Patent ID: 6161784
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: A01C,E04F,F26B

Abstract:
An apparatus for conditioning and dispensing a mixture of wet and dry insulation material, comprising:a hopper having a first end and a second end;a partition disposed in the hopper so as to define a wet material receiving compartment and a dry material receiving compartment;a first shaft rotatably and longitudinally supported in the hopper, the first shaft having a wet section disposed within the wet material receiving compartment and a dry section disposed within the dry material receiving compartment, the wet section of the first shaft having a plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom in a helical pattern configured to cause movement of wet insulation material from the wet material receiving compartment into the dry material receiving compartment, the dry section of the first shaft having a first segment positioned adjacent to the wet section of the first shaft and having a plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom in a helical pattern configured to cause movement of insulation material away from the wet material receiving compartment and a second segment having a plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom in a helical pattern configured to cause movement of dry insulation material toward the wet material receiving compartment upon rotation of the first shaft;a second shaft rotatably and longitudinally supported in the hopper above the first shaft in a generally parallel relationship with respect to the first shafts the second shaft having a wet section disposed within the wet material receiving compartment and a dry section disposed within the dry material receiving compartment, the wet section of the second shaft having plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom, the dry section of the second shaft having a first segment positioned adjacent to the wet section of the second shaft and having a plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom in a helical pattern configured to cause movement of dry insulation material toward the partition and downward toward the first shaft so as to cause dry insulation material to be incorporated into wet insulation material and a second segment with a plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom in a helical pattern configured to cause movement of dry insulation material away from the partition and downward toward the second section of the first shaft upon rotation of the second shaft;a motor operably linked to the first and second shafts for rotating each of the first and second shafts;an air lock positioned below the dry material receiving compartment of the hopper in open communication therewith for receiving the conditioned insulation material from the dry material receiving compartment of the hopper; anda blower connected to the air lock for discharging the conditioned insulation material from the air lock.