Mill and method of milling
AssigneeMaelstrom Advanced Process Technologies Ltd
InventorChristopher John Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A milling apparatus in which at least two independently driven axiaily mounted elements are eccentrically mounted one within the other so as to define a processing chamber (12) therebetween with the minimum radial gap between the elements at one position being diametrically opposite to the maximum radial gap. Stresses are applied to the material by passing it through the minimum radial gap, which is adjustable. The elements may be rotated in the same direction to apply compressive and extensional stresses to material within the minimum gap, or in opposite directions to apply shear stresses to the material within this gap. A third element may be incorporated within the chamber to provide heat transfer and distributive mixing to the stressed material.
Claims24
A milling apparatus for milling material, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two axially extended members eccentrically mounted one within the other so as to define a chamber therebetween;
- the interior surface of the outer member being centred on the axis of that outer member;
- the exterior surface of the inner member being centred on the axis of that inner member;
- both inner and outer members being rotatable about their respective axes;
- an inlet for introducing material to be milled into the mixing chamber, and an outlet for removing milled material from the mixing chamber;
- whereby, for any given axial position, the variation in radial distance between the two members defines a gap that alternately decreases and increases with respect to circumferential movement, for the purpose of applying movement and stress to material entering the gap, such that material passing through the chamber is caused to describe a substantially spiral path with respect to the axial orientation of the inner and outer members;
- and further such that material within the chamber is subjected primarily to mechanically-induced compressive stresses and fluid-induced extensional stresses when both inner and outer members rotate in the same direction, and primarily to fluid-induced shear stresses when both inner and outer members rotate in opposite directions;
- characterized in that a third member extends axially into the chamber for the purpose of extracting the heat arising from the application of stress to the material immediately on exiting from the highly stressed zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.