Claims
- 1. In an extruder for processing a material such as flour or the like mixed with water to form an extruded product, said extruder having an elongated barrel with a material inlet and a restricted orifice extrusion outlet adjacent opposed ends thereof, an elongated, axially rotatable, flighted extrusion screw within said barrel for moving said material from said inlet towards and through said outlet, and a vent opening through the barrel and separate from said inlet and outlet openings and located therebetween, the improvement which comprises:
- structure for increasing the temperature of said material to the maximum temperature it will reach in said barrel prior to reaching said vent opening, in order to increase the vapor pressure of the water within said material;
- a venting assembly operably coupled with said vent opening for removing moisture from said material and lowering the temperature thereof, said assembly including
- an enclosed housing secured to said barrel with the interior of the housing in communication with said vent opening;
- means for creating reduced pressure conditions within said housing interior for assisting in the removal of moisture from said material; and
- shiftable means for preventing significant accumulation of material within said housing interior.
- 2. The invention of claim 1, said housing being of conical configuration with the smallest diameter end of the housing being proximal to said barrel.
- 3. The invention of claim 1, said means for creating reduced pressure conditions comprising a vacuum pump.
- 4. The invention of claim 1, said accumulation-preventing means comprising an elongated, axially rotatable screw element situated within said housing.
- 5. The invention of claim 4, said housing and screw element being upright.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 930,155, filed on Nov. 12, 1986.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1538067 |
Jul 1968 |
FRX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
930155 |
Nov 1986 |
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