Apparatus (20) for injection of fluid into extrusion system components such as a preconditioner (24) or extruder (100) is provided, preferably as a composite assembly including a fluid injection valve (52) and an interconnected static mixer section (54). Alternately, use may be made of the fluid injection valve (52) or static mixer section (54) alone. The invention greatly simplifies the fluid injection apparatus used in extrusion systems, while giving more efficient absorption of thermal energy with a minimum of environmental contamination, and the ability to inject multiple streams into the extrusion systems.

A method for extruding a comestible material comprises the steps of passing comestible material into an extruder (100) with rotation of the extruder screw(s) (120, 122) and delivery of fluid comprising steam and water into an opening (114a) of the extruder barrel (104). The fluid delivery step comprises separately directing individual quantities of steam and water into the casing (72) of a static mixing section (54), and blending the steam and water to create a blended mixture, and then delivering the blended mixture into the barrel (114a). The blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).

An extruder (100) for comestible material comprises a tubular barrel (104) and one or more elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screws (120, 122) within the barrel (104), where the barrel (104) has a delivery opening (114a). The extruder barrel (104) is equipped with an assembly (22) for delivery of fluid to the interior thereof, including a static mixing section (54) operable to blend steam and water to create a blended mixture; the blended mixture is delivered to the barrel opening (114a) by of a conveying assembly (84, 86) having a pipe assembly (86) with an outlet in communication with the barrel opening (114a); the pipe assembly (86) and opening (114a) have diameters less than maximum internal diameter of the static mixer casing (72).

The present invention relates to articles comprising a plurality of molded hollow parts (11) having different central axis (14, 15) through the hollow elements, further having passages in walls of the hollow parts transverse to the central axis of the hollow parts. The present invention also relates to methods applying two part curable materials to substrates using the molded parts of the invention as mixing elements.

Methods of preconditioning comestible materials such as foods or feeds include the step of separately injecting steam and water into a static mixer in order to create a blend, which is then injected into the materials within a preconditioner barrel. The methods yield increased cook values in the preconditioned materials, with a reduction in evolved steam from the preconditioner.

The present invention relates to articles comprising a plurality of molded hollow parts (11) having different central axis (14, 15) through the hollow elements, further having passages in walls of the hollow parts transverse to the central axis of the hollow parts. The present invention also relates to methods applying two part curable materials to substrates using the molded parts of the invention as mixing elements.

Disclosed herein is a mixing element for two air flows intersecting in an air conditioner with a main wall of a mixing region for mixing first and second air flows. The main wall is disposed such that an inflow direction of the first and second air flows into the mixing region run longitudinally with respect to a main extension plane of the main wall. The mixing element includes first and second auxiliary walls of the mixing region, each having a main surface at opposite side edges of the main wall, and disposed such that the inflow direction of the first air flow runs past a side edge of the first auxiliary wall and transverse to the main surface of the first auxiliary wall. The inflow direction of the second air flow into the mixing region runs longitudinally with respect to the main surface of the first auxiliary wall.

An atomizer comprises a static mixer configured to mix components of a coating agent with one another. The mixer has a plurality of fixed mixing elements and is constructionally integrated into the atomizer, and the mixer is a lattice mixer having mixing elements that are arranged intertwined in a lattice-like manner.

A mixer includes a mixer housing, a mixing configuration arranged at least partly within the mixer housing and defining first and second inlet openings arranged at a first end of the mixing configuration and a dispensing opening arranged at a second end axially opposite the first end of the mixing configuration forming a mixing flow path, a connection device to connect the mixer to the multi-component cartridge by an axial latching movement followed by a substantially rotational tightening movement, and a keying element to block the axial latching movement when the multi-component cartridge is not provided with a matching keying configuration.