Underwater Pelletizer

Abstract

An underwater pelletizer including a die plate, a cutting chamber housing having a cutting chamber and a rotatably drivable cutter head, which is arranged in the cutting chamber for dividing melt strands output from the die plate into pellets. The cutting chamber is flushed through by process water which can be introduced through at least one inlet into the cutting chamber and, together with the cut pellets, can be discharged from the cutting chamber via an outlet. A plurality of flow channels and/or chambers are provided in the cutting chamber housing for generating different process water streams, which include at least one co-rotating flow path passing through at least one cutter head channel through the rotating cutter head, as well as at least one flow path which does not co-rotate and which leads from a fixed inlet into the cutting chamber.

Claims

1. An underwater pelletizer comprising: a die plate; and a cutting chamber housing comprising: a cutting chamber having two or more inlets and one or more outlets; a rotatably drivable cutter head that is arranged in the cutting chamber for dividing melt strands output from the die plate into pellets; flow channels and/or flow chambers for generating different process water streams; and one or more annular, fixed distribution chambers; wherein the cutting chamber is configured to be flushed through by process water introduced through at least one of the two or more inlets and is configured to be discharged from the cutting chamber together with the cut pellets via at least one of the one or more outlets; wherein the flow channels and/or flow chambers include: at least one co-rotating flow path passing through at least one cutter head channel through the cutter head; and at least one flow path which does not co-rotate with the cutter head and which leads from a fixed inlet of the one or more inlets into the cutting chamber; wherein at least two of the two or more inlets are separate, one from the other, inlets for separately feeding the co-rotating flow path and the non-co-rotating flow path led into the cutting chamber at a front side from an end face of the cutting chamber opposite the die plate; and wherein at least one of the one or more annular, fixed distribution chambers has at least one outlet port opening frontally to the die plate directly into the cutting chamber for feeding the non-co-rotating flow path.

2. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the non-co-rotating flow path leads onto the die plate outside of the co-rotating flow path and/or is spaced farther from a cutter head axis of rotation than the co-rotating flow path.

3. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the non-co-rotating flow path is led at least approximately parallel to a cutter head axis of rotation and/or substantially perpendicular to an exit face of the die plate onto cutting blades of the cutter head.

4. The underwater pelletizer of claim 1, wherein the non-co-rotating flow path is inclined at an acute angle to the axial direction defined by a cutter head axis of rotation.

5. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the outlet port for feeding the non-co-rotating flow path opens into the cutting chamber in a diameter region larger than an outer diameter of a blade carrier of the cutter head.

6. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the outlet port for feeding the non-co-rotating flow path is spaced farther from the die plate than an outlet port of the inlet for feeding the co-rotating flow path.

7. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the cutting chamber housing comprises two separate annular, fixed distribution chambers, a first distribution chamber that opens into the cutting chamber via the non-co-rotating flow path and a second distribution chamber that opens into the cutting chamber via the co-rotating flow path.

8. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the co-rotating flow path opens through the at least one cutter head channel within cutting blades of the cutter head into a frontal gap between the die plate and the cutter head.

9. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the co-rotating flow path is directed at least approximately parallel to a cutter head axis of rotation and/or axially substantially perpendicular to the die plate.

10. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the co-rotating flow path is directed at an acute angle inclined with respect to the die plate towards the die plate.

11. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the two separate inlets for separately feeding the co-rotating and non-co-rotating flow paths each form annular flow channels nested within one another and extending at least approximately parallel to a cutter head axis of rotation.

12. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the two separate inlets have discharge openings that open into the cutting chamber, the discharge openings being arranged in annular regions having diameters of different sizes.

13. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the outlet port for directly feeding the cutting chamber past the cutter head has a slot-type arc-shaped curved contour and/or forms an annular outlet slot around the cutter head in the end face of the cutting chamber.

14. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a plurality of outlet ports is provided with the same or different contouring for feeding the cutting chamber.

15. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the cutter head has formed therein a plurality of the cutter head channels arranged along an annular contour around a cutter head axis of rotation and/or distributed centrically and/or eccentrically with respect to the cutter head axis of rotation and passing through the cutter head from one end face of the cutter head to an opposite end face of the cutter head.

16. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 15, wherein the cutter head channels are aligned parallel to the cutter head axis of rotation or aligned at an acute angle to the cutter head axis of rotation outwardly and/or circumferentially inclined.

17. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the separate inlets has a nozzle-shaped inlet port on an outer circumferential side of the cutting chamber housing, which is arranged tangentially to the circumferential direction and/or inclined at an acute angle to a radial direction such that process water supplied through the inlet port flows through one of the annular, fixed distribution chambers connected to the respective separate inlet spirally and/or along a circumferential wall.

18. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 17, wherein the inclination of the inlet port is selected such that the process water in the annular, fixed distribution chamber has a direction of circulation corresponding to a direction of rotation of the cutter head.

19. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid control and/or temperature control device for controlling and/or regulating a flow rate and/or pressure and/or temperature of the process water supplied to one of the separate inlets independently of the flow rate and/or pressure and/or temperature of the process water supplied to the other separate inlet.

20. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 19, wherein the flow control and/or temperature control device is adapted to control and/or coordinate the process water stream at each separate inlet individually with respect to flow rate and/or pressure and/or temperature.

21. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein the cutting chamber housing is divided into at least one fixed housing part and at least one movable housing part, the cutting chamber housing and its cutting chamber being openable by moving the movable housing part away from the fixed housing part.

22. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 21, wherein an intersection and/or connection point between the fixed and movable housing parts extends at least predominantly in an oblique plane inclined at an acute angle to a cutter head axis of rotation.

23. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 22, wherein the intersection and/or connection point between the movable and fixed housing parts in a bottom portion of the cutting chamber housing is closer to the die plate than to an upper end portion of the cutting chamber housing, the intersection and/or connection point dividing the cutting chamber at the die plate at the bottom portion of the cutting chamber housing and dividing an annular distribution chamber for feeding the non-co-rotating flow path at the upper end portion of the cutting chamber housing.

24. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 21, wherein the fixed housing part is fixed to the die plate and the movable housing part together with the cutter head forms a jointly movable assembly.

25. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 21, wherein the outlet is provided on the fixed housing part and the inlets are provided on the movable housing part (3b).

26. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more outlets is provided at an upper side of the cutting chamber housing and the separate inlets are provided at a lower half of the cutting chamber housing.

27. An underwater pelletizer comprising a die plate, a cutting chamber housing with a cutting chamber, and a rotatably drivable cutter head arranged in the cutting chamber for dividing melt strands output from the die plate into pellets, wherein the cutting chamber is configured to be flushed through by process water which can be introduced into the cutting chamber through at least one inlet and can be discharged from the cutting chamber together with the cut pellets via an outlet; wherein the cutting chamber, viewed in a direction of circulation of the cutter head, has a volume increasing towards the outlet, and viewed in a circumferential direction of the cutter head, a gap dimension between an envelope contour of the cutter head and a circumferential wall of the cutting chamber and/or an axial depth increases in a direction of a cutter head axis of rotation towards the outlet.

28. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 27, wherein the gap dimension and/or the chamber depth each continuously and steadily, increase toward the outlet and/or are minimum in a sector located immediately behind the outlet as viewed in the direction of circulation of the cutter head and are maximum in a sector located immediately in front of the outlet.

29. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 27, wherein the cutting head is eccentrically displaced with respect to a center of the cutting chamber.

30. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 27, further comprising at least one flow guide plate and/or at least one deflector in the cutting chamber for at least limiting multiple circulation of cut pellets.

31. The underwater pelletizer according to claim 30, wherein at least one of the guide plates and/or deflectors in the region of the outlet protrudes along an envelope contour of the cutter head and/or is inclined at an acute angle to the envelope contour of the cutter head.

Description

[0055] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings show:

[0056] FIG. 1: a perspective view of an underwater pelletizer showing its cutting chamber housing, its cutter head drive device, and the process water connections of the cutting chamber housing for flushing the cutting chamber with process water;

[0057] FIG. 2: a longitudinal section through the cutting chamber housing of the underwater pelletizer of FIG. 1, showing the cutter head attached to the die plate and the flow paths of the process water for flushing the cutting chamber;

[0058] FIG. 3: a side view of the cutting chamber housing of the underwater pelletizer from the preceding figures in an opened, extended position of the two housing parts of the cutting chamber housing, showing the cutter head moved away with the movable housing part and the hydraulic clamping cylinders for connecting the two housing parts;

[0059] FIG. 4: a cross-sectional view of the cutting chamber of the underwater pelletizer shown in the preceding figures in a direction of view out of the die plate toward the cutter head, showing the mouth regions of the flow paths passing through the cutter head and the eccentric configuration of the cutting chamber around the cutter head;

[0060] FIG. 5: a sectional view of the cutting chamber of the underwater pelletizer from the previous figures in an inverted viewing direction compared to FIG. 4, so to speak, to the rear of the cutter head, showing the mouth areas of the process water outlet leading directly into the cutting chamber and the eccentric arrangement of the cutter head in the cutting chamber;

[0061] FIG. 6: a further sectional view of the cutting chamber of the underwater pelletizer similar to FIG. 5 in an axially offset sectional plane in comparison;

[0062] FIG. 7: a perspective view of the cutting chamber with the cutter head disposed therein, showing the three-dimensional contouring of the cutting chamber with the cross-sectional volumes of the cutting chamber increasing toward the outlet; and

[0063] FIG. 8: a perspective view of the cutting chamber with the cutter head arranged therein similar to FIG. 7, whereby in comparison to FIG. 7 a guide plate arranged at the outlet of the cutting chamber can be seen, which prevents multiple circulation of cut pellets.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 1, the underwater pelletizer 1 comprises a melt feed head 15, which can be connected for example to a melt feed device comprising an extruder, which is not shown, the melt feed head 15 comprising or being connectable to a die plate 2, which comprises nozzle-like melt channels for forcing melt strands through the die plate or allowing them to be output from the die plate. The melt channels of the die plate may open on an end face of the die plate 2, which forms the cutting surface 23 and faces a cutter head 5, cf., FIG. 2.

[0065] The die plate 2 is thereby connected to a cutting chamber housing 3, which encloses a cutting chamber 4 adjacent to the end face of the die plate 2, which forms the cutting surface of the die plate 2. In this case, the end face of the die plate 2 delimits the cutting chamber 4 on one end face, while the cutting chamber housing 3 can delimit the cutting chamber 4 circumferentially and on an end face opposite the die plate 2.

[0066] The cutting chamber 4 accommodates a cutter head 5 which is rotationally drivable about a cutter head axis of rotation, the cutter head axis of rotation being capable of extending substantially perpendicular to the cutting surface of the die plate 2.

[0067] A cutter head drive 16 is provided for rotationally driving the cutter head 5, cf., FIG. 1, which can comprise, for example, an electric motor 17 or also a hydraulic motor, which can be connected to the cutter head 5 in a driving manner, if necessary via a gear stage and a drive shaft 18, cf., FIG. 1.

[0068] The assembly comprising the cutter head 5, the cutter head drive 16 and the cutting chamber housing 3 or at least a part of the cutting chamber housing 3 can be mounted on a bearing slide 19 so as to be movable in translation, in particular in a direction at least approximately parallel to the cutter head axis of rotation 20.

[0069] As FIG. 2 shows, the cutting chamber 4 may be at least approximately cylindrical or disc-shaped in contour when viewed as a whole, and may be seated on one side of the die plate 2 so that the cutter head 5 may be received in the cutting chamber 4.

[0070] The cutter head 5 comprises in this case a cutter support 21, on which blades 22 are arranged on the end face and/or outer circumferential side, which sweep over the die plate 22, and in particular in an annular region, in which the melt channels of the die plate 2 open out on its end-face cutting surface. This allows the blades 22 to knock off the melt strands output from the melt channels and cut them into pellets.

[0071] The cutting chamber 4 is flushed by process water, which is supplied to the cutting chamber 4 via a plurality of inlets 6, 7 and discharged together with the cut pellets in the form of a process water-pellets mixture via an outlet 8, cf, FIG. 2.

[0072] The outlet 8 may be arranged on an upper side of the cutting chamber housing 2 and lead tangentially out of the circumferential wall of the cutting chamber 4 and/or be arranged at an angle to the radial direction on the circumference of the cutting chamber 4, cf., FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0073] The inclined position of the outlet 8 can be adapted to the direction of rotation of the cutter head 5 in such a way that process water flowing spirally around in the cutting chamber 4 or along the circumferential wall of the cutting chamber 4 can flow off tangentially at the circumferential side without major directional bypass or without reversal of direction.

[0074] The inlets 6, 7 for supplying the process water can be arranged on a lower side of the cutting chamber housing 3 and/or in the area of a lower half of the cutting chamber housing 3, cf., FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0075] The process water is fed into the cutting chamber 4 along various flow paths via the inlets 6, 7.

[0076] As FIG. 2 shows, both inlets 6, 7 lead into the cutting chamber 4 from a rear end face, i.e., from the end face of the cutting chamber 4 opposite the die plate 2. In this case, one of the inlets 7 is arranged more centrally, i.e., closer to the axis of rotation 20 of the cutter head 5, and the other inlet 6 is arranged less centrally or more eccentrically, i.e., further away from the axis of rotation 20 of the cutter head 5.

[0077] In particular, the inlet 7 is arranged and oriented such that process water exiting the inlet 7 into the cutting chamber 4 is directed directly onto an end face of the cutter head 5. Cutter head channels 10 are formed in the cutter head 5, which open onto the end face of the cutter head 5 on the die plate side, so that the process water can flow through the cutter head 5 and flow frontally onto the die plate 2.

[0078] The cutter head channels 10 are thereby provided in an annular area or in a diameter area radially inside the diameter area in which the blades 22 are arranged, so that the process water enters the frontal gap between the die plate 2 and the cutter head 5 inside the blades 22. This creates a process water flow between the die plate 2 and the cutter head 5, which runs essentially parallel to the die plate 2 and flows at least approximately radially outward, so that pellets deposited on the blades 20 are flushed outward into the cutting chamber 4.

[0079] The inlet 7 feeds the co-rotating flow path 9 formed by the cutter head channels 10, which leads into a central region of the face gap between the die plate 2 and the cutter head 5, where it forms a flow extending from the center outward and parallel to the die plate 2 to prevent pellets from accumulating in the central region.

[0080] As FIG. 2 shows, the inlet 7 may form an annular channel extending around the drive shaft 18, in particular aligned coaxially with the cutter head axis 20.

[0081] As FIG. 2 shows, the inlet 7 on the outside of the cutting chamber housing 3 may have an inlet port 7a or inlet connection for connecting a process water line that opens into an annular distribution chamber 12 formed inside the cutting chamber housing 3 and communicating with the annular inlet channel 7i that directs the process water to the back of the cutter head 5 or feeds the cutter head channels 10.

[0082] The other inlet 6 also includes an inlet port 6a or connection provided on the outside of the cutting chamber housing 3 for connecting a process water line. However, this further inlet 6 does not feed the process water through the cutter head 5, but past the cutter head 5 directly into the cutting chamber 4 and in this respect feeds a non-co-rotating flow path 11.

[0083] In particular, the further inlet port 6a may first communicate with a further annular distribution chamber 12 formed inside the cutting chamber housing 3 and provided behind or adjacent to the end face of the cutting chamber 4. The annular distribution chamber 12 may be formed around the inner inlet 7 described previously, cf., FIG. 2, and may have one or more outlet ports 13 opening into the cutting chamber 4 from the end face opposite the die plate 2 and directing the process water frontally past the outer circumference of the cutter head 5 onto the die plate 2. As FIG. 2 shows, the outlet ports 13 may be arranged in a diameter range that is larger than the diameter of the blade carrier 21 of the cutter head 5 and/or larger than the diameter range in which the cutter head channels 10 are arranged and/or may be larger than the diameter range in which the inner inlet 7 has its mouth area.

[0084] In particular, the process water flowing from the outlet ports 13 frontally towards the die plate 22 can flow over an outer region of the cutting blades 22 or flow towards the die plate 22 in the region of the blades 22 and combine there with the process water flowing outwards from the center of the die plate 2 via the co-rotating flow path 9.

[0085] In advantageous further development of the invention, the inlets 6 and 7 can be controlled or regulated with respect to the flow rate and/or the pressure and/or with respect to the temperature of the process water independently of one another and/or coordinated with one another and/or in each case individually, for example by means of suitable flow control devices such as valves, flow dividers or possibly also separate pressure sources such as pumps and/or temperature control devices such as heat exchangers or heating elements or cooling elements, so that for each flow path 9 and 11 the flow rate and/or the flow pressure and/or the flow temperature in the region of the respective inlet 6 and 7 can be set individually in the desired manner.

[0086] Regardless of the multiple inlets 6, 7 described, the cutting chamber 4 may have a generally considered helical, three-dimensional contour and/or the cutter head 5 may be positioned eccentrically in the cutting chamber 4 to facilitate the path of the cut pellets into the outlet 8 and to equalize the dwell times of the pellets cut in different sectors at different distances from the outlet 8.

[0087] In particular, the cutting chamber 4 with its envelope volume defined around the cutting blades, in which the process water can spread out, so to speak, can become larger when viewed in the direction of rotation of the cutter head towards the outlet. For example, in a sector A of the cutting chamber, which is reached by the cutting blades immediately after passing the outlet, cf., FIG. 4, the envelope volume of the cutting chamber can be minimal around the blades, then progressively increase and become maximum towards the outlet. For example, the envelope volume can increase continuously towards sector B, which is opposite outlet 8, and from there it can increase again continuously to sector C, which is upstream of outlet 8 in the direction of blade rotation, cf, FIG. 4.

[0088] In this case, the cutting chamber 4, viewed in the direction of rotation of the blades, can increase in depth T and/or in width S in the manner of a snail shell, in particular starting from the area A, which, viewed in the direction of rotation of the cutter head, lies directly behind the outlet 8, towards the outlet 8. The depth T of the cutting chamber means its extension in the axial direction or in the direction of the cutter head axis of rotation, see FIG. 2. The width S means the gap width between the circumferential wall of the cutting chamber 4 and the envelope contour of the blades of the cutting head 5 or the cutting head 5 itself, depending on how the blades are arranged.

[0089] In particular, along its outer circumference and thus adjacent to the cutting blades of the cutter head 5 or adjacent to the outer circumference of the cutter head 5, the cutting chamber 3 can define a tubular volume area that can increase continuously or, if necessary, in steps from sector A of the cutting chamber 5 that the blades reach after passing through outlet 8, toward outlet 8.

[0090] This volume tube forms a spatial area which is not directly swept by the blades themselves or which adjoins this area swept by the blades and forms, so to speak, a clearance or escape space into which the process water surrounding the cutter head can escape around the cutter head.

[0091] The residence time of the pellets in the cutting chamber 4 can be significantly reduced by means of a volume tube around the cutting blades which increases in size towards the outlet 8. In the region of smallest gap dimension or in sector A, which is located immediately after the outlet 8 in the direction of circulation and is narrow around the cutter head 5, the inflowing rinsing process water has little space to spread out, so that higher pressures are generated here and thus higher flow velocities of the process water are achieved. This allows the pellets cut there to be flushed out much faster.

[0092] On the other hand, as viewed in the direction of circulation of the cutter head 5, more and more pellets are accumulated between or around the cutting blades as they get closer and closer to the outlet 8, since, on the one hand, the pellets already cut further forward as viewed in the direction of circulation are transported along with them and the freshly cut pellets in sectors lying downstream, so to speak, are added to them.

[0093] In sectors B and C which are closer to the outlet 8 when considering the direction of circulation of the cutter head 5, cf, FIG. 4, the cutting chamber 4 around the cutter head 5 becomes more voluminous, so that the process water has more space and/or the pressure of the process water decreases and/or the flow velocity of the process water decreases, so that, considered as a whole, the dwell time of the pellets cut in different sectors of circulation A, B, C is equalized.

[0094] In order to prevent multiple or even endless circulation of cut pellets, in an advantageous further development of the invention, a flow guide plate 31 and/or a deflector can be arranged in the cutting chamber 4 in the area of the outlet 8 or slightly downstream thereof, in order to direct pellets flowing with the process water specifically into the outlet and prevent them from circulating several times, cf, FIG. 8.

[0095] Such a guide plate and/or a shell- or panel-shaped deflector can extend in particular between the outer contour of the cutter head 5 or the envelope contour of the cutting blades on the one hand and the outlet 8 on the other hand, whereby the guide plate 31 or the deflector can project in particular from a circumferential wall of the cutting chamber 4 adjacent to the envelope contour of the cutter head 5 against its direction of rotation into the cutting chamber 4. the deflector can project in particular from a circumferential wall of the cutting chamber 4 adjacent to the envelope contour of the cutter head 5 counter to its direction of rotation into the cutting chamber 4, cf., FIG. 8, for example projecting from a section of the circumferential wall of the cutting chamber 4 which, viewed in the direction of rotation of the cutter head 5, defines the rear edge contour towards the outlet 8, cf, FIG. 8.

[0096] For example, the deflector 31 or the deflector can be curved in an arc and inclined at an acute angle to the envelope contour of the cutter head 5 and project inwards from the root area of the outlet 8 under the blades in the manner in order to fish off pellets circulating with the blades or to deflect them towards the outlet 8 and prevent them from circulating several times, i.e., prevent them from turning away from the outlet area again or for the first time into the sector A instead of into the sector A. to the outlet 8 and to prevent them from circulating several times, i.e., to prevent them from turning again or for the first time from the outlet area into the sector A instead of flowing into the outlet 8.

[0097] As FIG. 3 shows, the cutting chamber housing 3 can advantageously be of split design and comprise a plurality of housing parts 3a, 3b, for example two housing halves, which can be moved towards and away from each other to allow the cutting chamber housing 3 to be closed and opened.

[0098] Advantageously, the cutting chamber housing 3 can be divided into two housing halves, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable.

[0099] In particular, the cutting chamber housing 3 may have an interface or junction 26 between two housing parts 3a, 3b that extends at least partially in an inclined plane that penetrates the cutting chamber 4 so that when the housing parts 3a, 3b are moved apart, the cutting chamber 4 is opened.

[0100] The interface 26 may in particular extend at least predominantly in an inclined plane, which may be perpendicular to a vertical plane containing the cutter head rotation axis 20 and may be inclined at an acute angle with respect to the cutter head rotation axis 20, in particular such that the interface 26 is arranged closer to the die plate 2 at a lower portion of the cutting chamber housing 3 than at an upper portion of the cutting chamber housing 3, cf., FIG. 3. In particular, the interface 26 may be located at the lower edge of the cutting chamber 4 approximately at the die plate 2 and may be spaced further from the die plate 2 at an upper end portion of the cutting chamber housing 3 than the cutting chamber 4 is thick and/or may extend in the region of the annular distribution chamber 25 located behind the end face of the cutting chamber 4 opposite the die plate 2.

[0101] For example, the plane in which most of the interface 26 extends may extend inclined at an angle of 45 to 80 with respect to the cutter head axis of rotation 20.

[0102] Advantageously, one of the housing parts 3a can be arranged in a fixed position, in particular fixedly connected to the die plate 2, while another housing part 3b can be movably mounted and/or can form a movable housing part. In particular, the movable housing part 3b can be translationally moved away from and toward the fixed housing part 3a along a straight line or, if necessary, along an arcuate path. For example, the movable housing part 3b can be moved away from and toward or coupled and uncoupled from the fixed housing part 3a parallel to the cutter head rotation axis 20.

[0103] The movable housing part 3b can in particular form a movable assembly together with the cutter head 5. For example, the cutter head 5 can be rotatably mounted on the movable housing part 3b.

[0104] The movable assembly comprising the movable housing part 3b and the cutter head 5 can in particular be movably mounted on a carriage or another suitable bearing device, whereby the carriage 19 can for example also carry the cutter head drive 16, cf., FIG. 1.

[0105] The two housing parts 3a and 3b can be joined together in a sealing manner, whereby a seal 28 can be provided in the area of the interface 26 and can be seated between the edges of the housing parts at the interface. The seal 28 may, for example, be an annular seal or sealing ring, for example in the form of an elastic sealing ring or O-ring, which is placed between the edges of the housing parts 3a and 3b which can be moved towards each other.

[0106] In order to be able to firmly connect the housing parts 3a, 3b to one another, a connecting device can advantageously comprise a positive and/or non-positive clamping device 29. Such a clamping device 29 can advantageously comprise several clamps, in particular quick clamps 30, which can be arranged distributed along the interface 27 in order to be able to clamp the two housing parts 3a, 3b on top of each other. The clamping device 29 can apply a clamping force in the direction of the axis of movement of the movable housing part, for example in the direction of the cutter head axis of rotation 20, clamping the movable housing part 3b onto the fixed housing part 3a.

[0107] Advantageously, the quick-action clamps 30 can have externally energy-actuated clamping actuators, for example in the form of pressure medium cylinders, which can be mounted on one of the housing parts and hooked onto the opposite housing part or held in a form-fitting manner in some other way, so that the clamping force can be applied by actuating the clamping actuator.