Apparatus for continuous processing of flowable materials

An apparatus for continuous processing of flowable material, comprising:

• a elongate housing having a central axis and radial inner and outer sides defining an elongate space therebetween;
• a plurality of axis-parallel, rotatable shafts disposed at the same radial distance from the central axis, the plurality of shafts having first and second groups, the first group having first and second shafts each having a plurality of processing elements which closely mesh with a single adjacent shaft of the plurality of shafts, the second group having a plurality of processing elements which closely mesh with two adjacent shafts of the plurality of shafts, the processing elements of the first and second shafts meshing with the processing elements of the respective second group shafts, the second group shafts being positioned on the circle at equal first angles measured from the adjacent shaft, the first angles having vertices at the central axis, the first shaft being positioned at the first angle from the adjacent shaft of the second group, the second shaft being positioned at the first angle from the adjacent shaft of the second group;
• at least one radial opening positioned between the first and second shafts, the radial opening defining a second angle between the first and second shafts, the second angle being greater than the first angle between the shafts in the second group;
• the space having an arcuate cross section including concave segments receiving processing elements of the first and second shafts therein.

An apparatus for continuous processing of pourable and flowable material, comprising:

• an elongate housing having a central axis, radially inner and outer sides defining a space, and end walls respectively enclosing the space at the longitudinal ends of the housing;
• a plurality of axis-parallel, rotatable shafts disposed at the same radial distance from the central axis along a circle in the space, the rotatable shafts being at equal angles from an adjacent one of the shafts relative to the central axis, each of the plurality of shafts having a plurality of processing elements disposed axially one behind the other with which adjacent shafts mesh, the housing having pairs of axis-parallel concave segments on the inner and outer sides of the housing, each pair of concave segments receiving and guiding one of the shafts and the processing elements on the one shaft;
• at least one material supply opening positioned at one end of the housing, the material supply opening extending into the space;
• at least one material discharge opening positioned at the other end of the housing, the material discharge opening extending from the space;
• at least one radial opening positioned along the circle for passage of material from outside to inside the circle;
• and a gear system having a driving shaft, driven shafts, and toothed wheels positively connecting the driving shaft to the driven shafts, the driven shafts being connected to the rotatable shafts having the processing elements thereon for driving the rotatable shafts to process material, and at least one intermediate pinion and at least one hollow wheel having internal toothing coupling the toothed wheels between the driving shaft and the driven shaft.

An apparatus for continuous processing of pourable and flowable material, comprising:

• an elongate housing having a central axis, radially inner and outer sides defining a space, and end walls respectively enclosing the space at the longitudinal ends of the housing;
• a plurality of axis-parallel, rotatable shafts disposed at the same radial distance from the central axis along a circle in the space, the rotatable shafts being at equal angles from an adjacent one of the shafts relative to the central axis, each of the plurality of shafts having a plurality of processing elements disposed axially one behind the other with which adjacent shafts mesh, the housing having pairs of axis-parallel concave segments on the radially inner and outer sides thereof, each pair of concave segments receiving and guiding one of the shafts and the processing elements on the one shaft;
• at least one material supply opening positioned at one end of the housing extending into the space;
• at least one material discharge opening positioned at the other end of the housing extending from the space;
• at least one radial opening positioned along the circle for passage of material from outside to inside the circle;
• a gear system having a driving shaft, driven shafts and toothed wheels positively connecting the driving shaft to the driven shafts, the driven shafts being connected to the rotatable shafts having the processing elements thereon for driving the rotatable shafts to process material, and two of the toothed wheels being offset axially on the driving shaft and rotating therewith, and the toothed wheels being formed on the driven shafts by pinions disposed thereon so as to rotate therewith, the pinions of adjacent driven shafts being mutually offset axially for engagement in one of the two toothed wheels connected to the driving shaft.