US3900762A — Method and apparatus for projecting materials int…

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.

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

Method and apparatus for projecting materials into an arc discharge

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