The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 02, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1996
Kenneth D Collins, San Diego, CA (US);
Bradley J Deghuee, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Ronald A Walrod, Poway, CA (US);
Aerie Partners, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A process and apparatus for comminuting cryogenic feedstock particles, the process comprising the steps of embrittling the particles with a cryogenic medium, positioning the cryogenically embrittled particles in a comminutor having a cavity, the comminutor having means for generating a high-voltage electrical discharge in the cavity, comminuting the particles in the cavity with forces created by the high-voltage electrical discharge pulse, and transferring the comminuted particles from the comminutor and wherein the positioning includes continuously transporting the particles through the comminutor. Transporting of the particles may be accomplished by entraining the particles in the cryogenic medium. The means for generating the forces for comminuting the particles includes generating the high-voltage electrical dischargeacross at least two electrodes. In a second embodiment, the process may include utilization of a cavity which has an axis and at least one focal point on the axis, and wherein the positioning includes positioning the embrittled particles at approximately the focal point. In a third embodiment the cavity is separated into first and second sub-cavities by a diaphragm, the first sub-cavity for receiving the means for generating a high-voltage electrical discharge and the second sub-cavity for receiving the embrittled particles, and wherein the positioning includes positioning the embrittled particles in the second sub-cavity.