Grinding roll wheel with tungsten carbide

Abstract

A grinding roll wheel includes an annular body having a front surface, a rear surface, a circumferential surface, and a central cavity. Tungsten carbide is layered or otherwise attached onto a circumferential surface. The tungsten carbide can be applied to the circumferential surface with a MIG weld, a weave weld, or a stringer bead. The grinding roll wheel of the present disclosure may be implemented into a roller mill for comminuting feed material. Grain, ore, gravel, plastic, and the like may be used as the feed material. If grain is used, flour may be produced by comminuting the grain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grinding roll wheel, comprising:
 an annular body having a front surface, a rear surface, a circumferential surface, and a central cavity; and   wherein the circumferential surface comprises steel and tungsten carbide.   
     
     
         2 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  wherein the central cavity is tapered. 
     
     
         3 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  wherein the steel and the tungsten carbide are layered onto the circumferential surface. 
     
     
         4 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  wherein the tungsten carbide is formed from tungsten carbide inserts are asymmetrically arranged on the circumferential surface. 
     
     
         5 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  wherein the tungsten carbide inserts are welded to the circumferential surface with a metal inert gas (MIG) weld, a weave, or a stringer. 
     
     
         6 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  further comprising a chamfered edge between the front surface and the circumferential surface. 
     
     
         7 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  further comprising mounting apertures passing through the front surface of the annular body for bolting the grinding roll wheel to a roller mill. 
     
     
         8 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  wherein the annular body has an outer diameter of 50 or 54 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The grinding roll wheel of  claim 1  wherein the steel is selected from the group consisting of mild steel, alloyed steel, stainless steel, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A roller mill comprising:
 a mill feed inlet for receiving a feed material;   a chamber comprising:   the grinding roll wheel of  claim 1 ;   an additional grinding roll wheel;   a grinding table; and   a mill outlet for transporting comminuted particulate.   
     
     
         11 . The roller mill of  claim 10  further comprising a hydraulic system for lifting the grinding roll wheels from a use position to a non-use position. 
     
     
         12 . The roller mill of  claim 10  further comprising a heater for drying the feed material within the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The roller mill of  claim 10  further comprising a fan for expelling the comminuted particulate within the chamber through the mill outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The roller mill of  claim 10  further comprising a separator. 
     
     
         15 . The roller mill of  claim 10  further comprising a scraper blade or an auger for preventing the accumulation of the comminuted particulate on the grinding roll wheel. 
     
     
         16 . A method of crushing or grinding a feed material comprising:
 providing the feed material and the roller mill of  claim 10 ;   rotating the grinding roll wheel around an axial axis passing through the central cavity; and   allowing the feed material to contact the circumferential surface of the annular body.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising powering the roller mill with a motor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising drying the feed material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the feed material is grain. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising producing flour.