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A flow divider for use with fluent materials, such as raw sausage. The flow divider is a combination of at least two housing bodies with chambers defined by elliptical cylindrical sidewalls. Hubs with transverse vanes have necked-down regions at one end that are rotatably mounted in a similarly-size

A flow divider for use with fluent materials, such as raw sausage. The flow divider is a combination of at least two housing bodies with chambers defined by elliptical cylindrical sidewalls. Hubs with transverse vanes have necked-down regions at one end that are rotatably mounted in a similarly-sized aperture in an endwall of each housing body. The vanes' tips follow the elliptical cylindrical sidewalls in the manner of a vane pump. Sausage is conveyed from a conventional pump into the inlet of the flow divider, and flows through passages into inlet cavities, one inlet cavity per chamber, through the sub-chambers formed by the space between the vanes, and outlet cavities, one outlet cavity per chamber. The amount of sausage that flows through each chamber is equal due to the driving linkage between the hubs of each housing body.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A flow divider for receiving fluent matter from at least one source and dividing the fluent matter substantially equally among a plurality of destinations, the flow divider comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a first chamber in the housing, the first chamber being defined by

The invention claimed is: 1. A flow divider for receiving fluent matter from at least one source and dividing the fluent matter substantially equally among a plurality of destinations, the flow divider comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a first chamber in the housing, the first chamber being defined by a first radially inwardly facing surface and a first wall, the first chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with a source passage that is formed through the housing and is spaced from the chamber, and the source passage has an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the first radially inwardly facing surface and is in fluid communication with said at least one source, the chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing surface in fluid communication with a first one of said plurality of destinations; (c) a first cylindrical hub rotatably mounted in the first chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first radially inwardly facing surface, a first radial slot extending through the first hub, and a second radial slot extending through the first hub transverse to the first slot; (d) a first vane slidably mounted in the first slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing surface; (e) a second vane slidably mounted in the second slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing surface; (f) a second chamber in the housing, the second chamber being defined by a second radially inwardly facing surface and a second wall that separates the first chamber from the second chamber, the second chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the second radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with the source passage and is in fluid communication with said at least one source, the second chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface in fluid communication with a second one of said plurality of destinations; (g) a second cylindrical hub rotatably mounted at least partially through the second wall and extending into the second chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the second radially inwardly facing surface and drivingly linked to the first hub, a third radial slot extending through the second hub, and a fourth radial slot extending through the second hub transverse to the third slot; (h) a third vane slidably mounted in the third slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends; and (i) a fourth vane slidably mounted in the fourth slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends. 2. The flow divider in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: (a) a third chamber in the housing, the third chamber being defined by a third radially inwardly facing surface and a third wall that separates the second chamber from the third chamber, the third chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the third radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with the source passage, the second chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface in fluid communication with a third one of said plurality of destinations; (b) a third cylindrical hub rotatably mounted at least partially through the third wall and extending into the third chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the third radially inwardly facing surface and drivingly linked to the second hub, a fifth radial slot extending through the third hub, and a sixth radial slot extending through the third hub transverse to the fifth slot; (c) a fifth vane slidably mounted in the fifth slot and abutting the third radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends; and (d) a sixth vane slidably mounted in the sixth slot and abutting the third radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends. 3. The flow divider in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing, hubs and vanes have connecting structures that permit them to be disconnected and disassembled for cleaning. 4. The flow divider in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second hubs are drivingly linked by at least one protrusion extending from the second hub into at least one corresponding recess formed in the first hub. 5. The flow divider in accordance with claim 4, wherein said at least one protrusion further comprises at least one longitudinal tang extending from one end of the second hub, and said corresponding recess further comprises at least one longitudinal slot formed in one end of the first hub. 6. The flow divider in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a first end cap mounted to a first end of the housing, and a second end cap mounted to a second, opposite end of the housing, said end caps forming closures for the chambers. 7. The flow divider in accordance with claim 6, wherein said first end cap has a recess for receiving at least one protrusion formed on one of said hubs. 8. The flow divider in accordance with claim 7, wherein each of said hubs has a reduced-diameter necked region forming a shoulder, and an aperture is formed in each wall at each chamber for rotatably receiving said necked region of a corresponding hub. 9. A flow divider for receiving fluent matter from at least one source and dividing the fluent matter substantially equally among a plurality of destinations, the flow divider comprising: (a) a first housing with a first chamber defined by a first radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and a first wall, the first chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with a corresponding source passage that is formed through the first housing and is spaced from the first chamber, and the source passage has an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the first radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and is in fluid communication with said at least one source, the first chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface in fluid communication with a first one of said plurality of destinations; (b) a first cylindrical hub rotatably mounted in the first chamber substantially coaxial with the radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface, a first radial slot extending through the first hub, and a second radial slot extending through the first hub transverse to the first slot; (c) a first vane slidably mounted in the first slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface; (d) a second vane slidably mounted in the second slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface; (e) a second housing rigidly mounted to the first housing, the second housing having a second chamber defined by a second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and a second wall that separates the first chamber from the second chamber, the second chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with a corresponding source passage that is formed through the second housing and is spaced from the second chamber, and the source passage has an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and is in fluid communication with said at least one source, the chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface in fluid communication with a second one of said plurality of destinations; (f) a second cylindrical hub rotatably mounted at least partially through the second wall and extending into the second chamber, and having an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and drivingly linked to the first hub, a third radial slot extending through the second hub, and a fourth radial slot extending through the second hub transverse to the third slot; (g) a third vane slidably mounted in the third slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface at opposite vane ends; and (h) a fourth vane slidably mounted in the fourth slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface at opposite vane ends; wherein the source passages formed through each of said housings align to form a conduit in fluid communication with each inlet cavity and said at least one source. 10. The flow divider in accordance with claim 9, further comprising: (a) at least a third housing rigidly mounted to the second housing, the third housing having a third chamber defined by a third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and a third wall that separates the second chamber from the third chamber, the third chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface, wherein the inlet cavity is in fluid communication with a corresponding source passage formed through the third housing and is spaced from the third chamber, and the source passage has an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and is in fluid communication with said at least one source, and the chamber also having an outlet cavity formed in the third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface in fluid communication with a third one of said plurality of destinations; (b) a third cylindrical hub rotatably mounted at least partially through the third wall and extending into the third chamber, and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface and drivingly linked to the second hub, a fifth radial slot extending through the third hub, and a sixth radial slot extending through the third hub transverse to the fifth slot; (c) a fifth vane slidably mounted in the fifth slot and abutting the third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface at opposite vane ends; and (d) a sixth vane slidably mounted in the sixth slot and abutting the third radially inwardly facing cylindrical surface at opposite vane ends. 11. The flow divider in accordance with claim 9, wherein the housings, hubs and vanes have connecting structures that permit them to be disconnected and disassembled for cleaning. 12. The flow divider in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first and second hubs are drivingly linked by at least one protrusion extending from the second hub into at least one corresponding recess formed in the first hub. 13. The flow divider in accordance with claim 12, wherein said at least one protrusion further comprises a pair of longitudinal tangs extending from one end of the second hub, and said corresponding recess further comprises a pair of longitudinal slots formed in one end of the first hub. 14. The flow divider in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a first end cap mounted to a first end of the housings, and a second end cap mounted to a second, opposite end of the housings, said end caps forming closures for the chambers. 15. The flow divider in accordance with claim 14, wherein said first end cap has a recess for receiving at least one protrusion formed on one of said hubs. 16. The flow divider in accordance with claim 15, wherein each of said hubs has a reduced-diameter necked region forming a shoulder, and an aperture is formed in each wall of each housing for rotatably receiving said necked region of a corresponding hub. 17. The flow divider in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the housings has a tab on one end and a notch on an opposite end for matingly engaging a notch and a tab, respectively, on adjacent structures. 18. A device for receiving fluent matter from a plurality of sources and combining the fluent matter substantially equally to at least one destination, the device comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a first chamber in the housing, the first chamber being defined by a first radially inwardly facing surface and a first wall, the first chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing surface in fluid communication with a first one of said plurality of sources and an outlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the outlet cavity is in fluid communication with a destination passage that is formed through the housing and is spaced from the first chamber, and the destination passage has an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the first radially inwardly facing surface and is in fluid communication with said at least one destination; (c) a first cylindrical hub rotatably mounted in the first chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the first radially inwardly facing surface, a first radial slot extending through the first hub, and a second radial slot extending through the first hub transverse to the first slot; (d) a first vane slidably mounted in the first slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing surface; (e) a second vane slidably mounted in the second slot and having opposite vane ends seating against the first radially inwardly facing surface; (f) a second chamber in the housing, the second chamber being defined by a second radially inwardly facing surface and a second wall that separates the first chamber from the second chamber, the second chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the first radially inwardly facing surface in fluid communication with a second one of said plurality of sources and an outlet cavity formed in the second radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the outlet cavity is in fluid communication with the destination passage; (g) a second cylindrical hub rotatably mounted at least partially through the second wall and extending into the second chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the second radially inwardly facing surface and drivingly linked to the first hub, a third radial slot extending through the second hub, and a fourth radial slot extending through the second hub transverse to the third slot; (h) a third vane slidably mounted in the third slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends; and (i) a fourth vane slidably mounted in the fourth slot and abutting the second radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends. 19. The device in accordance with claim 18, further comprising: (a) a third chamber in the housing, the third chamber being defined by a third radially inwardly facing surface and a third wall that separates the second chamber form the third chamber, the third chamber having an inlet cavity formed in the third radially inwardly facing surface in fluid communication with a third one of said plurality of sources and an outlet cavity formed in the third radially inwardly facing surface, wherein the outlet cavity is in fluid communication with the destination passage; (b) a third cylindrical hub rotatably mounted at least partially through the third wall and extending into the third chamber and having an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the third radially inwardly facing surface and drivingly linked to the second hub, a fifth radial slot extending through the third hub, and a sixth radial slot extending through the third hub transverse to the fifth slot; (c) a fifth vane slidably mounted in the fifth slot and abutting the third radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends; and (d) a sixth vane slidably mounted in the sixth slot and abutting the third radially inwardly facing surface at opposite vane ends. 20. The device in accordance with claim 18, wherein the housing, hubs and vanes have connecting structures that permit them to be disconnected and disassembled for cleaning. 21. The device in accordance with claim 18, wherein said first and second hubs are drivingly linked by at least one protrusion extending from the second hub into at least one corresponding recess formed in the first hub. 22. The device in accordance with claim 21, wherein said at least one protrusion further comprises at least one longitudinal tang extending from one end of the second hub, and said corresponding recess further comprises at least one longitudinal slot formed in one end of the first hub. 23. The device in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a first end cap mounted to a first end of the housing, and a second end cap mounted to a second, opposite end of the housing, said end caps forming closures for the chambers. 24. The device in accordance with claim 23, wherein said first end cap has a recess for receiving at least one protrusion formed on one of said hubs. 25. The device in accordance with claim 24, wherein each of said hubs has a reduced-diameter necked region forming a shoulder, and an aperture is formed in the wall at each chamber for rotatably receiving said necked region of a corresponding hub.