Apparatus for producing long-chain polymers, especially polyesters

Apparatus for producing long-chain polymers, especially polyesters, having several shafts (1) arranged vertically and located in ring distribution inside a common housing (6, 7, 8, 9),

• said shafts having parallel axes and being driven in a common direction,
• a plurality of disk-shaped processing elements (3) carried by respective shafts, and arranged axially in a row and in parallel planes,
• the elements of adjacent shafts being intermeshed while leaving narrow gaps of predetermined width and enclosing at least one cavity (4) which cavity is under negative pressure, the processing elements being so positioned and arranged that their circumferential surfaces are exposed to the cavity,
• the shafts (1) being rotatably mounted in the housing;
• and
• material input (44') and output (40') arrangements formed in the housing, wherein
• the housing (6) comprises
• a tubular housing liner (9) surrounding the shafts (1) and having a cylindrical inner wall (54) extending tangentially to circumferential surfaces of the processing elements (3) on the shafts (1) and leaving a narrow gap (55) of defined width;
• two coaxial stationary housing sections (7, 8) located at respective ends of the tubular housing liner, and sealing and closing off the ends of the housing liner (9);
• and
• a drive arrangement (37) providing an oscillating rotational movement coupled to the housing liner (9) and rotatably oscillating the housing liner.