Device and process for treating fine particles

Claim 1

A device for treating fine particles, comprising: a plurality of adjacently positioned chambers having partitions therebetween, the environment in each chamber existing at a desired pressure, said chambers including at least one reaction chamber and a collecting chamber; each of said partitions having an opening to connect adjacently positioned chambers, said openings being aligned along a linear axis; a convergent-divergent nozzle for directing fine particles under pressure through said openings along said linear axis such that said fine particles may be acted upon in one of said reaction chambers by chemical treatment therein and be directed to said collecting chamber; means for adjusting the pressure under which said fine particles are directed through said nozzle relative to the pressures of each of said chambers such that said fine particles are projected from said nozzle in a beam having a substantially consistent cross-section in each of said chambers; and means for adjusting the pressures of each of said chambers relative to one another such that the pressures of adjacently positioned chambers are substantially equal.

Claim 2

A device for treating fine particles, comprising: a plurality of adjacently positioned chambers having partitions therebetween, the environment in each chamber existing at a desired pressure, said chambers including at least one reaction chamber and a collecting chamber; each of said partitions having an opening to connect adjacently positioned chambers, said openings being aligned along a linear axis; a convergent-divergent nozzle for directing fine particles under pressure through said openings along said linear axis such that said fine particles may be acted upon in one of said reaction chambers by chemical treatment therein and be directed to said collecting chamber; means for adjusting the pressure under which said fine particles are directed through said nozzle relative to the pressures of each of said chambers such that said fine particles are projected from said nozzle in a beam having a substantially consistent cross-section in each of said chambers; and means for adjusting the pressures of each of said chambers relative to one another such that the pressures of adjacently positioned chambers are substantially equal.

Claim 7

A device for treating fine particles, comprising: a starting material chamber for forming said fine particles; a plurality of adjacently positioned chambers having partitions therebetween, the environment in each chamber existing at a desired pressure, said chambers including at least one reaction chamber and a collecting chamber; each of said partitions having an opening to connect adjacently positioned chambers, said openings being aligned along a linear axis; a convergent-divergent nozzle for directing fine particles under pressure from said starting material chamber through said openings along said linear axis such that said fine particles may be acted upon in one of said reaction chambers by chemical treatment therein and be directed to said collecting chamber; means for adjusting the pressure under which said fine particles are directed from said starting material chamber and through said nozzle relative to the pressures of each of said chambers such that said fine particles are projected from said nozzle in a beam having a substantially consistent cross-section in each of said chambers; and means for adjusting the pressures of each of said chambers relative to one another such that the pressures of adjacently positioned chambers are substantially equal.

Claim 8

A device for treating fine particles, comprising: a starting material chamber for forming said fine particles; a plurality of adjacently positioned chambers having partitions therebetween, the environment in each chamber existing at a desired pressure, said chambers including at least one reaction chamber and a collecting chamber; each of said partitions having an opening to connect adjacently positioned chambers, said openings being aligned along a linear axis; a convergent-divergent nozzle for directing fine particles under pressure from said starting material chamber through said openings along said linear axis such that said fine particles may be acted upon in one of said reaction chambers by chemical treatment therein and be directed to said collecting chamber; means for adjusting the pressure under which said fine particles are directed from said starting material chamber and through said nozzle relative to the pressures of each of said chambers such that said fine particles are projected from said nozzle in a beam having a substantially consistent cross-section in each of said chambers; and means for adjusting the pressures of each of said chambers relative to one another such that the pressures of adjacently positioned chambers are substantially equal.

Claim 9

A device for treating fine particles according to claims 6, wherein at least one reaction chamber includes a means for introducing a reacting gas to effect said chemical treatment of said fine particles in said at least one reaction chamber.

Claim 10

A device for treating fine particles according to claims 6, wherein at least one reaction chamber includes a means for imparting energy to effect said chemical treatment of said fine particles in said at least one reaction chamber.

Claim 14

A device for treating fine particles, comprising: a plurality of adjacently positioned chambers having partitions therebetween, the environment in each chamber existing at a desired pressure, said chambers including at least one reaction chamber and a collecting chamber, at least one of said reaction chambers including a means for introducing a reaction gas and an evacuating means for maintaining the pressure in said at least one reaction chamber at a desired level; each of said partitions having an opening to connect adjacently positioned chambers, said openings being aligned along a linear axis; a convergent-divergent nozzle for directing fine particles under pressure through said openings along said linear axis such that said fine particles may be acted upon in one of said reaction chambers by chemical treatment therein and be directed to said collecting chamber; means for adjusting the pressure under which said fine particles are directed through said nozzle relative to the pressures of each of said chambers such that said fine particles are projected from said nozzle in a beam having a substantially consistent cross-section in each of said chambers; and means for adjusting the pressures of each of said chambers relative to one another such that the pressures of adjacently positioned chambers are substantially equal.

Claim 15

A device for treating fine particles, comprising: a plurality of adjacently positioned chambers having partitions therebetween, the environment in each chamber existing at a desired pressure, said chambers including at least one reaction chamber and a collecting chamber, at least one of said reaction chambers including a means for introducing a reaction gas and an evacuating means for maintaining the pressure in said at least one reaction chamber at a desired level; each of said partitions having an opening to connect adjacently positioned chambers, said openings being aligned along a linear axis; a convergent-divergent nozzle for directing fine particles under pressure through said openings along said linear axis such that said fine particles may be acted upon in one of said reaction chambers by chemical treatment therein and be directed to said collecting chamber; means for adjusting the pressure under which said fine particles are directed through said nozzle relative to the pressures of each of said chambers such that said fine particles are projected from said nozzle in a beam having a substantially consistent cross-section in each of said chambers; and means for adjusting the pressures of each of said chambers relative to one another such that the pressures of adjacently positioned chambers are substantially equal.