Patent Publication Number: US-9403169-B2

Title: Mechano-chemical reactors

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 national stage filing from International Application No. PCT/IB2011/055708 filed Dec. 15, 2011, which claims priority to Italian Application No. TV2010A000168 filed Dec. 23, 2010, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to a mechano-chemical reactor where the kinetic energy o milling means is used to submit substances in the solid and/or liquid state, loaded into a restricted environment, to a treatment able to modify their physical or chemical characteristics. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     The utilization of so-called high energy mills is widespread, the mills making use of a kinetic energy of the milling means usually exceeding 400 W/dm 3  with the purpose of subjecting substances in the solid and/or liquid state to physical or chemical-physical treatments. 
     Primarily, though not exclusively, high energy mills are utilized in the nanotechnologies, namely in the production of nanomaterials which are at least partly formed by particles or granules typically of a size lower than 100 nanometer, namely lower than 10 −7  meter. The article by J. Sidor,  Mechanical Devices for Production of metallic, ceramic - metallic alloys or nano - materials , published in the  Archives of Metallurgy and Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences , no. 3/2007, is a synthetic presentation of several devices already utilized. As it can be ascertained from the data reproduced in some tables of this article, many of the present high energy mills have a low productivity so that their utilization other than in research laboratories or for a small industrial production (pilot production) is not suitable. 
     On the contrary, a high energy mill expressly designed for a high productivity (obviously at the date of the corresponding invention, that is according to the evaluations currently made in the early 90&#39;s) is disclosed in EP-A-0 665 770, the contents of which is herein incorporated for reference due to the fact that the author of the present invention was also one of the inventors of the mentioned patent. For the same reason, also herein incorporated for reference are the contents of EP-A-0 850 700 and EP-A-1 873 190 where several uses of said mill which, in the latter case, is a true reactor since it produces a treatment which is not only physical but also chemical. 
     Thus EP-A-0 665 770, which is deemed as the closest prior art of the present invention, discloses a high energy mill comprising a substantially cylindrical milling jar which, after being loaded with heavy balls or other grinding bodies and with a batch of the substances to be treated, is subjected by driving means to an alternate motion, namely to oscillations, along an axis corresponding substantially to the geometrical axis of the jar. When the mill is in operation, an elastic system provides a compensation of the inertial forces which are generated during the oscillations and have a sinusoidal-like behaviour. 
     In the cited prior art document only a few teachings are provided about the construction of the mill, anyhow from the description and the annexed drawings of the preferred embodiment it can be understood that the elastic system consists of a pair of cylindrical springs, namely of three dimension elements, which are in contact with the upper base and the lower base of the milling jar, respectively. The outer diameter of the springs does not substantially exceed the outer transversal dimensions of the jar, comprising the cooling mantle system. In order to increase the productivity the mill can adopt, instead of a single jar, multiple jars, i.e. constrained each other. Another document belonging to the state of art is CN 2 877 852 Y. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     Practical experience has shown that the commercial demand of nanomaterials which is continuously increasing quantitatively as well as qualitatively, cannot be technically and economically met by high energy mills as disclosed in EP-A-0 665 770. 
     Then, a first object of the present invention is to disclose a true mechano-chemical reactor which, when utilized in the nanotechnologies, is able to produce nanomaterials having chemical and chemical-physical properties modified with respect to the substances (raw materials) subject to treatment, such as: the state of chemical combination of the elements, the state of aggregation and the size of the crystals (when the substances are inorganic), the alloying and solid solution states, the mixing states of the different phases. 
     Another object of the invention is to disclose a reactor where the elastic system, adopted for the compensation of at least a share of inertial forces generated by the oscillating mass, is of a particularly robust and reliable design. 
     A further object is to disclose a reactor which, in at least an embodiment thereof, is able to be operated in a continuous mode, namely is able not only to treat the raw materials in separate batches but also able to operate in a continuous mode, i.e. able to treat indefinite amounts of substances in the solid and/or liquid state, thus attaining a very high productivity. 
     An additional object is to disclose a mechano-chemical reactor which is suitable for utilization in different industrial fields than nanotechnologies, for example in the general field of mixing and grinding various substances, in the chemical and metallurgical syntheses, in the production of liquids, even of a high viscosity with dispersions. 
     SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     To reach the aims the subject of the present invention is a mechanical-chemical reactor comprising a mass oscillating substantially along one axis thanks to reciprocating driving means, the reactor being able to treat solid and/or liquid substances through the kinetic energy of milling bodies according to the features of the appended claims. 
     The novel features listed herebelow are deemed of a premium importance:
         two or more confined environments, where the milling means and the substances to be treated are loaded, are comprised in the oscillating mass which, in at least one embodiment of the invention, exceeds 700 kg;   the oscillations of said mass have a frequency above 10 Hz, preferably 15 Hz, and an amplitude exceeding 20 mm, preferably 30 mm;   the said confined environments consist either of an entire milling jar (called single jar from now onwards) or a plurality of chambers into which the jar (called multiple jar from now onwards) is subdivided through internal partitions; in the event the said chambers are suitable to be operated in parallel or also, with the use of proper connecting pipes, in series—with the result that the production of the reactor takes place in a continuous mode rather than by batches; the confined environments may also consist of a plurality of single or multiple jars in order to reach a particularly high productivity;   the elastic system, adopted for the compensation of at least a share of inertial forces generated by the oscillating mass, comprises a plurality of one dimensional or two dimensional flexible elements which are provided, in zones thereof which are spaced apart, only of hinging means or, alternatively, of hinging means and of rigid fastening means for the connection to the oscillating mass and/or to the structural frame of the reactor.       

     In the context of the present patent specification (description and claims) the expression “one dimensional or two dimensional” shall not be read in strictly geometrical terms but shall be considered as “prevailingly” one dimensional or two dimensional, i.e. “one dimensional” meaning that one dimension exceeds largely (by a factor of at least 2) the other two dimensions and, respectively, “two dimensional” meaning that two dimensions exceeds largely (each one by a factor of at least 1.5) the other dimension. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better explanation of the features and the advantages of the present invention, the following description is of a few non limiting embodiments to which the attached drawings are referred: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a first embodiment where one single milling jar makes part of the oscillating mass of the reactor; 
         FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal cross-section along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows in an enlarged scale one of the flexible element comprised in the elastic system of the reactor illustrated in the preceding figures; 
         FIG. 4  shows in an enlarged scale the hinging means arranged at one end of the flexible element illustrated in  FIG. 3  for the connection to the structural frame; 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectioned top view of a multiple milling jar which can be used in the reactor illustrated in the preceding figures with the purpose of increasing its productivity, even when production of the reactor takes place in a continuous mode; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the multiple jar along line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of the multiple jar when production of the reactor takes place in a continuous mode; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view, partially in transparency, of a second embodiment comprising a plurality of milling jars comprised in a pair of functional units; 
         FIG. 8 b    is shows a portion of  FIG. 8  in an enlarged scale to enable a better view of the details of the driving means; 
         FIG. 9  is a transversal view, partially looked through, of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  shows partially looked through and in an enlarged scale some details of the flexible elements comprised in the elastic system of the reactor shown in  FIGS. 8 to 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  shows a schematic view of the architecture of the connection means which are arranged between the driving means and the functional units in the reactor shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is a reactor essentially comprising: a supporting frame; driving means mounted onto the supporting frame; a mass—of about 200 to 700 kg—which is oscillating due to the fact that it is subjected to a reciprocating motion substantially along one axis by the driving means; just one restricted environment—where substances to be treated and milling means are loaded—making part of the oscillating mass; an elastic system which, due to the fact of ensuring a non rigid link of the restricted environment to the supporting frame of the reactor, is able to compensate a majority share (at least 70%) of the inertial forces, having a sinusoidal-like behaviour, generated by the oscillating mass. 
     The structural frame  40  of the reactor comprises a first rigid pedestal  42 , onto which the stationary components of a driving unit  30  are mounted, and a second rigid pedestal  46  resting on the floor through a plurality of spacing feet  48 . A plurality of damping devices  44  are arranged between the pedestals  42  and  46 . The supporting frame  40  also comprises a first pair  45 A and a second pair  45 B of columns, the latter being higher than the former. All the columns are projecting vertically from the first pedestal  42  to which are firmly fixed. 
     The simple jar  10 , making part of the oscillating mass described in detail herebelow, is made of a wear resisting steel, e.g. Hardox®, and has the shape of a flattened cylinder with the axis Z arranged vertically and an enlarged basis  16 . The introduction of the substances to be treated into the jar  10  and the discharge of the products resulting from the treatment take place through a pair of ports  12 A and  12 B respectively which are equipped with hermetic valves so as to make the jar a single restricted environment when the reactor is operated. A pair of parallel protrusions  66 ,  68  provided with coaxial holes (not shown) project downwards from the basis  16  of the jar  10 . It is intended that the jar can also be of a non cylindrical shape but in any case its axis of oscillation Z is arranged vertically. 
     The jar is optionally equipped with ancillary devices such as heat exchangers, vacuum pumps etc, as well as with control devices, e.g. temperature and pressure sensors and vibration sensors (all the said devices being of a conventional construction, so they do not need to be here described in detail nor shown in the drawings). In this manner the treatment by the reactor of the substances loaded into the jar in the desired environmental conditions is ensured at the best. 
     Also loaded into the jar, with the substances to be treated, is a convenient amount of milling balls  14  (or milling bodies of a different shape) which are made of a material having a high resistance to corrosion and wear, e.g. chromium steel. 
     The reciprocating driving unit  30  is arranged along a horizontal axis X perpendicular to the axis of oscillation Z of the jar and comprises: a rotary electric motor  32 —as shown by arrow F 2  in  FIG. 1 —secured to the first pedestal  42 . Through an elastic joint  31 B rotor  32  drives an eccentric shaft  34 , supported by a pair of bearings  33 A and  33 B, where the big end  36  of a connecting rod  35  is mounted. The small end  37  of the rod  35  is secured to the basis  16  of the jar  10  through a pin  38  passing through the coaxial holes of protrusions  66  and  68 . 
     For this reason the jar  10 , in the case equipped with the above mentioned ancillary and control devices and after it is loaded with the substances to be treated and with the milling bodies, with the small end  37  of the rod  35 , are the parts of the entity which is defined as oscillating mass in the present text. 
     To ensure the start the motor  32  the driving unit  30  comprises a mechanical device  39  supported by the first pedestal  42  of the supporting frame  40  and connected to the shaft  34  through a second elastic joint  31 A. The starting device  39  is of a conventional construction, thus it is not deemed as necessary to illustrate its details which include a hydraulic ram for the actuation of a rack coupled to a cogged wheel. Therefore, of the oscillating mass of the reactor, which in this first embodiment is of about 200 to 700 kg, make part the milling jar  10 , including the above mentioned small end  37  of the rod  35 . The oscillations, namely the reciprocating motion to which the jar  10  is subjected by the driving means, take place in the direction of the axis Z of the jar  10 , as shown by the double arrow F 1  in  FIG. 1 . As a consequence, the inertial forces generated by the oscillations have a sinusoidal-like behaviour. 
     According to the present invention, the elastic system which is able to compensate a majority share (at least 70%) of the inertial forces comprise a plurality of one dimensional or two dimensional flexible elements which, in the rest condition of the reactor, are extended perpendicular to the vertical direction Z of the reciprocating motion of the oscillating mass. 
     The one dimensional flexible elements are a plurality (for example ten) rectilinear flexible bars  52  made of a titanium alloy. In this first embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the bars  52  have a circular cross-section and are made of Ti 6 Al 4 V, a titanium alloy Grade 5 having a low specific weight and excellent mechanical characteristics. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , where a bar is seen in its longitudinal extension, the central portion of all bars  52  is clamped between a pair of thick rigid planes  61  and  62 , which are superimposed and adequately grooved, with the interposition of protective bushes  65 . The said plates are of a rectangular shape with their longer side extended parallel to the axis X of the driving unit  30 . A plurality of vertically arranged bolts  63  passing through the plates  61 ,  62  and screwed into the base  16  of the jar  10  are consequently the rigid fastening means ensuring the connection of the bars  52 , namely of the flexible one dimensional elements, to the oscillating mass. 
     At their end portions (respectively at the right and at the left in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , namely where they protrude from the base  16  of the jar  10 , and spaced from one another, all the bars  52  are firmly retained in corresponding passing holes of a pair of parallelepiped rigid blocks  71 ,  73  by means of a plurality of vertically arranged bolts  72  and the interposition of protective bushes  70 . The blocks  71 ,  73  are of a smaller width than the plates  61 ,  62 —see  FIGS. 1 and 3 —and, in the same manner as said plates, are extended along corresponding horizontal axes Xa, Xb parallel to the axis X of the driving unit  30 . A pair of pins  74 , in the present context defined as first pins, are protruding from the heads of the first rigid block  71  along the axis Xb. The pins  74  are housed in corresponding bearings  75  secured to the top of the pair of columns  45 B which are comprised in the supporting frame of the reactor, at the right side in  FIG. 1 . So, this is a first hinging means for the connections of the bars  52 , namely of the one dimensional flexible elements of the elastic system to the supporting frame of the reactor. 
     In the same manner, another pair of pins  76 , in the present context defined as second pins, are protruding from the heads of the second rigid block  73  along the axis Xa. The pins  76  are housed in an end of two arms  78  tilting on a vertical plane. At the second end of the tilting arms  78  are provided another pair of pins which are housed in corresponding bearings  79  secured to the top of the other pair of columns  45 A which are comprised in the supporting frame of the reactor, at the left side in  FIG. 1 . The purpose of this peculiar construction of the second hinging means—for the connections of the bars  52 , namely of the one dimensional flexible elements of the elastic system to the supporting frame of the reactor—is to face up to the approach of the opposed ends of the flexible bars  52  taking place at any reciprocating movement of the oscillating mass of the reactor. 
     It shall be considered that in  FIG. 1  double arrow F 3  shows the first hinging connection and arrow F 4  the second hinging connection of the bars  52 , namely of the one dimensional flexible elements of the elastic system to the structural frame while double arrow F 5  shows the tilts of arms  78 . 
     A variant (not illustrated in the drawings since it is easy to realize by a person skilled in the art on the basis of the preceding description) of this first embodiment comprises the utilization, instead of the rectilinear bars, of at least one flexible plate of a polygonal shape, namely at least one two dimensional element, in the construction of the elastic system of the reactor. In the rest condition of the reactor the at least one plate is extended perpendicular to the vertical direction Z of the reciprocating motion of the oscillating mass. A plurality of bolts, or equivalent fastening means, are provided at the central portion of the flexible plate to obtain a rigid connection of the elastic system to the base of the oscillating milling jar while hinging means are provided at two other portions of the flexible plate corresponding to a pair of parallel sides, namely at a pair of locations spaced apart from one another and also spaced from the central portion of the plate. The purpose of said hinging means is to ensure a hinging connection of the elastic system to the structural frame along a pair of axes parallel to the axis X of the driving unit. 
     Thanks to the above described features, when the reactor is in operation, the one dimensional (bars) respectively two dimensional (plate or plates) flexible elements of the elastic system are able to compensate a majority share of the inertial forces generated by the reciprocating movement of the oscillating mass and having a sinusoidal-like behaviour. 
     The vibrations of the reactor in its entirety, as well as a minority share of the inertial forces generated by the oscillating mass, are on the contrary scaricate toward the floor through the supporting frame, more precisely through the damping means  44  which are interposed between he first pedestal  42  and the second pedestal of the structural frame. 
     While leaving unchanged the other features which were described in the preceding pages, instead of the single jar  10  the reactor can comprise what has above been called multiple jar, designated as a whole by the reference numeral  80  comprising a plurality of restricted environments where milling bodies  89  and solid and/or liquid substances to be treated are loaded—see  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
     Also the multiple jar  80 , which is made of a wear resistant steel, e.g. Hardox®, is of a cylindrical shape. It comprises: an upper base  84 ; a lower base  85 , wider than the upper base  84 ; a cylindrical casing, welded to bases  84  and  85 , formed by an outer wall  81  and an inner wall  82  thinner than the outer wall; a centrally aligned hub  83 , which is in the form of a hollow cylinder welded to bases  84  and  85 . 
     The walls  81  and  82  of the casing are separated from one another by two hollow spaces  94  and  95 , each of them being half-cylindrical in shape, where a heating and/or cooling fluid is circulated. Inlet fittings  96 A,  96 B and outlet fittings  97 A,  97 B are provided on the hollow spaces for the purpose of filling and draining the fluid—see  FIG. 5 . 
     As already mentioned here above, while the single jar  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has just one restricted environment for treatment of the substances, the multiple jar  80  can comprise a plurality of such environments where milling spheres  99  and substances to be treated are introduced. In this embodiment the restricted environments consist of four chambers which are designated in  FIG. 5  with reference numerals  90 ,  91 ,  92 ,  93  from top to the bottom of the jar  80 . The said chambers are obtained by three discs  86 ,  87 ,  88  which are welded to the hub  83  and to the inner wall  81  of the casing in a vertically spaced relationship. 
     It shall be understood that a multiple jar can also be of a non cylindrical shape and constructed in such a way to be subdivided into other than four chambers, for example made of materials with a high strength and a low specific weight or made of materials with a honeycomb structure. Thus a multiple jar may comprise five or more chambers or even only two or three chambers. 
     Each chamber of the multiple jar  80  is provided with two ports, for the inlet respectively outlet and with tubular fittings associated to valves in order to obtain various series and/or parallel connections between the chambers, consequently with different modes of operating the reactor as it will be explained here below. 
     A first mode of operation of the reactor is, so to say, 100% parallel and is realized when either said tubular fittings are missing or the mentioned valves are only open for the time needed to introduce into the jar the substances to be treated and the time needed for discharging from the jar the products resulting from the treatment. In this case each one of the chambers  90  to  93  is an independent restricted environment where the mechano-chemical processes are separated from one another although simultaneous. As a result the reactor is operated by batches, i.e. in a discontinuous mode, as in the preceding case of the single jar. 
     A second mode of operation of the multiple jar  80  is, so to say, 100% series with the result that the reactor is operated in a continuous mode.  FIG. 7  refers to this mode. The substances to be treated, stored in tanks (not shown) and fed by in parallel through the solenoid valves  104 ,  105  are introduced into the first chamber  90  via a tubular fitting  102  and a one-way valve  101  positioned at the first port of the chamber  90 . After a first partial treatment the substances are drained through the second port  111  of the first chamber  90  and transferred to the second chamber  91  through a tubular fitting  112  and a one-way valve  113  for a second partial treatment. At the end thereof the substances are drained through the second port  114  of the second chamber  91  and transferred to the third chamber  92  through a tubular fitting  115  and a one-way valve  116  for a third partial treatment. At the end of the third partial treatment the substances are drained through the second port  117  of the third chamber  92  and transferred to the fourth chamber  93  through a tubular fitting  118  and a one-way valve  119  for a further treatment. At last, the contents of the fourth chamber  93  is moved from the second port  109  along a tubular fitting  108  upstream of a pump  110  downstream of which is arranged a valve  103 . If the treatment of the substances by the reactor is completed the valve moves the products resulting of the treatment to an external storage container (not shown) through a tubular fitting  106 . On the contrary, if the treatment of the substances by the reactor needs to be continued the valve  103  moves the substances to the first tubular fitting  102  for a repetition of the operation now described. 
     Of course a batch of substances to be treated can be replaced by a second batch as soon as the treatment in a chamber of the multiple jar is completed with the result of a continuous mode of operation of the reactor. (This mode of operation is feasible also when a single jar  10  is comprised in the reactor by means of a suitable control of the valves  12 A and  12 B.) Furthermore it is possible to treat the substances only in a few of the chambers of a multiple jar  80 , for example treating a first pair of substances α and β in chambers  90  and  91 , connected in series and simultaneously treating a second pair of substances λ, and μ in chambers  92  and  93 . In this case the second port  114  of the chamber  91  is connected via a tubular fitting  115  to a storage container of the product resulting from the treatment of substances α and β while the second port  109  of the chamber  93  is connected to a storage container of the product resulting from the treatment of substances λ, and μ. It is understood that also other series-parallel operations of the multiple jar  80  are feasible through a proper control of the described tubular fittings and the associated valves. 
     The mechano-chemical treatments of the substances by the reactor can be controlled either manually or automatically on the base of inputs supplied by sensing means or other monitoring systems of the temperature and pressure conditions in the chambers of the multiple jar  80  in order to act on the heating and/or cooling fluid circulated in the hollow spaces  94 ,  95  as well as on the state of the valve means associated to the jar. 
     In order to emphasize the definitely high productivity of the above described first embodiment of the invention, the following table compares the characteristics of a prototype reactor according to the present invention (in the variant comprising a multiple jar  80  according to  FIGS. 5 to 7 ) and a high energy mill implementing the previously cited EP-A-0 665 770, which is deemed as the closest prior art. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristics 
                 Present invention 
                 State of the art 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Oscillating mass 
                 484 
                 kg 
                 50 
                 kg 
               
               
                 Oscillation frequency 
                 15 
                 Hz 
                 15 
                 Hz 
               
               
                 Oscillation amplitude 
                 30 
                 mm 
                 30 
                 mm 
               
               
                 Power of driving motor 
                 11 
                 kW 
                 2 
                 kW 
               
               
                 Max acceleration (@ 15 Hz) 
                 133 
                 m/s 2   
                 105 
                 m/s 2   
               
               
                 Inertial forces (@ 15 Hz) 
                 64.4 
                 kN 
                 5.25 
                 kN 
               
               
                 Typical batch to be treated 
                 2 
                 dm 3   
                 0.20 
                 dm 3   
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     A second embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to  FIGS. 8 to 11 . The embodiment is particularly suitable when the oscillating mass of the reactor exceeds 700 kg, while also in this case the oscillation frequency is above 10 Hz, preferably 15 Hz, and the oscillation amplitude is above 20 mm, preferably 30 mm. The big inertial forces generated by the oscillating mass (which is subdivided into two parts called functional units, as explained here below) need a construction of the reactor such that, in addition to the already mentioned basic features of the invention, it also adds the a dynamic compensation to the compensation due to the elastic system so as to attain a majority overall share of the compensation of the inertial forces (at least 70%). 
     In this embodiment the structural frame comprises the following parts, as can be seen in  FIG. 8 :
         a pedestal  191  resting onto the floor by means of adjustable feet  192 ;   two pairs of pillars, each pair being formed by lower vertical portions  193 ,  194  welded onto the pedestal  191  and by upper converging portions  195 ,  196  to firmly sustain a horizontal parallelepiped box  290  housing the driving means of the reactor;   two vertical and parallelepiped rigid blocks  197 ,  198  which are welded onto the pedestal  191  externally to the pillars, the height of these blocks being lower than the height of the vertical portions  193 ,  194  of the pillars—see  FIG. 8 . Bearings  640  and  650 , associated to pins provided in the lower end of tilting arms  620  and  630 , are fixed to the summit of blocks  197  and  198 . In the upper end of tilting arms  620  and  630  are provided the fulcra  600  and  610  of corresponding supports in the form of columns  515  and  545  which are connected to the elastic system of the reactor, as clarified here below.       

     The driving means of the present embodiment consist in a pair of driving units  350  and  400 , identical one another. For simplicity the first driving unit is described in detail since the construction of their components are illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  while the reference numerals of the corresponding most important components of the second driving units are written into brackets when they are illustrated in the schematic representation of  FIG. 11 . 
     The first driving unit  350  ( 400 ) comprises a hydraulic motor  351  ( 401 ) for the actuation, through an elastic joint  356 , a crankshaft  352  ( 402 ) extended along a horizontal axis Y 1  (Y 2 ) and housed in the parallelepiped box  290 , where it is supported by two end bearings  353 ,  354  and by a central bearing  355 . As above mentioned the box  290  is firmly sustained by the upper converging portions  195 ,  196  of the pillars making part of the structural frame of the reactor. It is noteworthy that the axis Y 1  and Y 2  of the crankshafts  352  and  402  are parallel and define horizontal plane. 
     On the cranks of the crankshafts  352  ( 402 ) which are closer to the motor  351  ( 401 ) are mounted the big ends  364  ( 414 ) and  366  ( 416 ) of a first pair of opposed rods  360  ( 410 ) and  362  ( 412 ) while on the cranks beyond the central bearings are mounted the big ends  374  ( 424 ) and  376  ( 426 ) of a second pair of opposed rods  370  ( 420 ) and  372  ( 422 ). From associated slots provided at the upper face of box  290  are protruding the small end  367  ( 417 ) and a portion of the stem of the rod  362  ( 412 ) as well as the small end  375  ( 425 ) and a portion of the stem of the rod  370  ( 420 ) of said first pair of opposed rods. In a similar manner from associated slots provided at the lower face of box  290  are protruding the small end  369  ( 419 ) and a portion of the stem of the other rod  360  ( 410 ) as well as the small end  377  ( 427 ) and a portion of the stelo of the other rod  372  ( 422 ) of said second pair of opposed rods. 
     The oscillating mass is now described which, as above mentioned, is subdivided into two functional units  250  and  300 . In  FIG. 8  the double arrows F 10  define the reciprocating movements to which the functional units  250  are subjected by the driving units  350  and  400 —in the direction of the vertical axis Z of the reactor—with the peculiarities described here below. 
     The functional unit  250  is positioned below the box  290 , namely above the horizontal plane defined by the axis Y 1  and Y 2  of the crankshaft  352  and  452  of the driving means, thus functional unit  250  is called upper functional unit. The functional unit  300  is positioned below the box  290 , namely below the said horizontal plane, thus the functional unit  300  is called lower functional unit. 
     Units  250  and  300  are formed of the same parts though in a different arrangement as it can be appreciated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . For simplicity the following description refers to the upper functional unit  250  and the variants of the lower functional unit  300  with their reference numerals are written into brackets. 
     Unit  250  ( 300 ) comprises a set of three milling jars superimposed one another and bearing top down with reference numerals  252  ( 306 ),  254  ( 304 ),  256  ( 302 ). These are single jars like those above described of the first embodiment and each jar is a restricted environment loaded with the solid and/or liquid to be treated and the balls or other milling bodies  89 . 
     In each set the jars are constrained each other by clamps (not shown) which also ensure the fastening of the set to a parallelepiped box  258  ( 308 ) which is provided with slots at one of their horizontal faces lying perpendicular to axis Z. In the box are housed a first and a second axle  260  ( 310 ) and  262  ( 312 ) extended along the axes Y 3  (Y 5 ) and Y 4  (Y 6 ) which are parallel to the axis Y 1  and Y 2  of crankshafts  352  and  402  respectively and define a horizontal plane. 
     In the upper functional unit  250  the box  258  is fixed at the bottom of the set of jars  252 ,  254 ,  256  which means that the said slots are provided at the lower face of the box  258 , facing the box  290  where the crankshafts  352  and  402  are housed. In the lower functional unit  300  the box  308  is fixed at the top of the set of jars  306 ,  304 ,  302  which means that the said slots are provided at the upper face of the box  258 , facing the box  290  where the crankshafts  352  and  402  are housed. This is the different arrangement of the parts in the two functional units which has been already mentioned here above. 
       FIG. 11  shows in a schematic form the connections between the driving means and the oscillating mass in this embodiment of the reactor, then it also contains the reference numerals of some parts which are not seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . According to a main feature of the invention which is claimed here below, in this embodiment the architecture of the said connections provides a dynamical compensation of a share of the inertial forces generated by the reciprocating movements of the oscillating mass which supplements the share of compensation provided by the elastic system to be described. 
     At first, let us consider the connections involving the first driving unit  350  or, more precisely, the crankshaft thereof  352 . 
     The small end  367  of a rod  360  belonging to the first pair of opposed rods (namely those which are close to the motor  351 ) is mounted onto the second axle  262  in the box  258  of the upper functional unit  250  while the small end  369  of the second rod  362  in the same pair of rods is mounted onto the first axle  310  in the box  308  of the lower functional unit  300 . 
     The small end  375  of a rod  370  belonging to the second pair of opposed rods (namely those which distant from the motor  351 ) is mounted onto the first axle  260  in the box  258  of the upper functional unit  250  while the small end  377  of the second rod  372  in the same pair of rods is mounted onto the second axle  312  in the box  308  of the lower functional unit  300 . 
     As regards the connections involving the second driving unit  400  or, more precisely, the crankshaft thereof  402 , the small end  417  of a rod  410  belonging to the first pair of opposed rods (namely those which are close to the motor  401 ) is mounted onto the second axle  262  in the box  258  of the upper functional unit  250  while the small end  419  of the second rod  412  in the same pair of rods is mounted onto the first axle  310  in the box  308  of the lower functional unit  300 . 
     The small end  425  of a rod  420  belonging to the second pair of opposed rods (namely those which distant from the motor  401 ) is mounted onto the first axle  260  in the box  258  of the upper functional unit  250  while the small end  427  of the second rod  422  in the same pair of rods is mounted onto the second axle  312  in the box  308  of the lower functional unit  300 . 
     To sum up, the second embodiment of the opposed two by two, being mounted onto each crankshaft and ensuring the connections with the two sets of milling jars of which the oscillating mass is formed. Thence, the two sets of milling jars are simultaneously subjected by both crankshafts to reciprocating movements in counterphase along the same vertical axis Z by means of the opposed rods. 
     As in the first embodiment the expressions vertical axis of the reciprocating movements and perpendicularity between said axes and the axes of the driving means shall be understood with some tolerance, indicatively in the order of 5 mm. 
     As above anticipated, it is the described architecture of the connections that contributes, in a dynamic form, to the compensation of the inertial forces generated by the oscillating mass. 
     In order to ensure that the reciprocating movements take place simultaneously and in counterphase, two systems are provided in the reactor. 
     The first system (not illustrated in the drawings for simplicity and also for the reason it can be easily realized by a person skilled in the art) acts directly on the driving means and consists of four synchronizing gears. One gear is keyed on each crankshaft  352 ,  402  while the remaining two gears are in mesh with one another. 
     The second system comprises four identical articulated parallelograms. For simplicity the following description refers to the parallelogram  480  which is shown in  FIG. 8  and is one of the two parallelograms positioned on the front side of the reactor. 
     Parallelogram  480  comprises a lever  482  having a central fulcrum  484  positioned onto the box  290  housing the crankshafts  352  and  402  of the driving units  350  and  400 . At the ends  481  and  483  of the lever  480  are hinged the first ends of respective arms  486  and  488 . Arm  486  has its second end  487  hinged onto the box  258  comprised in the first functional unit  250  while arm  488  has its second end  489  hinged onto the box  308  comprised in the second functional unit  300 . 
     Also in the second embodiment an important share of the inertial forces generated by the reciprocating movements of the oscillating mass is compensated by an elastic system comprising one dimensional or two dimensional flexible elements. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 8 to 10  the said flexible elements are again a plurality of bars made with the alloy Ti 6 Al 4 V and subdivided in the same number on the two functional units of the which the oscillating mass is formed. For this reason in the following are described un upper elastic subsystem  500  and a lower elastic system  550  which are identical to one another. 
     Each elastic subsystem comprises four pairs of flexible rectilinear bars which, when the reactor is in rest conditions, are extended substantially perpendicular to the direction of the oscillations (reciprocating movements) of the functional units  250  and  300 , namely substantially perpendicular to axis Z. Of the said four pairs of rods only two are shown in  FIG. 8 , namely those designated with reference numerals  502 ,  504  and  532 ,  534  which belong to the upper elastic subsystem  500  and are positioned at the right side and at the left side of axis Z, respectively. In  FIG. 8  are also shown two of the four pairs of rods designated with reference numerals  552 ,  554  and  582 ,  584  which belong to the lower elastic subsystem  550  and are positioned at the right side and at the left side of axis Z, respectively. 
     In consideration that all flexible bars are identical and that in each pair the bars are vertically spaced from one another, the following detailed description is uniquely referred to  FIG. 10  where are shown on an enlarged scale the pair of bars  532 ,  534 . In each bar two spaced apart zones are defined corresponding to the proximal ends and the distal ends of the same flexible bars, respectively. 
     At the proximal ends thereof hinging means  536 ,  538  are provided for the connection of flexible bars  532 ,  534  to the box  258  making part of the upper functional unit  250  of the oscillating mass. The axes Y 7 , Y 8  of hinging means  536 ,  538  are perpendicular to axis Z of the reciprocating movements of the oscillating mass, that is horizontal. 
     On the contrary the distal ends  540 ,  542  of the same flexible bars  532 ,  534  are fixed by means of stud bolts rigidly, namely are rigidly fastened, to an upper portion of the support in the form of a column  545  which makes part of the structural frame of the reactor, at the right side of the vertical axis Z. 
     This construction is the same as regards the pair of flexible bars  582 ,  584  belonging to the lower elastic subsystem, also at the right side of the vertical axis Z of the reciprocating movements of the oscillating mass, with the difference that the proximal ends of the bars  582 ,  584  are connected through hinging means to the box  308  making part of the lower functional unit  300  of the oscillating mass and the distal ends are fixed by means of stud bolts, namely are rigidly fastened, to a lower portion of the support in the form of a column  545  which makes part of the structural frame of the reactor. 
     Totally in symmetry with the above description, the flexible bars disposed in the reactor at the left side of the axis Z of the reciprocating movements of the oscillating mass are connected at their proximal ends by hinging mean to the box  258  of the functional unit  250  and are fixed by means of stud bolts to the support in the form of a column  541  which makes part of the structural frame. 
     As a completion of the description of the second embodiment, the following details are added with reference to  FIG. 9 :
         the double arrows F 6  mean the alternate bendings of the elastic subsystem  500  and  550  providing the compensation of share of the inertial forces generated by the reciprocating movements of the oscillating mass along the direction of vertical axis Z;   the double arrows F 7  mean the oscillations of the supports  541 ,  545  in the form of a column  541  about the fulcra  600 ,  610  ensuring the connection to the arms  620 ,  630  respectively, and   the double arrows F 8  mean the tilting movements of the said arms  620 ,  630  about the bearings  640 ,  650 . The tilting movements compensate the mutual approach of the distal ends of the flexible elements of the two elastic subsystems  500 ,  550  due to their bendings when the reactor is in operation.       

     In the following Table 2 are the characteristics, referred to the discontinuous mode of operation, of a prototype mechano-chemical reactor in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristics of the present invention 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Overall oscillating mass (two functional units) 
                 4000 
                 kg 
               
               
                   
                 Oscillation frequency 
                 15 
                 Hz 
               
               
                   
                 Oscillation amplitude 
                 30 
                 mm 
               
               
                   
                 Power of driving motor 
                 60 
                 kW 
               
               
                   
                 Max acceleration (@ 15 Hz) 
                 133 
                 m/s 2   
               
               
                   
                 Inertial forces (@ 15 Hz) 
                 490.4 
                 kN 
               
               
                   
                 Typical batch to be treated 
                 20 
                 dm 3   
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Without coming out of the field of protection ensured by the appended claims, on the base of the teachings given in the preceding description at least the following variants of the second embodiment of the reactor are deemed as feasible:
         in the functional units of the oscillating mass the use of a number of single milling jars superimposed one another other than three in each set of jars;   in the functional units of the oscillating mass the use of a pair of multiple jars, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , even with a number of chambers other than four in each multiple jar instead of two sets of single milling jars;   in the elastic system the use of polygonal flexible plates, namely two dimensional flexible elements, preferably made with titanium alloys, instead of the pairs of bars (one dimensional flexible elements). In this case each plate has two parallel sides, of which a first side is connected to the boxes of the functional units through hinging means and the second side is fixed through rigid fastening means to the columns comprised in the structural frame of the reactor;   driving means consisting of a single unit, namely comprising one motor, one crankshaft and the opposed rods connected to the functional units in such a way to ensure their reciprocating movements are in counterphase;   just one mechanical system, instead of two, to ensure that the said reciprocating movements are synchronous or, alternatively,   an electronic phasing system of the motors;   the use of sensing means (e.g. accelerometers) to ensure that the conditions of oscillation (frequency and amplitude) are optimal in terms of mechanics and energy consumption.