Patent attributes
The invention discloses a screw conveyor for the transport of flowable substances and/or lumps of material, comprising a rotatable first screw (1) provided with helical windings (2) arranged in a housing (3) with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said housing (3) comprising an inlet chamber (4) and a pumping chamber (5) between said inlet and outlet openings and at least in the pumping chamber (5) comprising a second screw (6) provided with helical windings (7) and arranged for rotation in the opposite direction of the first screw (1), said screws (1, 6) in said pumping chamber (5) providing a positive displacement pumping function by mutual engagement between the two screws (1, 6) when said rotatable first screw (1) is rotated in a first sense of rotation, and furthermore provided with a cutting device (10, 11) downstream of the pumping chamber and housed within a knife house (13) comprising an internal channel (21), where said knife house (13) is connected to said outlet opening of the screw conveyor. By providing said knife house (13) with second outlet means for receiving at least a portion of said substances and/or materials provided to the knife house (13) from said pumping chamber (5) overfilling of the knife house (13) is prevented. As an alternative means for varying the internal volume of the knife house (13) may be used.
