Open inlet blender

摘要

A blending apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical casing bounded by top and bottom walls, the top wall having a central solids inlet for introduction of solids by gravity flow into an impeller mounted for rotation in the casing and in coaxial alignment with the solids inlet. The impeller has one or more spaced plates and impeller vanes mounted thereon which extend radially away from a central opening in the upper plate thereof, the central opening being aligned in open communication with the solids inlet and disposed in closely spaced relation to the top wall in such a way to prevent backflow of materials from the chamber formed in the casing through the upper solids inlet. Tangentially directed fluid inlet and outlet ports are disposed in the casing's cylindrical wall and the inlet port is disposed in outer radially spaced relation to the impeller preferably with the outlet port spaced below the inlet port and impeller for discharging intermixed materials from the chamber. A pump is provided to pump fluids into the fluid inlet port for mixture with the solids passing through the impeller.