Conditioning drum for use in hot water separation of bitumen from mined tar sands

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Abstract of the Disclosure, A rotating drum type muller is described for initial conditioning of mined tar sands by the hot water method for separation of bitumen from the sands wherein ablation of mined tar sand lumps into pulp is effected through the addition of hot water, steam and caustic. This conditioning drum comprises a horizontally disposed cylindrical drum of a length to diameter ratio of about 1:1 or less, rotatable around its longitudinal axis and having axial openings at its inlet end for introduction of mined tar sand lumps; water and caustic and at its outlet end for rejection of oversize and discharge of mulled tar sands pulp said axial opening at its outlet, end being …