US3590777A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ingot feed drive
Assignee: UNITED AIRCARFT CORP
•
Filing: 1969-03-13
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1989-03-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for controlling the feed rate of a bar of coating alloy into the crucible from which the alloy is vaporized to be deposited on an article. By utilizing constant electron beam power and maintaining constant pool height a constant evaporation rate and constant vapor chemistry is achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C Elam
- 👤 Frank P Talboom Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:28
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/24; C23C14/246; C23C14/28; C23C14/30; H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/30; H01J37/305; H01J37/3053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In electron beam vaporization apparatus for use in coating articles, a chamber in which the article may be positioned, means within the chamber for supporting the article, a bottom-feed crucible into which an ingot of the coating material is fed, means for heating the material exposed in the crucible to form a molten pool of material therein and to vaporize the molten material, means for sensing the pool height in the crucible, including ray emitting means and ray receiving means on opposite sides of the crucible with the position of the pool surface determining the rays received by said receiving means such that the receiving means senses pool height, variable speed drive means for feeding the ingot of material into the crucible to replace the vaporized material and means actuated by changes sensed by said receiving means for varying the rate of feed of the ingot to maintain a constant pool height during the coating operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In electron beam vaporization apparatus for use in coating articles, a chamber in which the article may be positioned, means within the chamber for supporting the article, a bottom-feed crucible into which an ingot of the coating material is fed, means for heating the material exposed in the crucible to form a molten pool of material therein and to vaporize the molten material, means for sensing the pool height in the crucible, including ray emitting means and ray receiving means on opposite sides of the crucible with the position of the pool surface determining the rays received by said receiving means such that the receiving means senses pool height, variable speed drive means for feeding the ingot of material into the crucible to replace the vaporized material and means actuated by changes sensed by said receiving means for varying the rate of feed of the ingot to maintain a constant pool height during the coating operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
141 words
A coating apparatus for applying a metallic alloy to a substrate including: a chamber in which the substrate may be mounted, means within the chamber for supporting the substrate, means for evacuating the chamber, a crucible in said chamber, variable drive means for feeding a bar of alloy into said crucible to replace vaporized material, constant energy electron beam means for melting the alloy in the crucible and vaporizing it to provide a vapor to be deposited on the substrate, means for sensing the level of the pool of molten alloy in the crucible including a radioactive source and a radiation sensor positioned to direct the radiation through the crucibles with the sensed radiation varying as the pool height changes, and means responsive to said radiation sensor for adjusting said feeding means to maintain a constant pool level in the crucible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
A coating apparatus for applying a metallic alloy to a substrate including: a chamber in which the substrate may be mounted, means within the chamber for supporting the substrate, means for evacuating the chamber, a crucible in said chamber, variable drive means for feeding a bar of alloy into said crucible to replace vaporized material, constant energy electron beam means for melting the alloy in the crucible and vaporizing it to provide a vapor to be deposited on the substrate, means for sensing the level of the pool of molten alloy in the crucible including a radioactive source and a radiation sensor positioned to direct the radiation through the crucibles with the sensed radiation varying as the pool height changes, and means responsive to said radiation sensor for adjusting said feeding means to maintain a constant pool level in the crucible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 in which the crucible is a bottom-feed crucible and the radioactive source and sensor are positioned to direct the radiation across the top surface of the pool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the radioactive source, and the radiation sensor are positioned for directing the radiation through the ingot at the level of the bottom surface of the molten pool.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |