Adjustable Rotor Fingers for Agitator Ball Mill Screen Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agitator ball mill separation systems face issues with clogging due to inadequate cleaning mechanisms, where grinding media can stick to the separating screen, leading to reduced efficiency and increased wear, especially with abrasive materials.

Innovation Solution

A separating device with a classifying rotor featuring a support plate and attachments that can be fixed in different positions to adjust the radial distance from the screen unit, influencing the flow behavior and preventing clogging by creating targeted currents and suction effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the radial distance between the separating screen and rotor fingers is increased, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the device complexity increases due to adjustable mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectVSAvoidadjustable mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor fingers are made adjustable in their radial position relative to the separating screen, allowing the distance to be dynamically changed based on operational requirements. This enables optimization of the cleaning effect by positioning fingers closer to the screen when needed, while avoiding excessive distance that would reduce cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The radial distance parameter between the rotor fingers and separating screen can be varied to optimize performance. By changing this geometric parameter, the system adapts to different operating conditions, product types, and grinding media sizes, thereby improving the cleaning effect without requiring a completely different device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the radial distance between the separating screen and rotor fingers is decreased, then the device complexity is reduced, but clogging occurs due to insufficient cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed structureVSAvoidclogging prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor fingers are made adjustable in their radial position relative to the separating screen, allowing the distance to be dynamically changed based on operational requirements. This enables optimization of the cleaning effect by positioning fingers closer to the screen when needed, while avoiding excessive distance that would reduce cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The radial distance parameter between the rotor fingers and separating screen can be varied to optimize performance. By changing this geometric parameter, the system adapts to different operating conditions, product types, and grinding media sizes, thereby improving the cleaning effect without requiring a completely different device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If fixed rotor fingers are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different products and grinding media is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixed structureVSAvoidadjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor fingers are made adjustable in their radial position relative to the separating screen, allowing the distance to be dynamically changed based on operational requirements. This enables optimization of the cleaning effect by positioning fingers closer to the screen when needed, while avoiding excessive distance that would reduce cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The radial distance parameter between the rotor fingers and separating screen can be varied to optimize performance. By changing this geometric parameter, the system adapts to different operating conditions, product types, and grinding media sizes, thereby improving the cleaning effect without requiring a completely different device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable attachments are used, then adaptability to different products and grinding media is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidadjustable mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor fingers are made adjustable in their radial position relative to the separating screen, allowing the distance to be dynamically changed based on operational requirements. This enables optimization of the cleaning effect by positioning fingers closer to the screen when needed, while avoiding excessive distance that would reduce cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The radial distance parameter between the rotor fingers and separating screen can be varied to optimize performance. By changing this geometric parameter, the system adapts to different operating conditions, product types, and grinding media sizes, thereby improving the cleaning effect without requiring a completely different device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The adjustable attachments enhance the classification effect, preventing grinding media from sticking to the screen, reducing clogging, and minimizing wear on the separating screen, thereby improving the efficiency and longevity of the separation process.

Implementation Method 1

The rotating movement of the rotor fingers forming the cage around the separating screen creates currents and forces that prevent the grinding media and product that cannot pass through the screen from sticking to the separating screen and/or clogging it.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the separating screen meshes or gaps are larger than the grinding media used. Here, the grinding media are separated from the product flow purely by centrifugal forces.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3331647B1Separator, agitator ball mill and method of classifying of product mixtures
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 NETZSCH FEINMAHL TECHNIK GMBH
  • EP3331647B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3331647B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP3331647B1 patent drawingFigure 9~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a separating device for classifying product mixtures consisting of at least two different components. The separating device comprises a shaft, a stationary screen unit and at least one classifying rotor. At least particles of the at least one component of the product mixture can pass through the screen unit up to a determined diameter. The classifying rotor comprises a support plate mounted on the shaft in a non-rotational manner, as well as one or more attachments that are mechanically coupled to the support plate. The attachments influence a flow behavior of the product mixture in the region of the screen unit. The one or more attachments can be fixed in different positions on the support plate relative to the rotating shaft such that, depending on the respective positions, different flow behaviors of the product mixture can be achieved in the region of the screen unit. The invention also relates to an agitator bead mil having a separating device and a method for classifying product mixtures by means of a separating device.