Grinding mill construction

Abstract

There is disclosed a mill head structure for a large grinding mill. The mill head structure includes a conical head portion having a central axis and including a rib portion and a gear flange portion integrally cast therewith. The rib portion extends radially outward from the conical head portion and is arranged for assembling the head structure to the grinding mill so as to stiffen the gear flange portion against deformation under load. The gear flange portion has a periphery centered about the central axis of the conical head portion. The mill head structure further includes a plurality of gear rim segments which are positioned in juxtaposed relation around the periphery of the gear flange portion. The gear rim segments are removably secured with the gear flange portion to provide a continuously toothed gear annulus for accurate meshing relation with one or more pinions. Due to the large size of the grinding mill, the conical head portion comprises a plurality of segmental portions which are arranged in mutually complementary relation. The novel mill head structure provides for the easy replacement of damaged rim segments.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.