Method of and apparatus for forming metal strips

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS METAL STRIP WHICH INCLUDES THE STEPS OF FORMING A THIN FLOWABLE BATH COMPRISED OF METAL POWDER AND A COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION, SAID SUSPENSION COMPRISING A LIQUID CARRIER AND AN ORGANIC PULVERULENT COMPOUND WHICH IS CHARACTERISTICALLY INSOLUBLE IN SAID LIQUID CARRIER, SEPARABLE THEREFROM BY FILTRATION AND, WHEN THUS SEPARATED, ADAPTED TO SERVE AS A BINDER, THE METAL POWDER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY DISPERSED THROUGHOUT SAID SUSPENSION, WITH DRAWING A PORTION OF THE BATH THUS FORMED AND DEPOSITING THE SAME UPON A SUPPORT TO FORM A STRIP OF DESIRED THICKNESS, REMOVING THE LIQUID CONTENT OF SAID STRIP WHILE LEAVING WITH THE METAL THE ORGANIC BINDING COMPOUND, CONSOLIDATING THE STRIP INTO A COHERENT MASS FROM WHICH THE ORGANIC MATERIAL HAS BEEN SUBSTANTILLY REMOVED BY THE APPLICATION OF HEAT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DENSIFYING THE STRIP BY A ROLLING OPERATION.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS METAL STRIP WHICH INCLUDES THE STEPS OF FORMING A THIN FLOWABLE BATH COMPRISED OF METAL POWDER AND A COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION, SAID SUSPENSION COMPRISING A LIQUID CARRIER AND AN ORGANIC PULVERULENT COMPOUND WHICH IS CHARACTERISTICALLY INSOLUBLE IN SAID LIQUID CARRIER, SEPARABLE THEREFROM BY FILTRATION AND, WHEN THUS SEPARATED, ADAPTED TO SERVE AS A BINDER, THE METAL POWDER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY DISPERSED THROUGHOUT SAID SUSPENSION, WITH DRAWING A PORTION OF THE BATH THUS FORMED AND DEPOSITING THE SAME UPON A SUPPORT TO FORM A STRIP OF DESIRED THICKNESS, REMOVING THE LIQUID CONTENT OF SAID STRIP WHILE LEAVING WITH THE METAL THE ORGANIC BINDING COMPOUND, CONSOLIDATING THE STRIP INTO A COHERENT MASS FROM WHICH THE ORGANIC MATERIAL HAS BEEN SUBSTANTILLY REMOVED BY THE APPLICATION OF HEAT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DENSIFYING THE STRIP BY A ROLLING OPERATION.

Claim 3

THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS METAL STRIP WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF MIXING METAL POWDER WITH A THICKENED LIQUID COMPRISING A SOLVENT AND A SOLUBLE ORGANIC COMPOUND CHARACTERIZED BY ITS ABILITY TO THICKEN THE SOLVENT AND REMAIN WITH THE METAL POWDER WHEN THE SOLVENT IS EVAPORATED, SAID ORGANIC COMPOUND BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY AN ABILITY, UPON EVAPORATION OF THE SOLVENT, TO FIRST ASSUME A JELLY-LIKE CONSISTENCY AND TO THEREAFTER BECOME A RELATIVELY HARD GLUE-LIKE SUBSTANCE WHICH FORMS WITH THE METAL POWDER A MODERATELY STRONG BUT BRITTLE STRIP, WITHDRAWING A PORTION OF THE BATH THUS FORMED TO CREATE A STRIP OF DESIRED THICKNESS, EVAPORATING THE LIQUID CONTENT OF SAID STRIP WHILE LEAVING WITH THE METAL THE DELIQUEFIED ORGANIC COMPOUND, CONSOLIDATING THE STRIP BY HEAT INTO A COHERENT MASS FROM WHICH THE ORGANIC MATERIAL HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY REMOVED, AND DENSIFYING THE STRIP BY SUBJECTING IT TO A ROLLING OPERATION.

Claim 4

THE METHOD OF PRODUCING A CONTINUOUS METAL STRIP WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF MIXING METAL POWDER WITH A THICKENED LIQUID COMPRISING A SOLVENT AND A SOLUBLE ORGANIC COMPOUND CHARACTERIZED BY ITS ABILITY TO THICKEN THE SOLVENT AND REMAIN WITH THE METAL POWDER WHEN THE SOLVENT IS EVAPORATED, SAID ORGANIC COMPOUND BEING FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY AN ABILITY, UPON EVAPORATION OF THE SOLVENT, TO FIRST ASSUME A JELLY-LIKE CONSISTENCY AND TO THEREAFTER BECOME A RELATIVELY HARD GLUE-LIKE SUBSTANCE WHICH FORMS WITH THE METAL POWDER A MODERATELY STRONG BUT BRITTLE STRIP, WITHDRAWING A PORTION OF THE BATH THUS FORMED TO CREATE A STRIP OF DESIRED THICKNESS, EVAPORATING THE LIQUID CONTENT OF SAID STRIP WHILE LEAVING WITH THE METAL THE DELIQUEFIED ORGANIC COMPOUND, CONSOLIDATING THE STRIP BY HEAT INTO A COHERENT MASS FROM WHICH THE ORGANIC MATERIAL HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY REMOVED, AND DENSIFYING THE STRIP BY SUBJECTING IT TO A ROLLING OPERATION.