Abstract: A sealing assembly for a rotary kiln or furnace is achieved with a pair of outer sealing rings urged into a pressured sealing engagement by a barrier gas provided at a predetermined pressure from a burette. An internal intermediate ring, preferably formed of a graphite fiber material serves as an inner seal against the direct transfer of internal gases and heat to the outer sealing rings which provide the final sealing against gas escaping during rotation of the inner work support means relative to the outer stationary supporting means. The intermediate ring also acts as a bearing and as a spacer and absorbs compression forces between the turning inner chamber, or grate, and the outer stationary supporting means.

Abstract: A system for sealing the rotary tube of a rotary tubular kiln relative to the casing at inlet and outlet portions with first packings which contact radially extending sealing surfaces, as well as second packings abutting axially extending sealing contact surfaces, as well as at least one sealing ring element receiving said second packings and arranged in concentric relation to said rotary tube, said sealing ring element having a certain degree of axial and radial freedom of movement and being provided with mounting means taking up the weight of said sealing ring element including the weight of said packings, and said sealing ring element being urged in the axial direction, when mounting said first packings, against a sealing contact surface mounted stationarily to said casing, or against said packings secured to said casing.