Littleford Day, Incorporated

Ricky D Kesig

Michael J Stokes

Michael J Middendorf

Corey L Dziech

An apparatus for cooling material, such as a PVC compound, includes a chamber having an inner surface and an inner space configured for receiving material to be cooled. A rotatable shaft extends through the chamber inner space, and is operable for being rotated by a motor. At least one mixing tool is coupled to the shaft to rotate with the shaft, and mix the material while rotating around the inner surface of the chamber so the material contacts the inner surface to be cooled thereby. In one embodiment, the mixing tool includes a flexible blade configured for contacting the chamber inner surface and for sweeping across a portion of the inner surface to dislodge an amount of material from the surface portion. Another embodiment utilizes an air knife to dislodge material from the inner chamber surface. The motor is operable for rotating the shaft at a speed in the range of 150 to 250 rpm to sweep the material from the inner surface.

Apparatus and method for improved processing of PVC

A mixer for mixing and processing materials comprises a mixing chamber with an inner space configured for receiving material to be mixed. An elongated rotatable mixing shaft extends through the chamber inner space and has a stub end and a drive end positioned proximate opposing ends of the mixing chamber. A non-rotatable stub shaft extends through an opening in the end of the mixing chamber and is coupled to the chamber end for linear translation therethrough. The stub shaft is generally prevented from rotating in the chamber end. The stub end of the mixing shaft is rotatably coupled to the stub shaft within the inner space for rotating in the mixing chamber without extending through the end of the chamber. A static seal structure is coupled between the stub shaft and the end of the mixing chamber for sealing the chamber inner space from the environment outside of the mixing chamber. The seal structure is operable for moving with the linear translation of the stub shaft for maintaining the seal during translation.

Mixer apparatus and method with improved shaft stub end seal structure

A mixer for mixing and processing materials comprises a mixing chamber with a mixing space therein, an elongated rotatable mixing shaft extending through the mixing space, and a drive apparatus for rotating the shaft. At least one mixing element is coupled to the elongated shaft for being rotated to mix material. A chopper assembly comprises a chopper shaft and at least one chopper blade coupled to the shaft to be rotated thereby for chopping material being mixed in the mixing space. The chopper blade comprises an elongated blade body with at least one cutting edge, and an edge plate is formed of a wear resistant material and mounted to the cutting edge of the chopper blade to overlie the cutting edge, the edge plate being wider than the cutting edge to prevent premature wear of the cutting edge.

Mixer apparatus with improved chopper assembly

A horizontal mixer for mixing and processing materials includes a horizontally disposed mixing chamber and an elongated rotatable mixing shaft extending longitudinally through the chamber. The drive apparatus is coupled to a drive of the mixing shaft to rotate the shaft and mix material placed in the chamber. A stub end of the shaft has a bearing portion extending through an end wall of the chamber opposite the drive end of the shaft. The bearing portion engages a sleeve bearing which is operable for rotatably supporting the stub end proximate the end wall opening. A sealing shroud is coupled proximate the sleeve bearing and covers an outer portion of the shaft stub end. A static shroud seal is coupled with the sealing shroud at an interface between the shroud and the sleeve bearing. The static shroud is maintained out of direct contact with the rotatable shaft stub end. The sealing shroud and static shroud effectively isolate the shaft stub such that leakage between the chamber and the outside atmosphere is generally prevented.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Ricky D Kesig