Patent ID: 7448565

Claim:
A bowl mill comprising: a substantially closed separator body; a rotatable grinding surface mounted for rotation within the substantially closed separator body and upon which pulverization of material is effected; a plurality of grinding rolls for pulverizing the material on the rotatable grinding surface, the plurality of grinding rolls being supported by a plurality of grinding journals; an annular passage formed between the substantially closed separator body and the circumference of the rotatable grinding surface through which air is made to flow in an upwardly direction; a plurality of grinding journal openings formed in the substantially closed separator body, each grinding journal opening associated with one of the plurality of grinding journals; a vane wheel portion affixed to the periphery of the rotatable grinding surface, the vane wheel portion including a plurality of vanes; and a low profile deflector portion mounted within the interior of the substantially closed separator body in closely spaced relation to the vane wheel portion at an elevation below the elevation of the grinding journal openings and so as to extend continuously without interruption about the entire interior of the substantially closed separator body.