Abstract: There is disclosed a crusher for crushing material into finer particulates, the crusher including a housing that encloses a crushing head mounted on a shaft. The housing supports an outer crushing shell, while the crushing head supports an inner crushing shell. The two crushing shells cooperate to form a crushing gap therebetween. The crusher further includes a drive mechanism joined to the shaft for generating movement of the inner crushing shell relative to the outer crushing shell. The drive mechanism includes at least three drive units joined to the shaft and configured to impart a pulling force on the shaft. Also disclosed is a method of operating the crusher, wherein each of the drive units are selectively activated and deactivated to selectively generate orbital or gyratory movement of the crushing head relative to the outer housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a crusher for crushing material into finer particulates. The crusher includes a housing enclosing a cone assembly comprising a crushing head mounted on a shaft. The housing supports an outer crushing shell, while the crushing head supports an inner crushing shell. The two crushing shells cooperate to form a crushing gap therebetween. A cam is provided on the shaft with the cam being located remote from the crushing head. A number of drive units extend between the cam and the housing, wherein each drive unit has a first end movably abutting the cam and a second end movably abutting a discrete spherically domed reaction seat provided on the housing. Each drive unit is a telescopic body with a bore extending therethrough so that hydraulic fluid injected into each bore applies a drive force onto the cam and the reaction seat to cause movement of the crushing head.

Abstract: A stirring device for stirring a particulate material and a grinding media in a grinding mill includes one or more protective elements that extend outwardly from a body to deflect said particulate material and said grinding media from the body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a crusher for crushing material into finer particulates. The crusher includes a housing enclosing a cone assembly comprising a crushing head mounted on a shaft. The housing supports an outer crushing shell, while the crushing head supports an inner crushing shell. The two crushing shells cooperate to form a crushing gap therebetween. A cam is provided on the shaft with the cam being located remote from the crushing head. A number of drive units extend between the cam and the housing, wherein each drive unit has a first end movably abutting the cam and a second end movably abutting a discrete spherically domed reaction seat provided on the housing. Each drive unit is a telescopic body with a bore extending therethrough so that hydraulic fluid injected into each bore applies a drive force onto the cam and the reaction seat to cause movement of the crushing head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a grinding mill rotor for a grinding mill to stir a slurry of mineral ore particles, or other particulate material, and a grinding medium within the grinding mill thereby to cause turbulence within the slurry to promote attrition of the particulate material through interaction with the grinding medium. The grinding mill rotor includes a planar body having an axis of rotation around which the body rotates during use. Several spaced apart paddles are provided on and extend transversely across the body. At least some of the paddles have a rotationally leading face that is angled relative to an orthogonal line extending orthogonally from the axis of rotation of the body, wherein an offset angle ? between the leading face and the orthogonal line is selected to be between 1° and 35° to control a rate at which the slurry slides across the planar body during use.

Abstract: A stirring device for stirring a particulate material and a grinding media in a grinding mill includes one or more protective elements that extend outwardly from a body to deflect said particulate material and said grinding media from the body.

Abstract: A stirring device for stirring a particulate material and a grinding media in a grinding mill includes one or more protective elements that extend outwardly from a body to deflect the particulate material and the grinding media from the body to minimize contact of the mixture of the particulate material and the grinding media against the body and to promote contact between the particulate material and the grinding media.

Abstract: There is disclosed a crusher for crushing material into finer particulates, the crusher including a housing that encloses a crushing head mounted on a shaft. The housing supports an outer crushing shell, while the crushing head supports an inner crushing shell. The two crushing shells cooperate to form a crushing gap therebetween. The crusher further includes a drive mechanism joined to the shaft for generating movement of the inner crushing shell relative to the outer crushing shell. The drive mechanism includes at least three drive units joined to the shaft and configured to impart a pulling force on the shaft. Also disclosed is a method of operating the crusher, wherein each of the drive units are selectively activated and deactivated to selectively generate orbital or gyratory movement of the crushing head relative to the outer housing.

Abstract: Provided is a stress distribution element for a mill shell joint, comprising an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end. The elongated body varies in one dimension from the proximal end to the distal end to distribute stress forces from the proximal end to the distal end. The invention also provides a stress distribution system, a stress distribution assembly, a mill shell section, a mill shell and a method of distributing stress incorporating the stress distribution element.

Abstract: A stirring device for stirring a particulate material and a grinding media in a grinding mill includes one or more protective elements that extend outwardly from a body to deflect said particulate material and said grinding media from the body.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements to a fluid bearing for a journal, one being a polymer bearing pad with an outer surface, at least one recess for receiving lubricating fluid from a base of the fluid bearing and distributing the lubricating fluid to the outer surface and a mount for securely mounting the polymer bearing pad to the base. Other improvements include a fluid bearing with the polymer bearing pad, steps for making the polymer bearing pad and fluid bearing, a fluid bearing with a polymer bearing pad having a chamfer and a multidirectional fluid bearing.

Abstract: Provided is a stress distribution element for a mill shell joint, comprising an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end. The elongated body varies in one dimension from the proximal end to the distal end to distribute stress forces from the proximal end to the distal end. The invention also provides a stress distribution system, a stress distribution assembly, a mill shell section, a mill shell and a method of distributing stress incorporating the stress distribution element.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements to a fluid bearing (11, 12) for a journal (4), one being a polymer bearing pad (17) comprising an outer surface (13), at least one recess (18) for receiving lubricating fluid from a base (14) of said fluid bearing and distributing said lubricating fluid to said outer surface and a mounting means (8, 18A) for securely mounting said polymer bearing pad to said base. Other improvements include a fluid bearing (11, 12) comprising the polymer bearing pad (17), methods of making the polymer bearing pad and fluid bearing, a fluid bearing comprising a polymer bearing pad (17) having a chamfer (37) and a multidirectional fluid bearing (70).

Abstract: The invention provides a separation device (20) for separating pulp from a feed material, the separation device comprising a tank (1) for receiving the feed material, a rake assembly (21) mounted for rotation within the tank (1) to move pulp towards an outlet (22) thereof and a shearing device (23) for shearing pulp within the tank (1), the shearing device (23) being mounted for movement independently of the rake assembly (21). The invention also provides a method for reducing donutting in a separation device (20).

Abstract: The invention provides a dilution apparatus for a thickener of the type having a thickening tank and a feedwell disposed upstream of the tank to receive feed liquid, said dilution apparatus including: a receiving vessel adapted for at least partial submersion within the thickening tank to receive supernatant dilution liquid therefrom; and a submersible pump including an impeller adapted for at least partial submersion within the dilution liquid, the pump being adapted to transfer the dilution liquid from the thickening tank through the receiving vessel to the feed liquid for dilution thereof, before transfer of the feed liquid from the feedwell into the thickening tank. The pump is responsive to system parameters for adjusting the flow rate of the supernatant liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides a flotation device including a thickening tank (1) having right cylindrical sidewalls and a downwardly sloping frusto-conical floor. A drive shaft (2) is centrally rotatably mounted within the tank. Each one of a plurality of rake arms (3) is fixedly connected to the drive shaft and extends radially outwardly, substantially parallel to the tank floor. Each arm supports an array of blades (4) extending axially into the tank. An array of baffles in the form of rectilinear baffle plates (5), fixed relative to the tank, extends axially into the tank in complementary alternate radially spaced relationship with the blades (4). The baffle plates are located within the swept volume of the blades to retard fluid rotation in response to the rotation of the rake. A diametrical service bridge (6) is fixedly connected to the tank for mounting the baffle plates.