US1937788A - Colloidal mill and system of control therefor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 5, 1933. o. A. Ross 1,937,738

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Dec. 5, 1933. o. A. Ross COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Bea 1933. o. A. ROSS 1,931,733

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 12s- -\ze, 121- 45 J46 1 425 GE AL 1 Q was INVENTO 1933- 0. A. Ross 1,937,788

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Dec. 5, 1933. Q oss 1,937,788

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5 Sheds-Sheet 5 ll I J INVENTOR W02 01/.

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL Oscar A. Role, New York, N. Y.

Apphcatlon December 1, 1927. Serial No. 286,981

87 Claim.

This invention refers to colloidal mills and more particularly to that type of colloidal mill employed for the combined dispersing grinding and mixing of solids with liquids whereby a colloidal suspension oi the solids in said liquids obtains.

One object of this invention is to provide a colloidal mill wherein a minute adjustment of the dispersing rotors may be obtained whereby a sensitive control of the size of the colloids in suspension may be obtained.

Another object is to mount the aforesaid rotors and the driving motors therefor in a manner whereby a minimum of distortion of the relative dispersion faces of said rotors will obtain.

Another object to provide a colloidal mill wherein the material to be dispersed will be so dispersed in stages, providing a rest, or stabilizing period between each stage during which said material may be cooled and allowed to readjust its physical structure before being again treated in a succeeding stage of dispersion.

Another object is to provide a colloidal mill having dispersion rotors which are hollow and through which water or other liquid may be circulated for the purpose of cooling or heating the materials to be dispersed.

Another object is to provide a colloidal mill having rotors wherein the materials to be dispersed are substantially moved radially with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotors, however, by a novel arrangement providing a dispersion surface substantially in excess of the actual radial distance between the innermost 35 and outermost dispersion surfaces of said rotors.

Another object is to provide a colloidal mill wherein the materials to be dispersed are fed through a stationary hollow tube to the point of initial dispersion, in this manner preventing any so tendency for separation or segregation of premixed materials fed to said mill due to centrifugal action if said tube were rotated.

Another object is to furnish a novel system of automatic control for the cooling or heating liquid supplied to the aforesaid rotors whereby a substantially uniform temperature is maintained during the dispersion of material; alsoan automatic alarm system whereby an operator is informed of abnormal conditions arising during said dispersion, and, in event of lack of proper attention thereafter, will cause the motors driving said rotors to be stopped whereby possible damage to said material and rotors will be prevented.

Another obiect is to furnish novel means for driving material dispersion rotors whereby the material dispersion passageway therebetween will be restrained to unusual uniform dimension circumierentially thereof whereby a maximum flow of completely dispersed product may be 011- do tained from a colloidal mill. The applicant has discovered that when material dispersion rotors are driven by belts, ropes, or similar drives placed at one side of the mill, the transverse stresses on the rotors due to the torque of the belts causes as a deflection of the axes of the rotors thereby also deflecting the material dispersion members in this manner producing a comparatively small material dispersion passageway between the members on the torque producing side of the mill to and a comparatively large passageway on the diametrically opposite side thereof. This distortion may even act to cause rubbing of the members on the torque side of the mill. Such non-uniformity of the passageway tends to produce non-uniformly dispersed finished product.

Another object is to furnish material dispersion rotors the shaft portions of which are comparatively large in diameter and of comparatively rugged construction whereby the whipping and so torsional stresses are minimized, thereby further assuring a uniform width of the material dispersion passageway between the rotors. I

other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses, and Bi the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

This invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawto ings, and particularly pointed out in that portion of the instrument wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain and peculiar features of the invention, it being understood that, within, the scope of what hereinafter thus is claimed, divers as changes in the form. proportions. size and minor details of the device and system of control therefore may be made without departing from the spirit of, or sacrificing any of the details of the invention.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated embodiments of my invention, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts" through the several 106 views, and in which:-

Figurelisasectionalpartviewof custom of colloidal mill and is taken on line 1-1 of FigureiandFigure 2,is aside elevationalviewofa complete mill and is taken on line II-Ii of Fig- 11 ure3,and1"igure3isanendview ofthesame taken on line III-III of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a part sectional, part eievational view of the same mill taken on line IV-IV of Figure l, and Figure 5, is a part sectional view of one form of dispersion rotors, and is an enlarged view of the similar rotors shown in Figure 1, and Figure 8, is a similar part sectional view of a modified form of rotors, and Figure 7, is still another part sectional view of a modified form of rotors, and Figure 8, is a sectional view of the rotor adjustment apparatus, and is taken on line VIII-VIII of Figure 1 and, Figure 9 is a part sectional view of a modified form of colloidal mill, and Figure 10, is a diagrammatic view of a control system for colloidal mills, and Figure 11, is another diagrammatic view of a system of dispersion with colloidal mills.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the collodial mill 1 comprises base 2 on which are suitably secured dispersion rotor unit 3, hereinafter termed rotor unit, motor units 4-4, micrometer adjustment and thrust bearing units 5-5, hereinafter termed micrometer units, and cooling liquid and material inlet units 6-5. Figure 1 represents substantially a sectional view of the right hand one half of a complete mill as shown in Figure 2.

Rotor unit 8 comprises rotor housings 35 and 'i matingly related and are secured together by bolts 9-9. Each housing, as 35 and "l have a bearing supporting bore 8 adapted to radially support but permit axial movement of the outer race of ball bearing 10; and annular cooling liquid reservoir 11, receiving said liquid through orifices 12-12 of gland 13 and discharging said liquid through orifice 14 into pipe 15.

Bearing 10 is oiled by cup 16, washer 1'! acts as a dirt guard therefor and orifice 18 drains surplus oil therefrom. Housing has a finished material orifice 19 into which discharge pipe 200 is secured. Each of said housings have a threaded sleeve portion 20, receiving gland nut 21 adapted torestrain packing 22, and gland is to the left against packing 23, gland 13 floating between said packlngs but guided by said sleeve portion. Said housings also have a male mating face 24 adapted to non-rigidly support motor ventilating rings 25-25 having male flanges 25a and female flanges 25b.

Motors 4-4, comprise stator 26, having frames 27-27 suitably secured to base 2 and provided with female mating faces 29-28 adapted to nonrigidly receive the male ends 250-254: of ventilating rings 25-25, also driving rotor 29, rigidly secured to tubular extension 106 of dispersion rotor units 91 and 92. The motors 4-4 may be electric motors of any well known type and'as shown is standard General Electric three phase induction motors receiving current through cable 114 passing into conduit 115.

The micrometer units 5-5 comprise housing 92, suitably secured to base 2, the male flange 98 of which is adapted to non-rigidly receive female flange 25b of ventilating ring 25 and the female flange 34 of the cooling liquid and mate rial inlet unit 6, secured by bolts 80-85. Said units also comprise tubular portion 87 adapted toreceivethrustbearingimitsasaldlastnamed unit, having circumferential and axial movement in said tubular portion, the circumferential movement being caused by rotation of worm so, moimtedonshaftmoperatinginbearlngs il and42.andbetweenwhicharealsoballthrust bearing 43-43. bearing 41 being permanently secured in boss 44 by threads 45,.and bearing 42 being adjustably secured in boss 46 by threads 4'7 and lock nut 48 (see Figure 8), said worm acting on teeth 49 and causing circumferential movement of said unit and said last named movement causing axial movement of said unit by screwing in or out of threads 50. For example, the normal size of mill 1 is preferably approximately three times the dimensions showing in Figure 1, therefore assuming a 12 pitch tooth there would be approximately ninety teeth, as 49 and assuming sixteen pitch threads as 50, one revolution of worm 39 would axially advance unit 38, .0007 inches; dial 51, secured to boss 44. and over the face of which pointer 52, secured to head 53 of shaft 40, is adopted to travel is preferably divided into one hundred g'raduations and therefore each increment of movement of said pointer will advance said unit .000007 of an inch. Further description in connection with the rotor units 91 and 92 will disclose that their construction will permit of an even finer adjustment between their respective dispersing surfaces. Tubular portion 87 is also adapted to support bearing 55 in machined bore 56, the outer race 57 of which has axial movement in said bore, and is protected against foreign matter by. washer- 58 rigidly secured in said bore.

Thrust bearing unit 88 comprises shell 80 having stop flange 01 and axial adiustment flange 62 195 threaded externally to screw threads 50, and internally to receive lock nu 53-63 adapted to clamp stationary thrust washers 64-04 between sleeve 65 and against stop flange 61. Said unit also comprises rotating thrust collar 818 1 snugly fitting over machined sub-extension 108 of rotor unit 91 and is rigidly secured to said extension by lock nuts 67-67 acting to clamp said thrust collar, washer 08 and inner race 69, of bearing 55 against shoulder 109 of said rotor unit. Balls 98 interposed between collar 68 and collars 64-04 act to move collar 55 and its depending parts, as rotor 91, axially, when, and as unit 39 is similarly axially moved.

Cooling liquid and material inlet unit 6 comprises housing 72 having male flange portion 73 adapted to mate with female portion 34 of unit 5; machined boss 74 in which one end of water tube '15 is rigidly secured; tubular portion '76 mnchined internally to permit axial movement of 135 one end of material tube '7'? and threaded externally to receive nut 78 adapted to restrain gland '79, supporting rotatable fitting 89 (see Figure 4), terminating in pipe 81, against packing 82. Housing 72 also comprises water inlet chamber 83 communicating to pipe 04 through orifice 85. Material tube 77 is restrained against circumferential movement by pin 86 secured thereto and adapted to have axial movement in slot 87.

Radially supported by bearings 10-10 and 55-55 and axially guided by thrust bearing units 38-38 are dispersion rotor units 90 and 91 hereinafter termed rotors, said rotors being similar in form except as to dispersion disks 92 and 98. 140 Said rotors comprise housing 94 having male flange 95 adapted to mate and be suitably secured to female flange 96 of dispersion disk supporting plate 97, also the tubular portion 98, the shoulder 99 of which is machined to rigidly re- 145 ceive inner race 100 of bearing 10 and is drilled to receive one end of studs 101-101 interposed between said portion and plate 9'! and adapted to support cooling iiquid guide balile plate 102, the center tubular portion 108 of which is adaptmamas ed to act as a bearing guide for the exit end 104 of water tube 75. Tubular portion 98 also has radially disposed cooling liquid outlet orifices 105-105 adapted to pass the cooling liquid to theopenings 12 of gland 13 and thence to chamber 11 and pipe 15, said rotor housing also has reduced tubularextension 106 to which motor rotor $1 29 is-suitably rigidly secured; also a second ref 'duced tubular portion 108 and shoulder 109 to which as hereintoi'ore described is secured bearing 55 and thrust collar 66; also a gland adapted to restrain packing 111 against cooling liquid tube 75, by action of gland nut 112.

To the exit end 118 of material delivery tube 77 is rigidly secured collar 117 (Figures 1 and 5) the face 118 of which is adapted to bear on face 119 of gland nut 120 rigidly secured to orifice 121 in dispersion disk support plate 97, springs 122-122 acting to cause said faces to engage with each other.

Dispersion disks 93 and 94 comprise continuous circumferential beveled mating projections 125-125 adjoining each other. each having a pair of dispersion faces 126 and 127. The base of each of said adjoining projection is joined by a groove, as 128. At the apex of each of said projections is another groove 129, rigidly secured in which, is a continuous band or baille ring 130. The material to be treated enters at the inner groove 131 and leaves at the peripherial groove 132.

Referring to Figure 6 showing modified dispersion disks 135 and 136, the dispersion faces 137 and 138 are all arranged substantially in a radial plane, however their continuity is intercepted by grooves 138w-138a and continuous baflle rings 139-139 rigidly secured in grooves 140-140. The material to be dispersed enters at groove 141 and leaves at peripherial groove 142.

Referring to Figure 7 showing still another modified form of rotors 145 and 146, the projections 147-147 are similar to projections 125, however are angularly more acute, in this manner not only increasing the lineal dispersing surface for a given radial distance, but also permitting the omission of bailles, as 130, the apex 148 moving in groove 149 acting as said bailles. The material enters at groove 150 and leaves at groove 151.

Referring to the modified form of colloidal mill 159, shown in Fig. 9, the rotor housings and 161, the latter not shown, are similar to housings 7 and 35, however are modified to omit the cooling liquid receiving chamber 11 and the inclusion of a modified micrometer unit, as 162, the machined flanges 163 and 164 of which are adapted to snugly enter machined bore 165 of rotor housing 160 and is adapted to be allocated by dowel screw 166 locked by nut 167. Micrometer unit 162 also comprises a thrust bearing unit 168. Similar in structure and function to unit 38, and actuated by a worm as 39, the revolving thrust collar 169 of which is clamped against spacing collar 170 impinging against the inner race of bearing 10, by lock nuts 171-171.

The bearing and gland unit 175, supplants the micrometer unit 5 of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, and comprises housing 176 having male flange 177 adapted to non-rigidly mate with one end of frame 25, and female flange 178 adapted to mate with male fiange 73 of cooling liquid and material inlet unit 6. Housing 176 also comprises tubular portion 180, radially supporting the outer race of bearing 10, in machine bore 183 but permitting axial movement thereof between protection washers 181 and 182 secured in said bore. Said housing also comprises internally machined and threaded gland portion 184, supporting gland nut 185 adapted to restrain packing 186 against rotor unit 195. Orifice 187 acts to drain surplus oil and foreign matter from hearing compartment 188.

The inner race of bearing 10 of unit 175 is rigidly secured to sleeve 189, washer 190 rigidly secured thereto acting to clamp said bearing against shoulder 191, said sleeve having slots as 192 adapted to engage pins 193 and restrain said sleeve bearing 10 and washer 190 to rotate with rotor unit 195. Housing 176 is also provided with chamber 179 adapted to receive the cooling liquid from orifice 199 of rotor unit 195.

Dispersion rotor units 195 and 196, the latter not being shown, are similar to rotors 91 and 92, however are modified by omission of cooling liquid outlet orifices 105-105, reallocation of collar 169 of the thrust bearing unit, as 168 on tubular portion 197, and the omission of gland 110, the tubular extention 198 being maintained substantially the same internal diameter as portion 197. The external diameter of said tubular portions are comparatively minutely graduated, the largest step receiving inner race of bearing 10, the next smaller collar 169, the next rotor 179, and the last bearing sleeve 189.

Referring to Figure 10, material to be dispersed in mill 1 entering by pipe 81 may be supplied from pipe 204 by pump 200, driven by motor 201 controlled by speed control unit 202, actuated by lever 203, the lowering of said lever decreasing said speed and raising of said lever increasing said speed.

Cooling or heating liquid is supplied to mill through pipe 84 as will be more fully hereinafter described. After the cooling or heating liquid hereinafter termed "water" has passed through mill 1, as will also be more fully hereinafter described, it is withdrawn through pipes 15-15 by pumps 205-205 driven by motors 206-206 said pumps acting at all times to develop a partial vacuum within the water circulating system of said mill. From pumps 205-205 said water is conveyed through pipes 207-207 to thermocontrol units 208W-208W comprising housing 209 having intake orifice 210 receiving pipe 207,

and outlet orifice 211, connected to discharge pipe 212, and to the bottom of which is secured one end of sylphon 213, the other or one end being restrained downwards by spring 228. adjusted by threaded sleeve 229 and has secured thereto, rod

214, insulatively supporting contact dish 215 restrained upwardly by spring 216 against collar 217 secured to said rod, said rod also insulatively supporting contact disk 218 restrained downwardly, to closed circuit position, by spring 219 arranged between said last named disk and collar 220 secured to said rod, collar 221, also secured to said rod being adapted .to raise said last named disk upon a predetermined upward movement of said rod. Cover 222 suitably secured to housing 209 acts to seal chamber 223 and through through pipe 233 with valve 231 open. Valve 231 is adapted to open as rod 214 is raised and closed as said rod] is'lowered. Said valve preferably has a leakage groove whereby a comparatively small quantity of said liquid continuously passes therethrough to mill 1. Said unit also has one end of bifurcated lever 238 pivotally secured to collar 220 and the other end pivoted to rod 203 adapted to actuate speed control units 202-202, said lever is pivotally mounted on pin 236, said material discharges through pipe 237.

The operation of applicant improved colloidal mill is as followsz-referrlng to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and rotors 90 and 91 are rotated in reverse directions, the speed being selected for the particular materials which said mill is to treat, said speed being preferably 1800 R. P. M. when dispersion conditions will so permit.

The material to be treated may be supplied in two forms, for example ii an enamel, the pigment may be supplied mixed in a light solvent to one end of the mill through pipe 81 and the varnish or body material through pipe 81 of the other end of said mill, said materials passing through fittings 80-80 into interior of material tube 77 and thence axially as shown by arrows to chamber 89 and thence radially to groove 131 where dispersion between surfaces 126 and 127 begins, the material finally reaching the first or innermost cooling and stabilizing, hereinafter termed stabilizing, groove 128, where a comparatively slow movement of the material ob tains, baiiie ring 130 causing said material to take a comparatively long path whereby its heat or cold may be absorbed by the material of disk 94,

and the highly agitated solid particles allowed to stabilize their molecular structure, and whereafter it again is further dispersed by another pair of dispersion faces, as 126 and 127 and whereafter it again passes to another stabilizing groove, as 128 and is again stabilized" before the succeeding dispersion stage, eight such stabilizing and nine such dispersion stages being shown as forming part of the structure of dispersion disks 93 and 94, said material finally leaving by groove 132 from whence it is thrown against the interior oi housings 7 and 35 and finally gravitates to chamber 19 and pipe 20 wherealter it passes past valve 235 to thermounit 203 to and around it sylphon 213 acting on the vapors contained therein as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Itwillbe notedthatthcmaterialdurlng the dispersion process has moved diagonally radially, and whereas the material exists from dispersion disks 93 and 94 on substantially the some radial plane as when it entered said disks, it has moved over a lineal dispersion distance substantially in excess of the distance represented by a straight radial line between said material exit and entrance.

Manymaterials evolvemorcorlcuheat indicpersion as hereintoi'ore described. whereas in other materials it is necessary to add heat to or maintain a substantially uniform heat of said material during the dispersion process.

To accomplish such heating or cooling, water, or other cooling liquid or gas, hereinafter termed "water, is fed as will be morcjully hereinafter described through pipes 34-24 to chambers 83-83 and thence to the interior of cooling liquid tubes 75-75 surrounding material tubes 17-77, as shown by the several arrows, thereafter passing into annular chamber 123 between dispersion disk supporting plates 97-07, thence outwardly radially and around the outer edge of baille'platc 102, thence inwardly radially through chamber 124 into the interior of tubular portion 98 where the centrifugal action caused by the rotation thereof, causes said water to assume a tubular column as shown by dash lines 133-133, and whereby said water is restrained outwardly through openings 12-12 in glands 13-13, finally passing into chambers 11-11, and pipes 15-15 to pumps 205-205 and thence to thermounits 208W-208W as will be more fully hereinafter described.

It will be noted that annular chamber 123 is tapered, this taper being preferably proportioned whereby the volume of the water at any given radial distance will be substantially uniform as it is moved radially outwardly, in this manner assuring that the exposed surfaces of dispersion disk support plates 97-97 will be in contact with said water whereby a maximum of heat or cold may be absorbed therefrom for the purpose of thermostatically acting on the material being ground by dispersion disks as'33 and 94; 135 and 136 or 145 and 146, the cooling or heating action of said water being communicated through the metal of plates 97-97 to the metal, or other material of said dispersion disks and thence to said material being ground, or stabilized, a portion of said cooling, or heating action beim also communicated through the flanges 35 and '96 of rotor housings 94-94 and said plates.

The gland 110, packing 111 and nut 112 act to prevent air being drawn into the interior of rotor housings 94 and and thence to pipes 15-15. 1

The gland 13, packings 22 and 23 and nut 21 act to likewise prevent air entering chambers 11-11 and pipes 15-15 by action of pumps 205-205.

The dispersion rotor ,units 91 and 92 are adapted to be moved axially by the fitting of a suitable keyover the head 53 of shaft 40, and rotation or 118 said shaft and worm 39, in this manner causing rotation of one of thrust bearing units, as 38, the rotation of said units in threads 50 causing an axial movement of said unit, said movement being communicated through bails 88-88 to thrust m collars 66-66 rigidly secured to said rotor units, whereas, as heretorore described, each increment of movement oi pointer 52 is adapted to cause .000007 inch axial movement said thrust bearing units and therefore a similar movement or said dispersion rotor units, the actual variation of thelinesldistancc atright angles tothedispersion surfaces, as 126 and 127 is substantially less, this variation being prop rtional to the sins of the anglefmd bythcaxis ofrotationofsald 180 rotors and and surfaces.

Referring particularly to Figures 10 and 11 showing applicant's novel control system for colloidalmills, thematcriahtobedlspersedmaybe supplied by gravity from a reservoir not shown or i'romaprlmarycolloidalmilLasln (Figure 11) entering mill 1, assumed to be in operation. through pipe 224 adapted to be controllcdby valve 234, or, may be supplied by pumps. as, 200-200, leaving mill 1 by pipe 20, adapted to be controlled by valve 235 and passing to and through thermocontrol unit 2083! and thence to discharge pipe. or reservoir 231. As said material passes through thermocontrol unit 2031! 5 the temperature thereof is adapted to act on sylphon 213 therein, an increase of temperature of saidmaterinlactingtoraiserod214 anditsdepending parts including stem 230 of valve 231.

The tension of spring 228 acting on the free 150 nos-mas end of sylphon 213, is adjusted by sleeve 220 whereby the rod 214 and itsdepending parts remain substantially as shown in the drawings when the finished material passing through thermounit 208M is of the desired'temperature. It for any reason said temperature should rise, the liquid, or vapors in sylphon 213 will be expanded, thereby causing rod 214 and-its depending parts to move upwardly until contact disk 215 establishes a circuit as follows:-

Alarm circuit from positive energy to wire 240, disk 215, wire 241, alarm 242 and wire 243 to negative energy, in this manner calling attention to an attendant of an abnormal condition in mill 1. It said attendant fails to observe said alarm and correct said abnormal condition, and if for any reason said condition becomes more abnormal and whereby said temperature of said material is still further raised, a further expansion of said liquid or vapors in sylphon 213 causes a further upward movement of rod 214 and its depending parts, and whereby collar 221 is caused to raise contact disk 218, in this manner interrupting the following circuit:-

No voltage relay circuit from positive energy, wire 244, disk 218, wire 245, disk 218 of right hand thermo-um't 208W, wire 246, disk 218 of left hand thermo-unit 208W, wire 24'? and wires 248 and 249 to 'no voltage relays 226-226 in multiple, and thence to negative energy; as this circuit is opened the no voltage relays 226-226 act to stop motors 4-4 of mill 1 in known manner and the dispersion process will stop, and before said mill can again be placed in operation it will be necessary to manually operate starters 225-225 in known manner.

The cooling water discharging from pipes 15-15 is similarly adapted to control mill 1 by thermo-units. as 208W-208W, the water discharged into said pipes being passed to and through said units by pumps 205-205 and thence to waste pipes, or reservoirs 212-212. Again assuming mill 1 to be in normal operation, and the water discharged by pipes 15-15 to be of normal temperature, the rods 214--214 01 said units and their depending parts will be substantially as shown in the drawings. If for any reason an abnormal condition arises in said mill and whereby the temperature of said water is abnormally increased, either one, or both rods 214 will move upwardly thereby causing disk 215 to establish the hereintofore described "alarm circult to be sounded calling attention to said abnormal condition and, should the attendant fail to remedy the cause for said abnormality, a further predetermined increase of temperature of said water will act to raise one, or both contact disks 218-218 of said units, thereby opening the aforesaid "no voltage circuit and motors 4-4 will both be stopped, and must be manually started before said mill can again be placed in o eration.

The cooling water to mill 1, is preferably supplied to pipes 84-84 by a valve as 231 adapted to vary the flow of said water to said mill to compensate for ordinary variations in temperature of the water supplied to said mill, for exmovement of rod 214 of thermo-unit, 208M sufilcient to slightly further open valve 231, but not sufllciently to establish the "alarm circuit by disk 215, or open the "no voltage circuit by raising disk 218 of said thermo-unit.

Thermo-unit 208M is also adopted to control the quantity of material to be supplied to a colloid mill, as 1, by lever 238 and rod 203 adapted to actuate speed control units 202-202, for example, if the temperature of the finished material passing through said unit is lowered, rod 214 is moved downwardly and rod 203 upwardly, in this manner causing control units 202-202 to increase the speed of motors 201-201 driving pumps 200-200 and therefore more raw materials will be supplied to said mill, and conversely as said temperature is increased, rod 203 is lowered and motors 201-201 slowed down to decrease said supply of raw materials to said mill.

Referring particularly to Figure 11 showing a process for dispersing materials by colloidal mills, as for example paints, or enamels, the colloidal mill 1A is adapted to receive pigment to be dispersed through material inlet pipe 81L, and a solvent or thinner having a high affinity therefore through pipe 81R, whereafter said pigment is dispersed in said solvent in said mill the purpose being primarily to reduce said pigment to colloidal state in suspension in said thinner or solvent, whereafter said colloidal mixture passes through pipe 20 to a thermo-unit, as 208M, and

pipe 224 to material inlet 81L of colloidal mill 13 whereas the paint, or enamel body, as oil, or varnish, is fed to the similar pipe 81R of said last named mill, said mixture and said oil, or varnish being further dispersed by said last named mill, and whereafter the finished product, as for example paint, or enamel, passes through pipe 20 and thermo-unit 208M to pipe or reservoir, as 250 for distribution, or further treatment, for example, with certain pigments it is desirable to add a surplus of thinner, or solvent, during the primary dispersion stage in mill 1A. Under such conditions, and after the such finished product issues from pipe 250, it is further desirable to remove said surplus thinner or solvent by driving said solvent off by artificial evaporation, or partial distillation, simultaneously recovering said solvent in a manner similar to that shown in Patent #1,345,083 issued to Gerli and Ross on June 29th, 1920.

Whereas not shown, it is understood that mills as 1A and 1B are supplied with suitable controls apparatus and circuits therefor, as shown in Figure 10.

Whereas thermo- units 208W and 208M have been shown as acting to prevent a rise in temperature beyond a predetermined limit, it is obvious that said units may be modified whereby sylphon 213 may be made to raise rod 214 as the free end thereof is lowered by lowering of temperature of the finished material passing therethrough, in this manner assuring that a colloidal mill as 1 will be supplied-with conditioning liquid of not less than a predetermined temperature.

Whereas for clearer illustration the thermounits 208W and 208M have been shown as having sylphon 213 directly acted upon by the liquids or material passing through said units, sylphon valves of known form may be employed and the 1 thermostatic bulbs therefor may be arranged in the outlet flow of said finished material, and said water.

The dispersion rotors as 93 and 94; and 136; and and 146 are preferably of hardened steel and the dispersion surfaces thereof may be plated or covered with an even harder substance, as for example chromium. Due to the high rotative speeds when dispersing, the liquid portions of the material to be treated adheres to the dispersion surfaces and acts as an insulator preventing abrasion, or substantial wear of said dispersion surfaces, any grinding or reduction of the solids particles into smaller particles if noncurrent with dispersion being accomplished by the collision of said particles during transit between the dispersion surfaces as 126 and 127 as the dispersion action is accomplished.

The dispersion disks shown in Figure 6, are preferably employed where the proportion of actual grinding, or reduction of coarser materials may not be as important as a thorough dispersion of the solids and liquids, whereas the dispersion disks shown in Figure 7, are preferably employed when exceedingly fine pigments are to be more thoroughly dispersed whereby the pigment particles are completely suspended in the liquid in colloidal form.

If desired the stabilizing grooves, as 128, 138 or 149 may be made deeper as they progress outwardly as shown by the dotted grooves 152-152, the modified baflle rings 153-153 being made correspondingly wider as shown in the dotted form. Further, said grooves may be made progressively deeper beginning with the innermost groove to the outermost, the latter being the deepest, in this manner permitting progressively greater stabilizing of the active material as it moves outwardly during the dispersion process. It is to be noted that the circumferential speed of the outer dispersion surfaces, as 126 and 127 is in excess of the similar speed of the inner of said surfaces. When dispersing certain materials the heat evolved in the dispersing process is likewise progressively increased as the active material moves outwardly and the absorption thereof may be progressively assumed by the hereintofore mentioned progressively arranged deeper grooves as 152 and the progressively arranged wider rings as 153.

By the term treatment, dispersion grinding and or mixing is implied that the solid materials may be simultaneously dispersed and ground in the liquid during the dispersion action. The particles of some pigments, as for example, certain lamp blacks, are structurally so fine that the important accomplishment is to isolate each and all of said particles one from another and surround said isolated particles with a liquid to produce a colloidal suspension thereof. In the treatment of such materials, dispersion only occurs, whereas in coarse pigments some grinding occurs.

Water will normally seek its own level whether by gravity or centrifugal action. It will be noted that the water entering chamber 123 from water tube 75, enters at a lesser radius than the water leaving chamber 124 and passing to tubular portion 98 of grinding rotor 91, therefore, centrifugal action assumed, and speaking in terms of gravitation, the higher level of the water in chamber 123 will act to restrain the water in said chamber to pass to chamber 124 as shown by the arrows whereafter centrifugal action again assumed, it passes in tubular form to openings 105-105; 12-12 and chamber 11 to discharge pipe 15 the partial vacuum established by pumps 205-205 assisting in this action.

Referring to the modified form of colloidal mill 159, shown inFlgure 9, the material to be treated is supplied to, is treated. and leaves said mill in 1,9sv,7sa

the same manner as hereintofore described in connection with Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The cooling, or heating water is likewise supplied to said mill in the same manner up to and including chamber 124, whereafter said water moves as a tubular column, centrifugal action being assumed, along tubular portions 197 and 198 of grinding rotors 195 and 196 leaving at openings 199-199 thereafter passing to chambers 179-179 and thence by gravity to discharge pipes 15-15 as shown by the several arrows.

The axial movement of rotors 195 and 196 for dispersion adjustment is accomplished by rotation of worm 39 in a similar manner as hereintofore described in connection with Figures 1, 3 and 8, the rotation of said worm acting on teeth 172 of thrust bearing unit 168, causing rotation thereof and through threads 173, a simultaneous axial movement thereof, said axial movement acting through balls 174-174 to cause axial movement of thrust collar 169 rigidly secured to said dispersion rotor.

The driving motor 4 having rotor 159 is similar to motor 4 and rotor 29 of Figures 1 and 2, however rotor 159 has a larger bore to accommodate the larger tubular section 198 of grinding rotors 195 and 196.

Itistobenotedthat,abearingas 10,hasbeen placed as closely adjacent the dispersion faces of rotors 195 and 196 as substantial structure will permit, also that thrust bearing unit 168 has likewise been placed as close to said bearing as substantial structure will permit, in other words the radial dispersion plane and the thrust hearing adjustment planes are comparatively close together. Such an arrangement is desirable when extremely close regulation of the quality of the finished material is desired. It is to be noted that by placing the said thrust bearing unit as closely adjacent the radial dispersion plane as possible, a minimum of axial structure, as metal, obtains between said unit and said dispersion faces, and therefore a minimum of expansion or contraction of said structure will obtain due to temperature variationthereof which might cause a variation of the distance between said dispersion surfaces and therefore a variation in the quality of the finished material ground thereby.

By the novel arrangement of securing the driving elements, as 29-159 of the motors 4 directly to the rotors, as -91 and 195-196, the torque applied by said driving elements is wholly circumferential, therefore no radial deflection of said rotors will occur to produce distortion of the material dispersion passageway between said rotors. Said passageway distortion is further minimized by the comparatively large diameter and rugged construction of the shaft portions of the rotor members 94-95 and 195-196 thereby substantially annulling the whipping" and torsional deflections thereof.

By the term stabilizing" is also included the absorption and dispersion of ionization of the solid particles during the material dispersion process. It has been reasonably established that continuous collision of colloids tend to produce ionization thereof, and under which condition said colloids may unite in crystalline formations and produce undesirable and noticeable particles in the tlnished products.

If desired the baiile rings as 130 or 153 may be insulatively supported and electrical energy supplied thereto for the purpose of still further dispersing said ionization.

What I claim is:-

1. A colloidal mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatable material treatment rotors, dispersion faces formed thereon in concentric rows thereon, the rows of one rotor being arranged in dispersion relation to the rows of the other rotor, non-material dispersion advancing passageways formed in concentric rows on the rotors alternately with the dispersion faces, the dispersion faces and the passageways being arranged whereby the material is advanced from one set of dispersion faces to a passageway in one rotor alternately with advancement thereof from similar faces to a passageway in the opposite rotor, means for rotatably supporting the rotors, means for rotating the rotors relatively, means for supplying material to the dispersion faces, and means for conveying the treated material discharged by therotors to the exterior of the mill.

2. A colloid mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatable material treatment members positioned to form a material treatment passage therebetween, dispersion faces formed thereon in concentric rows, the rows of one member being arranged in juxtaposition to similar faces of the other member whereby the material treatment passageway is formed therebetweem' grooves formed in one of the members arranged in concentric rows alternately between the dispersion faces, annular baflie members formed on the other material treatment member extending into and bifurcating the grooves whereby material advancing and stabilizing passageways are formed altere nately between the rows of dispersion surfaces, means for rotatably supporting the material treatment members, means for rotating the members relatively, means for supplying material to the material treatment passage way for treatment, and means for conducting the treated material therefrom to the exterior of the mill.

3. A colloid mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatable material treatment members positioned to form a material treatment passageway therebetween, wedge shaped annular projections formed thereon in concentric rows whereby annular wedge shaped troughs are formed between adjacent rows of the projections, the rows of projections of one member being matingly positioned in the troughs of the other member to form dispersion passageways therebetween, nonmaterial dispersion passageways formed at the bottoms of the troughs communicating with the dispersion passageways for effectinga comparatively slow movement of the material therein as it is advanced from one dispersion passageway to another, means for rotatably supporting the members, means for rotating the members rela tively, means for supplying material to the material treatment passageway for treatment, and means for conducting the treated material therefrom to the exterior of the mill."

4. A colloidal mill comprising in combination: relatively rotatable material treatment members positioned to form a material treatment passageway therebetwe'en, tubular extensions formed thereon having oriflced end portions, housing surrounding the oriflced end portions arranged to eflect a closure thereover, tubular members supported .by the housings extending through the tubular extensions to the material treatment passageway arranged to supply material to the passageway for treatment, tubular members supported by the housings spacedly surrounding the material supply tubular members arranged to supply a heat exchange liquid adjacent the material treatment passageway and thence to the interior of the tubular extensions by flow thereof through the space formed between the tubular members, means for rotatably supporting the material treatment members, means for rotating the members relatively, means for supplying material to the material supply tubular members, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the heat exchange liquid supply tubular members, means for conducting the liquid from the tubular extensions, and means for conducting the treated material discharged by the treatment passageway to the exterior of the mill.

5. A colloid mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatable material treatment members positioned to form a material treatment passageway therebetween, tubular extensions formed thereon having orificed end portions, housings for rotatably supporting the orificed end portions having chambers therein arranged in communication with the orifices, housings supported by the orificed end portion housings having chambers therein arranged to receive a heat exchange liquid thereinto, means supported by the last named housings for conducting the liquid from the chambers therein adjacently to the material treatment passageway and thence through the orifices to the first named chambers, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the heat exchange liquid chambers, means for conducting the liquid from the first named chambers to the exterior of the mill, means for rotatably supporting the treatment members, means for rotating the members relatively, means for supplying material to the treatment passageway for treatment thereby, and means for conducting the treated material discharged therefrom to the exterior of the mill.

6. A colloidal mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatable material treatment members positioned to form a material treatment passageway therebetween, a material receiving chamber formed between the members positioned adjacent the material receiving end of the treatment passageway, rotatable chambered rotor members for supporting the treatment members having orifices communicating to the chambers therein, material supply members positioned within the chambers having the material receiving end portions thereof extending through and terminating exteriorly oi the orifices and the discharge ends thereof arranged to discharge the material into the receiving chamber of the material treatment members, means for rotatably supporting the chambered rotor members, means for rotating the members relatively, means for supplying material to the material supply members for passage to the treatment passageway, and means for conducting the treated material discharged thereby to the exterior of the mill.

. 7. A colloidal mill comprising, *a chambered rotor member having a heat exchange portion formed at one end thereof, a material treatment surface formed on the outer face of the heat exchange portion being arranged to rotate relatively to a correlated surface whereby a material treatxnent passageway is formed therebetween, a heat exchange surface formed in the inner face of the heat exchange portion positioned in communication with the rotor chamber, an annular deflecting member having a centrally disposed opening therein positioned in the chamber adjacent the heat exchange surface arranged to form annular spaces either side thereof, means for eflecting a flow of heat exchange liquid in the chamber from one annular space to the other through the opening of the deflecting member whereby the liquid is restrained to flow radially in juxtaposition to the heat exchange surface for controlling the temperature of the material treatment surfaces, means for supplying material to the treatment passageway for treatment thereby, means for rotatably supporting the rotor member, means for effecting rotation thereof for treating the material, and means for conveying the treated material from the mill.

8. A colloidal mill comprising, a chambered rotor member having a material treatment portion formed at one end thereof arranged to rotate relatively to a correlated portion whereby a material treatment passageway is formed therebetween, a centrally disposed tubular member for conducting material therethrough positioned in the chamber of the rotor member having one end thereof engaging the material treatment portion whereby the material is restrained to flow from the tubular member to the material treatment passageway, another tubular member for conducting a heat exchange liquid spacedly surrounding the first named tubular member having the inner end thereof extending adjacent to the material treatment portion whereby the liquid -flowing from the end portion will be directed thereagainst for eifecting heat transfer therebetween, means for supporting the outer ends of the tubular members, means for supplying material to the outer end of the material tubular member for movement therethrough to the material treatment passageway, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the outer end of the liquid tubular member for movement therethrough to the material treatment portion and thence to the chamber, means for conducting the heat affected liquid from the chamber, means for rotatably supporting the rotor member, means for effecting rotation thereof for treating the material thereby. and means for conveying the treated material from the mill.

9. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotatable rotor member having a chambered material treatment portion formed thereon arranged to rotate relatively to a correlated portion whereby a material treatment passageway is formed therebetween, a tubular portion formed on the rotor memberhaving one end thereof joined to the material treatment portion and the remote end thereof formed with an orifice communicatingwith the passageway therein, the passageway also communicating with the chamber of the material treatment portion, a housing member surrounding the material treatment portion having a bearing member therein arranged to rotatably support the rotor member adjacent the material treatment passageway, another housing member surrounding the minced and of the tubular portion having a bearing member therein for rotatably supporting the remote end of the tubular portion, a motor unit surrounding the tubular portion having the driving element thereof secured to the rotor member positioned between the housing members, means for independently supplying material to the material treatment passageway and a heat exchange liquid to the chamber for heat exchange with the material treatment portion through the ori. ace of the tubular portion, means for conducting the beat affected liquid from the chamber,

a base member for supporting the motor unit and the housings, and means for conveying the treated material from the mill.

10. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having adjacently positioned material treatment portions arranged to form a material treatment passageway therebetween and tubular portions joined thereto extending in opposite directions therefrom, a base member, a main housing member supported thereby surrounding, the material treatment portions, subsidiary housing members supported by the base member surrounding the tubular members, the subsidiary housings being positioned each side of the main housing, motor units supported by the base member surrounding the tubular portions having the driving elements thereof secured to the tubular portions for effecting rotation of the rotor members, the motor units being positioned between the main and subsidiary housing members, means supported by the housing members for rotatably supporting the rotors, means for supplying material to the material treatment passageway for treatment, and means for conveying the treated material from the mill.

11. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a material treatment surface formed at one end thereof arranged to be rotated relatively to a correlated surface whereby a material treatment passageway is formed therebetween, a supported bearing member surrounding the rotor member positioned rearwardly but adjacent the material treatment surface end thereof, a supported thrust bearing unit surrounding the rotor member positioned adjacent rearwardly of the bearing member arranged to effect variable axial movement of the rotor member for varying the size of the material treatment passageway, a supported motor unit surrounding the rotor member positioned rearwardly of the thrust bearing unit, the driving element of the motor unit being secured to the rotor member for effecting the rotation thereof to treat the material in the passageway therefor, another supported bearing member surrounding the rotor member positioned rearwardly of the motor unit adjacent the other end of the rotor member, means for supplying material to the material treatment passageway for treatment and means for con- 5 veying the treated material from the mill.

' 12. A rotor for colloidaltmills comprising, an annular portion formed at one end thereof having an annular chamber formed therein, a tubular portion formed at the other end thereof having one end of the passageway therein communicating with the annular chamber and the other end thereof terminating in an opening in the protruding end of the tubular portion, a material treatment surface formed on the end 3 face of the annular portion, a centrally disposed oriflce formed in the material treatment surface end of the annular portion adjacent to the material treatment surface thereon, a material conducting passageway formed in the rotor extending between the orifice and the opening arranged to conduct material to the material treatment surface for treatment thereby, a heat exchange liquid passageway formed in the rotor extending from the opening to the annular chamber arranged to conduct heat exchange liquid from the opening to the chamber for controlling the temperature of the material treatment surfaces, and another heat exchange liquid passageway fmmedln therotorextending from ass-mes the chamber to the opening arranged to conduct the liquid from the chamber to the opening.

13. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having abutting material treatment portions arranged to form a material treatment passageway therebetween and tubular portions joined thereto extending in opposite directions therefrom, a main housing member surrounding the material treatment portions, motor units surrounding the rotor members having the driving elements thereof secured to the tubular portions thereof for effecting the rotation thereof, ventilated housing members surrounding the rotor members engaging the main housing and the motor units, subsidiary housing members surrounding the outer ends of the tubular portions, ventilated housing members surrounding the rotor members engaging the motor units and the subsidiary housing members, and means supported by the housing members for rotatably supporting the rotor members.

14. The combination with a colloidal mill arranged to have one or more material treatment rotors thereof rotated by motor units connected to a source of energy, of thermostatic means p0- sitioned in the discharge flow of the material treated by the rotors affected by variation in temperature thereof normally connecting the source to the motor units arranged to effect a disconnection therefrom upon an abnormal increase of temperature of the material in the discharge flow.

15. The combination with a colloid mill having a heat exchange liquid supplied thereto for controlling the temperature of the material treatment surfaces of material treatment rotors supported thereby, the rotors being rotated by motor units connected to a source of energy, of thermostatic means positioned in the discharge flow of the liquid from the mill affected by variations in temperature thereof normally connecting the source to the motors arranged to effect the disconnection therefrom upon an abnormal increase in temperature of the discharge flow.

16. The combination with a colloidal mill having a heat exchange liquid supplied from a source thereto for controlling the temperature of the material treatment surfacesofthe material treatment rotors supported thereby, of thermostatic means positioned in the discharge flow of the heat exchange liquid from the mill affected by variations in the temperature thereof for controlling the flow of the liquid from the source to the mill arranged to increase the flow of the liquid from the source to the mill upon an increase in the temperature of the discharge flow and decrease the,

flow from the source upon adecrease in the temperature thereof.

17. A colloidal mill comprising, relatively rotatable material treatment members arranged to abut one another, a concentric series of wedge shaped annular projections formed on the abutting faces of the members, the projections of one member being arranged to matingly enter between the projections of the other member, material treatment surfaces formed on the annular projections the surfaces being formed continuously circumferentially on the projections and the surface of one member being positioned relativey to the surfaces of the other member to form a series of ighly restricted eways between the inner and outer edges of the abutting faces whereby all the material to be treated is constrained to pass successively therethrough during the relative rotation of the members. means for rotatablysupportingthemembersto rotate relatively, means for supplying material to the inner edge of the abutting faces for treatment in the restricted eways, and means for conveying the treated material from the mill.

18. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having abutting material treatment portions formed thereon, the abutting ends thereof forming a material treatment passageway extending between the inner and outer edges thereof, chambered portions formed on the rotor imembers rearwardly of the material treatment portions having a heat exchange liquid chamber therein, the chamberedportions having openings in the outer ends thereof communicating with the chamber, a material receiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of the material treatment portions positioned at the inner end of the material treatment passageway, orifices formed in the material treatment portions adjacent the material receiving chamber, tubular members extending through the chambers of the chambered portions, the inner ends thereof being supported in the orifices of the material treatment portions and the outer ends thereof extending through the openings of the chambers and being supported independently of the rotor members, means for supplying material to the outer ends of the tubular members for flow to the material receiving chamber, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the chambers for thermally affecting the material in the tubular members and the material treatment passageway, means for rotating the rotor members relatively, and means for conveying the treated material discharged by the outer end of the material treatment passageway from the mill.

19. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having abutting material treatment portions formed thereon, the abutting ends thereof forming a material treatment pas sageway extending between the inner and outer edges thereof, chambered portions formed in the rotor members rearwardly of the material treatment portions having a heat exchange liquid chamber therein, the chambered portions having openings in the outer ends thereof communicating with the chamber, a material receiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of the material treatment portions positioned at the inner end of the material treatment passageway, orifices formed in the material treatment portions adjacent the material receiving chamber, nonrotatable tubular members extending through the chambers of the chambered portions between the orifices of the material treatment portions and the openings of the chambered portions, the inner ends thereof communicating with the material receiving chamber, means ted with the orifices of the material treatment portions for rotatably supporting the inner ends of the tubular members therein, means for fixedly supporting the outer ends of the tubular members independently of the rotor members adjacent the openings of the chambered portions, means for supp y n material to the outer ends of the tubular members for movement to the material receiving chamber, meansfor supplying a heat exchange liquid to the heat exchange chamber for thermally affecting thematerlal in the tubular members and the material treatment passageway, means for rotating the rotor members relatively. and means ferconveying the treated material discharged by the material treatment passageway from the mill.

20. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having chambered material treatment portions formed on the abutting ends thereof, material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends arranged to form a material treatment passageway between the inner and outer edges thereof, cylindrical portions formed on the rotor members having one end of the bores therein communicating with the chambers of the material portions and an opening formed at the other ends thereof, a heat exchange portion formed on the abutting ends between the material treatment surfaces and the chambers for effecting heat transfer therebetween, a material conveying member extending through the chamber and the bore having the inner end thereof communicating with the inner end of the material treatment passageway through the heat exchange portion and the outer end thereof extending through the openings in the bore, means for circulating a heat exchange liquid in the chamber in contact with the heat exchange portion and the material conveying member, means for eifecting a flow of material through the material conveying member to the material passageway for treatment therein, and means for rotating the rotor members relatively for treating the material in the passageway.

21. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends thereof arranged to produce a material treatment passageway between the inner and outer edges thereof, inner bearing members surrounding the rotor members positioned adjacent the abutting ends thereof, outer bearing members surrounding the rotor members positioned adjacent the outer ends thereof, means for supporting the bearing members for rotatably supporting the rotors in axial alignment, a rotating motor element surrounding the rotor member positioned between the inner and outer bearing members, the element being rigidly secured to the rotor members for effecting rotation thereof, motor stator elements spacedly surrounding the rotating motor elements, one of the stator elements being arranged to inductively rotate the rotor element correlated thereto in a direction oppositely from the rotation of the other rotor member, a base member for fixedly supporting the motor stator elements in inductive relation to the rotor elements, and means supported by the base member for supporting the bearing supporting members.

22. A colloidal mill for dispersing one material into another comprising co-axially disposed adjacently positioned chambered rotor members having dispersion surfaces formed on abutting end portions thereof arranged to form a dispersion passageway therebetween, a material receiving chamber formedbetween the abutting end portions communicating with the entrance end of the dispersion passageway, a passageway formed in one rotor member extending from the free end portion thereof to the receiving chamber arranged to conduct one material to the chamber, another passageway formed in the other rotor member extending from the free end portion thereof to the receiving chamber for conducting another material to the receiving chamber, means for effecting a flow of heat exchange liquid in thechambersoftherotormemberatheinletand outletoftheheatexchangechambersintherotorsbeingconcentriewithandparalleltothe material inlet, means for supplying the materials to the passageways through the free end portions of the rotor members to their respective passageways, means for rotating the rotor members relatively for dispersion of the materials in the dispersion passageway, and means for conveying the dispersed materials from the mill.

23. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends thereof arranged'to produce a material treatment passageway therebetween, a housing surrounding the rotor members, bearings surrounding the rotor members positioned adjacent the abutting ends thereof, bearing supporting housings surrounding the bearings supported by the rotor housing, the bearing supporting housings being removable therefrom but normally rigidly secured therein, thrust bearing units surrounding the rotor members supported by the bearing supporting housings', certain thrust elements of the units being rigidly secured to the rotor members and the other thrust elements thereof being supported by the unit, the unit being axially adiustably supported by the bearing supporting housings whereby axial adjustment thereof will vary the size of the material treatment passageway, means for supplying material to the material treatment passageway through the rotor members, and means for effecting relative rotation of the members for treating the material in the passageway.

24. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed relatively rotatable rotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting end portions thereof arranged to form a materlal treatment passageway therebetween, the abutting end portion having a heat exchange liquid chamber formed therein arranged to eflect heat exchange of the material treated in the material treatment passageway, tubular portions formed rearwardly of the abutting end portions having one end of the bore therein communicating with the chambers and openings formed in the other ends thereof, a fixed housing surrounding the outer end of each tubular portion, the housing having a heat exchange liquid discharge chamber therein communicating with the opening in the bore, a heat exchange liquid receiving chamber formed in the housing, a tubular member extending spacedly through the bore, the member having the outer end thereof communicating with the liquid receiving chamber and the inner end thereof communicating with the liquid chamber of the abutting end portion, and means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the receiving chamber for effecting flow thereof through the tubular member to the heat exchange chamber of the abutting end portion for effecting heat transfer of the material in the material treat-- ment passageway and thence through the space material treatment passageway for treatment thereby, and means for rotating the rotor members relatively for treating the material in the passageway.

25. A colloidal mill comprising. co-axially disposed relatively rotatable rotor members having 1' chambered abutting portions, the abutting ends thereof having material treatment surfaces formed thereon arranged to produce a material treatment passageway therebetween, tubular perhope formedontherotormembersrearwardlyim of the chambered portions having the inner ends of the bores therein communicating with the chambers and the outer ends of the bore open ended, a main housing surrounding the abutting portions of the rotor members having bearings supported therein for rotatably supporting the inner ends of the rotor members, subsidiary housings surrounding the tubular portions adjacent the openings therein, the last named housings having bearings for rotatably supporting the outer ends'of the rotor members. motor units surrounding the tubular portions having the driving elements thereof rigidly secured to the rotor members the motor units being positioned between the bearing housings, a base member for supporting the main and subsidiary housings and the stationary elements of the motor units, means for supplying material to the material treatment passageway through the subsidiary housings and means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to and from the chambers of the abutting portions through the subsidiary housings independently of the means for supplying the material therethrough to the material treatment passageway therethrough.

26. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a chambered portion, the chambered portion having a material treatment surface formed on one end thereof arranged to abut a correlated material treatment surface whereby a material treatment passageway is formed therebetween, a tubular portion formed on the rotor member having the inner end thereof integrally joined to the outer end of the chambered portion, the outer end of the tubular portion navmg an opening therein communicating with the bore thereof, the bore communicating with the chamber of the chambered portion, a fixed housing member surrounding the outer end of the tubular portion having a chamber therein communieating with the opening of the tubular portion, means associated with the housing member for effecting a flow of heat exchange liquid to the rotor chamber through the opening of the tubular portion and thence to the chamber of the housing, and means associated with the housing for conducting the liquid from the chamber therein.

27. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor rnembers having abutting chambered end portions, material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends thereof arranged to produce a material treatment passageway between the inner and outer edges thereof, tubular portions formed on the rotor members rearwardly of the chambered portions having the bores thereof communicating with the chambers, openings formed in the outer ends of the tubular portions, a material receiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of the rotor members positioned at the inner end of the material treatment passageway, tubular members extending spacedly through the chambers and the bores having the inner end portions thereof communicating with the material receiving chamber and the outer end portions thereof extending spacedly through the bore of the tubular portions to the openings thereof, means for supplying materials to the outer end portion of the tubular members for delivery to the material receiving chamber to be treated by the material treatment passageway, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to and from the chambers of the end portions, means for rotating the rotor members relatively for treating the materials in the passageway, and

means for conveying the treated material discharged by the material treatment passageway from the mill.

28. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a comparatively large diameter chambered material treatment portion formed at one end thereof, a material treatment surface formed thereon arranged to rotate relatively to a correlated material treatment surface whereby a ma-- terial treatment passageway is formed therebetween, a tubular shaft portion formed rearwardly of the material treatment portion having a diameter less than the material treatment portion,

the shaft portion being integrally joined to thev material treatment portion and the bore therein communicating with the chamber therein, a bearing member for rotatably supporting the rotor member surrounding the shaft portion thereof in juxtaposition to the material treatment portion thereof, another bearing member for rotatably supporting the rotor member surrounding the free end of the shaft portion, a motor unit surrounding the shaft portion positioned between the bearing members, the rotating element of the motor unit being rigidly secured to the shaft portion, a duct extending axially through the rotor member for supplying materials to the material treatment passageway, means for supplying material to the duct, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the chamber through the bore of the shaft portion, and a horizontally disposed base member arranged to support the bearing members, and the stationary element of the motor unit.

29. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed oppositely facing rotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends thereof arranged to produce a material treatment passageway therebetween, a main housing surrounding the abutting ends of the rotor member arranged to receive the materials discharged by the material treatment passageway, bearing members supported by the housing for rotatably supporting the rotor members positioned adjacent the abutting ends thereof, subsidiary housings surrounding the free ends of the rotor members having bearings supported therein for rotatably supporting the free ends of the rotor members, motor units surrounding the rotor members positioned between the main and subsidiary housings having the driving elements thereof rigidly secured to the rotor members, a base member for supporting the stationary elements of the motor units and the main and subsidiary housings, auxiliary housings supported between the main housing and the motor units independently of the base member, and other auxiliary housings supported between the motor units and the subsidiary housings independently of the base member.

30. A colloidal mill comprising, horizontally disposed oppositely facing rotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends thereof whereby a material treatment passageway is formed therebetween, a base member, a plurality of axially disposed end connected housing members completely surrounding the rotor members for enclosing all rotating parts thereof areenclosed within the housings. certain housings comprising stationary elements of motor units supported by the base for rotating the rotor members. conduits for conveying a heat exchange liquid to and from the rotor members connected to certain of the housing members, other conduits for conveying materials to be treated by the material treatment passageway connected to certain other housings, and a conduit *for conveying the treated material from the mill connected to another certain housing, the liquid and material conduits extending downwardly from the housings below the base member whereby the portion of the mill thereabove is unobstructed.

31. A colloidal comprising, relatively rotatable material treatment members arranged to abut one another, a concentric series of wedge shaped annular projections formed on the abutting faces of the mem the projections of one member being arran ed to matingly enter between the projections of the other member, material treatment surfaces formed on the annular projections the surfaces being formed continuously circumferentially on the projections and the surfaces of one member being positioned relatively to the surfaces of the other member to form a series of highly restricted passageways between the inner and outer edges of the abutting faces, a concentric series of grooves formed on the abutting faces of the rotor members alternately with the projections thereon arranged to form comparatively free passageways whereby all the material is constrained to pass through the highly restricted passageways alternately with passing through the comparatively free passageways during the relative rotation of the rotor members, means for rotatably. supporting the members to rotate relatively, means for supplying material to the inner edges of the abutting faces for treatment in the restricted passageways, and means for conveying the treated material from the mill.

32. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having abutting material treatment portions formed thereon, the abutting ends thereof forming a material treatment passageway extending between the inner and outer edges thereof, chambered portions formed on the rotor members rearwardly of the material treatment portions having a heat exchange liquid chamber therein, the chambered portions having openings in the outer ends thereof communicating with the chamber, a material receiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of the material treatment portions positioned at the inner end of the material treatment passageway, orifices formed in the material treatment portions adjacent the material receiving chamber, material conveying passageways extending through the chamber of the chambered portions between the orifices of the material treatment portions and the openings of the chambers in the chambered portions, means for supplying material to the material conveying passageways for movement to the material receiving chamber, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the chambers through the openings thereof, means for rotating the rotor members relatively, and means for conveying the treated material discharged by the material treatment passageway from the mill.

33. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor members having the inner end portions thereof formed with abutting material treatment surfaces arranged to produce a material treatment passageway therebetween, chambered portions formed rearwardly of the inner end portions having openings therein positioned at the outer ends of the rotor members, bearing members surrounding the rotor members for rotatably supporting the members in axial alignment, motor units surrounding the rotor members having the driving elements thereof rigidly secured thereto for emecting rotation thereof and the stationary elements of the units fixedly positioned in inductive relation to the driving elements thereof, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the chambers of the rotor members through the openings therein, ducts extending through the chambers between the openings therein and the material treatment passageway for conveying materials to be treated therein, and means for supplying materials to the ducts for movement to the material treatment passageway.

34. The combination with a colloid mill operated by a motor connected to a source of energy, the mill having a heat exchange liquid flowing therethrough for thermally affecting the material being dispersed thereby, of means for conveying the heat exchange liquid to the mill, means for conveying the heat exchange liquid from the mill, and means associated with the heat exchange discharge conveying means affected by the discharge flow therein normally effecting supply of energy from the source to operate the motor arranged to cancel the supply therefrom upon a predetermined rise in the temperature of the liquid discharge flow.

35. The combination with a colloid mill having means for conveying the materials treated thereby from the mill, the mill having a heat exchange liquid supplied thereto for thermally affecting the material treated therein, of means associated with the treated material conveying means affected by the variation in temperature of the treated material flowing therein arranged to vary the quantity of the heat exchange liquid supplied to the mill substantially in proportion to the variation in the temperature of the treated material discharged by the mill 36. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a material treatment surface formed on one end thereof arranged to rotate relatively to a correlated material treatment surface for forming a material treatmentpassageway therebetween, ball bearings surrounding the rotor member positioned adjacent each end thereof with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor member, the bearings having the inner races thereof rigidly secured for rotation with the rotor member and the outer races thereof supported slldably axially with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor member, a thrust bearing unit surrounding the rotor member spacedly between the ends thereof, the unit being positioned inwardly adjacent the ball bearing adjacent the material treatment surface end of the rotor member, a normally rotating portion formed on the unit rigidly secured to the rotor member for rotation therewith, a rotatively supported normally stationary portion formed on the unit cooperating with the normally rotating portion thereof for controlling the axial movement of the rotor member, the normally stationary portion being arranged to effect axial rotation of the rotor member for varying the size of the material treatment passageway upon variable rotation thereof, means for effecting variable rotation of the normally stationary portion of the thrust bearing unit, and means for rotating the rotor member positioned between the thrust bearing unit and the bearing adjacent the end opposite to the material treatment surface end of the rotor member.

37. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotatively supported rotor member having a material treatment surface formed on one end thereof arrranged to abut a correlated material treatment surface for forming a material treatment passageway therebetween, means rotatively supporting the rotor member permitting axial movement thereof, a thrust bearing unit surrounding the rotor member having a normally stationary rotatively supported portion and a normally rotating portion co-operating therewith rigidly secured to the rotor member for rotationtherewith, the rotation of the normally stationary portion being arranged to efiect axial movement of the rotor member for varying the size of the material treatment passageway, a manually operated rotatively supported gauging

Images