Patent · US Expired

Impeller with folding blade and method for using the same

US6076958A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
25References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 30, 1999
Grant dateJun 20, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01F33/50
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An impeller mixer assembly is provided for stirring a radioactive material in a vessel having a combination of liquid and solid substances, until that combination turns into a liquid slurry that can be pumped out of the vessel. The impeller mixing assembly includes a folding blade assembly for stirring the radioactive material in the vessel. The folding blade assembly has a folded position when a mixing shaft assembly is not rotating, and an open position when the mixing shaft and the folding blade assembly are rotated at a predetermined speed and the folding blade assembly is submerged in the radioactive substance. A method is provided for stirring a radioactive material in a vessel having a combination of liquid and solid substances, until that combination turns into a liquid slurry that can be pumped out of the vessel. The method includes providing an impeller mixer assembly having a folding blade assembly disposed at an end of a mixing shaft assembly, where the mixing shaft assembly is rotatable by a motor and the folding blade assembly includes an open position and a folded position. The end of the mixing shaft assembly having the folding blade assembly disposed at the end in …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.