Mixer apparatus and method of blending various materials

A mixing apparatus comprising:

• a mixer frame;
• a body portion having upper and lower sides and opposing ends, said body portion being supported by said mixer frame;
• means defining an aperture in said body portion for receiving materials to be mixed;
• first and second mixing shafts, each shaft including a plurality of blades for moving said materials in said body portion;
• first and second hydraulic motors connected to said first and second mixing shafts, respectively;
• first and second hydraulic circuits for providing hydraulic fluid to drive said first and second motors independently of each other;
• and
• wherein the path followed by the blades of said first and second mixing shafts overlap each other such that said blades on said first shaft pass in close proximity to said second shaft and said blades on said second shaft pass in close proximity to said first shaft.

A mixing apparatus comprising:

• a mixer frame;
• a body portion having upper and lower sides and opposing ends, said body portion being supported by said mixer frame;
• means defining an aperture in said body portion for receiving materials to be mixed;
• first and second mixing shafts, each shaft including a plurality of blades for moving said materials in said body portion;
• first and second hydraulic moors connected to said first and second mixing shafts, respectively;
• first and second hydraulic circuits of providing hydraulic fluid to drive said first and second motors independently of each other;
• sensing means for sensing the relative angular orientation and rotational speed of said first and second shafts;
• and
• control means for receiving inputs from said sensing means and maintaining a desired angular relationship between the rotational positions of said first and second shafts.

A method for mixing material comprising:

• providing a mixer body for receiving material to be mixed,
• providing first and second mixer shafts extending through said mixer body, said shafts each including blade portions extending radially from the longitudinal axes of said shafts,
• rotating said shafts in opposite directions nd at the same predetermined rotational velocity to thereby maintain a predetermined rotational relationship between said shafts, and
• providing sensing and control means for sensing the rotational positions of each of said shafts and for monitoring the relative angular phase relationship between the respective blades of said shafts to maintain a predetermined rotational relationship between said shafts.