The invention relates to an apparatus (110) for producing foamed building materials, comprising a gas supply unit (112), a suspension supply unit (150-156), and a mixing chamber (118), the apparatus (110) further comprising a control and/or regulating unit (136) which has means (116, 124, 130, 134, 146,) for supplying values of a plurality of input parameters, based on which at least a temperature of the dispersion and an air pressure in an environment of the apparatus (110) can be inferred, the control and/or regulating unit (136) being further configured to influence at least one output parameter, by means of which the ratio of the volumes and/or masses and/or densities of gas and suspension supplied per unit of time can be adjusted. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.

A mobile aggregate hopper for a volumetric and gravimetric mixer having arcuate longitudinal walls for holding and isolating aggregate. The mobile aggregate hopper has a base integral with the arcuate longitudinal walls with an aggregate transfer conveyor and means for attachment to a trailer or chassis having wheels. The single sheet structure of the longitudinal arcuate side walls minimizes welding and mechanical joints during manufacturing and provides a hopper with high strength and capacity and low overall weight.

A technique facilitates mixing of cement slurry for use in a cementing application. At least one cement mixer is provided with a tank, e.g. a conical tank, having a powder cement blend inlet and a mixing liquid inlet. A cement slurry discharge may be positioned generally beneath the tank. A mixing assembly also is positioned below the tank and driven by a shaft. The mixing assembly is exposed to an interior of the tank and is used to mix the cement slurry when rotated by the shaft and to direct the cement slurry out through the cement slurry discharge. Additionally, a recirculation system comprises an inlet positioned to receive a portion of the cement slurry mixed in the mixing assembly. The recirculation system also comprises an outlet positioned to direct the portion back into the mixer to enhance mixing effects.

Methods and apparatus for controlling a characteristic of a cement slurry at a cementing unit, including regulating a characteristic of the cement slurry employing a closed loop feedback arrangement in the cementing unit, and adjusting a gain of the closed loop feedback arrangement in response to sampling an error of the characteristic.

A mobile volumetric concrete mixing system includes a suction system that vacuums up trench spoils while a trench is being cut. These trench spoils are then screened on-site for particle size to be reused and mixed with water, cement, and/or other admixtures at an auger mixer to form a backfill mixture. This backfill mixture may then be loaded into a hopper that continuously agitates the mixture so that the mixture does not harden before pouring. The agitating hopper is coupled to a discharge chute of the auger mixer and includes one or more augers disposed at various orientations that the backfill mixture is channeled through. From the agitating hopper, the backfill mixture is channeled to an applicator that moves along the trench and that enables the mixture to be quickly poured into the trench with little clean-up required.

A technique facilitates mixing of cement slurry for use in a cementing application. At least one cement mixer is provided with a tank, e.g. a conical tank, having a powder cement blend inlet and a mixing liquid inlet. A cement slurry discharge may be positioned generally beneath the tank. A mixing assembly also is positioned below the tank and driven by a shaft. The mixing assembly is exposed to an interior of the tank and is used to mix the cement slurry when rotated by the shaft and to direct the cement slurry out through the cement slurry discharge. Additionally, a recirculation system comprises an inlet positioned to receive a portion of the cement slurry mixed in the mixing assembly. The recirculation system also comprises an outlet positioned to direct the portion back into the mixer to enhance mixing effects.

Disclosed is a deagglomeration apparatus, to improve the quality of a mixture used for the production of concrete blocks. An illustrative embodiment of the deagglomerator comprises a vertical shaft high-shear mixer, wherein a rotational force (hydraulic or electric) is mounted to a vertical shaft onto which are mounted chains and/or knives, housed within a flexible rubber boot or tube. The deagglomerator is configured to be controllably powered, to rotate the shaft and the attached tools. Partially mixed formula is introduced to a top region of the deagglomerator, and falls downwardly past the rotating tools wherein the formula is pulverized and mixed, before exiting the lower area of the mixing region.

A mobile aggregate hopper for a volumetric and gravimetric mixer having arcuate longitudinal walls for holding and isolating aggregate. The mobile aggregate hopper has a base integral with the arcuate longitudinal walls with an aggregate transfer conveyor capable of attachment to a trailer or chassis having wheels. The single sheet structure of the longitudinal arcuate side walls minimizes welding and mechanical joints during manufacturing and provides a hopper with high strength and capacity and low overall weight.

Methods of wellbore cementing are provided. A method of analyzing a solid particulate including: measuring a water requirement of the solid particulate; and determining an approximation of specific surface area of the solid particulate from the water requirement.

Embodiments disclosed provide a pump assembly including a first pump for delivering at least one fluid. The first pump may include a first inlet coupled to the first pump for delivering at least one first fluid to the first pump, a second inlet coupled to the first pump for delivering at least one second fluid to the first pump, a first discharge coupled to the first pump for delivering the at least one first fluid at a first pressure, and a second discharge coupled to the first pump for delivering the at least one second fluid at a second pressure. In some embodiments, the first discharge and the second discharge are isolated from each other.