Apparatus for stirring hydrogel particles of water-soluble polymer

Abstract

Apparatus for stirring hydrogel particles of a water-soluble polymer made as a tank defined by a drum within which is housed an inner drum. Water-soluble polymers are introduced through a top opening in the tank into an annular space defined by the inner wall surfaces of the tank and the outer wall surfaces of the inner drum. The water-soluble polymer contents in the annular space are stirred by vanes mounted on a corresponding vertically disposed driven arms. The vanes have leading surfaces advanced in different circular paths within the annular space. One of the vane stirring arms and vane thereon is disposed to travel along a circular path in the vicinity of the inner surfaces of the tank and the other stirring arm vane and corresponding vane are advanced along a circular path in the vicinity of the outer wall surfaces of the inner drum. The leading surfaces of the vanes are disposed at an angle relative to a corresponding radial plane passing the annular space within which the water-soluble polymer contents are stirred. The vanes urge the contents inwardly of the space away from the inner wall surfaces of the tank and outer wall surfaces of the inner drum respectively. The leading surfaces can be disposed to effectively urge the contents being stirred upwardly away from the bottom by an upward component of the force applied upon advancement of the vanes.