Abstract: A food waste processing apparatus is disclosed. In the food waste processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, after food waste is dehydrated by a centrifugal force within the upper drum part and the lower drum part which are rotated to be discharged, it is discharged to the outside of the housing by the rotation of the lower drum part. That is, since food waste is dehydrated, discharged, and drained by one part, manufacturing costs can be reduced. Further, since food waste is broken up, dehydrated, discharged, and drained by one motor, manufacturing costs can be reduced further. Furthermore, since the lower drum part is vertically moved by a relatively simple structure of a cam, a structure of the rotary shaft, and an inertial force, manufacturing costs can be reduced still further. Food waste is dehydrated and discharged by a centrifugal force and the food waste within the housing is discharged to the outside of the housing by the discharge blade installed in the drum.

Abstract: A food waste disposer system, including a food conveying section and a motor section. A grinding section is coupled between the food conveying section and the motor section. The motor section includes an electric motor having a rotor. The rotor has a rotor shaft entrained in at least one self-compensating bearing assembly. In an aspect, the self-compensating bearing assembly has a split spherical bearing and a compressive bearing pocket.

Abstract: A food waste disposer has a grinding mechanism that improves fineness and speed of grinding food waste, and also controls or meters the size of the comminuted food waste particles that are discharged from the food waste disposer. It does so by utilizing a more aggressive grind ring of the grinding mechanism that includes horizontal shredder elements in addition to openings, and blocking all except the openings in a minor circumferential portion of the grind ring from discharging comminuted food waste and water to a discharge outlet. In an aspect, a resilient seal is used to seal the adapter ring to a housing of an upper end bell of the grinding section and also provide a seal for a rotating shredder plate assembly of the food waste disposer.

Abstract: A biomass fractionator and method are described for inputting ground biomass and outputting several vapor streams of bio-intermediate compounds along with syngas and biochar. A method for biomass fractioning comprises dispensing biomass into thin sheets of ground biomass; subjecting the thin sheets to ramps of temperature; and selectively collecting various groups of compounds as they are released from the thin sheets.

Abstract: A pump assembly supportable in a tank having an opening includes a pump such as a grinder pump and a cover attachable to the pump. The cover has a peripherally-extending portion extending outwardly from the pump and the peripherally-extending portion is sized to rest on a first surface of the portion of the tank defining the opening. A quick-release latching mechanism may include a plurality of members such as arms or pawls which are movable generally radially between a retracted position wherein the outer ends of the plurality of members are disposed inwardly of the peripherally-extending portion of the cover allowing the pump assembly to be lowered into the opening in the tank, and an extended position wherein the outer ends of a plurality of members are positionable against a second opposite side of the portion of the tank defining the opening to compress the portion of the tank forming the opening between the cover and the plurality of members.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the chopper type is disclosed which is structured with a chopper plate and impeller that are configured with an open eye or “hubless” arrangement such that processing of solids through the pump does not result in clogging of solids at or near the center of the impeller, thereby producing a dead zone. Because the configuration of the chopper pump of the present invention avoids the development of a central dead zone or clogging of solids, and provides for flow of solids and fluid through the eye of the impeller, pump efficiencies are markedly improved.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the chopper type is disclosed which is structured with a chopper plate and impeller that are configured with an open eye or “hubless” arrangement such that processing of solids through the pump does not result in clogging of solids at or near the center of the impeller, thereby producing a dead zone. Because the configuration of the chopper pump of the present invention avoids the development of a central dead zone or clogging of solids, and provides for flow of solids and fluid through the eye of the impeller, pump efficiencies are markedly improved.

Abstract: A sanitary shredder includes at least a channel feeding water into a caisson (1), an electric motor whereof the axis has at its end a rotor pump (5) with blades (6), and shredding elements opposite the shredding chamber (3) provided with an inlet. The front surface (5a) of the rotor (5) is substantially planar and comprises a plurality of passages for water arranged substantially radially and emerging on the circumference of the rotor (5), each passage of the rotor (5) is extended by a channel delimited by the helical blades (6), the rotor (5) is housed in the pump body (8), its front surface (5a) being substantially in the plane of the pump body opening, shredding members (9) being arranged in axial projection relative to said front surface (5a).

Abstract: A grinding mechanism or assembly for a food waste disposer, the grinding mechanism being enclosed in a housing of the food waste disposer. The grinding mechanism includes a shredder plate assembly and a stationary shredder ring. The shredder plate assembly has an upper rotating plate and a lower lug support plate. The lower lug support plate has a body portion, and shredder lugs and tumbling spikes integrally formed with the body portion. The upper rotating plate has key slots and key holes for receiving the fixed shredder lugs and tumbling spikes. The stationary shredder ring is fixed to the housing of the food waste disposer and has a plurality of teeth. The stationary shredder ring may also have diverters and breakers. The fixed shredder lugs force food waste against the teeth of the stationary shredder ring to grind the food waste into particulate matter. The profile of the fixed shredder lug may include a vertical toe, a notch and a heel.