Mixing support for castable material

Claim 2

A mixing support for castable material, comprising: porous means defining a rigid porous surface region for receiving and supporting a quantity of castable material; means associated with said porous means to supply a mixing liquid to said porous means at a location thereon which is remote of said rigid porous surface region to establish a flow of said mixing liquid through said porous means to emerge at said rigid porous surface region, so that a mixture of castable material received on said rigid porous surface region is exposed to the emerging mixing liquid; and the porosity of said rigid porous surface region permitting said flow of said mixing liquid while substantially preventing said castable material from flowing into said rigid porous surface region.

Claim 3

A mixing support as in claim 1, further comprising means for supplying said liquid to said porous material at a certain pressure.

Claim 4

A mixing support as in claim 1, further comprising: means for supporting said porous means so that said rigid porous surface region is substantially horizontal and has an underside; means defining a liquid receiving reservoir which is in liquid flow communication with the underside of said rigid porous surface region; and means operatively associated with said reservoir to maintain the liquid therein at a desired amount of hydrostatic pressure relative to said porous means, so that a quantity of liquid from said reservoir is forced through said porous means to said rigid porous surface region.

Claim 5

A mixing support as in claim 3, wherein said liquid maintaining means comprises a liquid holding well in flow communication with said reservoir and extending upwardly to a point in elevated relation to said rigid porous surface region.

Claim 6

Mixing support apparatus for castable material, comprising: base means defining a liquid receiving reservoir; a wall supported by said base means and having a lower surface which is exposed to said reservoir; said wall having at least one porous region which is contiguous to said lower surface and which has a rigid porous upper surface defining a work surface for receiving a quantity of castable material; means in fluid flow communication with said reservoir for supplying said reservoir with a mixing liquid at a pressure which establishes liquid flow though said porous region from said reservoir to said work surface; and the porosity of said rigid porous upper surface permitting said mixing liquid to flow through said wall to said work surface while substantially preventing said castable material from flowing into said work surface.

Claim 7

Mixing support apparatus for castable material, comprising: base means defining a liquid receiving reservoir; a wall supported by said base means and having a lower surface which is exposed to said reservoir; said wall having at least one porous region which is contiguous to said lower surface and which has a rigid porous upper surface defining a work surface for receiving a quantity of castable material; means in fluid flow communication with said reservoir for supplying said reservoir with a mixing liquid at a pressure which establishes liquid flow though said porous region from said reservoir to said work surface; and the porosity of said rigid porous upper surface permitting said mixing liquid to flow through said wall to said work surface while substantially preventing said castable material from flowing into said work surface.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said means for supplying liquid comprises a liquid receiving well in fluid communication with said reservoir and extending upwardly to a location which is above said work surface, so that hydrostatic pressure establishes said liquid flow through said porous region when said reservoir and well are filled with liquid to a level which is above said work surface.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 6, comprising a pair of said wells in fluid communication with said reservoir.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein part of said work surface of said wall is impervious to said mixing liquid.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said wall has a plurality of said rigid porous upper surfaces, with said rigid porous upper surfaces being isolated from each other by liquid impervious means.