Pneumatic Sample Grinder Oscillation Without Motors or Seals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grinders for biological samples require frequent replacement and repair of components due to reliance on motors, transmissions, and seals, limiting their lifespan.

Innovation Solution

Grinder systems utilize controlled air pressure to oscillate a cylinder and piston in opposing directions, eliminating the need for motors and seals by creating an airtight seal between components, thereby agitating and grinding samples using air pressure-driven oscillation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional grinders use motors, transmissions, and seals to agitate and grind samples, then grinding function is achieved, but component lifespan is reduced due to frequent replacement and repair needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent lifespanVSAvoidmechanical components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes motors, transmissions, and seals from the grinder system. Instead of using these mechanical components to agitate the sample, the invention uses pneumatic pressure applied directly to the sample and grinding media in the sample block, eliminating the complex mechanical drive train and its associated maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system (motors and transmissions) with a pneumatic system. Compressed air or gas is used to pressurize the sample block, causing the sample and grinding media to move and grind against each other through pneumatic pressure rather than mechanical rotation or oscillation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of repair

If motors and transmissions are used to drive grinding components, then grinding action is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase due to seal replacement and repair

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance frequencyVSAvoidgrinding power
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pneumatic pressure from compressed air or gas to drive the grinding process. The pneumatic system pressurizes the sample block, causing intense movement and friction between the sample and grinding media, achieving effective grinding without any mechanical moving parts that would require maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The grinding media and sample serve their own function of grinding each other through pneumatic agitation. The system uses the sample block's own contents (sample and grinding media) to perform the grinding action under pneumatic pressure, eliminating the need for external mechanical drive components that would require maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system experiences a longer lifespan with reduced component replacement and repair needs, effectively grinding various materials including biological, organic, and inorganic samples without motors or seals.

Implementation Method 1

a controller configured to control air pressure in the first end portion and the second end portion of the cylinder via the first air port and the second air port, to thereby linearly move the cylinder in at least the first direction and the piston in at least a second direction opposite the first direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

Grinder systems utilize controlled air pressure to oscillate a cylinder and piston in opposing directions, eliminating the need for motors and seals by creating an airtight seal between components, thereby agitating and grinding samples using air pressure-driven oscillation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOscillation: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20260070064A1Grinder Systems And Methods For Grinding Samples
Publication Date: 2026.03.12 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC
  • US20260070064A1 patent drawing
  • US20260070064A1 patent drawing
  • US20260070064A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Grinder systems and methods for grinding a sample in a sample block are provided. One example grinder system includes a cylinder and a piston positioned in a bore of the cylinder and configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder. A first end portion of the cylinder is configured to couple to a sample block. A first air port is disposed adjacent the first end portion of the cylinder, and a second air port is disposed adjacent a second, opposite end portion of the cylinder. A controller is configured to control air pressure in the first and second end portions of the cylinder, via the first and second air ports, to thereby linearly move the cylinder in a first direction and the piston in a second, opposite direction to agitate a grinding device in the sample block to grind a corresponding sample therein.