Abstract Apparatus for crushing materials selected from the group of feathers, poultry offal and combinations thereof is disclosed wherein a housing is provided having a plurality of splines about the outlet end thereof defining a plurality of openings through which a compression screw may force the material. A cutter is provided on the discharge end of the compression screw serving to uniformly crush or break up the material as it is forced through the openings defined by the splines and the compression screw. Additionally, the crusher apparatus may be incorporated into a semi-continuous hydrolyzing system. The crushed material as discharged from the continuous crusher is selectively fed to one of the batch type hydrolyzing units attached to the exit end of the crusher. The material is maintained in one of the hydrolyzer units for the hydrolysis process while a second hydrolyzer unit is being charged and discharged with the material.
Apparatus for semi-continuously hydrolyzing materials comprising means for breaking up the material to be hydrolyzed, a pair of batch hydrolyzer units, a conduit connecting each of the hydrolyzer units to the means for breaking up material, a valve in said conduit for selectively controlling the flow of material from said means to said hydrolyzer units, each of said hydrolyzer units having means for maintaining elevated temperatures and pressures therein during the hydrolysis of the materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus for semi-continuously hydrolyzing materials comprising means for breaking up the material to be hydrolyzed, a pair of batch hydrolyzer units, a conduit connecting each of the hydrolyzer units to the means for breaking up material, a valve in said conduit for selectively controlling the flow of material from said means to said hydrolyzer units, each of said hydrolyzer units having means for maintaining elevated temperatures and pressures therein during the hydrolysis of the materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for breaking up the material comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of tapered splines mounted in said housing about the outlet thereof, the tapered splines defining therebetween and with said housing a plurality of openings, a compression screw in said housing for moving material from said inlet to said outlet through said openings and a cutter on said compression screw for breaking up said material as it is forced through said openings.