Grinding Mill Liner Segmented Wear Member Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The blades of vertical grinding mills are prone to wear due to their exposed nature, making replacement challenging due to their size and weight, and existing solutions do not efficiently address the need for targeted wear management.

Innovation Solution

A liner element with primary and secondary mounting portions that allow for the replacement of the liner and wear members separately, featuring a design with elongate apertures, sockets, and protrusions for secure and accessible mounting of wear members at high-wear areas, facilitating efficient maintenance without removing the entire liner.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire liner is replaced when wear members are worn, then the wear protection is restored, but the maintenance time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear protectionVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The liner system is segmented into a liner body and separate wear members. The wear members are detachably mounted to the liner at high-wear locations, allowing them to be replaced independently without replacing the entire liner. This segmentation enables targeted replacement of only the worn components, significantly reducing maintenance time and cost while maintaining wear protection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the wear members are permanently fixed to the liner, then the mounting is secure, but the wear members cannot be replaced independently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidwear member replaceability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system transitions from a permanent fixed connection to a dynamic detachable connection. Secondary mounting portions with features like protrusions, sockets, welding interfaces, or mechanical fasteners enable the wear members to be securely mounted during operation but easily detached when wear occurs. This dynamic mounting approach maintains mounting security while enabling independent replacement of wear members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the liner is designed as a single integrated piece, then the structure is simple, but the maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliner structureVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The liner system is divided into a liner body and separate wear members with distinct functions. The liner body provides structural support and mounting features, while the wear members provide abrasion and impact resistance at high-wear locations. This functional segmentation simplifies maintenance by allowing independent replacement of wear members without handling the entire liner assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of substance

If wear members are placed only at critical locations, then the material usage is optimized, but the coverage of high-wear areas may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoidwear coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liner system applies local quality by placing wear members with enhanced wear resistance properties specifically at high-wear locations such as peripheral edges and protruding portions. The wear members are strategically positioned based on wear pattern analysis, providing targeted protection where it is most needed while using material efficiently. This localized approach ensures adequate coverage of high-wear areas without unnecessary material usage in low-wear regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20240040968A1Grinding mill liner
Publication Date: 2024.02.08 BRADKEN RESOURCES
  • US20240040968A1 patent drawing
  • US20240040968A1 patent drawing
  • US20240040968A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A liner element for lining a vertical grinding mill agitator including one or more primary mounting portions configured to releasably mount the liner to a shaft of the agitator; and one or more secondary mounting portions configured to releasably mount one or more wear members to the liner. A liner segment including the liner element and at least one wear member is also disclosed.