US1717860A - Intermittent-discharge grinding mill - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1929.- R.- H. WARREN 1,717,860

n INTERMITTENT DISCHARGE GRINDING MILL Original Filed Aug. 25, 1925 ATTOR Y Patented `lune 18, 1929.

UNITED I STATES NPATENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. WARREN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; THE FARMERS LOAN AND TRUST COM- IPANY EXECUTOR OF SAID RALPH I-I. WARREN, DECEASEI).

INTERMITTENT-DISCIIARGE GRINDING MILL.

Application med August 25, 1925, serial No. 52,451. Renewed November 7, 192s.

This invention relates to the trituration of v such substances as coal, cement and grain, and an important object of the invention is to pro; vide an improved process for eecting the reduction of coal to an impalpable powder suitable for combustion as a fuel, the process comprising the step of subjecting the coal, preferably in agranular condition, to the triturating action of preferablysmooth rotating surfaces, co-operating thereon in contiguous arv rangement, or so closely adjacent to each other that the pulverulent coal is substantially confined against escape normally; the rocess including also the recurrent Step of e] ectin the impalpable product, yat regular interva s of `vtime, by separating the disks to, such a distance only as to permit such ejection therefrom of the impalpable portion of the coal by centrifugal force. i

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a compact and inexpensive machine for carrying the process into effect for the trituration of coal and the like, and to provide such a 4machine with means, preferably of a magnetic character, such as an electrical solenoid, to produce the required intermittent separation of the metal disks which constitute the preferred form of triturating device, and ,thereby to effect the ejection of the impalpable product, and the progressive advancement of the granular supply, concurrently.

Still another objectof theinvention is to provide an organized machine having a plurality of sets of triturating disks in couples, of which one disk in each set is mountedto` rotate upon `,a shaft common to -both sets,

While the other disk of each set is provided With means to effect its intermittent operation axially to permit ejectment centrifugally Yof the pulverulent product.

The above process, andthe novel machine herein disclosed as a now preferred apparatus for eflicient utilization of the process, achieve an unusualreiinement of trituration, with a rapidity in the productiono'f large quantities of powdered fuel or other materials which has been regarded heretofore as impracticable, whereby substantial economies in the cost thereof are effected.

The various features of the invention Will be illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawings and specification and .pointedout in the claims.)

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 isa View in front elevation of a triturating machine adapted to carry into effect the novel process of this application, and which embodies novel structural features constituting part of the invention.

Fig. '2 is a vievs7 on a smallerscale of a modi- Vfiedform of similar apparatus characterized by a plurality of sets of similar -triturating couples with appropriate controlling devices, this view omitting some of thestructural details shown in Fig. 1. I

In the illustrated embodiment is shown a couple of co-operating disks numbered 1 and 2, in superimposed relation, the lower disk being carried rotatably by a vertical shaft 3 mounted in bearings L1 supported by a base 5 on any suitable foundation, and Ihave shown means for actuating the shaft 3 taking the form of a driving shaft 6 running 'from a suitable source of power, not shown, to a bevell gear 7 engaged With a bevel gear 8 on the vertical shaft 3. i

By such means the disk 1 is rotatedcontinuously relatively to the disk 2, which is preferably non-rotatable but is adapted to move along the axis of rotation of the disk 1 to bring normally into proximity the triturating surfaces 9 and 10, Which occupy a peripheral annular region in which the surfaces 9 and 10 are approximately.contiguous, or so closely adjacent to each other as to confine the material under treatment, which is fed thereto at the centre'of the disk 2, Where the Working surface is preferably dished somewhat, as indicated at 12, to facilitate gradual reduction of the larger granules of material. l i y This dished portion 12 of the Working surface, as Well as the annular portion 9 and the co-operating portions 11 and 10 of the rotary disk 1, arepreferably smooth or but slightly roughened, and accordingly require but little attention, andthe feeding arrangements are preferably of a simple character, involvinga minimum cost for upkeep. As a suitable structure for feeding the material, an axially disposed throat 13 shown, Which leads .from anoverhead feed hopper 14 and is fixed at 15 Within the central aperture of the disk 2, the material of the throat being desirably of soft iron, and its dimensions such as to constitute it a magazine of considerable capacity. Y

The Weight of the disk 2, 'throat 13, and their associated parts. with the Weight of the material `.cOII'itained '.fthere'in, is such as to maintain a. Very effective grinding pressure on the material, and the vertical aligmnent of the unitary structure thus constituted is maintained by suitable bearings 16 and 17 carried by cross-beams 18 and 19 bolted to the frame uprights 20, rotative movement of the throat 13 and disk 2 being prevented by a gib 21.

In pursuance of the invention, means are provided to cause recurrent separation of the disks 1 and 2 intermittently during operative rotation of the disk 1, for the purpose of releasing theimpalpable or relatively refined product for ejectment by centrifugal force, while the coarser granules are left under confinement for further treatment, the effect being to distchargethe impalpable product peripherally from between the annular surfaces 9 and 10 into a suitable hopper 22 with a discharge spout 23, while the coarser granules centrally disposed within the mouth 24 of the feed throat 13, and within the dished portion 12 of the upper disk 2, are advanced by gravity and centrifugal force into the momentari ly enlarged annular space between theA surface portions 9 and 10 just vacated by ejectment of the impalpable product therefrom. n

Any suitable Imeans, mechanical or electrical, may be provided to effect the oscillation of the disk 2 requisite to perform this step in the process or trituration, and as a now preferred form of means to this end, the machine is illustrated as having an electrical magnet in the form of an electrical coil or solenoid 25 supported in a bearing 26 upon a cross-beam27 bolted to the frame members 20, and energized by a suitable source of current indicated conventionally, at 28, as a battery,

included in an electrical circuit comprising conductors ,29, a switch 30 and a commutator 31, the latter being of well-known construction and not requiring detailed description, except to note thatit is operated from the shaft3 through a train of reductionsgearing 32, and the frequency of the oscillations of the disk 2 is determined by the turns per minute of the contact segment 33 in engagement electrically with the contact finger 34, the duration of each separation being governed by the size of the segment 33.

It is preferable ordinarily to permit only a momentary separation of the disks 1 and 2 for evacuation and recharging of the annular space between surfaces 9 and 10, inasmuch as otherwise material will be discharged in partially ground condition. i The throat 13 may be provided with a soft iron core or armature 35, if desired, to facilitate the magnetic action, and an adjustable stop-collar 36 may also be supplied to limit the uplift of the disk 2.

In the structure shown in Fig. 2, two sets of triturating couples are illustrated,`each comprising a rotating disk, 41, and a nonrotating diskv42, the two disks 41 being keyed to a common driving shaft 43, while the disks 42 are each subject to the oscillative actuation of an independent electric solenoid 45 operating in the manner already described to separate the disks 42 from the disks 41, the use of individual solenoids having the advantage of convenient simplicity of structure while permitting independent variation of the ejectment of product to correspond with the degree of refinement to be attained by one unit of the apparatus or the other.

Accordingly, theupper couple of disks 41 and 42 may be supplied with relatively coarse material through a hopper 14 and throat 13, like those already described, and operated with the solenoid 45 acting to produce a iven refinement of trituration; the product eing discharged to a'hopper 44 and by it delivered tothe throat 53of the lower couple, and treatment may be there continued to produce an impalpable product, by propery regulation of the operation of the lower solenoid 45, and the final product will be discharged peripherally into the hopper 66. Suitable supporting structure for this system of triturating devices will be provided, as indicated fragmentarily at 55.

Having described and illustrated the inwhich the process may be carried into effect, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific materials, structural details or sequence of operations selected for illustration and description,l nor in general isV it limited otherwise than as set forth in the claims read in connection with this specification.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Triturating apparatus comprising a pair of superimposed disks having opposed i smooth working surfaces arranged co-axially, `the lower disk being rotatable relatively to the other disk; meansto rotate said lowerdisk; means to maintain the upper disk in `axial, alignmentwhile permitting co-axial kmovement thereof; and means to cause said reciprocatory movement intermittently during continued rotation of said lower disk, said means comprising a magnet coil arranged .to lift said upper disk when energized; and an elect-rica] circuit-including a source of electrical current `toenergize said magnet coil, and circuit-controlling means to regulate theperiods of reciprocatory movement. i

2. Apparatus for triturating granular materials, said apparatus comprising a plurality ofsets of disks, each set comprising a coul ple of disks co-operating in axial alignment and one of which is rotatable and the other adapted to reciprocate axiallyrelatively to its co-operating disk; means to rotate said rotatable disks; and means to cause said reciproeation of said axially movable disks, said reciprocation-eausing means comprising a plurality of independent magnet coils acting upon said axially movable disks respectively.

3. Apparatus for triturating granular ma.- terials, said apparatus comprising a plurality oit sets of disks, eac-l1 set comprising a couple of disks co-operating in axial alignment, and one of Which is rotatable and the other adapted to reciprocate axially relatively to its (fo-operating disk; means to rotate said rotatable disks; and means to cause said reciproeation of said axially movable disks, said reciprocation-causing means comprising a plurality of independent magnet coils aoting upon said axially movable disks respectively and said rotating means comprising a rotatable shaft connected operatively With said rotatable disks respectively.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this 15th day of June, 1925.

RALPH H. VARREN.

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