Patent ID: 6015106
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: F17C,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
An apparatus for controllably breaking hollow spheres comprising:a) an enclosure;b) a first screen within or at one end of the enclosure having holes that are approximately no larger in mesh size than the smallest hollow spheres;c) a screen support providing sufficient support to the first screen to allow it to hold the hollow spheres while they are being broken and having void areas to allow debris from broken spheres to pass through;d) an impeller in close proximity to the first screen having a shape which causes the hollow spheres that are on the first screen to break as the impeller moves across the first screen; ande) a support screen disposed between the first screen and the screen support and having a mesh size larger than the first screen and sufficient to allow debris from broken spheres to pass through the support screen and constructed so that dimpling of the first screen when the impeller moves across the first screen to break the hollow spheres is substantially reduced or prevented.