Ceramic Mill Grilles for Grinding Body Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ceramic grinding mills face issues with grinding bodies accidentally entering or escaping through loading and unloading openings, leading to imbalanced mass distribution and increased energy consumption, and existing solutions like grilles attached to internal structures complicate maintenance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of loading and unloading grilles with through openings inside the mill, allowing aqueous suspension flow while preventing grinding bodies from entering or exiting, enabling higher filling levels and reduced energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mill is filled to a level lower than the loading and unloading openings to prevent grinding bodies from escaping, then grinding body retention is improved, but mass balance deteriorates and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding body retentionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The loading and unloading openings are segmented from the main hollow body through separate heads (loading head and unloading head), allowing independent control and positioning of these openings relative to the filling level, thus enabling higher filling levels without compromising grinding body retention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grilles act as intermediary elements positioned at the loading and unloading openings, allowing material suspension to pass through while blocking grinding bodies, enabling the system to maintain both high filling levels and effective grinding body retention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If grilles are attached to internal structures to prevent grinding bodies from entering openings, then grinding body retention is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding body retentionVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grilles are segmented as separate, removable components attached to the external surfaces of the loading and unloading heads, rather than being integrated into the internal structure, allowing easy removal and maintenance without disassembling the entire mill

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grilles are designed with dynamic accessibility - they can be easily attached and detached from the loading and unloading heads, transforming from a static internal structure to a dynamically maintainable component, reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining retention functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution effectively retains grinding bodies within the mill, allowing higher filling levels and reducing energy requirements for rotation, while facilitating easier maintenance by preventing accidental escapes and maintaining efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

The two grilles (3, 4), equipped with through openings (31, 41), allow the flow of the aqueous suspension, while they do not allow the passage of the grinding bodies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment through filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

During operation of the mill, the grinding bodies are cyclically dragged upwards by the rotation of the hollow body and fall down once it reaches a position of maximum height

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3542904B1Mill for ceramic materials
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 CERTECH S P A A SOCIO UNICO
  • EP3542904B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3542904B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A mill for grinding a material, comprising: a hollow body (2), rotating around an axis of rotation (X) and equipped with a loading opening (2a), concentric to the axis of rotation (X), and an unloading opening (2b), concentric to the axis of rotation (X). The mill comprises a loading grille (3), arranged inside the hollow body (3) and located in front of the loading opening (2a), having a plurality of through openings (31).