1. A comminution apparatus for bone product configured to receive bone product and comminute it to a size of less than 0.1 mm, comprising:
a pair of rigid rollers rotatably located with respect of each other to define a gap of between 0.02 mm to 0.4 mm,
a drive counter rotationally driving the rollers to a relative rotational speed ratio of not greater than 2:1,
at least one of the rollers having a surface with one or both of surface texturing and surface shaping applied to it, the surface shaping and surface texturing having a depth of at most 0.025 mm.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gap between the pair of rollers is between 0.02 mm and 0.1 mm.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface shaping and surface texturing has a depth of about 0.01 mm.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface texturing includes a plurality of concave randomly distributed grooves in the roller surface.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface texturing includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced criss-cross shallow grooves or knurling between axially aligned flat areas of the opposing rollers.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface texturing includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced transverse straight shallow grooves between axially aligned flat areas of the opposing rollers.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
one roller, operatively driven at a higher tangential velocity of its circumferential surface than the other, includes surface texturing in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced chevrons pointing in their own trailing direction during rotation of the roller, and
the other roller includes surface texturing in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced chevrons pointing in their own leading direction during rotation of the roller.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein both rollers, operatively driven at different tangential velocities of their circumferential surfaces, have texturing on their roller surfaces embodied as a plurality of circumferentially spaced shallow tubular grooves of which the axial direction is oriented in the general direction of each roller axis and parallel to the centroid axis along the length of the gap between the rollers.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured so that the following applies to a circumferential surface with surface texturing of at least one of the rollers:
\u03bc>=\u03bcneeded, where
\u03bcneeded=Tan(2*\u03b8), and
\u03b8=Cos\u22121{R\u2212((a\u2212d)2)R}
in which R=Minimum roller radius; in mm
a=Minimum gap between the roller surfaces; in mm
d=Maximum particle size, as defined; in mm
\u03b8=Maximum included half-angle between two tangential lines to the roller surfaces at the points of contact; in \xb0; and
\u03bcneeded=Smallest coefficient of friction between the rollers needed to pull the particle into the gap; as a dimensionless quantity.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface shaping comprises a plurality of transverse grooves and semi-spherical dimples.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured so that the following applies to a circumferential surface with surface shaping of at least one of the rollers:
\u03bc>=\u03bcneeded
tr\u2248t, which is approximately true for r<<R
E%\u2266{r(2*R)*1\u2212(tr)}*100
\u03b2\u2248 Cos\u22121((r\u2212t)r)
SR\u22482*r*Sin \u03b2
\u03b1\u2248SR(2*R)
\u03b3=Cos\u22121{R\u2212((d\u2212a)2)R}
\u03b8\u2248\u03b3\u2212\u03b1\u2212\u03b2
\u03bcneeded\u2248 Tan(2*\u03b8)
N\u2266(\u03c0*R){r2\u2212(r\u2212t)212}; N\u03b5Integers
in which E%=Maximum error between calculated approximation and the geometrical exact solution; %
R=Minimum outer roller radius; in a range R\u2267150 mm
a=Minimum gap between the roller surfaces; in a range \u03b50.02 to 0.4 mm
d=Maximum particle size, as defined 64; in a range \u03b52 to 25 mm
r=Radius of the surface dimple shape 73; in a range \u03b52 to 20 mm
t=Dimple depth, as measured from the bottom of the trough of the dimple to the middle of the segment removed from the roller surface by the dimple 74; in a range \u03b50.05 to 0.5 mm
\u03b2=Angle between roller and dimple centroid line and the line from the dimple centre to the point of contact; in \xb0
SR=Roller segment length removed by the dimple; in mm
\u03b1=Angle between roller and dimple centroid line and the line from the point of contact to the roller centroid; Calculated in Rad, then converted to \xb0
\u03b3=Geometric angle between the line connecting the contact point to the roller centroid and the line connecting the two centroids of the two rollers; \xb0
\u03b8=Maximum included half-angle between two tangential lines to the roller surfaces at the points of contact; \xb0
\u03bcneeded=Smallest coefficient of friction needed between the rollers and the particle; in a range \u03b50.002 to 0.35, a dimensionless quantity; and
N=nominal quantity of dimples that can be equally spaced around the radial circumference of the roller and must be an element from the integer set of numbers; in a range \u03b5 integers.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the rollers includes proximity scraping means in the form of at least one body defining an edge closely spaced to the circumferential surface of the roller for removing comminuted material from the surface after the material has passed through the gap.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spacing between the edge of the scraper body and the circumferential surface of the roller is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising cooling means for at least the circumferential surface of at least one of the rollers.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a third roller, and
a passage, wherein
the third roller defines a circumferential surface and is rotatably mounted to rotate about a rotational axis; the circumferential surface of the third roller opposing the circumferential surface of one of the first and second rollers and these surfaces define between them a gap having an average size smaller than or equal to that of the gap defined between the first and second rollers, and
the passage is configured to operatively channel product that has passed through the gap between the first and second rollers into the gap defined between the third roller and one of the first and second rollers.
16. A system for processing bone product comprising:
the comminution apparatus of claim 1, and
an emulsifier.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the emulsifier is located before or after the comminution apparatus.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:
a mincer before the comminution apparatus, the mincer including a conventional bone shredder configured to receive and reduce bone product to a size less than 20 mm.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a torque-measurement device that has a rotational axis, wherein the torque-measurement device includes:
an inner tubular structure,
an outer tubular structure, and
a plurality of ribs coupled between the inner tubular structure and the outer tubular structure, wherein each respective one of the plurality of ribs has:
a respective rib-length dimension in a length direction parallel to the rotational axis,
a respective rib-width dimension in a respective width direction perpendicular to the length direction and extending in a respective plane from a respective first geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a minimum outside radial dimension of the inner tubular structure to a respective second geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a maximum inside radial dimension of the outer tubular structure, and
a respective rib-thickness dimension in a thickness direction perpendicular to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction,
wherein the outer tubular structure includes a front stiffening wall that is detached from a portion of the plurality of ribs, wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer rib-support structure, and wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer perimeter wall that connects the front stiffening wall to the outer rib-support structure;
wherein a torque applied between the outer tubular structure and the inner tubular structure results in an angular displacement of the outer tubular structure relative to the inner tubular structure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third tubular structure that includes a plurality of slots, wherein the inner tubular structure includes a plurality of splines, and wherein the plurality of splines is configured to fit into the plurality of slots of the third tubular structure such that the torque-measurement device is mounted to the third tubular structure.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third tubular structure that includes a plurality of slots, wherein the inner tubular structure includes a plurality of splines, wherein the plurality of splines is configured to fit into the plurality of slots of the third tubular structure such that the torque-measurement device is mounted to the third tubular structure, and wherein one of more of the plurality of splines includes a mounting key.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third tubular structure that includes a plurality of slots, wherein the inner tubular structure includes a plurality of splines, wherein the plurality of splines is configured to fit into the plurality of slots of the third tubular structure such that the torque-measurement device is mounted to the third tubular structure, and wherein the third tubular structure is a freehub of a bicycle wheel.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner tubular structure includes a maximum outside radial dimension that is different than the minimum outside radial dimension of the inner tubular structure, wherein the maximum outside radial dimension occurs in at least one circumferential location of the inner tubular structure where there are no ribs of the plurality of ribs.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular structure includes a minimum inside radial dimension that is different than the maximum inside radial dimension of the outer tubular structure, wherein the minimum radial dimension occurs in at least one circumferential location of the outer tubular structure where there are no ribs of the plurality of ribs.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular structure includes a minimum inside radial dimension that is different than the maximum inside radial dimension of the outer tubular structure, wherein the minimum radial dimension occurs in at least one circumferential location of the outer tubular structure where there are no ribs of the plurality of ribs, wherein the at least one circumferential location of the minimum inside radial dimension is configured to provide space for one of a plurality of posts, and wherein the plurality of posts is configured to mount one or more sprockets to the outer tubular structure.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
rotational-displacement-sensor electronics; and
at least one battery, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics and the at least one battery are located in a space between the inner tubular structure and the outer tubular structure.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
rotational-displacement-sensor electronics; and
at least one battery, wherein the outer tubular structure includes a maximum inside radial dimension that is different than the minimum inside radial dimension of the outer tubular structure, wherein the maximum inside radial dimension is configured to provide space for one of a plurality of posts, wherein the plurality of posts is configured to mount at least a portion of the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics and the at least one battery to the outer tubular structure.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotational-displacement-sensor electronics and at least one battery, wherein the inner tubular structure includes a plurality of mounting holes, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics and the at least one battery are configured to be attached to the inner tubular structure using the plurality of mounting holes.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular member is configured to mount to one or more sprockets, and wherein the outer tubular member includes a plurality of slots configured to indicate an orientation at which the one or more sprockets are to be mounted to the outer tubular member.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotational-displacement-sensor electronics, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics include:
an encoder,
an encoder reader operatively coupled to receive a first set of data from the encoder and to output a second set of data based on the received data,
differential receivers operatively coupled to receive the second set of data from the encoder reader and to output differential signals based on the received read data,
analog-to-digital converters coupled to receive the differential signals from the differential receivers and to output digital values based on the received differential signals, and
a processor coupled to receive the digital values from the analog-to-digital converters.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotational-displacement-sensor electronics, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics include:
a processor,
a power input,
a charger,
a plurality of batteries,
DC-to-DC converters,
an antenna, and
a radio transceiver,
wherein power on the power input is delivered to the charger that is operatively coupled to the batteries that drive the DC-to-DC converters, and wherein the processor sends data to and receives commands from a remote computer via the antenna and radio transceiver.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotational-displacement-sensor electronics, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics include:
an encoder,
an encoder holder, and
an encoder sensor,
wherein the encoder is rigidly affixed to the encoder holder via mounting holes on the encoder holder, wherein the encoder is used with the encoder sensor as a torque-measuring sensor.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotational-displacement-sensor electronics, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics are configured to measure a relative angular displacement of the outer tubular structure in relation to the inner tubular structure in order to produce a signal proportional to torque applied to a sprocket of the torque-measurement device via a chain.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotational-displacement-sensor electronics, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics are configured to perform an electrical measurement between a first parallel plate affixed to the outer tubular structure and a second parallel plate affixed to the inner tubular structure.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotational-displacement-sensor electronics, wherein the rotational-displacement-sensor electronics are configured to perform an optical measurement between a first structure affixed to the outer tubular structure and a second structure affixed to the inner tubular structure.
18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a single-piece sprocket cassette assembly that includes a plurality of sprockets, wherein the single-piece sprocket cassette assembly is affixed to the outer tubular structure of the torque-measurement device.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a single-piece sprocket cassette assembly that includes a plurality of sprockets, wherein the single-piece sprocket cassette assembly is affixed to the outer tubular structure of the torque-measurement device, wherein the single-piece sprocket cassette assembly includes a power-port notch configured to provide an insertion point for a mini-jack power plug.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spacer configured to couple to the torque-measurement device, wherein the spacer includes:
a mini-jack receptacle that includes a power porthole, wherein the mini-jack receptacle is configured to receive a mini-jack, and
a plurality of holes, wherein the plurality of holes are configured to provide a pathway for a plurality of wires that connect the mini-jack to a battery charger.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a back cover, wherein an inner radius of the back cover forms a seal against a sealing edge of the inner tubular member; and
a front-cover ring, wherein the outer radius of the front-cover ring forms a seal against a sealing edge of the outer tubular member of the torque-measurement device.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner tubular structure is an inner freehub member, wherein the outer tubular structure is an outer freehub member, wherein the inner freehub member is affixed to a freehub of a bicycle wheel, the apparatus further comprising:
a sprocket cluster, wherein the sprocket cluster is affixed to the outer freehub member of the torque-measurement device.
23. A method for measuring torque comprising:
providing a torque-measurement device having a rotational axis, wherein the torque-measurement device includes:
an inner tubular structure,
an outer tubular structure, and
a plurality of ribs coupled between the inner tubular structure and the outer tubular structure, wherein each one of the plurality of ribs has:
a respective rib-length dimension in a length direction parallel to the rotational axis,
a respective rib-width dimension in a respective width direction perpendicular to the length direction and extending in a respective plane from a respective first geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a minimum outside radial dimension of the inner tubular structure to a respective second geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a maximum inside radial dimension of the outer tubular structure, and
a respective rib-thickness dimension in a thickness direction perpendicular to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction,
wherein the outer tubular structure includes a front stiffening wall that is detached from a portion of the plurality of ribs, wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer rib-support structure, and wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer perimeter wall that connects the front stiffening wall to the outer rib-support structure;
applying a first torque between the outer tubular structure and the inner tubular structure;
sensing a displacement of the outer tubular structure relative to the inner tubular structure during the applying of the first torque; and
determining a value of the first torque based on the sensed displacement.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the sensing of the first torque includes performing an electrical measurement between a first parallel plate affixed to the outer tubular structure and a second parallel plate affixed to the inner tubular structure.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the sensing of the first torque includes performing an optical measurement between a first structure affixed to the outer tubular structure and a second structure affixed to the inner tubular structure.
26. An apparatus comprising:
a torque-measurement device that has a rotational axis, wherein the torque-measurement device includes:
an inner tubular structure,
an outer tubular structure,
a plurality of ribs coupled between the inner tubular structure and the outer tubular structure, wherein each respective one of the plurality of ribs has:
a respective rib-length dimension in a length direction parallel to the rotational axis,
a respective rib-width dimension in a respective width direction perpendicular to the length direction and extending in a respective plane from a respective first geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a minimum outside radial dimension of the inner tubular structure to a respective second geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a maximum inside radial dimension of the outer tubular structure, and
a respective rib-thickness dimension in a thickness direction perpendicular to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction,
wherein the outer tubular structure includes a front stiffening wall that is detached from a portion of the plurality of ribs, wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer rib-support structure, and wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer perimeter wall that connects the front stiffening wall to the outer rib-support structure;
means for applying a first torque between the outer tubular structure and the inner tubular structure;
means for sensing a displacement of the outer tubular structure relative to the inner tubular structure during the application of the first torque; and
means for determining a value of the first torque based on the sensed displacement.