# US 2014/0197254 A1 · Rotary mill > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197254 A1 - Document ID: US20140197254A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/741,975 - Filed: 2013-01-15 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: Aaron Engineered Process Equipment, Inc. - Applicants: Aaron Engineered Process Equipment, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey R. Hoffmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197254A1 ## CPC - B02C 17/1865: {after crushing} - B02C 17/184: {with separator arranged in discharge path of crushing zone} - B02C 17/1835: {Discharging devices combined with sorting or separating of material (B02C17/186 takes precedence)} - B02C 18/2266: {of revolving drum type} - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) ## Abstract A rotary milling system includes a rotatable cylinder, a discharge grate, a movable flap valve into and out of engagement with the grate, a discharge housing surrounding the grate, and a conveying pipe extending from the discharge housing. The cylinder can include grinding media for abrading a product when the cylinder is rotated. The product can be in either a dry form or within a liquid medium. Upon conclusion of the milling, the flap valve can be opened to allow the milled product to pass through the grate and into the discharge housing. A negative pressure can be applied to draw the milled product through the conveying pipe into a separator tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotary milling system comprising: a rotatable cylinder defining a cavity and a central longitudinal axis; a discharge grate provided on a sidewall of the cylinder and defining an opening to allow milled product to pass therethrough; a discharge housing surrounding the discharge grate and defining a cavity therein; a flap disposed within the discharge housing and moveable between a closed position covering the opening of the discharge grate and an open position away from the opening; a conveying pipe in fluid communication with the housing; and a negative pressure producing vacuum member operatively associated with the conveying pipe to create a negative pressure within the conveying pipe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a rotary union connected with the conveying pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 further comprising a secondary pipe connected to the rotary union, wherein the rotary union couples the secondary pipe and the conveying pipe and the secondary pipe is disposed between the negative pressure producing vacuum member and the conveying pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a separator tank operatively coupled to the conveying pipe, wherein the vacuum member is in fluid communication with the separator tank. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the flap includes an elastomer face for creating a seal between the valve and the opening of the discharge grate when the flap is in the closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the flap is pivotable relative to the discharge grate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising an actuator for moving the flap between an open and closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the actuator is pneumatically operated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a transmission portion coupled to the cylinder for rotating the cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the discharge housing includes a check valve for regulating the pressure in the system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, further comprising a dust filter located upstream of the vacuum member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising first and second trunion members for supporting the cylinder for rotation about the central axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the conveying pipe extends into and through the first trunion member. ### Claim 14 A method for discharging milled product from a rotary mill comprising: rotating a cylinder in which a plurality of grinding media and milled product are disposed; moving a flap away from a discharge grate provided on the cylinder, wherein the flap and discharge grate are surrounded by a discharge housing; discharging the milled product through the discharge grate into the discharge housing; and applying a negative pressure to a conveying pipe that is in fluid communication with the discharge housing to convey the product out of the housing and through the conveying pipe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising rotating the cylinder with the flap in an open position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising opening a check valve in the housing to provide sufficient airflow through the conveying pipe. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the milled product is disposed within a liquid medium.