Patent ID: 7383842

Claim:
An integrated screenings washer system, comprising in order: an input hopper that collects screenings; a dual shafted grinder coupled to said input hopper, said dual shafted grinder having interleaved rotating cutting elements defining a grinding zone downstream of said hopper where said grinder grinds the screenings received from said hopper; a spray washer operably coupled to said grinder downstream of said grinder, said washer comprising a nozzle to deliver a spray of washer fluid generally downward with the output of said dual shafted grinder; an auger rotor having an auger rotor axis that is aligned substantially in parallel with the axes of rotation of said dual shafted grinder and positioned beneath said grinding zone; said auger receiving the screenings ground by said dual grinder and said washer fluid and transports the ground screenings to a discharge end of said auger rotor, a discharge disposed under said auger rotor, said discharge draining the wash fluid; and a tubular casing coupled to the discharge end of said auger rotor, said tubular casing having a bend proximate to the discharge end of said auger rotor, said 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 from a substantial portion of the wash fluid remaining in the ground screening after passing the discharge end of said auger rotor.