Patent ID: 7172397

Claim:
A water box assembly for an underwater pelletizer having a rotating shaft with cutting blades for cutting extruded pellets against a die plate coupled to an extruder housing, which comprises: a generally cylindrical water box main body having a longitudinal chamber surrounding said rotating shaft and having a flange on an inner periphery nearest said housing; and an annular section coupled between said water box main body and said die plate and secured to said housing by a first plurality of fastening elements, said die plate interfacing directly with said cutting blades, said flange of said water box main body coupled to said annular section with a second plurality of fastening elements so that said water box main body can be released from said annular section, die plate and housing by said second plurality of fastening elements, said annular section including a plurality of substantially circular through-passing apertures for receiving said first and second pluralities of fastening elements which pass therethrough.