Device for heat treatment of bulk materials

A mechanism for cooling bulk materials such as hot cement clinker emerging from a calcining furnace including a materials transfer device for receiving a hot discharge from a furnace, the cooling mechanism comprising in combination:

• a first cooling section having an immobile stepped grate inclined relative to the horizontal having a receiving end for receiving hot material from a transfer device with the materials passing over the stepped grate to a discharge for supporting said bulk material such that it has a slope surface at a first angle relative to the horizontal;
• a second cooling section having a sliding grate and having a receiving end positioned to receive material from the discharge end of the stepped grate and having a discharge end so that the material moves from the receiving end to the discharge end said second cooling section arranged so as to support said bulk material such that it has a surface at a second angle relative to the horizontal less than said first angle;
• a third cooling section having an immobile inclined stepped grate having a receiving end positioned to receive material from the discharge end of the sliding grate with the material moving to a discharge end for supporting said bulk material such that it has a slope surface at a third angle to horizontal greater than said second angle;
• and a fourth cooling section having a sliding grate with a receiving end and a discharge end with the receiving end positioned to receive material from the discharge end of said third cooling section, said fourth cooling section arranged to support said bulk material such that it has a surface at a fourth angle relative to the horizontal less than said third angle.