Panelized drum system

Abstract

A rotating drum that is made from a plurality of panels that are connected to form sub-cylinders that, in turn, are connected to form a drum cylinder. Drum heads are connected at both ends of the drum cylinders. The drum may be rotated using rotational means. In one preferred embodiment the rotational means is a tangential rotational drive system that engages drive tires that are positioned between sub-cylinders. A method for fabricating rotating drums. A business method of mass production of and/or distribution of rotating drums.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for fabricating a drum, said method comprising:
 (a) using a plurality of fabricated panels, each panel including a frame and a spanning skin, said frame having a first frame end, a second frame end, a first frame side, and a second frame side, each panel interchangeable with any other panel;   (b) forming a sub-cylinder from at least two of said plurality of fabricated panels and at least one baffle bar by securing said at least one baffle bar between a first frame end of a frame of a first panel and a second frame end of a frame of an adjacent second panel; and   {circle around (c)} forming a drum cylinder from at least two of said sub-cylinders.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each fabricated panels is formed by: (a) using a cutting table fixture; (b) using a multi-head drill press; and {circle around (c)} using a welding table. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising attaching an at least one drum head to at least one end of said drum cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , said forming a drum cylinder from at least two of said sub-cylinders further comprising the forming a drum cylinder from at least two of said sub-cylinders and at least one drive tire. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using connectors for securing said at least one baffle bar between a first frame end of a frame of a first panel and a second frame end of a frame of an adjacent second panel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using connectors for securing adjacent sub-cylinders. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said method is for fabricating a rotating drum, said method further comprising:
 (a) forming a drum cylinder from at least two of said sub-cylinders and at least one drive tire; and   (b) rotating said rotating drum using a tangential rotational drive system engaging said at least one drive tire.   
     
     
         19 . A method for mass production of and/or distribution of rotating drums, said method comprising:
 (a) fabricating panels, each panel interchangeable with any other panel;   (b) painting and insulating said panels;   {circle around (c)} stacking painted and insulated panels for shipment; and   (d) shipping stacked panels.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , said fabricating panels further comprising fabricating panels having a frame and a spanning skin, said frame having a first frame end, a second frame end, a first frame side, and a second frame side. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 (a) fabricating at least one drum head; and   (b) shipping said at least one drum head with said stacked panels.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  Further comprising:
 (a) fabricating at least one drive tire; and 
 (b) shipping said at least one drive tire with said stacked panels. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 (a) fabricating at least one drum head;   (b) fabricating at least one drive tire;   {circle around (c)} shipping said panels, said drum head, and said drive tire with said stacked panels to an end user for assembly in the field; and   (d) assembling said rotating drum in the field using connectors.   
     
     
         24 . A rotating drum comprising:
 (a) a plurality of panels, each panel including a frame and a spanning skin, said frame having opposed straight ends and contiguous opposed rolled sides, each panel interchangeable with any other panel;   (b) a plurality of connectors;   {circle around (c)} said plurality of panels constructed and arranged to be interconnected at said straight ends by said connectors to form a drum cylinder having one and another opposed annular cylinder edges defined at said rolled sides;   (d) a first drum head connected by at least one connector to said one annular cylinder edge;   (e) a second drum head connected by at least one connector to said other annular cylinder edge; and   (f) a rotational drive system for rotating said drum cylinder.   
     
     
         25 . The rotating drum of  claim 24  further comprising a plurality of baffle bars, each baffle bar secured at the straight ends between adjacent panels using at least one of said plurality of connectors. 
     
     
         26 . The rotating drum of  claim 24  wherein said rotational drive system is a tangential rotational drive system. 
     
     
         27 . The rotating drum of  claim 26 , wherein the drum cylinder is formed by at least two adjacently disposed sub-cylinders, and further comprising at least one drive tire, each said at least one drive tire positioned between two of said sub-cylinders. 
     
     
         28 . The rotating drum of  claim 27 , wherein the tangential rotational drive system is comprised of a base, a drive motor supported on the base, a gearbox driven from the motor and having an order of magnitude reduction in speed of rotation from the motor, and a contact wheel driven from said gearbox and for contact with said drive tire. 
     
     
         29 . The rotating drum of  claim 28 , including a pair of rotational drive systems, one disposed on either side of a bottom of the drive tire, said drive motors being independently operable but coordinated in operation. 
     
     
         30 . The rotating drum of  claim 29 , including two pairs of rotational drive systems each pair disposed on either side of a bottom of the drive tire with each pair for engagement with a different drive tire, said different drive tires being spacedly disposed along the drum cylinder. 
     
     
         31 . The rotating drum of  claim 30 , wherein said drum cylinder has outwardly protruding legs; and wherein said connectors include a plurality of non-hot-welded connectors disposed in holes in said drum cylinder and extend through said outwardly protruding legs such that said non-hot welded connectors are fully outside of the interior of said drum cylinder. 
     
     
         32 . The rotating drum of  claim 31 , wherein said spanning skin is rolled flat, and said first and further including angle iron having first legs that are permanently attached to the spanning skin and second legs protruding outwardly from a convex surface of the spanning skin, said connectors including a plurality of non-hot-welded connectors that are disposed in holes in said drum cylinder and extending through said outwardly protruding legs such that said non-hot welded connectors are fully outside of the interior of said drum cylinder. 
     
     
         33 . The rotating drum of  claim 32  further comprising a plurality of baffle bars, each baffle bar secured at the straight ends between adjacent panels using at least one of said plurality of connectors, and so that each baffle bar extends substantially longitudinally of the drum cylinder.