# US 2019/0168176 A1 · Material Wetting System with Shroud Assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168176 A1 - Document ID: US20190168176A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/207,752 - Filed: 2018-12-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc. - Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc. - Inventors: Daniel Davis Anderson; Brock Stephen Mueggenborg; Karl Heinbuch; David W. Scheimann; Alex Bodga; Thomas E. Peacock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168176A1 ## CPC - B01F 25/31243: {Eductor or eductor-type venturi, i.e. the main flow being injected through the venturi with high speed in the form of a jet} - B01F 23/50: Mixing liquids with solids (displacing one liquid by another in dispersions of solids in liquids B01D12/00) - B01F 23/54: {wetting solids} - B01F 23/59: {Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams} - B01F 25/103: {with additional mixing means other than vortex mixers, e.g. the vortex chamber being positioned in another mixing chamber} - B01F 25/32: wherein the additional components are added in a by-pass of the main flow - B01F 25/85: wherein the particles fall onto a film that flows along the inner wall of a mixer - B01F 35/181: {Preventing generation of dust or dirt; Sieves; Filters (B01F35/145, B01F35/43 take precedence)} - B01F 35/184: {Preventing generation of dust} - B01F 35/187: {using filters in mixers, e.g. during venting} - B01F 35/71731: {using a hopper} - B01F 35/7176: {using pumps} - B01F 2101/2805: {Mixing plastics, polymer material ingredients, monomers or oligomers} - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) ## Abstract A material wetting system for wetting a powder material includes a liquid supply system, a material mixing unit, a material supply system, and a shroud assembly. The liquid supply system includes a supply line. The material mixing unit is in fluid communication with the supply line and includes a central cavity having an open upper end configured to receive a supply of powder material. The material mixing unit is configured to receive liquid from the supply line and is operatively connected to a reduced pressure source to draw air into the central cavity. The material supply system includes an orifice and is configured to feed powder material through the orifice, with the orifice disposed above the central cavity of the material mixing unit. The shroud assembly is disposed about the open upper end of the central cavity of the material mixing unit and the orifice of the material supply system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A material wetting system for wetting a powder material, the system comprising: a liquid supply system including a supply line configured to provide a liquid; a material mixing unit in fluid communication with the supply line, the material mixing unit including a central cavity having an open upper end configured to receive a supply of powder material, the material mixing unit being configured to receive the liquid from the supply line, the material mixing unit being operatively connected to a reduced pressure source to draw air into the central cavity; a material supply system including an orifice and being configured to feed powder material through the orifice, the orifice being disposed above the central cavity of the material mixing unit; and a shroud assembly disposed about the open upper end of the central cavity of the material mixing unit and the orifice of the material supply system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The material wetting system of claim 1, wherein the shroud assembly substantially seals an area surrounding the orifice of the material supply system and the open upper end of the central cavity of the material mixing unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The material wetting system of claim 2, wherein the shroud assembly also substantially seals an area extending downward a predetermined distance from the open upper end of the central cavity of the material mixing unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The material wetting system of claim 1, wherein the shroud assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart sidewalls, a front wall, and a top wall, the front wall and the top wall extending between the sidewalls. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The material wetting system of claim 4, wherein the shroud assembly comprises a rear shroud opposite the front wall and extending between the sidewalls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The material wetting system of claim 5, wherein the liquid supply system comprises a booster pump and the rear shroud is disposed between the booster pump and the material mixing unit to block airflow from the booster pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The material wetting system of claim 4, wherein the shroud assembly further comprises a plate below the material mixing unit, the plate extending between the sidewalls. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The material wetting system of claim 1, wherein the material mixing unit comprises a central axis extending through the central cavity and the orifice is disposed along the central axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The material wetting system of claim 1, wherein the central cavity is in fluid communication with an outlet line from which a mixture of liquid and powder material exits the central cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The material wetting system of claim 9, wherein the liquid supply system comprises a second supply line fluidly connected to the material mixing unit to define the reduced pressure source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The material wetting system of claim 10, wherein the second supply line is fluidly connected to the outlet line to central cavity to define the reduced pressure source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The material wetting system of claim 11, wherein the second supply line is fluidly connected to the outlet line to mix the mixture of liquid and powder material exiting the outlet line with liquid from the second supply line. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The material wetting system of claim 1, wherein the material mixing unit comprises an eductor. ### Claim at position 14 14-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A material wetting system for wetting a powder material, the system comprising: a liquid supply system including a supply line configured to provide a liquid; an eductor in fluid communication with the supply line, the eductor including a central cavity having a central axis and an open upper end configured to receive a supply of powder material, the eductor being configured to receive the liquid from the supply line, the eductor being operatively connected to a reduced pressure source to draw air into the central cavity; a material supply system including an orifice and being configured to feed powder material through the orifice, the orifice being disposed along the central axis and above the central cavity of the eductor; and a shroud assembly disposed about the open upper end of the central cavity of the eductor and the orifice of the material supply system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The material wetting system of claim 16, wherein the shroud assembly substantially seals an area surrounding the orifice of the material supply system and the open upper end of the central cavity of the eductor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The material wetting system of claim 17, wherein the shroud assembly also substantially seals an area extending downward a predetermined distance from the open upper end of the central cavity of the eductor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The material wetting system of claim 16, wherein the shroud assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart sidewalls, a front wall, and a top wall, the front wall and the top wall extending between the sidewalls. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The material wetting system of claim 19, wherein the shroud assembly comprises a rear shroud opposite the front wall and extending between the sidewalls. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The material wetting system of claim 20, wherein the liquid supply system comprises a booster pump and the rear shroud is disposed between the booster pump and the eductor to block airflow from the booster pump. ### Claim 22 (canceled) ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The material wetting system of claim 16, wherein the central cavity is in fluid communication with an outlet line from which a mixture of liquid and powder material exits the central cavity. ### Claim at position 23 24-28. (canceled)