Patent ID: 6045255
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B01F

Abstract:
A prewetting apparatus for mixing dry material with a liquid, said apparatus comprising:a cone having an inner mixing surface extending between an upper portion and a bottom, said bottom having an outlet;a housing defining a circumferential chamber mounted to said cone for delivering pressurized liquid through at least one orifice formed in an outer flange of said housing, said housing also having an inner flange spaced radially inwardly from said outer flange and forming a groove therebetween, said chamber forming an enclosed fluid passage extending circumferentially around said cone, said fluid flowing in a circle in said chamber, said chamber aligned on a plane which extends radially with respect to said inner flange, said at least one orifice extending inwardly alone said plane through said outer flange at a predetermined angle of less than 90.degree., said at least one orifice delivering pressurized liquid from said chamber into said groove above said upper portion of said cone to swirl downwardly to said outlet;an upper chamber disposed above said cone having an inlet for receiving said dry material and dropping said material into said liquid swirling along said inner mixing surface of said cone, said inner flange extending below said at least one orifice to prevent mixing of said liquid with said dry material in said upper chamber.