Abstract: A grinding mill including one or more lifter bar assemblies mounted on a shell rotatable around a central axis thereof. Each lifter bar assembly is for lifting at least a lifted portion of a charge including ore, and includes a main portion for lifting and directing a main part of the lifted portion in a main part direction substantially orthogonal to the central axis of the shell. The lifter bar assembly also includes one or more terminal lifter bars located proximal to one or both of feed and discharge ends of the shell, for lifting and directing terminal part(s) of the lifted portion of the charge. The terminal lifter bar is positioned for directing the terminal part of the lifted portion of the charge at least partially in a terminal part direction which is substantially non-aligned with the main part direction.

Abstract: A lifter bar for lifting an engaged portion of a load comprising a number of ore pieces above a disengaged portion of the load in a grinding mill having a shell rotatable about an axis thereof. The lifter bar includes a leading face having one or more leading surfaces, and a trailing face. The lifter bar is mountable on the shell located at a predetermined distance from a trailing face of a preceding lifter bar. When the lifter bar and the preceding lifter bar are mounted on the shell, the leading face and the trailing face of the preceding lifter bar at least partially define a pocket therebetween in which a part of the engaged portion of the load is at least partially retainable, until the leading surface is located in a predetermined release position, at which the part has substantially exited the pocket under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: A mill for grinding and/or mixing a material. In one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mill includes a first container rotatably mounted at a first end of a gyration arm. The container rotates about a first axis, and the gyration arm rotates about a second axis. The mill may further include a second container mounted at a second end of the gyration arm. The second container is rotatable about a third axis. As the gyration arm rotates about the second axis, the containers move with the gyration arm. In addition, the containers themselves rotate about their own respective axes thereby greatly enhancing the forces within the containers effecting the grinding and/or mixing. A first motor may be used to rotate the gyration arm, and a second motor may be used to rotate the containers about their respective axes. The mill may be operated in a continuous mode or in a batch mode.