Vertical shaft high-shear mixer for de-agglomeration, and associated methods and systems
AssigneeWatershed Materials, LLC
InventorsDavid Carr Easton, Khyber J. Easton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a deagglomeration apparatus, to improve the quality of a mixture used for the production of concrete blocks. An illustrative embodiment of the deagglomerator comprises a vertical shaft high-shear mixer, wherein a rotational force (hydraulic or electric) is mounted to a vertical shaft onto which are mounted chains and/or knives, housed within a flexible rubber “boot” or tube. The deagglomerator is configured to be controllably powered, to rotate the shaft and the attached tools. Partially mixed formula is introduced to a top region of the deagglomerator, and falls downwardly past the rotating tools wherein the formula is pulverized and mixed, before exiting the lower area of the mixing region.
Claims14
A method comprising:
- providing a mixer, including:
- a mixing chamber extending downward from an upper end to a lower end, wherein the mixing chamber includes an inlet at the upper end and an outlet at the lower end,
- a mixer shaft extending downward from a first end to a second end,
- a plurality of tools attached to the shaft between the first end and the second end, and
- a rotation mechanism coupled to the first end of the mixer shaft;
- rotating the mixer shaft and the plurality of tools at a rotational speed equal to or greater than 1,000 rotations per minute (rpm) with the rotation mechanism;
- receiving a pre-moistened compressible masonry formula through the inlet, while the mixer shaft and the attached plurality of tools are rotated at the rotational speed equal to or greater than 1,000 rpm;
- and
- processing the pre-moistened compressible masonry formula with the attached plurality of tools by mixing constituents and breaking down aggregates and agglomerates in the pre-moistened compressible masonry formula to produce a de-agglomerated product formula as the pre-moistened compressible masonry formula falls downward from the upper end and exits the outlet of the mixing chamber through the lower end, wherein the de-agglomerated product formula is subsequently compressed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.