Suspension and guidance apparatus for tool relative to a mill

An apparatus for suspending and guiding at least first and second linerbolt removal tools externally of a grinding mill,

• said first linerbolt removal tool associated with a first carriage assembly and used for knocking out linerbolts on a cylindrical main body portion of said mill,
• said second tool associated with a second carriage assembly and used for knocking out linerbolts on a frusto-conical end portion of said mill connected to said cylindrical main body portion,
• said first carriage assembly providing no more than four degrees of freedom to its respective first linerbolt removal tool,
• said second carriage assembly providing no more than three degrees of freedom to its respective second linerbolt removal tool and wherein at least one of said degrees of freedom for each of said first and second assemblies is angular movement about the axis of rotation of said mill,
• wherein said first carriage assembly comprises a first primary carriage mounted for travel along a first curved rail disposed outside and at least partially surrounding said cylindrical main body, and a first secondary carriage coupled to the primary carriage, and wherein the first linerbolt removal tool is mounted to the first secondary carriage via a first slide mechanism, for axial movement thereof.