Grinding Mill Lifter Bar Elastomer Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lifter bars in grinding mills experience significant stress and strain, leading to bending and distortion, which reduces their effectiveness due to direct impact from grinding media and abrasion, resulting in reduced performance over time.
Innovation Solution
A lifter bar design featuring an elongate structural support with transverse structural plates surrounded by an elastomer enclosure and protective plates, which absorbs the impact of the grinding medium, reducing direct contact and stress on the structural plates, thereby minimizing bending and torsional effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If lifter bars use structural plates for strength and rigidity, then the structural strength is improved, but the plates are directly impacted by grinding medium causing wear and bending
Solution Approach 1:
An elastomeric material is introduced as an intermediary between the structural plates and the grinding medium. The elastomeric enclosure surrounds the structural plates and absorbs the impact of grinding balls, preventing direct contact between the hard structural plates and the impacting grinding medium while allowing the plates to maintain their load-bearing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifter bar employs a composite structure combining rigid structural plates for strength with flexible elastomeric material for impact absorption. This composite design allows the structural plates to provide necessary rigidity and load support while the elastomeric portion handles the abrasive and impacting environment, reducing wear on the metallic components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If lifter bars are made with rigid structural supports, then the structural stability is improved, but the bars experience bending and distortion under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the lifter bar by incorporating elastomeric material that can deform elastically under load. This allows the structure to absorb stress through controlled deformation of the elastomeric portion while the structural plates maintain their geometric integrity and prevent excessive bending or distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifter bar is segmented into distinct functional zones: rigid structural plates for load bearing and stability, and flexible elastomeric sections for impact absorption and stress relief. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its performance for its specific function, maintaining overall structural stability while accommodating dynamic loads.
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 design enhances the durability and effectiveness of lifter bars by reducing wear and stress, leading to improved performance and extended lifespan by protecting the structural plates from direct impact and abrasion.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomer enclosure surrounding the plurality of structural plates and at least partially surrounding the elongate structural support, to prevent the structural plates from being directly impacted by a grinding medium
Data Source
AI summary
A lifter bar for a grinding mill includes an elongate structural support defining a longitudinal axis and extending from (i) a first end transverse to the longitudinal axis to (ii) a second end transverse to the longitudinal axis; a plurality of structural plates extending along the longitudinal axis in spaced relation, where each structural plate is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and defines opposed edges. The lifter bar may further include at least two protective plate portions, each protective plate portion being mounted over one set of the opposed edges.