Patent ID: 8734714

Claim:
Apparatus for producing and separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet using hydrogen decrepitation, the apparatus comprising: a reaction vessel having an opening which is capable of being closed to form a gas-tight seal; a separator configured to separate the rare earth particulate material from the assembly; and a collector configured to collect the rare earth particulate material; wherein the reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system; wherein the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel; and wherein the separator comprises: a porous container located within the reaction vessel and having holes of appropriate size to allow the rare earth particulate material to pass through and to retain the assembly within the container; and a device capable of tumbling the assembly contained within the porous container to facilitate separation of the rare earth particulate material from the assembly and movement of the rare earth particulate material though the holes of the porous container.