Abstract: A filter for high pressure, high viscosity fluids, such as thermoplastic melts, in which a filter channel contains a valve with a stem equal to the largest diameter of the valve seat.

Abstract: The present granulating apparatus is especially suitable for chopping strands or thermoplastic material into small pieces as the strands emerge from nozzles. For transporting these strands when they are still hot and partially liquid from the nozzles to a cutting apparatus, there is arranged a chute between the nozzles and a pair of feeding rollers just upstream of the cutting apparatus. The feeding rollers exert a slight pull on the strands. The chute has an entrance end or inlet and an exit end or outlet, as well as a chute path interconnecting said ends, said chute path protruding at least at said ends from a common plane defined by the nozzles and by said feeding rollers, whereby the strands are pressed against the chute at least at the chute ends. A housing surrounds the cutting roller. Cooling water supplied to the housing is divided into a main stream and into a water curtain. The water curtain is so located that the cut off granules must first pass through the curtain before contacting the housing.