Thin-film-type fluid processing apparatus

Claim 1

A FLUID PROCESSING APPARATUS OF THE ROTARY, THIN FILM TYPE WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: (A) A CLOSED CHAMBER CHARACTERIZED BY AN INTERIOR WALL DEFINING A SURFACE OF REVOLUTION; (B) A ROTOR WITHIN THE CHAMBER; (C) MEANS TO ROTATE THE ROTOR; (D) ROTOR BLADES SECURED TO THE ROTOR FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, THE BLADES GENERALLY RADIALLY AND COAXIALLY ARRANGED FROM THE ROTOR, AND EXTENDING INTO A CLOSE NON-CONTACTING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INTEEROIR WALL OF THE CHAMBER TO FORM A SMALL SPACE BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE BLADES AND INTERIOR WALL DURING ROTATION OF THE ROTOR BLADES; (E) AN INLET MEANS AT ONE END IN THE CHAMBER FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED; (F) OUTLET MEANS IN THE CHAMBER AXIALLY SPACED APART FROM THE INLET MEANS FOR THR REMOVAL OF PROCESSED MATERIAL FROM THE CHAMBER; AND (G) MEANS TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF THE MATERIAL IN THE APPARATUS, WHICH MEANS INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE RAISED PROJECTION, THE PROJECTION LYING ENTIRELY ON THE LEADING OR ADVANCING FACE OF THE BLADES WITH REFERENCE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE ROTOR BLADES, THE PROJECTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE BLADE AND EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, THE PROJECTION HAVING ITS SURFACE CONTOURED TO IMPART AN AXIAL COMPONENT TO THE MATERIAL BEING PROCESSED.