US3670970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for comminuting and reacting solids
Assignee: UNION PROCESS INTERNATIONAL Inc AN OH CORP
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Filing: 1970-10-19
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-10-19
Abstract
Abstract The grinding or comminution of solids, such as metal powders, and certain inorganic substances in the absence of a liquid continuum is accomplished at a relatively rapid rate in activated media of high momentum and low ball pressure, by rotating one or more rigid agitators through a relatively flat but properly proportioned (depth to diameter), bed of grinding media, such as relatively small balls, pebbles, etc. at a sufficiently high speed to cause the apparent volume of the grinding media to increase substantially in the agitated condition over that in the unagitated condition. The mean free paths between contacts of separate elements of the grinding media are therefore greatly increased, and the peening or burring energy applied to the material in process by contact between separate grinding elements is enlarged because of the increased momentum of contact. Unique chemical or structural properties are obtained in the comminuted product, especially when the dry grinding is continued beyond the point where appreciable decrease in average particle size occurs. Means is also provided in the apparatus to decrease or prevent caking of the partially ground material in portions of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Szegvari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:54
CPC Classifications
B; B02; B02C; B02C17/00; B02C17/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arms of the lowermost pair of arms extend radially outwardly from said shaft in the same horizontal plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ratio of said wall height to diameter is one-fifth to one-sixth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 having means for the prevention of accumulation of caked agglomerates of partly dry ground process material on the bottom of said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for prevention of accumulation of agglomerates comprises a screen having openings smaller in size than said elements of grinding media and means for continuously collecting partly processed material passing through said screen, and means for returning collected material to the action of the agitated grinding media.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for prevention of accumulation of caked agglomerates comprises means for vibrating said bottom of said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vibration of said bottom is fluid actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom is flexibly attached to the said cylindrical side wall and means is provided for this purpose.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of dry grinding inorganic solids of a granular or particulate nature to produce smaller particle size and selective structural changes which comprises adding solids to be processed in the absence of a continuous phase of liquid to a bed of grinding media comprising essentially a plurality of freely moveable ball-like elements which in the unagitated condition forms a relatively flat bed having a thickness to diameter ratio of one-fourth to one-twentieth and which is maintained in circular peripheral form, continuously moving a horizontally disposed rigid bar through said bed of grinding media and material in process at a speed suFficient to cause a substantial increase in the total apparent volume of the grinding media and material in process so that in the agitated condition the said total volume is greater than that in the unagitated condition whereby the mean free paths between grinding elements is increased with resultant increase in the velocities when peening impact is had on said material being processed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 9 wherein grinding elements in said bed consist essentially of hard dense ball-like solids having a diameter of less than one-half inch and where said apparent increases in volume caused by agitation is at least 20 percent of the normal unagitated volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the weight of the material to be processed and within the bed of grinding media is about one-fifth to one twenty-fifth the weight of the grinding media.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 11 wherein caked agglomerates of partially ground material in process are automatically removed from surface and returned to the agitated bed of grinding media.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the grinding time is continued for a substantial time after substantial minimum particle size is obtained, whereby changes in properties of ground particles occur.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for prevention of caked agglomerates is a layer of resilient rubber-like material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein both the bottom and wall portions contact the activated grinding media have a layer thereon of resilient rubber-like material.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of grinding of solid substances which comprises adding the relatively coarse solids to be processed to a bed of ball-like elements which bed in the unagitated state has a ball pressure at the bottom thereof of 200 to 1,200 grams per square centimeter, said ball pressure being the weight of a vertical column of the said ball-like elements of 1 square centimeter in cross section and of a height equal to the depth of said bed less the weight of a similar column of any continuous phase of liquid in which said ball-like elements are immersed, continuously moving a horizontally disposed rigid bar through said bed near the bottom thereof at a speed to cause a substantial increase in the apparent volume of the total of grinding media and process material whereby the mean free path, between elements of grinding media is increased with resultant increase in momentum of individual elements when peening impact is had on the material in process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein both agitated media and material in process is circulated from peripheral portions of said bed to the central area thereof and then radially out from the central area to said peripheral portions, whereby a more uniform particle size is obtained.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein there is an absence of a continuous phase of liquid in said agitated bed of grinding media and material in process.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 wherein there is a continuous liquid phase in said bed of agitated media.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the material in process is successively ground in beds of agitated grinding media having ball-like elements of substantially different diameters, the second bed having elements of substantially smaller diameter than the first.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the grinding occurs in the absence of a continuous liquid phase, but in an atmosphere of a gas that is inert under grinding conditions to the solids being ground.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |