Pug mill water flow control system

A control system for an apparatus for controlling the flow of water from a water supply to a pug mill for mixing water with a stream of clay feed material received from a feed material supply upstream of said pug mill, said control system comprising:

• (a) a moisture sensor located adjacent to said feed material supply for providing a moisture signal representative of the moisture content of the feed material upstream said pug mill;
• (b) a flow transmitter located between said water supply and said pug mill for providing a water flow signal representative of the water flow to said pug mill;
• (c) a control valve located between said water supply and said pug mill for controlling the flow of water to said pug mill;
• and
• (d) a controller connected between said moisture sensor, said flow transmitter and said first control valve for receiving said moisture signal and said water flow signal and providing a water control signal to said control valve to control the flow of water to said pug mill;
• wherein said feed material supply includes a weight measuring device for providing a weight signal representative of the weight of said feed material, said weight signal used by controller in conjunction with said moisture signal to determine the amount of water to add when said feed material reaches said pug mill with said water control signal.

A control system for an apparatus for controlling the flow of water from a water supply to a pug mill for mixing water with a stream of clay feed material received from a feed material supply upstream of said pug mill, said control system comprising:

• (a) a moisture sensor located adjacent to said feed material supply for providing a moisture signal representative of the moisture content of the feed material upstream said pug mill;
• (b) a flow transmitter located between said water supply and said pug mill for providing a water flow signal representative of the water flow to said pug mill;
• (c) a control valve located between said water supply and said pug mill for controlling the flow of water to said pug mill;
• and
• (d) a controller connected between said moisture sensor, said flow transmitter and said first control valve for receiving said moisture signal and said water flow signal and providing a water control signal to said control valve to control the flow of water to said pug mill;
• wherein said controller includes a water control output and said controller delays the addition of water to said feed material in said pug mill according to the amount of time for said feed material to travel from said moisture sensor to said pug mill.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of water to a pug mill, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a pug mill for mixing water with a stream of clay feed material;
• (b) a water supply system connected to said pug mill, said water supply system including a supply of water and a first control valve for controlling the flow of water to said pug mill, wherein said water supply system further includes an inlet line connected to a supply of water;
• a pump connected to said inlet line;
• an outlet line connected between said pump and said pug mill;
• a return loop connected between said outlet line and said inlet line;
• and a flow bypass for selectively controlling the flow of water between said pug mill and said return loop;
• (c) a moisture sensor located adjacent to said feed material supply for providing a moisture signal representative of the moisture content of the feed material upstream said pug mill;
• (d) a flow transmitter located between said water supply and said pug mill for providing a water flow signal representative of the water flow to said pug mill;
• and
• (e) a controller connected between said moisture sensor, said flow transmitter and said first control valve for receiving said moisture signal and said water flow signal and providing a water control signal to said control valve to control the flow of water to said pug mill.

A method for controlling the flow of water to a pug mill for mixing water with a clay feed material received from a feed material supply upstream of said pug mill from a water supply system connected to said pug mill, said water supply system including a supply of water and a first control valve for controlling the flow of water to said pug mill, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a moisture signal representative of the moisture content of the feed material upstream said pug mill using a moisture sensor located adjacent to said feed material supply;
• (b) providing a water flow signal representative of the water flow to said pug mill using a flow transmitter located between said water supply and said pug mill;
• (c) controlling the flow of water to said pug mill using a control valve located between said water supply and said pug mill;
• (d) receiving said moisture signal and said water flow signal and providing a water control signal to said control valve to control the flow of water to said pug mill;
• and
• (e) delaying the addition of water to the feed material in the pug mill according to an amount of time for said feed material to travel from said moisture sensor to the pug mill.