Method for Micro-sizing Organic, Inorganic and Engineered Compounds
AssigneesLiquaJet L.L.C., NitroCision LLC
InventorsWilliam S. Henry, Edwin B. Fay, Ronald R. Warnecke, Gary L. Palmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system are provided herein for forming microparticles from plastic and elastomeric materials that cannot be reduced in size by conventional methods. The system includes a high-pressure liquid nitrogen energy source, a feeder for providing a preferred constant and uninterrupted feed to a mill, a preferred integral injection device to meter the feed into a chamber for milling and/or classification, and a preferred exhaust system for collection of the milled product.
Claims23
A method for milling a material, comprising
- introducing a material to be milled into a milling chamber, wherein the milling chamber has an outer wall, and an inner wall defining a milling area and the material is fed into the milling area;
- introducing a stream of nitrogen to the milling area through an inlet feed jet, wherein the nitrogen stream is fed at a pressure of about 45,000 psi (310 MPa) to about 55,000 psi (379 MPa);
- contacting the material in the milling area with the stream of nitrogen so as to form milled microparticles of the material;
- and
- removing the milled microparticles from the milling area.
A system for forming microparticles from a material to be milled, comprising;
- a high pressure nitrogen source having an outlet;
- a feeder for providing a feed of the material to be milled;
- and
- a milling chamber which comprises:
- (i) an outer wall;
- (ii) an inner wall defining a milling area;
- (iii) an inlet gas jet capable of providing flow between the outlet of the high pressure nitrogen source and the milling area;
- (iv) a feed inlet capable of providing flow between the feeder and the milling area to allow a material to be milled to be introduced into the milling area;
- and
- (v) an outlet through which milled microparticles are removed from the milling area.
A milling chamber for forming milled microparticles, comprising:
- (i) an outer wall;
- (ii) an inner wall defining a milling area;
- (iii) an inlet gas jet configured for introducing a stream of high pressure nitrogen into the milling area;
- (iv) a feed inlet capable of providing a material to be milled to the milling area;
- and
- (v) an outlet through which milled microparticles may be removed from the milling area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.