The present invention relates generally to a device for mixing two or more fluids together, and more particularly to a static mixer having mixing elements that divide a fluid stream in different directions and/or a static mixer having mixing elements that do not require orientation during assembly of the mixer.
Many applications require two or more fluids to be mixed together. For example, two-component adhesives and sealants include a base component and activator component that must be mixed together prior to use. This mixing can be accomplished by forcing each component into and through a motionless (i.e., static) mixer. Such mixers include a mixing component or assembly disposed within a conduit, with the mixing component having a series of interconnected mixing elements in the form of baffles, spirals, wedges, and/or deflection plates. The mixing elements divide and recombine the fluids in an overlapping manner to produce layers of the fluids. Eventually this division and recombination causes the layers to thin and diffuse past one another, resulting in a substantially uniform mixture.
The mixing elements comprised of baffles in conventional static multiflux mixers, examples of which are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,773,156 and 3,239,197, and plate multiflux mixers, an example of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,419, are oriented in one specific longitudinal direction (relative to the conduit of the mixer) and configured to divide the fluid stream in the same transversal direction (e.g., an X or Y direction). Such an arrangement is desirable because alternating the dividing direction may defeat the purpose of the mixing elements. In particular, when a mixing element that divides in an X-direction and recombines in a Y-direction is immediately followed by a mixing element that divides Y-direction and recombines in the X-direction, the mixing accomplished by the first mixing element may be effectively “undone” by the second mixing element.
One of the challenges associated with the conventional mixing arrangement described above is the elimination of streaks in the extruded mixture. For example, when mixing together fluids of different viscosities, there is a tendency for the low viscosity fluid to channel or “zig-zag” along the interior walls of the conduit instead of being properly included in the layering process. This results in a streak of the unmixed fluid within the extruded mixture dispensed from the static mixer. Such streaks are undesirable for a variety of reasons. They may affect the performance of the product or they may cause the operator of the static mixer to question whether it has effectively mixed the two components or fluids of the adhesive or sealant in cases where the streak does not affect performance.
Several attempts have been made to eliminate streaking by incorporating various additional mixing features, such as webs, varying baffle sizes, and varying baffle geometries, in the series of interconnected mixing elements. However, current technologies leave room for improvement when mixing difficult materials. Streaks still occur with certain materials, requiring the end user to use longer mixers, which are disadvantageous for many reasons. Longer mixers are less manageable to use and generally have a higher retained volume, wasting more fluid when the mixer is disposed. Many elements are designed to be oriented in a specific longitudinal direction when inserted into the conduit of the mixer. Thus, for the fluids to move through the specially designed geometry in the proper direction, the manufacturer must properly orient the mixing elements during assembly of the mixer. Orienting the mixer during assembly adds cost, time, and complexity to the manufacturing process. Many manufactures provide orientation tabs or other structure on the component to ensure that it is inserted into the conduit in the proper direction.
Therefore, a mixer that reduces streaking and/or does not require an orientation step during assembly is highly desirable.
The present invention generally provides a mixer for mixing at least first and second fluids. The mixer includes a conduit configured to receive a stream of the first and second fluids, and a mixing component positioned within the conduit. The mixing component generally comprises a first series of mixing elements, each configured to divide the stream in a first direction and recombine the stream in a second direction. The mixing component further includes a second series of mixing elements each configured to divide the stream in a third direction different from the first direction and recombine the stream in a fourth direction different from the second direction.
Various embodiments of the invention are provided including, for example, an embodiment in which the mixing elements of the first series each comprises a first planar member oriented in a first direction and defining a leading, stream dividing edge, a second planar member oriented in the second direction and defining a trailing, stream recombining edge, a first deflecting surface extending outwardly from a first side of the first planar member and configured to direct fluid flow to a space adjacent a first side of the second planar member, and a second deflecting surface extending outwardly from a second side of the first planar member and configured to direct fluid flow to a space adjacent a second side of the second planar member. The first and second directions may be substantially perpendicular to each other. The mixing elements of the first series may be configured to recombine the stream in the second direction and/or the mixing elements of the second series may each be configured to recombine the stream in the first direction. An auxiliary baffle may be positioned between a mixing element of the first series and a mixing of the second series and configured to redirect portions of the stream. For example, the auxiliary baffle may comprise a flow inversion baffle configured to direct portions of the stream in a center of the conduit to a periphery of the conduit and direct portions of the stream in the periphery of the conduit to the center of the conduit. A plurality of auxiliary baffles may be used throughout the mixing component in any desired sequence. The various mixing elements, including the auxiliary baffle or baffles may be interconnected in any desired manner, or formed as independent units and placed adjacent to each other and otherwise held within the conduit.
Various other features will become readily apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments.
With reference to
The mixing component 14 of the embodiment shown in
Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 2A-2C, the first series 28 is illustrates in further detail. The first and second sidewalls 38, 40 (
The baffles 30b (
The baffles 30b, 30c further include first and second deflecting surfaces 84, 86 extending outwardly from the first planar member 56. The first deflecting surface 84 is configured to direct fluid downwardly toward the space adjacent the first side 74 of the second planar member 58. The second deflecting surface 86 is configured to direct fluid upwardly to the space adjacent the second side 78 of the second planar member 58.
The baffles 30b (
Each of the baffles 30a, 30b, and 30c thus divide and recombine a fluid stream to double the number of layers in the fluid stream. Because the first series 28 includes a total of ten baffles, the first series 28 is capable of dividing a fluid stream of two materials into 2048 layers of alternating material (layers=2 materials×2n, where n is the number of baffles). The presence of the partial baffle 30a helps reduce the overall length of the first series 28. In alternative embodiments, however, the partial baffle 30a may be eliminated or replaced with one of the baffles 30c such that the first series 28 consists only of the baffles 30b and 30c. There may also be a larger or smaller number of total baffles 30 in the first series 28 in alternative embodiments.
FIGS. 3 and 3A-3C illustrate the second series 34 of baffles 36 (
As schematically shown in
Advantageously, the flow inversion baffle 32 has rotational symmetry about a center plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of conduit 12. Additionally, the second series 34 includes the same number of baffles as the first series 28 such that there are a total of 21 mixing elements (ten of the baffles 30, one flow inversion baffle 32, and ten of the baffles 36) in the mixer 10. Indeed, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the second series 34 is generally a mirror image of the first series 28 such that the entire mixing component 14 has rotational symmetry about the center plane. When viewing one of the open sides of the mixing component 14 (e.g.,
In use, two fluids introduced into the conduit 12 are divided in the first direction into layers of alternating materials by the first series 28 of baffles 30. These layers are then inverted and twisted by the flow inversion baffle 32. Any material that “channels” or “zig-zags” along the interior surfaces 42 of the conduit 12 is directed from the periphery of the flow path into the center of the flow path. Upon exiting the flow inversion baffle 32, the twisted and inverted layers are divided in the second direction by the second series 34 of baffles 36.
By dividing the fluid stream in different directions, overall mixing quality is improved. Channeling is reduced not only by the flow inversion baffle 32, but also because this undesirable side effect is more likely to occur on different sides of the mixing component 14 in the first and second series 28, 34. For example, in the first series 28, channeling may only occur along the interior surfaces 42, whereas in the second series 34, channeling may only occur along the sidewalls 38, 40 of the mixing component 14. Any channeling that occurs in the first series 28 will be mixed up by the second series 34 rather than continuing to build up along the interior surface 42.
These same advantages may be achieved in a wide variety of other mixer arrangements, as long as the mixer includes at least one mixing element or baffle configured to divide a fluid stream in a first direction and at least one mixing element or baffle configured to divide a fluid stream in a second direction different from the first direction. Therefore, the baffles 30 and 36 need not be arranged in the first and second series 28, 34. Nor do the baffles 30 and 36 have to be integrally molded as part of a unitary structure. There may also be a plurality of the flow inversion baffles 32 positioned throughout an arrangement of the baffles 30 and 36.
Thus, while the invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. As a further example, the first and second directions in which the fluid stream is divided need not be substantially perpendicular X and Y directions. To this end, the first series 28 of baffles 30 and second series 34 of baffles 36 may have different geometries. Additionally, although the mixer 10 includes the flow inversion baffle 32, which is shown and described in the '156 patent, the mixer 10 may alternatively or additionally include an auxiliary baffle/relayering chamber, an example of which is shown in FIGS. 16a-e of U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,197 to Tollar (“the '197 patent”). The disclosure of the '197 patent is thus fully incorporated herein by reference.
While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various preferred embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the intention of the Applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination depending on the needs and preferences of the user. This has been a description of illustrative aspects and embodiments the present invention, along with the preferred methods of practicing the present invention as currently known. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/061,424, filed Jun. 13, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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