Coal conveying system

Claim 1

For use in conjunction with a coal burning furnace which produces heated exhaust gases upon combustion of the coal, an apparatus for moving coal from a coal storage area to said furnace comprising: conveyor means for transporting coal from said storage area to an elevated position; coal drying means having a tubular and cylindrical housing with a hollow interior for transporting coal downwardly through the interior of said housing in a first axial direction from said elevated position to said furnace for its combination, said coal drying means including a spiral member extending through the interior and substantially along the entire axial length of said housing, said spiral member being secured to said housing; means for rotating said spiral member; and fluid conduit means for communicating hot gases produced by the combustion of the coal in the furnace from said furnace through the interior of said housing in an axial direction opposite from said first axial direction whereby said hot gases contact and both heat and dry the coal being transported through said housing, said fluid conduit means comprising a tube extending coaxially through the interior of said housing and being secured to said spiral member for rotation therewith, said tube having a plurality of radial ports formed along its length and within the interior of said housing to expel said hot gases from the interior of said tube and into the interior of said housing.