US 4,021,021 AGranted

Wetter for fine dry powder

OwnerJames E. Hall, Everett H. Williamsinventors

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Abstract

A system for wetting fine dry powders such as bentonite clay with water or other liquids is described. The system includes a wetting tank for receiving water and a continuous flow of fine powder feed. The wetting tank has a generally square horizontal cross section with a bottom end closure in the shape of an inverted pyramid. Positioned centrally within the wetting tank is a flow control cylinder which is supported from the walls of the wetting tank by means of radially extending inclined baffles. A variable speed motor drives a first larger propeller positioned immediately below the flow control cylinder in a direction which forces liquid filling the tank to flow downward through the flow control cylinder and a second smaller propeller positioned below the larger propeller having a reverse pitch to oppose the flow of liquid being driven downward by the larger propeller.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A wetter for fine dry powders comprising:

(a) a wetting tank having a square horizontal cross section and a bottom end closure in the shape of an inverted four-sided pyramid for receiving liquid for wetting said powder;
(b) an open ended flow control cylinder disposed centrally within said wetting tank with its longitudinal axis oriented vertically;
(c) a plurality of upper and lower mixing baffles extending between said flow control cylinder and the inner surface of said wetting tank;
(d) a first shaft-mounted propeller disposed immediately below and coaxial with said flow-control cylinder for causing liquid to flow downward through said cylinder;
(e) a second propeller disposed below and on a common shaft with said first propeller, said second propeller being smaller than said first propeller and having a pitch direction opposite to that of said first propeller to oppose the downward flow caused by said first propeller;
(f) means for continuously feeding said fine dry powder into the top of said wetting tank;
(g) means for selectively adding liquid to said wetting tank;
(h) means for selectively removing mixed liquid and wetted powder from said wetting tank;
and
(i) means for driving said first and second propellers.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.