Tank agitator

[stonewellmark]

Im trying to figure this out. I want to install an agitator shaft horizontaly through a 500 gal. poly tank (tank approx.1/2" thick poly). How can I do this, there are square flat areas on both ends that can hold a square flange bearing but how do I seal the shaft on the inside so as water doesn't get to the bearing and leak through it?? Any ideas.....maybe a pump seal, but what holds that...

 

[Schurkey]

Re: Tank agitatir

The last time I needed a drum of liquid agitated, I shoved a copper tube into it, and added low-pressure compressed air. The bubbles did the agitation.

 

[racingtadpole]

Could you not do it from the top only, like giant cake mixer. Nothing needs to be sealed then.

 

[srmofo]

You will need more than just regular bearings. Think about a water pump shaft. Imho, youre going about this the wrong way. Compressed air will be the easiest, just make sure the tank is vented well. If you create an L shaped piece of pipe to go down and across the tank out will create the same swirl as the horizontal shaft.

 

[gorilla]

You will need a piece of plate machined to hold a lip seal to seal the shaft, the plate will need a gasket to prevent it from leaking and the bolts will need to be sealed with RTV or something to keep them from leaking. Not a big deal if you have a mill or a lathe.

 

[hawkeye2]

What about a small pump with the inlet and outlet both in the tank?

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

We do it all the time. We just make a plate with a simple lip seal pressed into it and bolt it (with a gasket) between the tank and the bearing. We do this on equipment that runs upwards of 200* water and is cleaned with some pretty nasty chemicals.

 

[brianpgriset]

What is the tank diameter? If the shaft is too long and has lots of deflection it might be hard for the lip seal to work properly if the shaft is bouncing around. Might want to consider making your seal bore deep enough to hold two lip seal and pack the space between with a water resistant grease like Mobil xhp222.

 

[stonewellmark]

Its for a hydroseeder, trying to make my own mechanical agitator. I was thinking about milling the plate idea, but would a normal lip seal work? The shaft diameter is up to me, tank length is about 5ft. It currently is a "jet" agitated machine: pump pulls in slurry and pumps it back into machine...not that great but not bad either. You know how it is gotta make it better. Thanks for the input so far guys

 

[CarterKraft]

I would think a inboard boat type stuffing box would be easy to make for the shaft size you come up with. You could use rope or similar material and grease to seal it off.

 

[stonewellmark]

Thanks CarterKraft, that looks like it would work, I can use pipe and plate to make the stuffing box, were would you recommend the grease fitting to go?

 

[imnidiot2]

On some of the pumps I work on, there is a "lantern ring" about halfway in the stuffing box that lines up with a grease port. You should be able to get one at a pump shop.

 

[CarterKraft]

Well not sure at the speeds you are gonna run you'll even need a zerk, just grease the packing when installed. the issue would be squeazing the grease through the packing to the shaft surface with out putting too much pressure on the gland.

Check out this site for some ideas.
Buck Algonquin