Process and apparatus for treating matter comprising a solid phase and a liquid or pasty phase

An apparatus for carrying out a process for the treatment of matter comprising a solid phase and a liquid or pasty phase and of the type according to which said pasty phase is crushed and the resulting crushed matter is sifted under pressure, said apparatus comprising:

• a pressure chamber defined by a wall, supply means for introducing the matter to be treated into the pressure chamber, means defining calibrated passages connecting the inside of the pressure chamber to at least one chamber for recovering the sifted matter, at least one sectioned crushing member, axially mobile and engaged in at least one bore located in said wall of said pressure chamber and which bore opens outwardly from said chamber, said crushing member being adapted to penetrate in the pressure chamber and having means for driving said member in axial translation in two directions said member having a cross section smaller than said pressure chamber with respect to any plane perpendicular to the axis of said crushing member, whereby penetration of said member in the pressure chamber containing the matter to be treated procures both a crushing and compression of said matter, the withdrawal of the crushing member forming a recess in said mass of matter, compensation means distinct from said crushing member for reducing the volume of the pressure chamber in order to reabsorb the recess remaining in the mass of matter in the pressure chamber after each penetration and withdrawal of said crushing member and means for evacuating the dry residue remaining the pressure chamber after the sifted matter has been extracted.