Low profile primary classifier

1. A bowl mill comprising:

a substantially closed separator body;

a rotatable grinding surface mounted for rotation within the substantially closed separator body and upon which pulverization of material is effected;

a plurality of grinding rolls for pulverizing the material on the rotatable grinding surface, the plurality of grinding rolls being supported by a plurality of grinding journals;

an annular passage formed between the substantially closed separator body and the circumference of the rotatable grinding surface through which air is made to flow in an upwardly direction;

a plurality of grinding journal openings formed in the substantially closed separator body, each grinding journal opening associated with one of the plurality of grinding journals;

a vane wheel portion affixed to the periphery of the rotatable grinding surface, the vane wheel portion including a plurality of vanes; and

a low profile deflector portion mounted within the interior of the substantially closed separator body in closely spaced relation to the vane wheel portion at an elevation below the elevation of the grinding journal openings and so as to extend continuously without interruption about the entire interior of the substantially closed separator body.

2. The primary bowl mill of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of abrasion resistant liners, each of the plurality of abrasion resistant liners being provided on a respective one of the plurality of vanes so as to protect the respective one of the plurality of vanes from wear.

3. The primary bowl mill of claim 2 wherein the plurality of abrasion resistant liners are each equipped with a horizontal plate, wherein the length of the horizontal plates affects the velocity of the flow of air passing through a free area of the vane wheel portion.

4. The bowl mill of claim 1 , wherein the deflector portion includes:

a plurality of upper liners affixed directly to the inner wall of the substantially closed separator body, the plurality of upper liners are angled downwardly so as to thereby accomplish the shedding of any pulverized material that might otherwise accumulate on the plurality of upper liners; and

a plurality of middle liners affixed to the inner wall of the substantially closed separator body and disposed beneath the plurality of upper liners, wherein the plurality of middle liners are angled downwardly so as to thereby direct the flow of air that flows through a free area of the vane wheel portion in an inwardly direction back over the grinding surface.

5. The bowl mill of claim 4 wherein the plurality of upper liners and the plurality of middle liners are each formed of an abrasion resistant material.

6. The bowl mill of claim 4 , wherein lower edges of the middle liners are positioned below an upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface to direct the flow of air toward the upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface.

7. The bowl mill of claim 6 , wherein the free area of the vane wheel portion is greater than a free area defined between the upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface and the middle liners, thus creating a converging nozzle that prevents a decrease in air velocity as the flow of air passes between the upper rim of the grinding table and the middle liner.

8. The bowl mill of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of vanes are disposed between an inner shroud and an outer shroud, the inner shroud being attached around the circumference of the rotatable grinding surface to form the upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface.

9. The bowl mill of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of lower liners extending downwardly from the lower edges of the middle liners.

10. A primary classifier for a rotatable grinding surface of a bowl mill, the primary classifier comprising:

a vane wheel portion including a plurality of vanes disposed fixed around the circumference of the rotatable grinding surface; and

a stationary deflector portion disposed around the vane wheel portion, the deflector portion including:

a plurality of upper liners angled downwardly to shed any pulverized material that might otherwise accumulate on the plurality of upper liners, and

a plurality of middle liners positioned below the upper liners and angled downwardly so as to thereby direct a flow of air that flows through a free area of the vane wheel portion in an inwardly direction back over the grinding surface, wherein lower edges of the middle liners are positioned below an upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface to direct the flow of air toward the upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface and thereby prevent coal particles from spilling over the upper rim.

11. The primary classifier of claim 10 , wherein the free area of the vane wheel portion is greater than a free area defined between the upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface and the middle liners, thus creating a converging nozzle that prevents a decrease in air velocity as the flow of air passes between the upper rim of the grinding table and the middle liner.

12. The primary classifier of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of vanes are disposed between an inner shroud and an outer shroud, the inner shroud being attached around the circumference of the rotatable grinding surface to form the upper rim of the rotatable grinding surface.

13. The bowl mill of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of lower liners extending downwardly from the lower edges of the middle liners.