Abstract: A system and apparatus for preparing bulk quantities of dry colorant or pigment for blending with mortar are described. The system mixes the three primary pigments of black, red and yellow to prepare a batch of the dry colorant having a particular color. The pigments or dry colorant are generally a powder of metal oxide crystals. The system includes pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser includes a tote that is in flowing communication with a slider valve. The slider valve is in flowing communication with a transition piece, and the transition piece is in flowing communication with a vibratory tray having an exit opening. A receptacle receives pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays. A control unit serially operates the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote. A scale measures the weight of the pigments in the receptacle.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for preparing bulk quantities of dry colorant or pigment for blending with mortar are described. The system mixes pigments of black, red, white and yellow to prepare a batch of the dry colorant having a particular color. The pigments or dry colorant are generally a powder of metal oxide crystals. The system includes pigment dispensers, wherein each pigment dispenser includes a tote that is in flowing communication with a valve. A receptacle receives pigments from the exit opening of the vibratory trays. A control unit serially operates the vibratory trays to dispense the pigment from each tote. A scale measures the weight of the pigments in the receptacle. The scale is in operational communication with the control unit.

Abstract: A technique facilitates well servicing operations by utilizing a hopper system to introduce a dry additive into a mixing tank. The hopper system comprises a feeder and a hopper that delivers the dry additive into the feeder. The feeder, in turn, enables introduction of the dry additive into the cement mixing tank in a controlled manner. When the hopper system is used on a transportable cementing unit, the hopper system may be mounted on a cement mixing tank and also may incorporate a hopper that is both expandable to accommodate a greater amount of dry additive and contractible to facilitate transport.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for highly controlled color composition and distribution within the face mix of semi-dry concrete mix paving stones.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for mixing a liquid within a disposable aspirating probe tip so that most of the liquid is forced to move past a transition zone between two different inside diameters to cause rotational mixing. The apparatus and method can be used to provide agglutination of blood, which in turn can be used for blood typing. The probe tip can include a single integral piece, or two separate portions. The transition zone can include a sharp demarcation between inside diameters, or a smooth one.

Abstract: A method for weight blending of granular materials comprises at a remote site generating a command for desired operation of granular material weight blending apparatus; encoding said command into transportable time-stable machine readable tangible storage media; transporting said media to a bar code reader operatively connected to said granular material weight blending apparatus; scanning the tangible media having the command encoded thereon to read the command; and providing the read command as input to a in microprocessor operatively connected to said granular material weight blending apparatus for regulating operation of the same.

Abstract: A mixer for dry powder, very fine or granular materials and a liquid, e.g., mortar or cement and water, includes a dynamic input mixing stage, a static output mixing stage and a transition tube connecting the two stages in a manner which isolates the two stages from one another. The input mixing stage includes a hopper for receiving the mortar and a horizontal metering screw having a detachable mixing auger. The auger mixes the dry mortar, while the metering screw moves the mixed mortar through a discharge aperture in the hopper and into the transition tube. The metering screw extends into the transition tube for further displacing the dry mortar into the output mixing stage which includes a mixing tube having a fixed internal baffle assembly and an auger disposed along its length. A source of water is connected to the mixing tube for forming a mortar-water slurry.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing cementing material and mineral aggregate includes a container having a first chamber and a second chamber each having a top and a bottom. Cementing material is in the first chamber. Mineral aggregate is in the second chamber. An auger is attached to the bottom of the first and second chambers to receive and dispense cementing material from the first chamber and mineral aggregate from the second chamber. The mineral aggregate is dispensed at a rate different from that of the cementing material. The container includes extendable legs and is carried on a lift at the rear of a vehicle. The lift is raised to permit the container legs to be extended. After the legs are extended, the lift is lowered and the vehicle is driven away, leaving the container free-standing on its legs.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing and producing cement mixes, substantially concrete, using an endless conveyor belt movable at the base of separate containers which contain the inert materials and the cement, and a reservoir for the mixing water, to form proportioned mixes in a screw mixer, with unloading of the product simultaneously with mixing; the apparatus comprising a supporting framework, on which are supported, at least one hopper-like prism-shaped container for the inert materials with adjustable discharge openings, and, in a raised position with respect to the hopper for the inert materials, at least one hopper-shaped container with adjustable opening for the cement; an endless conveyor belt being interposed between the framework and the discharge openings of the hoppers for the inert materials and for the cement, which are aligned to each other along an inclined plane; the belt is arranged at an angle along the plane of arrangement of the discharge openings, so as to make contact with, and pass beyond, t

Abstract: A flow proportioning mixer is provided for mixing gaseous fuel and air, the mixer having therein a gas chamber adapted to discharge the gaseous fuel to a mixing channel, an air chamber adapted to direct the air into the mixing channel to mix with the fuel, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the mixing channel to define an annular passage in the channel, a pressure regulator for maintaining the pressure of the gas in the gas chamber and the air in the air chamber at a selected ratio, and a motor responsive to an engine exhaust content sensor to move the plunger in the mixing channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the production of foamed material in which the material and foam are delivered to a mixer (12) in predetermined relative proportions. The apparatus comprises a mixer (23) for mixing a foam solution and air together, and a foam generator (26) for conditioning the air and foam solution mixture and delivering the resultant foam to the mixer. The foam generator (26) comprises a plurality of foam generating chambers connected in parallel, valves (28) being provided to control the flow of air and foam solution mixture through each of the generator chambers. The volume flow rate at which foam is delivered to the mixer (12) is monitored, and the valves are controlled to direct the air and foam solution mixture through one or more of the generator chambers in dependence upon the volume flow rate such that the flow velocity of the air and foam solution mixture within the chamber or chambers is within predetermined limits.

Abstract: An improved silo and delivery system for efficiently handling dry mortar-blend compositions at construction sites is disclosed. Mortar-blend compositions are premixed to desired specifications and packaged at remote mixing stations into large bag containers that are transported to the construction site. A silo designed for uniquely servicing batch mixers is provided at the construction site for storing the premixed composition. The bag contents are emptied into the silo and are sealed therein against exposure to environmental elements. The silo contents are discharged by means of simple gravity flow on a batch-need basis into a batch mixer operatively underlying the silo.

Abstract: A modularly constructed, trailerable, skid mounted, multi-compartmented concrete mixer and cement storage silo having a plurality of longitudinally aligned, bottom mounted, driven feed chains. In a combination construction, a single motor is cooperatively coupled to the feed chains of each mixer compartment and the feed chain of the cement silo to feed the cement/sand/aggregate in metered quantities to a turreted, separately powered auger where water is added and along the length of which the concrete is mixed. A silo vent column includes a plurality of fabric collection filters and means for vibrationally removing and reclaiming the cement. Air infiltration ports mounted along the bottom of the cement silo and one or more vibrators mounted to the mixer adjacent the sand and aggregate bins prevents crusting. Alternatively, the silo may be self-powered, and/or the mixer and silo may be transported independent of one another and/or without the trailer.

Abstract: The invention consists of a centrifugal mixer with an upper rotor (3) for projection of particles, which is hard-mounted to rotor (4) allowing centrifuging of fluid (15).The invention lies in the creation of a low-pressure zone within the high-pressure zone of enclosure (23), for introduction of particles (20); this in turn requires the use of disturber (27).The result is a remarkable degree of mixing of the water and cement and has applications for oil field services.

Abstract: A measuring mixer for use with either liquids or powders in which different supply systems supply different stock liquids or powders to a receiving container from supply containers. A continuously variable flow regulator is associated with each supply container. The cumulative weight of the receiving container is measured and compared with a target weight. Then a computation section calculates a desired flow rate based upon both the deviation from the target weight and a time variation thereof. This calculation is preferably done according to fuzzy inference. The desired flow rate is then used to control a selected one of the flow regulators so that the measurement is sequentially performed between supply systems. Optionally, the receiving container can be movable between the different supply systems.

Abstract: An automatic slurry concentration control system including a mixing tank filled with a charge of slurry of solids containing water, a clear water tank for supplying clear water, a suction tube of a slurry supply pump located in an opening in a lower portion of the mixing tank, and a movable tube for adjusting the opening of the mixing tank, wherein the concentration of slurry in the suction tube can be controlled by adjusting the movable tube, is provided with a clear water control device. The clear water control device is mounted in the clear water tank for controlling the amount of clear water supplied from the clear water tank in accordance with the amount of slurry delivered from the mixing tank.

Abstract: In such batchwise production of a paving mix of mineral particles and bituminous binder, in which a coarse-grained portion of the mineral aggregate batch is first introduced in measured quantity into a container and then discharged through a discharge opening in the container, controlled by a discharge door into an asphalt mixer where the coarse-grained portion of the mineral aggregate batch is mixed with a batch of binder, whereupon the remaining, fine-grained portion of the mineral aggregate batch is introduced in measured quantity into the container and then discharged through the discharge opening into the mixer the time needed to discharge the fine-grained portion of the mineral material batch is controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for blending sand and solid additives selectively and at selected rates into water for injection into a well. The apparatus may be truck mounted, and includes a frame, an input line with manifold and pump, a mixing tank, a variable venturi nozzle for delivering water to the tank, and an output line with pump, manifold, and recycle line. An auger delivers sand to the mixing tank. Dry chemicals are fed to the tank adjacent the variable venturi nozzle where the water is turbulent, at low pressure, and in high shear. Liquid chemicals may also be pumped into the tank.

Abstract: A slurry mixing and pumping system adapted to automatically control both slurry viscosity and product output volume. Water and raw gypsum delivered to a mixing vat are thoroughly blended by a hydraulically powered agitator blade within the vat. Hydraulic pressure variations experienced by the agitator motor are translated into pneumatic viscosity control signals by a process controller. An air actuated water valve driven by the controller varies water input into the vat to effectuate vicosity correction. Means responsive to vat head level controls output volume.

Abstract: A slurry mixing and pumping system adapted to automatically control both slurry viscosity and product output volume. Water and raw gypsum delivered to a mixing vat are thoroughly blended by a hydraulically powered agitator blade within the vat. Hydraulic pressure variations experienced by the agitator motor are translated into pneumatic viscosity control signals by a process controller. An air actuated water valve driven by the controller varies water input into the vat to effectuate viscosity correction. Means responsive to vat head level controls output volume.

Abstract: The metering device of the present invention comprises a cylindrical housing having a circular top wall and a circular bottom wall. The top wall has an inlet opening therein and the bottom wall has an outlet opening therein. The outlet opening and the inlet opening each comprise only a portion of the area of the top and bottom walls, respectively.A metering wheel is rotatably mounted within the housing and includes a plurality of pockets circumferentially spaced around its rotational axis. The pockets include open upper and lower ends. A horizontal cover plate is attached to the housing above the metering wheel so as to close off the portion of the inlet opening which is located directly above the outlet opening. The material to be metered drops through the inlet opening and is carried by the rotating pockets of the metering wheel toward the outlet opening. When the material reaches the outlet opening it drops by gravity out of the metering device.

Abstract: A slurry mixing and pumping system adapted to automatically control both slurry viscosity and product output volume. Water and raw gypsum delivered to a mixing vat are thoroughly blended by a hydraulically powered agitator blade within the vat. Hydraulic pressure variations experienced by the agitator motor are translated into pneumatic viscosity control signals by a process controller. An air actuated water valve driven by the controller varies water input into the vat to effectuate viscosity correction. Means responsive to vat head level controls output volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating and mixing an asphalt-aggregate composition comprises a drum rotatable about an axis, having a mixing and heating chamber with a restricted port at one end into which a flame and hot gases of combustion are directed and through which exhaust gases concurrently pass to atmosphere. A heating means comprises a burner for directing flame and the hot gases of combustion into the chamber at the restricted port along the drum axis of rotation and which burner is adjustable relative to the port along the drum axis of rotation. A burner assembly includes an air duct having an air entrainment port located away from substantial exposure to the drum exhaust gases. The drum includes a plurality of pegs extending into the drum chamber. Heating is carried out in a rotating drum without forming a veil or curtain of particulate composition through the hot gases of combustion.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for the continuous mixing of a dry bulk material with a liquid to form a slurry. The dry material is introduced through an elongated vertical tube while the liquid is brought into an elongated cylindrical chamber around that tube in a rotary motion under pressure. The liquid with its rotary motion and being under pressure exits from an adjustable annular orifice at the same point that the dry bulk material is added to the slurry whereby the jetted liquid effects the initial mixing process while deflecting the material into a reservoir. The slurry thus formed is circulated by a suitable pumping system from the reservoir for use. The unused slurry is pumped back into the reservoir by way of a voluted shroud which envelopes the mixing portion of the initial mixing device. Centrifugal force resulting from this rotary motion of the slurry tends to pull the newly mixed slurry out into the reservoir for a continuous intimate mixing process.