US4309214A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of metal powder
Assignee: LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
•
Filing: 1979-08-27
•
Granted: 1982-01-05
•
Expires: 1999-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A system for producing metal powder in which a cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase is poured over a metal bath having a vapor pressure of at least 1 mm Hg, and the solid particles suspended in the fluid are separated therefrom and collected. The particles find application in the manufacture of paints, in the treatment of rubber, and in the metallurgical, chemical pharmaceutical and ceramic industries.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Foulard
- 👤 Gerard Bentz
- 👤 Jean Galey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:25
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/02; B22F9/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 1, in which the cryogenic fluid is continuously introduced into and evacuated from the enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 1, in which the cryogenic fluid comprises a chemically inert element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 1, in which the cryogenic fluid comprises a chemically reactive element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 1, in which the cryogenic fluid comprises a mixture of a chemically inert element and a chemically reactive element.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure in the liquid phase with the solid particles in suspension therein; separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure in the liquid phase with the solid particles in suspension therein; separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 6, in which the liquid phase is evacuated from the enclosure by suction.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure in the gaseous phase with the solid particles in suspension therein; separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure in the gaseous phase with the solid particles in suspension therein; separating the solid particles from the cryogenic fluid; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; filtering the evacuated cryogenic fluid to separate the solid particles therefrom; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring sufficient cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase to maintain a thick layer of fluid over the thus heated metallic material and thereby condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the cryogenic fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; filtering the evacuated cryogenic fluid to separate the solid particles therefrom; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring liquid nitrogen over the thus heated metallic material to condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the nitrogen fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; directing the nitrogen fluid and the suspended solid particles into a separating enclosure spaced from the treating enclosure; separating the solid particles from the nitrogen fluid in said separating enclosure; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a metallic material in a closed treating enclosure until the vapor pressure of the material is at least about 1 mm Hg; pouring liquid nitrogen over the thus heated metallic material to condense vapor from the material and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the nitrogen fluid from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; directing the nitrogen fluid and the suspended solid particles into a separating enclosure spaced from the treating enclosure; separating the solid particles from the nitrogen fluid in said separating enclosure; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 10, in which the solid particles are separated by gravity from the nitrogen within said separating enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 10, in which said material is a substantially pure metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of producing a metal powder as defined in claim 10, in which said material is an alloy of two or more metals.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a copper-zinc alloy in a closed treating enclosure to a temperature of about 1065° C. until the vapor pressure of the alloy is at least about 1 mm HG; pouring liquid nitrogen over the thus heated alloy to condense vapor from the alloy and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the nitrogen from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; separating the solid particles from the nitrogen; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of producing a metal powder which comprises, in combination: heating a copper-zinc alloy in a closed treating enclosure to a temperature of about 1065° C. until the vapor pressure of the alloy is at least about 1 mm HG; pouring liquid nitrogen over the thus heated alloy to condense vapor from the alloy and form a multiplicity of solid particles; evacuating the nitrogen from the enclosure with the solid particles in suspension; separating the solid particles from the nitrogen; and collecting the solid particles in powder form.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3042511A
Cited
US3165396A
Cited
US3151971A
Cited
JPS482666U
Cited
US3856513A
Cited
US4124377A
Cited
US4169730A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-01-04 | 1985-07-06 | 1986-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-01-04 | 1989-07-06 | 1990-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-01-04 | 1993-07-06 | 1994-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |