Abstract: A high capacity blender has been devised which is adaptable for use in achieving the proper blend of liquid-to-liquid or liquid-to-solid constituents making up a gel composition for use in fracturing oil and gas well formations in which a high speed impeller is mounted for rotation concentrically within an outer casing and has a solids inlet which is isolated from the liquid inlet. A series of liquid inlet apertures are disposed in outer concentric surrounding relation to the impeller, and impeller vanes within the impellers are operative to impart a centrifugal force to solids introduced therein whereby to direct the solids and materials radially and outwardly under considerable force into the liquid stream which is directed axially along the inner wall of a mixing chamber.

Abstract: The invention refers to fibre reinforced shotcrete and it more particularly resides in an improved method for manufacturing structures of such concrete by means of shotcrete. According to the new method a dry mixture of a binding agent and ballast is supplied with chopped fibrous reinforcing material through a feed opening located in the spraying nozzle of the spraying apparatus upstream from the position in which water is added to the mixture.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrical canister is oriented in an upright position with its fill hole directed upwardly, and hydraulic cement is loaded into the top of this canister. The canister is then tipped on its side and connected via a swivel coupling to a suction line and to a line through which a radioactive-waste slurry may be fed. The interior of the canister is then evacuated and the canister is rotated about a horizontal axis passing through this swivel coupling. Radioactive waste is then sucked into the canister by the subatomospheric pressure therein and is intimately mixed with cement already inside the canister by inwardly projecting mixing vanes provided inside the canister.

Abstract: A slurry reclamation system for use with a concrete ready-mix plant which enables 100% reclamation of the constituents of concrete mix returned to the plant site by vehicles.Returned concrete mix is dumped into an inlet hopper having a screw classifier for removing aggregate and coarse sand, and a weired channel enabling gravity flow of the water, cement fines and sand fines constituents into a slurry vessel. The slurry in the vessel naturally separates into clarified water and concentrated slurry, and agitators are provided for periodically stirring up the slurry to maintain the cement fines active. The slurry vessel is sized in such a manner as to guarantee complete consumption of slurry returned during a day's production by the end of the following production day, the volumetric capacity of the vessel being related to the total average volume of water used to produce fresh concrete during a representative production day.

Abstract: A mixing device comprises a hollow drum formed by a shell of substantially constant thickness and defining generally a body of revolution, preferably cylindrical, spheroidal or ellipsoidal. The drum includes internal vanes which are defined by corresponding grooves extending inwardly from the external surface of the drum, each groove having detachably positioned therein a comb of spikes. An opening is provided in one axial end of the drum by means of which the interior of the drum can be filled with and emptied of material. A handle is pivotally connected to the drum so that the drum is rollable along a supporting surface and rotatable relative to the handle about an axis coincident with the axis of said body of revolution during which rolling the vanes agitate the material within the drum. A spraying attachment can also be provided which includes a sprayer head connected to the interior of the drum by way of a pipe.

Abstract: A mixing and agitating device specifically designed to mix a dry solid particle material such as cement with a liquid such as water in a high energy manner so as to provide a predetermined degree of hydration above that normally required in the formation of concrete or like cementitious material. A casing defining a container has on the interior thereof a plurality of agitating assemblies rotatably connected within the container and specifically structured and configured to provide a direction of material flow which is concurrently rotational about the axis of rotation of the agitating assemblies as well as along the substantial length of the container between the various spaced apart agitating assemblies so as to define a shear flow of the material resulting in a substantially constant and consistent viscosity and a predetermined degree of hydration, of the initially dry solid particles.

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 washing a mixing container or tube includes a network of piping mounted within the tub. The piping is interconnected to a pumping system operable for delivering a washing fluid, such as a liquid, to the piping. The piping includes spray outlets which may be selectively directed toward walls and internal components of the tub for Washing residue therefrom. The washing liquid may be retained within the tub as a portion of the liquid required for a subsequent mixing operation.

Abstract: Apparatus of the invention includes a dispenser for mixing an discharging layers of the molding material onto the mold forming pattern, and means for producing selectively controlled relative movement between the dispenser and the pattern including a control system for varying the ratio of sand and binder in the mixture being dispensed in accordance with the relative position of the dispenser and the pattern. The apparatus may thus be controlled to provide for selectively variable ratios of sand and binder in accordance with the strength required of the mold at a particular position. The system also provides a selectively variable control of the thickness of each layer of molding material as the mixing head or pattern moves on a three axis coordinate system.

Abstract: A method of mixing concrete and containers for providing predetermined quantities of cement and aggregate to be transported to a site for on site mixing of concrete. The containers have two compartments which are self closing due to the weight of the contents, one compartment containing cement and the other aggregate. When placed on a ring-like support the compartments move relatively to release their contents. The hopper of the concrete mixer has a ring-like support to open the containers and has a water spray curtain to prevent the fine cement powder to be taken away by the wind, with the water spray providing the correct amount of water for the concrete.

Abstract: A method for controlling the properties of a mixture of materials to which are added a liquid and at least one additive causing expansion during production by mixing, wherein the speed and the absolute value of the volumetric changes undergone by the mixture during the mixing operation are measured in continuous or intermittent manner, and the addition of said liquid and said at least one additive to said mixture is controlled as a function of these measurements and of previously established predetermined data.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously mixing and conveying particulate material, the apparatus comprising a housing having an input end and an output end disposed vertically higher than the input end, means for feeding the particulate material into the input end of the housing, a conveyor disposed within the housing and having a plurality of lifting surfaces provided with perforations therethrough so that a portion of the particulate material being lifted by each lifting surface descends through the perforations and is mixed with particulate material being lifted by lifting surfaces disposed therebelow, and means for discharging the mixed particulate material from the output end of the housing.

Abstract: A wheelbarrow mounting a container having upright side and end walls includes a generally U-shaped, upwardly opening cutout in one of the end walls. A mixing unit can be mounted to the wheelbarrow by placing a mounting plate of the unit over the cutout. The mixing unit comprises an elongate shaft protruding through the mounting plate into the container and means for driving the shaft. A mixing blade defined by axially spaced first and second arms which are angularly offset with respect to each other and attached to the shaft adjacent the mounting plate and adjacent a free shaft end, respectively, is also provided. The first arm of the blade extends radially away from the shaft and the second arm extends radially and axially away from the free shaft end while a generally longitudinally extending, twisted blade section interconnects free ends of the first and second arms.