US3900762A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for projecting materials into an arc discharge
Assignee: Sheer Korman Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1973-08-30
•
Granted: 1975-08-19
•
Expires: 1993-08-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for energizing reactive materials by means of an arc discharge is provided by interposing a stream of shielding gas between the cathode producing the arc and the reactive material. An apparatus for so interposing a shielding gas includes a conical shroud around the cathode defining therebetween an annular passage for admitting a shielding gas stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Sheer
- 👤 Samuel Korman
- 👤 Derek J Angier
- 👤 Robert P Cahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009; H01J37/32055; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/68; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; H05B7/18; H05B7/185; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/24; H05H1/26; H05H1/32; H05H1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A process for energizing fluid medium in the conduction column of a free-burning electric arc comprising: establishing an arc discharge between an anode and a cathode having a conical tip whereby a plasma bubble is formed at the cathode tip and whereby said arc discharge forms a contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode; forcefully projecting fluid medium along the surface of said conical tip of said cathode into and through the contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode and along a path which intersects above the plasma bubble; and simultaneously interposing between said fluid medium and said conical tip of said cathode in a direction parallel to the surface of said conical tip a stream of gas that is chemically inert toward the cathode material during operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process for energizing fluid medium in the conduction column of a free-burning electric arc comprising: establishing an arc discharge between an anode and a cathode having a conical tip whereby a plasma bubble is formed at the cathode tip and whereby said arc discharge forms a contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode; forcefully projecting fluid medium along the surface of said conical tip of said cathode into and through the contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode and along a path which intersects above the plasma bubble; and simultaneously interposing between said fluid medium and said conical tip of said cathode in a direction parallel to the surface of said conical tip a stream of gas that is chemically inert toward the cathode material during operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fluid medium is an entrained condensed phase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
In the process of energizing a reactive material by means of a free-burning arc discharge between an anode and a cathode having a conical tip, wherein said arc discharge forms a contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode and wherein said reactive material is forcefully projected along the surface of said conical tip of said cathode into and through said contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vacinity of the cathode, the improvement comprising interposing between said forcefully projected reactive material and said conical tip of said cathode, in a direction parallel to the surface of said conical tip, a stream of shielding gas whereby said tip of said cathode is substantially protected from contact with said reactive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
In the process of energizing a reactive material by means of a free-burning arc discharge between an anode and a cathode having a conical tip, wherein said arc discharge forms a contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode and wherein said reactive material is forcefully projected along the surface of said conical tip of said cathode into and through said contraction of the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vacinity of the cathode, the improvement comprising interposing between said forcefully projected reactive material and said conical tip of said cathode, in a direction parallel to the surface of said conical tip, a stream of shielding gas whereby said tip of said cathode is substantially protected from contact with said reactive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said shielding gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, neon, krypton, xenon, nitrogen and hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said reactive material is a gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said reactive material is an entrained condensed phase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the entrained condensed phase is a solid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said entrained condensed phase is a liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for energizing material in an arc column comprising: a. an anode and a cathode having a conical tip; b. means for providing a free-burning arc discharge between said anode and said cathode whereby said arc discharge forms a plasma bubble and a contraction in the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode; c. directing means for projecting a reactive material substantially parallel to the surface of the conical tip of said cathode into said contraction of the current-carrying area; and d. a conical shroud forming an annular passage for admitting a stream of shielding gas in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the conical tip of said cathode and between said tip and said reactive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for energizing material in an arc column comprising: a. an anode and a cathode having a conical tip; b. means for providing a free-burning arc discharge between said anode and said cathode whereby said arc discharge forms a plasma bubble and a contraction in the current-carrying area in the transition region in the vicinity of the cathode; c. directing means for projecting a reactive material substantially parallel to the surface of the conical tip of said cathode into said contraction of the current-carrying area; and d. a conical shroud forming an annular passage for admitting a stream of shielding gas in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the conical tip of said cathode and between said tip and said reactive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for directing said reactive material into the contraction zone directs said reactive material along a path which intersects above the plasma bubble.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for directing said reactive material includes a second conical shroud defining an annular passage around said annular passage serving as a conduit for shielding gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for directing said reactive material includes a plurality of nozzles spaced around the periphery of said cathode tip to deliver a stream of reactive material substantially parallel with saId tip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least four nozzles are spaced around said cathode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3077108A
Cited
US3192427A
Cited
US3174025A
Cited
US3575568A
Cited
US3534388A
Cited
US3614376A
Cited
US3644781A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-18 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-18 | 1983-02-17 | 1983-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-18 | 1987-02-17 | 1987-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |