A device for generating milling measurement data at an output includes a support structure. A measurement station is supported by the support structure for measuring an attribute of milled material collected thereon and outputting a measurement of the attribute to the output. A mill is supported by the support structure above the measurement station for, while engaged, performing a continuous milling action on a feed material, and continuously or regularly depositing milled material onto the measurement station wherein the measurement station can measure the milled material without interrupting the milling action.

Apparatus for micronizing an inorganic salt, having a receiving vessel for receiving the salt to be micronized in an interior of the receiving vessel; a grinding unit for comminuting the salt located in the receiving vessel and for forming micronized salt particles; an ascending pipe, which is connected fluidically to the receiving vessel and transports the micronized salt particles, wherein one end of the ascending pipe has an outlet orifice through which the micronized salt particles can flow out of the apparatus; a fan; and a housing with an air outlet and an air duct connecting the fan to the air outlet, wherein the air duct is separated by at least one wall from the interior of the receiving vessel, such that the air stream generated by the fan does not flow through the interior of the receiving vessel.

A method for operating an ore comminution circuit is provided. The method includes obtaining at least one sensor signal related to an ore feed to the comminution circuit; determining a first ore grindability parameter of the ore feed from the at least one sensor signal, using a model; determining a second ore grindability parameter using parameters of the comminution circuit and/or of at least one comminution device in the comminution circuit; and updating the model with the second ore grindability parameter and the at least one sensor signal.

A freely moving grinding media adapted to measure one or more physical characteristics of a comminution apparatus during operation or a charge therein is disclosed. The grinding media comprises a freely moving grinding body with a bore disposed in an outer body portion of the body. A sensor body is configured to be received in the bore. The sensor body comprises a rigid sleeve, a resilient core and a sensor array embedded in the core of resilient material. A system of optimising performance of a comminution circuit is also disclosed. The system comprises a comminution apparatus in response to one or more physical characteristics of the comminution apparatus or the charge contained therein, measured during operation of the comminution apparatus. The system comprises a plurality of the freely moving grinding media. A method of optimising performance of a comminution circuit is also disclosed.

The purpose of the invention to provide a method for determining a lifting angle of a charge inside a grinding mill at a specific point in time and a method for positioning a grinding mill which is more accurate. Method for determining a lifting angle of a charge inside a mill body of a grinding mill being rotatable through a drive train, the method comprises the following steps of rotating the mill body; determining a reference lifting angle and a corresponding reference driving torque of the drive train at a reference point in time; calculating a fill factor for the reference point in time based on the reference lifting angle and the reference driving torque; determining a driving torque of the drive train; and calculating the lifting angle based on the driving torque and the fill factor.

In a method for detaching a frozen charge from an inner wall of a grinding tube of a tube mill, a motor of a drive system is operated in a first mode to rotate the grinding tube for grinding. In a second mode, the motor of the drive system is operated to remove the frozen charge from the inner wall of the grinding tube such that operation of the motor to effect a rotational movement of the grinding tube is repeatedly disturbed by a disturbance signal to cause a repeated disturbance within a variable time interval, with the time interval of the repeated disturbance being shortened.

A device and a system monitor wear of lifters mounted in a mineral crusher. An elongated bolt maintains a lifter in place on an internal face of the crusher. A threaded section of the bolt terminates at a proximal end protruding externally through a hole of the crusher. A shank of the bolt terminates at a distal end opposite from the proximal end. The shank extends along a height of the lifter and wears as the lifter wears when the crusher is in operation. A transducer coupled to the proximal end of the bolt generates a sound wave applied to the proximal end of the bolt, detects an echo of the sound wave reflected by the distal end of the bolt, and reports to a controller a time delay between the sound wave and the echo. The controller evaluates a wear of the lifter based on the time delay.

In a method for operating a system, a first vibration is imparted to a component of the system and the first vibration of the component is detected by a sensor. The sensor generates a sensor signal for transmission to a control device, which analyzes the sensor signal and determines whether a buildup is present on the component based upon the analysis of the sensor signal. A second vibration is imparted to the component to remove the buildup when the buildup has been detected.

A wear gauge 10 comprises an elongate substrate 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. At least a first row 18 of spaced electronic components 22.1, 22.3 . . . 22.n and a juxtaposed second row 20 of spaced electronic components 22.2, 22.4 . . . 22.n1 are provided on the substrate. The first and second rows extend in a direction from the proximal end towards the distal end of the substrate. The electronic components 22.2 to 22.n1 in the second row are spatially interposed between adjacent electronic components 22.1 to 22.n in the first row. The electronic components of the first and second rows are electrically connected in parallel by conductive tracks 19. An electrical parameter relating to the parallel connection as measured at a port 24 of the parallel connection towards the proximal end, changes as electronic components are removed from the connection from the distal end, to provide an indication of the extent of wear, as indicated by the arrow A.

A wear liner retention device wear liner retention device comprises a shank structure, a nut structure, and an additional nut structure. The shank structure comprises a threaded region, an additional threaded, and an unthreaded region intervening between the threaded region and the additional threaded region. The nut structure is configured to threadably couple to the threaded region of the shank structure. The additional nut structure is configured to threadably couple to the additional threaded region of the shank structure. Related assemblies and methods are also described.