Apparatus and process for producing a clay slurry from raw clay in a substantially
dust-free manner including a water-driven vacuum eductor for metering the removal
of clay from a super bag container and mixing the clay with a carrier water that
also serves as the motive force for the eductor for producing a clay slurry and
feeding it to an equalization tank that de-aerates and equalizes the slurry. A
bag shaker is provided in the source of clay to assist feeding where needed, and
a vacuum breaking valve is provided for the eductor to control the flow of raw
clay into the eductor. The bag of clay is suspended from a load cell that continuously
delivers a weight signal to a programmable logic controller adjustable to set the
rate of clay being fed to the eductor and to activate the bag shaker if the clay
flow rate lags the set rate and the vacuum breaker if the clay flow rate exceeds
the set rate.