Method for mixing concrete using a cementitious material/liquid premixer

A method of mixing cementitious material, liquid, and aggregate material together, comprising the steps of:

• (a) interposing a screw conveyor between a material outlet and a final product mixing chamber inlet to a final product mixing chamber, said final product mixing chamber inlet located in-line with said material outlet, said screw conveyor comprising a first portion and a second portion succeeding said first portion along a flow direction;
• (b) dispensing said cementitious material through said material outlet;
• (c) receiving said cementitious material into said screw conveyor through a conveyor inlet located in-line with said material outlet, and moving said cementitious material by means of said screw conveyor along said flow direction from said conveyor inlet toward a conveyor outlet;
• (d) imparting a higher degree of agitation to said cementitious material in said second portion of said screw conveyor than in said first portion of said screw conveyor;
• (e) introducing liquid water into said screw conveyor at a location along said flow direction between said conveyor inlet and said conveyor outlet, and thereby depositing a quantity of said liquid water into said cementitious material as said cementitious material is moving from said conveyor inlet toward said conveyor outlet;
• (f) agitating and mixing said liquid water and said cementitious material together by movement of said screw conveyor, said agitating and mixing thereby forming a flowable slurry of said liquid water and cementitious material as said screw conveyor moves said cementitious material and said liquid water toward said conveyor outlet;
• (g) performing step (f) in said second portion of said screw conveyor but not in said first portion of said screw conveyor;
• (h) discharging said flowable slurry from said conveyor outlet at a position located in-line with said material outlet, said conveyor inlet, and said final product mixing chamber inlet so that said material outlet and said final product mixing chamber inlet remain in-line with each other;
• and
• (i) introducing said slurry into said final product mixing chamber and mixing said slurry with said aggregate material in said final product mixing chamber.