Screw-type hydro-extracting extruder

Claim 1

A hydro-extracting extruder for dehydrating a solid material having a predetermined liquid component, said extractor of the type including means defining an extrusion chamber and material supply means in communication with said chamber for supplying a predetermined quantity of said material to said chamber, wherein the improvement comprises: means defining a hydro-extracting zone downstream of said material supply means, said hydro-extracting zone means comprising a plurality of plate members each of which includes means defining a cavity for axially communicating with said chamber, a front face having a predetermined number of first raised portions and a back face having a predetermined number of second raised portions, said first and second raised portions arranged so that each cooperates with second raised portions and first raised portions, respectively, of immediately adjacent plate members so that between a predetermined plate member and adjacent ones thereto, a space is defined through which a portion of said liquid component will pass, thereby at least partially dehydrating said material; and means defining a material heating zone downstream of said hydro-extracting zone means for substantially removing residual liquid remaining in said material including heater means for transmitting heat energy to said material thereby substantially changing said liquid to a gaseous state, and vent means for venting said gas; and connecting means for connecting said hydro-extracting zone means to said heating zone means.