Method and means for prilling

Claim 1

IN APPARATUS FOR PRILLING A MOLTEN SUBSTANCE, COMPRISING MEANS FOR INTRODUCING MOLTEN SUBSTANCE INTO A SPINNING BASKET, A TOWER IN WHICH DROPLETS OF THE MOLTEN SUBSTANCE DISCHARGE FROM SAID BASKET FALL FREELY AND SOLIDIFY, MEANS IN CONNECTION WITH SAID TOWER TO PRODUCE AN UPWARDLY RISING COLUMN OF COOLING GASES, AND MEANS AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID TOWER TO COLLECT THE SOLIDIFIED PRILLS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A SPINNING BASKET HAVING A RELATIVELY THIN IMPERFORATE BASE WITH A DIAMETER OF SUBSTANTIALLY 3 TO 6 INCHES AND A SIDE WALL ELEMENT FORMED AT LEAST IN PART OF WIRE CLOTH ATTACHED PERIPHERALLY TO SAID BASE, SAID WIRE CLOTH HAVING A MESH SIZE BETWEEN ABOUT 11 AND ABOUT 20 MESHES PER LINEAR INCH, A SHAFT ATTACHED TO THE CENTER PORTION OF SAID BASE BY MEANS OF WHICH SAID BASKET IS SUSPENDED AND ROTATED, AND ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID SHAFT AT A VARIABLE SPEED BETWEEN ABOUT 60 AND ABOUT 200 R.P.M.