Granulating apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for granulating lumps of material comprising: a. a drum supported for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said drum having an inner surface and a plurality of apertures for providing passage ways for granulated material and abrasive particles therethrough; b. means for feeding Lumps of material into an inlet end of said drum; c. a spiral screw connected to the inner surface of said drum; d. means for projecting a stream of abrasive particles with sufficient force for granulating the lumps of material within the drum, said projecting means being positioned at an outlet end of said drum and above the axis of rotation of said drum; e. means for rotating said drum for moving the lumps of material against the force of the projecting stream of abrasive particles whereby granulated material and spent abrasive particles pass through the apertures in said drum; and f. a separator for removing the granulated material from the spent abrasive particles; g. said spiral screw including a first section near the inlet end and a second section near the outlet end of said drum, said first section projecting into the interior of the drum a greater distance than said second section projects into the interior of the drum so that lumps of molded sand tend to be pushed over said second section by the force of abrasive particles and hled in said drum until completely granulated.