Concrete mixer

A concrete mixer for mixing a predetermined group of materials to form concrete, said concrete mixer comprising:

• a shell structure defining a chamber;
• said first mixing mechanism mounted in said chamber;
• a second mixing mechanism mounted in said chamber;
• said first mixing mechanism and said second mixing mechanism, being spaced away from a wall of said chamber and extending in substantially opposite directions through said chamber;
• said first mixing mechanism located circumjacent said second mixing mechanism;
• said first mixing mechanism having a first pitch and said second mixing mechanism having a second pitch;
• said first pitch being generally counter to said second pitch so that said first mixing mechanism and said second mixing mechanism are spatially oriented generally opposite each other:
• whereby the concrete mixer is capable of counterflow mixing of concrete.

A method for mixing concrete using a concrete mixer having a mixing shell structure defining a chamber for receiving materials capable of being mixed to form concrete, the concrete mixer further including a first blade mechanism and a second blade mechanism;

• each said blade mechanism being mounted in said chamber;
• said first blade mechanism being substantially helical in shape and capable of moving at least a portion of said materials in a first predetermined direction;
• said second blade mechanism being substantially helical in shape and capable of moving at least a portion of said materials in a second predetermined direction generally counter to said first predetermined direction;
• said first blade mechanism and said second blade mechanism being circumjacently mounted in said chamber and being spaced away from a wall of said chamber;
• the method comprising:
• pouring the materials into the mixing shell structure;
• mixing the materials for a predetermined period of time;
• discharging the materials from the concrete mixer.