Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6390401
-
Patent Number
6,390,401
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, August 18, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 21, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 241 298
- 241 294
- 241 300
- 241 182
- 241 183
- 241 299
- 241 DIG 30
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A liner assembly for the discharge end of an ore comminuting mill is disclosed. The discharge end is defined by an end wall having a plurality of bolt holes formed therethrough in a predetermined pattern for attaching the liner segments to the inner surface of the end wall. Each liner segment is formed with a plurality of bolt holes capable of being aligned with the bolt holes in the end wall. A locator pin projecting from the mounting surface of the liner segment is sized and configured to project into one of the end wall bolt holes, and it is positioned relative to the bolt holes in the liner segment so that upon such insertion the bolt holes of the liner segment automatically align with those of the end wall.
Description
The invention broadly relates to ore grinding machines and is specifically directed to an improved segmented liner assembly and the individual segments for the discharged end of an ore grinding machine.
Ore grinding machines are commonly used as one step in the process of reducing the size of ore in commercial mining operations. One type of ore grinding machine consists of a large cylindrical drum mounted on bearings for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and driven by a powerful motor through conventional reduction gearing. The cylindrical drum may be of differing diameters depending on the needs of the operation and may reach diameters of 40 feet.
The ends of the drum are substantially closed but respectively define an axial inlet opening and an axial discharge opening. The ore which is to be ground or comminuted is continuously fed into the mill at the inlet end with the product of reduced size continuously emerging from the discharge end.
It is conventional to line the cylindrical drum with liner segments of different configuration and different metallurgical hardness to enable the ore to be comminuted as efficiently as possible while minimizing the wear rate of the individual segments. Commercial mining operations typically operate 24 hours a day, and down time to remove a worn set of liner segments and replace them with new segments is a time consuming process.
The discharge end of the cylindrical drum is typically conical in shape and includes one or more sets of end liner segments that are arranged in a radial pattern relative to the axial discharge opening. In larger mills there may be two or three sets of discharge end segment assemblies which are arranged concentrically relative to the axial discharge opening, with the segments of one assembly aligned radially with the segments of a contiguous assembly.
It is also common to cast the individual segments of the discharge end in a hollow manner so that each defines a large radial trough. With the radial channels of contiguous concentric assemblies aligned radially, comminuted ore may enter the radially extending channels of the discharge end liner assembly and be centrifugally forced radially inward toward and out of the discharge outlet.
As suggested above, the replacement of liner assemblies in the cylindrical drum of an ore grinding machine is a difficult and time consuming task. Each of the individual segments may weight several thousand pounds, and it must be placed in its proper position for mounting. The mounting of liner segments is typically accomplished a plurality of bolts for each segment that extend trough bolt holes in the segment itself and aligned bolt holes in the cylindrical drum. Proper alignment must occur before the bolts can be inserted and fastened.
The problem is even more difficult with regard to the liner segments in the discharge end of the cylindrical drum, particularly where two or three concentric assemblies are mounted. Conventionally, the outermost assembly is installed first followed by the next concentric assembly the individual segments of which may rest on the now installed first assembly. However, it is quite difficult to properly locate the individual segments of the outermost concentric assembly, which is the first step in the process.
Another problem arises with the liner segments in the discharge end of the cylindrical drum. Conventionally, the comminuted ore fragments are allowed to be discharged only after they have been reduced to a predetermined size. This is accomplished with a large grate that forms part of the discharge end of the mill. The grate has openings of a predetermined size, and the ore can be discharged only if it is small enough to pass through these grate openings.
The problem arises from the fact that clearance is designed between the segment mounting bolts and the bolt holes in the liner segment and/or the aligned bolt holes in the cylindrical drum. Clearance is also necessarily designed between the sides of each segment and its adjacent segments. This bolt hole and side-to-side clearance facilitates installation of the liner segments due to their extreme size and weight. In other words, without the clearance it would be extremely difficult to precisely place the segment to gain alignment of the bolt holes while at the same time squeezing the segment end relative to its adjacent segments.
While these clearances facilitate installation, they also create a problem because the segments on the discharge end tend to migrate radially outward due to centrifugal forces created as the drum rotates. As a result, all of the gaps that normally exist between adjacent segments accumulate in a single gap that may itself be larger than the grate opening that sizes the ore fragments. As a consequence, oversized fragments may be discharged from the mill.
This invention is directed to a unique locating device for the discharge and liner assembly, and particularly for the outermost concentric liner assembly of the ore grinding machine. The locating device in the preferred embodiment comprises a pin or boss that is cast on the backside of each liner segment (i.e., the side which faces and mates with the discharge end of the cylindrical drum), and which is disposed to fit into an existing bolt hole in the cylindrical drum. This advantageously makes use of the existing bolt holes in the cylindrical drum without requiring modification.
During installation, the individual segments having locator pins are placed with the locator pin projecting into the locator opening, which effectively aligns all of the bolt holes of a segment with the bolt holes in the cylindrical drum. This saves considerable time and effort in installing these end segments.
Once the outermost concentric liner assembly is installed on the discharge end of the cylindrical drum, the individual segments of the contiguous liner assembly can be mounted. Locator pins may also be used for this purpose, although it is conventional for the contiguous segment to be configured in such a manner that it mates with and becomes radially aligned with the previously mounted segment, thus establishing alignment of the radial troughs through which the comminuted ore passes. If a third concentric assembly is used, it is similarly constructed and mounted in the same manner.
The use of this simple locating device makes the installation procedure much easier for the workmen installing the liner assembly, saving significant time in the installation procedure and thus reducing the down time of the mill. The locating device also serves to retain the liner segments in the initial installation position, thus preventing outward migration due to centrifugal force. This in turn avoids oversize fragments being discharged from the mill.
The specific structure and features of the invention will be more fully appreciated from the specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side elevational view of an ore grinding mill for reducing the size of ore fragments and which utilizes the inventive segmented liner assembly for the mill discharge end;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged perspective view of a liner segment for the discharge end of the ore grinding mill;
FIG. 3
is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the segment liner assembly for the discharge end of the ore grinding mill;
FIG. 4
is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line
4
—
4
of
FIG. 3
; and
FIG. 5
is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line
5
—
5
of FIG.
3
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With initial reference to
FIG. 1
, an ore grinding mill employing the inventive liner assembly is referred to generally by the numeral
11
. Mill
11
includes a hollow cylindrical drum or shell
12
having an inlet end
13
and an outlet end
14
. End wall
13
is formed with a large axially disposed inlet opening (not shown). End wall
14
is also formed within a large axially disposed discharge opening
14
a
(see FIGS.
3
and
4
).
The cylindrical drum
12
is arranged for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis in suitable bearings
15
,
16
by a drive of conventional construction in a housing
17
. A chute
18
communicating with the axial inlet receives ore fragments
19
from a conveyor
21
. The comminuted material leaves the drum
12
through the discharge opening
14
a
and is discharged from mill
11
through an outlet
22
.
Cylindrical drum
12
is made up of a plurality of cylindrical sections
24
-
26
each of which is in turn assembled from a set of cylindrical quadrants by bolts extending through axial flanges. For example, section
24
consists of quadrants
24
a
,
24
c
(one quadrant is not shown) which are secured together circumferentially by a plurality of bolts passing through radially extending, axially aligned flanges
27
,
28
. The cylindrical sections
24
,
25
are secured together axially by a plurality of bolts passing through circumferential flanges
29
,
30
extending radially from the periphery of each side. Cylindrical sections
25
,
26
are secured in an identical manner, as are the end walls
13
,
14
to the cylindrical sections
24
,
26
, respectively.
Each of the cylindrical sections
24
-
26
of drum
12
is formed with a plurality of liner mounting bolt holes
31
which are positioned in a pattern defining axially rows, the rows being spaced equiangularly about the drum, and in circumferential rows which are equidistantly spaced within each of the sections
24
-
26
. End wall
14
also includes a plurality of bolt holes
29
which extend radially outward from discharge opening
14
a
and also lie in concentric circles.
The inner circumferential surface of drum
12
is conventionally formed with a plurality of liner segments
32
of predetermined configuration (see
FIGS. 4 and 5
) which include axially extending lifter bars for lifting ore fragments upward as the drum
12
rotates. At a predetermined point the ore fragments drop from the lifter bars and tumble onto the ore charge at the bottom of the cylindrical drum, impacting the ore fragments in the charge and thus comminuting the ore. The comminution may be assisted by including steel balls or rods to the ore charge.
The inner frustroconical surface of end wall
14
is also covered with liner segments, Because of the substantial diameter of drum
12
, the liner segments are formed into three concentric liner assemblies each of which is defined by a plurality of liner segments as discussed below.
With reference to
FIGS. 2-5
, the outer most concentric liner assembly
33
is made up of a plurality of individual liner segments
36
which are mounted to the end wall
14
in a radial pattern. As best shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, each of the liner segments
56
is formed by inner and outer segments
37
,
38
. Inner segment, which is shown in the perspective view of
FIG. 2
, is formed with a foot portion
41
that rests on a filler block
42
mounted on the inner cylindrical surface of drum
12
at its junction with end wall
14
. Projecting angularly upwardly from the foot portion
41
is a primary or back member
43
that defines a substantially planar mounting surface
43
a
. Surface
43
a
mates with the inner conical surface of end wall
14
. Projecting perpendicularly from the front face of the back member
43
is an elongated central rib
44
. As best shown in
FIG. 5
, a tapered bolt hole
45
is formed through the rib
44
at an upper (or radially inward) position on the rib
44
, and untapered bolt holes
46
are formed in spaced relation therebelow. The bolt holes
45
,
46
are disposed in the rib
44
so that they can be aligned with the bolt holes
32
in the end wall
14
for installation.
With reference to
FIGS. 3-5
, outer segment
38
overlies the entirety of inner segment
37
and is mounted on top of rib
44
. It also comprises a wider elongated rib
47
which is shaped to receive and fit over the rib
44
. Tapered bolt holes
50
are formed through the rib
47
in registration with the untapered bolt holes
46
in rib
44
. Grated side members
48
,
49
project laterally from the rib
47
and are spaced from and in substantially parallel relation to the back member
43
of inner segment
47
. As such, and as best shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, outlet channels
51
are defined on each side of the rib
44
between the members
43
,
48
and
49
. Each of the side members
48
,
49
is formed with a plurality of grate openings
48
a
,
49
a
which permit the entry of comminuted ore fragments that have been reduced or comminuted to a size less than the width of the openings
48
a
,
49
a.
With reference to
FIGS. 2
,
4
and
5
, a locator pin
52
projects from the mounting surface
43
a
of back member
43
in linear alignment with the bolt holes
45
,
46
. In the preferred embodiment, locator pin
52
is circular in cross section and tapers slightly from its base to its extreme end.
With specific reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5
locator pin
52
projects into one of the bolt holes
32
in the wall
14
, and it is positioned so that when it enters the bolt hole
32
and foot portion
41
rests on filler
42
, the bolt holes
45
,
46
of segment
36
are inherently aligned with the bolt holes
32
in end wall
14
. When in this position, tapered head bolts (not shown) such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,393 may be used to mount the inner and outer segments
37
,
38
to the end wall
14
.
As will be appreciated from
FIG. 5
, in the installation of the liner assembly
36
the inner segment
37
is first mounted to end wall
14
by placing the segment in a position where locator pin
52
projects into its associated bolt hole
32
. At this point in time a tapered head bolt may be inserted into the bolt hole
45
and a nut screwed on to the projecting bolt on the outer surface of end wall
14
. Thereafter, the outer segment
38
may be placed over the inner segment
37
and tapered head bolts inserted into the bolt holes
50
, extending through the bolt holes
46
and projecting externally of the end wall
14
where they receive a mounting nut.
With reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, a dip or recess
54
is formed in the upper edge of back member
43
. This serves as a locator for the individual segments
55
of liner assembly
34
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, each of these liner segments
55
is also formed from inner and outer segments
56
,
57
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the lower edge of inner segment
56
is formed with a projection
58
that fits into the recess
54
of the inner segment
37
immediately below. This serves to locate the inner segment
56
so that its bolt holes are aligned with bolt holes in end wall
14
.
As best shown in
FIG. 4
, the liner segments
55
also define radial discharge channels
59
that are disposed in registration with the discharge channels
51
.
Similarly, the inner most concentric liner assembly
35
comprises a plurality of liner segments
61
each of which is formed from an inner segment
62
and an outer segment
63
. The inner segment
62
is formed with a rectangular recess
64
that fits over the radially projecting central rib of the associated inner segment
56
of concentric liner assembly
34
. This serves to locate each of the segments
61
in a proper position relative to the underlying segments
56
. The outer segment
63
fits over the inner segment
62
, and as best shown in
FIG. 4
defines a discharge channel
65
disposed and registration with the discharged channels
59
,
65
. The outlet of discharged channels
65
empty into the discharge outlet
14
a
of the mill
11
.
In operation, and with particular reference to
FIG. 4
, a substantial portion of the ore charge rests at the bottom of cylindrical drum
12
as it rotates. As indicated above, ore fragments from the charge are carried upward the lifter bars of the liner assembly as the drum
12
rotates until gravity causes them to drop onto the main ore charge resulting in comminution of the ore fragments. When the ore fragments are reduced to a size less than the grate openings
48
a
, these fragments pass through the grate
48
and into discharge channel
51
. Because discharge channels
51
,
59
and
65
follow the angular direction of conical end wall
14
, the reduced ore fragments pass upward through the discharge channels by centrifugal force, leaving the ore mill
11
through the discharge opening
14
a.
It will be appreciated that the locator pin
52
on each of the inner segments
37
of the concentric liner assembly
33
enables the segment to be quickly and easily located in its proper position, resulting in automatic alignment of the bolt holes
45
,
46
and
50
with the associated bolt holes
32
and end wall
14
. Once the liner segments
36
are bolted in place, the concentric liner assemblies
34
,
35
may also be quickly and easily placed and bolted to the end wall
14
, saving considerable time in the installation of the liner assemblies and reducing down time of the mill
11
.
The locator pins
52
also prevent radially outward migration of the liner segments
37
, thus avoid the problem of oversized fragments from being discharged from the mill
11
.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of these invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
Claims
- 1. An ore comminuting mill comprising a cylindrical shell that rotates about a predetermined axis of rotation, the shell comprising a discharge end that is substantially closed and defines an axial outlet through which comminuted ore is discharged, the mill further comprising a segmented liner assembly for the discharge end, comprising a plurality of individual liner segments removeably connected to the discharge end through a plurality of aligned bolt holes respectively formed through the cylindrical shell and each liner segment, said bolt holes being arranged in a predetermined pattern, said liner segments being disposed to cover and protect said discharge end, wherein the plurality of liner segments are fixed radially about a circumference of the discharge end, wherein one of the liner segments being an inner liner segment and another one of the liner segments being an outer liner segment, the inner liner segment comprising a locator pin projecting from a mounting surface towards the discharge end and engaged to the discharge end, wherein the locator member prevents radial movement of the liner assembly.
- 2. An ore comminuting mill according to claim 1, wherein the outer segment includes a protruding member that projects towards a recess of a liner segment in the liner assembly when the outer segment is fitted with the liner assembly.
- 3. An ore comminuting mill according to claim 1, wherein the locator pin being sized for insertion into one of the bolt holes in said discharge end and disposed so that, upon insertion, the segments can be positioned with its bolt holes aligned in registration with the holes with said discharge end.
- 4. An ore comminuting mill comprising a cylindrical shell that rotates about a predetermined axis of rotation, the shell comprising a discharge end that is substantially closed and defines an axial outlet through which comminuted ore is discharged, the mill furthers comprising a segmented liner assembly for the discharge end, comprising an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment removeably connected to the discharge end through a plurality of aligned bolt holes respectively formed through the cylindrical shell and each liner segment, said bolt holes being arranged in a predetermined pattern, said inner and outer liner segments being disposed to cover and protect said discharge end, wherein said inner and outer liner segments are fixed radially about a circumference of the discharge end, and wherein the inner liner segment comprising a locator pin projecting from a mounting surface towards the discharge end and engaged to the discharge end, wherein the locator member prevents radial and circumferential movement of the liner assembly.
- 5. An ore comminuting mill according to claim 4, wherein the inner liner segment comprises a recess and the outer segment includes a protruding member that projects towards the inner segment when the outer segment is fitted over the inner segment.
- 6. An ore comminuting mill according to claim 4, wherein the locator pin being sized for insertion into one of the bolt holes in said discharge end and disposed so that, upon insertion into one of the bolt holes in said discharge end, the liner segments can be positioned with its bolt holes aligned in registration with the bolt holes with said discharge end.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4018393 |
Larsen |
Apr 1977 |
A |
5060875 |
McBride |
Oct 1991 |
A |