US1606124A

US1606124A - Rotary-kiln apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1606124A
Application number: US309657A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Hornsey
Original assignee: GRANULAR IRON Co
Current assignee: GRANULAR IRON Co
Priority date: 1919-07-09
Filing date: 1919-07-09
Publication date: 1926-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1943-11-09

Description

Nov. 9 1926.

J. W. HORNSEY ROTARY KILN APPARATUS Filed July 9. 1919 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,60 6, l '7 sheeisnshee,c 2

J. W. HORNSEY ROTARY KILN APPARATUS F1led July 9 1919 Nov' 9 y J. W. HORNSEY ROTARY KILN APPARATUS Nov. 9 1926.

Filed July 9, 1919 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 Nov 9 s 1,606,124 J. W. HORNSEY ROTARY KILN APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1919 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 9 1926. A1,606,124

J. W. HORNSEY ROTARY KILN APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1919 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 9 1926.

J. W. HORNSEY Filed July 9. 1919 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Nov' 9, 1926. f

UNITED `'s'rfrus `1.6%,124 APATENT o1=f1=icE.- 1

JOHN W. HORNSEY, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GRANULAR IRON COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. i

ROTARY-KILN APPARATUS.

Application led July 9,

1- rotary kiln apparatus.

In the manufacture of Portland cement and other operations it has been customary to provide a long cylindrical rotary kiln and inject fuell into the delivery end of the kiln to raise the temperature therein to the desired point and feed the material tobe treated into the opposite end of the cylinder.

4 opening or means by which the fuel may be introduced therethrough to be burned in the delivery end of the kiln, the hot products of combustion being carried along the kiln to the feed end thereof, where they are allowed to escape through a suitable stack.- For such purposes it is common to use rotary kilns having a length of about ten times their diameter or more, varying in size from 6 feet in diameter and feet in length'to 10 feet in diameter and .120 feet in length orvmore. These kilns are preferably supported on two sets of roller bearings only, longitudinally of the kiln. Due to the high temperature to which the kiln is raised and the excessive weight thereof, and the fact that the ends of the kiln overhang these bearings for several feet the furnace end of the kiln is soon caused to bend down or swing 'radially to a very considerable extent during the rotation thereof, that is the end of the kiln is given an eccentric motion so that the structures which have been used for partially closing thedelivery end of the kiln have been cut away to provide for this eccentric or radial movement of the delivery end of the kiln thereby resulting in a relatively large air space or opening to the external atmosphere extending around between the` delivery end ofthe kiln and this structure which air space varies in size at various points with the rotation of the kiln. Furthermore, the high temperature to which the kiln is heated causes the same to. expand gradually so .that the delivery end of the kiln moves an inch or more in a direction 1919. serial No. 309,657.

longitudinally of the kiln and the non-rotating structure at 'the 'deliveryrend of the kiln.

must be cut away to accommodate this movement at the delivery end of the kiln. It has been attempted to prevent the rotary' eccentric motion of the delivery end of the kiln by providing a large number of sets of roller bearings with someof them very close to v the delivery'end of the kiln, but such arrangementshave not proved satisfactory and with them it has been found that the motion'of the vkiln becomes equally or even more distorted. i

I have found that in the operation of such kilns there is -a reat loss in energy and thermal efficiency y reason of the air space or opening between the delivery end of the kiln and the non-rotating structure opposite thereat and at other passages at the delivery end of the kiln to the outside atmosphere and that the air entering the kiln through these passages and the combustion gases passing out through these passages not only cause loss of fuel and heat but 4a very uneven operation of the kiln which materially decreases its efficiency, especially with variations in atmosphere conditions external to' the stack. The main object of my invention is therefore, to provide means for perfecting the control of the air currents which may pass into the kiln at the delivery endr thereof and preventing the loss of combus tion gases through air passages between the end of the kiln and t-he furnace structure adjacent thereto and also in combination with means which may be used to control the draft at the stack end of the kiln. vBy the use of my improvements I- find that per unit of material treated in the kiln the amount of fuel consumed may be reduced from 25 to 40%, and a larger amount of-material may be treated per unit of time by reason of the increased lregularity with 4which the kiln may be operated. l

Further and vmore specific objects, feaf tures, and advantages will more clearly appear from the detail description givenh below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings Fig. l is a .thereat taken on the line 2-2 of t e Fig. 3 'is a face view of the outer end o furnace. structure taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, the same'being partially `broken away to more clearly illustrate certain arts there'- of. Fig. 4 is a detail section ta en on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of the devices shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line` 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig-2 but illustrating a modified form. Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating a-'further modification. Fig. 9 is a vertical view of the delivery end of a kiln with la'..filon-rotating structure thereat illustrating still another modification, certain arts being broken away to more clearly il ustrate the arrangement. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fi 2 illustrating still another modification. ig. 11 is -a vertical view of the furnace structure shown in Fig. 10, the kiln being removed therefrom.

Referring' to Fig. 1, I there show an inclined rotary kiln 12 having a length about ten times its diameter or more and provided with one set of roller bearings at 13 and another set of roller bearings at 14, thus formingy only two sets of bearings for the kiln, longitudinally thereof. The bearings are provided with suitable endl thrust bearings for preventing the kiln slipping longitudinally. The kiln is provided with a gear 15 adapted to be rotated by gear 16 driven through suitable gears and belts by a motor 17 to rotate the kiln at a suitable slow speed. The kiln 12 at its upper end enters the base 18 of the stationar stack 19 through which the spent gases o the combustion may escape. 20 represents a suitable storage bin for the cement mix orother material to be treated, and from the bottom of the chamber- 20 the material is fed through a passage 21 by any suitable conveyor driven through gearing 22 to cause the material to be fed j into the base of the stack 18 and down a chute 23 into the feed end of the kiln 12.

'.40 are provided with flat end portions 42 An adjustable damper 24 is provided in the stack 19 for the purpose of regulating the draft up the stack and from the stack end of the kiln. At the lower' and delivery end of the kiln there is provided a. furnace structure 25 adapted to be moved up to and away from the end of the kiln by being supported by wheels 26 operating on tracks 27. As shown in Fi 2 the kiln 12 is made of suitable steel cy indrical casing lined with any suitable fire brick and the furnace structure 25 is similarl constructed and provided Awith a centra opening 28, into which is fitted a steel frame 29 having a central opening corresponding with the opening 28- oovered by a circular plate 29 rotatable pipe 35 by means of which mixed fuel and.

air is injected into the delivery end of the kiln and burned therein. By moving the plate 32 up and down the height of the pipe 35 may be adjusted to various positions and by swmging the plate 29 around, the'po sition of the pipe 35 may be adjusted laterally with respect to the ldelivery end of thekiln.

The fuel used may be oil, powdered coal, or other fuel mixed with air or oxygen and injected into the kiln substantially centrall thereof through the pipe 35 and burne p whereby hot gases of combustion areproduced to heat the kiln and its contents to a high temperature, the products of combustion coming directly in contact with the material being treated in the kiln.

Secured to the structure 25 is a circular rim 36 provided with a curved circumferential flange 37, and secured to the kiln 12 adjacent the delivery end thereof is a circumferential angle bar 38 to which is rigidly secured a series of thin steel plates 39.

The outer ends of the plates 39 bear against the circumferential flange 37 and the plates 39 overlap one another so that the opening surrounding the delivery end of the kiln to the outside atmosphere is substantially.

closed. In order to maintain the plates 39 firmly against the flange 37 I provide lever members 40 having their inner ends bearing aga-inst the angle bars 38 and their outer ends bearing against the endsof the plates 39 and pressing the same against the flange 37 under the action of compression springs 41.

As shown more clear-ly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the-plates 39 are arranged in three layers in staggered relation so as to form a substantially tight joint or seal entirely around the delivery end of the kiln and the levers `ments are resiliently pressed against one another andwhich are slidable on one an* other in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the kiln. Also the plane of Contact between said arrangements is vspaced from the delivery end of the kiln in a direction toward the opposite end of the kiln where it is more easily kept sufficiently cool and so that the hot material delivered from the kiln will not fall upon the metal l furnace structure which opening has a diameter several inches greater than the exter-v nal diameter of the delivery end of the kiln tofpermit the delivery end of the kiln to move radially several inches with respect to the furnace structure. It will be understood that by providing this closing means cooperating with the furnace structure and the furnace end of the kiln, I am enabled to substantially close the air space or openingl to the outside atmosphere therebetween around the kiln while permitting the end of the kiln to move radially several inches in any direction while the plates 39 slide over the flange 37 during the rotation of the kiln and likewise the furnace end of the kiln may move axially an inch or more due to expansion or contraction and to accommodate this movement the flexible plates 39 may bend Vand the levers 40 give under the actions of springs 41 so that in spite of this large relative movement of the end of the kiln with respect to the relatively stationary structure 25, the opening'which would otherwise exist between the furnace structure and the furnace end of the kiln and connected with the outside atmosphere, is maintained substantially closed or sealed. Grease cups 59 provide lubricant for the surfaces which slide over one another.

The bottom part of the structure 25 is cut away to provide an opening therethrough directly under the end of the kiln and secured to the'bottom of the structure 25 and forming an extension of this opening is a meme ber 45. Below the member 45 I provide a passageway 46 built up of suitable brick, concrete or the like and as the material treated is delivered from the furnace end of the kiln it drops through the openin in the bottom of the structure 25 througli the member 45 and into the passageway 46 where it slides down the incline 47 and may drop into pit 48 from which it may be conveyed to any suitable cooling means such as a cooling cylinder, by means of any suitable conveyor indicated diagrammatically at 49 in Fig. 1. In order to prevent the uncontrolled entrance of air through the opening in the bottom of structure 25, the mem.- ber 45 is provided with an external trough 50 which is filled with sand into which dips a downwardly extending inner {iange of a member 51, the lower edge of which member 51 dips into sand in a trough 52 rigidly secured on top of the passageway 46. 1n this way all connection to the outside atmosphere beween the lower end of the structure 25 and the passage 46 is substantially shut off while permitting slight movement or adjustment of the structure 25 along the rails 27.

When it is desired to remove ther structure 25 at somedistance from the end of the kiln in order t'o obtain access to the latter for inspection and repairs, the member 51 may l be .raised to a position where it is out of alignment with the trough 52 and held in its raised position by means of hooks 53 whereupon the whole structure 25 may be rolled back along the tracks 27 When again put into operation the structure 25 is rolled up to the delivery end of the kiln and the wheels 26 may be blocked to hold it \thereto in operative position.

It is desirable to regulate the amount of air entering the kiln relative to the cementl material and fuel. In order toprevent any undue amount of air entering the delivery end of the kiln through the passageway 46 I provide at the lower end of the passageway 46 a gate 54 operating in guidesv 5,5 and adapted to be raised and lowered by means of a chain 56 passing over a drum 57,

Vadapted to be operated through worm gearing by handle 58. If too much air enters through the passageway 46 the gate `54 may be lowered to partially close the lower end of the passageway while allowing the cement clinker to still pass out underneath the gate, and if desired an increased amount of airmay be injected through the pipe 35 with the fuel. Or if it is desired that more air enter through the passageway 46 the gate 54 may be opened to the desired extent:

and if desired a less amount of air injected through the pipe 35 with the fuel.

By thus substantially closing or sealing the delivery or furnace end of the kiln I prevent excessive drafts of cold air being drawn into the kiln at this end and I also prevent gases of combustion from being blown out around the delivery end of the kiln, and with proper adjustment of the lstack damper with such combination the amount of air or oxygen introduced into the kiln may be regulated or adjusted relatively closely to the theoretical amount required by the fuel and the fuel cut Adown very closely to the theoretical amount required to heat the kiln and cement material passing therethrough. IIeretofore it has generally occurred that a considerable quantity of the combustion gases would be blown out around vthe top of the delivery end of the kiln even though cold air be sucked in around the bottom of the kiln.v The large uantities of cold air drawn into the dellvery end of the kiln required much excess fuel to heat the cold air which air is not needed for complete combustion. So far as I am aware, heretofore no practical means have been suggested for substantially closing or sealing the delivery end of-such kilns to shut out such disadvantageous air currents, and to prevent the loss of valuable fuel gases, etc., owing to the fact that the delivery end of the kiln,` because of the great length of the kiln and the temperature to which it is heated, wabbles about and moves from one sideto another, vertically or radially, a distance of several inches and also moves axially a distance of an inch or more due to expansion so that it has been impossible even to make the deand the means for regulating the entrance\dially of air through the clinker outlet, I am enabled to control draft conditions through# outl the kiln so that substantially only the necessary quantity of oxygen or air for combustion is admitted and the conditions are .equal/,ized and made substantially independent of wind and other atmospheric conditions external to the apparatus. .These features are of special significance in connec- -tion with such rotary kilns of great length and in which the temperature is raised very high, as above pointed out.

Referring to Fig. 7 I there show a modification. The parts are substantially the same as those shown in Fig. 2 except that the series of radially arranged iexible plates 39 secured to the angle bars 38 and having their outer ends abutting the circumferential ange 37, have suiiicient spring and resiliency so that the outer ends thereof are maintained in suitable contact with the flange 37 without the aid of levers 40 and springs 41.

Under certain conditions and especially with the aid of the adjusting damper 24 on the stack end it is not necessary to carefully seal the space between the member 25 and the passage 46 so that under such conditions the ring member 51 may be omitted. The omission of this member will provide an opening from the external atmosphere up through the bottom of the structure 25, but such opening will remain "substantially uniform and is relatively small as compared with the usual opening around the delivery end of the kiln and between it and the edges of the structure 25, so that the amount of air entering through the bottom of the structure 25 may be easily taken care of and fully used in the combustion of the fuel introduced particularly if the amount of air' admitted with the fuel through the pipe 35 is correspondingly adjusted. Referring to Fig. 8 I there show a modified arrangement in which there is secured to the furnace structure 25 a sealing arrangement 60 made out of pieces of sheet metal suitably welded together to form numerous dee corrugations or pleats therein. The mem er 60 is rigidly secured at one end to the structure 25 and its other end is adapted to bear against and slide over a flat ring member 61 secured rigidly to the kiln by means of angle iron 62.A The arrangement 60 by reason of the numerous deep corrugatlons may be easily compressed toa certain extent and exerts a spring pressure between the member 60 and the furnace structure 25 so that the end of the kilnmay move lon itudinally or axially without moving or stri ing the structure 25. As the kilnrevolves the member A61 connected Vtherewith slides over the face of the member 60 against which it bears. By reason of the corrugated or pleated'arran ement of the member 60 the latter is adapte to give laterally or rato some extent. For the purpose of lubricating the surfaces between the member 61 and the end of the member 60, oil or grease cups 63 may be provided. It will be yseen that this arrangement with the corrugated member' 60 very effectively seals the opening around the end of the kiln and between it and the furnace structure 25 so that the furnace gases are prevented from being forced out around the top vof the furnace structure and the. drawing in of cold air around the end of the kiln is also prevented. It is, however, frequently desired that provision be made for the entrance of some air or oxygenv additional to that introduced through the fuel pipe. It is preferable that such air or oxygen be introduced near the bottom and for this purpose I show in Fig. 8 an air opening 64 with a plate 65 which may be used to close the same more or less in order to adjust the size of the opening and the `amount ofair to be introduced therethrough.

In Fig. 9 I show still another modification in which a circular member is rigidly attached' to the kiln by means of an angle bar 71 and abts against the fiat face of the structure 25. Spring devices 72 on either side of the apparatus tend to hold the structure 25 tightly up against the kiln member 70, and as the kiln revolves the member 70 revolves and slides over the face plates 73 on the structure 25. When the kiln expands and the l end thereof moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 9, the same is permitted by the expansion of spring 72 causing the structure 25 to be moved backward slightly along the tracks 27. When the end of the kiln moves radially the member 70 secured thereto will slide radially overthe'face plates 73. Such movement, however, if the structure 25 were maintained always in the same vertical position,.would tend to separate the member 70 from the face of the structure 25 at some points and I, therefore, arrange the structure IUD 25 on a base 74 which is supported by wheels rocking slightly, but the springs-7 6 normally 79 which is secured to the top of the passageway 46. The member 78 `is capable of slight vertical movement on the member 77 and when the hook 90 is unhooked, the structure 25 may be rolled back from the end of the furnace and the member 78 will slide along with it, but in normal operation the member 78 substantially closes the opening to the outside atmosphere between the lower end of the member 77 and the passageway 46. However, under certain conditions the closure of this opening to the external atmosphere, around the lower end of member 77, may be omitted as above explained.

It is not always necessary that the sealing means exten entirely around the furnace end of the kiln since under some conditions as above pointed out, it is desirable that a certain amount of air be permitted to enter the furnace end of the kiln in addition to that coming through the fuel pipe with the fuel. In most cases, however, it is desirable not only that the air enter the bottom part of the apparatus but that the fuel gases be prevented from escaping at the top, and so I show in Fi lOand 11 a further modification in W ich a series of resilient plates 80 overlapping one another are rigidly secured at their outer ends to the structure 25 and I provide a circular bearing member 81 extending entirely around the delivery end of the kiln, and such member is adapted to bear against the flexible plates 80. As will be seen in Fig. 11 the flexible plates 80 do not extend entirely around the kiln, a space or opening being left ati82 through which air may enter and pass into the delivery -end of the kiln. When the end of the kiln moves longitudinally due to expansion and contraction it is lnot necessary that the flexible plates 80 accommodate all of this movement since the structure 25 may move backward and forward to accommodate more or less of this movement, the structure 25 being held up adjacent the end of the kiln by means of welghts 83, supported by chains 84 passing over pulleys 85 and connected to the movable structure 25 in such a. way that the weights tend to pull the structure 25 up adjacent the delivery end of the kiln and maintain it in operative relation with respect thereto.

It will be noted that in all the arrangements described I have provided means which substantially close the opening to the external atmosphere between the end of the kiln and the furnace structure around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln while still permitting the end of the kiln to move axially an inch or more due to expansion and contraction and while permitting the end of the kiln to move radially several inches relati\'e to the furnace structure withoutl materially affecting the closing of the openlng around the greater part of the circumference. of the kiln.

Many other changes and modifications may be made and the invention embodied in widely different forms and used for heat treating many different materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broaderl aspects.

What I claim as new and desire to secure i by Letters Patent, is

l. In a rotary kiln apparatus having in combination, a rotary kiln, a non rotating structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln and adapted to receive material from the delivery end of the kiln during rotation of the kiln, and means for introducing fuel intothe delivery end ofthe kiln, the improvement which consists in the combination therewith, of a circumferential arrangement on said structure anda circumferential arrangement on the delivery end of the kiln, said arrangements substantially closing the opening between the delivery end of the kiln and said structure to the outside atmosphere, around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said arrangements being'resiliently and yieldingly pressed against one another thereby permitting the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof and said arrangements being slidable on one another in -a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the kiln, thereby permitting` the delivery end of the kiln to move radially *relative to said structure.

2. In a rotary kiln apparatus having in combination a rotary kiln, a non rotating structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln and adapted` to receive material 'from the delivery end of the'kiln during rotation of the kiln, and means for introducing fuel into the delivery end of the kiln, the improvement which consists in the combination therewith, of a circumferential arrangement on said structure and a circumferential arrangement on the delivery end of the kiln, said arrangements substantially clsing the opening between the delivery end of the kiln and said structure to theoutside atmosphere, around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said arrangements being resiliently and vyieldingly pressed against one another thereby permitting the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof, and said arrangements being slidable on one another in a lane substantially at right angles to the axls of toward and from ,the deliver the kiln thereby permittingthe delivery end of the kiln to move radially relative to said structure, and the plane of contact between said arrangements being spaced from the delivery end of the kiln in a direction toward the opposite end of the kiln. y r

3. n rotary. kiln apparatus having in combination, a rotary kiln a non-rotating structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln, said structure being movable end of the kiln and being` cut away at 1ts bottom to ermit passage therethrough of material deivered from the kiln, means for introducing fuel into the delivery end of the kiln, and a passageway belowsaid cut-away part to receive the material delivered, the improvement which consists in the combination of means for substantially closing the opening to the atmosphere between said cut-away part of the structure and the adjacent end of said passageway, means for opening and closing the lower end of said passageway, and means cooperating with said structure and the delivery end of the kiln for substantially closing the opening to the atmosphere therebetween around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, while permitting the end of the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contrae-tion thereof, and while permitting the delivery end of the kiln to move radially several inches relative to said structurenwithout materially affecting the closing f said opening around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of radially arranged flexible overlapping metal plates and means for resiliently holding them in operative position.

4. In rotary kiln apparatus having in combination, a rotary kiln, a non-rotating structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln, said structure being movable toward and from the delivery end of the kiln and having an outlet at its bottom to permit passage therethrough for material delivered from the kiln, and means for introducing fuel into the delivery end of the kiln, the improvement which consists in means cooperating with said structure and the delivery end of the kiln for substantially closing the opening to the atmosphere therebetween around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, while permitting the end of the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof, 'and while permitting the delivery end of the kiln to move radially several inches relative to said structure without materially affecting the closing of said. opening around the greater part of the circumference of thekiln, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of radially arranged overlapping metal plates secured adjacent their inner edges to the kiln and spring-pressed arms for redelivery end of the kiln said structure be.

ing movable toward and from the delivery end of the kiln and being cut away at its bottom to permit passage therethrough of material delivered from the kiln, andmeans for introducing fuel into the delivery end of the kilnat a point such that the products of combustion will come in contact with the material being treated in the kiln, the im --provement which consists in the combination of means cooperating with said structure and the delivery end of the kiln for substantially closing the openin to the atmosphere therebetween around t e greater part of the circumference of the kiln, while permitting the end of the kiln toy move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof, and while permitting the delivery end of the kiln to move radially several inches relative to said structure, without materially affecting the closing of said opening around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of radially arranged overlapping metal plates secured adjacent their inner edges to the kiln and spring pressed arms.

for resiliently holding the outer edges of said sheets against the said non-rotating structure, and means whereby the air or oxygen entering the delivery end of the kiln may be regulated so that the amount of air introduced into the delivery end of the kiln is substantially the theoretical amount required. v

6. In a rotary kiln apparatus having in combination, a rotary kiln, a non rotating structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln and adapted to receive material from the delivery end of the kiln during rotation of the kiln, the delivery end of the kiln extending into an opening in said struc ture a substantial distance and the said opening being substantially greater in diameter than the outside diameter of the delivery end of the kiln, and means for introducing fuel into the delivery end of the kiln, the improvement which consists in the combination therewith, of a circumferential arrangement on said structure and a circumferential arrangement on thedelivery end of the kiln, said arrangements substantially closing .the opening between the delivery end of the kiln and said structure to the outside atmosphere, around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said Inn A arrangements being yieldingly pressed against one another thereby permitting the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof without materially affecting the closing of said opening, and said arrangements being slidable on one another in a plane substantially at right angles'to the axis of the kiln thereby permitting the delivery end of the kiln to move radially relative to said structure without materially affecting the closing of said opening.

7. In a rotary kiln apparatus having in combination, a rotary kiln, a non-rotating structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln and adapted to receive material from the delivery end of the kiln during rotation of the kiln, said structure being movable relatively to the delivery end of Vthe kiln toward and away therefrom in a horizontal direction, and the delivery end of the kiln extending into an opening in said structure a substantial distance and thel said opening being substantially greater in diameter than the outside diameter of the dclivery end of the kiln, and means for introducing fuel into the delivery end of the kiln, the improvement which consists in the combination therewith of a circumferential arrangement on said structure and a circumferential arrangement on the delivery end of the kiln, said arrangements substantially closing the opening between the delivery end of the kiln and said structure to the outside atmosphere, around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said arrangements being yieldingly i pressed against one another thereby permitting the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof and said arrangements being slidable on one another in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the kiln thereby permitting the delivery end of the kiln to move radially relative to said structure.

8. In a rotary kiln apparatus having in combination, a rotary kiln, a non-rotating furnace structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln and adapted to receive material from the delivery end of the kiln during rotation of the kiln, said structure beingr movable toward and away from the kiln in a. horizontal direction, the improvement which consists inthe combination therewith of a circumferential arrangement on said structure and a circumferential arrangement on the delivery end of the kiln, said arrangements being of metal andsubstantially closing the opening between the delivery end of the kiln and said structure to the outside atmosphere, around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said arrangements being yieldingly pressed against one another thereby per-A mitting the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof and said ceive material from the delivery end of the i kiln during rotation of the kiln, said structure being movable toward and away from the kiln in a horizontal direction, and the delivery end of the kiln extending into an opening in said structure a substantial distance and the said opening being several inches greater in diameter than the outside diameter of the delivery end of the kiln, the improvement which consists in the combinationtherewith of a circumferential arrangementen said structure and a circumferential arrangement on the delivery end ofthe kiln, said arrangements being of metal and substantially closing the o ening between the delivery end of the kin and said structure to the outside atmosphere, around the greater art of the circumference of the kiln, said .arrangements being resiliently and yieldingly pressed against one another thereby permitting the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof' and said arrangements being slidable on one another in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the kiln thereby permitting the delivery end of the kiln to move radially relative to said structure, and the plane of contact between said arrangements being spaced from the de livery end of the kiln in a direction toward the opposite end of th'e kiln.

10. In a rotary kiln apparatus having in combination a rotary kiln, a non-rotating furnace structure largely closing the delivery end of the kiln and adapted to receive material from the delivery end of the kiln during rotation of the kiln, said structure being movable toward and away from the kiln in a horizontal direction, the delivery end of the kiln extending into an opening in said structure a substantial distance and the said opening being several inches greater in diameter than the outside diameter of the delivery end of the kiln, the improvement which consists in the combination therewith of a circumferential arrangement on said structure and a circumferential arrangement on the delivery end of the kiln, said arrangements being of metal and substantially closing the opening between the delivery end of the kiln and said structure to the outside atmosphere, around the greater part of the circumference of the kiln, said arrangements being resiliently and yieldingly pressed against one another thereby permitting the kiln to move axially due to expansion and contraction thereof being spaced from' the end ofthe kiln in a without materially affecting the closing of direction toward the opposite end of the said olpening, and said arrangementsl being kiln, and one of said metal arrangements slidab e on one another in a plane substancomprising a. lurality of lates extendin I tially at right angles to the axis of the kiln circumferentia ly around t e delivery en 1I thereby permitting the delivery end of the of the kiln. kiln to move radially several inches ren Signed at New vYork in the county of New tive to said structure without vmaterially York and State of "New York this 8th day aiecting the closing of said opening, the of July A. D. 1919. D. plane of contact between said arrangements JOHN W. HORNSEY.