Mixing bag or vessel with a fluid-agitating element
A vessel receives and agitates a fluid using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device. In one aspect, the vessel is a bag including a first receiver for receiving and holding a fluid-agitating element at a home location. The first receiver may be in the form of an inwardly-projecting post having an oversized portion for capturing the fluid-agitating element, but various other forms are disclosed. Use of this feature in completely rigid vessels where the fluid-agitating element is free of direct attachment from a first receiver having an oversized portion is also disclosed. In another aspect, the vessel or bag further includes a second receiver for receiving a portion of an external structure, such as a motive device, and aligning the vessel relative thereto.
1. An assembly for intended use in association with a system for pumping or mixing a fluid using a motive device, comprising:
a magnetic fluid-agitating element;
a bag for receiving the fluid-agitating element at a home location, the bag having a periphery including a flexible sidewall at least partially forming an interior compartment; and
an attachment attached to the bag, said attachment comprising a coupler for forming a coupling with the fluid-agitating element,
whereby the coupling helps ensure that the fluid-agitating element remains in the home location.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is magnetic and the coupling is a magnetic coupling.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is ferromagnetic and the coupling is a magnetic coupling.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a rigid receiver for receiving the magnetic fluid-agitating element.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises a rigid receiver for receiving the fluid-agitating element.
6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the attachment is welded to the bag.
7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the rigid receiver is selected from the group consisting of a post extending from a rigid seating plate or a recess formed in a rigid cup-shaped portion.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupler includes an opening for receiving a rigid portion of the bag.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a substantially planar surface matching a substantially planar surface of the bag.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic fluid-agitating element includes at least one blade or vane.
11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment comprises a rigid piece of material having a surface external to the interior compartment.
12. In an assembly for mixing a fluid using a fluid-agitating element having a magnetic field and at least one blade or vane positioned at a home location in a container, said fluid-agitating element being rotated by a motive device external to the container, the improvement comprising: an attachment carried by the container, the attachment including a coupler for coupling with the magnetic field, whereby the coupling when established helps ensure that the fluid-agitating element remains in the home location prior to being coupled to the external motive device.
13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the container includes a rigid portion having a first receiver for receiving the fluid-agitating element.
14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rigid portion further includes a second receiver for receiving a portion of the external motive device.
15. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coupler comprises a magnetic material.
16. An assembly for use in association with a system for pumping or mixing a fluid using a motive device, comprising:
a vessel comprising a bag for receiving the fluid, the vessel including an external surface formed in part by a flexible portion and in part by a rigid portion, the flexible and rigid portions together forming an interior compartment capable of holding the fluid;
a magnetic fluid-agitating element for agitating the fluid and positioned within the interior compartment of the vessel at a home location; and
an attachment comprising a coupler attached to the rigid portion of the vessel for holding the magnetic fluid-agitating element in place,
whereby the coupler helps ensure that the magnetic fluid-agitating element remains in the home location.
17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the coupler comprises a magnetic material for forming a magnetic coupling with the magnetic fluid-agitating element.
18. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein a first side of the rigid portion contacts the magnetic fluid-agitating element and a second side of the rigid portion contacts the coupler.
19. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the rigid portion comprises a post for receiving the magnetic fluid-agitating element.
20. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the rigid portion is welded to the bag.
21. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the rigid portion comprises a cup-shaped structure having a recess for receiving the magnetic fluid-agitating element.
22. An assembly for intended use in association with a system for pumping or mixing a fluid using a motive device, comprising:
a magnetic fluid-agitating element;
a first container comprising a bag for receiving the fluid-agitating element at a home location, the container having a periphery including a flexible sidewall at least partially forming a first interior compartment, said first container further having an external surface;
an attachment for holding the magnetic fluid-agitating element in place at a home location within the first container; and
a second container having a second interior compartment for receiving the first container, said second container supporting the first container and the attachment;
whereby the attachment helps ensure that the fluid-agitating element remains in the home location relative to the first and second containers.
23. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein the first container includes a rigid portion for contacting the attachment.
24. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein the attachment comprises a magnetic material for coupling with the magnetic fluid-agitating element.
25. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein the second container is more rigid than the flexible sidewall of the first container.
26. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein the attachment comprises a coupler positioned within the interior compartment of the second container, between an external surface of the first container and an interior surface of the second container.
27. An assembly for intended use in association with a system for pumping or mixing a fluid, comprising:
an agitator for agitating the fluid;
a mixing bag having an interior compartment for receiving the fluid, said mixing bag including a rigid receiver for receiving the agitator; and
a coupler external to the interior compartment of the mixing bag for forming a magnetic coupling with the agitator.
28. The assembly of claim 27 , further including a driver for driving the agitator, said driver adapted for forming a non-contact coupling with the agitator.
29. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the driver comprises a magnet.
30. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein the driver comprises an electromagnet.
31. The assembly of claim 27 , wherein the rigid receiver includes a retainer for retaining the agitator.
32. An assembly for intended use in association with a system for pumping or mixing a fluid using a motive device, comprising:
a magnetic fluid-agitating element;
a bag for receiving the fluid-agitating element at a home location, the bag having a periphery including a flexible sidewall at least partially forming an interior compartment; and
means for forming a coupling with the fluid-agitating element, said means for forming being attached to the bag;
whereby the coupling helps ensure that the fluid-agitating element remains in the home location.
33. The assembly of claim 32 , wherein the means for forming a coupling comprises a coupler for forming a magnetic coupling with the magnetic fluid-agitating element.