Fluid mixing system with drive shaft steady support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9700857-B1
Application number	US-201313849361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 22, 2013
Priority date	Mar 23, 2012
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A fluid mixing system includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. A retainer is coupled to the flexible bag, the retainer having a retention cavity formed thereon that communicates with the compartment of the flexible bag. An elongated tubular connector has a first end coupled to the flexible bag and an opposing second end projecting into the compartment thereof. An impeller is disposed within flexible bag and is coupled with the tubular connector. A steady support is mounted on the second end of the tubular connector and terminates at a distal nose, the distal nose being freely disposed within the retention cavity of the retainer so that the steady support can rotate within the retention cavity relative to the retainer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid mixing system comprising:
a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment;
a retainer coupled to the flexible bag, the retainer having a retention cavity formed thereon that communicates with the compartment of the flexible bag;
an elongated tubular connector having a first end coupled to the flexible bag and an opposing second end projecting into the compartment thereof; and
a steady support mounted on the second end of the tubular connector and terminating at a distal nose, the distal nose being freely disposed within the retention cavity of the retainer so that the steady support can rotate within the retention cavity relative to the retainer.

2. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a drive shaft received within the tubular connector and engaging the steady support so that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the steady support and tubular connector.

3. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an impeller mounted to the second end of the tubular connector, the impeller comprising:
a hub mounted to the second end of the tubular connector, the hub having a socket formed thereon;
a plurality of mixing blades radially outwardly projecting from the hub; and
the steady support projecting from the hub.

4. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tubular connector comprises a flexible tube.

5. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an impeller coupled with the tubular connector, the impeller being spaced apart from the steady support.

6. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
the tubular connector comprising a plurality of separate tube sections; and
a plurality of impellers, each impeller being secured between adjacent ends of corresponding tube sections, each impeller having a tubular stem with blades outwardly projecting therefrom.

7. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises:
a post projecting into the compartment of the flexible bag, the post having an end face with the retention cavity formed thereon; and
a flange outwardly projecting from the post, the flange being secured to the flexible bag.

8. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a rotational assembly comprising a casing mounted to the flexible bag and a hub rotatably mounted to the casing, the hub being coupled to the first end of the tubular connector and having a passageway extending therethrough.

9. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a drive shaft passing through the hub and engaging the steady support so that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the steady support and tubular connector.

10. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a rigid support housing having a chamber in which the flexible bag is received.

11. A fluid mixing system comprising:
a flexible bag having a first end, an opposing second end, and an interior surface bounding a compartment;
a first rotational assembly comprising a first casing mounted to the first end of the flexible bag and a first hub rotatably mounted to the first casing, the first hub having a passageway extending therethrough;
a retainer comprising a second casing mounted to the second end of the flexible bag and a second hub rotatably mounted to the second casing;
a tubular connector having a first end coupled with the first hub and an opposing second end coupled with the second hub;
an impeller mounted to the tubular connector; and
a drive shaft removably positioned within the tubular connector, the drive shaft being at least partially disposed within the first hub and the second hub.

12. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second hub has a blind socket formed therein, a distal end of the drive shaft being received within the blind socket and engaging the second hub so that rotation of the drive shaft produces rotation of the second hub and the tubular connector.

13. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second hub has a passageway extending therethrough, the drive shaft passing through the passageway of the first hub and the second hub.

14. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the drive shaft engages the first hub, second hub, and impeller.

15. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a seal positioned between the second casing and the second hub.

16. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
tubular connector comprises a plurality of tube sections; and
the impeller being secured between adjacent ends of corresponding tube sections, the impeller having a tubular stem through which the drive shaft passes.

17. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a rigid support housing having a chamber in which the flexible bag is received.

18. A method for mixing a fluid, the method comprising:
delivering a fluid into a compartment of a flexible bag, an elongated tubular connector being coupled to the flexible bag and projecting into the compartment thereof, a steady support being coupled with the tubular connector and disposed within the compartment, an impeller being coupled to the tubular connector;
removably inserting a drive shaft into the tubular connector;
manipulating the drive shaft so that a distal nose of the steady support is received within a retention cavity of a retainer secured to the flexible bag; and
rotating the drive shaft so that the distal nose of the steady support is rotated within the retention cavity and the impeller is rotated within the compartment of the flexible bag.

19. A fluid mixing system comprising:
a flexible bag having a first end, an opposing second end, and an interior surface bounding a compartment;
a first rotational assembly comprising a first casing mounted to the first end of the flexible bag and a first hub rotatably mounted to the first casing, the first hub having a passageway extending therethrough;
a retainer comprising a second casing mounted to the second end of the flexible bag, a second hub rotatably mounted to the second casing, and a seal positioned between the second casing and the second hub;
a tubular connector having a first end coupled with the first hub and an opposing second end coupled with the second hub;
an impeller mounted to the tubular connector; and
a drive shaft removably positioned within the tubular connector.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Larsen Jeremy K
• Staheli Clinton C
• Knudsen Brandon M

Classifications

• B01F15/00668

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/0085

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/00688

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00691 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/16

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic