Inventors:
John C. Mowli - Gurnee IL
International Classification:
F04C 216
Abstract:
A two-stage pumping apparatus is disclosed which is particularly suited for moving highly viscous materials, and other materials which do not readily lend themselves to pumping. The apparatus includes a generally vertically oriented housing with an infeed opening defined generally at the upper end thereof for gravity infeed of material into the apparatus. A pair of cooperating, counter-rotating screw augers are provided within the housing for rotation together about respective parallel axes. By this arrangement, material moves axially of the augers generally downwardly through the pump housing to a discharge opening defined by the housing. Notably, each of the screw augers includes helical flights intermeshed with the flights of the other auger, with the flights configured to provide a two-stage pumping action, including a first, upstream non-positive displacement pumping, and a second, downstream positive displacement pumping.