Mixer

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention refers to a mixer by gas flow, for example for mixing ceramic components with their additives, which form a raw material for ceramics.

It applies in the field of manufacturing ceramic elements, fertilizers or food products, as well as any type of industry in which granulated or powdered elements are mixed.

TECHNICAL STATEMENT

Patents such as EP2550242 describe a way to mix the different components and additives of a ceramic products, such as a tile.

Other methods use airflows to mix the components, being US4345841 considered of greatest interest. This mixing apparatus comprises a series of concentric cyclones, with two inputs in the center and a radial output. This system is not easily configurable due to the function of a variable speed conditioned by the radius, meaning that a high initial speed is required, which can break the particles, to prevent the lower output speed from depositing the material.

CN207288885U is considered the closest prior art. It refers to an airflow mixer that joins several metallic powders in a sintering process. However, it requires that the air traverses the mixer at high velocity, eroding the insides and producing loud noises.

The applicant is not aware of any solution to these cited problems that may be considered similar to the invention.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of a mixer according to the claims. It ^' s different realizations solve the problems from the prior art and provide noteworthy advantages. The mixer is made from a plurality of modules and allows mixing granulated or powdered components using a carrier gas. The modules comprise a common part formed by a first cylindrical section in which at least one tangential entry (usually one, but several in the input module) is defined, a narrowing section and a cylindrical final section with a smaller radius. This final section is connected to the tangential input of the next module or, in a case of the last module, to the output of the mixer. The gas flux is generated by a vacuum or blowing pump of the carrier gas, placed at the appropriate point (downstream or upstream, depending on the type of pump). The use of several modules allows for a better mixing, reducing noise, energy input and increases reliability.

In the most preferred realization, tangential input comprises a longitudinal component to the module, i.e. it is not fully transverse.

In order to increase the turbulence, an insert facing the tangential input of one or more modules can be installed. This insert can be adjustable, meaning that the distance between the insert and the tangential input can be varied. For example, it can be mounted on a threaded shank which can be rotated from the outside of the module to advance it from the module’s wall.

Ideally, to improve the mixing, the tangential inputs of two consecutive modules are oriented alternately between levogyre and dextrogyre.

Generally, the different modules will be positioned at a small angle regarding the horizontal, with the tangential input at a higher point than the intake of the end part.

According to another object of the invention, a new improved mixer with just one module is also sought. It contains a single module with an insert facing the tangential input, as previously defined. This mixer can be also used as several modules to better improve efficiency.

Other variants will be displayed in the rest of the memory.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, the following figures are included. Figure 1: Example of the mixer with six modules.

Figure 2: Detail of a main module in Figure 1.

Figure 3: Detail section of a module example showing its insert.

MODES OF REALIZATION OF THE INVENTION

Following this, a first embodiment of the invention is briefly described, as an illustrative and not a limiting example of the invention, applied to the field of ceramic components.

The mixer of the invention comprises a series of modules (1 ,2,3):

An inlet module (1), with at least one inlet component, including a carrier inlet gas which will usually be the air. The carrier gas is filtered to prevent the introduction of an external material.

Figure 1 represents a plurality of tangential inputs (4) in the input module (1), but it must be considered that there may be a single common tangential input (4) through which all mixture components enter, each from its own reservoir, so they are premixed. In this case, the input module (1) is indistinguishable from the main module (2).

A series of the main modules (2) is installed after the input module (1). These main modules (2) are repeated as many times as necessary to obtain the mix. Optionally, they end in an output module (3), from where the gas and the mixed components exit the mixer. The process method of the expelled gas and its treatment (cyclone, chemical/physical treatment, etc.) is not a part of this invention.

There is a carrier gas flux, that runs through all modules (1 ,2,3), which can be generated by suction or by blowing. Preferably, it will be generated by the suction from downstream of the output module (3).

Figure 1 represents how the modules (1,2,3) are similar and the small elements are those who produce the differentiation. Thus, for example, the main difference between the so- called output module (3) and the main modules (2) is the angle of its outlet, proving that it is optional. The exact size of the modules (1,2,3) may also be different.

If the inlet to the intake module (1) is unique, since the components of the mixture are joined in a unique pipe, then the input module (1) can also be similar to the main module (2).

Figure 2 represents an example of a main module (2), which will be used to explain all the rest of the modules (1,2,3). This main module (2) consists of a cylindrical first section (5), a narrowing section (6) which reduces the stage (usually of a conical shape) and a final section (7) with a circular shape, through which the carrier gas passes towards the next module (1,2,3) and which links to the next module (1,2,3). The length and curvature of the final section (7) may be changed from the one shown. For instance, it can be longer or comprise a length of tube. The union between the final section (7) and the adjacent module (1,2,3) is made at a tangential angle, in order to generate a vortex in the module (1,2,3). Mainly, a series of top and bottom entries for each module will be situated alternately to create sequences of levogyre and dextrogyre vortices.

Figure 3 points out the presence of an insert (8) in the first section (5) of a main module (2), aligned with the final section (7), in order to increase the turbulence at the entrance to the section. This insert (8) can be stationary or installed over a sliding support (9), such as could be a threaded shank. Thereby the distance between the inlet of the final section (7) and the insert (8) can be regulated.

As can be appreciated in the figures, the preferred position between the different modules

(1.2.3) is tilted, making not only the carrier gas to enter in at a tangential angle, but also includes a longitudinal component, i.e. , that the input is not fully transverse to the module

(1.2.3). The optimal angle with the longitudinal axis of the module will be between 10° and 65°, pointing slightly towards the final section (7), depending on the material.

The number of modules (1 ,2,3) will depend on the application, just like the suction/blowing power, but it will normally be three or more. It is also possible to pass the material several times through the same modules (1 ,2,3), repeating the same circuit, to improve the mixing. A second embodiment of the invention comprises a single module (1 ,2,3), with an insert (8) facing all or part of the tangential inputs (4). This embodiment also achieves the results sought, although several modules (1,2,3) will improve the result.

Figure 1 shows that the material inlets are situated in the input module (1). However, there may be additional (unrepresented) inlets in one or more main modules (2), which can be connected to the previous module (1.2) and to one or more additional tangential (4) inlets. This additional inlet allows to introduce other components of the mixture, after the mixing process had started.

It also must be considered that the material from these additional inlets can have the origin from one or more previous module (1,2), meaning that this material has already been pre mixed.

The optimal insert (8) is shown in Figure 3 and has his head section (10) oriented towards the bottom section (7) of the previous module (1.2) roughly conical in shape to deflect the component and the carrier gas flows. The shape at the other end is less relevant, but it is preferred to use the curve shape to reduce the noise, turbulences and a pressure loss.

The interior of the different modules is made of erosion resistant material, i.e., stainless steel.

The initial material input comes from dosing equipment, usually with mass flow sensors. Each tangential input (4) of the input module (1) can come from a single tank or from multiple tanks gathered in a single input.

Following the end of the mixer there is a cyclone or some other type of decanter of the particles carried by the gas flow. If necessary, sensors or samplers can be integrated to verify that the mixture is suitable, and if it is necessary to recirculate it, either through the all modules or just from an intermediate main module (2).