There are several inventions and efforts to produce graphene chemically, thermally, and mechanically. Exfoliation involves the removal of the layers on the graphite's outermost surface. Ball milling is the most used of these methods, and this method involves milling the graphene in a closed container using various milling media. The ball mill moves in only one direction, that is, rotational on a horizontal axis. Prior art methods have described the results, however, they have failed to describe the specific mechanical forces in type and size, and the system of components required for success.
The applicant is aware of WO2011006814 that deals with a wet process for providing particulate materials.
The instant invention, in one embodiment, deals with an apparatus that includes a system of components to mechanically exfoliate particulate materials using a multi-axis approach. In this embodiment, layers of particulate material or multilayer material are removed via a controlled shear by using a mechanical movement.
The apparatus of this invention includes a machine to deliver forces, containers to hold particulate material and media, the media, and the associated parameters for operating such equipment along with, methods and compositions provided by the apparatus and methods.
Thus, what is claimed in one embodiment is an apparatus for mechanically exfoliating particulate material with a basil plane, said apparatus comprising in combination a support frame, a motor mount, a motor mounted on the motor mount, the motor having a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft has a driven flywheel mounted on it.
The support frame has a non-stationary plate surmounted on it by mounted shock absorbers. The non-stationary plate has a front end and a back end, and it has a non-stationary plate rigidly surmounted on it.
There is a processor assembly comprising a main drive shaft having two ends extending through drive shaft mounts, the main drive shaft comprising a flywheel between the ends of the main drive shaft.
There is one or more cams on the main drive shaft, and a fastening means on each end of the main drive shaft to maintain the main drive shaft in the drive shaft mounts.
There is a canister carrier mounted on each cam, the canister carrier comprising a hub, wherein the hub has an external surface mounted cradle and an internal flat surface supporting bearings.
There is a stabilizer drive mechanism, the stabilizer drive mechanism comprising a ring gear driven by a pinion gear, a secondary drive shaft surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate. The secondary drive shaft is mounted in secondary drive shaft mounts and surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate.
The secondary drive shaft has at least three first drive wheels. There is a drive link connecting each first drive wheel with an aligned second drive wheel.
In addition, there is an embodiment which is an apparatus for mechanically exfoliating particulate material, the apparatus comprising in combination a support frame. The support frame is comprised of an upper bar frame and a lower bar frame, wherein the upper bar frame and lower bar frame are supported by vertical legs. The upper bar frame and lower bar frame are parallel and spaced apart from each other.
There is a motor mount mounted on and supported by the lower bar frame and there is a motor mounted on said motor mount, the motor having a drive shaft and the drive shaft having a driven flywheel mounted on it.
The upper bar frame has a non-stationary plate surmounted thereon by at least four corner mounted shock absorbing mounts. The non-stationary plate has a front end and a back end. The non-stationary plate has rigidly surmounted on it, drive shaft mounts. The non-stationary plate has two large openings on either side of a smaller centered opening and the drive shaft mounts are located on the outside edges of the large openings.
There is a processor assembly compiling: a main drive shaft having two ends extending through all drive shaft mounts. The main drive shaft comprises a flywheel centered between the ends of the main drive shaft. There are two cams, each centered between the flywheel and an end of the main drive shaft, and a fastening means on each end of the main drive shaft to maintain the main drive shaft in the drive shaft mounts.
There is a canister carrier mounted on each cam, the canister carrier comprising: a hub, wherein the hub has an external surface mounted cradle and an internal flat surface supporting bearings, there being mounted on an outside hub, a drive component such as a stabilizer ring gear. There is rotatably mounted on the main drive shaft, adjacent to the stabilizer ring gear, a stabilizer housing, the stabilizer housing containing internal bearings adjacent to the main drive shaft, wherein there is a stabilizer pinion gear surrounding the stabilizer housing and meshing with the stabilizer ring gear.
There is a stabilizer drive mechanism, the stabilizer drive mechanism comprising a secondary drive shaft surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate near the backend. The secondary drive shaft is mounted in secondary drive shaft mounts, surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate. The secondary drive shaft has at least three first drive wheels, one each near an end of the secondary drive shaft and one centered on the secondary drive shaft.
The main drive shaft has at least three second drive wheels, each being aligned with second end first drive wheels on the secondary drive shaft, the centered first drive wheel being aligned with a third drive wheel mounted on a gear reducer. The gear reducer is surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate between the flywheel and the secondary shaft. The gear reducer has a fourth drive wheel mechanically connected to a third drive wheel by reducing gears, the fourth drive wheel and centered first drive wheel are connected by a drive link, the drive link connecting each of the first drive wheel with an aligned second drive wheel.
In another embodiment, there is an apparatus for mechanically exfoliating particulate material, the apparatus comprising in combination: a support frame. The support frame is comprised of an upper bar frame and a lower bar frame, wherein the upper bar frame and lower bar frame are supported by vertical legs. The upper bar frame and lower bar frame are parallel and spaced apart from each other.
There is a motor mount mounted on and supported by the lower bar frame and there is a motor mounted on said motor mount, the motor having a drive shaft and the drive shaft having a driven flywheel mounted on it.
The upper bar frame has a non-stationary plate surmounted thereon by at least four corner mounted shock absorbing mounts. The non-stationary plate has a front end and a back end. The non-stationary plate has rigidly surmounted on it, drive shaft mounts. The non-stationary plate has two large openings on either side of a smaller centered opening and the drive shaft mounts are located on outside edges of the large openings.
There is a processor assembly comprising: a main drive shaft having two ends extending through all drive shaft mounts. The main drive shaft comprises a flywheel centered between the ends of the main drive shaft. There are two cams, each centered between the flywheel and an end of the main drive shaft, and a fastening means on each end of the main drive shaft to maintain the main drive shaft in the drive shaft mounts.
There is a canister carrier mounted on each cam, the canister carrier comprising: a hub, wherein the hub has an external surface mounted cradle and an internal flat surface supporting bearings, there being mounted on an outside hub, a stabilizer ring gear. There is rotatably mounted on the main drive shaft, adjacent to the first stabilizer wheel, a stabilizer housing, the stabilizer housing containing internal bearings adjacent to the main drive shaft, wherein there is a second stabilizer wheel surrounding the stabilizer housing and meshing with the first stabilizer wheel.
There is a stabilizer drive mechanism, the stabilizer drive mechanism comprising a secondary drive shaft surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate near the backend. The secondary drive shaft is mounted in secondary drive shaft mounts, surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate. The secondary drive shaft has at least three first drive wheels, one each near an end of the secondary drive shaft and one centered on the secondary drive shaft.
The main drive shaft has at least three second drive wheels, each being aligned with second end first drive wheels on the secondary drive shaft, the centered first drive wheel being aligned with a third drive wheel mounted on a gear reducer. The gear reducer is surmounted on the non-stationary flat plate between the flywheel and the secondary shaft. The gear reducer has a fourth drive wheel mechanically connected to a third drive wheel by reducing gears, the fourth drive wheel and centered first drive wheel are connected by a drive link, the drive link connecting each of the first drive wheel with an aligned second drive wheel.
In yet another embodiment, there is a drive shaft. The drive shaft is integral and comprises a linear shaft having two terminal ends and a center point. The linear shaft has fixedly mounted at the center point, a flywheel. There are two cams, each cam having a near end and a distal end. Each cam has an opening through it whereby the opening begins at the near end near a bottom edge of the cam, and terminates through the distal end near a top edge. The linear shaft extends through the opening in the cam and extends beyond the distal end of the cam. The drive shaft has mounted on it, a wheel drive adjacent to the flywheel.
In still another embodiment of this invention there is a ring gear. The ring gear comprises: an inside surface and an outside surface, the inward surface is comprised of a plurality of gear teeth, the number and shape of gear teeth being matched to mesh with a corresponding gear on an adjacent pinion gear.
A further embodiment is a cam assembly comprising a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing has a near end and a distal end and an opening extending from the near end through the distal end. The opening begins at the near end of the cam and near a bottom edge and terminates through the distal end near a top edge, the distal end having an off round, at least one said end cap having a valve inserted therein
Yet another embodiment is a carrier assembly for canisters. The carrier assembly comprises a hubbed housing having an open center through it with an internal surface. The hub has at least two bearings mounted on the internal surface of the housing and internal to each hub. The hubs support an integral canister cradle attached to the hubs. One hub has a stabilizer ring gear fixedly attached thereto such that the gear face of the gear faces away from the hub.
In yet another embodiment, there is in combination a carrier assembly and at least one canister.
There is a canister embodiment, the canister comprising: a hollow cylinder having two terminal ends, each of the terminal ends having a scalable cap mounted thereon. There is at least one end cap having a valve inserted therein.
Turning now to
In
With reference to
As shown clearly in
The flat plate 10 has a centered small opening 17 and two larger openings 18 on either side of the centered small opening 17. Located in the two large openings 18 are processor assemblies 19, both processor assemblies being supported and driven by the main drive shaft 16, which extends from the drive shaft mount 15 on one edge of the flat plate 10 to the drive shaft mount 15 on the opposite edge of the flat plate 10.
There is centered on the main drive shaft 16, a main flywheel 20, which main flywheel 20 is essentially suspended by the main drive shaft 16 in the small opening 17. Thus, the processor assemblies 19 consist of the main drive shaft 16 and the main flywheel 20.
Turning now to
The cams 23 are shown in detail in
There is a canister carrier 26 mounted on each cam 23 (see
The canisters can be fabricated from any material that will sustain the forces and not contaminate the material in the canister. Such useable materials include, for example, stainless steel, plated steel, polycarbonate, aluminum and titanium, among others.
There is a mounted on the outside hub 28, a stabilizer assembly in one embodiment, consisting of a pinion gear 36
There is rotatably mounted on the main drive shaft 16, adjacent to the stabilizer ring gear 38 (or stabilizer ring 39 in the event of another embodiment), a stabilizer housing 42. The stabilizer housing 42 contains internal bearings 43 adjacent to the main drive shaft 16. It should be noted that the pinion gear 36 surrounds the stabilizer housing 42 and from this position meshes with the ring gear 38, (See
The ring gear 38 comprises an inward surface 44 and an outside surface 45. The inward surface 44 is comprised of a plurality of gear teeth 46, the number and shape of gear teeth 46 being matched to mesh with corresponding teeth on the adjacent pinion gear 36. It will be noted from
Turning now to
There is a stabilizer drive mechanism 48, best shown in
The main drive shaft 16 has at least three second drive wheels being aligned with the second end first drive wheels on the secondary drive shaft 49. The centered first drive wheel is aligned with a third drive wheel mounted on a gear reducer 53 shown in
In this manner of linking the drive wheels, in operation, the main drive shaft 16 moves in a counter clockwise rotation and the secondary drive shaft 49 for the stabilizer units moves in a clock wise rotation. Due to the gearing mechanism 53, the secondary drive shaft 49 moves much slower than the main drive shaft 16.
It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to substitute a synchronous drive unit for the secondary drive mechanism that drives the secondary shaft.
Turning now to another embodiment of a stabilizer drive mechanism of this invention, there is shown in
The apparatus 1 is designed to impart forces in three planes and in orbital planes, one, two, or three, simultaneously (see
The apparatus acts on the media to translate it in all planes simultaneously. By doing so, the energy of the apparatus is converted into the stress state required to cause the exfoliation of the particulate material. Other methods of milling, grinding, or size reduction of particulates do not impart forces or translate the media in these planes simultaneously. Most typically, these machines affect only 2 or 3 planes, or e places and I orbital t most. The theory of these methods or machines is to move the media so that the media can do the work. This causes pulverization to occur. The operation of conventional machines does not create the correct stress environment to allow exfoliation to occur.
In addition to creating exfoliation via the shear forces, the present invention creates wear rate or deterioration on the media is minimized due to the machine doing the work and not the media. The apparatus of the instant invention moves the media so that the media and the apparatus act as one unit and are not disassociated.
The milling media is chosen so that it provides optimum mass and provides correct shear forces. The mass is determined by the specific gravity of the media. If the specific gravity becomes too large, the forces that occur as the media comes into contact with the particulate material will exceed the shear thresholds and becomes tensile or compressive in nature. Should the forces become tensile or compressive, pulverization occurs. If the specific gravity of the media becomes too small, the forces that occur as the media comes into contact with the particulate material will offer limited effect.
The shear forces are determined by the inter facial surface energy of the media. If the interracial surface energy with respect to the material being exfoliated becomes too large the forces that occur as the media comes into contact with the particulate material will exceed the shear thresholds and become tensile or compressive in nature. The performance of the apparatus is optimized as the interfacial surface energy and the surface area (achieved via diameter) is optimized. Media of mixed diameter may be used, if the surface energy between the media and material being exfoliated is too low, the media slips on the surface of the material and does not apply sufficient shear to cause exfoliation.
In order for the machine and the media to act as one unit and create exfoliation, the cavity and the amount of fill of media in the cavity must be correct. The cavity must be filled in proportion to the length of movements created by the planar vectors. The performance of the apparatus is improved as the fill ratio, Loverall to Lvoid is optimised.
In the method of this invention, wherein the apparatus 1 is used, it is necessary to cause the shear forces (or energy) created to be high enough in the basal plane that fracture (potential energy increase) will predominately occur in those planes prior to fracture through tensile forces. Based on test results, the following best describes the conditions under which the apparatus should be operated.
The ratio of mass of media to mass of particulate should be in the range of 1:6 to 1:15; the height of media to height of canister should be 60 to 90%; the free space to canister displacement should be less than 40%; the specific gravity of the media should be from 1.05 to 1.38. Preferred for this apparatus and method is plastic media, although other known exfoliating media can be used as long as it fits the parameters of use in this invention, namely, the media is chosen to match the specific surface energy of the particulate. The actual operating time should be in the range of 45 minutes to about 1200 minutes.
The composition of matter that is a produced by this apparatus and method can be any particulate material, or any combination of particulate material. The preferred particulate material is one that has basal planes and exfoliates to form platelets. Preferred particulate matter for this method is graphite exfoliated into graphene nanoplatelets. The particulate material is preferred to be high surface area graphene nanoplatelets comprising particles ranging in size from 1 nanometer to 5 microns in lateral dimension and consisting of one to a few layers of graphene with a z-dimension ranging from 0.3 nanometers to 10 nanometers and exhibiting very high BET surface areas ranging from 200 to 1200 m2/g. In some embodiments partially exfoliated particulate matter with a BET surface area from 30 to 200 m2/g may be produced.
The apparatus may be capable of containing one or multiple containers. It may provide for more than one centroid of movement from one driver motor.
This application is a divisional application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/931,236, filed Nov. 3, 2015, currently pending, which is a divisional application of Ser. No. 13/435,260, filed Mar. 30, 2012, currently pending, from which priority is claimed.
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Child | 15018885 | US | |
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Child | 14931236 | US |