US Patent 7383842 Screenings washer apparatus

A screenings washer having a hopper, a grinder downstream of the hopper, and a washer downstream of the grinder. The washer includes an auger rotor that receives the screenings ground by the grinder, a spray wash system that sprays a wash fluid directly onto a portion of said auger rotor and the ground screenings, a perforated trough, and tubular casing directly coupled to the discharge end of said auger rotor and having a severe bend proximate to the discharge end of said auger rotor. The severe bend partially obstructing transportation of the ground screenings transported by said auger rotor so as form a compaction zone that compacts and de-waters the ground screenings.