Rotary Drum for the Aerobic Heating of Pourable Solids

Abstract

The invention concerns a rotary drum ( 1 ), in which the hygienic status of separated, pourable cow manure solids ( 3 ) is modified by aerobic heating such that the solids can be re-used as bedding in cowsheds. The aim of the invention is that of achieving a high charge level of the drum ( 1 ), which lies horizontally for incorporation in an insulated container ( 2 ), with a filling level of 60-70% being achieved. According to the invention, the loaded solid ( 3 ) is kept in a chamber ( 4,8 ) and is passed to the drum ( 1 ) only when there is no solid surrounding the chamber ( 4,8 ). An important element is a flap ( 4,9 ) of the chamber ( 4,8 ), which opens and closes in this area only. If there is solid material on the outside of the flap, then the flap is prevented from opening ( 4,9 ).

1 . A rotary drum for aerobic heating of a pourable solid by constantly revolving a still damp solid and supplying fresh air, wherein the solid at the inlet side of the rotary drum enters an antechamber through a funnel and a central opening, said antechamber being bounded by an outer side wall and an inner side wall located behind and spaced from the outer side wall, wherein an inlet channel is provided between these side walls on the wall of the rotary drum, which picks up the solid in the direction of rotation, wherein, in the inner side wall, there is an opening which leads to a chamber located in the interior of the drum, said opening is covered by a flap which opens into the interior of the drum and only opens when the chamber is in a portion of the rotary drum wherein no pourable solid is present and closes again before it re-enters the solid, and wherein the fresh air is sucked in through a ring-shaped discharge weir for the pourable solids and is sucked out through a ventilating means located in the vicinity of the filling device and an axially arranged pipe.  
     
     
         2 . The rotary drum according to  claim 1 , wherein several filler devices for charging the pourable solid incorporating correspondingly effective flaps are provided around the periphery of the drum.  
     
     
         3 . The rotary drum according to  claim 1 , wherein blades directly attached to the casing of the drum advance the pourable solid towards the discharge side whereat guide plates effective in opposite direction are fixed at a distance of half a radius from the casing.  
     
     
         4 . The rotary drum according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a fixed ventilation pipe located in the vicinity of the inlet side for the solid comprising a radial pipe portion leading into the solid-free portion of the drum, a downwardly directed elbow portion and a succeeding axial pipe portion.