Patent ID: 7175118
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: B01F,B02C

Abstract:
1. An improvement in an immersion mill having a basket, media within the basket, and a tubular inlet passage for the reception of material to be processed through the media in the basket, the tubular inlet passage having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a diameter along a length extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the improvement comprising: a helical screw impeller within the tubular inlet passage for moving the material longitudinally through the tubular inlet passage into the immersion mill, the helical screw impeller including a helical flight extending along the length of the tubular inlet passage and having a diameter complementary to the diameter of the tubular inlet passage and a pitch less than the length of the tubular inlet passage such that the helical flight spans the diameter of the tubular inlet passage along plural turns of the helical flight for sealing the inlet passage against the escape of media from the basket through the inlet passage.