Method of and apparatus for controlling the flow of materials from a rotating drum

Apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable material processing cylindrical drum having a substantially horizontal axis and a circular discharge open end,
• a material discharge regulating gate adjoining the discharge end of the drum,
• said gate comprising a vertical circular member having a diameter larger than the discharge end of the rotatable drum,
• the circular member having a continuous surface with a material discharge opening therein,
• means rotatably mounting the circular member adjoining the discharge end of the rotatable drum to rotate independent of the drum, and
• a sprocket ring around the periphery of the circular member, and the mounting means comprises means for suspending the circular member means including a chain which meshes with the sprocket and cradles the circular member.

A material discharge regulating gate for a rotating material processing drum, comprising:

• a vertical circular member having a diameter larger than the discharge end of a rotatable drum with which it can be used,
• a sprocket ring around the periphery of the circular member,
• the circular member having a continuous surface with a material discharge opening therein, and
• means for rotatably mounting the circular member adjoining the discharge end of the rotatable drum so that the circular member can rotate independent of the drum rotation, with said means for rotatably mounting the circular member comprising means for suspending the circular member including a chain which meshes with the sprocket and cradles the circular member.

A material discharge regulating gate for a rotating material processing drum, comprising:

• a vertical circular member having a diameter larger than the discharge end of a rotatable drum with which it can be used,
• the circular member having a continuous surface with a material discharge opening therein,
• the discharge opening having a peripheral edge portion which extends radially beyond the drum discharge end to permit material discharged from the drum to flow unimpeded over that edge portion,
• the peripheral edge portion having first and second ends, the discharge opening having an approximately semicircular portion which extends from the first end of the peripheral edge portion, and ends at an approximately straight portion which extends to the second end of the peripheral edge portion, and
• means for rotatably mounting the circular member adjoining the discharge end of the rotatable drum so that the circular member can rotate independent of the drum rotation.

A method of regulating and controlling material flow or discharge from a rotating drum, comprising:

• positioning a vertical circular member at the discharge end of a rotatable drum,
• the circular member having a continuous surface with a material discharge opening therein and also having means for rotatably mounting the circular member adjoining the discharge end of the rotatable drum,
• said circular member being mounted to rotate independently of the drum,
• rotating the drum,
• feeding material to the rotating drum for processing, and
• after processing discharging the material from the rotating drum with controlled flow by rotating the circular member independent of drum rotation to position the opening at a stationary location to effect controlled flow material discharge from the rotating drum through the opening in the circular member.

A method of regulating and controlling discharge of long logs from a rotating barking drum comprising:

• positioning a vertical circular member at the discharge end of a rotatable barking drum,
• the circular member having a continuous surface with a material discharge opening therein, and also having means for rotatably mounting the circular member adjoining the discharge end of the rotatable drum so that the circular member rotates independently of the drum,
• the discharge opening in the circular member having a peripheral edge portion with first and second ends which extends radially beyond the drum discharge end to permit material discharged from the drum to flow unimpeded over that edge portion, and the discharge opening has an approximately semicircular portion which extends from the first end of the peripheral edge portion and ends at an approximately straight portion which extends to the second end of the peripheral edge portion,
• rotating the barking drum,
• feeding long logs, having a length greater than the diameter of the drum, into the rotating drum,
• rotating the circular member to place the discharge opening therein in position for debarked log discharge through the opening at a desired controlled flow and holding the opening at such position during further log debarking.