Embodiments of the invention generally relate to apparatus and methods to control the addition of moisture to materials for the production of concrete.

A device and a process for the continuous application of a refractory slurry to a surface incorporate a batch reactor (10) for the controlled mixing of the slurry, a product vessel (60) in communication with the batch reactor (10) to contain the mixed slurry, and a variable-rate spraying applicator or nozzle in communication with the product vessel and with an air supply. A controller (100) controls input to, output from, and the operation of, the batch mixer (10), and monitors batch production. The controller (100) monitors the amount of slurry contained in the product vessel (60). If the level of slurry in the product hopper is such that the product hopper cannot accommodate an additional batch of slurry, the controller interrupts batch production and resumes production when the product hopper can accept the contents of the batch reactor (10).

A mixer vehicle system includes a mixer vehicle and a remote management system. The mixer vehicle includes a chassis and a vehicle body. The vehicle body comprises a plurality of subcomponents. The plurality of subcomponents includes a cabin, a mixing drum, a charge hopper, and a chute. The mixing drum is movable relative to the chassis to agitate a mixture. The charge hopper is movable relative to an aperture of the mixing drum. The chute is pivotally coupled to the mixer vehicle. The remote management system is configured to monitor and adjust a property of the mixture. The remote management system includes a sensor and a device. The sensor is configured to detect information corresponding to the property of the mixture and generate an input signal. The device is configured to recover a signal from the remote quality management system and cause at least one mixture property to change.

In a manufacturing method for manufacturing a dispersion body, a plurality of types of solid particles, water, and a liquid dispersant are mixed. In the manufacturing method, at least two types of the solid particles and at least one type of the dispersant that are selected based on a material type selection method are used, and at least an optimal amount of the dispersant that is determined based on an optimal amount determination method is added and mixed. The material type selection method is based on a Hansen solubility parameter distance to water, Hansen spheres of the solid particles, and a Hansen sphere of the dispersant.

The invention relates to a computer-aided method and a device for controlling a concrete mixing plant for the production of ready-mixed concrete (1) or mixed concrete, which is mixed at least from the components cement (6a; 6b) and aggregates (8a, 8b, 8c) with the addition of water (9) in a motor-driven mixer unit (3), wherein at least the required mixing time (t.sub.M) of the mixer unit (3) is calculated before the start of the mixing process by means of an electronic prognosis unit (10), which calculates the current moisture (F), measured by means of at least one moisture sensor (11), of at least the aggregates (8a, 8b, 8c) to be added and the temperature measured by means of at least one temperature sensor (12;13;14) or thermal imaging camera, in order to determine the required mixing time (t.sub.M) of the mixer unit (3) on the basis of a predetermined concrete formulation (18), taking into account the various measured values determined by the sensors.

A multi-module system for applying a refractory monolithic onto an object includes a power module and a placement module, separated and distinct from the power module. The power module includes a hydraulic pump and a prime mover drivably coupled to the hydraulic pump. The placement module includes a mixer for receiving a dry refractory material and a liquid, the mixer operative to mix the dry refractory material and liquid to produce a wet monolithic, and a pump coupled to the mixer and configured to move the wet monolithic out of the mixer. A hydraulic conduit is couplable between the hydraulic pump and at least one of the mixer or the pump, whereby the at least one of the mixer or the pump is driven by hydraulic power produced by the hydraulic pump.

An environmental-friendly mortar robot comprises a first, second, third, and fourth container module. The first container module (2) consists of a sand midway silo, a weighing system, a stirring system, and a control system; the second container module (3) consists of a cement silo, a spiral conveying machine, a material level meter and a water storage tank; the third container module (4) consists of a fly-ash silo, a spiral conveying machine, a material level meter and an air storage tank with an air compressor; the fourth container module (5) consists of a sand storage bin, an elevator, a material level meter and an additive storage box. While transporting, the first container module can be respectively detached into four functional modules which are directly put onto a transporting vehicle together with other three container modules for transportation.

A system comprises a cement mixer, a supply tank to supply dry cement to the cement mixer, and a dry cement height sensor to measure the height of the dry cement in the cement supply tank. A valve controls the flow of dry cement to the cement supply tank based on the signals from the dry cement height sensor. Additional apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed.

A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).

A system and process for mixing and distributing building materials. This system and process can also include a way or a means for calibrating the mixing of these materials. This system and process can also include a system for tracking the materials that flow through the system, and for controlling the type of material used in the system.