Patent ID: 6481922
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: E01C

Abstract:
An apparatus for re-mixing relatively large-sized and relatively small-sized segregated material, comprising:a. an auger assembly having a first helical auger section and a second helical auger section, both of said first and second sections having top portions and inner portions, said first and second auger sections being mounted in spaced relation over respective ends of a connecting shaft, said inner portions of said first and second sections defining an intermediate shaft portion therebetween, said first and second auger sections further being of converging, opposite handedness, so as to advance the relatively large-sized segregated material inwardly toward said intermediate shaft portion; b. an auger housing having an upper portion with a material inlet and a lower portion with a material discharge, said housing further having a first endwall and a second endwall, said auger assembly being mounted for rotation within said lower portion between said first and second endwalls, said housing substantially surrounding said first and second auger sections but leaving said top portions and said intermediate shaft portion exposed to said material inlet, said housing further including a mixing zone adjacent and around said intermediate shaft portion, with said material discharge being located below said intermediate shaft portion; and, c. drive means for rotating said auger assembly, whereby the relatively large-sized segregated material entering said material inlet adjacent said first and second helical sections is advanced toward said intermediate shaft portion, and is re-mixed and commingled in said mixing zone with the relatively small-sized segregated material entering said material inlet adjacent and around said intermediate shaft portion, the re-mixed and commingled material thereafter passing through said material discharge.