US4036568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machines for manufacture of powders
Assignee: Imphy SA
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Filing: 1975-11-21
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Granted: 1977-07-19
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Expires: 1995-11-21
Abstract
Abstract In the manufacture of metal and alloy powders in the form of small diameter spheres whose shape and diameter must be maintained within narrow limits, a substantially cylindrical solid electrode of the material from which the powder is to be made is rotated at high speed about its longitudinal axis and one end of the electrode is heated to fusion point, the molten material being sprayed therefrom under centrifugal forces in the form of small diameter spheres, wherein fusion of the one end of the electrode is obtained by means which produce a local fusion zone on the end surface of the electrode and means for causing the local fusion zone to move along a spiral path on the end surface of the electrode as the electrode rotates.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean G. Morlet
- 👤 Yves C. Honnorat
- 👤 Gerard D. Raisson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:12
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/02; B22F9/06; B22F9/08; B22F9/10; B22F9/14; B22F9/082; B22F2009/084; B22F2009/0848; B22F2999/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for manufacturing metal powder consisting of spherical particles having a diameter between 10 microns and 1000 microns, by spraying molten metal from the end surface of one end of a consumable substantially cylindrical solid metal electrode rotated at high speed about its longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising: means for rotating said consumable electrode about said axis and at high speed; means for locally heating at least one zone of said end surface of said one end of said consumable electrode to fusion point; means for relatively moving said consumable electrode and said local fusion zone to compensate for consumption of said consumable electrode, whereby when said rotating means is energized and said electrode is rotated at high speed, said fusion zone moves across said end surface of said consumable electrode in a spiral path, metal liquified thereby is expelled centrifugally from said end of said consumable electrode in the form of metal droplets; means for cooling said droplets and means for recovering said metal droplets when cooled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for manufacturing metal powder consisting of spherical particles having a diameter between 10 microns and 1000 microns, by spraying molten metal from the end surface of one end of a consumable substantially cylindrical solid metal electrode rotated at high speed about its longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising: means for rotating said consumable electrode about said axis and at high speed; means for locally heating at least one zone of said end surface of said one end of said consumable electrode to fusion point; means for relatively moving said consumable electrode and said local fusion zone to compensate for consumption of said consumable electrode, whereby when said rotating means is energized and said electrode is rotated at high speed, said fusion zone moves across said end surface of said consumable electrode in a spiral path, metal liquified thereby is expelled centrifugally from said end of said consumable electrode in the form of metal droplets; means for cooling said droplets and means for recovering said metal droplets when cooled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises means for locally heating a single zone of said end surface of said consumable electrode and said moving means cause said local heating zone to move across the whole of said end surface of said consumable electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises means for locally heating two zones of said end surface of said consumable electrode and said moving means cause a first one of said heating zones to move across a first part of said end surface of said consumable electrode and the other end of said local heating zones to move across the remainder of the end surface of said consumable electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said heating means comprises a non-consumable electrode and means for forming an arc between said consumable electrode and said non-consumable electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said heating means comprises a plasma torch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said heating means comprises an electron gun.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said heating means comprises two non-consumable electrodes and means for forming an arc between each said non-consumable electrode and said consumable electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said heating means comprises two plasma torches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, including an arm, said heating means being carried by said arm extending perpendicular to said axis of said consumable electrode, said arm being fast with a shaft extending parallel to said axis of said consumable electrode, said axis of said shaft being spaced from said axis of said consumable electrode by a distance equal to at least half the radius of said consumable electrode, the length of said arm being equal to the distance separating said axes of said consumable electrode and said shaft, and means for moving said shaft in translation in the direction of its said axis to compensate for consumption of said consumable electrode and for rotating said consumable electrode about its said axis to cause said local heating zone to move along said spiral path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, including arms, each said heating means being carried by one of said arms which extends perpendicular to said axis of said consumable electrode, a shaft for each of said arms, each of said arms being fast with said shaft, said shaft extending parallel to said axis of said consumable electrode, an axis of each of said shafts being spaced from said axis of said consumable electrode by a distance equal to at least half the radius of said consumable electrode, the length of each of said arms being equal to the distance separating said axis of said consumable electrode from said axis of said respective shaft, and means for moving said shafts together in translation in the direction of their axes to compensate for consumption of said consumable electrode and for moving said shafts independently in rotation about said axes of said shafts to cause local heating zones to move along said two spiral paths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electron gun includes a diaphragm, an enclosure for said consumable electrode and said electrode gun, said electron gun further including an electro-magnet, means for energizing said electromagnet to displace an electron beam emitted from said gun to cause said local heating zone produced by said beam to move along said spiral path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including an enclosure for said consumable electrode and said heating means, said enclosure being filled with a gas which is neutral with respect to the metal of said consumable electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including an enclosure for said consumable electrode and said heating means walls for said enclosure, said enclosure being constructed and arranged that droplets expelled from said end surface of said consumable electrode are solidified before striking said walls of said enclosure.
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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) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |