Method and apparatus of mixing fibers
AssigneeThe University of Akron
InventorsGeorge Chase, Darrell Reneker, Srihari Rangarajan, Ketan Mehta
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Abstract
A method of mixing including providing a slurry (26, 126) having a first fiber (14, 114) into a container (20, 120), introducing an agitation fluid (31, 138) into the slurry to cause a mixing motion (38, 138) within the slurry, and delivering a second fiber (16, 116) into the slurry, whereby the mixing motion mixes the first and second fibers to create a fiber mixture.
Claims27
A method of mixing comprising:
- providing a slurry having a first fiber into a container;
- introducing an agitation fluid into the slurry to cause a mixing motion within the slurry;
- and
- delivering a second fiber into the slurry, whereby the mixing motion mixes the first and second fibers to create a fiber mixture.
A multi-fiber structure comprising a mixture of first fibers and second fibers forming a fiber matrix, where at least a portion of the first fibers penetrate the matrix.
A fiber-mixing apparatus comprising:
- a container receiving a slurry having short fibers therein;
- a fluid delivery assembly in fluid communication with the container and a fluid supply, whereby said fluid delivery assembly delivers an agitation fluid into the slurry;
- and
- delivery assembly delivering long fibers into the slurry, whereby delivery of said agitation fluid causes mixing of the long fibers and short fibers.
A method of mixing comprising:
- providing a liquid slurry having a first fiber into a container;
- delivering a second fiber onto a surface of said slurry and introducing an agitation fluid into the slurry to cause a mixing motion that draws the second fiber from the surface into said slurry, whereby the first fiber is found at depth within a matrix of the first fiber formed by the mixing motion within the slurry.
A fiber-mixing apparatus comprising:
- a container receiving a liquid slurry having a first fiber dispersed therein;
- a fluid delivery assembly in fluid communication with the container and a fluid supply, whereby said fluid delivery assembly delivers an agitation fluid into the slurry;
- a delivery assembly delivering a second fiber onto a surface of the slurry, wherein said fluid delivery assembly generates a current adapted to draw the second fiber downward from the surface of the slurry to cause mixing of the first and second fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.