Static mixers and methods for using and making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10092887-B2
Application number	US-201615141754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2016
Priority date	May 5, 2015
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A static mixer for mixing a mass fluid flow includes an elongate body including an open proximal end, an open distal end and an inner wall. At least a portion of the inner wall includes a plurality of undercuts formed therein to define a convoluted conduit. The conduit extends along a central axis between the proximal end and the distal end. A portion of the undercuts defines a center-to-perimeter flow portion within the conduit. A portion of the undercuts defines a perimeter-to-center flow portion within the conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A static mixer for mixing a flow of at least one fluid, the static mixer comprising:
an elongate body having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and an inner wall, at least a portion of the inner wall having a groove and a plurality of undercuts formed therein to define at least one convoluted conduit, the conduit extending along a central axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein a portion of the undercuts defines a center-to-perimeter flow portion within the conduit, and a portion of the undercuts defines a perimeter-to-center flow portion within the conduit,
wherein the groove is defined at least in part by a first undercut and a second undercut of the plurality of undercuts, the first undercut and the second undercut being opposite one another in the inner wall.

2. The static mixer of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the conduit extends coaxially relative to and continuously along the central axis between the proximal end and the distal end.

3. The static mixer of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the undercuts defines a helical portion traversing about the central axis.

4. The static mixer of claim 3 , wherein the helical portion includes a groove, the groove having a face facing in a direction perpendicular to the central axis.

5. The static mixer of claim 1 , wherein none of the undercuts intersects the central axis.

6. The static mixer of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the undercuts defines a face positioned transversely to the central axis.

7. The static mixer of claim 6 , wherein the face is positioned perpendicularly to the central axis.

8. The static mixer of claim 6 , wherein the face faces a direction towards the proximal end.

9. The static mixer of claim 6 , wherein the face faces a direction towards the distal end.

10. The static mixer of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inlet portion at the proximal end, the inlet portion including threads for coupling to a source of the at least one fluid.

11. The static mixer of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the at least a portion of the inner wall, taken along a plane transverse to the central axis, comprises exactly two grooves.

12. A static mixer for mixing a flow of at least one fluid, the static mixer comprising:
an elongate body extending along a central axis and including an open proximal end, an open distal end, and an inner wall, the inner wall including a groove and a plurality of undercuts formed integrally therein to define a single flow path,
wherein the groove is defined, at least in part, by a first undercut of the plurality of undercuts and a second undercut of the plurality of undercuts,
wherein the first undercut is defined by a first ridge of the inner wall, a proximate portion of the first ridge positioned adjacent a first face of the inner wall and a distal portion of the first ridge positioned adjacent a second face of the inner wall,
wherein the second undercut is defined by a second ridge of the inner wall, a proximate portion of the second ridge positioned adjacent the second face of the inner wall and a distal portion of the second ridge positioned adjacent the first face of the inner wall,
wherein at least a portion of the flow path extends coaxially along the central axis, at least a portion of the flow path extends radially away from the central axis, and at least a portion of the flow path extends radially towards the central axis, and
wherein the first undercut and the second undercut are opposite one another in the inner wall.

13. The static mixer of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path extends circumferentially about the central axis.

14. The static mixer of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path extends helically about the central axis.

15. The static mixer of claim 14 , wherein a first portion of the helical portion of the flow path at least partially circumscribes the central axis in a first direction, and a second portion of the helical portion of the flow path at least partially circumscribes the central axis in a second, opposite direction.

16. The static mixer of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path extends transversely relative to the central axis.

17. The static mixer of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path extends perpendicularly relative to the central axis.

18. The static mixer of claim 12 , at least a portion the flow path extends coaxially and continuously along the central axis from the proximal end to the distal end.

19. A static mixer for mixing a flow of at least first and second fluids, the static mixer comprising:
an elongate member having an open proximal end defining an inlet portion, an open distal end defining an outlet portion, and a mixing portion between the inlet portion and outlet portion, the mixing portion including a first convoluted conduit extending along a central axis from the inlet portion towards the distal end, and a second convoluted conduit extending along the central axis from the inlet portion towards the distal end, the first and second conduits being fluidly connected by at least one third conduit extending between the first and second conduits in a direction transverse to the central axis.

20. The static mixer of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first or second conduits defines a flow path that traverses an at least partially helical path about the central axis.

21. The static mixer of claim 19 , wherein the at least one third conduit is defined by an aperture positioned between the first conduit and second conduit.

22. The static mixer of claim 19 , wherein the elongate member is a single, unitary body.

23. The static mixer of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first or second conduits is at least partially defined by a plurality of cavities fluidly connected to one another.

24. The static mixer of claim 23 , wherein a portion of the plurality of cavities includes a first, upstream end and a second, downstream end, wherein contiguous cavities connect to one another such that the first end of a downstream cavity connects to the second end of an upstream cavity.

25. The static mixer of claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of one of the first or second conduits has a cross-sectional shape of a segment of a circle, the cross-section taken along a plane that is transverse to the central axis.

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Pappalardo Matthew E

Classifications

• B01F5/0606 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F5/0645

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F5/0615

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F2005/0636

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F5/061

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic