# US 5,707,016 A · Apparatus and methods for wet grinding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,016 A - Document ID: US5707016A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/675,229 - Filed: 1996-07-01 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-07-01 - Inventors: Anthony Witsken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707016A ## CPC - B02C 7/12: Shape or construction of discs - D21D 1/303: {Double disc mills} - 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}) - D21D: TREATMENT OF THE MATERIALS BEFORE PASSING TO THE PAPER-MAKING MACHINE ## Abstract Wet grinding apparatus including a grinding unit having outer grinding discs and an inner rotating grinding disc. A drive shaft is attached to the rotatable disc and extends centrally through one side of the housing. The other side of the housing includes at least one central inlet port for allowing introduction of slurry solution. In an in-tank or batch grinder, inlet ports are provided on both sides of the housing through each outer disc. Inner surfaces of the outer discs and both surfaces of the rotatable disc have a series of outwardly extending grooves which taper in depth from a central location of each disc to a peripheral portion of each disc. Gap adjustment mechanisms are provided to separately adjust the gaps between the outer discs and the rotating discs. Spring based connections are provided between the outer discs to allow relative, biased movement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Wet grinding apparatus comprising: first and second discs, each disc having two faces wherein a face of said first disc is in opposed relation to a face of said second disc thereby defining a first pair of opposed faces, a plurality of grooves in each face of said first pair of opposed faces, a drive shaft connected to the second disc for rotating the second disc; a first fluid inlet path extending through said drive shaft and leading to the grooves in said first pair of opposed faces for introducing a slurry material containing particles into said grooves of said first pair of opposed faces, and an outlet for allowing said slurry material to exit said grooves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third disc and a second fluid inlet path extending through said third disc, wherein the first and third discs define outer discs having a plurality of grooves in inner faces thereof and said second disc defines an inner disc disposed between said first and third discs and includes grooves in both faces thereof, said second fluid inlet path leading to opposed grooves in said second and third discs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a collection container having an open end connected to the third disc about the first and second fluid inlet paths and further including an inlet for introducing said slurry material to said collection container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second fluid inlet path includes an inlet opening disposed generally about one end of said drive shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apertures centrally located in said second disc and creating additional fluid paths between said first and second fluid inlet paths. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a third fluid inlet path extending through the first disc and leading to the first pair of opposed faces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 1 wherein another fluid inlet path extends through the first disc and leads to the first pair of opposed faces. ### Claim 8 Wet grinding apparatus comprising: first, second and third discs, said second disc being disposed between said first and said third discs and each disc having two faces wherein the two respective faces of said second disc are in opposed relation to one face of said first disc and one face of said third disc, a plurality of grooves in each face of said second disc and the faces of said first and third discs which are in opposed relation to the faces of said second disc, at least one inlet for introducing a slurry material containing particles into the grooves of said first, second and third discs, an outlet for allowing the slurry material to exit the grooves in said first, second and third discs, a drive shaft connected to rotate the second disc, support structure connected to said drive shaft, a first gap adjustment mechanism connected with said support structure and operable to vary the distance between the first and second discs, and a second gap adjustment mechanism connected to said third disc and operable to vary the distance between the second and third discs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first gap adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment nut threaded onto said drive shaft and operable to move said drive shaft and said second disc axially with respect to said support structure and said first disc. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second gap adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of adjustment screws connected to the third disc and operable to move the third disc axially with respect to the second disc. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second gap adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of adjustment screws connected to the third disc and operable to move the third disc axially with respect to the second disc. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 11 wherein each adjustment screw is movable in a threaded bore extending through the third disc, said bore opening toward the first disc for allowing an end of the adjustment screw to extend through the bore and at least indirectly bear against the first disc. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 12 wherein the threaded bore is contained in a housing extending through the third disc, said housing including an access hole for allowing a tool to engage the adjustment screw received therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 13 wherein the access hole is dimensioned smaller than the diameter of said adjustment screw. ### Claim 15 Wet grinding apparatus comprising: first, second and third discs, said second disc being disposed between said first and said third discs and each disc having two faces wherein the two respective faces of said second disc are in opposed relation to one face of said first disc and one face of said third disc, a plurality of grooves in each face of said second disc and the faces of said first and third discs which are in opposed relation to the faces of said second disc, at least one inlet for introducing a slurry material containing particles into the grooves of said first, second and third discs, an outlet for allowing the slurry material to exit the grooves in said first, second and third discs, a drive shaft connected to rotate the second disc, and, a biased connection formed between the first and third discs to allow relative axial, biased movement between the first and third discs under hydraulic pressure from the slurry material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The wet grinding apparatus of claim 15 wherein said biased connection is formed by a plurality of elongated fasteners extending respectively through said first and third discs and springs disposed about said fasteners. ### Claim 17 Wet grinding apparatus comprising: first and second discs, each disc having two faces wherein a face of said first disc is in opposed relation to a face of said second disc thereby defining a first pair of opposed faces, a plurality of grooves in each face of said first pair of opposed faces, a drive shaft connected to the second disc for rotating the second disc; a first fluid inlet path extending through the first disc and leading to the grooves in said first pair of opposed faces for introducing a slurry material containing particles into said grooves of said first pair of opposed faces, a second fluid inlet path extending through the second disc and leading to the grooves in said first pair of opposed faces for introducing additional slurry material containing particles into said grooves of said first pair of opposed faces, and an outlet for allowing said slurry material to exit said grooves. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first fluid inlet path includes a plurality of holes extending through the first disc at locations spaced about the drive shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second fluid inlet path is created by at least one hole extending through the second disc adjacent the drive shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second fluid inlet path is created by a bore extending into the drive shaft and communicating with the grooves in said first pair of opposed faces. ### Claim 21 Wet grinding apparatus comprising: a pair of discs mounted to support structure, one disc being mounted for rotation and the other disc being stationary, each disc having a face in opposed relation to a face of the other disc thereby defining a first pair of opposed faces, a plurality of grooves in each face of said first pair of opposed faces, a drive mechanism connected to rotate the rotatable disc; a fluid inlet in the stationary disc and leading to the grooves in said first pair of opposed faces for introducing a slurry material containing particles into said grooves of said first pair of opposed faces, a collection container having an open end mounted about said fluid inlet and having an inlet for receiving the slurry material, and an outlet for allowing said slurry material to exit said grooves. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising: a second stationary disc mounted on an opposite side of the rotatable disc from the first stationary disc to define a second pair of opposed faces, a plurality of opposed grooves in the second pair of opposed faces, and an fluid inlet path leading from said collection container to the opposed grooves in the second pair of opposed faces.