Particulate material in a liquid

Claim 1

Apparatus for dispersing particulate material in a liquid, comprising: (a) an upwardly extending cylindrical container having particulate-material-and-liquid inlet means to a lower end portion of the interior thereof and a particulate-material-and-liquid dispersion outlet from an upper end portion of the interior thereof, (b) an annular partition dividing the container interior into upper and lower compartments with a central opening therebetween, (c) a cylindrical duct forming a passageway for particulate-material-and-liquid passing through the central opening, (d) particulate-material-and-liquid flow obstructing baffles in the upper and lower compartments, the baffles being at spaced intervals around, and spaced from, the inner surface of the container, each of the baffles extending upwardly along a major intermediate portion of the compartment within which it is disposed to disrupt boundary layer flow therearound, (e) a radial flow producing flat blade type turbine rotor coaxially disposed in the lower compartment and at an intermediate position between the particulate-material-and-liquid inlet means and the partition, (f) a particulate-material-and-liquid homogenizing knife blade type turbine rotor coaxially disposed at an intermediate position in, and closely fitting in, the duct, (g) a particulate-material-and-liquid radially outward an axially downward flow producing, pitched blade type turbine rotor coaxially disposed in the upper compartment at an intermediate position between the partition and the particulate-material-and-liquid dispersion outlet, and (h) means for connecting the rotors to a driving means for rotating the rotors.