Abstract: A mill for grinding particles to submicron size. The mill has a rectangular prism-shaped housing for two internal barrels. Each internal barrel has a shaft and a plurality of overlapping circular discs attached to the shaft for grinding materials to submicron size. Each barrel also has blocked corners providing a cross-sectional shape of half of an octagonal prism disposed toward opposing ends of the housing. The housing also includes comprises curved acceleration ramps disposed between the barrels proximal to the overlapping circular discs on opposing sides of the housing. An inlet is provided for feeding material to be ground by the mill to an overlapped portion of the overlapping circular discs. An outlet is disposed at an end of the mill opposite the inlet for removing ground material from the mill. The overlapping circular discs are rotated in the mill at a shaft speed ranging from about 200 to about 1200 RPM.

Abstract: A vertical and horizontal mills and discs therefor for grinding particles to submicron size. The mills include two overlapping vertical barrels. Each barrel has a shaft and a plurality of circular discs attached to the shaft disposed in each barrel for grinding materials to submicron size. The discs have an open mesh design provided by overlapping rectangular blades. Each blade has at least two opposing walls orthogonal to a plane defined by the disc. Each disc on one shaft overlaps a disc on the other shaft by from 30 to 45% of the diameter of the discs. An inlet is provided for feeding material to be ground by the mill to the overlapped portion of the discs. An outlet is disposed at an end of the mill opposite the inlet for removing ground material from the mill.

Abstract: A multiple barrel chamber for a media mill where the media mill is used to grind and disperse pigments for paint, coating, ink products, and other pigment-vehicle fluids, as well as grinding and dispersing other particulate matter. More particularly, a three barrel grinding chamber including a lengthwise rotatable shaft in each barrel portion is disclosed. Each shaft includes a disc array overlapping an adjacent disc array. Utilization of variable speed bi-directional motors, preferable independently controlled, to rotate each shaft allows impact, tack-shear, and slurry grinding to be accomplished with one media mill. The grinding efficiencies achieved far exceed those of conventional media mills. Media mill grinding discs are also disclosed.

Abstract: A double barrel chamber for a media mill where the media mill is used to grind and disperse pigments for paint, coating, ink products, and other pigment-vehicle fluids, as well as grinding and dispersing other particulate matter. Centered in each barrel is a rotatable shaft. On each shaft are a number of horizontally spaced discs. The shafts are parallel and arranged such that the edges of the discs overlap to cause major impacting and mixing in the central portion of the chamber when the shafts are rotated in a common direction. Also disclosed is a coiled cooling water jacket system for cooling a chamber. The system allows 100%, or near 100%, recovery of cleaning solvent, limits potential damage to a pumping system and allows slurry feeding flexibility. A special bearing seal section is disclosed which allows use of a diaphragm pump.