초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a mixing impeller for an agitator. The impeller has a body that may be disc-shape. The impeller has a plurality of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally curved, channel-shaped outer vanes connected to and extending outwards from the body in a plurality of different d

The present invention relates to a mixing impeller for an agitator. The impeller has a body that may be disc-shape. The impeller has a plurality of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally curved, channel-shaped outer vanes connected to and extending outwards from the body in a plurality of different directions. A first one of the outer vanes has a distal end at least partially facing above the body. A second one of the outer vanes has a distal end at least partially facing below the body. A third one of the outer vanes has a distal end at least partially facing tangential to the body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A mixing impeller for an agitator, the impeller comprising: an annular body having a top, a bottom opposite the top and a central aperture;a central hub that connects with a shaft, the hub being co-axial with the central aperture of the body;a plurality of inner vanes connected to one of the top

1. A mixing impeller for an agitator, the impeller comprising: an annular body having a top, a bottom opposite the top and a central aperture;a central hub that connects with a shaft, the hub being co-axial with the central aperture of the body;a plurality of inner vanes connected to one of the top and the bottom of the body, the inner vanes having proximal ends connected to the hub and radially spaced-apart distal ends, the inner vanes positioning the hub in place, the inner vanes being configured to promote movement of liquid from the bottom of the body, through said aperture, and towards the top of the body; anda plurality of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally curved, channel-shaped outer vanes connected to and extending outwards from the body in a plurality of different directions, each of the outer vanes having a proximal end adjacent to the body and a distal end spaced-apart from the body, and each of said outer vanes being curved in a direction extending between its proximal end and its distal end. 2. The impeller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the proximal ends of the outer vanes operatively connect to the body and wherein respective one of the distal ends of the outer vanes are radially spaced-apart from corresponding respective ones of the proximal ends of the outer vanes. 3. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal end of a the first one of the outer vanes at least partially faces above the body, wherein the distal end of a second one of the outer vanes at least partially faces below the body and wherein the distal end of a third one of the outer vanes at least partially faces tangential to the body. 4. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impeller has an axis of rotation, wherein a first one of the outer vanes is configured to extend radially outwards from the body, and wherein a second one of the outer vanes is configured to extend in a part in the direction of the axis of rotation and to extend in part radially outwards from the body. 5. The impeller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer vanes are circumferentially spaced-apart about the body and wherein at least one of the outer vanes is at least partially bisected by the body. 6. The impeller as claimed in claim 2, wherein each outer vanes has a radius of curvature at its proximal end and a radius of curvature at its distal end, the radius of curvature at the proximal ends of the outer vanes being greater than the radius of curvature at the distal ends of the outer vanes. 7. The impeller as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the outer vanes has a radius of curvature at its proximal end and a radius of curvature at its distal end, the radius of curvature at the proximal ends of the outer vanes being equal to the radius of curvature at the distal ends of the outer vanes. 8. The impeller as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the outer vanes has a side that extends outwards and perpendicular from the body, a top at least partially facing the body and a bottom opposite the top, the tops and the bottoms of the outer vanes tapering towards each other as the outer vanes extend radially outwards from the body. 9. The impeller as claimed in claim 8 wherein the impeller has an axis of rotation, wherein each side of the vanes is curved and wherein the outer vanes extend in part in the direction of the axis of rotation and extend in part radially outwards from the body. 10. The impeller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the impeller has an axis of rotation, wherein each of the outer distal ends of the outer vanes is c-shaped in section, and wherein each of the outer vanes has a convex side and a concave side. 11. The impeller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the each of the outer vanes, in cross-section, forms a trapezoidal space for receiving and directing liquid therethrough. 12. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, further including a centrally disposed deflector connected to the body, the deflector having a concave frustoconical outer surface. 13. The impeller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the impeller has an axis of rotation, wherein the deflector connects to the top of the body and is configured to direct liquid in an axially downward and radially outward direction relative to the axis of rotation, and wherein the impeller has a further deflector having a concave frustoconical outer surface, the further deflector connecting to the bottom of the body and being configured to direct liquid in an axially upward and radially outward direction relative to the axis of rotation. 14. An agitator having a housing, an actuator mounted to the housing, a shaft rotatably connected to the actuator and the impeller as claimed in claim 1, the impeller being fixedly mounted to the shaft. 15. A mixing impeller for an agitator, the impeller comprising: a body having a circular outer edge;a central hub connectable to an agitator shaft, the body connecting to and extending around the hub;a plurality of radially spaced-apart, vertically-aligned connector plates connected to and extending radially outwards from said hub, the plates each having a portion that extends tangential to the outer edge of the body; anda plurality of radially spaced-apart, longitudinally curved, channel-shaped outer vanes connected to and extending outwards from the body in a plurality of different directions, each of the outer vanes having a proximal end adjacent to the body and a distal end spaced-apart from the body, each of said outer vanes being curved in a direction extending between its proximal end and its distal end, the connector plates connecting the outer vanes to the body and the vanes connecting to respective ones of said portions of the plates. 16. An agitator having a housing, an actuator mounted to the housing, a shaft rotatably connected to the actuator and the impeller as claimed in claim 15, the impeller being fixedly mounted to the shaft. 17. The mixing impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the outer vanes are configured to promote centrifugal movement of the liquid. 18. The mixing impeller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the deflector connects to the top of the body and is configured to direct liquid downward and outward towards portions of the proximal ends of the outer vanes disposed above the body, driving the flow of liquid out through the distal ends of the outer vanes.