Material processor

Claim 2

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a drive process gear and a driven process gear in intermeshing relation and rotatable in said process chamber, said area of intermesh being in a flow path between the inlet and outlet in the process chamber, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits said driven gear to be forced ahead of and out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween, thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side to the inlet side of said gears through the intermesh, and a power source for rotating said drive gear at one of said rotational speeds.

Claim 3

The material processor according to claim 1 wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears, between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears.

Claim 4

The material processor according to claim 1 further comprising a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed.

Claim 5

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a drive process gear and a driven process gear in intermeshing relation and rotatable in said process chamber, said area of intermesh being in a flow path between the inlet and outlet in the process chamber, a power source for rotating said drive gear, and said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits said driven gear to be forced ahead of an out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween, thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side to the inlet side of said gears through the intermesh, wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears, between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears, and wherein the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the inlet are greater than the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the outlet.

Claim 6

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a drive process gear and a driven process gear in intermeshing relation and rotatable in said process chamber, said area of intermesh being in a flow path between the inlet and outlet in the process chamber, a power source for rotating said drive gear, and said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits said driven gear to be forced ahead of an out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween, thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side to the inlet side of said gears through the intermesh, wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears, between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears, and wherein the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the inlet are greater than the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the outlet.

Claim 7

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a drive process gear and a driven process gear in intermeshing relation and rotatable in said process chamber, said area of intermesh being in a flow path between the inlet and outlet in the process chamber, a power source for rotating said drive gear, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits said driven gear to be forced ahead of and out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween, thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side to the inlet side of said gears through the intermesh, an adjustable shoe section for forming a portion of the sidewall in the process chamber adjacent to one of the process gears, said adjustable shoe being moveable toward and away from said gear, and control structure for moving said adjustable shoe section toward and away from said gear to control the clearance between said gear and the portion of the process chamber formed by the adjustable shoe section.

Claim 8

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a drive process gear and a driven process gear in intermeshing relation and rotatable in said process chamber, said area of intermesh being in a flow path between the inlet and outlet in the process chamber, a power source for rotating said drive gear, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits said driven gear to be forced ahead of and out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween, thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side to the inlet side of said gears through the intermesh, an adjustable shoe section for forming a portion of the sidewall in the process chamber adjacent to one of the process gears, said adjustable shoe being moveable toward and away from said gear, and control structure for moving said adjustable shoe section toward and away from said gear to control the clearance between said gear and the portion of the process chamber formed by the adjustable shoe section.

Claim 9

The material processor according to claim 5 wherein said control structure comprises hydraulic control of the shoe relative to the process gears.

Claim 10

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a drive process gear and a driven process gear in intermeshing relation and rotatable in said process chamber, said area of intermesh being in a flow path between the inlet and outlet in the process chamber, a power source for rotating said drive gear, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits said driven gear to be forced ahead of and out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween, thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side to the inlet side of said gears through the intermesh, a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed, and control structure for adjusting the position of the spur gear in relation to one of the process gears.

Claim 11

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a drive process gear and a driven process gear in intermeshing relation and rotatable in said process chamber, said area of intermesh being in a flow path between the inlet and outlet in the process chamber, a power source for rotating said drive gear, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits said driven gear to be forced ahead of and out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween, thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side to the inlet side of said gears through the intermesh, a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed, and control structure for adjusting the position of the spur gear in relation to one of the process gears.

Claim 12

The material processor according to claim 7 further comprising: control means for permitting such spur gear to move away from the process gear as an obstruction in the material being processed passes therebetween.

Claim 13

The material processor according to claim 8 wherein said spur gear is hydraulically actuated.

Claim 14

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having one or more inlets for introducing material therein and at least one outlet for discharging material therefrom, two sets of intermeshing gear pairs rotatable in said process chamber, one of each pair of gears being a driven gear and one being a drive gear, each pair of gears having a tight mesh therebetween with one of said gears in each pair being in loose mesh engagement with one of the gears in the other pair, the inlet being separated from the outlet by at least one loose mesh engagement and one tight mesh engagement between said gears, said loose mesh engagement permitting said driven gear to be forced ahead of and out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side of the inlet side of said gears through the loose mesh to the inlet side for processing said material, and a power source for rotating said drive gears to drive said gear pairs to pump said material from the inlets through the tight mesh of said gear pairs.

Claim 15

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having one or more inlets for introducing material therein and at least one outlet for discharging material therefrom, two sets of intermeshing gear pairs rotatable in said process chamber, one of each pair of gears being a driven gear and one being a drive gear, each pair of gears having a tight mesh therebetween with one of said gears in each pair being in loose mesh engagement with one of the gears in the other pair, the inlet being separated from the outlet by at least one loose mesh engagement and one tight mesh engagement between said gears, said loose mesh engagement permitting said driven gear to be forced ahead of and out of contact with said drive gear by material therebetween thereby allowing material to flow from the discharge side of the inlet side of said gears through the loose mesh to the inlet side for processing said material, and a power source for rotating said drive gears to drive said gear pairs to pump said material from the inlets through the tight mesh of said gear pairs.

Claim 16

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, and a power source for driving said drive gear to rotate said gears at said selected rotational speeds.

Claim 17

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, and a power source for driving said drive gear to rotate said gears at said selected rotational speeds.

Claim 18

The material processor according to claim 11 wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears.

Claim 19

The material processor according to claim 11 further comprising a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed.

Claim 20

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, and said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears, and wherein the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the inlet are greater than the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the outlet.

Claim 21

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, and said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears, and wherein the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the inlet are greater than the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the outlet.

Claim 22

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, an adjustable shoe section for forming a portion of the sidewall in the process chamber adjacent one of the process gears, said adjustable shoe being moveable toward and away from said gear, and control structure for moving said adjustable shoe section toward and away from said gear to control the clearance between said gear and the portion of the process chamber formed by the adjustable shoe section.

Claim 23

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, an adjustable shoe section for forming a portion of the sidewall in the process chamber adjacent one of the process gears, said adjustable shoe being moveable toward and away from said gear, and control structure for moving said adjustable shoe section toward and away from said gear to control the clearance between said gear and the portion of the process chamber formed by the adjustable shoe section.

Claim 24

The material processor according to claim 15 wherein said control structure includes hydraulic control of the shoe section relative to the process gears.

Claim 25

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed, and control structure for adjusting the position of the spur gear in relation to one of the process gears.

Claim 26

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed, and control structure for adjusting the position of the spur gear in relation to one of the process gears.

Claim 27

The material processor according to claim 17 further comprising: control means for permitting such spur gear to move away from the process gear as an obstruction in the material being processed passes therebetween.

Claim 28

The material processor according to claim 18 wherein said spur gear is hydraulically actuated.

Claim 29

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, and said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, wherein said driven gear is power driven such that is leads said drive gear allowing a clearance therebetween.

Claim 30

A process system comprising; a gear assembly for rotating in a process chamber, the assembly having at least one pair of process gears driven in intermeshing operation, one said gear being the drive gear and the other the driven gear, a power source for driving said drive gear, an inlet for delivering material to the process chamber and an exhaust for discharging material therefrom, and said drive and driven process gears designed with a clearance therebetween such that the mesh between said gears during selected rotational speeds permits a clearance therebetween such that the driven gear is ahead of and out of continuous contact with the drive gear with a quantity of material positioned therebetween, thereby permitting the flow of material through the intermeshing gears from the exhaust side to the inlet side of said gears subjecting said material to processing, wherein said driven gear is power driven such that is leads said drive gear allowing a clearance therebetween.

Claim 31

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, a power source for rotating said gears at a selected rotational speed such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears from the discharge side of said gears to the inlet side.

Claim 32

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, a power source for rotating said gears at a selected rotational speed such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears from the discharge side of said gears to the inlet side.

Claim 33

The material processor according to claim 21 wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears.

Claim 34

The material processor according to claim 21 further comprising a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed.

Claim 35

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, and a power source for rotating said gears such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears, wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears, and wherein the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the inlet are greater than the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the outlet.

Claim 36

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, and a power source for rotating said gears such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears, wherein said gears are rotated such that material is introduced into the inlet and flows around the gears between the gears and the corresponding sidewall of the process chamber, and recirculates through the intermesh area of the gears, and wherein the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the inlet are greater than the clearances between the gear teeth and the housing adjacent the outlet.

Claim 37

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, a power source for rotating said gears such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears, an adjustable shoe section for forming a portion of the sidewall in the process chamber adjacent one of the process gears, said adjustable shoe being moveable toward and away from said gear, and control structure for moving said adjustable shoe section toward and away from said gear to control the clearance between said gear and the portion of the process chamber formed by the adjustable shoe section.

Claim 38

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, a power source for rotating said gears such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears, an adjustable shoe section for forming a portion of the sidewall in the process chamber adjacent one of the process gears, said adjustable shoe being moveable toward and away from said gear, and control structure for moving said adjustable shoe section toward and away from said gear to control the clearance between said gear and the portion of the process chamber formed by the adjustable shoe section.

Claim 39

The material processor according to claim 25 wherein said control structure includes hydraulic control of the shoe sections relative to the process gears.

Claim 40

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, a power source for rotating said gears such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears, a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed, and control structure for adjusting the position of the spur gear in relation to one of the process gears.

Claim 41

A material processor comprising: a housing defining a process chamber having an inlet for introducing material therein and an outlet for discharging material therefrom, a pair of intermeshing process gears rotatable in said process chamber and designed such that a clearance can exist therebetween, a power source for rotating said gears such that a clearance exists therebetween, gears not making contact in the intermeshing relation allowing recirculation of the materials being processed past said gears, a spur gear supported within the housing and positioned in intermeshing relation with one or more of the gears to form an intermeshing zone, said spur gear being positioned adjacent the inlet to the process chamber and said intermeshing zone being in the flow path of the material being processed, and control structure for adjusting the position of the spur gear in relation to one of the process gears.

Claim 42

The material processor according to claim 27 further comprising: control means for permitting such spur gear to move away from the process gear as an obstruction in the material being processed passes therebetween.

Claim 43

The material processor according to claim 28 wherein said spur gear is hydraulically actuated.