Method and apparatus for high temperature heat treatment

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE TREATMENT OF MATERIALS IN PARTICULATE FORM, WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES A SUPPORT STRUCTURE, A REACTION ZONE INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING TUBE SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, WHICH TUBE IS FORMED OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND DISPOSED ABOVE THE REACTION ZONE FOR FEEDING PARTICLES DOWNWARD INTO SAID REACTION ZONE, INDUCTION COIL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE ENCIRCLING SAID REACTION ZONE AND CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL POWER SO THAT EDDY CURRENTS ARE INDUCED IN SAID CONDUCTIVE TUBE WHEREBY SUFFICIENT HEAT IS PROVIDED IN SAID REACTION ZONE TO MELT FALLING PARTICLES, FIRST COOLING MEANS DISPOSED NEAR THE UPPER END OF SAID REACTION ZONE WHEREBY SAID PARTICLES ARE KEPT RELATIVELY COOL PRIOR TO ENTERING SAID REACTION ZONE, AN ELONGATED COOLING TUBE DISPOSED COAXIAL WITH SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING TUBE AT A LOCATION IMMEDIATELY BELOW SAID REACTION ZONE, SECOND COOLING MEANS DISPOSED ABOUT AT LEAST THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID COOLING TUBE WHEREBY THE MELTED PARTICLES FALLING FROM SAID REACTION ZONE ARE HARDENED TO SPERICAL SHAPED PARTICLES WHILE STILL IN FREE FALL, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID COOLING TUBE FOR VIEWING SAID FALLING PARTICLES AND COLLECTION MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID COOLING TUBE WHEREIN THE SPERICAL PARTICLES ARE RECEIVED.