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:
Jan. 18, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 01, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Thomas A Turgeon, Fridley, MN (US);
David J Colburn, South St. Paul, MN (US);
Christopher R Yungers, St. Paul, MN (US);
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B02C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
241 69 ;
Abstract
Apparatus controllably breaks hollow spheres stored in an enclosure. A first screen is disposed within the enclosure on a screen support. The screen has holes that are no larger in mesh size than the smallest hollow spheres. The screen support provides support to the first screen and has void areas to allow debris from broken spheres to pass through. An impeller is in contact with the first screen such that movement of the impeller across the first screen breaks the hollow spheres in contact with the first screen.