Device for producing granulate

Apparatus for producing granulate from meltable compounds, comprising

• a stationary inner drum supported at least at one end and having an inner cavity for receiving melted compound, said inner drum having an outer periphery formed with at least one row of downwardly directed first openings communicating with said cavity,
• a rotatable outer drum disposed coaxially on said outer periphery and including second openings which are cyclically aligned with said first openings for enabling melted compound to drip from said apparatus,
• bearing/sealing assemblies disposed at respective ends of said inner drum and each comprising:
• a bell affixed to said inner drum and including an axially extending wall spaced radially outwardly from said inner drum to form a space therebetween,
• a supporting ring disposed in said space and arranged coaxially relative to said inner drum, said supporting ring being operatively connected to said outer drum for rotation therewith,
• anti-friction bearing means disposed within said space and positioned radially outside of said supporting ring, said bearing means including inner and outer bearing rings arranged co-axially with respect to said drum, said outer bearing ring being mounted to said wall, and said inner bearing ring being mounted on said supporting ring for rotation therewith,
• a portion of said space defining an annulus extending circumferentially around said inner drum and communicating with said bearing means, and
• sealing means including axially opposing sealing faces engaging one another to form a seal extending circumferentially around said inner drum at a location disposed radially between said inner drum and said annulus,
• a lower portion of said annulus communicating with a downwardly directed outlet opening for discharging particles that have leaked past said sealing faces to prevent such particles from fouling said bearing means.