US3339898A

US3339898A - Mixing method and mixing trough construction

Info

Publication number: US3339898A
Application number: US433269A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert C Futty; Harold M Zimmerman
Original assignee: IRL DAFFIN ASSOCIATES
Current assignee: IRL DAFFIN ASSOCIATES; IRL DAFFIN ASSOCIATES Inc; Barber Greene Co
Priority date: 1965-02-17
Filing date: 1965-02-17
Publication date: 1967-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-05
Also published as: GB1126654A

Description

' Sept. 5, 1967 R. c. FUTTY ETAL 3,339,398

'MIXING METHOD AND MIXING TROUGH CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 17, 1965 v CEMENT SAND H6 2 26 22 la 20 0 WM [6 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,339,898 MIXING METHOD AND MIXING TROUGH CONSTRUCTION Robert C. Futty, Willow Street, and Harold M. Zimmerman, Ephrata, Pa., assignors to Irl Daflin Associates,

Incorporated, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 433,269 7 Claims. (Cl. 259-148) This invention relates to a mixing method which produces a mixture having improved and unexpected characteristics, and furthermore, it relates to mixing troughs and more particularly to an improved mixing trough construction especially adapted for use in concrete mixing and delivery systems.

The invention described herein is particularly adapted for use in a system such as that defined in co-pending application Ser. No. 378,133, filed June 26, 1964, now Patent No. 3,310,293, in the name of Harold M. Zimmerman, for Concrete Mixing and Delivery System. In that co-pending Zimmerman application, there is defined and described a system wherein dry concrete constituents or ingredients are stored in separate storage compartments, and are selectively fed in predetermined proportions to a mixing trough wherein they are mixed with water to form concrete of a desired characteristic. In a system of this type, wherein the dry constituents are of a particular and abrasive nature, there is a tendency for such dry constituent to create an abrasive action on the walls of the mixing trough. Another, and equally important consideration, in a system of this type, is that it is necessary to fully and completely mix the water and the dry ingredients rather rapidly, in order to obtain fully mixed concrete in a relatively short length mixing trough.

It is, of course, recognized that there are numerous forms of mixing troughs known in the prior art, with the majority of such mixing troughs being formed of an elongated chute having a relatively conventional mixing paddle or mixing screw disposed therein. The drawback with prior art mixing troughs of this type lies in the fact that, first, such mixing troughs are not designed to Withstand the abrasive effect of materials being mixed therein, if such materials are of a highly abrasive nature, and second, that such mixing troughs do not provide a mixing action which fully and completely mixes a liquid and a plurality of varied dry ingredients to obtain a substantially homogenous composition therefrom. Moreover, such prior art forms of mixing troughs are generally designed to perform only a simple mixing operation, and are not adapted to mix a plurality of constituents and to thereafter positively feed such constituents outwardly from the mixing trough.

With the foregoing matter in mind, it is, therefore, an object of the present invention, to overcome the difficulties and deficiencies associated with prior art forms of mixing troughs, and to provide in their stead, an improved method of mixing and mixing trough construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and means especially adapted for combining a plurality of dry particulate materials with a liquid to form a homogenous composition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing method and trough which positively mixes and combines the ingredients introduced thereinto, and which positively conveys such mixed ingredients from the trough.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing trough having a high degree of resistance to abrasion, and which thus is operable for extended durations of time without the need for repair or reconditioning.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel method of combining andmixing preselected ingredients to form a mixture having greatly enhanced properties of strength and performance.

Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, discloses the preferred embodiment thereof.

The foregoing objects are attained by providing a mix ing trough having substantially rigid side walls and a flexible and resilient bottom wall which is yieldable during a mixing operation and which is resistant to abrasion from the materials being mixed. Disposed within such a mixing trough, between the side walls and about the bottom wall, is a combination mixing, agitating and conveying means formed by an elongated shaft having a plurality of specially disposed mixing paddles and helical feeding screws disposed thereon. In operation, a plu rality of dry particulate ingredients, such as sand, gravel, cement, or the like, are introduced into the inlet end of the mixing trough and a liquid, such as water or-the like, is likewise introduced at the same location, to be combined with the dry materials to form a somewhat fluent viscous composition within the mixing trough. As the shaft rotates within the mixing trough, the mixing paddles stir and lift the ingredients and combine the same while still directing the same forwardly toward the helical screw portion. The helical screw portion also stirs to mix and combine the ingredients, and likewise functions to positively feed such ingredients toward the discharge end of the mixing trough and outwardly therefrom. During all of this mixing and conveying operation, the flexible bottom wall of the trough can yield somewhat, to thus create a form of kneading on the ingredients to aid in their combination and to thus enhance the properties of the homogenous mixtureiormed within the trough. During the entire mixing operation, the discharge or outlet end of the trough is disposed an acute angle above the horizontal, thus assuring that the mixing takes place againstthe action of gravity..

Referring to the drawings: a a I V FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mixing trough in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention; I FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the mixing trough shown in FIGURE 1; and I I 7 FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional-view through the mixing trough shown in FIGURE 1. v v

In general, the novel structure used in the novelmethod of the present invention includes a mixing trough which includes an elongated chute generally designated 12, a mixing and conveying means generally designated 14 dis-.

' posed within the chute, and a means generally designated 16 for operating the mixing and conveying means 14.

The chute 12 includesfa pair of spaced apart forward and

rearward end walls

18 and 20, respectively, a pair of longitudinally extending substantially rigidv side walls 22 extend between the

end walls

18 and 20, and are suitably connected to the same as by weldingor the like. The end of the chute adjacent the end wall 20 serves as the inlet end for the mixing trough 10, and accordingly, the side walls 22 can extend angularly upward somewhat, as shown at 24 and the end wall 20 can extend ang'ularly inward somewhat as shown at 26, to thus provide a form of hood which serves to assure that the ingredients intro duced into the trough will not spill outwardly over the side or end walls thereof.

' A continuous elastomeric sheet 28 forms the bottom Wall of the chute 12. The term elastomeric is used to denote a material having rubber-like properties of flexi bility and resiliency, and in addition, it is desirable that I the sheet 28 have a high degree of abrasion resistance. Without attempting to limit the rubber sheet to any particular material, it will be understood that material such as natural or synthetic rubbers, synthetic resinous plastic materials, and other such similar materials may be utilized to fabricate the sheet 28. The sheet 28 can be connected to the side walls 22 of the chute 12 in any suitable manner. The illustrated manner of connection discloses a pair of metal strips 30 extending longitudinally of the side walls 22, with each such stri-p having either an integral or an inter-connected depending flange 32. The side edges of the elastomeric sheet 28 are clamped between the side walls 22 and the depending flanges 32, and in addition, securing means such as nuts and bolts, or the like, may be utilized to assure that the sheet 28 is firmly secured and coupled to the side walls 22. At the end of the chute 12 which serves as the outlet end of the trough 10, the end wall 18 terminates a short distance above the sheet 28 to form an outlet or dispensing opening 34 for the materials mixed in the trough.

The mixing and conveying means 14 includes an elongated linear shaft 36 disposed within the chute between its side walls and above its bottom wall 28, with the opposite ends of the shaft 36 projecting through the

end walls

18 and 20 by passage through suitable journal bearings 38 in each such wall.

A plurality of mixing paddles or elements are disposed in spaced relation upon and along the shaft 36, with such mixing elements serving to mix the ingredients introduced into the trough. Numerous forms and arrangements of mixing elements can be utilized in the present invention, provided that such mixing elements perform the function necessary for operation of the mixing trough, and it should thus be appreciated that the illustrated form and arrangement of such mixing elements is not necessarily the sole arrangement which will prove operative.

However, by way of exemplification, there is illustrated herein a pair of helical screw flight sections 40 affixed to the shaft 36 at the end adjacent the end wall 20, and since such flight sections are disposed directly beneath the ingredients inlet area, as shown in FIGURE 2, they receive and initiate mixing of the separate ingredients entering the trough. A blade 42 extends between the flight sections 40 and creates an interference in flow by agitating the ingredients out of their normal flow path, which, as caused by the flights 40, is axial of the trough 10.

Adjacent the sections 40, a plurality of mixing paddles 44 extend radially from the shaft 36. Although each paddle 44 is generally perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft 36, the flat face of the paddle is disposed angularly to the plane of the

end walls

18 and 20, much in the manner of an impeller blade. The paddles are each individually spaced apart axially along the shaft 36 and are further circumferentially disposed at spaced angles to one another. That is, the second paddle 44 is advanced some distance along the shaft 36 from the first paddle and is angularly spaced about 120 further about the periphery of circumference of the shaft. The third mixing paddle is axially advanced further along the shaft 36 and is angularly spaced about 120 from the second paddle and 240 from the first paddle. The fourth mixing paddle 44 is axially advanced still further along the shaft 36 and is angularly spaced about the shaft periphery to be in general alignment with the first paddle. The remaining paddles are disposed in a similar arrangement, with the fifth padde being aligned with the second, the sixth with the third, and so on.

An arcuate blade section 46 extends across some of the mixing paddles to scrape the trough walls and to simultaneously provide a lifting and dropping action for materials within the trough. Beyond the mixing paddles 44, there is formed a helical screw means in the form of a plurality of spiral flights 48 extending axially along and helically around the shaft 36, with such flights serving to form a sort of feeding screw which conveys material. in the trough toward the outlet opening 34.

A means 16 must be provided for operating the mixing and conveying means 14, and such means necessarily takes the form of an operating motor which serves to rotate the shaft 36 about its central axis. In the form illustrated in the drawings, the means 16 is a hydraulic or pneumatic operating motor 50 connected to the end of the shaft 36 which projects forwardly beyond the front end wall 18. Such motor 50 is provided with an inlet conduit 52 and an outlet conduit 54 which enables a fluid flow through the motor 50 to thereby cause the shaft 36 to rotate about its central axis. It will, of course, be understood that the means 16 is not limited to a pneumatic or hydraulic motor 50, as shown, but can equally well in clude an electric motor, a mechanical motor and the like.

Turning now to the manner of operation, of the mixing trough 10, it will be noted that a plurality of inlet conduits are provided in juxtaposition above the rearward end of the chute 12. Since the mixing trough 10 is particularly adapted for use in forming concrete, the plurality of dry ingredients introduced thereinto includes gravel, sand, and cement, while the liquid ingredients introduced thereinto is water. Again, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to a trough which will mix these particular ingredients, but rather it should be clear that the trough of the present invention will accommodate any form of ingredients.

When the illustrated ingredients are introduced into the inlet end of the chute 12, they are initially mixed by the spiral flight sections 40 and are scraped off the chute walls and bottom by the blade 42. Then, such initially mixed ingredients feed past the mixing paddles 44 which tend to spin the ingredients about the inside of the chute, while at the same time agitating such ingredients and forcing them toward the outlet end of the trough. The arcuate blade 46 scrapes the ingredients off the trough walls and bottom, and at the same time tends to lift and drop the same into the interior of the trough, thus creating a form of tumbling action which aids in mixing. Then, the spiral flights of the screw 48 receive the mixture, and as they rotate, they feed the mixed ingredients forwardly, while at the same time still further mixing the same. When at last the feeding screw delivers the ingredients to the outlet opening 34, where they dro downwardly as shown by the arrow, the ingredients have been converted from separate dry and liquid ingredients to a relatively homogenous somewhat fluent, viscous composition of concrete. During all of thi mixing and conveying action, in addition to the positive action of the mixing paddles and blades, and the feeding screw, an additional mixing and combining action is accomplished due to the fact that the elastomeric wall 28 can freely bulge downwardly and outwardly, to thus create a form of kneading action on the materials within the trough. It will be seen that the disposition of the shaft 36 within the trough is such that the mixing paddles and blades and the helical screw are in substantial contact with the elastomeric bottom wall 28, and thus the material being mixed is often forced between these element and the bottom wall itself. As shown in FIGURE 3, the elastomeric bottom wall 28 contiguously contacts the mixing and conveying means 14, at least below the level of the shaft 36. Thus, the combination and co-action between the mixing and conveying means 14 and the elastomeric bottom wall 28 creates a powerful positive agitating, mixing and conveying action which transforms the various separate ingredients into a homogenously combined composition.

It is considered to be a critical aspect of the present invention that the mixing trough 10 be disposed at an angular relationship during the mixing operation so that the mixing and conveying always takes place against the action of gravity. This can thus be understood by reference to FIGURE 2 wherein the chute is shown disposed at an acute angle X above a horizontal axis H. The exact manner in which the chute is pivoted or pivotally mounted to enable it to assume this position is not necessarily critical, and any suitable pivot mounting means at the inlet end of the chute will be suflicient. For purposes of simplicity of illustration, outwardly extending pivot shafts 56 project from the rear portion of the side walls 22, and it is understood that these pivot shafts can be journalled in any suitable bearing means. Thus, the chute is-pivotally mounted about its inlet end. To enable the trough to be maintained in its upward angular disposition, an eye 58 is attached to the upper portion'of the forward end wall 18, and a hook or clamp 60 may be engaged with this eye as shown in FIGURE 1. A cable 62 can extend from the clamp 60* to a winch or other suitable means which, when operated, causes the trough to pivot upwardly about its pivot point. The precise vided only that such angle be an acute angle. In practice, an angle between and 22 has proved useful.

As can best be noted from FIGURE 3, the side walls 22 are sloped generally inwardly from their upper to their lower edge, and thus the material is generally directed inwardly and downwardly toward the bottom of the trough. Since the trough is disposed an acute angle X above the horizontal, the force of gravity has a component acting downwardly against the bottom wall 28 and further has a component directed toward the end wall at the inlet of the trough. Thus, when the mixing and conveying action takes place, it must act against the force of gravity. That is, not only must the mixing paddles lift the material from the bottom wall of the chute upwardly and back downwardly again, but moreover, the mixing, as well as the conveying, must direct the material in an axial direction toward the outlet opening 34, although the force of gravity tends to hold such material at the inlet end of the trough.

As a safety measure to prevent an operator from inadvertently moving his hand into contact with the mixing and conveying means 14, and additionally, to prevent any large pieces of debris from falling into the chute, a grill-work may be provided above the means 14. Such grill-work can take the form of a pair of elements 64 extending transversely of the chute, and a series of rods 66 extending longitudinally of the chute and being mounted upon the elements 64.

It has been found that in actual operation, the mixing chute of the present invention and the manner in which it is used produces a homogenous concrete composition having vastly improved properties over that produced in the normal mixing trough or concrete! mix-truck. Although it is not possible to attribute these improved results to any one particular feature of the present invention, it has been found that the combination of the inwardly and downwardly tapering side walls to direct the material downwardly, the elastomeric bottom wall which creates a kneading action, the mixing paddles and mixing blades, the helical conveying screw, and probably most important, the upward acute angular disposition from the inlet to the outlet end of the trough to thus enable the force of gravity to act against the mixing and conveying forces, combine to create a composition having vastly improved and unexpected properties of strength.

The following examples will illustrate the unexpected characteristics of strength exhibited by concrete mixed in the trough of the present invention.

EXAMPLE I 475 pounds of Portland cement, 1378 pounds of silica sand, and 1800 pounds of limestone were mixed together in the trough with 39 gallons of water. The specification for concrete of this class requires that the concrete exhibit a strength of 2500 pounds per square inch after 28 days. When this mixture of concrete was tested after 28 days, by applying a load of 95,000 pounds to a crosssectional area of 28.27 square inches, the concrete exhibited a strength of 3360 pounds per square inch. When a weight of 95,500 pounds was applied to a cross-sectional value of the angle X is not particularly critical, proarea of 28.27 square inches, the concrete exhibited a strength of 3378 pounds per square inch.

EXAMPLE H this example was tested by applying a load of 125,500

pounds to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, and the mixture exhibited a strength of 4439 pounds per square inch. When a load of 127,500 pounds was applied to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, the mixture exhibited a strength of 4510 per square inch.

EXAMPLE III 592.2 pounds of Portland cement, 1278 pounds of silica sand and 1800 pounds of limestone were mixed with 39 gallons of water. The specification requirements call for concrete of this class to exhibit a strength of 3500 pounds per square inch after 28 days. When the mixture of this example was tested after 28 days by applying a load of 127,000 pounds to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, the mixture exhibited a strength of 4492 pounds per square inch. When 137,500 pounds were applied to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, the mixture exhibited a strength of 4964 pounds per square inch.

EXAMPLE IV 639.2 pounds of Portland cement, 1261 pounds of silica sand and 1800 pounds of limestone were mixed with 38 gallons of water. The specification requirements for this class of concrete call for a strength of 4000 pounds per square inch after 28 days. When the mixture of this example was tested after 28 days by applying a load of 133,500 pounds to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, the mixture exhibited a strength of 4722 pounds per square inch. When 135,500 pounds were applied to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, the mixture exhibited a strength of 4793 pounds per square inch.

EXAMPLE V When the mixture of Example IV, thus having the same strength requirement of 4000 pounds per square inch after 28 days, was tested by applying a load of 150,500 pounds to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, the mixture exhibited a strength of 5306- pounds per square inch. When 151,500 pounds were applied to a cross-sectional area of 28.27 inches, the mixture exhibited a strength of 5359 pounds per square inch.

It will be seen from the foregoing examples that the use of the mixing trough of the present invention, and the novel method of utilizing the trough, produces a concrete mixture having, in every case, a strength well above the rated strength for concrete mixtures of any particular class. Therefore, it will be apparent from the foregoing examples and from the foregoing detailed description, that the objects set forth at the outset of the specification have been successfully achieved through utilization of the present invention. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. A mixing trough means operative to combine dry ingredients with a liquid ingredient to form a homogeneous composition, comprising:

an axially elongated chute means having an inlet end and an outlet end;

said chute means including a pair of spaced opposed axially-extending substantially rigid side walls;

said chute means also including an elastomeric bottom wall connected between said side walls;

said side walls converging angularly inward as they extend downwardly toward said bottom wall; pivot mounting means coupled with said chute means adjacent said inlet end;

elevating means coupled with said chute means adjacent said outlet end;

said elevating means being operative to pivot said chute means to a position whereat said outlet end is disposed at a selected angle above said inlet end; said selected angle not exceeding about 22;

means for introducing at least one dry ingredient and at least one liquid ingredient into said chute means at said inlet end thereof;

mixing and conveying means disposed within said chute means; said mixing and conveying means including an axially elongated shaft disposed within said chute means;

said mixing and conveying means further including first mixing means secured to said shaft adjacent said inlet end and diverse second mixing means secured to said shaft adjacent to said first mixing means;

said mixing and conveying means further including conveying means secured to said shaft adjacent said second mixing means and extending substantially to said outlet end;

said elastomeric bottom wall contiguously contacting said mixing and conveying means, at least below the level of said shaft, to thereby assure that the ingredients being mixed and conveyed and forced between said bottom wall and said mixing and conveying means; and

drive means connected with said shaft for effecting rotation thereof; said shaft rotation causing said first mixing means to initially combine said liquid and dry ingredients and to transfer the same to said second mixing means;

said second mixing means further mixing and combining said liquid and dry ingredients and transferring the same to said conveying means;

said conveying means transferring said liquid and dry ingredients axially along said chute means, while also aiding in the mixing thereof, and finally discharging the same through said outlet end as a homogeneously combined composition.

2. A mixing trough means as defined in claim 1 wherein said first mixing means includes a pair of helical screw flight sections disposed directly beneath said means for introducing said ingredients.

3. A mixing trough means as defined in claim 2 wherein said first mixing means further includes a blade extending between said screw flight sections to create an interference in flow by agitating said introduced ingredients out of an axial flow path.

4. A mixing trough means as defined in claim 1 wherein said second mixing means includes a plurality of mixing paddles extending radially from said shaft, each of said mixing paddles having a flat face, with said flat faces being disposed at different angles with respect to each other.

5. A mixing trough means as defined in claim 4 wherein an arcuate blade extends across at least two of said mixing paddles for scraping along said bottom wall.

6. A method of combining and mixing at least one dry ingredient means and at least one liquid ingredient means to form a homogeneous mixture, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a chute means having one end pivotally mounted and having its other end movable; providing elevating means at said other end to raise and lower said chute means;

introducing at least one dry ingredient into said chute means at said one end;

simultaneously introducing at least one liquid ingredient into said one end;

operating said elevating means to position said chute means at an angle of about 15 to 22 above a horizontal axis, with said other end being elevated above said one end;

positioning within said chute means, a mixing and conveying means having an axially-extending rotatable member with diverse mixing means and with conveying means thereupon; contacting the bottom wall of said chute means against said mixing means and said conveying means, at least beneath the axis of said rotatable member;

rotating said rotatable member to thereby cause said mixing means to mix said liquid and dry ingredients by continuous lifting and rotation thereof within said chute means;

conveying said mixed ingredients from said mixing means to said conveying means and continuing to rotate said rotatable member to convey said mixed ingredients to said other end;

kneading said ingredients during said mixing and conveying steps to homogeneously combine said ingredients; and

discharging said homogeneously combined ingredients from said chute means.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said bottom wall is elastomeric and wherein deformation of said bottom wall produces said kneading step.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,071 9/1908 Randall 259--178 1,119,634 12/1914 Pottorf 259178 1,154,295 9/1915 Durepo 259-178 1,663,206 3/1928 MacRae 259-178 1,708,947 4/1929 Jaeger 259-178 2,709,075 5/1955 August 259-178 2,976,025 3/1961 Pro 259178 FOREIGN PATENTS 888,041 1/1962 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A MIXING TROUGH MEANS OPERATIVE TO COMBINE DRY INGREDIENTS WITH A LIQUID INGREDIENT TO FORM A HOMOGENEOUS COMPOSITION, COMPRISING: AN AXIALLY ELONGATED CHUTE MEANS HAVING AN INLET END AND AN OUTLET END; SAID CHUTE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED OPPOSED AXIALLY-EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID SIDE WALLS; SAID CHUTE MEANS ALSO INCLUDING AN ELASTOMERIC BOTTOM WALL CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS; SAID SIDE WALLS CONVERGING ANGULARLY INWARD AS THEY EXTEND DOWNWARDLY TOWARD SAID BOTTOM WALL; PIVOAT MOUNTING MEANS COUPLED WITH CHUTE MEANS ADJACENT SAID INLET END; ELEVATING MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID CHUTE MEANS ADJACENT SAID OUTLET END; SAID ELEVATING MEANS BEING OPERATIVE TO PIVOT SAID CHUTE MEANS TO A POSITION WHEREAT SAID OUTLET END IS DISPOSED AT A SELECTED ANGLE ABOVE SAID INLET END; SAID SELECTED ANGLE NOT EXCEEDING ABOIUT 22*; MEANS FOR INTRODUCING AT LEAST ONE DRY INGREDIENT AND AT LEAST ONE LIQUID INGREDIENT INTO SAID CHUTE MEANS AT SAID INLET END THEREOF; MIXING AND CONVEYING MEANS DISPOSED SAID CHUTE MEANS; SAID MIXING AND CONVEYING MEANS INCLUDING AN AXIALLY ELONGATED SHAFT DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CHUTE MEANS; SAID MIXING AND CONVEYING MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING FIRST MIXING MEANS SECURED TO SAID SHAFT ADJACENT SAID INLET END AND DIVERSE SECOND MIXING MEANS SECURED TO SAID SHAFT ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST MIXING MEANS; SAID MIXING AND CONVEYING MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING CONVEYING MEANS SECURED TO SAID SHAFT ADJACENT SAID SECOND MIXING MEANS AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO SAID OUTLET END; SAID ELASTOMERIC BOTTOM WALL CONTIGUOUSLY CONTACTING SAID MIXING AND CONVEYING MEANS, AT LEAST BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID SHAFT, TO THEREBY ASSURE THAT THE INGREDIENTS BEING MIXED AND CONVEYED AND FORCED BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM WALL AND SAID MIXING AND CONVEYING MEANS; AND DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SHAFT FOR EFFECTING ROTATTION THEREOF; SAID SHAFT ROTATION CAUSING SAID FIRST MIXING MEANS TO INITIALLY COMBINE SAID LIQUID AND DRY INGREDIENTS AND TO TRANSFER THE SAME TO SAID SECOND MIXING MEANS; SAID SECOND MIXING MEANS FURTHER MIXING AND COMBINING SAID LIQUID AND DRY INGREDIENTS AND TRANSFERRING THE SAME TO SAID CONVEYING MEANS; SAID CONVEYING MEANS TRANSFERRING SAID LIQUID AND DRY INGREDIENTS AXIALLY ALONG SAID CHUTE MEANS, WHILE ALSO AIDING IN THE MIXING THEREOF, AND FINALLY DISCHARGING THE SAME THROUGH SAID OUTLET END AS A HOMOGENEOUSLY COMBINED COMPOSITION.