Inventors:
Dean K. Bredeson - Piqua OH
Gregory C. Craig - Piqua OH
William J. Gilius - Piqua OH
Charles R. Johnson - Akron OH
Assignee:
The French Oil Mill Machinery Company - Piqua OH
International Classification:
B01F 1100
Abstract:
Apparatus for devolatilizing materials such as solvent containing polymers includes a cylindrical housing having inlet and discharge ends and a screw member rotatably mounted in the housing, operative to work material so as to release contained vaporizable substances from the material. An inlet fitting at the inlet end of the chamber is located opposite a part of the screw member. The housing includes a venting section extending therefrom at the inlet end and the screw member has a screw vent control section extending within the venting section, arranged to convey material toward the discharge end of the housing. A vent pipe is connected to the venting section for conducting away vaporized substances released from the material past the vent control section, and breaker bars cooperate with the vent control section of the screw member to clean from the screw member material tending to cling thereto and to clog the passage between the venting section and the screw vent control section, causing the particles of material to be carried back into the main flow of material from the inlet fitting toward the discharge.