Rotary kiln

A rotary kiln comprising a rotary drum having a throwing-in port, the rotary drum being rotated while a heated gas is passed therethrough for drying a slurry or the like containing therein water and thown through the throwing-in port of the rotary drum, wherein said rotary drum includes a large number of lifters which are disposed in a manner circumferentially spaced from each other and extending axially of the rotary drum along the inner wall thereof, the lifters having bent end portions projecting internally of the rotary drum and being bent in the rotational direction of the rotary drum, and wherein the rotary drum further includes a large number of metal-made chain-like first fittings attached to the bent end portion of each of said lifters, said first fittings having a length at least as great as the maximum distance between the bent end portion of one of said lifters and the lower face of another lifter adjacent said one lifter in the direction of the drum rotation but less than the distance between the bent end portions of said one lifter and said adjacent lifter, so as to prevent the first fitting of said one lifter from becoming entangled with the bent end portion of said adjacent lifter while permitting sliding movements by the first fitting of said one lifter on the lower face of said adjacent lifter.