Connecting device for connecting a screw machine to a gear mechanism, and method for cleaning such a connecting device

A connecting device for connecting a screw machine to a gear mechanism, comprising

• a housing,
• which at least in regions delimits an interior for arrangement of at least one shaft connection between at least one gearbox shaft and at least one screw shaft,
• which comprises at least one gear-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one gear shaft and at least one machine-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one screw shaft into the interior, and
• at least one cleaning element for cleaning contaminants from the interior,
• wherein several tie rod openings are formed in the housing for fixing tie rods of the screw machine, and the tie rod openings are covered by associated tie rod covers in the interior.

A connecting device for connecting a screw machine to a gear mechanism, comprising

• a housing,
• which at least in regions delimits an interior for arrangement of at least one shaft connection between at least one gearbox shaft and at least one screw shaft,
• which comprises at least one gear-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one gear shaft and at least one machine-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one screw shaft into the interior, and
• at least one cleaning element for cleaning contaminants from the interior,
• wherein several tie rod openings are formed in the housing for fixing tie rods of the screw machine, and the tie rod openings are closed towards the interior.

A connecting device for connecting a screw machine to a gear mechanism, comprising

• a housing,
• which at least in regions delimits an interior for arrangement of at least one shaft connection between at least one gearbox shaft and at least one screw shaft,
• which comprises at least one gear-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one gear shaft and at least one machine-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one screw shaft into the interior, and
• at least one cleaning element for cleaning contaminants from the interior,
• wherein a ratio of a cleaning fluid standing surface area AS running perpendicularly to the direction of gravity, to a total surface area AB of an inner wall delimiting the interior, is 0≤AS/AB≤0.1.

A system for preparing bulk product, comprising

• a gear mechanism with at least one gear shaft,
• a screw machine with at least one screw shaft, and
• a connecting device for connecting the screw machine to the gear mechanism, comprising
• a housing
• which at least in regions delimits an interior for arrangement of at least one shaft connection between at least one gearbox shaft and at least one screw shaft,
• which comprises at least one gear-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one gear shaft and at least one machine-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one screw shaft into the interior, and
• at least one cleaning element for cleaning contaminants from the interior and an inner wall delimiting the interior,
• wherein the at least one gear shaft is connected to the at least one screw shaft in the interior by means of a respective shaft connection.

A method for cleaning a connecting device for connecting a screw machine to a gear mechanism, with the steps:

• provision of a connecting device for connecting the screw machine to the gear mechanism, comprising
• a housing
• which at least in regions delimits an interior for arrangement of at least one shaft connection between at least one gearbox shaft and at least one screw shaft,
• which comprises at least one gear-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one gear shaft and at least one machine-side housing opening for insertion of the at least one screw shaft into the interior, and
• at least one cleaning element for cleaning contaminants from the interior and an inner wall delimiting the interior, and
• cleaning of the interior and of the inner wall delimiting the interior by actuation of the at least one cleaning element.