THOMAS A SULLIVAN
Engineering in Salem, MA

4113189, Sep 12, 1978

May 4, 1977

5/793733

Thomas A. Sullivan - Salem MA

B02C 2338

241 43

A pressurized roller-colloid mill in which the conventional rotor and stator of a colloid mill are preceded by one or more adjustable-thrust roller bearing assemblies disposed in a series relationship. A product to be refined in the form of a slurry is pumped into the feeding port of the mill to pass between the rollers and the inner and outer raceways of one or more roller bearing assemblies, then to the gap between conventional rotor and stator elements of a colloid mill. The multiple rollers and their cooperating raceways constitute working surface areas far in excess of conventional colloid mill rotors and stators. Gang mounting of the rotor of the mill and the inner raceways of the roller bearing assemblies upon a common axially movable shaft permits gap adjustment for the enhancement of milling action. A relief valve at the outlet of the mill cooperates with the adjustable gap to provide an output of product of any desired particle size down to the low micron range.