# US 2014/0196813 A1 · Apparatus and Method for Safely Depressurizing Milling Vials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196813 A1 - Document ID: US20140196813A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/742,380 - Filed: 2013-01-16 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16 - Assignees: U.S. Army Research Laboratory ATTN: RDRL-LOC-I - Applicants: U.S. Army Research Laboratory Attn: Rdrl-Loc-I - Inventors: Kristopher A. Darling; Micah J. Gallagher; Anthony J. Roberts; Laszlo J. Kecskes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196813A1 ## CPC - B22F 9/04: starting from solid material, e.g. by crushing, grinding or milling ({C22C1/1084 takes precedence}; crushing, grinding or milling, in general, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B02C) - B02C 17/18: Details - B22F 2009/041: {by mechanical alloying, e.g. blending, milling} - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) ## Abstract The invention is an apparatus and method for safely depressurizing milling vials. The invention utilizes a machinist vise in communication with a pneumatic air cylinder mounted in a jig inside glove box enclosure. The invention utilizes a method for safely depressurizing milling vials. The milling vials are placed into the machinist vise inside the enclosure. The ram of the pneumatic air cylinder is placed on top of the milling vial and the pneumatic air cylinder is pressed firmly against the cap of the milling vial. Next, the air inside the enclosure is evacuated of atmosphere after which the pressure is slowly released from the pneumatic air cylinder. During this stage of the method the operator is a safe distance from the enclosure. As pressure is removed from the pneumatic air cylinder the ram is retracted and the cap of milling vial is removed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for safely depressurizing milling vials comprising: an enclosure; a pneumatic air cylinder disposed within said enclosure; a machinist vise in communication with said air cylinder and disposed within said enclosure; a support structure to facilitate communication between said air cylinder and said machinist vise; a plurality of suction cups disposed between said enclosures and said support structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is a glove box type enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air cylinder is positioned perpendicular to said milling vise. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said milling vise further comprises a static vise affixed to a vise base, a moving vise grip, movably attached to said vise base, a threaded screw plate affixed to said base, and a screw locking plate in communication with said screw plate and said movable vise grip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said vise grips hold a milling vise. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 where the pneumatic further comprises a pushrod in communication with said pneumatic air cylinder to said milling vial. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a blast prevention cap disposed between said pneumatic air cylinder and said milling vial. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said enclosure contains means for manipulating elements inside said enclosure remotely. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said enclosure contains means for viewing the inside of said enclosure from a blast resistant vantage point. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is formed of a blast resistant material. ### Claim 11 A method for safely depressurizing milling vials comprising the steps of: placing at least one milling vial in a vise located within a blast resistant enclosure; lowering a pneumatic air cylinder ram onto the milling vial; evacuating the atmosphere of said enclosure; loosening a vial retaining cap while applying constant pressure to the vial lid; removing pressure from the pneumatic air cylinder; retracting said pneumatic air cylinder ram from said vial lid; opening said milling vial; repressurizing said blast resistant enclosure to an ambient temperature; and removing said milling vial from said enclosure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said evacuation of atmosphere further comprises the replacing of said atmosphere with an inert atmosphere. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the atmosphere has been partially evacuated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said pneumatic air cylinder is pressurized to a pressure within the range of 25-200 psi. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising the locking of the blast retaining cap by inserting a locking pin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising the removal of an operator from any contact with the inside of the enclosure during the step of retracting said pneumatic ah cylinder ram and opening said milling vial. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising retracting the pneumatic air cylinder a distance is within the range of 0.25 and 1.25 inches during the retracting and opening step. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said pneumatic air cylinder ram is retracted a short distance by lowering the pressure in the pneumatic air cylinder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said glove box enclosure gases have been vented before said locking pin and blast prevention cap are removed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said retaining cap is formed from aluminum.