Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the rheological properties of polymer melts, polymer solutions and other materials including the placement of a specimen of the material to be tested within the intervening space between a forcibly rotatable member and a stationary member both of which have a common axis of symmetry, further including a drive device to forcibly rotate the rotatable member about the common axis of symmetry to shear the specimen, also including the measuring of the force required to shear the specimen, in order to determine the modules of elasticity, yield stress and steady state viscosity of the specimen, further abruptly stopping the rotation of the forcibly rotated member and measuring the stress relaxation of the specimen as a function of time, or alternatively, releasing the forcibly rotated member and measuring the recoverable strain and rate of strain recovery as a function of time for the purpose of determining the elastic properties of the specimen, and further including an alignment bearing

Abstract: Previously vulcanized rubber to be reclaimed is fed in particulate form (e.g. ground tire stock) together with reclaiming agents to a passageway between an essentially smooth stator and an essentially cylindrical rotor arranged to provide an axial shear zone therebetween in which the rubber is frictionally propelled by the rotor action and subjected at least to the generated pressure and heat and expelled axially through an orifice. The action may be assisted by mixing a suitable amount of previously reclaimed rubber or of unvulcanized rubber with or in advance of the particulate vulcanized rubber, and/or by supplemental heating. In other aspects of the invention, previously-reclaimed previously-vulcanized rubber is similarly fed and acted upon as a substitute for conventional refining operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the elastic properties of polymer melts and polymer solutions including the placement of a specimen of the material to be tested, within the intervening space between two members both of which are capable of low friction rotation about a common axis, further including a drive apparatus to forcibly rotate one member about the axis to shear the specimen, also including the measuring of the force required to shear the specimen, in order to determine the modulus of elasticity, yield stress and steady state viscosity of the specimen, further releasing the member not forcibly rotated and measuring the recoverable strain and rate of strain recovery by measuring the motion of the released member as a function of time for the purposes of determining the elastic characteristics of the specimen, further including a light source directed along the axis of rotation of the members into an optical fiber along the center line thereof so shaped to emerge in a direction parallel to the axi

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding polymeric material to processing and mixing equipment is disclosed which includes a hopper located radially from the axis of rotation of the processing equipment in the direction of rotation and with walls that are inclined at angles which direct the feed material toward the direction of rotation. In addition, a passage is provided within the apparatus for venting gases. The rate of egress of feed material from the hopper to the processing equipment is controlled in response to the need of the processing equipment.The disclosed apparatus includes a casing, a hopper inclined in the direction of rotation of the processing equipment, a control means acting as a gate for the introduction of new material and forming a passage in conjunction with the casing to provide a space for the escape and removal of volatile material from the processing equipment.The control means may be moved about a pivot in such a manner as to encourage the feed material into the processing equipment.