Impeller assemblies for fluid processing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855537-B2
Application number	US-201514660405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2015
Priority date	Mar 22, 2014
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A fluid mixing system includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An elongated first tubular connector is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the first tubular connector having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first tubular connector being coupled with the flexible bag. An elongated second tubular connector is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the second tubular connector being more rigid than the first tubular connector and having a first end coupled to the second end of the first tubular connector. A plurality of impeller are disposed on the elongated second tubular connector at spaced apart locations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid mixing system comprising:
a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment;
an elongated first tubular connector disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the first tubular connector having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first tubular connector being coupled with the flexible bag;
an elongated second tubular connector disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the second tubular connector being more rigid than the first tubular connector and having a first end coupled to the second end of the first tubular connector;
a drive shaft removably received within the first tubular connector and engaging the second tubular connector such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the second tubular connector; and
a plurality of impellers being disposed on the elongated second tubular connector at spaced apart locations.

2. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft is removably received within the second tubular connector.

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

4. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the drive shaft engages the hub such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the hub.

5. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 3 , wherein rotation of the drive shaft facilitates concurrent rotation of the hub, first tubular connector, and second tubular connector.

6. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first tubular connector is sufficiently flexible that it can be bent along its length over an angle of 180° without plastic deformation and the second tubular connector is sufficiently rigid that it cannot be bent along its length over an angle of 40° without plastic deformation.

7. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of impellers comprises at least three impellers.

8. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second tubular connector has a length that is at least 40% of the combined length of the first tubular connector and the second tubular connector.

9. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft directly engages an interior surface of the second tubular connector over at least 40% of the length of the second tubular connector.

10. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft is linear.

11. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first tubular connector is comprised of an elastomeric material and the second tubular connector is not comprised of an elastomeric material.

12. A fluid mixing system comprising:
a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment;
an elongated first tubular connector disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the first tubular connector having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first tubular connector being coupled with the flexible bag;
an elongated second tubular connector disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the second tubular connector being more rigid than the first tubular connector and having a first end coupled to the second end of the first tubular connector, a first portion of the second tubular connector having an exterior surface with a transverse cross section that is non-circular; and
an impeller comprising a hub with an opening extending centrally therethrough and a plurality of fins outwardly projecting therefrom, the first portion of the second tubular connector being slidably received within the opening of the impeller and engaging the impeller such that rotation of the second tubular connector rotates the impeller.

13. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 12 , further comprising:
an annular groove encircling the second tubular connector on each opposing side of the impeller; and
a retainer received within each annular groove so as to radially outwardly project beyond the exterior surface of the second tubular connector.

14. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 13 , wherein each retainer comprises an elastomeric O-ring.

15. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the transverse cross section of the first portion of the second tubular connector is polygonal.

16. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the opening of the hub of the impeller has a polygonal configuration complementary to the first portion of the second tubular connector.

17. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first tubular connector is comprised of an elastomeric material and the second tubular connector is not comprised of an elastomeric material.

18. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 12 , further comprising a drive shaft removably received within the first tubular connector and engaging the second tubular connector.

19. A fluid mixing system comprising:
a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment;
an elongated first tubular connector disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the first tubular connector having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first tubular connector being coupled with the flexible bag;
an elongated second tubular connector disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the second tubular connector being more rigid than the first tubular connector and having a first end coupled to the second end of the first tubular connector, a first portion of the second tubular connector having an exterior surface with a transverse cross section that is non-circular;
an impeller comprising a hub with an opening extending therethrough and a plurality of fins outwardly projecting therefrom, the first portion of the second tubular connector being slidably received within the opening of the impeller and engaging the impeller such that rotation of the second tubular connector rotates the impeller;
an annular groove encircling the second tubular connector on each opposing side of the impeller; and
a retainer received within each annular groove so as to radially outwardly project beyond the exterior surface of the second tubular connector.

20. The fluid mixing system as recited in claim 19 , wherein each retainer comprises an elastomeric O-ring.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Williams Trevor G

Classifications

• B01F15/00681 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/0085

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00691

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/001

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F2215/0073

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic