A ball mill that enables material feeding and discharging without shutting down

Abstract

This utility model discloses a ball mill that allows material feeding and discharging without stopping the machine. It includes a drum driven by a motor and its reducer, with a main feed inlet on the side of the drum and a control valve thereon; at least one auxiliary feed inlet on the end face of the drum; a fixed outer tube; and an inner tube installed at the center of the drum's end face and rotating synchronously with the drum. The inner tube contains a centrally located main feed channel and peripheral auxiliary feed channels arranged side-by-side. The inner end of the main feed channel is connected to the drum's inner cavity via a main feed guide pipe and a main feed inlet, while the outer end of the main feed channel is connected to the outer tube along the inner tube's axial direction via a first rotary joint. The inner end of the auxiliary feed channels is connected to the drum's inner cavity via an auxiliary feed guide pipe and an auxiliary feed inlet, while the outer end of the auxiliary feed channels is connected to an auxiliary feed inlet / outlet pipe along the inner tube's radial direction via a second rotary joint. This design ensures smooth feeding and discharging of both main and auxiliary materials in the drum without stopping the machine; prevents material leakage during high-speed drum rotation; and improves the ball mill's applicability and production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a ball mill. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, Chinese invention patent document CN 111420762A, published on July 17, 2020, discloses "an automatic feeding and discharging ball mill." This ball mill is equipped with an automatic control mechanism, an automatic feeding mechanism, and an automatic discharging mechanism, achieving automatic material loading and unloading. However, during the operation of the ball mill, the feeding and discharging process still has many inconveniences. Generally, the ball mill needs to be stopped when feeding or discharging the material being milled (hereinafter referred to as the main material) or auxiliary materials such as water or gas (e.g., nitrogen or other milling atmospheres) (hereinafter referred to as auxiliary materials). This not only reduces production efficiency, but the frequent start-ups and shutdowns also cause additional wear and tear on the equipment, increasing maintenance costs and failure rates. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the aforementioned drawbacks, the technical problem this invention aims to solve is to provide a ball mill that ensures smooth feeding and discharging of main and auxiliary materials without stopping the mill during drum rotation. The technical solution adopted by this invention is a ball mill that enables material feeding and discharging without stopping the mill, comprising a drum driven by a motor and its reducer; a main material inlet with a control valve is provided on the side of the drum; at least one auxiliary material inlet is provided on the end face of the drum; and a fixed outer tube and an inner tube installed at the center of the drum end face and rotating synchronously with the drum.

[0004] The inner tube contains a central main material channel and an outer auxiliary material channel arranged in parallel.

[0005] The inner end of the main material channel is connected to the inner cavity of the drum in sequence through the main material guide tube and the main material port, and the outer end of the main material channel is connected to the outer tube along the inner tube axis through the first rotary joint;

[0006] The inner end of the auxiliary material channel is connected to the inner cavity of the roller in sequence through the auxiliary material conduit and the auxiliary material port, and the outer end of the auxiliary material channel is connected to the auxiliary material inlet and outlet pipes radially along the inner tube through the second rotary joint.

[0007] The beneficial effects of this utility model are that, during the rotation of the drum, the smooth inflow and outflow of main and auxiliary materials in the drum can be ensured without stopping the machine; the installation of a rotary joint ensures that materials will not leak during the high-speed rotation of the drum; at the same time, the design of this inflow and outflow structure has good flexibility and can be set at any one or both ends of the ball mill drum, breaking the limitation of fixed inflow and outflow positions in traditional ball mills. In actual production, users can freely choose the most suitable inflow and outflow positions according to actual needs such as site layout and process flow, which greatly improves the applicability and production efficiency of the ball mill.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first rotary joint consists of a connecting pipe and an outer sleeve. The inner and outer pipes are axially connected via the connecting pipe, and the end of the outer pipe is fitted inside the outer sleeve. A first rotary sealing assembly is provided on the mating surface between the outer pipe and the outer sleeve. The second rotary joint is fitted onto the outer wall of the inner pipe, and a radial through hole is provided on the outer wall of the inner pipe, connecting to the auxiliary material channel. The second rotary joint has an interface for the auxiliary material inlet / outlet pipe corresponding to the radial through hole, and a second rotary sealing assembly is provided on the mating surface between the second rotary joint and the inner pipe. This improves the reliability of material rotation in and out of the ball mill and ensures the flexibility of the feeding and discharging structure.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first rotary sealing assembly consists of packing, a mechanical seal, and oil seal A, arranged sequentially from the outside in; the second rotary sealing assembly consists of an O-ring, oil seal B, and oil seal C, with the O-ring and oil seal B located inside the radial through hole, and oil seal C located outside the radial through hole. This ensures that material does not leak during the high-speed rotation of the drum.

[0010] In one embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary material channels are evenly distributed around the main material channel in the inner tube.

[0011] In one embodiment, a distribution coil is fitted onto the outer wall of the drum. This distribution coil is electrically connected to a 24V power supply via a movable conductive element, which supplies power to the control valve. The movable conductive element reciprocates towards the distribution coil under the action of a driving component. When the ball mill needs to perform feeding or discharging operations, the movable conductive element moves towards the distribution coil and contacts it, providing a safe 24V voltage to the control valve, thus enabling power supply and control of the feeding and discharging valves. When feeding or discharging is not required, the movable conductive element separates from the distribution coil, automatically cutting off the power supply and avoiding unnecessary power consumption, achieving the goal of safety and energy saving. This power supply method, closely linked to the feeding and discharging system, not only achieves automated control but also significantly improves energy utilization efficiency.

[0012] In one implementation, flow meters are installed in the inlet and outlet pipelines of the main material. The flow meters can monitor the flow rate of the main material in real time, providing operators with accurate data support so that they can adjust the feed or discharge in a timely manner according to production needs.

[0013] Of course, any product implementing this utility model does not necessarily need to achieve all of the advantages described above at the same time.

[0014] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," "specific example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0015] It should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0016] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0017] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0018] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0019] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a ball mill drum.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a side view of the ball mill drum structure.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a top view of the ball mill drum structure;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the ball mill (including partial cross-section AA);

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the first and second rotary joints (including partial cross-sections);

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the first and second rotary joints.

[0026] Attached image annotations:

[0027] 1. Drum 1, motor 101, reducer 102, material inlet 103, filter element 104, control valve 105, auxiliary material inlet 106;

[0028] 2. Outer pipe, 201. Main valve, 202. Inlet, 203. Inlet, 204. Inspection port, 205.

[0029] Inner tube 3, main material channel 301, auxiliary material channel 302, main material conduit 303, auxiliary material conduit 304, radial through hole 305;

[0030] First rotary joint 4, butt joint 401, outer sleeve 402, packing 403, mechanical seal 404, oil seal A405;

[0031] Second rotary joint 5, interface 501, O-ring 502, oil seal B503, oil seal C504;

[0032] 6. Distribution coil; 7. Movable conductor; 8. Flow meter; 9. Connecting flange. Detailed Implementation

[0033] See appendix Figure 1-6 This describes a specific structure of the present invention. The ball mill, which enables material feeding and discharging without stopping the machine, includes a drum 1 driven by a motor 101 and its reducer 102. Two main feed inlets 103 are located on the side of the drum 1. In this example, one main feed inlet 103 is equipped with a filter element 104 for discharge; the main material after ball milling can flow out through the filter element 104. The other main feed inlet 103 is used for feeding. Both main feed inlets 103 are equipped with control valves 105 to open / close the corresponding main feed inlet 103 as needed for the main material to enter or exit. Two auxiliary feed inlets 106 are located on the end face of the drum 1. In this example, the auxiliary material mainly refers to gas (such as nitrogen). In some embodiments, it can also be water.

[0034] The ball mill also includes a stationary outer tube 2 and an inner tube 3 that is installed at the center of the end face of the drum 1 and rotates synchronously with the drum 1.

[0035] The outer end of the outer pipe 2 is connected to the main valve 201, water inlet 202, feed inlet 203, inspection port 204, discharge port 205, etc.

[0036] The inner tube 3 is provided with a main material channel 301 (as shown by arrow M) and an auxiliary material channel 302 (as shown by arrow N) arranged in parallel. In the example, the main material channel 301 is the axial cavity in the center of the inner tube 3, and the auxiliary material channel 302 is located in the outer wall of the inner tube 3. In the example, two auxiliary material channels 302 are evenly distributed around the main material channel 301 in the inner tube 3.

[0037] The inner end of the main material channel 301 (with the side closest to the end face of the roller 1 as the inner end, the same below) is connected to the inner cavity of the roller 1 in sequence through the main material conduit 303 and the main material port 103. The outer end of the main material channel 301 (i.e. the port of the inner tube 3 along the axial cavity) is connected to the outer tube 2 along the axial direction of the inner tube 1 through the first rotary joint 4.

[0038] In the example, the first rotary joint 4 consists of a connecting pipe 401 and an outer sleeve 402. The outer end of the inner tube 3 and the inner end of the outer tube 4 are axially connected through the connecting pipe 401. The inner end of the outer tube 2 is fitted inside the outer sleeve 402. A first rotary sealing assembly is provided on the mating surface of the outer tube 2 and the outer sleeve 402. In the example, the first rotary sealing assembly consists of a packing 403, a mechanical seal 404, and an oil seal A405 from the outside to the inside.

[0039] The inner end of the auxiliary material channel 301 is connected to the inner cavity of the roller 1 through the auxiliary material conduit 304 and the auxiliary material port 106 in sequence. The outer end of the auxiliary material channel 301 is connected to the auxiliary material inlet and outlet pipe (not shown in the figure) through the second rotary joint 5 along the radial direction of the inner tube 3.

[0040] In the example, the second rotary joint 5 is fitted onto the outer wall of the inner tube 3. The outer wall of the inner tube 3 has a radial through hole 305, which connects to the end of the auxiliary material channel 302. The second rotary joint 5 has an interface 501 corresponding to the radial through hole 305, which connects to the auxiliary material inlet / outlet pipe. A second rotary sealing assembly is provided on the mating surface between the second rotary joint 5 and the inner tube 3. The second rotary sealing assembly consists of an O-ring 502, an oil seal B503, and an oil seal C504. The O-ring 502 and oil seal B503 are located inside the radial through hole 305, and the oil seal C504 is located outside the radial through hole 305.

[0041] Rotary joints are generally used for conveying pure liquids (such as water and oil). However, the main feed material in ball mills is a mixture of particles and liquid, which has poorer flowability compared to pure liquids. Furthermore, the wear of the seals by the particles affects the seal life. In this example, based on the rotary joint structure, a corresponding rotary seal structure is organically combined to better adapt to the characteristics of the ball mill feed material and the pressure distribution of the main and auxiliary materials in the drum. This ensures the passage of the main feed material through the rotary joint and prevents leakage of both the main and auxiliary materials during the high-speed rotation of the drum, effectively reducing the impact wear of particles on the seals.

[0042] In the example, a distribution ring 6 is fitted onto the outer wall of the roller 1. The distribution ring 6 is electrically connected to a 24V power supply via a movable conductor 7, supplying power to the control valve 105. The movable conductor 7 includes a movable conductive element (not shown in the figure, such as a carbon brush or conductive metal block). Under the action of a driving element (not shown in the figure, such as a cylinder or electric push rod), the movable conductive element reciprocates towards the distribution ring 6. When the ball mill needs to perform feeding or discharging operations, the movable conductive element moves towards the distribution ring 6 and contacts it to conduct electricity, providing a safe 24V voltage to the control valve 105, thus realizing the power supply and control of the feeding and discharging valves. When feeding or discharging is not required, the driving element drives the movable conductive element to separate from the distribution ring 6, automatically cutting off the power supply, avoiding unnecessary power consumption, and achieving the purpose of safety and energy saving. This power supply method, which is closely linked to the feeding and discharging system, not only realizes automated control but also greatly improves energy utilization efficiency.

[0043] In the example, a flow meter 8 is installed on the main material inlet and outlet pipeline of the ball mill—the main material conduit 303. The flow meter 8 can monitor the flow rate of the main material in real time, providing operators with accurate data support so that the feed or discharge can be adjusted in a timely manner according to production needs. For example, the feed or discharge flow can be quickly cut off or opened by controlling valve 105 according to the actual situation, so as to achieve precise control of the feed and discharge, avoid material waste and over-processing, and improve product quality.

[0044] The embodiments of the present invention disclosed above are merely illustrative of the present invention. The embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the present invention to the specific implementations described. Obviously, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and describes these embodiments in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to better explain the principles and practical applications of the present invention, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is limited only to the claims and their full scope and equivalents, and not to the specific embodiments disclosed.

Claims

1. A ball mill that enables material feeding and discharging without shutting down, comprising a drum driven by a motor and its reducer, characterized in that, The roller has a main feed inlet on its side, and the main feed inlet is equipped with a control valve; the roller has at least one auxiliary feed inlet on its end face; it also includes a fixed outer tube and an inner tube installed at the center of the roller end face and rotating synchronously with the roller. The inner tube contains a central main material channel and an outer auxiliary material channel arranged in parallel. The inner end of the main material channel is connected to the inner cavity of the drum in sequence through the main material guide tube and the main material port, and the outer end of the main material channel is connected to the outer tube along the inner tube axis through the first rotary joint; The inner end of the auxiliary material channel is connected to the inner cavity of the roller in sequence through the auxiliary material conduit and the auxiliary material port, and the outer end of the auxiliary material channel is connected to the auxiliary material inlet and outlet pipes radially along the inner tube through the second rotary joint.

2. The ball mill for material feeding and discharging without shutting down as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first rotary joint consists of a connecting tube and an outer sleeve. The inner tube and the outer tube are axially connected through the connecting tube. The end of the outer tube is fitted inside the outer sleeve. The mating surface between the outer tube and the outer sleeve is provided with a first rotary sealing assembly. The second rotary joint is fitted on the outer wall of the inner tube. The outer wall of the inner tube is provided with a radial through hole that connects to the auxiliary material channel. The second rotary joint is provided with an interface for the auxiliary material inlet and outlet pipe corresponding to the radial through hole. The mating surface between the second rotary joint and the inner tube is provided with a second rotary sealing assembly.

3. A ball mill for material feeding and discharging without shutting down as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first rotary sealing assembly consists of packing, mechanical seal and oil seal A from the outside to the inside; the second rotary sealing assembly consists of O-ring, oil seal B and oil seal C, with O-ring and oil seal B located inside the radial through hole and oil seal C located outside the radial through hole.

4. A ball mill for material feeding and discharging without shutting down as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Several auxiliary material channels are evenly distributed around the main material channel in the inner tube.

5. A ball mill for material feeding and discharging without shutting down as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A distribution ring is fitted on the outer wall of the drum. The distribution ring is electrically connected to a 24V power supply through a movable conductive component. The distribution ring supplies power to the control valve. The movable conductive component reciprocates in the direction toward the distribution ring under the action of the driving component.

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