Viscous Fluid Mixer With Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mixers for viscous fluids like paints and plasters face instability and increased vibrations at higher frequencies, limiting their operational efficiency and safety, as they often require reduced mixing speeds and lack adaptive control mechanisms to handle varying container conditions.

Innovation Solution

A mixer equipped with a controller that uses vibration sensors, such as a 3-axis gyroscope and accelerometer, to adjust the mixing frequency and detect resonance, weight, and energy input, allowing for safer and more efficient operation by optimizing mixing speed and reducing vibrations, and providing real-time feedback for stability and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mixing frequency is increased to improve mixing efficiency, then productivity increases, but vibrations increase and stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoidmixer stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mixer employs dynamic balancing of the clamping mechanism, allowing the system to adapt to varying container conditions. The balancing mechanism automatically adjusts to maintain stability across different operating frequencies and container configurations, enabling high-speed operation without compromising stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses vibration sensors to continuously monitor operational conditions and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism allows the mixer to detect resonance conditions and adjust operating parameters in real-time, preventing instability while maintaining high mixing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If mixing frequency is increased to reduce mixing time, then duration of action decreases, but vibrations increase and safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing timeVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic balancing mechanism enables the system to safely operate at higher frequencies by automatically compensating for destabilizing forces. This allows reduced mixing times while maintaining safety through real-time adaptation to operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Vibration monitoring provides continuous feedback on operational safety, allowing the system to detect dangerous conditions and adjust or shut down before safety incidents occur. This enables higher operating frequencies with maintained safety through active monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If vibration sensors and adaptive control are added to handle varying container conditions, then adaptability increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer condition adaptabilityVSAvoidmixer system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic balancing mechanism serves multiple functions: it balances the clamping mechanism itself, compensates for varying container conditions, and enables operation with different container types and sizes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each condition.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the vibration sensors to automatically detect and adapt to container conditions without external intervention. The adaptive control system self-regulates operating parameters based on real-time sensor data, eliminating the need for manual adjustment or complex external control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If mixing speed is reduced to maintain stability, then vibrations decrease, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixer stabilityVSAvoidmixing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic balancing mechanism enables the system to maintain stability at higher operating speeds by automatically compensating for centrifugal and vibrational forces. This eliminates the need to reduce speed for stability, maintaining both stability and productivity simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables faster mixing with reduced vibrations, enhanced safety by preventing resonance and container issues, and improved energy efficiency by dynamically adjusting mixing parameters based on real-time vibration data, thereby shortening mixing duration and reducing the risk of incidents.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor, in particular an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope, for measuring vibrations of the clamping mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration measurement: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3157660B1Mixer for viscous fluids and method of mixing viscous fluids
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 FAST & FLUID MANAGEMENT BV
  • EP3157660B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3157660B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a mixer (1), in particular for mixing viscous fluids, such as paints and plasters, in a container, the mixer (1) comprising a frame (2), a clamping mechanism (4) for holding a container, which mechanism is transiatably and/or rotatably mounted in the frame (2), a motor (28) for transiatably and/or rotatably driving the clamping mechanism (4), a sensor (30) for measuring vibrations of the clamping mechanism (4), and a controller (29) connected to the sensor and the motor and arranged to control the motor to adjust translations and/or rotations of the clamping mechanism in dependence of the measured vibrations.