# US 5,702,060 A · High-energy high-capacity oscillating ball mill > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,060 A - Document ID: US5702060A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/424,373 - Filed: 1995-04-25 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1992-10-30 - Inventors: Paolo Matteazzi; Diego Basset - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702060A ## CPC - B02C 17/14: Mills in which the charge to be ground is turned over by movements of the container other than by rotating, e.g. by swinging, vibrating, tilting {(mills provided with vibrators in general B02C19/16)} - Y10S 977/70: Nanostructure - Y10S 977/775: Nanosized powder or flake, e.g. nanosized catalyst - Y10S 977/90: having step or means utilizing mechanical or thermal property, e.g. pressure, heat - 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}) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract The present invention concerns a high energy oscillating ball mill, useful in the preparation of nanophase materials having crystallite sizes of the order of 5 to 20 nm, with high production capacity and consisting of a grinding jar (containing, in the working conditions, the grinding balls and the materials charge to be processed) driven in an alternate regime of motion. Such a grinding jar is elastically constrained in such a way that the inertial forces originated during the oscillations are compensated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oscillating ball mill comprising a driving system, a grinding jar, a bearing system, and an elastic system, wherein said driving system and said elastic system are in direct contact with said grinding jar, said elastic system compensates the inertial forces resulting from the operation of said driving system, and the grinding jar motion is substantially along an axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein the driving system moves along said axis in a sinusoidal-like manner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, further comprising a dissipative system to supplement said elastic system in compensating said inertial forces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said elastic system comprises springs of elastomeric material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein: the motion components perpendicular to said axis do not exceed in amplitude the 20% of the motion components along said axis; said elastic system compensates at least 70% of said inertial forces; and the jar oscillating amplitudes along said axis are greater than 20 mm and jar oscillation frequencies along said axis are greater than 10 Hz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said driving system is a connecting rod-crank kinetic mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, having more than one jar constrained together. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein the jar motion is guided by guides. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein the internal walls of said grinding jar are shaped to limit the existence of preferential impact zones. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said elastic system is pre-loaded by a mechanical system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said grinding jar is cooled by fluid circulation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein the atmosphere in said grinding jar is controlled by at least one valve passing through at least one opening in said jar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein the internal jar volume is greater than 200 cm.sup.3. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said elastic system comprises springs of a metallic alloy. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said elastic system comprises springs of a composite material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said driving system is a compound lever. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein said driving system is a hydraulic drive. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The oscillating ball mill according to claim 1, wherein the internal jar volume is greater than 5000 cm.sup.3.