Cooling rubber crumb for dryer feed

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING A RUBBERY DIENE POLYMER CRUMB INTO A DEMOISTURIZING ZONE COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS SCREW PRESS AND DOWNSTREAM THEREFROM AN EXTRUSION DRYER; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING A HOT WATER SLURRY OF SAID RUBBERY DIENE POLYMER CRUMB INTO A MIXING ZONE UPSTREAM OF SAID DEMOISTURIZING ZONE, INTRODUCING COOL WATER INTO SAID MIXING ZONE AND THEREIN CONTACTING SAID SLURRY WITH SAID COOL WATER IN SAID MIXING ZONE SO AS TO SUFFICIENTLY FURTHER DILUTE AND COOL SAID SLURRY TO A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE BETWEEN 65 AND 105*F. IN A PREDEMOISTURIZING ZONE COOLING STEP, AND THEREAFTER REMOVING THE FREE WATER FROM THE RESULTING COOLED CRUMB PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF SAID COOLED CRUMB TO SAID DEMOISTURIZING ZONE.