Wing type agitator

Abstract

An agitator carriage is supported and powered for oscillatory movement along the length of an elongated vat, i.e. from end-to-end of the vat. A pair of stirring blades are supported from the carriage, one stirring blade depending into the vat from each side of the carriage. Each stirring blade is supported to move through a generally circular path in a vertical plane, and the blades are powered independently of the carriage drive. The stirring blade movement has both a vertical and horizontal component as it moves in the vat. The speed of movement of both the carriage and the blades can be varied, independently one from the other, so that the blades, as they move longitudinally of the vat, can be made to define, in the vertical planes of movement, loops varying from generally circular to smaller loops approaching a generally undulating path.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, a vat having a bottom wall, spaced vertical side walls and an open top,   a carriage,   means supporting said carriage for horizontal movement relative to said vat generally parallel to said side walls,   a stirring blade assembly extending through said open top into said vat, said stirring blade assembly including a blade member,   means connecting said blade assembly to said carriage for horizontal movement therewith and for oscillating movement in a vertical plane relative to said carriage and said vat,   said means connecting said blade assembly to said carriage including a rotatable crank arm connected to and rotatably driven by said drive means for said blade assembly,   an elongated support arm connected to said blade member,   means pivotally connecting said support arm to said crank arm,   and guide means connected to said support arm and said carriage and movable with said carriage, said guide means supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis while permitting sliding movement of said support arm relative thereto so that as said support arm is raised and lowered by said crank arm said support arm can also pivot in a vertical plane generally about the pivot axis of said guide means and oscillate in a horizontal direction, .Iadd.     said guide means including an elongated rod,   means connecting said elongated rod for swinging movement about said horizontal axis,   and sleeve means connected to said support arm and surrounding said elongated rod for sliding movement thereon,   said sleeve means and said support arm oscillating vertically on said elongated rod as said crank arm is rotated with said elongated rod also swinging about said horizontal axis, .Iaddend.     and drive means for moving said carriage horizontally relative to said vat and for oscillating said blade assembly vertically so that said carriage and said blade assembly can be moved horizontally through a process medium in said vat with said blade assembly also moving vertically.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means connecting said blade assembly to said carriage is operative to impart a generally circular movement to said blade assembly as said blade assembly is oscillated in said vertical plane. 
     
     
       3. .[.The combination of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises.]. .Iadd.Apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, a vat having a bottom wall, spaced vertical side walls and an open top,   a carriage,   means supporting said carriage for horizontal movement relative to said vat generally parallel to said side walls,   a stirring blade assembly extending through said open top into said vat, said stirring blade assembly including a blade member,   means connecting said blade assembly to said carriage for horizontal movement therewith and for oscillating movement in a vertical plane relative to said carriage and said vat,   said means connecting said blade assembly to said carriage including a rotatable crank arm connected to and rotatably driven by said drive means for said blade assembly,   an elongated support arm connected to said blade member,   means pivotally connecting said support arm to said crank arm,   and guide means connected to said support arm and said carriage and movable with said carriage, said guide means supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis while permitting sliding movement of said support arm relative thereto so that as said support arm is raised and lowered by said crank arm said support arm can also pivot in a vertical plane generally about the pivot axis of said guide means and oscillate in a horizontal direction, .Iaddend.     said guide means comprising roller means engaging said support arm intermediate said blade member and the connection of said support arm to said crank arm, said guide means supporting said support arm for sliding movement of said support arm relative to said guide means and, during said sliding movement, said roller means maintaining continuous engagement with said support arm and pivoting about said axis, .Iadd.   and drive means moving said carriage horizontally relative to said vat and for oscillating said blade assembly vertically so that said carriage and said blade assembly can be moved horizontally through a process medium in said vat with said blade assembly also moving vertically. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said carriage and blade assemblies have separate drive sources and each drive source is independently variable.  .[.5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises an elongated rod,   means connecting said elongated rod for swinging movement about said horizontal axis,   and sleeve means connected to said support arm and surrounding said elongated rod for sliding movement thereon,   said sleeve means and said support arm oscillating vertically on said elongated rod as said crank arm is rotated with said elongated rod also   
     
     
        swinging about said horizontal axis..]. 6. The combination of claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said carriage and blade assemblies have separate drive sources and each drive source is independently variable. 
     
     
           Apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated vat having a bottom wall, spaced vertical side walls, closed ends, and an open top,   means defining an elongated track above and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vat,   a carriage engaged on said track,   first drive means for moving said carriage along said track,   a blade assembly connected to said carriage for movement therewith and extending from said carriage through the open top of and into said vat,   second drive means supported on said carriage for movement therewith and including a crank arm rotatable in a vertical plane,   said blade assembly including an elongated support arm pivotally connected to and rotatable with said crank arm and a blade member connected to the portion of said support arm in said vat,   and guide means connected to said carriage for movement therewith and having a generally fixed position relative to said carriage while being generally pivotable about a horizontal axis and engaging said support arm, said support arm connected for sliding movement relative to said guide means while pivoting about said horizontal axis as said support arm is driven by said crank arm, .Iadd.   said guide means comprising, an elongated rod,   means connecting said elongated rod for swinging movement about said horizontal axis,   and sleeve means connected to said support arm and surrounding said elongated rod for sliding movement thereon,   said sleeve means and said support arm oscillating vertically on said elongated rod as said crank arm is rotated and said elongated rod also swinging about said horizontal axis, .Iaddend.     whereby said blade member is propelled through a process medium in said vat   
     
     
        and oscillates vertically as well as horizontally. 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said first and second drive means are independently adjustable to vary the speed of said carriage independent of that of the 
     
     
        oscillating movement of said blade member. 9. .[.The combination of claim 8 wherein.]. .Iadd.Apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated vat having a bottom wall, spaced vertical side walls, closed ends, and an open top,   means defining an elongated track above and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vat,   a carriage engaged on said track,   first drive means for moving said carriage along said track,   a blade assembly connected to said carriage for movement therewith and extending from said carriage through the open top of and into said vat,   second drive means supported on said carriage for movement therewith and including a crank arm rotatable in a vertical plane,   said blade assembly including an elongated support arm pivotally connected to and rotatable with said crank arm and a blade member connected to the portion of said support arm in said vat,   and guide means connected to said carriage for movement therewith and having a generally fixed position relative to said carriage while being generally pivotable about a horizontal axis and engaging said support arm, said support arm connected for sliding movement relative to said guide means while pivoting about said horizontal axis as said support arm is driven by said crank arm, .Iaddend.   said guide means includes roller means engaging said support arm intermediate said blade member and the connection of said support arm to said crank arm,   said guide arms supporting said support arm for sliding movement of said support arm relative to said guide means and, during said sliding movement, said roller means maintaining continuous engagement with said support arm and pivoting about said axis, .Iadd.   whereby said blade member is propelled through a process medium in said vat   
     
     
        and oscillates vertically as well as horizontally. .Iaddend. .[.10.  The combination of claim 8 wherein said guide means comprises an elongated rod,   means connecting said elongated rod for swinging movement about said horizontal axis,   and sleeve means connected to said support arm and surrounding said elongated rod for sliding movement thereon,   said sleeve means and said support arm oscillating vertically on said elongated rod as said crank arm is rotated and said elongated rod also   
     
     
        swinging about said horizontal axis..]. 11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said blade assembly depends from one side of said carriage and including a second blade assembly connected to said carriage for movement therewith and extending from said carriage through the open top of and into said vat from the opposite side of said carriage,   a second crank arm connected to said second drive means and rotatable in a vertical plane,   said second blade assembly including a second elongated support arm pivotally connected to and rotatable with said second crank arm and a blade member connected to the portion of said second support arm in said vat,   and second guide means connected to said carriage for movement therewith, said first and second guide means having a fixed position relative to said carriage, said guide means being pivotal about a horizontal axis and each engaging said first and second support arms intermediate the ends thereof with said support arms sliding relative to said guide means while pivoting about said horizontal axis as said support arms are driven by said crank arms,   whereby said blade members are propelled through a process medium in said   
     
     
        vat and move vertically as well as horizontally. 12. The combination of claim 7 wherein said blade assembly depends from one side of said carriage and including a second blade assembly connected to said carriage for movement therewith and extending from said carriage through the open top of and into said vat from the opposite side of said carriage,   a second crank arm connected to said second drive means and rotatable in a vertical plane,   said second blade assembly including a second elongated support arm pivotally connected to and rotatable with said second crank arm and a blade member connected to the portion of said second support arm in said vat,   and second guide means connected to said carriage for movement therewith,   said first and second guide means each comprise an elongated rod,   means connecting said elongated rod for swinging movement abut said horizontal axis,   and sleeve means connected to said support arm and surrounding said elongated rod for sliding movement thereon,   said sleeve means and said support arm oscillating vertically on said elongated rod as said crank arm is rotated and said elongated rod also swinging about said horizontal axis,     whereby said blade members are propelled through a process medium in said   
     
     
        vat and move vertically as well as horizontally. 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said first and second drive means are independently adjustable to vary the speed of said carriage independent of that of the 
     
     
        vertical oscillating movement of said first and second blade members. 14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said blade assemblies each include a blade having a horizontal and a vertical extension,   and means supporting said blade for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis generally normal to the direction of horizontal movement of said   
     
     
        blade assembly. 15. The combination of claim 7 wherein said blade assembly includes a blade having a horizontal and a vertical extension,   and means supporting said blade for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis generally normal to the direction of horizontal movement of said blade assembly.