Material conveying apparatus

Claim 2

Material conveying apparatus comprising inner and outer coaxial members having confronting surfaces of revolution defining a space therebetween through which the material is to be axially conveyed, at least one helical rib extending along the surface of revolution of one of said members and projecting therefrom in said space toward the surface of revolution of the other of said members to propel material axially along said space in response to rotation of said rib relative to said other member, at least a part of said one member defining a portion of the respective surface of revolution between the turns of said rib which extend along said part being independently rotatable with respect to said turns extending along said surface portion, and drive means connected with said part of said one member and said turns of the rib extending along said surface portion defined by said part and being operative to effect rotation of said part and said turns relative to said other member and relative to each other, whereby to control the frictional resistance to turning with said rib of the material to be conveyed.

Claim 3

Material conveying apparatus according to claim 1, in which the entire length of said one member along which said rib extends is independently rotatable with respect to said rib.

Claim 4

Material conveying apparatus according to claim 1, in which said surface portion defined by said part has an axial extent that is substantially less than the axial extent of said rib.

Claim 5

Material conveying apparatus comprising inner and outer coaxial members having confronting surfaces of revolution defining a space therebetween through which the material is to be axially conveyed, at least one helical rib extending along the surface of revolution of one of said members and projecting therefrom in said space toward the surface of revolution of the other of said members to pRopel material axially along said space in response to rotation of said rib relative to said other member, at least a part of said one member defining a portion of the respective surface of revolution between the turns of said rib which extend along said part being independently rotatable with respect to said turns extending along said surface portion, said surface portion defined by said part having an axial extent that is substantially less than the axial extent of said rib, said rib being integral with the remainder of said one member other than said part of the latter, and means for effecting relative rotation of said part of said one member and said turns of the rib extending along said surface portion defined by said part, whereby to control the frictional resistance to turning with said rib of the material to be conveyed.

Claim 6

Material conveying apparatus comprising inner and outer coaxial members having confronting surfaces of revolution defining a space therebetween through which the material is to be axially conveyed, at least one helical rib extending along the surface of revolution of one of said members and projecting therefrom in said space toward the surface of revolution of the other of said members to pRopel material axially along said space in response to rotation of said rib relative to said other member, at least a part of said one member defining a portion of the respective surface of revolution between the turns of said rib which extend along said part being independently rotatable with respect to said turns extending along said surface portion, said surface portion defined by said part having an axial extent that is substantially less than the axial extent of said rib, said rib being integral with the remainder of said one member other than said part of the latter, and means for effecting relative rotation of said part of said one member and said turns of the rib extending along said surface portion defined by said part, whereby to control the frictional resistance to turning with said rib of the material to be conveyed.

Claim 7

Material conveying apparatus according to claim 1, in which said one member is said inner member and said other member is outer member and is stationary.

Claim 8

Material conveying apparatus according to claim 5, in which said surface portion defined by said part of the inner member is axially coextensive with said helical rib.

Claim 9

Material conveying apparatus according to claim 5, in which said outer member has an inlet and an outlet for the material to be conveyed at locations spaced apart along said outer member, and said surface portion defined by said part of the inner member extends from adjacent said inlet.

Claim 10

Material conveying apparatus comprising inner and outer coaxial members having confronting surfaces of revolution defining a space therebetween through which the material is to be axially conveyed, said outer member being stationary, at least one helical rib extending along the surface of revolution of said inner member and projecting therefrom in said space toward the surface of revolution of said outer member to propel material axially along said space in response to rotation of said rib relative to said outer member, at least a part of said inner member defining a portion of the respective surface of revolution between the turns of said rib which extend along said part being independently rotatable with respect to said turns extending along said surface portion, said surface portion defined by said part having an axial extent that is substantially less than the axial extent of said rib, the turns of said rib extending along the remainder of said inner member other than said part being fixed with respect to said remainder of the inner member, and means for effecting relative rotation of said part of said inner member and said turns of the rib extending along said surface portion defined by said part, whereby to control the frictional resistance to turning with said rib of the material to be conveyed.

Claim 11

Material conveying apparatus comprising inner and outer coaxial members having confronting surfaces of revolution defining a space therebetween through which the material is to be axially conveyed, said outer member being stationary, at least one helical rib extending along the surface of revolution of said inner member and projecting therefrom in said space toward the surface of revolution of said outer member to propel material axially along said space in response to rotation of said rib relative to said outer member, at least a part of said inner member defining a portion of the respective surface of revolution between the turns of said rib which extend along said part being independently rotatable with respect to said turns extending along said surface portion, said surface portion defined by said part having an axial extent that is substantially less than the axial extent of said rib, the turns of said rib extending along the remainder of said inner member other than said part being fixed with respect to said remainder of the inner member, and means for effecting relative rotation of said part of said inner member and said turns of the rib extending along said surface portion defined by said part, whereby to control the frictional resistance to turning with said rib of the material to be conveyed.

Claim 12

Material conveying apparatus according to claim 8, in which said outer member has an inlet and an outlet for the material to be conveyed at locations spaced apart along said outer member, and said surface portion defined by said part of the inner member extends to adjacent said outlet.

Claim 13

Material conveying apparatus according to claim 1, in which said other member constitutes a fixed outer housing containing said one member and said rib, and said one member forms the shank of a conveyor screw having its thread formed by said helical rib with the latter being independently rotatable with respect to at least the axial section of the shank formed by said part of said one member.