Abstract: During the process for production of a rubber mass the rubber mass is mixed in a mixing tank (12); then, the mixing of the rubber mass is interrupted; then, with the mixing stopped, the tank (12) is opened by displacing a door (18) for shutting of an opening (16) for discharge of the rubber mass from the tank (12), according to an opening trajectory between a position of shutting of the opening (16), towards a position of release of the opening (16); the positions of shutting and release corresponding to the ends of the opening trajectory; then, with the tank (12) open, the mixing of the rubber mass is restarted when the door (18) is in a predetermined intermediate position of its trajectory between the positions of shutting and release.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery system is provided in which separate components of bone cement are mixed together in a mixer to form a bone cement mixture. The mixer includes a paddle for mixing the components in a mixing chamber and a piston that pushes the mixing cement into an attached delivery device. The system further includes a switch that disconnects the drive assembly that actuates the paddle and piston from its power source. The switch is automatically tripped by a follower that moves upon actuation of the drive assembly. Once the cement is mixed and transferred to the delivery device, the follower trips the switch to automatically deactivate the drive assembly.

Abstract: A control system for a front discharge concrete truck including a joystick positioned within a cab of the truck. In one embodiment, the joystick to connect to both a secondary shift selector and a chute controller. The secondary shift selector is connected to the truck's transmission. By actuating the secondary shift selector, the operator of the truck is capable of placing the truck's transmission in one of a forward condition, a reverse condition, and a neutral condition, without removing the driver's hand from the joystick. Similarly, the chute controller is connected to a discharge chute of the truck to direct the placement of concrete being offloaded from the truck. Thus, substantially concurrently with placing the transmission into one of a forward condition, a reverse condition and a neutral condition, the operator may actuate the joystick to correspondingly actuate the position of the discharge chute via the chute controller.

Abstract: A computer controlled pumping and measuring system is used to dispense chemicals into a concrete mix. The redundant use of positive displacement pumps and flow meters ensure that any problems with the chemical dispensing are immediately caught. The computerized control system may be operable to control exact batch configurations of concrete and aggregate in conjunction with the chemical dispensing, as well as provide precise mixture control and recording of the various components.

Abstract: A vessel-mounted concrete mixing system is disclosed that includes a barge having a deck elevated above the water line, at least one rotary mixing drum mounted on the deck to receive, mix and discharge concrete batch ingredients and a conveyor system for conveying mixed concrete batch material discharged from one or more rotary mixing drums, the conveyor system conveying the discharge mixed concrete to a portion of the barge accessible by an off-loading device not mounted on the barge.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing powdered or premixed drywall joint compound and water to form a joint compound mixture or slurry includes a portable container rig with a container, pumping components, and mixing components on a dolly. A mixing element rests within the container upon the container bottom, while a mixing element driver assembly that is adapted to rest upon the upper lip portion of the container engages the mixing element and rotates it for mixing purposes while at the same time raising it slightly. The pumping components may include various commercially available valves and pump outlets that facilitate the filling of various tape application tools, and one preferred embodiment includes remote control components featuring automatic pump turnoff. One embodiment includes a multifunction coupling assembly having an upper coupling component and two different lower components.

Abstract: An apparatus for making concrete is disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more measurement devices that is used to provide controlled quantities of at least cement and sand; a high intensity mixer that receives the controlled quantities of the cement and sand, mixes the controlled quantities of the cement and sand to produce grout, and outputs a flow of grout; and a controller coupled to the measurement devices and the mixer. The controller monitors and controls mixing energy applied by the mixer during mixing. In one embodiment, the mixing energy is altered by controlling the degree of opening of a discharge gate of the mixer. A concrete plant design including such an apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing powdered or premixed drywall joint compound and water to form a joint compound mixture or slurry includes a portable container rig with a container, pumping components, and mixing components on a dolly that includes an arrangement for holding the mixing components in an elevated position. A mixing element rests within the container upon the container base, while a mixing element driver assembly that is adapted to rest upon the upper lip portion of the container engages the mixing element and rotates it for mixing purposes while at the same time raising it slightly. The pumping components may include various commercially available valves and pump outlets that facilitate the filling of various tape application tools, and one preferred embodiment includes remote control components featuring automatic pump turnoff.

Abstract: An apparatus for cement blending includes a pressure vessel for containing a slurry and an agitating member which mixes the slurry within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel includes a first inlet for connection to a source of pressurized driving fluid and a first outlet through which the slurry can be discharged when the pressure vessel is pressurized by the driving fluid. The apparatus is capable of blending a thick slurry of water and cement. A vibrating mechanism vibrates the vessel to facilitate mixing of the slurry and discharge of the slurry from the vessel by the driving fluid.

Abstract: A separation and reclamation apparatus for separating a first discrete-phase solids material from a fluid mixture including, in addition, a second discrete-phase solids material and a continuous-phase carrier fluid, has a unitary vessel having a discharge tank connected to a receiving tank and in fluid communication therewith through an opening on the bottom side wall of the receiving tank. The receiving tank both mixes and transports the mixture. A controller actuates a door over the opening for transport of the first discrete-phase solids material out of the receiving tank into the discharge tank via a conveyor having an open discharge end higher than the top of the receiving tank. The apparatus includes a pump arranged to intake material from the discharge tank from contents remaining in the vessel after removal of the first discrete-phase solids.

Abstract: A system which includes method and apparatus for the delivery of cementitious materials to a construction site using a transportable machine, a truck with an extensible crane, a containment frame, and transport cement silos that are carried by the truck and used to replenish cement. The machine has a frame with extensible legs and includes a cement storage and conveyor means having an agitator to assure the delivery of cement of uniform consistency to a batch mixer that has arms to rotate mix in a rotational loop. A water storage and conveyor means utilizes a constant head of water, a solenoid operated valve and a manually operated adjustment means to assure the delivery of water at a uniform flow rate to the batch mixer means. Sand of uniform density and consistency is delivered by a belt conveyor having a compression plate to compress the sand to a uniform density.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing concrete mortar. In order to regulate the moisture content of the concrete mortar a sand sample is taken of the sand used. This sand sample is dried. The amount of water added to a concrete charge is regulated subject to the weight difference of the sand sample prior to and after drying.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement in containers (1) intended to hold materials of a pumpable consistency. The arrangement comprises a reversible motor (9) which is drivably connected to a rotatable agitator (12) located in the container (1). The arrangement is characterized in that there is arranged between the agitator (12) and the pump (2) a coupling means (11) adapted to couple the agitator to the pump when the agitator is driven in a first rotational direction, and to hold the agitator disengaged from the pump when the agitator is driven in a second rotational direction, opposite to the first.

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: 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: An improved recycling apparatus for particulate asphaltic concrete comprises a rotatable drum in which the particulate composition is gradually heated between an input end and an output end having a retractable chute extending into a port at the output end for recovering composition of a selected temperature. The chute contains a temperature sensing device, and the apparatus preferably includes a drive means for inserting or retracting the chute, and thermostat means for selecting a product temperature whereby the drive means causes the chute to be extended into the drum to recover the composition of a selected temperature. In another embodiment, the drum includes first, second, and third lifters each extending along different respective lengths of the drum interior to achieve different exposure of the particulate composition to the heating gases in the drum in the respective different drum sections to achieve improved heating and mixing efficiency.

Abstract: Mixing equipment includes a mixing compartment and at least one mulling assembly for dispersing therein material, including granular material, such as foundry sand. An agitator is provided for improving the mulling and aerating of the dispersed material within the compartment. The agitator includes a rotor rotated about an upright axis disposed within a cavity opening into the mixing compartment. The rotor includes a hub disposed within the cavity and having a plurality of fingers extending outwardly therefrom. Upon rotation of the rotor, the fingers move forcibly out of the cavity and into the mixing compartment to impact the material moving therepast, for mixing and aerating the material. An overflow discharge opening in a side wall of the compartment permits the prepared material to be discharged continuously from the mixing compartment. The supply of material to the compartment and the discharge of material are under the control of door, material consistency sensing, and timing apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method to control concrete production employs a loading station and a mixing truck having a rotatable mixing drum for travelling between the loading station and a job site. A control system is provided to insure that properly proportional ingredients loaded into the mixing drum at the loading station are mixed for a predetermined appropriate programmable interval of time, whether the mixing truck remains at the loading station or is in transit to the job site. The control system comprises a first portion installed at the loading station and a second portion mounted on the mixing truck, which portions are coupled together when the mixing truck is at the loading station. The first portion of the control system comprises a first time switch unit for controlling the entire time cycle (loading time and mixing time) in a first program and a second time switch unit for controlling only the loading time in a second program.