Rotary separating and extracting devices

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG.
1, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a rotatable generally cylindrical washer vessel 10.
As shown, it is mounted at an incline to the horizontal, in practice about 5.
degree.
-18.
degree.
and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, using suitable driving means not shown.
At its lower end 11, the washer vessel is rotatably supported on ring bearing 12 and at its upper end on ring bearing 13.
The lower end 11 of the vessel 10 is provided with an annular end plate 14.
It has two lower compartments, the first, lowermost 15 of which is bounded at its lower extremity by annular end plate 14, and the second, upper of which 16 is bounded by a second annular plate 17 at its lower end, common with lowermost compartment 15, and at its upper end by third annular plate 18.
The lowermost compartment 15 is provided with an exit pipe 19, through which liquid solution deposited in compartment 15 can be led off.
Second compartment 16 is provided with a scoop device 20 secured to the inner surface of the cylindrical vessel wall.
Upwardly of the second compartment 16, and bounded by annular plate 18 at its lower end, the washer vessel 10 has a main chamber 21.
The main chamber 21 has disposed therein, rigidly affixed to the internal cylindrical wall, an open centered helical ribbon 22 of substantially constant helical pitch.
The pitches of the open helix 22 effectively divide the main chamber 21 into a plurality of successive upwardly disposed zones.
The radially outer portions of the helix 22 are apertured, as described in more detail below.
A tar sands introduction means is provided at the lower end 11 of the washer vessel 10.
This introduction means comprises a hopper 23, into which bituminous tar sand is fed by means of a conveyor 24 from storage.
Whilst in hopper 23, the tar sand is wet with small amounts of solvent, by solvent inlet nozzle 23a.
A pair of crushing rollers 25, 26 with radial crushing teeth are disposed at the bottom exit from the hopper 23, through which the wetted tar sand can leave the hopper 23 and drop into closed inlet conduit 27