Invention relates to material breaking or milling devices for ultra-fine milling of materials. A material breaking device comprises a frame structure (1) with an upper bracket (1A) and a lower bracket (1B); a tubular housing (4) arranged between said brackets (1A, 1B). The tubular housing (4) is attached to said frame structure (1) in rotatable manner such that the tubular housing (4) rotates relative to the frame structure (1). The material breaking device further comprises at least one conical distributor (5) arranged in the tubular housing (4) and at least one outlet cone (7) arranged in the tubular housing (4) downstream from the conical distributor (5). The device further comprises a permanent magnet unit (9) attached to the tubular housing (4) such that at least two permanent magnet units (9) are provided for each milling chamber (6, 8) for creating rotating magnetic field within the milling chambers (6, 8).

A specimen disrupting apparatus includes: a drive unit that rotates the lower portion of a container having a solution that includes a specimen, a great number of small diameter beads, and a large diameter bead stored therein; and a control unit that controls the drive unit. The control unit controls the drive unit such that the lower portion of the container rotates at two or more different rotational speeds which are changed continuously.

A specimen disrupting apparatus includes: a drive unit that rotates the lower portion of a container having a solution that includes a specimen, a great number of small diameter beads, and a large diameter bead stored therein; and a control unit that controls the drive unit. The control unit controls the drive unit such that the lower portion of the container rotates at two or more different rotational speeds which are changed continuously.

A flow disrupter in a tube chamber of a tube assembly for homogenizing sample materials includes a flow-disrupting body that extends generally transversely into the tube chamber and divides the tube chamber into two sub-chambers. The flow-disrupting body includes at least one narrowed flow passageway through which the sample flows back and forth in both axially reciprocating directions as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken at high speeds faster and more reliably than what can be accomplished by hand shaking. And the flow-disrupting body includes at least two flow-interrupting surfaces facing generally in opposite axial directions and against which the sample impacts in each respective axially reciprocating direction as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken. In this way, the vigorous high-speed shaking of the tube assembly including the flow disrupter results in significant particle-size reduction of the sample by mechanical shear, fluid shear, cavitation, and/or pressure differentials.

A flow disrupter in a tube chamber of a tube assembly for homogenizing sample materials includes a flow-disrupting body that extends generally transversely into the tube chamber and divides the tube chamber into two sub-chambers. The flow-disrupting body includes at least one narrowed flow passageway through which the sample flows back and forth in both axially reciprocating directions as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken at high speeds faster and more reliably than what can be accomplished by hand shaking. And the flow-disrupting body includes at least two flow-interrupting surfaces facing generally in opposite axial directions and against which the sample impacts in each respective axially reciprocating direction as the tube assembly is vigorously shaken. In this way, the vigorous high-speed shaking of the tube assembly including the flow disrupter results in significant particle-size reduction of the sample by mechanical shear, fluid shear, cavitation, and/or pressure differentials.

An apparatus for producing spherical metallic powders through continuous ball milling. The apparatus includes a comminution component. The comminution component includes an inlet to receive a metallic material at a first region within the comminution component and an outlet to dispense the metallic powder from a second region within the comminution component. The apparatus includes a plurality of grinding components to grind the metallic material, the plurality of grinding components being arranged within the comminution component. The apparatus includes a drive component, connected with the comminution component, to induce movement of the metallic material and the plurality of grinding components within the comminution component such that the metallic material is fragmented through contact with the plurality of grinding components at the first region and an external surface of the fragmented metallic material is altered at the second region to produce the metallic powder.

An apparatus for producing spherical metallic powders through continuous ball milling. The apparatus includes a comminution component. The comminution component includes an inlet to receive a metallic material at a first region within the comminution component and an outlet to dispense the metallic powder from a second region within the comminution component. The apparatus includes a plurality of grinding components to grind the metallic material, the plurality of grinding components being arranged within the comminution component. The apparatus includes a drive component, connected with the comminution component, to induce movement of the metallic material and the plurality of grinding components within the comminution component such that the metallic material is fragmented through contact with the plurality of grinding components at the first region and an external surface of the fragmented metallic material is altered at the second region to produce the metallic powder.

A method of automated preparation of a sample material for a chemical or compositional analysis is disclosed that includes arranging the sample material in a receptacle, storing the sample inside the receptacle in a conditioning cabinet, and grinding the sample material by way of a ball mill apparatus. The ball mill apparatus may include an extraction container, at least one grinding element provided in the extraction container and an agitator adapted to move the at least one grinding element relative to the extraction container when the sample material is placed in the extraction container. The method may further include placing the sample material together with the receptacle in the extraction container, and grinding the receptacle together with the sample material by agitating the extraction container.

A method of automated preparation of a sample material for a chemical or compositional analysis is disclosed that includes arranging the sample material in a receptacle, storing the sample inside the receptacle in a conditioning cabinet, and grinding the sample material by way of a ball mill apparatus. The ball mill apparatus may include an extraction container, at least one grinding element provided in the extraction container and an agitator adapted to move the at least one grinding element relative to the extraction container when the sample material is placed in the extraction container. The method may further include placing the sample material together with the receptacle in the extraction container, and grinding the receptacle together with the sample material by agitating the extraction container.