Basket Mill Bypass Flow Path for High-Viscosity Mixing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional basket mills experience inadequate mixing of materials and prolonged processing times, especially when grinding high-viscosity materials, leading to quality issues.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a bypass flow path with a second conveyor device, utilizing pump impellers to generate additional material flow parallel to the grinding chamber, enhances mixing and circulation within the grinding container, and the incorporation of flow installations and a cooling device to improve turbulence and cooling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If material flows only through the grinding chamber, then grinding function is achieved, but mixing efficiency is insufficient and processing time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidmixing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flow path is segmented into two parallel paths: one through the grinding chamber and another through the bypass flow path. This segmentation allows material to be divided into multiple streams, with one stream undergoing grinding while another stream circulates to enhance mixing, thereby resolving the contradiction between grinding function and mixing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass flow path acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates additional circulation and mixing of the material without interfering with the primary grinding function. This intermediary path enables enhanced mixing efficiency while maintaining the original grinding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional basket mill structure is used, then device complexity is low, but mixing of high-viscosity material is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device structure is segmented by adding a bypass flow path with a second conveyor device, creating a dual-path system. This segmentation enables enhanced mixing capability for high-viscosity materials while maintaining relative structural simplicity through modular addition rather than complete redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If grinding speed is increased, then productivity improves, but heat input to material increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding speedVSAvoidheat input
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The material flow is segmented into parallel paths, allowing continuous circulation and cooling through the bypass path while maintaining high-speed grinding in the grinding chamber. This segmentation enables heat dissipation through the circulating stream, permitting higher grinding speeds without excessive heat accumulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass flow path enables continuous circulation of material through the grinding pot, providing ongoing cooling and heat dissipation. This continuous action allows sustained high-speed grinding by constantly removing heat from the system, preventing temperature buildup that would limit grinding speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

This configuration significantly reduces processing time for high-viscosity materials, improves mixing efficiency, and increases grinding speed while maintaining effective cooling and preventing heat input.

Implementation Method 1

the first conveying device is formed by a first pump impeller. The conveyance of the material to be ground to generate the flow through the grinding chamber is thus effected by a rotary drive of the first pump impeller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

incorporation of flow installations and a cooling device to improve turbulence and cooling efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3384990B1Milling arrangement for a basket mill and basket mill
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 VOLLRATH GMBH
  • EP3384990B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3384990B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a grinding mechanism (5) for a basket mill (1) with a grinding pot (9) having a grinding chamber (11) and grinding balls arranged in the grinding chamber (11), wherein the grinding chamber (11) has a grinding chamber inlet (13) and a grinding chamber outlet (15) for the material to be ground and is permeable to flow through the material to be ground, and with a first conveying device which cooperates with the grinding chamber (11) to generate a flow of material to be ground through the grinding chamber (11), wherein the grinding pot (9) has a bypass flow path (21) which is permeable to flow through the material to be ground, bypassing the grinding chamber (11), and wherein a second conveying device cooperates with the bypass flow path (21) to generate the flow of material to be ground through the bypass flow path (21).