Method and apparatus for forming an article of high purity metal oxide

Claim 2

The torch of claim 1 wherein said volatile metallic element comprises silicon tetrachloride and said combustible gas comprises a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen.

Claim 3

The torch of claim 1 wherein said nozzle aperture is circular, said sheath opening is an annular opening concentrically disposed about said nozzle aperture, and said nozzle openings are circular and are disposed symmetrically about said annular opening.

Claim 4

The torch of claim 4 and further comprising eight nozzle openings disposed in a circle about said annular opening, each of said nozzle openings having generally the same area as said nozzle aperture.

Claim 5

The torch of claim 1 and further comprising a chamber enclosing said first chamber and having inlet and outlet means for circulation of a cooling fluid therethrough.

Claim 6

A torch for forming a silica article directly upon a mandrel by hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride entrained in a carrier gas comprising: a. a torch housing having a central passage therethrough with an inlet at one end for receiving gaseous silicon tetrachloride entrained in a carrier gas and having a nozzle aperture at the other end to provide an output jet stream of gaseous silicon tetrachloride entrained in a carrier gas; b. a sheath chamber defined in said torch housing about said central passage including an inlet for receiving a relatively inert gas with respect to silicon tetrachloride and having an annular opening concentrically disposed about said nozzle aperture to provide a circular stream of said inert gas around said jet stream; and c. a mixing chamber disposed about said sheath chamber including inlets for hydrogen and oxygen containing gases and a plurality of outlet openings disposed symmetrically adjacent said annular opening to provide streams of gaseous combustible mixture around said circular stream of said inert gas, whereby the flame resulting from ignition of said torch may be kept away from said nozzle.

Claim 7

The torch of claim 7 and further comprising a cooling chamber disposed about said mixing chamber having means for the circulation of cooling fluid therethrough.

Claim 8

The torch of claim 7 wherein the area of said annular opening is substantially greater than the area of said nozzle aperture.

Claim 9

A torch for direct formation of an oxide article on a mandrel by they hydrolysis of a volatile metal chloride comprising: a. a torch housing including inlet means for receiving a supply of the vapor of said volatile metal chloride; b. a plurality of nozzle apertures communicating with said inlet means for providing a plurality of output jet streams of said volatile metal chloride; c. means for supplying a sheath of relatively inert gas around each of said jet streams; and d. means for supplying a stream of combustible gas adjacent each said sheath of inert gas, whereby when said torch is ignited a plurality of flames will be provided for the direct formation of an oxide article on the mandrel.

Claim 10

The torch of claim 10 wherein each said sheath of inert gas is supplied through an annular opening surrounding a nozzle aperture, and each said stream of combustible gas is supplied from an aperture spaced radially outwardly from said annular opening.

Claim 11

The torch of claim 11 wherein said nozzle apertures and annular openings are linearly disposed to one another, and said apertures for providing combustible gas are linearly disposed parallel to said nozzle apertures and annular openings.