Stirred bead grinding mills

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007534-B2
Application number	US-201916516292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2019
Priority date	Jan 26, 2017
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A stirred bead grinding mill includes a substantially cylindrical grinding shell and a central stirring shaft within the grinding shell. The central stirring shaft is provided with axially spaced stirring elements, preferably grinding discs, along the central stirring shaft. A replaceable grinding element is provided that includes an axial support structure arranged to form the outer periphery of the grinding element adapted to fit within the grinding shell, and at least one counter disc arranged to project radially inward from the axial support structure to an extent separating two grinding zones in an axial direction while allowing the central stirring shaft within the grinding shell, wherein at least part of the counter disc and/or the support structure is provided with castellations.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A grinding element, comprising:
an axial support structure arranged to form an outer periphery of the grinding element adapted to fit within a cylindrical grinding shell of a stirred bead grinding mill used in grinding mineral ore particles, and
at least one counter disc arranged to project radially inward from the axial support structure to an extent separating grinding zones within the cylindrical grinding shell in an axial direction while allowing a central stirring shaft to be installed within the cylindrical grinding shell, wherein at least part of the at least one counter disc is provided with a protective castellation configured to capture and create a protective layer or zone of grinding beads against the at least one counter disc and thereby reducing wear.

2. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the grinding element has a cross-section of a hollow cylinder or an arc segment of a hollow cylinder.

3. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the grinding element is dimensioned to be installed side by side with one or more further grinding elements in a radial plane within the grinding shell to form a grinding element assembly with a cross-section of a hollow cylinder.

4. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the grinding element has an axial length that is smaller than the axial length of the cylindrical grinding shell.

5. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the grinding element is dimensioned to be stacked up with one or more further grinding elements in the axial direction within the cylindrical grinding shell to form a grinding element assembly having a desired total axial length.

6. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the at least one counter disc is arranged to project radially inward from the axial support structure at an axial location which is offset from axial locations of axially spaced stirring elements provided along the central stirring shaft.

7. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the axial support structure comprises an axial sidewall defining an outer peripheral surface of the grinding element, and wherein the at least one counter disc is arranged to project radially inward from an inner surface of the axial side wall.

8. The grinding element of claim 7 , wherein the axial support structure further comprises a plurality of spaced wear-protective elements provided along the inner surface of the axial sidewall of the support structure and protruding inwardly from said inner surface.

9. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the grinding element has a cage structure, and wherein the axial support structure comprises a plurality of elongated spaced support members defining the outer periphery of the grinding element, and the at least one counter disc is connected to and arranged to project radially inward from the plurality of elongated spaced support members of the axial support structure.

10. The grinding element of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of elongated spaced support members is arranged to form a skeleton for a lining of a dissimilar material, said lining being arranged to be sacrificed during a grinding operation in order to expose the elongated spaced support members.

11. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the grinding element is a stand-alone element adapted for a loose fit mounting within the cylindrical grinding shell.

12. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the grinding element is connectable to one or more further grinding elements to form a larger stand-alone grinding element assembly adapted for a loose fit mounting within the cylindrical grinding shell.

13. The grinding element of claim 1 , wherein the at least one counter disc has an inner peripheral surface that defines a central annular opening through the at least one counter disc configured for passage of the central stirring shaft.

14. The grinding element of claim 13 , wherein the protective castellation includes:
a plurality of first ribs circumferentially spaced from one another about the central annular opening and projecting upwardly from an upper surface of the at least one counter disc; and
a plurality of second ribs circumferentially spaced from one another about the central annular opening and projecting downwardly from a lower surface of the at least one counter disc.

15. The grinding element of claim 14 , further comprising another protective castellation including a plurality of third ribs circumferentially spaced from one another about the central annular opening and projecting radially inward from the axial support structure.

16. The grinding element of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of third ribs are radially aligned with the corresponding plurality of first ribs.

17. The grinding element of claim 15 , wherein the axial support structure is an annular side wall having a top portion extending upwardly from the at least one counter disc, and a bottom portion extending downwardly from the at least one counter disc.

18. The grinding element of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of third ribs protrude radially inward from the top portion of the annular side wall, the another protective castellation further including a plurality of fourth ribs circumferentially spaced from one another about the central opening and protruding radially inward from the bottom portion of the annular side wall.

19. A grinding element assembly, comprising:
a plurality of grinding elements, each grinding element comprising:
an axial support structure arranged to form an outer periphery of the grinding element adapted to fit within a cylindrical grinding shell of a stirred bead grinding mill used in grinding mineral ore particles, and
at least one counter disc arranged to project radially inward from the axial support structure to an extent separating grinding zones within the cylindrical grinding shell in an axial direction while allowing a central stirring shaft to be installed within the cylindrical grinding shell, wherein at least part of the at least one counter disc is provided with a protective castellation configured to capture and create a protective layer or zone of grinding beads against the at least one counter disc and thereby reducing wear.

20. A stirred bead grinding mill configured for use in grinding mineral ore particles, comprising:
an elongated grinding shell,
a central stirring shaft within the grinding shell, and
at least one grinding element that comprises:
an axial support structure arranged to form an outer periphery of the grinding element adapted to fit within the grinding shell, and
at least one counter disc arranged to project radially inward from the axial support structure to an extent separating grinding zones within the grinding shell in an axial direction while allowing the central stirring shaft to extend within the grinding shell, wherein at least part of the at least one counter disc is provided with a castellation configured to capture and create a protective layer or zone of grinding beads against the at least one counter disc and thereby reducing wear.

Assignees

• Outotec Finland Oy
• Swiss Tower Mills Minerals Ag

Inventors

• Belke Jeff
• Heath Alex
• Jamieson Edward Allan

Classifications

• B02C17/16 Primary

  Mills in which a fixed container houses stirring means tumbling the charge · CPC title

• B02C17/22

  Lining for containers · CPC title

• B02C17/18

  Details · CPC title