Fibrous concrete batch forming system

Claim 1

In a concrete batch forming system including conveying means for introducing concrete ingredients in solid form into a mixer or the like, means for apportioning large aggregate onto said conveying means, means for apportioning cement onto said conveying means, means for apportioning sand onto said conveying means, means for apportioning fibrous reinforcing material onto said conveying means, the improvement comprising, means for providing a source of fibrous reinforcing material, means for separating fibrous reinforcing material from said source into (a) balls of fiber and (b) substantially individual fibers; means for directing only substantially individual fibers from said separating means to said fibrous reinforcing material apportioning means, said separating means comprising an air classifier including a housing having an upper, fibrous reinforcing material inlet, a lower fiber ball outlet, a side individual fiber outlet, and means for directing air across the interior of said housing toward said side outlet; and louvers associated with said side outlet for directing entrained fibers in a predetermined path, and means downstream of said louvers defining an impact surface positioned in said path to be struck by entrained fibers to break up small groups of fibers passing through said side outlet.