Air cooled rotary kiln feed end dam

In a rotary kiln comprised of a refractory lined inclined generally horizontal rotating cylinder having a discharge end and a feed end, wherein said feed end includes a refractory lined dam section of reduced diameter which extends into a stationary feed end housing and which prevents material fed to said feed end from backing up into said feed end housing, wherein a sealing mechanism is provided between said feed end dam section and said feed end housing, and wherein said feed end includes an annulus between said dam section and said sealing mechanism, the improvement wherein:

• (a) said feed end section comprises an extension member extending from said rotating cylinder first forming said dam section and then extending back over the outside of said dam section to form said annulus, said dam section and at least a part of said extension member extending back over said dam section forming said annulus being refractory lined;
• (b) cooling means comprising forced air means, an air distribution ring and a plurality of nozzles directed into said annulus are provided;
• (c) a plurality of support baffles within said annulus are provided, said support baffles extending inwardly from the outer portion of said annulus;
• and
• (d) flow passage means at the inner portion of said baffles are provided.