Patent Publication Number: US-11045812-B1

Title: Autogenous impact mill that reduces size of friable material

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Exemplary embodiments relate to milling devices that are used to reduce the size of friable material particles. Exemplary embodiments relate to an autogenous impact mill that reduces the size of material particles through impacts with particles suspended in air via the Coanda Effect. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various types of devices are known for processing materials in ways that reduce the size of larger material particles to a desired smaller particle size. Such milling devices are known to act on the material using pulverizing or grinding devices to reduce the size of particles of the material to a desired level. Such known milling devices may require considerable energy input, suffer wear from the required impacts and other forces necessary to pulverize the material particles, and may not produce material particles of a consistent size. 
     Such prior milling devices may benefit from improvements. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments described herein include an autogenous impact mill that is operative to size reduce friable material particles that are processed through operation of the mill. Exemplary embodiments include a mill having a housing which bounds an interior area. The interior area includes at least one impeller that is rotatable within the interior area. Rotation of the at least one impeller is operative to produce at least one air flow jet within the interior area. 
     Exemplary embodiments include in cross section a plurality of ricochet bars within the housing on a first lateral side of the at least one impeller. A plurality of fracture plates extend within the housing on an opposed lateral side of the at least one impeller from the side having the ricochet bars. A removable concave lower pan portion extends below the at least one impeller and between the lateral sides of the interior area. 
     Pieces of the friable material to be processed by the mill are placed in a loading chute. The material pieces pass through an entrance opening into the interior area of the housing. The at least one impeller is operative to engage the material pieces and cause them to be propelled into impacting engagement with the fracture plates to reduce the material pieces to a smaller size. At least one impeller produces at least one air jet within the housing that extends away from the lower concave portion. The at least one jet extends toward the plurality of ricochet bars and an exit opening from the housing. Material particles are suspended by the at least one air jet due to the Coanda Effect. Other material particles are propelled by the at least one jet into the ricochet bars. Particles bounce off ricochet surfaces of the ricochet bars and impact the suspended particles. The impacts between the suspended particles and the particles that ricochet from the ricochet bars breaks the particles into smaller pieces. 
     In an exemplary arrangement, a screen is positioned adjacent the exit opening from the housing. The screen includes a plurality of screen openings having a screen opening size. Particles that are smaller than the screen opening size are enabled to pass through the screen openings and exit the interior area of the device through a delivery chute. Particles that are too large to pass through the screen openings are prevented by the screen from exiting the interior area and are further processed therein until the size of the particles is sufficiently reduced to enable the particles to leave the interior area through the screen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top rear left perspective view of an autogenous impact mill of an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top right perspective view of the impact mill, absent the motor. 
         FIG. 3  is a right plan view of the exemplary mill. 
         FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the exemplary mill. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4  showing the interior area of the housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a further enlarged view of the interior area of the housing including a representation of the action of the at least one impeller to produce at least one air jet. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an exemplary impeller without the impeller head fasteners. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the exemplary impeller of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an exemplary assembly of ricochet bars. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the exemplary ricochet bars. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the exemplary ricochet bars. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the exemplary removable concave lower pan portion of the housing. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the lower pan portion. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of the exemplary lower pan portion. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the interior area of an alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a further enlarged view of the interior area of the housing including a representation of material particle positions, collisions, and movements in the housing interior area. 
         FIG. 17  is a further enlarged view of the interior area of the housing including a representation of material particle positions, collisions, and movements in the housing interior area. 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of the interior area of an alternative embodiment including a representation of material particle positions, collisions, movements, and repulsions in the housing interior area. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown therein an exemplary embodiment of an autogenous impact mill generally indicated  10 . The exemplary mill includes a housing  12 . The housing  12  is supported on a frame  14 . The exemplary frame  14  includes a front support  16  and a rear support  18 . The exemplary rear support includes casters  20  that facilitate the portability of the mill. In the exemplary embodiment, the frame supports a motor  22  such as an internal combustion engine. The exemplary frame  14  further supports other components associated with the mill such as a battery  24 . A guard  26  is positioned to overlie a belt, chain or other moving drive members that operatively connect the motor and the powered components within the housing  12 . It should be noted that in many of the drawings presented herein, the engine and other components supported by the frame have been omitted to facilitate describing the structure of the mill. 
     The exemplary embodiment of the mill further includes a loading chute  28 . The exemplary loading chute  28  is used to receive pieces of friable material that are to be processed and reduced in size through operation of the mill, represented by material pieces  126  in loading chute  28  as shown in  FIG. 16 . The exemplary loading chute includes a top opening that can be selectively covered by a hinged screen  30 . The screen enables air flow therethrough. The hinged screen  30  is movably mounted on hinges  32  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The hinged screen  30  further includes an opening  34  through which a loop or other fastening member  36  may extend when the screen is in a closed position. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the exemplary loop is sized for accepting a removable pin  38  or other suitable fastening device for holding the screen  30  in a closed position. As can be appreciated in the exemplary embodiment, the hinged screen can be closed and secured by the pin  38  when the mill  10  is operating to avoid the risk of material flying out of the top of the loading chute  28 . 
     The exemplary embodiment further includes a delivery chute  40 . The exemplary delivery chute  40  includes a downward directed outlet opening  42 . The outlet opening is configured to pass particles of material that have been processed by the mill out of the delivery chute and into a suitable holding bin or other suitable receptacle for receiving the processed material particles. 
     As shown in vertical cross section in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the housing  12  includes an interior area  44 . An entrance opening  46  to the interior area extends below the loading chute  28 . A guide plate  48  includes a concave surface that directs material pieces in the loading chute toward the entrance opening. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, a valve plate  50  is selectively movable in the entrance opening. The valve plate  50  is movable between a closed position which is shown in solid lines in  FIGS. 5 and 16  and an open position which is shown in  FIG. 5  in phantom. In the exemplary arrangement, the exemplary valve plate is rotatable on a pivot shaft  52  responsive to manual actuation of a lever  54 . In the exemplary embodiment, a spring  56  biases the lever outward such that the valve plate  50  is rotationally biased toward the closed position. Manually moving the lever  54  against the biasing force of the spring  56  operates to cause the pivot shaft  52  to rotate the valve plate  50  toward the open position. As can be appreciated, the movement of the lever  54  enables controlling the delivery of material pieces  126  from the loading chute into the interior area of the housing. This enables the operator of the exemplary mill to avoid overloading the mill so that it is not bogged down with excess material entering the interior area of the housing. As shown in  FIG. 16 , material pieces  146  near the entrance opening  46  are stopped from entering the housing interior area when the valve plate  50  is in the closed position. Of course it should be understood that this approach is exemplary and in other embodiments, other approaches may be used. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, at least one impeller  58  is rotatably mounted in the interior area. In the exemplary embodiment, the impeller  58  is rotatable with a shaft  60 . The shaft  60  is supported on bearings  62  which are attached to the housing  12  through suitable fasteners  64 . The impeller shaft  60  is driven by the motor  22  rotationally driving a suitable pulley  66  or other suitable rotating member that is attached to the shaft  60 . In other embodiments multiple impellers that rotate on one or more shafts may be utilized. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the rotatable impeller  58  includes a plurality of angularly disposed outer peripheral heads  68 . In some exemplary embodiments the impeller heads may include generally flat continuous planar leading faces that extend generally horizontally across the majority of the interior area of the housing. In other embodiments the impeller heads may have a contoured configuration. Such contours may have curved surfaces that tend to direct impacting particles toward the transverse central area of the housing interior. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the exemplary impeller heads  68  are attached to radially extending arms  138 ,  140 , and  142  of the impeller through suitable fasteners  70 . The fasteners  70  extend through suitable openings  72  which extend through the impeller heads and arms to hold the components in engagement. In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the exemplary arms  138 ,  140 , and  142  may extend radially outward beyond the shaft  60  a distance greater than three times the diameter of the shaft  60 . Additionally, in some exemplary embodiments, the exemplary arms  138 ,  140 , and  142  may be further supported by support braces  59 . As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the exemplary support braces  59  extend angularly intermediate of and in fixed operative engagement with each of the angularly adjacent pair of arms, and are disposed entirely radially inwardly of the respective outer peripheral impact heads  68 . Of course it should be understood that this arrangement is exemplary and in other embodiments, other arrangements may be used. For example in other exemplary embodiments, the impeller heads may include contours that cause greater air movement. This may include causing greater air flow in a counterclockwise direction as shown within the interior of the housing in the direction of movement of the radially outward ends of the impeller heads. Further in some exemplary arrangements, the impeller may additionally include in operative connection therewith, fan blades that enhance desired air flow properties, such as suitable speeds and directional flows within the housing. For example in some arrangements such as is shown in  FIG. 15  fan blades  77  may rotate with the shaft  60 . The fan blades may be configured to direct air flow in the circular direction of rotation of the impeller heads  68 . The airflow may also be directed toward the horizontally transverse middle area of the housing  12  so as to reduce the collection of material on the transverse sides of the housing. In some exemplary arrangements a manifold  79  extending coaxially with or otherwise adjacent to the shaft may be used to draw air from outside of the housing into selected areas of the housing interior in proximity to the fan blades and/or the impeller heads. For example air may be delivered from outside the housing into an area radially within the arc of rotation of the fan blades and/or impeller heads to achieve circumferential and radial acceleration of such incoming air by the fan blades and/or impeller heads to create higher volumes and speeds of air flows within the housing. Further in some arrangements the rate of outside air flow into the housing interior from the outside may be controlled by an external flap valve  75  or similar structure to tailor the air flow to the properties and amount of material processed by the mill. Of course numerous different approaches may be used. 
     The interior area  44  of the housing  12  further includes a guide plate  74 . The guide plate  74  includes a convex surface that extends below the entrance opening  46 . The guide plate terminates at an inward end  76 . The inward end  76  is positioned such that the impeller heads  68  pass in close proximity thereto as the impeller rotates within the housing. In the exemplary embodiment, the impeller rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown during operation as represented by Arrow R in  FIG. 6 . Opening the valve plate  50  moves the valve plate initially closer to and then further away from the guide plate  74 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment the interior area on a first lateral side of the impeller generally indicated  78  is bounded by a plurality of fracture plates  80 . In the exemplary embodiment the fracture plates are arranged at convergent angles and terminate in a plurality of disposed inwardly pointed apexes in cross section. As later explained, the fracture plates are configured to be impacted by pieces of friable material that are propelled by engagement with the heads of the impeller toward the apexes and fracture plates to facilitate the breaking up of such material pieces. Of course it should be understood that the exemplary arrangement of fracture plates  80  is but one of numerous arrangements that may be used for this purpose. 
     The exemplary housing  12  includes a removable concave lower pan portion  82 . Lower pan portion  82  is bounded inwardly by a concave surface  84  that extends below the impeller  58 . The exemplary embodiment of the lower pan portion  82  which is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 12-14  is releasibly connected to the housing  12  through pins  86 . Pins  86  removably extend through openings  88  in the pan portion and ears  90  on the housing. In exemplary arrangements, suitable clips are utilized for holding the pins  86  in engagement with the pan portion and the housing during operation. For example in some exemplary arrangements the fracture plates may be configured so that the apexes extend generally horizontally across generally the entire interior area of the housing. In other arrangements the fracture plates may include offset apex structures or other structures such as pyramids, spikes or other configurations that will fracture the material particles on impact and then enable the fractured particles to disengage from the structures against which they are impacted. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , the exemplary lower pan portion includes a pair of opposed handles  92 . Handles  92  facilitate removal and installation of the lower pan portion. The exemplary lower pan portion further includes fracture plates  94  which serve the same function as fracture plates  80  higher up on side  78  of the interior area. The fracture plates  94  have a similar configuration as fracture plates  80  and are attached to the concave surface  84 . In the exemplary embodiment, the removable concave lower pan portion includes recesses  96  through which the shaft  60  extends. The sides of the pan portion further include flanges  98  which are configured to be in generally abutting relation with corresponding lower surfaces of the housing. The flanges enable the removable concave lower pan portion to be in generally tight engagement with the housing when the pan portion is mounted thereto so as to prevent the escape of material from between the housing and the pan. 
     The interior area  44  of the housing  12  further includes a second lateral side generally indicated  100  that in vertical cross section of the housing is on the opposed side of the impeller  58  from the first side  78 . A housing  102  is mounted on the second side  100 . Housing  102  includes a plurality of ricochet bars  104 . As shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 9-11 , the exemplary ricochet bars  104  each include a ricochet surface  106 . The exemplary ricochet surfaces extend at a plurality of different angles. The different angles of the ricochet surfaces on the ricochet bars are configured to cause particles of material that impact the ricochet bars to bounce off of them at a plurality of different angles and in numerous directions as represented by material particles  128  shown in  FIG. 16 . This helps to facilitate the breaking of the material particles by the mill in a manner that is later explained. 
     The interior area  44  of the housing further includes an exit opening  108 . Exit opening  108  is in connection with the interior of delivery chute  40 . In the exemplary arrangement a screen  110  extends between the ricochet bars and the exit opening  108 . The exemplary screen  110  includes a plurality of screen openings. The screen openings have a uniform screen opening size that corresponds to the maximum size of the material particles that the mill is configured to produce. Thus in the exemplary arrangement, material particles that have been broken and are below the size of the screen openings are enabled to pass out of the interior area  44  through the screen  110 , as represented by material particles  136  as shown in  FIG. 16 , and into the delivery chute  40  from which they are delivered through the outlet opening  42 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment a ramp surface  112  extends in cross section inwardly and downward into the area  100  below the screen  110 . Ramp surface  112  is configured to direct material particles that are collected on the screen because they are too large to pass therethrough, to fall downwardly into the interior area  100  below the housing  102  which includes the ricochet bars. 
     As represented in  FIG. 6 , in operation of an exemplary embodiment, the impeller  58  rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown represented by arrow R within the interior area  44  of the housing  12 . The internal configuration of the housing including the concave surface  84  of the lower pan portion  82  is operative to cause at least one air jet labeled J in  FIG. 6  to be produced within the area  100  shown on the right side of the impeller. Material pieces that enter the interior area through the entrance opening  46  and which move past the valve plate  50  in the open position engage the upper convex surface of the guide plate  74  as represented by material pieces  126  in engagement with guide plate  74  in  FIG. 16 . The material pieces  2  move downwardly in engagement with the guide plate. Upon reaching the inward end  76  of the guide plate the material pieces  126  are impacted and propelled by engagement with the impeller heads  68  to the left as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 16 . The impact of the material with the heads fractures the material into smaller pieces. Material pieces  126  are propelled by the impeller heads to impact against the fracture plates  80 ,  94  which extend on the side  78  of the impeller, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The engagement of the material pieces with the impeller heads and the fracture plates operates to fracture the incoming material pieces into smaller particles. 
     In an exemplary arrangement, the particles  130  that have been reduced in size by engagement with the fracture plates, are moved with the air flow generated by the impeller to the lateral side  100  of the interior area opposite side  78 . Particles of material in the vicinity of the at least one air jet are suspended by the jet as represented by material particles  122  as shown in  FIG. 17 . The Coanda Effect is operative to cause the moving air of the jet to follow the convex surfaces of the particles  122  which causes such particles to be suspended by the one or more air jets as they extend away from the concave surface  84 . In the exemplary embodiments, the particles  122  are suspended by the Coanda Effect in the area above the one or more air jets. However, in other embodiments, material particles may be suspended on a lower side of the air jet or on both sides of one or more air jets. 
     In exemplary arrangements, particles that are not suspended by the Coanda Effect are carried by the air jets toward the exit opening  108  from the housing. The material particles that are moved by the air jets are propelled into the ricochet bars  104  and fracture and/or bounce off the ricochet surfaces  106  at the various angles of the plurality of ricochet bars. 
     In the exemplary embodiment the particles that bounce off the ricochet surfaces (as represented by ricochet particles  128  in  FIG. 17 ), ricochet into engagement with the particles  122  that have been suspended by the one or more air jets in area  100  of the housing. The impacts, represented schematically by mark  134  between the ricochet particles  124  and the suspended particles  122  are operative to cause the particles to be broken and to produce particles  132  that are reduced in size from the previous particles. This action of repeated impacts between ricochet particles and suspended particles are operative to repeatedly reduce the size of the particles within the housing. 
     In operation of the exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the particles on a second side  100  of the housing are moved by the air flow within the housing interior area and the impeller back to side  78  of the interior area. Such particles may impact with additional incoming material pieces and the fracture plates  80 ,  94  so as to be further reduced in size as well. Such particles may be again carried by the air flow jets along the concave surface  84  and into side  100  of the interior area. 
     Particles  136  that have been sufficiently reduced in size below the size of the screen openings in screen  110  may flow between the ricochet bars and pass through the screen. Such particles exit the mill through the delivery chute  40 . Material particles that are too large to pass through the screen  110  fall downwardly on the screen and are directed by ramp surface  112  back into second side  100  of the interior area where they may be suspended or otherwise moved so as to undergo further impacts which reduce the particle size until such particles can be passed out of the housing through the screen  110 . 
     Further in exemplary embodiments, other or additional fluidic pressure devices may be utilized that facilitate the processing operation of the mill  10 . For example in some exemplary embodiments, a positive pressure port  114  as shown in  FIG. 6  may be positioned above the convex upper surface of guide plate  74 . Positive pressure port  114  may be in operative connection with a source of positive air pressure. Such positive air pressure may be applied into the interior area so as to urge the movement of material pieces along the convex surface of the guide plate  74  toward the inward end  76 . Such positive pressure applied to the port  114  in exemplary embodiments may further reduce the amount of dust or other particulate material that may move through the entrance opening  46  and out of the screen covering the loading chute. This will reduce the amount of dust that is in the area where the mill  10  is operated. 
     Further in exemplary embodiments a negative pressure port  116  may be positioned to draw air out of the interior area  44 . In exemplary embodiments the negative pressure port  116  may be in operative connection with a negative pressure device such as a vacuum system and/or dust collector. The vacuum system and negative pressure port  116  may operate to draw air out of the interior area  44  of the housing. In exemplary arrangements, the negative pressure port may further facilitate the flow of air from the interior area through the exit opening  108  and the screen  110 . This negative pressure port may further facilitate the rate at which material particles that have been sufficiently reduced in size are drawn out of the interior area  44  and through the delivery chute. This increases the processing speed of the mill. 
     Further in exemplary arrangements one or more vibrators  118  such as for example pneumatically actuated vibrators, may be in operative connection with the screen  110  to facilitate the shedding of particles which cannot pass through the screen such that they drop off the screen and are directed by the ramp surface  112  back into the interior area of the housing. However, it should be appreciated that in some arrangements the turbulence in the air flow generated within the housing or the normal vibration of the mill during its operation are sufficient to cause the surface of the screen  110  that faces the interior area to shed particles that are too large to pass therethrough. 
     Further it should be understood that the arrangement of positive and negative pressure ports and other features described herein are exemplary. Other or additional pressure ports, devices or arrangements may be included in exemplary embodiments to facilitate the operation of milling apparatus that include the principles described herein. Numerous exemplary arrangements may include fluidic elements that facilitate the desired air flow which accomplishes the desirable suspension of friable material particles and impacts which in exemplary embodiments achieve the reduction in particle sizes. Numerous different fluidic elements may be implemented in components utilized in example arrangements which enable the control of vacuum and pressure without moving parts. Examples of capability to control vacuum and pressure through fluidic elements are demonstrated in patents that are owned by the applicant hereof, such as for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,574,460; 3,628,601; 4,407,134; 4,435,719; and 4,570,597, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     In other exemplary embodiments other components and features may be utilized to facilitate operation of the mill. For example, in some exemplary arrangements electrostatic charge may be applied to facilitate the suspension of particles and to assure effective flow of material from the exit opening of the housing. In some exemplary arrangements the exit screen  110  may tend to collect particles even in the presence of mechanical devices that help to separate particles from the screen. As represented in  FIGS. 15 and 18 , in such arrangements circuitry  119  may operate to cause the screen to be charged with an electrical charge that reverses on a periodic basis. In this manner particles that cling to the screen may take on a charge opposite to that of the screen. Such particles may be repelled from the screen and be returned to the interior area of the housing when the circuitry operates to reverse the charge on the screen as represented by material particles  152  as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
     In other arrangements electrostatic charge may be used to help suspend particles in the area of the housing where such particles are most likely to be subject to being impacted by particles moving after impact with the ricochet bars. For example, in some arrangements as represented in  FIGS. 15 and 18  the fracture plates may include electrodes  120  connected to circuitry  122  which causes the particles that impact against the fracture plates to have a common charge. Such charge may serve to help to keep the particles disbursed from each other as they are suspended by the Coanda Effect in the area where they sustain impacts with other particles. Further in other exemplary arrangements, as shown in  FIG. 18 , charged electrodes  124  may be positioned in the housing to maintain such particles  154  in suspension away from the walls of the housing. Such electrodes  124  may be charged to repel the particles  154  so that such particles have a longer residence time within the region in which the particles are most likely to be subject to impacts with particles travelling away from the ricochet bars as represented in  FIG. 18 . Of course the ability to utilize electrostatic effects to control the suspension of particles will vary with the properties of the material to be processed through operation of the mill. 
     Although arrangements have been described based on certain exemplary embodiments, a wide array of modifications, variations and alternative constructions are also within the spirit and scope of the principles described herein. Example arrangements for an autogenous impact mill and related systems have been described herein with reference to particular components, features, properties, attributes, relationships and methods. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments other arrangements may include other components, features, properties, attributes, relationships and/or methods which provide similar capabilities and functionalities. 
     It will be readily understood that the features of exemplary embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the Figures can be arranged and designed in a wide array of different configurations. That is, features, structures and/or characteristics of embodiments or arrangements described herein may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more other embodiments or arrangements. Thus the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of apparatus, methods and articles as represented in the Figures is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments as claimed but is merely representative of selected exemplary embodiments that implement the principles as described herein. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used to describe example embodiments for brevity, clarity and understanding. However, certain terms such as “upward,” “downward,” “higher,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “outer,” “inner,” “front,” “rear,” “top,” and “bottom” have been used. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms have been used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed, and such terms shall not be construed as limitations on the scope of the claims herein. Moreover the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples and the inventive teachings are not limited to the specific details that have been shown and described. 
     The exemplary structures and arrangements along with the methods for configuring and using such structures and arrangements achieve desirable objectives, eliminate difficulties encountered in the use of prior devices and systems, solve problems and attain the desirable results described herein. 
     In the following claims any feature described as a means for performing a function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to those skilled in the art as being capable of performing the recited function, and shall not be deemed to be limited to the particular means used for performing the recited function and the foregoing description or mere equivalents thereof. 
     Having described the features, discoveries and principles of the exemplary embodiments, the manner in which they are constructed and operated, and the advantages and useful results obtained, the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.