stationary hollow cylindrical axle 30 is an outlet conduit 32 the outlet conduit 32 is disposed at an obtuse angle preferably between about 135 u00b0 and about 150 u00b0 the stationary hollow cylindrical axle 30 has an opening at the bottom 34 and the top 36 the inlet conduit 28 communicates with the bottom opening in the axle 34 the outlet conduit 32 communicates with the top opening in the axle 36 a rotatable hollow cylindrical shaft 38 snugly fits around the stationary axle 30 the shaft 38 is connected to a drive wheel 42 which is driven by any convenient means such as a motor the shaft 38 has three perforated hollow spokes 40 set approximately equidistant apart from each other the spokes 40 are closed at their outer ends and open at their inner ends which connect to the shaft 38 the level of the liquid bath 12 is maintained in the split hub wheel retort 10 by any convenient means such as by a level control not shown the liquid bath 12 is maintained at such a level such that during one full rotation of the shaft 38 all three spokes 40 come in contact with the liquid bath 12 the feeding of crushed raw shale 8 into the split hub wheel retort 10 is shown in detail in fig2 crushed raw shale 8 is directed to inlet chamber 44 crushed raw shale 8 is fed into inlet conduit 28 by auger feeder 26 when any one of the inner ends of the three spokes 40 aligns with the bottom opening in the axle 34 which.