Rotary reactor and lifter assembly

Abstract

A rotary reactor of the type having a cylindrical, horizontally-oriented chamber lined with a refractory for burning materials therein and a plurality of trough-like lifters, extending along the interior surface of the chamber, for lifting and dumping sand in the chamber as the chamber rotates, a long-wearing lifter assemble which minimizes intrusion of contaminants between the lifter and the refractory. The lifter assembly comprises a bolt attaching the lifter to the chamber, a split support cylinder recessed into the refractory lining and coaxial with the bolt, a sleeve member, coaxial with the support cylinder, extend through the chamber and receiving the bolt, an anchor plate receiving the bolt and sleeve member therethrough and having an outer periphery contiguous with an inner periphery of the sleeve member, a mounting plate supported on the support cylinder and attached to the anchor plate supported on the support cylinder and attached to the anchor plate, a retainer plate attached to an inner surface of the lifter and receiving the bolt therethrough so that the bolt cams against the retainer plate, and a cap covering and protecting the bolt. In one embodiment, the assembly includes slots formed in the lifter and retainer plate to allow movement of the lifter relative to the bolt resulting from thermal expansion. A cam plate slidably mounted within the slots receives the bolt and a slide plate covers the slots and cam plates to prevent fouling of the slots.