Helical Blade

The helical sweep blade is used in conjunction with scrapers to help move the product off the tank wall and combine it with material in the center of the tank. It also includes two spiral risers that extend from the bottom horizontal stabilizer to the top of the vertical up right on the opposing side of the blade. These risers allow the helical blade to move high viscosity material in the batch toward the high-speed blade. The helical sweep blade allows the operator to choose between a clockwise direction (pushing material up) and a counterclockwise direction (pushing material down).

These options have a dramatic effect on the batch, when the helical blade is pushing downward a long slot is formed on the leeward side of the helical riser allowing powders to fall in. This is very helpful when adding powders to a batch of high viscosity material. Once powders have fallen into the slot behind the helical riser, the second helical riser pushes the material even farther down into the batch. When this powder reaches the bottom of the tank it is forced towards the middle of the tank and into the path of the high-speed disperser. On the other hand, when the helical blade is rotating in a clockwise direction it brings material up from the bottom of the tank and forces it to the top of the batch. This upward movement is especially useful when pulling vacuum on a batch to remove entrapped air.