Impeller assembly for processing device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJohn D. Spargo, John L. Drake, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An impeller of an impeller assembly for a processing device has a spiral ove formed in a circumferential side face so that material entering a clearance space between the circumferential side face of the impeller and inner circumferential walls of the processing device is guided out of the clearance space when the impeller assembly is rotated. The spiral groove prevent material from lodging in the space and jamming the impeller assembly.
Claims14
An impeller assembly for use in a material processing device of the type capable of processing both paper and plastic materials and having a material receiving area for receiving a material to be processed and an outlet for distance of the material after processing, the impeller assembly being structured and arranged for mounting in the processing device so as to be rotatable therein by driving means, wherein upon being mounted in a material processing device the impeller assembly functions to move the material from the receiving area toward the outlet when the impeller assembly is rotated, the impeller assembly comprising:
- (a) connecting means for being connected with the driving means of the material processing device;
- and
- (b) an impeller member attached for rotation with said connecting means, said impeller member being generally circular in shape and having a circumferential face extending between a top and a bottom face of said impeller member and a plurality of radially extending blades projecting axially from said top face, said circumferential face of said impeller member having a continuous spiral groove formed thereon, wherein upon being mounted in the material processing device said circumferential face is spaced from an inner circumferential wall of the processing device so as to define a clearance space therebetween,
- said continuous spiral groove being a thread formed such that upon being mounted in the material processing device and being placed in rotation, material in the clearance space is guided upward out of the clearance space by the action of said thread,
- whereby said continuous spiral groove functions as a screw-type pump to urge material in the clearance space out of the clearance space when said impeller member is rotated.
A material processing device including an impeller assembly, the processing device capable of processing both paper and plastic materials and having a material receiving area for receiving the material to be processed and an outlet for discharge of the material after processing, the impeller assembly being structured and arranged in the processing device so as to be rotatable therein, the impeller assembly functioning to move the material from the receiving area toward the outlet when the impeller assembly is rotated, the processing device comprising:
- (a) driving means;
- (b) connecting means connected with said driving means for rotating said impeller assembly in said processing device;
- (c) an impeller member attached for rotation with said connecting means, said impeller member causing the material to move from the receiving area toward the outlet when said impeller assembly is rotated by said driving means, said impeller member being generally circular in shape and having a circumferential face extending between a top and a bottom face of said impeller member and a plurality of radially extending blades projecting axially from said top face, said circumferential face being spaced away from an inner circumferential wall of said processing device so as to define a clearance space therebetween,
- wherein a spiral groove is formed on said circumferential face of the impeller whereby said spiral groove functions as a screw-type pump impeller to urge material in said clearance space out of said clearance space when said impeller member is rotated;
- and
- (d) a perforated screen, said perforated screen being arranged at the outlet to limit the size of material moving from the receiving area to the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.