Improvements in a method for forming an agglomerate based on finely divided Materials agglomerative in a rotating drum

摘要

Rotation of a first drum member at a preselected speed intimately mixes finely divided agglomerative materials to form a loosely coherent, plastic sticky mass. The tumbling action generated by the rotating drum breaks up the loosely coherent, plastic mass into plastic particles or agglomerates which grow in size as they roll within the first drum member. The formed agglomerates are conveyed by rotation of the first drum member into a second drum member that includes an inlet portion surrounding the outlet portion of the first drum member. The second drum member has a longitudinal axis that is coplanarly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first drum member and both drum members are independently rotated at preselected peripheral speeds with the angle of inclination of the first drum member being adjustable relative to the second drum member to control the movement of the agglomerates. In the second drum member the agglomerates rigidify as substantially uniformly sized particles within a preselected size range. The intersection of the drum members together with the inlet of the first drum member and the outlet of the second drum member include seal assemblies for maintaining an inert atmosphere under positive pressure within the respective drum members.