids B and C somewhat uniformly. A nozzle 86 is provided on a lower portion of fluid storage vessel 80, and is connected to inlet 51 serving as a suction port of pump mixer 6 through a valve 87. Outlet 52 serving as a discharge port of pump mixer 6 is connected to a feed-out line 89 through a valve 88. Feed-out line 89 branches off to a circulation line 85 communicating with fluid storage vessel 80. Circulation line 85 is provided with a valve 84 for controlling the flow rate of circulated fluid.
In this example of use, in order for the mixing to be performed on fluids B and C, fluids B and C are stored in fluid storage vessel 80, and are somewhat uniformly agitated by agitation impeller 81. Then, electric motor 74 is driven to rotate mixing unit 1 having a plurality of mixing elements and a hollow portion, and fluids B and C are sucked from inlet 51 by the pump action resulting from the rotation.
Within pump mixer 6, the sucked fluids B and C are radially passed through first through holes 22 communicating with each other within mixing body 2 constituting mixing unit 1 from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion, with the result that fluids B and C are mixed. Mixed fluids B and C are discharged from outlet 52 of pump mixer 6, are controlled by a flow rate controller 82 and a flow rate control valve 83 and are fed out of the system through feed-out line 89.
Feed-out line 89 branches off to the circulation line 85 communicating with the fluid storage vessel 80, and part of the fluids B and C discharged from the pump mixer 6 is returned to the fluid storage vessel 80. Since the circulation line 85 is provided in this way and thus the fluids B and C are returned from the fluid storage vessel 80 to the pump mixer 6 where the fluids B and C are repeatedly mixed, the degree of mixing of the fluids B and C is increased, and the fluids B and C may be fed out of the system.
Since the degree of opening of outlet valve 88 arranged in outlet 52 of pump mixer 6 is adjusted and thus it is possible to adjust the flow rate of fluid circulating within mixing body 2 of mixing unit 1 within pump mixer 6, it is possible to adjust the degree of mixing of fluids B and C by pump mixer 6.
Moreover, since the degree of opening of valve 84 arranged in circulation line 85 is adjusted and thus it is possible to adjust the flow rate of fluid circulating through the circulation system including fluid storage vessel 80 and pump mixer 6, it is also possible to adjust the degree of mixing of fluids B and C. In this case, valve 88 and valve 84 may be automatically controlled valves.
Thus, according to this eleventh embodiment, there is provided a mixing system including a mixer which includes a casing or housing having a suction port that sucks fluid, and a discharge port that discharges fluid mixed within the casing; a mixing unit supported by the casing for a rotatable movement around a rotational axis within and relative to the casing, and having a hollow part provided with an opening port around the rotational axis; and a flow path disposed within the mixing unit communicating the hollow part with a periphery of the mixing unit, wherein the casing sucks the fluid through the suction port from an outside of the casing into an inside of the casing, mixes the fluid within the casing, and discharges the fluid through the discharge port to the outside of the casing; and a fluid circulating path communicating between the discharge port to the suction port of the mixer to allow the fluid to flow from the discharge port to the suction port for a circulation movement.
Returning to
As shown in
First plate 3 is a disc that has holes 13 for the bolts and four opening portions 31 through which fluid A flows in, and has a rotation shaft 62 fitted thereto. Second plate 4 has holes 14 for the bolts and a circular opening portion 41 in the center portion through which fluid A flows out. First plate 3 and second plate 4 are substantially equal in outside diameter to mixing elements 21.
Mixing elements 21 have a plurality of first through holes 22, and have substantially circular second through holes 23 in the center portion through which fluid A circulating within agitation vessel 63 flows in. Second through holes 23 in mixing elements 21 are substantially equal in inside diameter to and are substantially concentric with the opening portion 41 in the second plate 4. Mixing elements 21 are stacked, and thus second through holes 23 form hollow portion 24.
The other parts of the configuration of mixing unit 1 of agitation impeller 7a are the same as those of mixing unit 1a or 1b according to the foregoing embodiments of the mixing unit.
As shown in
On the other hand, fluid A within agitation vessel 63 is sucked into hollow portion 24 within mixing body 2 through opening portion 41 in second plate 4 on the lower end of and four opening portions 31 in first plate 3 on the upper end of mixing unit 1. The sucked fluid A flows into mixing body 2 through first through holes 22 open to the inner circumferential surface of hollow portion 24. Then, a force acting outwardly in a radial direction due to the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation operation of mixing unit 1 is applied to sucked-fluid A, and sucked-fluid A is discharged outwardly from first through holes 22 open to the outer circumferential surface.
Then, when fluid A substantially radially flows within mixing body 2 from the inner circumferential portion to the outer circumferential portion, fluid A is passed through first through holes 22 communicating with each other, with the result that fluid A is highly agitated.
Since the fluid may be mixed by being sucked from the upper and lower portions of agitation impeller 7a, it is possible to expect to effectively perform agitation.
In agitation impeller 7a described above, since the number of mixing elements 21 stacked is increased to increase the number of through holes 22 within mixing unit 1 through which the fluid is passed and which communicate with each other, it is possible to reduce a time period during which the fluid is agitated within agitation vessel 63.
Agitation impeller 7 of the present invention is not limited to the configuration described above.
In
Agitation impeller 7b may be modified as shown in
In this configuration, since the fluid flows in only from below at the time of the rotation, it is possible to agitate the fluid by raising up particles and the like deposited within agitation vessel 63. The surface of fluid A within agitation vessel 63 is unlikely to be frothed. When a fluid, such as a paint, in which bubbles are desired to be prevented from being mixed at the time of agitation is agitated, this configuration is suitably used.
Since agitation impeller 7d configured as described above has a plurality of mixing units 1, it is possible to suck the fluid from the upper and lower portions of each of mixing units 1. Hence, it is possible to perform agitation even when agitation vessel 63 is deep.
Even in agitation impeller having this simplified configuration, a fluid A sucked into mixing unit 1 through a through hole 41 of second plate 4 by rotation of mixing unit 1 is mixed by passing flow paths 10 from hollow portion 24 of mixing unit 1 to the external circumferential portion. A part of fluid A passing out from the external circumferential portion of mixing unit 1 re-enters into hollow portion 24 through first and second through holes to be re-circulated.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, mixing unit 1 may be a single unit drilled to provide flow paths 10, through holes 31 and 41, and hollow portion 24.
Opening portions 62c are formed in positions corresponding to second through holes 23 of mixing elements 21 in fixing plate 62a and auxiliary plate 62b. Likewise, opening portions 41 and 31 are formed in positions corresponding to second through holes 23 of mixing elements 21 in first plate 3 and second plate 4.
In agitation impeller 7 configured as described above, since first plate 3 and second plate 4 close through holes 22 at both ends of mixing body 2 in the stacking direction to form one unit, one type of rotation shaft 62 having fixing plate 62a and auxiliary plate 62b is provided, and thus it is possible to obtain agitation impeller 7 that corresponds to mixing units 1 having different sizes and structures.
In this modification, the same fluid movements as those of
According to foregoing modifications of this twelfth embodiment, there is provided an agitation impeller having a mixing unit or a mixing body including mixing elements that are stacked in a stacking direction and that extend in an extending direction wherein the mixing elements have a plurality of first through holes to form a flow path therein, and the mixing elements are arranged such that part or all of the first through holes in one of the mixing elements communicate with first through holes in the adjacent mixing elements to allow fluid to be passed in the extending direction in which the mixing element extends and to be divided as the fluid passes into the mixing elements.
The mixing unit 1 includes a mixing body 2 having a plurality of mixing elements 21 (21a and 21b) each having a plurality of first through holes 22 and a second through hole 23, and a magnetic function represented by a pedestal 3 having a magnet or magnetic member to receive rotating magnetic field generated from magnetic stirrer 64. The pedestal 3 is not limited to the configuration of
As shown in
As mixing unit 1 is driven to rotate by receiving rotating magnetic field generated from magnetic stirrer 64, fluid A enters into hollow portion 24 through a suction port 24a which is an upper opening portion of hollow portion 24, and is mixed by the plurality of first through holes 22 so that the mixed fluid A is discharged from discharge openings 22a. The discharged fluid A returns to the suction port 24a, and such fluid movements are repeated for agitation as mixing unit 1 rotates.
Thus, according to agitation device of
According to the agitation device and the mixing unit of
Returning to
Mixing unit 20 is provided with suction ports 20α1 and 20α2 for sucking fluid A and discharge ports 20β for discharging the sucked fluid A. Mixing unit 20 has a substantially cylindrical shape, viz., a similar configuration to that of mixing unit 1 of
A lower end of a rotation shaft 62 is connected to a center position of shaft holder plate 3. An electric motor 61 capable of arbitrarily controlling the number of revolutions is connected to an upper end of rotation shaft 62, and mixing unit 20 rotates around the rotation axis of rotation shaft 62 to mix the fluid A. The power source for rotating mixing unit 20 is not limited to electric motor 61, but may be arbitrarily selected from those which serve rotational motion.
As shown in
As described above, since suction port 20α1 is partially exposed by small opening portions 31 of shaft holder plate 3, the opening area of suction port 20α1 is smaller than suction port 20α2, whereby the inflow of fluid A is restricted in upper suction port 20α1 than lower suction port 20α2. In other words, upper suction port is provided with a limit member for limiting inflow of the fluid larger than the inflow in the lower suction port, and shaft holder plate 3 constitutes the limit member for limiting the inflow of fluid A.
The plurality of mixing elements of mixing body 2, shaft holder plate 3 and nozzle holding plate 4 have bolt holes 13 at two positions in the outer circumferential portion at 180 degrees, and are fixed through bolt holes 13 by a fixing unit of bolts (not shown) and nuts (not shown) in a stacking or vertical direction in a same manner as the structure in
Thus, in this thirteenth embodiment, there is employed a mixing unit including a mixing body having a plurality of mixing elements that are stacked are stacked in a stacking direction and that extend in an extending direction; wherein the mixing elements include a plurality of through holes to form a flow path therein and are arranged such that part or all of the through holes in one of the mixing elements, whose upper surface is in contact with another mixing element and whose lower surface is in contact with another mixing element, communicate with through holes in the adjacent mixing elements to allow fluid to be passed and divided in the extending direction in which the mixing elements extend; and wherein the extending direction is perpendicular to the stacking direction, as also explained in the first embodiment of the present invention.
With the above configuration in
In this way, particles B accumulated in the bottom of agitation vessel 63 are taken up through suction pipe 30 and sufficiently sucked into mixing unit 20 from lower suction port 20α2 together with the liquid, and at the same time, fluid A (mainly liquid) at an upper part of agitation impeller 2A is sufficiently sucked into mixing unit 20 from upper suction port 20α1, the fluid A sucked into mixing unit 20 flows through the flow paths inside mixing unit 20 to be highly mixed, and fluid A flows out vigorously from the plurality of discharge ports 20β on the outer peripheral portion of mixing unit 20. Then, the fluid A discharged from discharge ports 20β agitates fluid A in an outer peripheral portion of agitation impeller 2A, so that the entire fluid A vigorously flows in agitation vessel 63. Accordingly, the entire fluid A in agitation vessel 63 can be highly agitated in a relatively short time.
According to this thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, there may be provided a method for agitating a fluid containing particles in a liquid by an agitation impeller rotating around a rotation axis, wherein the agitation impeller is constituted by a mixing body including a plurality of mixing elements that are stacked in a direction of the rotation axis and supported by a rotation shaft connected to an upper part of the agitation impeller, each of the mixing elements has a plurality of first through holes and a second through hole larger than the first through holes, the mixing elements are arranged such that a part or all of the first through holes in one of the mixing elements overlaps the first through hole of adjacent one of the mixing elements and communicate with the first through hole in the adjacent one to allow fluid to be passed and divided in a direction in which the mixing element extends, a discharge port of a fluid is formed by the plurality of first through holes opening to an outer peripheral portion of the agitation impeller, the second through holes communicate in a stacking direction of the stacked mixing elements to form suction ports on an upper face and a lower face of the agitation impeller and a hollow portion to introduce the fluid within the mixing unit, and a holding plate having an opening portion whose diameter is smaller than that of the lower suction port disposed on the lower surface of the agitating impeller, including the step of flowing out the fluid within the mixing unit from the discharge port to an outside of the mixing unit by the rotational motion of the agitating impeller to generate a suction force at the respective suction ports, and sucking the fluid within the hollow portion from the suction port on the lower face while winding the particles so that the fluid containing particles flows into the agitation impeller from the hollow portion.
Several modifications of agitation impeller 2A are available in this thirteenth embodiment. Shaft holder plate 3 of
Suction pipe 30 of
Mixing body 2 of
One unit of mixing element 21 is formed by superimposing two circular rings 7 having different outer diameters of the annular partition wall portion 71 into a set of annular assembly 70. Each mixing element 21 formed by a pair of annular assemblies 70 has a plurality of first through holes 22 aligned in the circumferential direction and a second through hole 23 in the central portion formed by small diameter circular ring 7a and large diameter circular ring 7b (See the lower diagram in
According to this modified mixing unit 20 referring to
As another modification of this embodiment, mixing unit 20 constituted by a stack of mixing elements may be modified to a single member in which there are disposed a tubular hollow portion (24) penetrating in the direction of the rotation axis and lateral through holes radially extending from the hollow portion in the circumferential direction to form fluid flow paths, as seen from mixing units 1 of
Returning to
Agitation impeller 2B includes a cylindrical nozzle for sucking fluid A serves as a gas introduction pipe 8 and is connected to a upper suction port 20α1 on an upper surface of a mixing unit 20. A nozzle holding plate 4 is disposed on an upper surface of a mixing body 2 indicated by oblique lines which is stacked by a plurality of mixing elements as illustrated referring to
A rotation shaft 62 is inserted through the inside of gas introducing pipe 8 and a lower end of rotation shaft 62 is connected to a center position of a lower surface of mixing unit 20. That is, a shaft holder plate 3 is disposed on a lower surface of mixing body 2, and the lower end of rotation shaft 62 inserted into gas introduction pipe 8 is connected to attachment portion 32a (see
Similar to those of agitation impeller 1A of the thirteenth embodiment, as agitation impeller 2B is rotated by an electric motor 61, fluid A inside mixing unit 20 is forced outward from discharge ports 20β by a centrifugal force of rotation, and a large suction force is generated from flow paths inside mixing unit 20 to upper and lower suction ports 20α1 and 20α2 at the upper and lower portions of mixing unit 20. In this case, at upper suction port 20α1, air C on the liquid surface can be strongly sucked from gas introduction pipe 8 and sufficiently introduced into mixing unit 20. Since each of first through holes (22) of the uppermost position mixing element (21) is closed by nozzle holding plate 4, a stronger suction force is generated in upper suction port 20α1 and gas introduction pipe 8. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently introduce air C into the liquid having a higher pressure than the external atmosphere. On the other hand, from lower suction port 20α2, liquid in agitation vessel 63 can be strongly drawn in and sufficiently flow into mixing unit 20.
In the same manner as those of the thirteenth embodiment, while fluid A containing the air C and the liquid flowing into the inside of mixing unit 20 passes through the plurality of first through holes (22) serving as flow paths and flows from the inner circumference toward an outer peripheral portion, fluid A is divided and combined or joined in an extending direction of mixing element (21), and also divided and combined or joined in a stacking direction of mixing elements (21), whereby it is highly mixed. That is, air C flowing into mixing unit 20 is subdivided (microbubbles etc.) by division and highly dispersed in the liquid.
In this way, air C on the liquid surface can be sufficiently drawn into mixing unit 20 from upper suction port 20α1 through gas introduction pipe 8, at the same time, the liquid under agitation impeller 2B is sucked from lower suction port 20α2, the gas-liquid fluid A sucked into mixing unit 20 flows through the flow paths inside mixing unit 20 to be mixed at a high degree, and the fluid A vigorously flows out from the plurality of discharge ports 20β on the outer peripheral portion of mixing unit 20. As a result, it is possible to vigorously flow air C together with the whole liquid A in agitation vessel 63, and air C can be highly dispersed in the liquid in agitation vessel 63. Further, since the introduction of the air C causes generating the suction force in gas introduction pipe 8 by the rotation of agitation impeller 2B, there is no need to separately provide a gas supply means for introducing air C, and no energy consumption due to pneumatic feeding of this gas supply means, and the cost required for agitating can be reduced.
According to this fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for dispersing a gas in a liquid by an agitation impeller rotating around a rotation axis, wherein the agitation impeller is constituted by a mixing body including a plurality of mixing elements that are stacked in a direction of the rotation axis and supported by a rotation shaft connected to a lower part of the agitation impeller, each of the mixing elements has a plurality of first through holes and a second through hole larger than the first through holes, the mixing elements are arranged such that a part or all of the first through holes in one of the mixing elements overlaps the first through hole of adjacent one of the mixing elements and communicate with the first through hole in the adjacent one to allow fluid to be passed and divided in a direction in which the mixing element extends, a discharge port of a fluid is formed by the plurality of first through holes opening to an outer peripheral portion of the agitation impeller, and the second through holes communicate in a stacking direction of the stacked mixing elements to form suction ports on an upper face and a lower face of the agitation impeller and a hollow portion to introduce the fluid within the mixing unit, including the step of flowing out the fluid within the mixing unit from the discharge port to an outside of the mixing unit by the rotational motion of the agitating impeller to generate suction force at the respective suction ports, and sucking the fluid within the hollow portion from the suction port on the lower face and a gas within the hollow portion from the suction port on the upper face so that the fluid including the liquid and the gas flows into the agitation impeller from the hollow portion.
Gas introduction pipe 8 at the lower end portion in this fourteenth embodiment is only connected to the upper portion of mixing unit 20, but may be modified to a gas introduction pipe 8A as shown in
Gas introduction pipe 8 in this fourteenth embodiment introduces the air C only from the opening at the upper end of the pipe, but, as shown in
Agitation impeller 2B (see
The above-described agitation impellers of the thirteenth and fourteenth embodiments may be modified to employ other structures in the foregoing embodiments.
For example, agitation impeller 2A of
In the thirteenth embodiment, in the case where the specific gravity of particles B is smaller than the specific gravity of the liquid and easily floats in the upper layer of fluid A, in order to facilitate suction of the floating particles B, a suction pipe 30 may be connected to upper suction port 20α1 on the upper surface side of mixing unit 20 to extended upward of the mixing unit 20. In this case, suction pipe 30 connected to the upper surface side is disposed in fluid A, and the tip part of suction pipe 30 is arranged on an upper layer of fluid A.
Mixing unit 20 according to the fourteenth embodiment may have a configuration in which one unit of the mixing element 21 is formed by one set of annular assembly 70 as described referring to
Returning to
Storage container 2A is provided with two storage chambers 21A and 22A for separately partitioning and storing the two kinds of fluids A1 and A2. Two types of fluids A1 and A2 may employ a main agent and a curing agent of a two-component caring type adhesive, but not limited thereto. Volumes of the respective storage chambers 21A and 22B are set so as to be an appropriate mixing ratio of the two kinds of fluids A1 and A2. At a distal end portion of storage container 2A, there is provided an outflow port 71 of a tubular type through which fluids A1 and A2 are extruded from each of storage chambers 21A and 22B. A screw groove 72 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of outflow port 71, and screwedly connected with a base end portion 37 of nozzle 16. Storage container 2A is not limited to storing the two types of fluids, but it may also store two or more kinds of fluids separately partitioned. Storage container 2A may be of a cartridge type that can be attached to and detached from a loading section of the apparatus main body.
As shown in
As mixing units 1d and 1e are inserted into nozzle 16 and nozzle 16 is connected to storage container 2A so that mixing units 1d and 1e do not fall, it can be avoided that mixing units 1d and 1e are dropped from nozzle 16 by outflow port 71 of storage container 2A. The other end face of mixing unit 1e is disposed so as to be in contact with a tapered inner peripheral face of a tip end portion 16a of nozzle 16, thereby preventing mixing units 1d and 1e from moving toward tip portion 16a side of nozzle 16. Instead of the tapered inner peripheral surface of tip end portion 16a, a stepped portion may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of nozzle 16 to prevent the movement of mixing units 1d and 1e toward tip end portion 16a of nozzle 16. Further, the other end face of mixing unit 1e may be fixed by disposing a tapered coil spring in nozzle 16.
Mixing units 1d and 1e are provided with mixing bodies 2a and 2b in which a plurality of substantially disc-like mixing elements 21a and 21b are stacked, and the respective first plates or layers 3a and 3b and a second plate or layer 4 in a substantially disc shape are arranged opposite to each other with mixing bodies 2a and 2b respectively interposed therebetween. Mixing elements 21a and 21b, first plates 3a and 3b and second plate 4 may be made of metal or resin, and are provided with center holes 23, 31 and 41 at the respective center positions penetrating the plate thickness. By inserting a bolt 47 into central holes 23, 31 and 41 and tightening with a nut 48, the plurality of mixing elements 21a and 21b, first plates 3a and 3b and second plate 4 are fixed by bolt 47 and nut 48 (fixing unit) in a stacked state in a decomposable manner. Thereby, it is possible to easily form mixing units 1d and 1e from the plurality of mixing elements 21a and 21b, and it is easy to perform a cleaning operation such as removal of fluid A (A1 and A2) remaining after decomposing into mixing elements 21a and 21b from mixing units 1d and 1e. Thus there is provided an efficient method for assembling an adhesive dispensing unit.
The fixing position of bolt 47 and nut 48 in mixing units 1d and 1e is not limited to the center position but can be performed at one or more positions at an arbitrary position such as the outer peripheral position. Further, mixing units 1d and 1e or mixing body 2 may be formed by a single member with a 3D printer device or the like.
As shown in
The mixing elements 21a and 21b in mixing bodies 2a and 2b are arranged such that a part or all of the through holes 22 in one of the mixing elements overlaps with the through hole 22 of adjacent one (21a) of the mixing elements so as to partially overlap with each other and communicates with through hole 22 in the adjacent one (21b ) to allow the two or more kinds of fluids to be passed, divided and joined in a staking direction and an extending direction of the mixing elements 21a and 21b. In other words, partition walls 25j of through holes 22 arranged in a radial direction and a circumferential direction of mixing elements 21a and 21b are arranged with mutually different positions between adjacent mixing elements 21a and 21b. Thus, as schematically shown in
Further, in through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b stacked in mixing bodies 2a and 2b, the area of an overlapping portion 22a of certain coupled through holes 22 and the area of the other overlapping portion 22b adjacent to the portion 22a are arranged unevenly in the circumferential direction. As a result, the fluid A (A1 and A2) passing through hole 22 is divided and joined unevenly or non-uniformly in the circumferential direction, and mixing efficiency can be further improved. The areas of the overlapping portions 22a and 22b of through holes 22 of mixing elements 21a and 21b in mixing bodies 2a and 2b may be evenly or uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction.
As shown is
As shown in
In the pair of mixing units 1d and 1e, fluids A1 and A2 in nozzle 16 circulate inside mixing units 1d and 1e as follows. That is, referring to
It is to be noted that mixing units 1d and 1e disposed in nozzle 16 is not limited to the one pair of mixing unit 1d and 1e as shown in
In mixing bodies 2a and 2b of mixing units 2a and 2b, two types of mixing elements 21a and 21b are superimposed at predetermined positions in the circumferential direction, and, in order to facilitate this superimposition, respectively provided with notches 26a formed at the outer edge portion for specifying the overlapping position of each of mixing elements 21a and 21b. In a step of forming mixing units 2a and 2b, a plate-like guide plate (guide member) extending in the stacking direction of mixing bodies 2a and 2b is fitted to notches 26a of all mixing elements 21a and 21b, and mixing units 2a and 2b are formed by aligning all notches 26a in a row and overlapping mixing elements 21a and 21b each other. Thereby, it is possible to easily superimpose the two types of mixing elements at predetermined positions in a circumferential direction. It should be noted that mixing elements 21a and 21b may not be provided with notches 26a and the two mixing elements 21a and 21b may be superimposed at predetermined positions in the circumferential direction without using the guide plate.
As described above, according to adhesive dispensing unit 1D of this fifteenth embodiment, since mixing bodies 2a and 2b in mixing units 1d and 1e are formed by stacking the plurality of plate-shaped mixing elements 21a and 21b, the lengths in the stacking direction of mixing bodies 2a and 2b can be shortened. First plates 3a and 3b and second plate 4 disposed on both end faces of mixing bodies 2a and 2b are also plate-shaped, so that mixing units 1d and 1e having mixing bodies 2a and 2b as main parts can shorten the lengths in the stacking direction of mixing elements 21a and 21b. The plates 3a, 3b and 4 may be layers made of any materials such as metals, ceramics, resins or the like. In addition, fluid A (A1 and A2) in mixing units 1d and 1e flows so as to be divided and joined in the staking direction and the extending direction of mixing elements 21a and 21b, whereby the fluid is highly mixed even if mixing units 1d and 1e are short. For example, it is possible to sufficiently mix main agent and curing agent as the two kinds of fluids A1 and A2 and obtain mixed fluid A as a two-component curing type adhesive having a proper adhesive strength so as to be dispensed from tip portion 16a of nozzle 16. Therefore, even when mixing units 1d and 1e are short, the mixing effect of the fluid A (A1 and A2) is high, and nozzle 16 in which mixing units 1d and 1e are disposed can be shortened. As a result, since nozzle 16 is short, it is easy to position nozzle 16 on the material to be dispensed, and the coating operation can be easily performed. In addition, it is possible to reduce the amount of fluid remaining in nozzle 16 to be discarded after application and use, thereby preventing unnecessary use of the fluid A. Furthermore, since the adhesive dispensing unit 1D can be made compact by reducing its length size, handling of the adhesive dispensing unit 1D becomes easy, and the storage location is not widened.
Returning to
In mixing units 1d and 1e using such involute type mixing elements 21Xa and 21Xb, as conceptually shown in
According to this fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for discharging a fluid by the adhesive dispensing unit, including the steps of: accommodating two or more kinds of fluids in the storage container; simultaneously supplying the two or more types of fluids from the storage container into the nozzle; mixing the two or more kinds of fluids with a mixing unit within the nozzle;
and discharging a mixed fluid obtained by mixing the two or more fluids from the nozzle, wherein in the mixing step, the two or more kinds of fluids are passed through the through holes of the adjacent mixing elements in the mixing unit to be divided and joined in the stacking direction and the extending direction of the mixing elements so as to rotate in the same direction in the circumferential direction of the mixing elements as a whole.
Further, there is provided a method for discharging a fluid by the adhesive dispensing unit, including the steps of: separately storing a main agent and a curing agent as two or more kinds of fluids in the storage container; simultaneously supplying the main agent and the curing agent from the storage container into the nozzle; mixing the main agent and the curing agent with the mixing unit within the nozzle; and discharging a mixed fluid obtained by mixing the main agent and the curing agent from the nozzle, wherein in the mixing step, the main agent and the curing agent are passed through the through holes of the adjacent mixing elements in the mixing unit to be divided and joined in the stacking direction and the extending direction of the mixing elements.
In this embodiment, there is employed a mixing unit including a mixing body having a plurality of mixing elements that are stacked are stacked in a stacking direction and that extend in an extending direction; wherein the mixing elements include a plurality of through holes to form a flow path therein and are arranged such that part or all of the through holes in one of the mixing elements, whose upper surface is in contact with another mixing element and whose lower surface is in contact with another mixing element, communicate with through holes in the adjacent mixing elements to allow fluid to be passed and divided in the extending direction in which the mixing elements extend; and wherein the extending direction is perpendicular to the stacking direction. It should be noted that mixing units in the foregoing embodiments other than this embodiment may be employed.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is indicated not by the embodiments described above but by the scope of claims, and includes meaning equivalent to the scope of claims and all modifications and variations within the scope.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2008-272394 | Oct 2008 | JP | national |
2009-045414 | Feb 2009 | JP | national |
2009-132802 | Jun 2009 | JP | national |
2018-079584 | Apr 2018 | JP | national |
2008-157237 | Jun 2018 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 15/484,352(filed on Apr. 11, 2017) which is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 14/203,118 (filed on Mar. 10, 2014 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,656,223) which is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 12/999,102 (filed on Dec. 15, 2010 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,715,585), which claims the benefit of priority from International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2009/060922 (filed on Jun. 16, 2009) which further claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2009-132802 (filed on Jun. 2, 2009), 2009-045414 (filed on Feb. 27, 2009), 2008-272394 (filed on Oct. 22, 2008), and 2008-157237 (filed on Jun. 16, 2008). Also, the application Ser. No. 14/203,188 is a continuation-in-part application of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2013/056439 (filed on Mar. 8, 2013), which claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/610290 (filed on Mar. 13, 2012 and now abandoned). This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-079584 (filed on Apr. 18, 2018). The entire contents of the above applications, which the present application is based on, are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61610290 | Mar 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15484352 | Apr 2017 | US |
Child | 16051577 | US | |
Parent | 14203188 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 15484352 | US | |
Parent | PCT/JP2013/056439 | Mar 2013 | US |
Child | 14203188 | US | |
Parent | 14203188 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 15484352 | US | |
Parent | 12999102 | Dec 2010 | US |
Child | 14203188 | US |