Rotary kilns with uphill cooler tubes

Claim 2

In a rotary kiln having a kiln shell, a plurality of uphill cooler tubes arranged in A planetary fashion about the kiln shell, means for connecting the inlet ends of each of the cooler tubes in communicating relationship with respect to the outlet end of the kiln, and means for supporting the outlet ends of the cooler tubes relative to the kiln shell, said outlet ends being positioned adjacent to a relatively high temperature burning portion of the kiln shell, the improvement which comprises: a. a substantially tubular body disposed in substantially coaxial spaced apart relationship to the kiln shell encircling the kiln shell and supporting the outlet ends of the cooler tubes; b. supporting means spaced from the high temperature burning zone of the kiln for independently supporting the tubular body at a position along the axis of the body to facilitate rotational movement of the kiln and cooler tubes thereby preventing distortion of the kiln shell at the high temperature burning portion; and c. means interconnecting the kiln shell and the substantially tubular body to absorb at least a portion of the torsional forces developed between the tubular body and the kiln shell during rotation thereof.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1 further including a live ring member mounted on the external surface of the tubular body and disposed in frictional contacting relation to said last mentioned support means.

Claim 4

The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said last mentioned support means comprises a freely rotatable element.

Claim 5

The improvement according to claim 3 wherein: a. said tubular body has a portion extending axially beyond the outlet ends of the cooler tubes; and b. said live ring member is mounted on said extension portion of the tubular body in contacting relation to said freely rotatable element.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said tubular body is fixed to the side of cooler tubes facing the kiln shell.

Claim 7

The improvement according to claim 1 further including energy absorption means for mounting the tubular body mounting the cooler tubes and the kiln shell relative to each other in substantially torsion free relationship.

Claim 8

The improvement according to claim 6 wherein said energy absorption means comprises at least one spoke-like member connected between the kiln shell and tubular body in tangential relationship with respect to the kiln shell whereby said spoke-like members are subjected to purely tensile forces during rotation of the kiln.

Claim 9

In a rotary kiln having a shell, a plurality of uphill cooler tubes arranged in planetary fashion about the kiln shell, means for connecting the inlet ends of the cooler tubes in communicating relationship to the outlet end of the kiln, and means for supporting the outlet ends of the cooler tubes relative to the kiln shell, the improvement in combination therewith which comprises: a. a tubular body disposed in encircling spaced apart relationship to the kiln shell for mounting the outlet ends of the cooler tubes fixed thereto; b. a freely rotatable element supporting the tubular body independently of the kiln shell at a position spaced from the high temperature burning zone of the kiln along the axis of the body thereby preventing distortion of the kiln shell at said high temperature burning zone; c. a live ring member mounted on the tubular body in frictional contacting relation to said freely rotatable element; and d. at least one spoke-like member connected between the kiln shell and tubular body in substantially tangential relationship with respect to the kiln shell whereby each spoke-like member is subject to purely tensile forces during rotation of the kiln such that the kiln shell and the tubular body are mounted relative to each other in substantially torsion free relationship.

Claim 10

In a rotary kiln having a shell, a plurality of uphill cooler tubes arranged in planetary fashion about the kiln shell, means for connecting the inlet ends of the cooler tubes in communicating relationship to the outlet end of the kiln, and means for supporting the outlet ends of the cooler tubes relative to the kiln shell, the improvement in combination therewith which comprises: a. a tubular body disposed in encircling spaced apart relationship to the kiln shell for mounting the outlet ends of the cooler tubes fixed thereto; b. a freely rotatable element supporting the tubular body independently of the kiln shell at a position spaced from the high temperature burning zone of the kiln along the axis of the body thereby preventing distortion of the kiln shell at said high temperature burning zone; c. a live ring member mounted on the tubular body in frictional contacting relation to said freely rotatable element; and d. at least one spoke-like member connected between the kiln shell and tubular body in substantially tangential relationship with respect to the kiln shell whereby each spoke-like member is subject to purely tensile forces during rotation of the kiln such that the kiln shell and the tubular body are mounted relative to each other in substantially torsion free relationship.