US4259270A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for the manufacture of splat foils from metallic melts
Assignee: Battelle-Institut
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Filing: 1978-09-13
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Granted: 1981-03-31
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Expires: 1998-09-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed for manufacturing splat foils by disintegration and rapid solidification of metallic melts. The apparatus has a self-consuming electrode disposed above a rotatable counter electrode. Attached to the counter-electrode is a conical plate which is cooled by a fluid circulating through its interior. The application of electrical energy to the electrodes causes the self-consuming electrode to melt and drop melt droplets onto the rotating counter-electrode. Centrifugal force causes the melt droplets to fly off the counter-electrode and contact the conical plate at which point they are rapidly cooled to form thin foils. A housing surrounds the electrodes and conical plate to collect the cooled foils and to permit the apparatus to operate in an inert atmosphere, if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinrich Winter
- 👤 Dietrich Merz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:55
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C45/00; B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/002; B22F9/008; B22F9/02; B22F9/06; B22F9/08; B22F9/10; B22F2999/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/912; Y10S505/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for making metallic splat foils comprising the steps of: (a) producing molten metal droplets; (b) directing said molten metal droplets onto a rotating plate; (c) rotating said plate so as to cause said molten metal droplets to be discharged from said plate by centrifugal force; and (d) contacting said discharged molten metal droplets with a rotating cooling conical surface so as to rapidly solidify and stretch said molten metal droplets to form said splat foils, said splat foils being detached from the rotating conical surface by centrifugal force.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for making metallic splat foils comprising the steps of: (a) producing molten metal droplets; (b) directing said molten metal droplets onto a rotating plate; (c) rotating said plate so as to cause said molten metal droplets to be discharged from said plate by centrifugal force; and (d) contacting said discharged molten metal droplets with a rotating cooling conical surface so as to rapidly solidify and stretch said molten metal droplets to form said splat foils, said splat foils being detached from the rotating conical surface by centrifugal force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for making splat foils by melting and rapidly solidifying a metallic material, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for producing droplets of metal; (b) a rotatable central plate upon which said metal droplets fall; (c) a conical plate attached to said central plate so as to rotate therewith and located such that the metal droplets are spun off said rotating central plate, strike the upper surface of said conical plate, are rapidly solidified and stretched into foils, and are detached from the surface by centrifugal force; (d) means to rotate said central plate and said conical plate; and (e) cooling means to cool the upper surface of said conical plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for making splat foils by melting and rapidly solidifying a metallic material, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for producing droplets of metal; (b) a rotatable central plate upon which said metal droplets fall; (c) a conical plate attached to said central plate so as to rotate therewith and located such that the metal droplets are spun off said rotating central plate, strike the upper surface of said conical plate, are rapidly solidified and stretched into foils, and are detached from the surface by centrifugal force; (d) means to rotate said central plate and said conical plate; and (e) cooling means to cool the upper surface of said conical plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the conical plate has a cone angle between 120° and 170°.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein said conical plate is hollow and further comprising means to circulate a cooling fluid in said hollow conical plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cooling fluid is water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said conical plate is made of copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said conical plate has a chromium coating at least on the surface contacted by said metal droplets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said conical plate has a coating of carbon black on at least the surface contacted by said metal droplets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said conical plate has a coating of titanium nitride on at least the surface contacted by said metal droplets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a housing surrounding said central and conical plates so as to contain and collect the solidified foils as they are spun off said conical plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising means to draw a vacuum within said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising means to provide an inert gas protective atmosphere within said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for producing droplets of metal comprises a first electrode made of a metallic material and wherein said central plate comprises a second electrode such that application of electrical energy to said electrodes causes said first electrode to melt and produce droplets of metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for producing droplets of metal comprises a first electrode made of a metallic material and wherein said central plate comprises a second electrode such that application of electrical energy to said electrodes causes said first electrode to melt and produce droplets of metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for making splat foils by melting and rapidly solidifying a metallic material, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for producing droplets of metal; (b) a rotable central plate upon which said metal droplets fall; (c) a conical plate attached to said central plate so as to rotate therewith and located such that the metal droplets are spun off said rotating central plate, strike the surface of said conical plate, are rapidly solidified and stretched into foils, and are detached from the surface by centrifugal force; (d) means to rotate said central plate and said conical plate; and (e) a cooling block located immediately adjacent to said conical plate so as to remove heat radiated from said conical plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for making splat foils by melting and rapidly solidifying a metallic material, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for producing droplets of metal; (b) a rotable central plate upon which said metal droplets fall; (c) a conical plate attached to said central plate so as to rotate therewith and located such that the metal droplets are spun off said rotating central plate, strike the surface of said conical plate, are rapidly solidified and stretched into foils, and are detached from the surface by centrifugal force; (d) means to rotate said central plate and said conical plate; and (e) a cooling block located immediately adjacent to said conical plate so as to remove heat radiated from said conical plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said cooling block is cooled by liquid nitrogen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the conical plate has a cone angle between 120° and 170°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for making splat foils by melting and rapidly solidifying a metallic material, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for producing droplets of metal; (b) a rotable central plate upon which said metal droplets fall; (c) a conical plate attached to said central plate so as to rotate therewith and located such that the metal droplets are spun off said rotating central plate, strike the surface of said conical plate, are rapidly solidified and stretched into foils, and are detached from the surface by centrifugal force; (d) means to rotate said central plate and said conical plate; and (e) cooling means to remove heat radiated from said conical plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for making splat foils by melting and rapidly solidifying a metallic material, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for producing droplets of metal; (b) a rotable central plate upon which said metal droplets fall; (c) a conical plate attached to said central plate so as to rotate therewith and located such that the metal droplets are spun off said rotating central plate, strike the surface of said conical plate, are rapidly solidified and stretched into foils, and are detached from the surface by centrifugal force; (d) means to rotate said central plate and said conical plate; and (e) cooling means to remove heat radiated from said conical plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-30 | 1984-09-29 | 1985-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-30 | 1988-09-29 | 1989-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-30 | 1992-09-29 | 1993-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |