Composite Rotor with Detachable Shell for Agitator Mill

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ceramic rotors used in agitator ball mills for grinding active materials are expensive, prone to impact, and have complex design issues due to thermal expansion differences with steel, while plastic or coated metal rotors lack solvent resistance and rigidity, making them unsuitable for many applications.

Innovation Solution

A rotor design featuring a multi-part metallic base structure with detachable non-metallic shell elements made from thermoplastics or elastomers, covering metal surfaces to prevent wear and deformation, combined with ceramic or plastic grinding tools for enhanced solvent resistance and rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ceramic rotors are used, then solvent resistance and rigidity are improved, but manufacturing cost increases and weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolvent resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor combines ceramic grinding tools mounted on a metallic base frame, creating a composite structure that provides both solvent resistance and cost-effectiveness. The ceramic tools are attached to the metal frame through a transition element, allowing the rotor to benefit from the solvent resistance of ceramic while avoiding the high manufacturing cost and weight of a fully ceramic rotor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If ceramic rotors are used, then solvent resistance and rigidity are improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverigidityVSAvoidrotor weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor uses a metallic base frame with ceramic grinding tools mounted thereon, creating a composite structure that provides both solvent resistance and cost-effectiveness. The ceramic tools are attached to the metal frame through a transition element, allowing the rotor to benefit from the solvent resistance of ceramic while avoiding the high manufacturing cost and weight of a fully ceramic rotor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If plastic rotors are used, then manufacturing cost decreases, but solvent resistance and rigidity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidsolvent resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If metal rotors are used, then rigidity is improved, but solvent resistance deteriorates and metal abrasion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverigidityVSAvoidmetal abrasion

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

5Reliability

If ceramic rotors are used, then solvent resistance is improved, but design complexity increases due to thermal expansion differences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolvent resistanceVSAvoiddesign complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is divided into separate components: a metallic base frame, ceramic grinding tools, and transition elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the others, simplifying the overall design by allowing independent selection of materials based on their individual properties rather than requiring compatibility across the entire rotor structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4151314B1Rotor

Publication Date: 2024.02.21 BUHLER AG

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Figure 5a~5b

AI summary

A rotor for a stirred ball mill is provided. The rotor comprises a multi-part metallic base frame, several grinding tools arranged on the base frame, and at least one, preferably several, non-metallic shell elements. The at least one shell element is preferably detachably attachable to the base frame and designed such that the surfaces of the base frame are substantially covered or encased by the shell element. Furthermore, a grinding disc assembly for a rotor, a shell element, and a metallic base frame for a rotor are provided.