Auxiliary drive

1. An apparatus comprising:

a grinding mill shell;

a braking system including:

a brake rotor coupled to the shell; and

at least one caliper configured to clamp about the rotor;

a connection mechanism configured to be actuated between a connected state in which the connection mechanism is connected to the shell and a disconnected state, wherein the connection mechanism is configured to clamp about the rotor when in the connected state;

an actuator configured to move the connection mechanism while the connection mechanism is in the connected state to move the shell; and

a main drive configured to rotationally drive the shell without use of the actuator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the connection mechanism while the connection mechanism is in the disconnected state

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake rotor clamps about the rotor to retain the shell against movement while the connection mechanism is in the disconnected state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a support; and

a bearing mechanism between the support and the connection mechanism.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the bearing mechanism comprises a rotating member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the linear actuator comprises a first hydraulic cylinder assembly coupled to the connection mechanism.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a second hydraulic cylinder assembly coupled to the connection mechanism and facing the first hydraulic cylinder assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism is movable about a rotational axis of the shell.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism is configured to frictionally grasp a portion of the shell in the connected state.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to generate first and second control signals, wherein (1) the connection mechanism actuates to the connected state and actuator moves the connection mechanism while in the connect state in response to the first control signals and (2) the at least one caliper clamps against the rotor to retain the shell in place, the connection mechanism actuates to the disconnected state and the actuator moves the connection mechanism while in the disconnected state in response to the second control signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main drive is a gearless drive.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main drive comprises a ring motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to generate first and second control signals, wherein the actuator moves the connection mechanism while the connection mechanism is in the connected state in response to the first control signals and move the connection mechanism while the connection mechanism is in the disconnected state in response to the second control signals.

15. A gearless grinding mill comprising:

a shell;

a ring motor configured to rotationally drive the shell;

a braking system comprising:

a brake rotor at least partially about the shell; and

at least one first caliper configured to selectively clamp against the brake rotor;

at least one second caliper configured to selectively clamp against the brake rotor; and

an actuator coupled to the at least one second caliper and configured to move the at least one second caliper relative to the at least one first caliper while clamped against the brake rotor to rotate the shell.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a drum having an interior that receives material to be ground.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a removable liner within the interior of the drum.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism is linearly translatable along an axis tangential to the shell.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the connection mechanism is rollable along a surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising at least one ramp tangential to the shell, wherein the at least one second caliper is rollable along the at least one ramp.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one caliper of the braking system comprises:

a first caliper on a first side of the shell; and

a second caliper on a second opposite side of the shell, wherein the connection mechanism is between the first caliper and the second caliper on a bottom of the shell.

22. The gearless grinding mill of claim 15 , wherein the at least one second caliper is linearly translatable along an axis tangential to the shell.