Worm pump for thick media and/or media containing lumps, e.g. meat

A worm pump comprising:

• a worm pump housing having a generally rotationally symmetrical worm chamber with an inlet and an outlet;
• a worm rotor rotably supported in the worm chamber, said worm rotor having convolutions for pumping material from said inlet to said outlet;
• and
• means for blocking said convolutions, said convolution blocking means comprising:
• a track housing situated laterally of the worm chamber and containing at least part of an endless track limited inwardly by a guide member surrounded by the track and outwardly partly by an inside wall of the track housing and partly by the worm rotor;
• a plurality of loose gate members supported for movement along said endless track, the loose gate members which are located in the part of the endless track not limited by the inside wall of the track housing engaging sealingly with the convolutions of the worm rotor, at least part of the width of said endless track extending outside of the worm pump housing to enable said gate members to sealingly engage the convolutions of the worm rotor;
• said track housing further comprising a tray-shaped or pan-shaped lower part permanently secured to said worm-pump housing and to which said guide member is shaped or secured, respectively, and a cover securable to said lower part close said lower part substantially fluid-tight against the surroundings;
• whereby the track housing is adapted to be opened, by opening said cover, such that the gate members may be removed from and inserted into the endless track transversely of the operational direction of the endless track.