Apparatus for agglomerating dusts and the like

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising a drum having an inlet and an outlet, conveyor means disposed within the drum and responsive to rotative movement to move particulate material through the drum from adjacent said inlet toward said outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said conveyor means, and means disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the radially inner margin of said conveyor means and adapted to be rotated when said conveyor means is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region, and cause said particulate material to cascade downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, said last-mentioned means having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium into the path of movement of particulate material in said curtains.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, said drum being cylindrical, said conveyor means being a spiral vane attached to the inside surface of said drum and having a relatively abbreviated radial dimension, said means for imparting rotative movement to said conveyor means comprising means mounting said drum for rotation and means for rotating said drum.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, said last-mentioned means including a substantially cylindrical plate member supported by said drum substantially coaxially thereof for rotation therewith, said plate member having formed therein a plurality of closely spaced perforations.

Claim 6

Apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum having an inlet and an outlet, a spiral vane attached to the inside surface of said drum and having a relatively abbreviated radial dimension and responsive to rotative movement to move particulate material through the drum from adjacent said inlet toward said outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said spiral vane said means comprising means mounting said drum for rotation and means for rotating said drum and means including a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially equispaced rods extending substantially longitudinally of said drum and supported by said drum for rotation therewith and disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the radially inner margin of said spiral vane and adapted to be rotated when said spiral vane is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region and having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material drops downwardly, and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium in the path of movement of particulate material from said passageways.

Claim 7

Apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum having an inlet and an outlet, a spiral vane attached to the inside surface of said drum and having a relatively abbreviated radial dimension and responsive to rotative movement to move particulate material through the drum from adjacent said inlet toward said outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said spiral vane said means comprising means mounting said drum for rotation and means for rotating said drum and means including a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially equispaced rods extending substantially longitudinally of said drum and supported by said drum for rotation therewith and disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the radially inner margin of said spiral vane and adapted to be rotated when said spiral vane is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region and having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material drops downwardly, and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium in the path of movement of particulate material from said passageways.

Claim 8

Apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum having an inlet and an outlet, a spiral vane attached to the inside surface of said drum and having a relatively abbreviated radial dimension and responsive to rotative movement to move particulate material through the drum from adjacent said inlet toward said outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said spiral vane said means comprising means mounting said drum and means disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the radially inner margin of said spiral vane and adapted to be rotated when said spiral vane is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region and having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material drops downwardly, and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium in the path of movement of particulate material from said passageways, including means for returning fines from the outlet of said drum to the inlet end thereof, said means comprising a cylindrical shell attached to said drum outwardly and coaxially thereof to define therewith an annular chamber, a screen for admitting fines to said chamber from the outlet end of said drum, a spiral vane within said chamber attached to said shell adapted to move fines through said chamber toward the inlet end of said drum, and a plurality of ports formed in said drum adjacent the inlet end thereof and adapted to pass fines from said chamber into said drum.

Claim 9

Apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum having an inlet and an outlet, a spiral vane attached to the inside surface of said drum and having a relatively abbreviated radial dimension and responsive to rotative movement to move particulate material through the drum from adjacent said inlet toward said outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said spiral vane said means comprising means mounting said drum and means disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the radially inner margin of said spiral vane and adapted to be rotated when said spiral vane is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region and having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material drops downwardly, and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium in the path of movement of particulate material from said passageways, including means for returning fines from the outlet of said drum to the inlet end thereof, said means comprising a cylindrical shell attached to said drum outwardly and coaxially thereof to define therewith an annular chamber, a screen for admitting fines to said chamber from the outlet end of said drum, a spiral vane within said chamber attached to said shell adapted to move fines through said chamber toward the inlet end of said drum, and a plurality of ports formed in said drum adjacent the inlet end thereof and adapted to pass fines from said chamber into said drum.

Claim 10

Apparatus comprising a drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, means including a plurality of rods extending substantially longitudinally of said drum and supported by said drum and disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region, and having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material cascades downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains.

Claim 11

Apparatus comprising a drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, means including a plurality of rods extending substantially longitudinally of said drum and supported by said drum and disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region, and having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material cascades downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains.

Claim 12

Apparatus comprising a drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, means disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum means is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region, and cause said particulate material to cascade downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains, said last-mentioned means having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium into the path of movement of particulate material in said curtains.

Claim 13

Apparatus comprising a drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, means disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum means is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region, and cause said particulate material to cascade downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains, said last-mentioned means having defined therein a plurality of spaced passageways and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium into the path of movement of particulate material in said curtains.

Claim 14

Apparatus comprising a drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, means disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum means is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region, and cause said particulate material to cascade downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains, said drum being cylindrical, said means for imparting rotative movement to said drum comprising means mounting said drum for rotation and means for rotating said drum.

Claim 15

Apparatus comprising a drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, means disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum means is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region, and cause said particulate material to cascade downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains, said drum being cylindrical, said means for imparting rotative movement to said drum comprising means mounting said drum for rotation and means for rotating said drum.

Claim 16

Apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, said means comprising means mounting said drum for rotation and means for rotating said drum, and means including a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially equispaced rods extending substantially longitudinally of said drum and supported by said drum for rotation therewith and disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region and having defined thErein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material cascades downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium in the path of movement of particulate material in said curtains.

Claim 17

Apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum having an inlet and an outlet, means for imparting rotative movement to said drum, said means comprising means mounting said drum for rotation and means for rotating said drum, and means including a plurality of substantially parallel and substantially equispaced rods extending substantially longitudinally of said drum and supported by said drum for rotation therewith and disposed within the drum radially inwardly of the inner surface of said drum and adapted to be rotated when said drum is rotated to move through a radially intermediate region of said particulate material and thereby move and tend to lift material within said region and having defined thErein a plurality of spaced passageways through which lifted particulate material cascades downwardly onto said particulate material in the form of one or more curtains and means operable to discharge a spray of particle-coating medium in the path of movement of particulate material in said curtains.