Abstract: A mixer especially for mixing materials such as cement and sand with water and with a fibrous reinforcing material such as glass fibre. The mixer consists of a tubular casing containing a skeletal rotor constructed from a plurality of rods extending longitudinally of the casing and spaced apart laterally of each other at positions circumferentially spaced apart around the axis of rotation of the rotor and the longitudinal axis of the casing. The rods are supported on end plates and a central shaft or stub shafts extending from the end plates. The rods are enveloped along at least part of the axial length of the rotor by a helical, outwardly-directed flight having widely-spaced convolutions to impart a component of movement to the mix along the inside of the tubular casing to an outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluidizing crushed, pulverized, comminuted powdered or other particulate solids, with or without added liquid, that will not flow readily under gravity, to enable this material to flow through an aperture either as an extrusion or to cause it to conform precisely to the shape of a mold, including inserting the material into the top of a hopper having an aperture at its base through which the material is discharged under gravity to a surface or into a mold, subjecting the material while in the hopper to one or more vibrators arranged to effect vibration of said material in the intended direction of flow through the hopper to cause the material to flow freely through the hopper, and effecting relative movement between the hopper and the surface or mold to effect the withdrawal of the material discharged from the hopper.