Abstract: A rotary drum for treating materials comprises a drum shell having a generally tubular configuration wall and one or more unitary material treating members forming a portion of the wall. In a preferred embodiment, the drum shell comprises a plurality of ring-shaped sections mechanically joined together in axial alignment wherein at least one of the sections has a unitary material treating member forming a portion of the section wall. In typical applications the treating members are cast steel members and the remaining portions of the drum shell are predominantly plate steel.The advantages of this drum include easier fabrication with a reduction in the extent of welding, avoidance of welding in inaccessible locations, elimination of abrupt changes in thickness and, in operation, a reduction of unwanted shearing stresses.

Abstract: A multi-compartment tube mill is disclosed for the grinding of coarse material such as cement clinker in which the tube mill is divided into at least two mill sections each of which includes at least one grinding chamber. An inlet is provided at one end of the tube mill for the coarse material and for ventilating air or gas to ventilate the tube mill and for heat exchange with the material. An outlet is provided at the opposite end of the tube mill for the ground product. Disposed between the two mill sections is a composite diaphragm which defines a separation zone therebetween for removing humidity from the first mill section, and for introducing fresh ventilating air or gas into the second mill section. A method is disclosed for grinding coarse material in the inventive tube mill in which atmospheric conditions are controlled from the inlet to the outlet of the mill.

Abstract: A tube mill is disclosed for drying and grinding moist material which comprises at least one compartment for drying moist material and at least one compartment communicating with the drying compartment for grinding the material. A separating chamber is positioned between the adjacent communicating drying and grinding compartments with means being provided for introducing hot gases and material to the drying compartment so that the material may pass to the separating chamber and the grinding compartment.