摘要:
An improved machine or apparatus for forming member from a slurry of refractory material includes a pair of mold sections which cooperate to form a cavity. A flexible diaphragm extends around the mold sections and is movable to an inwardly and downwardly sloping position to form a trough connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity. The mold cavity is flooded by filling the trough with the slurry of refractory material. Water is then drawn from the slurry in the mold cavity to form a wetcake of refractory material. The water content of this wet-cake of refractory material is at least partially controlled with an adjustable timer which regulates the length of time for which water is drawn from the mold cavity. After sufficient refractory material has been deposited in the mold cavity to form a wet-cake having the shape of the member to be formed, the diaphragm is moved to an outwardly and downwardly sloping position to enable excess slurry to flow away from the mold sections and into a receptacle. The excess slurry is pumped from this receptacle to a main mixing or batch tank where it is mixed with a relatively large quantity of the slurry. Therefore, when this excess slurry is subsequently reused, it will have a water content or consistency corresponding to that of the main batch of slurry.