Mill Liner Bolt Guide Assembly for Autonomous Shell Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for mounting and removing liner elements in mills require trained personnel and are inefficient, as they rely on manual handling and customized jigs, limiting the autonomy of mill reline machines.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising fastening bolts and liner interface guide elements that allow mill reline machines to autonomously mount and remove liner elements by using the bolt heads as lifting portions and guide elements to penetrate mill shell through-holes, eliminating the need for manual intervention and custom jigs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional lifting techniques are used with personnel inside the mill, then liner elements can be securely mounted and removed, but personnel safety risks increase and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The liner element is designed with self-contained lifting functionality through integrated lifting points that engage directly with the mill reline machine grapple. The system enables unassisted self-service mounting and removal operations, eliminating the need for personnel to manually handle liners inside the mill while maintaining secure attachment through the grapple-lifting point interface
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting function is extracted from manual personnel operations and transferred to an automated mechanical interface. The lifting points are designed to be engaged by the mill reline machine grapple, removing the need for human intervention in the lifting and positioning process, thereby increasing automation while maintaining reliability
2Extent of automation
If dedicated lifting points are provided on liner elements, then automated grapple engagement becomes possible, but the lifting points are destroyed during mill operation
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting function is segmented into a separate, replaceable component (the lifting point assembly) that can be independently replaced when worn or damaged. This allows the main liner element to retain its lifting capability without the entire liner being compromised, enabling automated grapple engagement while managing the wear issue through modular replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting points are designed as consumable components that are replaced rather than repaired when destroyed during mill operation. Spent liners with damaged lifting points are removed and replaced with new liners having fresh lifting points, maintaining automated engagement capability throughout the relining process without requiring durable permanent lifting points
3Ease of operation
If spent liners are knocked-in and land on the mill charge, then removal becomes possible, but material contamination risk increases and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mill reline machine grapple acts as an intermediary tool that directly engages with the lifting points on spent liners for controlled removal. This eliminates the need to knock liners into the mill charge and use traditional lifting techniques, preventing material contamination while simplifying the removal operation through direct mechanical engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting points on spent liners enable self-service removal by the automated grapple system. The grapple engages with the lifting points to lift and remove spent liners directly without requiring personnel to knock them loose or use additional handling equipment, reducing operational complexity and preventing contamination
4Manufacturing precision
If customised reline jigs are used for mounting, then precise positioning is achieved, but device complexity increases and setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting points serve multiple functions: they enable automated grapple engagement for lifting, provide positioning reference features during mounting, and eliminate the need for separate positioning jigs. This multi-functionality achieves precise liner positioning while reducing device complexity by integrating positioning capabilities into the lifting mechanism itself
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is merged with the lifting function in the lifting point design. The lifting points incorporate geometric features that guide and position the liner element during mounting while simultaneously serving as engagement points for the grapple, eliminating the need for separate positioning jigs and reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for mounting a liner element to a mill shell of a mill. The system includes one or more fastening bolts, and one or more associated liner interface guide elements each having a locking portion having a cross-sectional dimension larger than a cross-sectional dimension of a bolt body of the fastening bolts. Each fastening bolt and an associated liner interface guide element are structured and arranged to be attached to each other such that, when inserted into the liner element through-hole, the liner interface guide element, by means of the locking portion, locks the fastening bolt to the liner element and protrudes out from the back side thereof to define a guide portion. The guid portion is arranged to penetrate into an associated mill shell through-hole thereby guiding the liner element into a mounting position at which the liner element is in abutment with the mill shell.