Method of and apparatus for depositing metal powder

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SURFACING MATERIAL TO A WORK PIECE INCLUDING A TORCH HAVING A TIP FROM WHICH A FLAME JET SYSTEM IS PROJECTED AGAINST THE WORK PIECE, MEANS FOR AJDUSTING THE RATE OF FLOW OF GAS TO BE FLAME JET SYSTEM, A POWDER HOLDER AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN THE TORCH TIP, A NOZZLE WITH A DISCHARGE END OUTSIDE THE TIP FACE AND ADJACENT TO THE FLAME SYSTEM AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL COMPONENT, A PASSAGE CONNECTING THE POWDER HOLDER AND THE NOZZLE AND THORUGH WHICH POWDER FLOWS BY GRAVITY FROM THE HOLDER TO THE NOZZLE, VALVE MEANS MOVABLE INTO DIFFERENT POSITIONS TO OBSTRUCT TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY THE FLOW OF POWDER THROUGH THE PASSAGE, MANUALLY-ACTUATED MEANS ON THE TORCH OPERABLY CONNECTED TO THE VALVE MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID VALVE MEANS, A STOP WITH WHICH A PORTION OF THE VALVE MEANS COMES INTO CONTACT TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE VALVE MEANS TOWARD OPEN POSITION, SAID STOP BEING ADJUSTABLE TO CHANGE THE MAXIMUM OPENING OF THE VALVE MEANS, AND SAID STOP INCLUDING MANUALLY-OPERATED MEANS OUTSIDE OF THE TORCH FOR ADJUSTING THE MAXIMUM OPENING OF THE VALVE MEANS AND THE RESULTING POWDER FLOW IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADJUSTMENT OF THE RATE OF FLOW OF GAS TO KEEP THE POWDER FLOW WITHIN THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE FLAME JET SYSTEM.