Patent ID: 6024311
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B02C

Abstract:
In a bowl mill operative for pulverizing material into smaller particles, the bowl mill having a separator body having a bore, a rotating shaft supported within the bore, a grinding table supported on the shaft for rotation within the separator body, and at least one grinding roll supported within the separator body so as to be operable to exert a grinding force on material disposed on the grinding table for effecting the pulverization thereof, a pulverizer shaft rotational support assembly comprising:a first rolling element sub-assembly including a first inner race secured to the shaft at a first shaft location, a first outer race and at least one intermediate moving element retained relative to the first inner and outer races for rolling movement of the intermediate moving element relative to the first inner and outer races;means for radially limiting the first outer race while permitting relative axial movement between the first outer race and the intermediate moving element, the radially limiting means limiting the maximum radial displacement of the first outer race to thereby maintain an annular clearance between the shaft and the bore while permitting axial movement of the first outer race and the intermediate moving element relative to one another in correspondence with axial movement of the inner race, whereby the shaft can freely rotate out of contact with the bore at the first shaft location throughout the range of axial movement of the shaft during axial loading thereof;a second rolling element sub-assembly including a second inner race secured to the shaft at a second shaft location axially spaced from the first shaft location, a second outer race and at least one intermediate moving element retained relative to the second inner and outer races for rolling movement of the intermediate moving element relative to the second inner and outer races; andmeans for radially limiting the second outer race while permitting relative axial movement between the second outer race and the intermediate moving element, the radially limiting means limiting the maximum radial displacement of the second outer race to thereby maintain an annular clearance between the shaft and the bore while permitting axial movement of the second outer race and the intermediate moving element relative to one another in correspondence with axial movement of the second inner race, whereby the shaft can freely rotate out of contact with the bore at the second shaft location throughout the range of axial movement of the shaft during axial loading thereof.