Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for treating a downwardly moving, compact bed of solid particles by contact with a flooding liquid, e.g., corn solids are treated with an aqueous solution of lime. Means are provided to obtain relatively uniform, gravity flow of the compact solids through the bed to provide for relatively uniform treatment of the solids with the liquid.

Abstract: A multi-stage rotary processor for plastic and polymeric materials which are, or become in the course of processing, viscous liquids, including an annular housing, a rotor coaxial with and rotatable with respect to the housing and having a cylindrical surface in slidable sealing relation with the interior of the housing, a plurality of annular channels formed in the cylindrical surface and cooperating with the housing to form annular processing passages, transfer passages, which are preferably channels in the surface of the housing for cooperation with the cylindrical portions of the rotor, to provide passage for transfer of material between processing passages and blocking members extending into the channels to hold material in the processing passages for relative movement with respect to the channel walls for processing.

Abstract: An ice handling apparatus effectively handles crushed, cracked, flaked or cubed ice without agglomeration or congealing of the ice. The apparatus has a hopper for holding a mass of small particles of ice and an agitator in the hopper, and in one embodiment the hopper has level or inclined shelves extending from its side walls for supporting the ice and decreasing the compressive pressures to which the mass of ice is subjected, and for cooperating with the agitator to keep the ice particles in discrete, free flowing form. The hopper has an opening spaced above a lowermost end thereof through which ice may be dispensed, and in accordance with another embodiment of the invention a ramp extends from the bottom of the hopper to the opening to smoothly carry ice to the opening and facilitate dispensing of ice from the hopper. In combination with the shelves, the ramp provides for significantly improved dispensing of discrete, free flowing particles of ice.

Abstract: A multi-stage rotary processor particularly useful as a pump for viscous materials. The multi-stage rotary processor includes a rotatable element having a surface carrying at least one primary processing channel connected to at least one further processing channel and a stationary element providing a complementary coaxial surface arranged with the channels to form enclosed primary and further processing passages. The stationary element also has associated with it an inlet for at least the primary processing passage, outlets for the passages and members extending into each channel for blocking material fed to the processing passages so that liquid material in contact with the rotating channel walls can be dragged forward in each channel. In the primary processing passage the dragged forward material is transferred to the further processing passage for discharge at a uniform pressure and rate.

Abstract: Sealing means for controlling leakage of material between closely spaced apart, relatively moving coaxial annular surfaces. Essentially, leakage is controlled by providing a pumping channel on one of the surfaces and a leakage liquid retaining channel on the other surface. The pumping and leakage liquid retaining channels are cooperatively arranged to resist flow of leakage liquid between the surfaces. The sealing means are particularly adaptable for controlling leakage from processing passages of rotary processing apparatus.

Abstract: A turbine mixer for a polyethylene reactor of the stirred autoclave type in which a turbine rotor is mounted on a rotating stirrer shaft extending along the longitudinal axis of the reactor and a turbine stator is mounted adjacent to and upstream of the rotor. The turbine mixer is positioned in the final stage of a three-stage, stirred autoclave reactor, and a baffle plate is positioned so as to extend across the reactor at the inlet to the final zone. The mixer produces intense stirring of the reactor materials within the final stage, but does not cause significant backmixing into the reactor zone immediately upstream thereof. The turbine mixer may also be utilized in other zones of the reactor wherein intense axial mixing of the reactor materials is required, in which case the baffle plate would be omitted so as to produce intensive axial mixing of the reactor materials within that zone.

Abstract: A single-screw extruder and process for mixing viscous materials, for example, rubber mixtures and thermoplastic materials. The process and apparatus includes inserting a plurality of obstacles in the flow path of the material stream in the interior of the extruder cylinder. The obstacles are in the form of a number of series of studs protruding into the cylinder and accommodated by respective gaps or openings in the threads of the screw. The depth of penetration as well as the number of studs can be varied and adjusted by automatic means. The penetrating portion of the studs can be of different shapes according to the requirements for a thorough and turbulent deflection and mixing of the material stream.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing solid and viscous plastic material or polymeric material and the like in which plastic or polymeric material is fed through an inlet into an enclosed passage of which opposed side walls are moving simultaneously toward an outlet and the material is processed and dragged forward by the moving side wall against a channel block and with progressive build up of pressure along said passage for discharging the processed material through the outlet from the enclosed passage. Rotary apparatus for practicing the method includes one or more annular channels having opposed side walls and carried by a drive rotor member for movement relative to a housing of which an annular surface coaxial with the rotor cooperates with the walls of the channel or channels to form an enclosed annular passage or enclosed annular passages.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a cylindrical vessel and top thereof encloses salad-mixing space having a rotatable extending downwardly through the top/lid with a cranking handle located on an upper end of the rotatable shaft and rod-like elements extending outwardly from a lower portion of the shaft below the lid and positioned to intermesh and move past other rod-like elements extending inwardly into central space of the salad-mixing space.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a homogeneous, chemically reactive system of a starting material of highly viscous or pasty consistency, and at least one further reaction partner which is added to the starting material to chemically treat the starting material. The apparatus includes a substantially vertically oriented vessel having a cylindrical interior side wall and a frontal face at the top of the vessel. An inlet opening is provided for the starting material to be treated and an inlet opening is provided for each of the other reaction partners. The inlet openings are disposed in the frontal face of the vessel, are arranged in close juxtaposition when seen in the circumferential direction, and are in the vicinity of the interior wall of the vessel. A driven rotor, studded with a plurality of blades, is coaxially arranged in the interior of said vessel. The rotor has a first ring of blades which is arranged so that it scrapes over the openings of the inlet openings in the form of a knife edge.

Abstract: Method for processing solid and viscous plastic material or polymeric material and the like in which plastic or polymeric material is fed through an inlet into an enclosed passage of which opposed side walls are moving simultaneously toward an outlet and the material is processed and dragged forward by the moving side walls against a channel block and with progressive build up of pressure along said passage for discharging the processed material through the outlet from the enclosed passage. Rotary apparatus for practicing the method includes one or more annular channels having opposed side walls and carried by a driven rotor member for movement relative to a housing of which an annular surface coaxial with the rotor cooperates with the walls of the channel or channels to form an enclosed annular passage or enclosed annular passages.

Abstract: A cellulosic insulation blowing machine comprised of a base having a circular and shaped floor plate at its upper end and a cylindrical hopper assembly which is detachably connected over the floor plate. The shaped floor plate includes a circular horizontal center section, an integral upstanding annular vertical section and an upper outwardly and upwardly sloped section. Within the floor plate area is an agitator rotated at relatively low rpm which includes plural shaped arms corresponding to the contour of the floor plate such that the arms travel generally parallel to the foor plate. The material discharge opening is located along the vertical wall section of the floor plate and is connnected to a blower. An anti-spin bar is supported from the hopper assembly and spaced slightly above the arms of the agitator such that when the hopper is connected in an operating position, the bar is disposed diametrically over the floor plate center section in front of the discharge opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mixing of materials such as synthetic polymers and their additives. The apparatus comprises a casing which surrounds a cylindrical rotor. A series of groove rings and spacer rings are axially arranged on the rotor and in the casing. The grooves formed on the peripheral surface of the groove rings are circumferentially separated by shearing lands and are bound along their longitudinal side faces by the side faces of the alternately arranged spacer rings. In assembly, the grooves formed in the rotor groove rings are arranged in a partially overlapping, axially displaced relationship with respect to the radially opposed grooves formed on casing groove rings.