Apparatus for continuous calcination of gypsum

Claim 1

IN APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS CALCINATION OF GYPSUM AND LIKE MATERIALS IN A KETTLE TYPE REACTOR HAVING A SOURCE OF HEAT FOR CALCINING RAW MATERIAL WITHIN THE THE KETTLE, A FLUE SYSTEM INCLUDING A WALL SURROUNDING THE KETTLE AND SPACED THEREFROM TO FORM AN ANNULAR CHAMBER FOR CIRCULATING HOT GASES AROUND THE KETTLE WALL, AND VENTILATOR MEANS CREATING A DRAFT AT THE TOP OF THE KETTLE TO DRAW OFF STEAM AND DUST, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING; CONVEYOR MEANS TERMINATING IN AN OUTLET AT THE TOP OF THE KETTLE FOR CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING RAW MATEIAL INTO THE KETTLE; CONTROL MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE RAW MATERIAL IN THE KETTLE WITHIN A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE RANGE; AN OPENING IN THE KETTLE SIDE WALL NEAR THE TOP THEREOF; A DISCHARGE SPOUT LEADING AWAY FROM SAID OPENING, SAID OPENING BEING STRUCTURALLY REMOTE FROM THE INCOMING RAW MATERIAL; A VERTICALLY DISPOSED BAFFLE PLATE WITHIN THE KETTLE, SAID PLATE INTERSECTING THE SAID KETTLE SIDE WALL AT POINTS INTERMEDIATE THE CONVEYOR OUTLET AND THE DISCHARGE OPENING, AND EXTENDING INTO THE MASS OF MATERIAL WHEREBY TO BLOCK THE MIGRATION OF UNCALCINED MATERIAL TO THE DISCHARGE OPENING; AND MEANS MOUNTING THE BAFFLE PLATE FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITHIN THE KETTLE WHEREBY THE DEPTH OF PENETRATION OF THE PLATE INTO THE MASS MAY BE ADJUSTED.