Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6454457
-
Patent Number
6,454,457
-
Date Filed
Friday, October 13, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 24, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Cooley; Charles E.
- Sorkin; David
Agents
- Wustenberg; John W.
- Rahhal; Anthony L.
- Roddy; Craig W.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 137 62532
- 366 34
- 366 1371
- 366 1823
- 366 1824
- 366 1732
- 366 1671
- 366 1761
- 366 1762
- 366 136
- 366 137
- 422 274
- 422 278
- 239 431
- 239 433
- 239 435
- 239 543
- 239 544
- 239 586
- 239 5811
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A mixing apparatus includes a mixing tube, a liquid inlet, a dry substance inlet and a recirculation mixture inlet. The mixing apparatus is utilized with a tub. A liquid and a dry substance may be mixed in the mixing tube and the mixture may be recirculated so that a liquid, a dry substance and a recirculated mixture may all be mixed in a mixing tube and subsequently utilized in a wellbore. The mixing apparatus includes a valve connected to the liquid inlet. The valve comprises a cylindrical outer housing, a jetting sleeve and a rotatable plug therein. The jetting sleeve is disposed in the outer housing and has a plurality of ports which will direct liquid downwardly and inwardly so that it mixes with the dry substance as the dry substance passes downwardly in the mixing tube. The plug may be rotated in the jetting sleeve to completely cover all the jetting ports to prevent flow into the mixing tube and is rotatable to an open position in which liquid may be allowed to flow through the jetting ports. The valve is positioned at the exit of the liquid inlet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for mixing at least two substances, for example but not by way of limitation, dry cement and water. The invention relates more particularly, but not by way of limitation to a mixer incorporating a jet valve which provides increased mixing energy with which a cement slurry can be formed for use in an oil or gas well.
Well drilling and completion operations often require on-site mixing of various substances, such as cement slurries, acids and fracturing gels and weighting drilling fluids. In general, a mixing system includes a tub, pumps and various monitoring and control equipment. Cement slurries must be pumped into wellbores for a variety of reasons, such as for example securing casing in a wellbore. The mixture of cement to be used in a particular well typically is required to have certain characteristics which make the mixture, referred to as a cement slurry, suitable for the downhole environment where it is to be used. The desired type of cement slurry must be accurately mixed and produced at the well location so that it can be pumped into the wellbore.
Prior art apparatus for creating cement slurries include a jet mixer which typically sprays water under pressure into a venturi tube where bulk cement is added. The water and bulk cement combine to form a cement slurry which is conveyed into a tub prior to pumping the slurry down a wellbore. Another prior art mixer is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,855 (the '855 patent), the details of which are incorporated herein by reference. The '855 patent discloses a mixer with a flat orifice plate and a flat valve plate which can be utilized to regulate water flow. The valve and orifice plates are positioned horizontally in the mixer so that water must be falling downwardly, which is the same direction as the direction of flow of cement, when it engages the valve and orifice plates.
Another mixing apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,341 (the '341 patent), the details of which are incorporated herein by reference. The apparatus shown therein discloses a mixing tube with a dry substance inlet, a mixed substances inlet and a liquid inlet. The patent discloses that a water metering valve is to be connected to the liquid upstream from the liquid inlet. Such prior continuous mixing systems work well and have served and continue to serve useful purposes. However, while the prior art apparatus and methods provide satisfactory results, there is always a need for mixing devices which can provide improved efficiency and improved mixing, and which more effectively utilize available mixing energy. The present invention provides such an apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a front elevation view of an apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a side view of the present invention from lines
2
—
2
of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a top view of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a view taken from lines
4
—
4
of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is an enlarged view of an end plate assembly for the nozzle of the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a section view taken from lines
6
—
6
of FIG.
3
and shows the jetting valve in its closed position.
FIG. 6A
is a section view similar to
FIG. 6
, but shows the jetting valve in its fully open position.
FIG. 7
is a section view taken from lines
7
—
7
of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is a view of a detail of the outer sleeve of the nozzle of the present invention.
FIG. 9
shows the metering plug of the present invention.
FIG. 10
is a section view from lines
10
—
10
of FIG.
8
.
FIG. 11
is a section view from lines
11
—
11
of FIG.
9
.
FIG. 12
shows a detail of the jetting sleeve of the valve of the present invention.
FIG. 13
is a section view from lines
13
—
13
of FIG.
14
.
FIG. 14
is an end view of the jetting sleeve shown in FIG.
12
.
FIGS. 15 and 16
are section views taken from lines
15
—
15
and
16
—
16
of
FIG. 12
, respectively, and show the orientation of the hole patterns in the jetting sleeve.
FIG. 17
is a schematic of an apparatus and system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and particularly
FIGS. 1-3
, a mixing apparatus is shown and generally designated by the numeral
10
. Apparatus
10
includes a mixing tube
15
, a first or liquid inlet member
20
for conveying the liquid substance into the mixing tube
15
, a second or bulk inlet member
25
for conveying the dry substance into the mixing tube
15
and a third or recirculation inlet member
30
for conveying a recirculated mixture into the mixing tube
15
. Apparatus
10
also has a rotary valve, or jetting valve
35
, for controlling the flow of liquid into the mixing tube
15
. Jetting valve
35
is connected to mixing tube
15
and to liquid inlet member
20
. Jetting valve
35
has a longitudinal central axis
36
. Apparatus
10
thus has means for conveying a liquid substance, a dry substance and a mixture of liquid and dry substances into the mixing tube
15
.
Mixing tube
15
has an upper end
40
, a lower end
42
and an outer surface
44
. Mixing tube
15
is generally cylindrically shaped and defines an interior
46
. Mixing tube
15
has a longitudinal central axis
48
, which in the position shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
is substantially vertically oriented. A cone shaped funnel
50
is attached to the lower end
42
of mixing tube
15
and has an upper end
52
and an open lower end
54
. A deflector cone
56
is positioned below lower end
54
of funnel
50
. Deflector cone
56
may be attached to mixing tube
15
or funnel
50
.
Bulk inlet member
25
has an upper end
58
and a lower end
60
. Upper end
58
is positioned above upper end
40
of mixing tube
15
. Bulk inlet member
25
extends downwardly into the interior
46
of mixing tube
15
and is comprised of a threaded collar
62
and a replaceable insert
64
. Threaded collar
62
and insert
64
may be like that described in the '341 patent. Bulk inlet
25
has a longitudinal central axis
66
that is preferably collinear with longitudinal central axis
48
of mixing tube
15
and has an inner surface
67
defining a diameter
69
. Mixing tube
15
is divided into an upper portion
68
and a lower portion
70
with the dividing line being lower end
60
of bulk inlet member
25
. Bulk inlet member
25
has an entry or entry opening
72
at the upper end
58
and an exit or exit opening
74
at the lower end
60
.
Recirculation inlet member
30
comprises a generally cylindrical tube
76
having a first or entry end
78
and a second or exit end
80
. The orientation and configuration of recirculation inlet member
30
is like that described with respect to the recirculation inlet in the '341 patent. Thus, recirculation inlet member
30
has a longitudinal central axis
82
and is disposed at an angle
84
from horizontal as shown in FIG.
2
. Angle
84
is preferably approximately 25°-35° and more preferably about 30°. A recirculation nozzle plate
86
is attached to exit end
80
and covers a portion thereof. Recirculation inlet member
30
, due to recirculation nozzle plate
86
and the angle
84
, will direct a recirculated mixture conveyed from recirculation inlet member
30
inwardly and downwardly toward lower portion
70
of mixing tube
15
. A splash sheath
90
may be connected at or near the lower portion
70
of mixing tube
15
with bolts or other means known in the art.
Liquid inlet member
20
has a first, or entry end
94
, a second, or exit end
96
and an outer surface
98
as shown in FIG.
6
. Liquid inlet member
20
is comprised of a generally cylindrical member
100
defining an interior
102
and has a longitudinal central axis
103
. A liquid entry or liquid entry opening
104
is defined at first end
94
, and a liquid exit or liquid exit opening
106
is defined at second end
96
. Longitudinal central axis
103
is preferably positioned so as to be substantially perpendicular to longitudinal central axis
48
of mixing tube
15
and thus liquid inlet member
20
is substantially perpendicular to mixing tube
15
.
The details of rotary valve
35
, which may be referred to as a throttling valve or jetting valve
35
, are better seen in
FIGS. 5-16
. Jetting valve
35
comprises a first or outer sleeve which may also be referred to as an outer housing
110
, a jetting sleeve or a jetting cylinder
112
disposed in outer housing
110
and a metering plug or metering sleeve
114
rotatably disposed in jetting sleeve
112
.
Jetting valve
35
is shown in
FIG. 6
in a closed position
111
, wherein no flow is permitted therethrough from liquid inlet member
20
into mixing tube
15
and is shown in a fully open position
113
in
FIG. 6A
, wherein a maximum flow is permitted. As will be explained in more detail hereinbelow, jetting valve
35
is movable from closed position
111
to fully open position
113
and may be positioned at any desired position therebetween, which may be referred to as a partially open position so that flow therethrough may be regulated. Thus, there are a number of partially open positions, and the jetting valve
35
may be positioned at a selected one of any of said partially open positions. Reference to the open position of the jetting valve
35
and the open position of the metering plug
114
includes any position wherein flow through the jetting valve
35
into the mixing tube
15
is permitted.
Outer sleeve
110
has a first end
116
, a second end
118
, an outer surface
120
and an inner surface
122
defining an interior
124
. Outer sleeve
110
comprises a cylinder or cylindrical portion
126
defining an outer wall
127
and having flanges
128
and
130
at the ends thereof. Outer sleeve
110
has a longitudinal central axis
129
. Flanges
128
and
130
have holes or openings
132
to receive bolts or other fasteners known in the art.
Openings
134
and
136
are defined through outer sleeve
110
, preferably through outer wall
127
, to provide for communication into and through the interior
124
thereof. Opening
134
appears in the elevation view in
FIG. 8
as a generally rectangularly shaped opening with rounded corners and may be referred to as an exit or exit opening
134
. Exit opening
134
thus has a length
135
and a width
137
. Opening
136
is shaped so that, as shown in
FIG. 5
, liquid inlet member
20
may be attached by welding or other means known in the art thereto. Thus, liquid may be conveyed through liquid inlet member
20
into outer sleeve
110
through opening
136
. Outer sleeve
110
may also contain threaded holes
139
. A grease delivering device may be used in connection with holes
139
for seal lubrication.
Jetting sleeve
112
is received in outer sleeve
110
. Jetting sleeve
112
is a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve having first and second ends
138
and
140
, respectively. Lugs
141
and
143
are disposed at each of ends
138
and
140
. Jetting sleeve
112
has an outer surface
142
and an inner surface
144
defining an interior
146
. Jetting sleeve
112
has a longitudinal central axis
148
.
A plurality of grooves
149
are defined in outer surface
142
and, as shown in
FIG. 7
, receive seals
150
. Grooves
152
having holes
153
therethrough are also defined in outer surface
142
. There are preferably six holes
153
spaced around the circumference of each of grooves
152
. Grooves
152
may contain grease or other lubricating substances. Holes
153
will deliver the lubricating material to the seals disposed about metering plug
114
. Since metering plug
114
rotates, lubrication of the seals around the metering plug is important. Seals
150
on the jetting sleeve
112
serve to force the lubricating material into holes
153
.
Jetting sleeve
112
has an entrance or entrance opening
154
which as viewed in
FIG. 13
is a circular opening. Entrance opening
154
is positioned so that it will align with the opening
136
in outer sleeve
110
. Jetting sleeve
112
has a plurality of jetting ports
156
defined through the wall thereof. Jetting ports
156
are arranged in a plurality of columns
158
and
160
, and collectively define a width
157
and a length
159
. Width and length
135
and
137
, respectively, of exit opening
134
are preferably such that none of jetting ports
156
are covered by outer sleeve
110
. In other words all of the jetting ports
156
will fit within opening
134
. Columns
158
and
160
are arranged such that adjacent columns are offset from one another as shown in FIG.
12
. The position of the jetting ports
156
is defined with respect to a centerline
162
which goes through the center of entrance opening
154
. The position of the jetting ports
156
may be explained with reference to an angle
164
which as shown in
FIG. 14
is preferably approximately 120° measured from the centerline
162
.
As shown in
FIG. 15
, the jetting ports
156
in columns
158
are positioned so that the centerlines are displaced at angles
166
,
168
and
170
, respectively, from angle
164
. Angle
166
is preferably from about 17°-23° and is more preferably about 20°. Angle
168
is preferably from about 0°-6° and is more preferably about 3°. Angle
170
is preferably from about 11°-17° and is more preferably about 14°.
Likewise, the jetting ports
156
in columns
160
have centerlines at angles
172
,
174
and
176
, respectively. Angle
172
is preferably from about 23°-29° and is more preferably about 26°. Angle
174
is about 6°-12° and is more preferably about 9°. Angle
176
is preferably about 5°-11° and is more preferably about 8°. As is apparent in
FIG. 6A
, jetting sleeve
112
is positioned so that opening
154
aligns with opening
136
in outer sleeve
110
. Jetting ports
156
are all positioned so that liquid passing therethrough will enter the mixing tube
15
through opening
134
and will direct the liquid downwardly and inwardly so that it intersects any dry substance entering the mixing tube
15
below the exit opening
74
of bulk inlet member
25
.
Metering plug
114
, which is rotatably disposed in jetting sleeve
112
, may be described with reference to
FIGS. 9 and 11
. Metering plug
114
has first and second ends
178
and
180
, and has an outer surface
182
, an inner surface
184
and a longitudinal central axis
185
. Longitudinal central axes
129
,
148
and
185
are collinear, and are collinear with longitudinal central axis
36
of jetting valve
35
. Metering plug
114
also defines an interior
186
.
Shaft extensions
188
, which may be referred to as first and second shaft extensions
189
and
190
extend from first and second ends
178
and
180
, respectively. First and second shaft extensions
189
and
190
are preferably square shafts. A plurality of grooves
192
are defined in metering plug
114
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, grooves
192
have seals
194
disposed therein for sealingly engaging jetting sleeve
112
. Seals
194
may be lubricated with lubrication material delivered through holes
153
in jetting sleeve
112
. Metering plug
114
has windows
196
defined therethrough which define plugging strips
198
. Plugging strips
198
extend through a peripheral distance
199
sufficient to completely cover jetting ports
156
as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
Referring now back to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, outer housing
110
is fixedly attached to mixing tube
15
by welding or other means known in the art. Jetting valve
35
has end plates
200
and
202
attached to outer sleeve
110
with bolts
204
or with other means known in the art. Jetting sleeve
112
is concentrically disposed in outer sleeve
110
. Lugs
141
and
143
will extend into mating holes, slots or grooves in end plates
200
and
202
, so that when end plates
200
and
202
are bolted in place, jetting sleeve
112
is held in place and fixed against rotation.
The view shown in
FIG. 6
shows metering plug
114
in its closed position
201
wherein all of jetting ports
156
are completely covered by a plugging strip
198
. The metering plug
114
is rotatable from closed position
201
shown therein to fully open position
203
, shown in
FIG. 6A
, wherein all of the jetting ports
156
are uncovered to allow for a maximum volume therethrough. Positions
201
and
203
of metering plug
114
correspond to closed and fully open positions
111
and
113
, respectively, of jetting valve
35
.
Metering plug
114
is rotated clockwise from closed position
201
so that liquid may flow through the exit end
96
of liquid inlet member
20
through openings
136
and
154
and window
196
, and through jetting ports
156
and exit opening
134
. The liquid will be directed downwardly and inwardly by jetting ports
156
so that the liquid intersects a bulk substance being conveyed through bulk inlet member
25
. Generally L-shaped wear rings
206
may be disposed between end plates
200
and
202
and the ends of metering plug
114
to provide for easy rotation.
FIG. 4
schematically shows an embodiment of an automatic hydraulic actuator
208
that may be utilized to rotate the metering plug
114
. Such actuators are known in the art. Handle
210
can be utilized to provide for a flow path around the automatic hydraulic actuator
208
so that the handle
210
can be attached to the square shaft on the opposite end of the jetting valve
35
to allow for manual rotation of metering plug
114
. It is well-known in the art to use hydraulic actuators which can be automatically controlled to regulate the bulk flow rate and the flow of the liquid.
Metering plug
114
can be rotated from closed position
201
to fully open position
203
or can be rotated so as to uncover any desired portion of the jetting ports
156
to regulate the volume of the liquid flow into mixing tube
15
. When an automatic actuator is used, it can be connected to a computer and the flow rate of the liquid and bulk cement or other bulk material can be measured, along with the consistency and other characteristics of the mixture. Such information may be transmitted to a database. The position of metering plug
114
along with a valve which controls the flow of the cement or other bulk material can be automatically regulated based on the information, so that the correct mixture and the correct flow rates are obtained. An example of such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,267 which is incorporated herein by reference. If desired, however, the automatic hydraulic actuator
208
can be rendered inoperable by rotating the handle
210
to create a flow path around the automatic hydraulic actuator
208
so that metering plug
114
can be rotated manually. The jetting valve
35
may also include a flow indicator
207
attached to second shaft extension
190
and an indicator plate
209
attached to end plate
200
for indicating the position of metering plug
114
.
FIG. 17
schematically shows use of the mixing apparatus
10
in a typical cement slurry mixing application. As shown therein, mixing tube
15
is vertically oriented and is attached to a mixing tub
211
which may be a mixing tub of any type known in the art with mounting bracket
213
. A pump
212
pumps water from a water storage unit
214
to liquid inlet member
20
. Bulk cement enters bulk inlet member
25
from bulk storage unit
216
. Pump
218
pumps the cement slurry from mixing tub
211
to recirculation inlet member
30
.
The water, cement and recirculated slurry are conveyed into mixing tube
15
where they intersect below lower end
60
of bulk inlet member
25
. The mixture formed by the intersection of the substances pass through the lower end
60
of the mixing tube
15
into funnel
50
. The mixtures engage deflector cone
56
, which deflects and diffuses the mixture in the mixing tub
211
. An agitator can be used to circulate and further mix the slurry mixture in the mixing tub
211
. The mixing tub
211
will ultimately fill so that slurry will flow over a partition
220
in mixing tub
211
and can be pumped into a wellbore.
The schematic shown herein is similar to the schematic shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,341. However, in the '341 patent, the liquid metering valve is disposed a distance upstream from the liquid inlet member. Mixing energy is lost by utilizing a valve upstream of the inlet member. With the present invention, throttling valve
35
is disposed at the exit end
96
of liquid inlet member
20
. The present invention therefore more efficiently utilizes the energy available for mixing.
Nearly all of the potential energy that exists because of the pressure in liquid inlet member
20
will translate to kinetic mixing energy when the jetting valve
35
is opened. In other words, no energy is lost due to positioning the jetting valve
35
upstream of the liquid inlet member
20
. The volume of the flow into the mixing tube
15
will increase as the metering plug
114
is rotated from its closed position
201
to its fully open position
203
. The metering plug
114
can be positioned at any location between the closed and fully open positions
201
and
203
, respectively, to provide for any desired volume flow rate of water. Although the volume of flow increases as the jetting valve
35
is opened, the velocity of the water, while it will decrease slightly when the volume increases, will be substantially constant since the decrease in pressure in the liquid inlet member
20
between the fully closed and fully open positions
201
and
203
, respectively, is slight and therefore insignificant.
By utilizing all of the energy available, a better mixing apparatus
10
is provided. Water is directed through jetting ports
156
downwardly and inwardly so that it will intersect with the bulk material, preferably dry cement, below bulk inlet member
25
as it passes vertically downwardly in the mixing tube
15
. Such an arrangement will provide for an adequate mixture, even in those cases where for mechanical or other reasons, no recirculation mixture is being recirculated into mixing tube
15
through the recirculation inlet member
30
.
While the invention disclosed herein is discussed primarily in the context of mixing a cement slurry at a well site, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the apparatus and method for mixing can be used for mixing other substances at a well site as well as in other applications.
Thus, the present invention is well-adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated for the purposes of the present disclosure, changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and the performance of steps can be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A mixing apparatus for forming a mixture of a liquid and a dry substance, the mixing apparatus comprising:a mixing tube; a liquid inlet member for conveying the liquid into the mixing tube; a bulk inlet member for conveying the dry substance into the mixing tube; and a jetting valve disposed between the liquid inlet member and the mixing tube for regulating the flow rate of the liquid into the mixing tube, the jetting valve comprising: an outer sleeve fixedly attached to the mixing tube, the outer sleeve having a first opening in communication with the liquid inlet member and a second opening in communication with the mixing tube; and a jetting sleeve disposed in the outer sleeve, the jetting sleeve having a entrance opening in communication with the first opening in the outer sleeve and a plurality of jetting ports defined therethrough in communication with the second opening in the outer sleeve; wherein in an open position of the jetting valve the liquid is permitted to flow from the liquid inlet member through the first opening in the outer sleeve and the entrance opening in the jetting sleeve and out through the jetting ports and the second opening in the outer sleeve into the mixing tube, and wherein in a closed position of the jetting valve no flow of the liquid is permitted through the jetting ports.
- 2. The mixing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a recirculation inlet member for conveying the mixture of the liquid and the dry substance back into the mixing tube.
- 3. The mixing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jetting valve may be positioned at or between a fully open position wherein a maximum flow rate of the liquid through the jetting valve is permitted and the closed position, and wherein the flow rate is regulated by positioning the jetting valve at the fully open position, the closed position, or a position between the fully open position and the closed position.
- 4. The mixing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bulk inlet member has an exit opening for permitting the dry substance to pass therethrough into the mixing tube, wherein the exit opening defines a width, and wherein the jetting ports define a width substantially the same as the width of the exit opening in the bulk inlet member.
- 5. The mixing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the exit opening in the bulk inlet member is generally circular in shape and defines an exit opening diameter, and wherein the exit opening diameter comprises the width of the exit opening in the bulk inlet member.
- 6. The mixing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jetting ports are arranged in a plurality of columns.
- 7. The mixing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a metering plug disposed in the jetting sleeve, wherein the metering plug covers the jetting ports to prevent flow of the liquid therethrough when the jetting valve is in the closed position, and wherein the metering plug may be rotated in the jetting sleeve to uncover the jetting ports to permit flow of the liquid therethrough into the mixing tube.
- 8. The mixing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the metering plug may be rotated so that the jetting valve is in a fully open position wherein all of the jetting ports are uncovered.
- 9. The mixing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the metering plug has at least one groove adapted to receive a seal for sealing engaging the jetting sleeve.
- 10. A mixing apparatus comprising:a mixing tube; a first inlet member for conveying a liquid into the mixing tube; a second inlet member for conveying a dry substance into the mixing tube; and a valve connected to the first inlet member for regulating the flow rate of the liquid and for redirecting the flow of the liquid so that it enters the mixing tube at a selected angle from the direction of flow of the dry substance, the valve comprising: an outer cylinder, the outer cylinder having an inlet opening communicated with the first inlet member and having an outlet opening; a jetting sleeve concentrically disposed in the outer cylinder, the jetting sleeve having a plurality of jetting ports defined therethrough, wherein in an open position of the valve the liquid is permitted to flow from the first inlet member through the inlet opening in the outer cylinder and through at least a portion of the jetting ports in the jetting sleeve and the outlet opening in the outer cylinder into the mixing tube, and wherein in a closed position of the valve no flow is permitted through the jetting ports; and a metering plug disposed in the jetting sleeve, wherein the metering plug covers the jetting ports to prevent flow therethrough when the valve is in the closed position, and wherein the metering plug may be rotated in the jetting sleeve to uncover the jetting ports to permit flow therethrough into the mixing tube.
- 11. The mixing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the metering plug maybe rotated so that the valve is in a fully open position wherein all of the jetting ports are uncovered.
- 12. The mixing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the metering plug is automatically rotatable in the jetting sleeve.
- 13. A mixing apparatus comprising:a mixing tube; a liquid inlet member for conveying a liquid into the mixing tube; a dry substance inlet member for conveying a dry substance into the mixing tube; a jetting sleeve communicated with the liquid inlet member, the jetting sleeve having a plurality of jetting ports therethrough, wherein the liquid may be communicated through the liquid inlet member into the jetting sleeve and through the jetting ports into the mixing tube so that it will mix with the dry substance conveyed through the dry substance inlet; an outer sleeve disposed about the jetting sleeve, the outer sleeve being connected to the liquid inlet member, wherein the liquid is communicated through the outer sleeve and into the jetting sleeve; and a metering plug rotatably disposed in the jetting sleeve, the metering plug being rotatable between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position the metering plug prevents flow through the jetting ports and wherein in the open position the metering plug permits flow through the jetting ports.
- 14. The mixing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the metering plug is rotatable between a plurality of partially open positions between the closed position and a fully open position, and wherein the metering plug may be positioned at a selected of the partially open positions.
- 15. The mixing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the liquid inlet member has a longitudinal axis, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the jetting sleeve is positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the liquid inlet member.
- 16. The mixing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the jetting ports comprise a plurality of jetting ports defined through a side of the jetting sleeve.
- 17. The mixing apparatus of claim 16 wherein the jetting ports are arranged in a plurality of columns.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
92417 |
Jul 1994 |
FI |