Mixing unit and method for mixing a liquid product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12458937-B2
Application number	US-202017757692-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2020
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A mixing unit ( 1 ) for mixing a liquid product ( 2 ) includes a tank ( 3 ) and a fluid nozzle ( 4 ) configured to inject a fluid flow ( 6, 7 ) of the liquid product ( 2 ) into the tank ( 3 ). The fluid nozzle ( 4 ) has a first outlet ( 20 ) that opens in a sideways direction (S), a second outlet ( 21 ) that opens in an upward direction (U), and a valve plug ( 14 ) configured to selectively open and close the outlets ( 20, 21 ). The mixing unit ( 1 ) is operable in a low stage operational mode ( 9 ) during which the first outlet ( 20 ) is open, the second outlet ( 21 ) is closed, and mixing occurs in a lower region ( 10 ) of the tank ( 3 ), and a high stage operational mode ( 11 ) during which the first outlet ( 20 ) is closed, the second outlet ( 21 ) is open, and mixing occurs in an upper region ( 12 ) of the tank ( 3 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A mixing unit for mixing a liquid product, the mixing unit comprising:
a tank configured to hold the liquid product; a fluid nozzle attached to a bottom of the tank and configured to inject a fluid flow of the liquid product into the tank; and an actuator positioned below the tank; wherein the fluid nozzle has a first outlet that opens in a sideways direction, a second outlet that opens in an upward direction, and a valve plug configured to selectively open and close the first outlet and the second outlet, the mixing unit operable in a low stage operational mode during which the first outlet is open and the second outlet is closed for effecting mixing in a lower region of the tank and in a high stage operational mode during which the first outlet is closed and the second outlet is open for effecting mixing in an upper region of the tank, wherein the actuator is configured to switch the mixing unit between the low stage operational mode and the high stage operational mode.

2 . The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid nozzle has a vertical orientation and the first outlet is arranged lower than the second outlet.

3 . The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are arranged perpendicular to each other.

4 . The mixing unit of claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a sidewall extending from the bottom of the tank, and the fluid nozzle extends vertically from the bottom of the tank.

5 . The mixing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the valve plug includes an elongated control stem.

6 . The mixing unit according to claim 5 , wherein the control stem is axially movable to a first axial position during the low stage operational mode and to a second axial position during the high stage operational mode.

7 . The mixing unit according to claim 5 , wherein the valve plug includes a cone-shaped stopper that is movable relative to the second outlet to open and close the second outlet, and a circular stopper that is movable relative to the first outlet to open and close the first outlet.

8 . The mixing unit according to claim 7 , wherein the cone-shaped stopper and the circular stopper are axially spaced along the control stem and formed integrally with the control stem.

9 . A mixing system comprising:
the mixing unit according to claim 1 ; and a recirculation line having a pump that is fluidly connected to the mixing unit.

10 . The mixing system according to claim 9 , comprising an infeed arrangement that is fluidly connected to the recirculation line and configured to receive an ingredient.

11 . The mixing system according to claim 10 , wherein the recirculation line comprises a valve that is arranged downstream the infeed arrangement and configured to create a venturi effect to draw the ingredient into the recirculation line.

12 . A method for mixing a liquid product, the method comprising:
holding the liquid product in a tank; injecting, via a mixing unit, a fluid flow of the liquid product into the tank via a fluid nozzle of the mixing unit attached to a bottom of the tank; selectively opening and closing, via an actuator of the mixing unit positioned below the tank, a first outlet of the fluid nozzle that opens in a sideways direction and a second outlet of the fluid nozzle that opens in an upward direction using a valve plug; the selectively opening and closing comprising: opening the first outlet and closing the second outlet to operate the mixing unit in a low stage operational mode during which mixing occurs in a lower region of the tank; and closing the first outlet and opening the second outlet to operate the mixing unit in a high stage operational mode during which mixing occurs in an upper region of the tank.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the tank comprises a sidewall extending from the bottom of the tank, and the fluid nozzle extends vertically from the bottom of the tank.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , comprising recirculating fluid flow of the liquid product through a recirculation line.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , comprising:
inserting an ingredient in an infeed arrangement; drawing the ingredient into the recirculation line using a valve that is configured to create a venturi effect.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , comprising
emptying the liquid product from the tank, injecting a cleaning fluid to the tank to fill the tank with the cleaning fluid to a level that is below the second outlet, and recirculating the cleaning fluid through the fluid nozzle.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , comprising injecting the cleaning fluid to the tank, to fill the tank with the cleaning fluid to a level that is below the first outlet.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Eggler Thomas
• Steffen Denis
• Gangale Devis
• Magoni Nora

Classifications

• B01F35/1453

  by means of jets of fluid, e.g. air · CPC title

• B01F25/53

  in which the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle through a recirculation tube, into which an additional component is introduced · CPC title

• B01F25/312

  with Venturi elements; Details thereof · CPC title

• B01F2101/06

  Mixing of food ingredients · CPC title

• B01F25/28

  characterised by the specific design of the jet injector · CPC title