Mixer for foamed gypsum products
AssigneeTemple-Inland Forest Products Corporation
InventorsGaylon Bruce Shrader, James W. McNeer, Jr., Craig L. Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for mixing aqueous foam with a slurry of gypsum and water. A cylindrical housing includes, in its upper end, an inlet for a slurry and a helical diverter for directing the slurry in a downward spiral flow path. An inlet for aqueous foam in located in said diverted and directs the foam into the incoming slurry. An annular flow restrictor is located in the lower end of the housing. Turbulence resulting from diversion of the incoming slurry from linear flow to a downward spiral flow path and from changes in spin diameter and speed through the flow restrictor uniformly mix foam with the slurry.
Claims33
A mixer for mixing a foamed liquid with a gypsum slurry comprising:
- a cylindrical housing having a first end, a second end, and a central axis;
- a gypsum slurry inlet in the first end of said housing positioned to direct a flow of gypsum slurry between said central axis and a side wall of said housing;
- a helical diverter in the first end of said housing adjacent said slurry inlet;
- a foamed liquid inlet;
- and
- a circular constriction in the second end of said housing.
A foamed gypsum slurry mixing system comprising:
- a first mixing chamber having one or more inlets for gypsum and a liquid medium, a mechanical agitator, and an outlet for discharging an initial slurry of said gypsum and liquid medium;
- an inlet positioned to flow a foamed liquid into said initial slurry;
- and
- a second mixing chamber having a cylindrical housing with a central axis, an initial slurry inlet coupled to said first mixing chamber outlet, a diverter, a circular constrictor, and an outlet for discharging a foamed slurry of gypsum and liquid medium;
- said diverter having a helical surface having a continuous angle relative to said central axis of said housing of greater than sixty degrees.
A method of preparing foamed gypsum slurry, comprising:
- flowing a gypsum water slurry into a cylindrical housing in a direction tangential to a side wall of said housing;
- using a helical diverter to direct said slurry in a helical path in said housing;
- inserting a foamed liquid into the gypsum water slurry;
- and
- flowing the mixture of foamed liquid and gypsum water slurry through a circular constriction within said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.