Patent ID: 8470183

Claim:
A processing system for processing raw slurry material comprising particulate material and liquid material to separate the particulate material from the liquid material, the processing system comprising: a barrel member defining a processing axis A, a processing chamber defining a feed portion, a pre-processing portion, a separator portion, and an outlet opening; at least one pre-processing member, where the at least one pre-processing member is supported by the barrel member within the feed portion and the pre-processing portion of the processing chamber; and a plurality of separator members, where the plurality of separator members are supported by the barrel member within the separator portion of the processing chamber, and the plurality of separator members define at least one separator gap; and a drive system for causing the barrel member to rotate about its axis; wherein as the drive system rotates the barrel member about the processing axis A, the at least one pre-processing member transports at least a portion of the raw slurry material from the feed portion to the separator portion through the pre-processing portion such that at least some of the particulate material in the raw slurry material is transported to the separator portion, and at least some of the liquid material in the raw slurry material is allowed to flow back towards the feed portion, and the plurality of separator members transport at least a portion of the raw slurry material from the pre-processing portion to the outlet opening through the separator portion such that at least some of the particulate material in the raw slurry material is transported to the outlet opening, and at least some of the liquid material in the raw slurry material is allowed to flow back towards the pre-processing portion through the at least one separator gap.