BALL MILL COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD

1 . A cooling system for a ball mill used for production of a lead oxide, the system comprising:

an internal nozzle configured to introduce water into an interior of a ball mill drum;

a water conduit on an exterior of the rotating drum and configured for external water delivery so as to deliver water on the drum exterior;

a water source in communication with the internal nozzle and water conduit configured for external water delivery; and

a control system in communication with the internal nozzle, the water conduit, and/or the water source, to activate the water source, nozzle, and/or conduit and deliver water to cool the ball mill drum or materials therein, the control system also in communication with one or more sensors configured to monitor a condition of the rotating drum or materials contained therein and deliver a signal to the control system in response to the condition.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition is a temperature of the drum.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition is a time or period of time.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition is a volume of water.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein flow rate and frequency of water delivery are controlled.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ball mill is a 30 ton ball mill.

7 . A lead oxide product formed by the cooling system of claim 1 .

8 . A method of production of a leady oxide using a ball mill comprising:

introducing a load of lead to an interior of a rotating drum of the ball mill;

operating the rotating drum to rotate;

moving air through the rotating drum by maintaining an inlet differential pressure; and

cooling the rotating drum of the ball mill by:

introducing water into the interior of a ball mill drum in response to and based upon a condition of the ball mill; and

introducing water on an exterior of the ball mill drum in response to and based upon the condition of the ball mill.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the ball mill is a 30 ton ball mill.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the condition of the ball mill is a temperature of the drum.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the condition of the ball mill is a time or period of time.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the condition of the ball mill is volume of water.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein flow rate and frequency of water delivery and controlled.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cooling process is automated.

15 . A lead oxide product formed by the method of claim 8 .

16 . A ball mill for production of a lead oxide, the ball mill comprising:

a rotating drum operably connected to a motor for rotation of the drum, the rotating drum having one or more agitators therein;

a pellet feed chute positioned for delivery of material for production of lead oxide to the rotating drum;

an internal nozzle configured to introduce water into an interior of the ball mill drum;

a water conduit on an exterior of the rotating drum and configured for external water delivery so as to deliver water on the drum exterior; and

a water source in communication with the internal nozzle and nozzle configured for external water delivery.

17 . The ball mill of claim 16 , wherein the internal nozzle is positioned inside the drum adjacent the pellet feed chute entrance.

18 . The ball mill of claim 16 , wherein the water conduit extends an entire length of the drum.

19 . The ball mill of claim 16 , wherein a control system is in communication with the internal nozzle and the water conduit and/or the water source, to activate the internal nozzle and/or water conduit, and is in communication with one or more sensors configured to monitor a condition of the rotating drum or materials contained therein and deliver a signal to the control system in response to the condition.

20 . The ball mill of claim 16 , wherein the ball mill is a 30 ton ball mill.