GB2129322A

GB2129322A - Detachable stirring device

Info

Publication number: GB2129322A
Application number: GB08230160A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Joseph Kemple
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-22
Filing date: 1982-10-22
Publication date: 1984-05-16

Abstract

An automatic stirring device for a container comprises an electric motor 29 driving an agitator within the container. The agitator may be adjustable in height 25 and radius 26 to fit various sizes of container. The electric motor may be battery or mains power and a timer may also be provided to switch the motor off or to provide an alarm. The motor may be supported on the container wall top, with movement caused by wheels 30 or is supported by a lid or framework on the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An automatic stirring device The invention relates to automatic stirring devices.

There are many situations where materials, usually liquids, in containers require to be stirred for prolonged periods. This may simply arise due to the extent of agitation required to make the material homogeneous, such as in the case of stirring paint, or may rise through the necessity of stirring the material continuously while some other process is taking place, for example in cooking. Such continuous stirring by hand can be tedious, and the present invention provides a device which may be readily fitted to a container so as to effect stirring of the contents of the container automatically for any length of time.

Accordingly, the invention provides an automatic stirring device comprising a movable agitator, means for detachably mounting the agitator on a container in such a manner that the agitator extends into the container so that at least a part thereof will be surrounded by material within the container, and power means for imparting agitating movement to the agitator.

Preferably the agitator is rotatable, in which case the power means may be arranged to impart continuous rotation, intermittent rotation or reciprocating rotary movement to the agitator.

The power means may be directly coupled to the agitator so as to form a single unit therewith.

The power means may comprise a motor, such as a clockwork motor or an electric motor. In the case of an electric motor this may be powered by batteries incorporated within the aforesaid unit, or it may be powered from an external supply of electricity, such as the mains supply.

The means for mounting the agitator on the container may comprise one or more support elements arranged, in use, to extend across the upper edges of the walls of the container, to which support element or elements the agitator is connected. For example, there may be provided a support element in the form of a lid which extends across the top of the container and serves as a cover for the container, while the stirring device is in use, as well as providing a support for the device. In the case where the power means and the agitatorform a unit they are preferably mounted on opposite sides of the lid and are interconnected by a shaft passing through the lid.

In an alternative arrangement, the means for mounting the agitator on the container comprise a device engageable with the upper edges of the walls of the container and movable along said edges when the agitator is disposed within the container, thereby to effect rotation of the agitator within the container, the aforesaid power means being arranged to effect said movement of the device around the walls of the container. For example, the device may be formed with bearing means engageable with the walls of the container and one or more rotatable drive wheels engageable with the wall of the container and rotatable by the power means.

The agitator is preferably adjustable in depth and/or in width with respect to the container, whereby it may be adjusted according to the internal dimensions of the container. For example, where the agitator is rotatable it may be adjustable both longitudinally of its axis of rotation and radially thereof.

The stirring device may incorporate a timer which can be set for a predetermined period of operation of the power means, and a visual and/audible alarm may be connected to the timer and arranged to operate when the present period has expired.

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section through an automatic-stirring device according to the invention fitted to a cooking pot, and Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing an alternative form of device.

Referring to Figure 1: the cooking pot 10 is of conventional design having a generally cylindrical peripheral wall 11 extending from a flat bottom 1 3 and having an annular upper edge 1 2.

The stirring device comprises a generally circular lid 14 on which is mounted a casing 15 enclosing a motor and a timer having an indicating dial 16.

The motor within the casing 1 5 is connected by a shaft passing through the lid 14 to an agitator 1 7 which comprises a vertical arm 18 and a radial arm 1 9. The vertical arm 1 8 is adjustable vertically on the shaft of the motor by means of a screw clamp 20, and a similar screw clamp 21 permits radial adjustment of the arm 19 which comprises a portion 22 slidable within a hollow sleeve 23.

In operation, after the pot 10 has been filled with the foodstuff to be cooked, the lid 14 is put in position, the agitator 17 first having been adjusted so that the arm 1 9 is at a desired position within the pot. The timer is set and the motor started whereupon the agitator 1 7 rotates and continues to rotate until the period of time set on the timer has elapsed.

The motor within the casing may be of any convenient form and may, for example, be a clockwork motor or electric motor. In the case of an electric motor this may be driven by batteries also housed within the casing 15, or there may be provided electric flex for connection to the mains supply.

The timer is preferably arranged to switch off or otherwise stop the motor when the present time has elapsed. Alternatively, or additionally, it may be arranged to operate an audible and/or visual alarm. The alarm may also be mounted within the casing 1 5 or the device may be connected to a separate remote electrically operated alarm, for example an alarm fitted to the cooker.

The lid 14 may be of such a size that it may be used with pots of various size. Alternatively it may be adjustable in diameter, for example being formed from overlapping parts or constructed in concertina fashion from resilient material.

The lid may have means (not shown) for securely clamping it to the upper edges of the pot.

The lid may be sealed to these upper edges in which case it may be desirable to provide operating vents in the lid.

Instead of the stirring device being supported on a lid which covers the pot, it may simply be supported by any framework or other structure which rests across the open top of the pot. For example the device may be mounted at the intersection of two cross beams.

The agitator 17 may be formed from any suitable material but is, of course, preferably heat resistant to withstand cooking temperatures. In order to dislodge material from the sides or base of the pot when the stirrer is in operation, the agitator may be provided with flexible scrapers or brushes, as indicated at 24, on the bottom and end of the agitator Although in the arrangement shown the agitator comprises only a single radially extending arm, it will be appreciated that any number and arrangement of arms may be employed. For example several vertically and angularly spaced arms may be provided on a single central shaft. The arms may be vented or fluted to reduce the resistance to movement of the agitator through the material within the pot.

In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 2, the agitator comprises a central vertical shaft 25 having adjustable radial arms 26 at the lower end thereof and, if required, vertically and angularly spaced arms 27 connected at other points to the shaft 25. A horizontal extension 28 extends radially from the upper end of the shaft 25 and is connected to a housing 29. The housing 29 is provided with bearings which allow it to straddle the upper periphery of the encircling wall of the pot 10 and a motor within the casing 29 transmits a drive to wheels 30 which engage the inner and outer surfaces respectively of the wall.

The arrangement is such that, when the device is switched on, rotation of the wheels 30 causes the housing 29 to "walk" round the upper periphery of the pot, thus rotating the shaft 25 and the arms 26, 27. The horizontal arm 28 is preferably adjustable in length so that the shaft 25 may be positioned on the central vertical axis of the pot.

Instead of the shaft 25 being disposed on the central vertical axis as shown, it may be positioned nearer the peripheral wall of the pot as indicated in dotted lines at 31 in Figure 2.

The device shown in Figure 2 may also have any of the other features, such as a timer or alarm, referred to in relation to the Figure 1 embodiment.

Although the invention has been described in relation to the stirring of cooking pots, it will be appreciated that devices similar to those described will be suitable for stirring any liquid or similar material in a container.

Claims

1. An automatic stirring device comprising a movable agitator, means for detachably mounting the agitator on a container in such a manner that the agitator extends into the container so that at least a part thereof will be surrounded by material within the container, and power means for imparting agitating movement to the agitator.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the agitator is rotatable, the power means being arranged to impart continuous rotation, intermittent rotation or reciprocating rotary movement to the agitator.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the power means is directly coupled to the agitator so as to form a single unit therewith.

4. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power means comprise a clockwork motor or an electric motor.

5. A device according to claim 3 and claim 4, wherein the power means is an electric motor powered by batteries incorporated within the aforesaid unit.

6. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for mounting the agitator on the container comprise one or more support elements arranged, in use, to extend across the upper edges of the walls of the container, to which support element or elements the agitator is connected.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein there is provided a support element in the form of a lid which extends across the top of the container and serves as a cover for the container, while the stirring device is in use, as well as providing a support for the device.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the power means and the agitator form a unit and are mounted on opposite sides of the lid and are interconnected by a shaft passing through the lid.

9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for mounting the agitator on the container comprise a device engageable with the upper edges of the walls of the container and movable along said edges when the agitator is disposed within the container, thereby to effect rotation of the agitator within the container, the aforesaid power means being arranged to effect said movement of the device around the walls of the container.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the device is formed with bearing means engageable with the walls of the container and one or more rotatable drive wheels engageable with the wall of the container and rotatable by the power means.

1 A device according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the agitator is adjustable in depth and/or in width with respect to the container, whereby it may be adjusted according to the internal dimensions of the container.

12. A device according to claim 1 wherein the agitator is rotatable and is adjustable both longitudinally of its axis of rotation and radially thereof.

13. A device according to any of claims 1 to 12 and incorporating a timer which can be set for a predetermined period of operation of the power means, a visual and/or audible alarm being connected to the timer and arranged to operate when the preset period has expired.

14. An automatic stirring device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.