Polymer desolventizer of the rotary wiped falling film type

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A LIQUID FROM A SOLUTION CONTAINING THE LIQUID AND A VISCOUS MATERIAL, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A WALL DEFINING A VERTICAL TUBULAR CHAMBER OF CIRCULAR SECTION; A ROTOR MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SAID CHAMBER, SAID ROTOR HAVING A PERFORATED OUTER SURFACE AND BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY HOLLOW, THE HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID ROTOR BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER; A PLURALITY OF VANES MOUNTED ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID ROTOR AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH SAID WALLS; MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF SAID CHAMBER FOR INTRODUCING SAID SOLUTION INTO SAID CHAMBER; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROTOR WHEREBY A THIN FILM OF SAID SOLUTION IS FORMED ON SAID WALL; MEANS FOR APPLYING HEAT TO SAID WALL TO VAPORIZE LIQUID PRESENT IN SAID SOLUTION, SAID VAPOR PASSING THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS TO SAID HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID ROTOR AND THENCE OUT OF SAID CHAMBER; AN OUTLET FOR SAID VISCOUS MATERIAL AT THE LOWER END OF SAID CHAMBER; AND A CONTINUOUS SCREW BLADE MOUNTED ON THE LOWER END OF THE SURFACE OF SAID ROTOR, SAID SCREW BLADE OVERLAPPING A PORTION OF SAID VANES AND EXTENDING INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH SAID WALL IN THE AREA OF OVERLAP WITH SAID VANES AND ACTING TO PUMP SAID VISCOOUS MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OUTLET WHEREBY THE FORMATION OF A THICK FILM OF SAID VISCOUS MATERIAL ON SAID WALL IS PREVENTED.