Apparatus and methods for maintaining sinter feed mixtures by x-ray fluorescence analysis

Claim 2

A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pressure plate is movably mounted on said body member for movement between a first position covering the other end of said die ring and a second position clear of said die ring.

Claim 3

A machine for analyzing a powder comprising a fixed body member, a turrethead rotatably carried on said fixed body member, a die mounted on said turrethead to move said die between a first position and a second position, means for feeding a quantity of said powder into said die at said first position of said die, said die being in the form of a die ring having a ram operable axially through one end thereof by means of fluid pressure to compact said quantity of powder into a pellet within said die at said first position of said die, a pressure plate movably mounted on said body member for movement between a first position covering the other end of said die ring and a second position clear of said die ring, a fluid pressure operable annular piston provided on said body member at said body member at said first position of said die, said annular piston having a hollow sleeve extension arranged to engage said pressure plate when said pressure plate is in its first position, to hold said pressure plate over said other end of said die ring against the operation of said ram, an analyzer head carried on said body member at said second position of said die whereby an analysis of said pellet may be made at said second position of said die, and means between said second and said first position of said die for disposing of said pellet as said die is moved from said second to said first position.

Claim 4

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said annular piston is arranged to slide over a hollow piston rod rigidly mounted in said body member, said hollow piston rod and said hollow extension sleeve providing a passage for said quantity of said powder to be fed to said die when said pressure plate is in its second position.

Claim 5

A machine as claimed in claim 4, including a plurality of such dies, analyzer heads, pressure plates, rams and annular pistons.

Claim 6

A machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein each such analyzer head is an X-ray fluorescence analyzer head comprising a source of primary X-rays for irradiating said pellet and a countertube arranged to detect fluorescent radiations from said pellet.

Claim 7

A machine as claimed in clAim 7, including an electronic pulse height analyzer connected to the counter tube of each such analyzer head so that each such analyzer head may be used to assess the concentration of a single element in the pellet presented to it.

Claim 8

A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of said analyzer heads is provided with means for flushing it with a light gas.

Claim 9

A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said X-ray source and said countertube are carried in a body which is rotatably mounted in the housing of said analyzer head and which is arranged to be driven by an electric motor so that two or more standard samples carried within said housing may be successively analyzed in order to calibrate the analyzer head periodically.

Claim 10

A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein each analyzer head is movably mounted on said body member so that it may be moved clear of the pellet and die during movement of the pellet and die to and from its second position.

Claim 11

A machine as claimed in claim 6 including a sample meter comprising a barrel having an inlet for a sample of said powder and a first outlet for powder associated with each said die and a metering member rotatably mounted in said barrel, having a pocket and a slot therein associated with each said die, said pocket being of a volume to contain said quantity of powder and being arranged to receive that quantity of powder from said inlet and carry said quantity to said first outlet on rotation of said metering member, and said slot being arranged to connect said inlet to a further outlet when said pocket is adjacent said first outlet.

Claim 12

A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said ram is arranged to push said pellet out of said die ring during movement of said die from said second to said first position and a scraper is provided mounted on said body member to deflect said pellet off the machine for disposal during said movement of said die.

Claim 14

A method of X-ray analyzing a powder as claimed in claim 14, wherein said X-ray analysis includes detecting the fluorescent radiation produced in said pellet with a countertube and feeding the electrical output of said countertube to a pulse counter by way of a pulse height analyzer to give an indication of the concentration of a particular element within said pellet.

Claim 15

A method of X-ray analyzing a powder as claimed in claim 15, wherein a plurality of such quantities of powder are taken and formed into a plurality of such pellets which are presented each to one of a plurality of such X-ray analyzer heads to achieve an X-ray analysis of the concentrations of a plurality of elements in said powder.