Colloidal Mixer With Decoupled Drives For Viscosity Adaptation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing colloidal mixers struggle to maintain adequate mixing quality when starting materials or their properties change, particularly with high-density suspensions of solids and low bulk density, due to the coupling of premixing and dispersing tools which limits their ability to handle a wide range of viscosities.

Innovation Solution

A colloidal mixer design with rotationally decoupled premixing and dispersing devices, each driven by separate motors, allowing for independent speed control and operation, enabling effective mixing of low to high viscosity suspensions and dispersions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the premixing device and dispersing device are coupled and driven by a common drive unit, then the device complexity is reduced and the structure is simplified, but the mixing quality deteriorates when handling suspensions with varying viscosities and densities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidmixing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mixer is divided into two functionally independent units: a premixing device with its own drive unit for rough mixing of solids into liquid, and a dispersing device with a separate drive unit for colloidal breakdown. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function and operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and mixing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the dispersing device operates at high speed for effective colloidal breakdown, then the dispersing efficiency is improved, but the premixing device cannot effectively stir in solids of low bulk density due to the coupled high-speed operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispersing efficiencyVSAvoidpremixing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs two independently controllable drive units that can operate at different speeds simultaneously. The dispersing device can rotate at high speed for effective colloidal breakdown while the premixing device operates at a lower, optimized speed for gently stirring in low-density solids, allowing both functions to perform optimally without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single mixer design is used for all viscosity ranges, then the device versatility is improved, but the mixing quality deteriorates for specific viscosity ranges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviscosity range coverageVSAvoidmixing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dual-device system with independently controlled drive units creates a universal mixer capable of handling suspensions across a wide viscosity range. By adjusting the speed and operational parameters of each drive unit separately, the system can adapt to low-viscosity, high-viscosity, and intermediate viscosity applications, maintaining high mixing quality across all ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2363200B1Colloidal mixer and method, in particular for preparing building materials
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 MAT MISCHANLAGENTECHN
  • EP2363200B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2363200B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a colloidal mixer and a method for processing building materials with a mixing trough (10) in which a premixing device (20) and a dispersing device (30) are arranged, and drive means (40, 50) for actuating the premixing device (20) and the dispersing device (30). The premixing device (20) and the dispersing device (30) are rotationally decoupled. For independent actuation of the premixing device (20) and the dispersing device (30), two separate drives (40, 50) are arranged, one drive (40) being for the premixing device (20) and a second drive (50) being for the dispersing device (30).