Fluid mixer assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is an assembly for mixing fluids (i.e., gases or liquids), and more particularly an assembly that accurately mixes two or more high-pressure fluid sources and is adapted for use in applications, such as for example, chromatography. The mixer assembly includes, inter alia, a housing, an inlet fitting, and a mixer cartridge assembly. The housing has a fluid receiving section and a fluid discharge section with a fluid outlet formed therein. A central bore extends between the fluid receiving section and fluid discharge section. An inlet fitting is engaged with the housing and has first and second fluid inlet ports formed therein that extend from the fitting exterior to the fluid receiving section of the housing. A mixer cartridge assembly is disposed within the central bore of the housing and is positioned between the inlet fitting and the downstream end portion of the housing. The mixer cartridge assembly includes a body portion, a plurality of spheres disposed within a central mixing chamber formed in the body portion, and mechanism for retaining the spheres in the mixing chamber.

1 . A mixer assembly comprising:
 a) a housing having opposed upstream and downstream end portions, the upstream end portion including a fluid receiving section, the downstream end portion including a fluid discharge section having a fluid outlet formed therein, the mixer housing defining a central bore which extends axially between the fluid receiving section and fluid discharge section;   b) an inlet fitting engaged with the upstream end portion of the housing and having first and second fluid inlet ports formed therein that extend from the fitting exterior to the fluid receiving section of the housing; and   c) a mixer cartridge assembly disposed within the central bore of the housing and positioned between the inlet fitting and the downstream end portion of the housing, the mixer cartridge assembly including:
 i. a body portion defining a central mixing chamber and a discharge port, the central mixing chamber communicating with the fluid receiving section of the housing and the discharge port extends from the mixing chamber to the fluid outlet formed in the housing; 
 ii. a plurality of spheres disposed within the mixing chamber for facilitating the mixing of fluids received therein; and 
 iii. a mechanism for retaining the spheres within the mixing chamber. 
   
     
     
         2 . A mixer assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanisms for retaining the spheres within the mixing chamber includes a filter disc associated with an upstream end of the mixing chamber and a filter disc associated with a downstream end of the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A mixer assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a filter element axially disposed between the inlet fitting and the mixer cartridge assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A mixer assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet fitting includes a male thread series that corresponds to a female thread series formed on the upstream end portion of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . A mixer assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet ports extend at an oblique angle with respect to the mixer assembly axis. 
     
     
         6 . A mixer assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein fluid provided by the first inlet port first contacts fluid provided by the second inlet port in the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A chromatographic system comprising:
 a) a first solvent tank containing a first solvent;   b) a second solvent tank containing a second solvent;
 c) a first pump for drawing the first solvent from the first solvent tank and conditioning the first solvent to have a desired flow velocity; 
 d) a second pump for drawing the second solvent from the second solvent tank and conditioning the second solvent to have a desired flow velocity; and 
   e) a mixer assembly including:
 i. a housing having opposed upstream and downstream end portions, the upstream end portion including a fluid receiving section, the downstream end portion including a fluid discharge section having a fluid outlet formed therein, the mixer housing defining a central bore which extends axially between the fluid receiving section and fluid discharge section; 
 ii. an inlet fitting engaged with the upstream end portion of the housing and having first and second fluid inlet ports formed therein that extend from the fitting exterior to the fluid receiving section of the housing; and 
 iii. a mixer cartridge assembly disposed within the central bore of the housing and positioned between the inlet fitting and the downstream end portion of the housing, the mixer cartridge assembly including: 
   
       a body portion that defines a central mixing chamber and a discharge port, the central mixing chamber communicating with the fluid receiving section of the housing and the discharge port extends from the mixing chamber to the fluid outlet formed in the housing; 
       a plurality of spheres disposed within the mixing chamber for facilitating the mixing of fluids received therein; and 
       a mechanism for retaining the spheres within the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         8 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first pump exhibits flow transients and the size of the mixing chamber is selected based on duration of a typical flow transient. 
     
     
         9 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the mechanism for retaining the spheres within the mixing chamber includes a filter disc associated with an upstream end of the mixing chamber and a filter disc associated with a downstream end of the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a filter element axially disposed between the inlet fitting and the mixer cartridge assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the inlet fitting includes a male thread series that corresponds to a female thread series formed on the upstream end portion of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the fluid inlet ports extend at an oblique angle with respect to the mixer assembly axis. 
     
     
         13 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein fluid provided by the first inlet port first contacts fluid provided by the second inlet port in the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         14 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a column in fluid communication with the mixer assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A chromatographic system as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a chromatographic detector operatively associated with the column. 
     
     
         16 . A mixer assembly for use in a chromatographic system comprising:
 a) a housing having opposed upstream and downstream end portions, the upstream end portion including a fluid receiving section, the downstream end portion including a fluid discharge section having a fluid outlet formed therein, the mixer housing defining a central bore which extends axially between the fluid receiving section and fluid discharge section;   b) an inlet fitting engaged with the upstream end portion of the housing and having first and second fluid inlet ports formed therein that extend from the fitting exterior to the fluid receiving section of the housing;   c) a mixer cartridge assembly disposed within the central bore of the housing and positioned between the inlet fitting and the downstream end portion of the housing, the mixer cartridge assembly including:
 i. a body portion defining a central mixing chamber and a discharge port, the central mixing chamber communicates with the fluid receiving section of the housing and the discharge port extends from the mixing chamber to the fluid outlet formed in the housing; 
 ii. a plurality of spheres disposed within the mixing chamber for facilitating the mixing of fluids received therein; and 
 iii. a mechanism for retaining the spheres within the mixing chamber; and 
   d) a filter element axially disposed between the inlet fitting and the mixer cartridge assembly for conditioning fluid exiting the first and second inlet ports.   
     
     
         17 . The mixer assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the means for retaining the spheres within the mixing chamber includes a filter disc associated with an upstream end of the mixing chamber and a filter disc associated with a downstream end of the mixing chamber.