Abstract: A blender mixing shaft and a high speed transport and mixing tool combination wherein the blender mixing shaft has a sidewall and a hollow interior and at least one transverse opening provided through the sidewall with an elongated, hollow, transport and mixing tool attached to a flat surface segment thereof and, in sealed fluid communication with the hollow mixing shaft. The mixing tool is provided with an exterior surface including a mixing shaft attachment end and a triangular plow shaped terminating end with the area therebetween comprising a substantially uniform triangular cross-section along its length. The triangular shaped length has a base side with two sides extending from the base side to form an apex for the triangular shaped length.

Abstract: A multi-axis mixer/reactor with a large available useful capacity, which is kinematically self-cleaning, comprising at least one housing one, two or more parallel, contrarotating shafts 2, 2', on which intermeshing groups of gear wheels 3, 3' are disposed in an axially spaced-apart manner. The gear wheels 3, 3' are connected to one another by kneading bars 5, 5', while further kneading bars 4, 4' which are connected in each case only to one gear wheel are likewise disposed on the end faces of the gear wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and kneading raw materials, such as soap, and extruding the mixture into a predetermined shape. The apparatus includes a cylinder having a rotatable plodder worm shaft, a levigating mechanism disposed at a longitudinal position of the cylinder and including a rotary disc and a fixed disc fixed to the cylinder. The rotary disc and the fixed disc are disposed side by side along the axial direction of the plodder worm shaft and define a plurality of through holes allowing passage of the material in the axial direction. A flow passage forming member is disposed within a moving passage of the material between the rotary disc and the fixed disc and forms a flow passage allowing passage therethrough of fluid maintained at a predetermined temperature. A fluid supplying/exhausting device is provided for supplying the fluid at a predetermined flow rate to the flow passage and exhausting the fluid from the flow passage forming member.

Abstract: A blender construction employing a unitary cylindrical body and removable, semicircular segmented, end cap closures wherein a unitary blender body includes an inlet chute at a first end and an exit chute at a second end. A centrally disposed hollow mixing shaft extends through the segmented end caps and is provided with diametrically disposed hollow mixing fingers spaced therealong positioned within the blender body. A high pressure heat exchange fluid source connects the blender, through tubing extending through one of the segmented end caps and, along the interior length of the blender housing. The heat exchange fluid is expelled from openings therein aligned with each of the mixing tool hollow interiors. The blender housing is supported on a platform that also supports the end bearings for the rotating blender shaft. A drive wheel is keyed to the hollow rotating blender shaft at one end thereof to connect with a suitable drive power supply.

Abstract: A blender mixing shaft and a high speed transport and mixing tool combination wherein the blender mixing shaft has a sidewall and a hollow interior and at least one transverse opening provided through the sidewall with an elongated, hollow, transport and mixing tool attached to a flat surface segment thereof and, in sealed fluid communication with the hollow mixing shaft. The mixing tool is provided with an exterior surface including a mixing shaft attachment end and a triangular plow shaped terminating end with the area therebetween comprising a substantially uniform triangular cross-section along its length. The triangular shaped length has a base side with two sides extending from the base side to form an apex for the triangular shaped length.

Abstract: A vacuum tumble mixer is provided with a hollow drive shaft at one end thereof. The hollow drive shaft provides access by means of a probe to the cylindrical center section of the vacuum tumble mixer in order to inject the ingredients to be mixed, to introduce cooling material such as liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, and finally to permit cleaning fluids to be circulated about the interior of the tumbler while the tumbler is rotating. The use of the hollow shaft greatly improves the efficiency and operation of the tumbler for vacuum massaging and tumble chilling of meat, poultry, seafood and other products that are mixed at the commercial level.

Abstract: A high aspartame content product having round particles which are about twice as dense as aspartame powder but are surprisingly fast dissolving. The aspartame product is made by intense mechanical mixing a powder mix of aspartame and a binder with an critical amount of water and mixing time.

Abstract: A console shaker which includes a shaker device mounted within a temperature and lighting controlled chamber and an air jacket which completely surrounds the chamber and also provides substantially laminar, HEPA-filtered air flow through the chamber in one direction. A refrigeration device and a heating device either cool or heat the air before it flows through the HEPA filter. The HEPA filter is mounted at the end of the chamber which defines an air inlet to the work chamber and an outlet is disposed at the opposite end of the chamber. The outlet end of the chamber receives air from both within the workspace of the chamber as well as from the front and rear air spaces of the air jacket. A microprocessor based control system provides an interface between the user and the various components for establishing the conditions within the chamber, such as shaker speed, temperature, time and lighting to be controlled by the user.

Abstract: A vibrating mixer has a housing for electric switching and regulating members and an electric motor, a motor-drivable tray-shaped bearing surface for containers which receive the materials to be vibrated and mixed, a hood which encloses the housing and the bearing surface together with the container, as well as a cold and/or warm air blower which opens inside the hood. In order to reduce the weight of the hood and to allow the unimpeded observation of the vibrated materials, the housing for the electric motor and the housing for the blower are arranged immediately next to each other in a fixed or detachable manner, and both housings are simultaneously covered by a single hood which may be freely set on both housings.

Abstract: A drum mixer having a combined heating-mixing zone which receives aggregate from both ends. The drum mixer includes a rotatable drum having an inlet end and a discharge end. Within the drum, a drying zone extends from the inlet end to a combustion zone and a mixing zone extends from the combustion zone to the discharge end. A cylindrical, tubular combustion housing is mounted in the combustion zone to define the heating-mixing zone between the drum and the combustion housing. The inner periphery of the combustion housing defines a combustion chamber into which the flame of a burner assembly is directed. The heating-mixing zone communicates with the drying zone, the combustion chamber, and the mixing zone. Aggregate is introduced into the drying zone and is urged toward the combustion zone as the drum is rotated.

Abstract: Heat is applied to a solid or semi-solid material in a cylindrical container in such a way that a precise, predetermined amount of heat is transferred to a horizontal layer of the material until it softens sufficiently to allow the heating element to sink into the material where it will heat the next layer. The container is rotated about a vertical axis, and a horizontally-oriented heating element is lowered into contact with the material to apply heat to a horizontal layer. The heating element is lowered through the material in a controlled manner to heat progressively lower layers within the container, until the whole container has been heated. The heating element may be heated by pumping hot water therethrough, or by other means. A container of hot liquid may be cooled in a similar fashion, by gradually raising a cooling element from the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A preheating screw for the simultaneous mixing and heating of fine-grained or paste-like substances, in which intensive heat transfer takes place during transport of the substance by use of a rotating hollow screw that is filled with a heat-transfer medium, preferably a fluid, heat being transfered from the heat-transfer medium to the product by way of the heated hollow screw. An electrical heating device is installed in a hollow screw shaft, and is supplied with electrical energy via sliding contacts positioned on the outside of the screw shaft.

Abstract: An inclined counterflow rotating drum mixer has a burner head intermediate an aggregate inlet at one end of the drum and an asphaltic concrete discharge at the opposite end of the drum. A fan supplies secondary air to the burner through a motive tube having an opening in communication with a mixing chamber between the burner head and the discharge end of the drum to aspirate gases from the mixing chamber for flow through the burner flame. The aspiration creates a negative pressure in the mixing chamber, causing a reverse flow of a portion of the combustion gases from the dryer chamber into the mixing chamber for preheating RAP input to the mixing chamber. RAP is also preheated by providing a preheat chamber adjacent the flame zone but segregated from direct contact with the flame to preheat the RAP. Hot and dried virgin aggregate is mixed with the RAP in the preheat chamber and valves are provided to prevent gases evolved from the RAP in the preheat chamber from flowing into the drying chamber.

Abstract: A multiple-shaft mixer/reactor with a large free usable volume which cleans itself kinematically consists of two or more parallel shafts (1) rotating in opposite directions, on which are mounted, helically offset, feed blades (2) which are connected to one other by axially extended kneading bars (3), and a surrounding casing (4) as well as optionally an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) for the material to be mixed.

Abstract: A conical-bottom silo, particularly suitable for small-sized pieces of plastic material with properties of high elasticity, includes a conical screw stirrer inserted axially in the conical bottom of the silo. The conical screw of the stirrer is discontinuous and divided into several sections. The silo has a structure for discharging the material arranged below an outlet port positioned laterally in relation to the stirrer and including two co-operating cylindrical screws. The stirrer can be provided with apertured grill outlets for heated, forced air.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating or cooling solid suspension slurry. The apparatus comprises a vessel (1) for containing the slurry and a draft means contained within a draft section of a draft tube (2) to circulate and maintain the suspension. Extending substantially the length of cylindrical section (26) of the draft tube below the draft means are plate heat exchangers (7, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29) connected in series. The plate heat exchangers may be recessed into the wall of the draft tube so as not to increase the pressure drop through the draft tube or may be arranged in pairs along the axis of the draft tube so that the proportion of the cross-sectional area of the draft tube occupied by the heat exchangers is minimized.

Abstract: An improved heating chamber for wastes, of the type utilized to subject the wastes within the chamber to steam, the chamber comprising a substantially cylindrical body portion, having a continuous sidewall, and first and second end portions, and defining a waste receiving space therewithin. The chamber is provided with a steam inlet line for allowing steam to be injected into the chamber, and a water outlet line for removing water from the chamber through vacuum or the like; there is further provided a base for allowing the chamber to rotate during the cleaning process. The chamber provides a hinged lid along the wall, for allowing wastes to be placed within the chamber and removed therefrom.

Abstract: A container for cooling and stirring a beverage. The inventive device includes a pitcher for receiving the beverage and a lid removably coupled to a top end of the pitcher. A stirring assembly extends through the lid for reciprocation by an individual to effect agitation and stirring of the beverage. A cooling cylinder assembly for receiving a plurality of ice cubes is mounted to a bottom surface of the lid and extends into contact with the beverage, thereby cooling the beverage without direct immersion of the ice within the beverage.

Abstract: Apparatus to mashing and to dehydrate food product includes a base portion, a housing, a roler and a mixer driven by driving means. During operating the dehydrator, the roller will rotate to produce a centrifuging force which forces water preserved in the food product to be expelled. The mixer will rotate with the roller too which mashes the food product. An air inlet guides hot air into the roller to dry the mashed food product for preservation purpose.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating process material includes a vessel into which process material can be introduced, an arrangement for introducing steam into the interior of the vessel to heat and impart moisture to process material in the vessel, and several fluid transport conduits extending helically through the vessel for conveying heated fluid through the vessel between opposite ends of the vessel in order to raise the temperature and pressure within the vessel to treat the material while also allowing the moisture content of the process material to be reduced. The fluid transport conduits are also configured to contact the process material and assist in treating and densifying the material. The vessel can also be adapted to be pivoted so that the forward end of the vessel can be selectively positioned above and below a horizontal position. The vessel can also be interconnected with one or more similarly configured vessels to define a system for treating process material.

Abstract: In a mixing kneader for carrying out mechanical, chemical and/or thermal processes, having at least two rotating shafts (5, 6) with their axes parallel, disk surfaces (21) with kneading bars (25) fitted to their periphery are to be provided at least on the one shaft designated as the main shaft (5). These kneading bars will be swept by a cleaning and/or kneading and transporting elements (7) which are fitted to the other shaft designated as a stripping shaft (6). In this arrangement, the kneading bars (25) of two neighboring disk surfaces (21) on the main shaft (5) maintain a mutual spacing (a), through which passes the cleaning and/or kneading and transporting element on the stripping shaft (6).

Abstract: Mixing frozen liquid particles with powder instead of spraying liquid on powder in a mechanical mixer results in improving mixing homogeneity, reducing processing time, and simplifying mixing equipment and method.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing at a livestock feedlot a concentrated suspension of anaerobic bacteria at a known, accurate concentration and for storing the prepared suspension for prolonged periods at the feedlot in a ready-to-use condition without significant loss of viability, allowing feedlot operators to conveniently administer such bacterial supplements to large numbers of livestock as a probiotic on a regular basis in accurate dosages. The apparatus comprises an insulated liquid-holding vessel cooled by refrigeration appliance, and mixing and recirculation appliances to ensure temperature and concentration homogeneity of the bacterial suspension. The vessel and contents are gravimetrically monitored to ensure accuracy of bacterial concentration.

Abstract: A drum mixer is provided with a rotatable cylinder in which aggregates, reclaimed asphalt pavement and liquid asphalt are mixed to produce an asphaltic composition. The drum cylinder includes a first region, in which virgin aggregate is heated and dried by heat radiation and the stream of hot gases produced by a burner flame flowing in countercurrent flow to the aggregate itself to establish a highly beneficial heat transfer relationship. A second region doubles as combustion and mixing zones. In the mixing zone the reclaimed asphalt pavement and liquid asphalt is added and mixed with the aggregates. The combustion zone is formed along the center of the mixing zone by an elongated combustion assembly disposed along the central axis thereof. The combustion assembly and chamber extend from the discharge end of the drum through the mixing zone to the heating and drying zone to segregate the hot gases from the asphalt, thereby preventing degradation of the final product.

Abstract: A double-screw press for separating a liquid from a two-phase solid-liquid material includes a hollow barrel and two screws disposed in the barrel. The barrel comprises a plurality of detachable barrel plates and a plurality of spacers disposed between the barrel plates and cooperating with the barrel plates in defining slits. The screws are arranged side by side with a gap defined therebetween, and are rotated by a motor to move a material, which has been charged into the barrel, efficiently from an upstream end to a downstream end of the barrel. The barrel plates and the screws have respective passages connected to cooling water sources, which supply cooling water to keep the temperature in the screws and the barrel at a desired level. The charged material is crushed and mixed in the gap between the screws, and oil is expressed from the material when it is compressed in the barrel. The expressed oil is discharged through the slits and collected in a container.

Abstract: A screw extruder having a barrel with a longitudinal bore for receiving a rotatable screw, a transverse bore disposed in the barrel tangential to the longitudinal bore for receiving and supporting a pin wherein the pin extends partially into the longitudinal bore. The tangential arrangement of the pin substantially decreases the susceptability of the pin to bending or breaking. The pin may also be adjustably positioned in the transverse bore and further may be subject to thermal heating and cooling.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of particulate material such as food includes a vessel which may be pressurized or evacuated and a perforated agitator through which steam is furnished to a layer of the material under treatment in the bottom of the vessel while the agitator is oscillated.

Abstract: Rotor zone cooling method for channeling liquid coolant flow in rotors in continuous mixers provides for predetermined zones along the lengths of the rotors to be cooled as may be desired and provides for other predetermined zones to remain neutral. A sequence of alternating cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral zones can be provided, including zones of various possible lengths, locations and numbers of such zones for tailoring or customizing these zones to optimize temperature conditions along a rotor depending upon mixing requirements and characteristics of plastic materials being mixed. A central coolant feed tube conveys coolant from an entrance into the bore to a discharge end of the feed tube positioned near the bore terminus in a first cooling zone. Coolant flow is diverted into isolation channels within isolation tubing sections spaced inwardly from the rotor bore wall for creating a neutral zone.

Abstract: A compact and precision extrusion system for extruding strips of rubber compounds with profiles of accurate dimensions. Strips of rubber compound are uniformly heated and mixed in an extruder and then passed through a low pressure drop strainer to remove foreign matter. The strained compound then is fed directly into a gear pump which delivers precise volumes of the rubber compound immediately into the spread chamber of an extrusion head after which it passes through a die to form a precise strip of the rubber compound. The strainer and extrusion head are movably mounted with respect to the gear pump for axial separation from the gear pump for easy removal of the rubber compound from the various components of the system to facilitate compound changes. A control system regulates the speed of the extruder to provide a near constant pressure at the entrance port of the gear pump to precisely regulate the rate of extrusion of the compound from the extrusion head.

Abstract: Continuous mixers of plastic materials are equipped with greased journal bearing assemblies instead of bulky, expensive, pumped circulating-oil lubricating systems, usually involving oil-cooling heat exchangers with circulating water. Such pumped oil systems having traditionally been employed in the past for lubricating journal bearings of the two rotors in such mixers. Novel thermal isolation of the journals for the two rotors separates their bearing assemblies from the severe heat being generated during mixing of plastic materials by continuous rotation of the two rotors within the mixer barrel. Localized cooling provides heat sinks for the drive and driven journals of each rotor. The rotors are shown as three-piece assemblies with drive and driven journals separate from the main rotor body.

Abstract: A process for producing pumpable foodstuffs, wherein raw foodstuffs such as raw cheese is pre-comminuted, mixed with further ingredients, thermally treated by steam injection, subsequently cooled and creamed or emulsified and then fed or passed to a further working or processing operation. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for producing pumpable foodstuffs, such as processed cheese, having a treatment apparatus for raw foodstuffs, a mixer, a device or unit for heating and subsequently cooling the cheese mass and having feed pumps for the cheese mass.

Abstract: A garbage processing vehicle includes a rotational fermentation drum device which is disposed on a loading platform of a vehicle, for mixing garbage with aerobic microorganisms and air in a rotational drum and providing conditions favorable to fermentation. By processing the garbage in a vehicle, device installation space can be saved and the garbage can be processed during transportation. Exhaust heat of the vehicle's engine is conducted to a peripheral space of the drum and air sucked from the periphery of the engine is supplied to the inside of the drum to promote fermentation.

Abstract: A method and device (1) for melting an organic product (4) by microwaves. e device (1) comprises electromagnetic field produced by at least one waveguide (6) for microwaves fastened to a metal receptacle (3) containing the initial solid organic product (4). The microwaves effect the melting of the solid (4) with the formation of an upper liquid layer (11). Means (12) make it possible to erode the still solid part of the product (4) which is in contact with the liquid (11).

Abstract: A food waste mixing and heat treating vehicle used in feeding hogs has a wheeled chassis. A mixing drum is rotatably mounted on the chassis having an inner wall forming a mixing and heating cavity and having an opening into the cavity. Means are provided for rotating the mixing drum. Two opposing helical mixing blades are each affixed along the inner wall from the opening into the cavity for drawing the food waste into the cavity from the opening, mixing the food waste in the cavity and evacuating the food waste out of the cavity through the opening. Steam injecting means are along the inner wall within the cavity for injecting steam through the food waste for heat treating the food waste for later feeding hogs after the food waste has cooled. The method involves the collecting, heat treating and feeding of the food waste to hogs with the vehicle. The hog lot for raising and feeding hogs the heat treated food waste comprises a plurality of adjacent elongate pens with a juxtaposed feed pen there along.

Abstract: A food processing plant comprises a cooking kettle, a holding tank and a depositor. The holding tank is provided with wheels to permit the tank to be moved from a first position in the proximity of the cooking kettle to a second position in the proximity of the depositor. Means is provided for applying a vacuum to the tank in the first position to draw food product from the kettle through a first pipeline. Means is provided for applying pressurized air to the holding tank in the second position to expel the food product from the tank to the depositor. A cooling station is provided in the form of a booth into which the tank is movable after leaving the first position and before entering the second position. The booth includes frame means which supports a cooling unit movable from a raised position into a lowered position within the tank. The cooling unit includes rotary vanes with scrapers for contact with the wall of the tank. The cooling unit mounted on a cover adapted to rest on the rim of the tank.

Abstract: Rotor zone cooling apparatus channels liquid coolant flow in rotors in continuous mixers of plastic materials for causing predetermined zones along the lengths of the rotors to be cooled as may be desired and for other predetermined zones to remain neutral, i.e. without significant cooling. A sequence of alternating cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral zones can be arranged, including zones of various possible length, various possible locations and various possible numbers of such zones. These zones are tailored or customized for optimizing temperature conditions along a rotor depending upon the mixing requirements and characteristics of plastic materials being mixed. Within an axial bore in a rotor is inserted a novel elongated cooling tubing assembly which rotates with the rotor. For creating a neutral zone, coolant flow is diverted inwardly into an isolation channel within an isolation tubing section spaced inwardly from the rotor bore wall.

Abstract: A high speed mixing apparatus is shown for slurry materials which includes a stationary housing and a cylindrical rotor mounted for rotation within the housing. The rotor has an outer surface which is embossed with a repeating pattern of pyramidal shapes, each pyramidal shape having four triangular faces which meet at an apex. Each face has a base edge which forms grooves in the rotor for directing the flow of slurry in directions 45 degrees relative to the rotor's axis of rotation.

Abstract: A heated rotor is provided to heat and circulate a substance comprising a shaft and at least one electrically heated rotor member supported on the shaft. The rotor member comprises an outer electrically conductive casing and at least one inner electrical conductor, electrically insulated from the casing. The or each inner conductor is electrically connected to the outer electrically conductive casing at an unsupported extremity of the rotor member. The shaft provides separate electrical connections to the or each inner conductor and the casing to enable an electric heating current to flow in the inner conductor between the or each unsupported blade extremity and the shaft.

Abstract: Mixing device for powdered, granular and/or paste materials, having a conical mixing tank (1) with vertical axis which narrows towards the bottom, and in said mixing tank at least one mixing screw (2), which through drive units disposed outside the mixing tank (1), by means of a transmission arm (15) to be rotated in a horizontal plane, can rotate about its own axis and can revolve along the wall of the mixing tank, the shaft of the mixing screw (2) at the top end being provided with a gear wheel (3) which meshes with a gear wheel (4) with vertical shaft, which has a smaller diameter than the gear wheel (3) on the mixing screw (2) whereby the gear wheel (4) with vertical shaft is connected by means of a belt connection (7) or the like in the arm (15) to a central vertical shaft (9) which by means of a reducing transmission (10, 11, 12) is coupled to the drive unit (13) for rotation of the mixing screw (2).

Abstract: A mixer tool (8) for an ice-cream maker is provided which is insertable centrally into a cylindrical container (1) of the ice-cream maker and is operable there in rotation and which has at least one scraper (12, 13) projecting from a central shaft (6) and acting with the walls of cold cartridge 3 through its scraper edges (16, 17) and which also has at least one stirrer (14, 15) projecting from a central shaft (6), effective at least in the vicinity of the container wall (7), the stirrer effecting in the container flow at least directed from bottom to top of an ice-cream mixture filled into the latter. The stirrer also has at its free upper end close to the container wall a knife-shaped scraper (20, 21) projecting over the stirrer and acting together with the container wall to prevent formation of ice cream deposits above the stirrer.

Abstract: An improved vacuum tumble mixer (10) is provided, the mixer having a horizontal drum (11) with a cylindrical mid-section (12), frusto-conical or dished entry and discharge ends (13, 14), and entry and discharge openings (16, 17) axially into the ends, the drum (11) being rotatable in one direction to tumble products therein and rotatable in the other direction to discharge the contents from the dischage opening. A plurality of primary vanes (26) are secured helically to the interior of the mid-section (12) of the drum, the primary vanes having radial tumbling surfaces (27) to tumble the product and to move the product gently towards the entry end of the drum, the vanes (26) having opposed channel-shaped discharge surfaces (28) which progressively increase in height to convey the products in the drum to discharge chutes (31) that extend helically along the discharge end (14) of the drum to the discharge opening (17). A chilling system (50) can be provided with one or more CO.sub.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing high viscosity materials consisting of a heatable, horizontal vessel with a product inlet on the one end and a product outlet on the other end and, parallel to the axis of the vessel, a heatable rotating hollow shaft, supporting a plurality of heatable stirrer elements, and between these stirrer elements, fixed to the wall of the vessel, stationary baffle and scraping elements of different configurations.Each stirrer element comprises one to four stirrer wings, each with two hollow spokes and a peripheral, hollow ring-segment connecting the spokes, and fixed to the peripheral end of these ring-segment connections trailing product dragging blades.

Abstract: A device for tempering and homogenizing viscous masses, particularly putty, and incorporating a combined heat exchanger and homogenizer (10), having a tubular part (12) through which the putty under pressure and tempering is caused to pass. In said tubular part (12) is provided a guiding device (16) designed compulsory to give the putty a plurality of direction changes relative to the tubular part (12). The guiding device (16) incorporates at least a first helical heat exchanger tube (17) arranged around a centrally disposed, second heat exchanger tube (18).

Abstract: A heater/mixer device is disclosed for use with laboratory vials, test tubes, or similar containers containing liquids. The heater/mixer includes a chamber formed in a block of material such as aluminum, with an electric heating element in contact with the block. The vial fits loosely in the chamber. Compressed air passes into the chamber through an inlet in the block, so that the vial is revolved by a circular air flow in a vortex fashion. This revolving motion creates a vortex in the liquid inside the vial, and so mixes the liquid. The air circulation also improves heat transfer from the block to the vial.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the sterilization of animal feed, wherein a bactericidal agent is mixed with steam for contacting and conditioning animal feed prior to a compaction process as, for instance, a pelletizing process. In one embodiment, chlorine gas is introduced in the burner of a direct fired steam generator to produce a mixture of steam, chlorine, and products of combustion which are introduced to a feed mixture in a blending unit prior to pelletizing, resulting in sterilization of the animal feed.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for use in a rotary extruder, comprising a rotor rotatably mounted inside a barrel by means of drive and free end bearing assemblies; a coaxial longitudinal bore extending into the rotor from its free end; a conduit disposed within the bore defining a longitudinally extending annulus therebetween; and rotatable means providing fluid communication between a heating medium inlet and the rotor bore through the longitudinally extending annulus, and between the annulus and a heating medium outlet through the conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous processing, such as mixing, homogenizing, gassing and degassing, polymerizing of liquids, emulsions, suspensions, viscous substances and similar materials, is designed with several shafts (1) arranged vertically in ring fashion, with parallel axes and driven in equal direction. Each shaft carries a number of disk-shaped processing elements (13-15) arranged axially staggered in parallel planes, meshing with elements on adjacent shafts, and enclosing together with the shafts at least one central cavity or chamber (16) in whose area the processing elements are arranged in such a way that their circumferential surfaces are exposed. The material is efficiently mixed and homogenized while being handled gently and evenly, and local shearing stress leading to temperature peaks in the material is avoided by leaving the surfaces (130, 140) of the processing elements exposed on the outside, i.e. on the side facing away from the chamber (16).

Abstract: In an apparatus for the cooling of softly packaged food-stuffs, such as pouches with foods, said pouches are immersed inside a tank (52) into a cooling liquid with a density that is lower than that of the pouches. A floor is arranged inside the tank above the tank bottom so as to support the pouches, which floor comprises a grid (14). At least one jet (15) is arranged between the tank floor and the grid, said jet being adapted to eject liquid in a generally upward direction, and said jet during the ejection being moved so as to vary the flow pattern inside the tank. The motion of the jet provides an exceptionally good cooling effect, which is believed to be attributable to a combination of advantageous circumstances, viz. that no pouch is constantly stationary and that the pouches do not cover the surfaces of other pouches.The motion of the jets can be provided by a mechanically relatively simple arrangement, in which the jets are mounted on arms (16), which arms are rotated around a vertical axis (17).

Abstract: A continuous process aggregate drying and mixing plant for producing a hot asphaltic material, such as is used for paving highways or the like, includes a combination of a drum drier and a pugmill. Both the drum drier and the pugmill are supported by a common trailer frame. The pugmill is coextensively mounted at the discharge end of the drum drier towards the rear of the frame. The drum drier discharges dried and heated virgin aggregate material through a feed and transfer chute directly into a first, pre-mix region of the pugmill. The feed and transfer chute also provides for the addition of recycled pavement to the heated and dried aggregate and for the side discharge of such heated and dried aggregate. A second region of the pugmill within which liquid asphalt is added to the mixed aggregate is substantially separated from the first, pre-mix region. The space above the second region of the pugmill is substantially enclosed and coupled directly to a secondary air supply of a burner for the drum drier.

Abstract: A static mixing device comprising a conduit in which there are located a plurality of rows of spaced parallel tubes extending across the conduit. The tubes are located in rows in which the adjacent rows extend in a longitudinal direction, but are located at right angles to each other. The heat transfer medium flows through the tubes to maintain the product in the conduit within a preselected temperature range. The adjacent rows of tubes abut each other and thus provide a tortuous path for the product in the conduit to effect mixing thereof.