An agitator is a
device or
mechanism
Mechanism may refer to:
* Mechanism (engineering), rigid bodies connected by joints in order to accomplish a desired force and/or motion transmission
*Mechanism (biology), explaining how a feature is created
*Mechanism (philosophy), a theory that ...
to put something into
motion
In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position with respect to time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed and frame of reference to an observer and m ...
by
shaking or
stirring. There are several types of agitation machines, including
washing machine
A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, washer, or simply wash) is a home appliance used to wash laundry. The term is mostly applied to machines that use water as opposed to dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids and ...
agitators (which rotate back and forth) and magnetic agitators (which contain a magnetic bar rotating in a magnetic field). Agitators can come in many sizes and varieties, depending on the application.
In general, agitators usually consist of an
impeller
An impeller or impellor is a rotor used to increase the pressure and flow of a fluid. It is the opposite of a turbine, which extracts energy from, and reduces the pressure of, a flowing fluid.
In pumps
An impeller is a rotating componen ...
and a shaft. An impeller is a rotor located within a tube or conduit attached to the shaft. It helps enhance the pressure in order for the flow of a fluid be done.
Modern industrial agitators incorporate process control to maintain better control over the mixing process.
Washing machine agitator
In a top load
washing machine
A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, washer, or simply wash) is a home appliance used to wash laundry. The term is mostly applied to machines that use water as opposed to dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids and ...
the agitator projects from the bottom of the wash basket and creates the wash action by rotating back and forth, rolling garments from the top of the load, down to the bottom, then back up again.
There are several types of agitators with the most common being the "straight-vane" and "dual-action" agitators. The "straight-vane" is a one-part agitator with bottom and side fins that usually turns back and forth. The Dual-action is a two-part agitator that has bottom washer fins that move back and forth and a spiral top that rotates clockwise to help guide the clothes to the bottom washer fins.
The modern agitator, which is dual-action, was first made in
Kenmore Appliances
Kenmore is an American brand of household appliances sold by Sears, The brand is owned by Transformco, an affiliate of ESL Investments.
As of 2017, Kenmore products are produced by manufacturers including Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, Electrolux, P ...
washing machines in the 1980s to present. These agitators are known by the company as dual-rollover and triple-rollover action agitators.
Magnetic agitator
This is a device formed by a metallic bar (called the agitation bar) which is normally covered by a plastic layer, and a sheet that has underneath it a rotatory
magnet
A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, steel, nicke ...
or a series of
electromagnet
An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by an electric current. Electromagnets usually consist of wire wound into a coil. A current through the wire creates a magnetic field which is concentrated in ...
s arranged in a circular form to create a
magnetic rotatory field. Commonly, the sheet has an arrangement of electric resistances that can heat some chemical solutions.
During the operation of a typical magnetic agitator, the agitator bar is moved inside a container such as to dissolve a substance in a liquid. The container must be placed on the sheet, so that the magnetic field influences the agitation bar and makes it rotate. This allows it to mix different substances at high speeds.
Agitation rack
An agitation rack is a special form of agitator used to store
platelets. It is composed of a series of clasps attached to motorised bars, that rock the specimens of platelets gently back-and-forth. This prevents them from becoming activated and adhering to one another, which cannot be reversed by any current means.
See also
*
Impeller
An impeller or impellor is a rotor used to increase the pressure and flow of a fluid. It is the opposite of a turbine, which extracts energy from, and reduces the pressure of, a flowing fluid.
In pumps
An impeller is a rotating componen ...
*
Tedder
*
Mixing (disambiguation)
*
Mixing paddle
References
1
Uses of Agitators, June 26, 2012
2
Agitator, May 30, 2016
3
Agitator tank device and drag reduction agent evaluation October, 23, 2018
4
Slurry Agitators October, 23, 2018
;Specific
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Mechanical engineering
Fluid dynamics
Laundry washing equipment