Patent ID: 7878705

Claim:
A static mixer apparatus for mixing a bentonite-water suspension, comprising: a top piece and at least two mixer elements arranged in series thereafter, said top piece having an inlet opening for the bentonite-water suspension; a first mixer element including a housing having a longitudinal axis and being operably connected to said top piece; said first mixer element housing having a passage opening for the flow of said bentonite-water suspension; a mixing chamber in flow communication with said passage opening, said mixing chamber being defined by oblique wall surfaces wherein said oblique wall surfaces taper toward said passage opening; a first, flat deflection surface positioned downstream of said inlet opening, upstream of said first mixer element mixing chamber and generally disposed at an angle between 70°-110° with respect to said longitudinal axis of said first mixer element housing; a second mixer element including a housing having a longitudinal axis and being operably connected to said first mixer element; said second mixer element housing having a passage opening for the flow of said bentonite-water suspension; a mixing chamber defined by oblique wall surfaces wherein said oblique wall surfaces of said second mixer element mixing chamber taper in the same direction as the taper of the wall surfaces of said first mixer element mixing chamber; a second, flat deflection surface positioned downstream of said first mixer element passage opening and upstream of said second mixer element mixing chamber and generally disposed at an angle between 70°-110° with respect to said longitudinal axis of said second mixer element housing; wherein the inside walls of said housing of at least one of said mixer elements has a generally circular cross-section; said deflection surface of at least one of said mixer elements has a generally circular cross-section; and wherein at least one of said deflection surfaces has a smaller cross-section than the inside walls of said housing of said mixer element at the location where said deflection surface is positioned thereby defining a radially outer annular passageway for the bentonite-water suspension.