Apparatus for the continuous extraction of oils and soluble substances from solid materials

Claim 1

In a continuous solvent extracting apparatus, having a cylindrical housing, material distribution means in an upper portion of said housing, a plurality of vertically stacked extractor sections each including a plurality of vertically disposed radially extending walls for receiving material therebetween from said material distribution means, screening means beneath said walls for retaining processed material in a section and passing miscella therethrough, a collecting pan associated with and beneath each screening means for collecting miscella passed therethrough, miscella distribution means for removing miscella from said pans and supplying miscella to an upper portion of each section and material removal means for removing material from a lowermost extractor section, wherein the improvement comprises: said plurality of walls are stationary and abut said housing with each adjacent pair of walls and said housing forming a basket with said baskets in each section being in registry with said baskets in all other sections; each said screening means being horizontally disposed, disc-shaped, mounted for rotation and having an opening defined therein generally co-extensive with a basket when in registry therewith; each said pan having an opening defined therein in alignment with said opening defined in said associated screening mean for passing material from a basket of one section to a basket of a subsequent section and mounted for rotation with said associated screening means; and means for rotating each said associated screening means and said pan simultaneously.