Method of producing titanium metal

Claim 1

IN A METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF METALLIC TITANIUM WHEREIN TICL4 IS ADDED TO AND REACTED WITH METALLIC MAGNESIUM IN A CLOSED REACTOR UNDER A NON-CONTAMINATING ATMOSPHERE, THE STEPS IN CONBINATION WHICH COMPRISE; CHARGING METALLIC MAGNESIUM INTO SAID REACTOR, INSTILLING ONTO THE TOP OF SAID MAGNESIUM BETWEEN ABOUT 60% AND 75% OF THE AMOUNT OF TICL4 STOICHIOMETRICALLY REQUIRED TO PRODUCE METALLIC TITANIUM BY REACTION THEREWITH, MANTAINING DURING SUCH TOP ADDITION OF TICL4 A VERTICAL ELONGATED BODY, WHOSE OUTER SURFACE TEMPERATURE IS BETWEEN ABOUT 710*C. AND 920*C., IN THE REACTION MASS TO FORM A VERTICAL ELONGATED CAVITY IN THE TITANIUM SPONGE FORMED DURING SUCH TICL4 ADDITION, DISCONTINUING INSTILLATION OF TICL4 ONTO THE TOP OF THE REACTION MASS, AND INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL TICL4 INTO SAID REACTOR THROUGH A FEED PIPE DISPOSED IN SAID CAVITY FORMED IN THE TITANIUM SPONGE AND HAVING ITS LOWER OPEN EXTREMITY NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SAID REACTOR IN AMOUNT SO THAT THE TOP FED AND BOTTOM FED TICL4 IS BETWEEN 85% AND 95% OF THAT STOICHIOMETRICALLY REQUIRED TO FORM METALLIC TITANIUM WITH THE METALLIC MAGNESIUM IN THE REACTOR.