Apparatus for rapidly freezing molten metals and metalloids in particulate form

Claim 1

In an apparatus for rapid freezing of metals and metalloids in particulate form from a melt of such materials having a disc-like member mounted substantially horizontally on a centrally located shaft connected to a high rotatable speed power source and inlet means for introducing both a volatile liquid coolant and the molten material to be processed to the disc-like member as it is rotated whereby the molten material is cooled to the solid state by vaporization of the liquid coolant and dispersed by centrifugal forces acting upon the coolant and material, the improvement which comprises: a generally cone-shaped protrusion located with its apex extending upwardly from the center of rotation of the disc-like member, the inlet means for the molten materials being located vertically above the apex of the protrusion, and the inlet means for said liquid coolant being located sufficiently close to said inlet means for said molten materials to provide cooling for said protrusion and to provide an outwardly flowing film of coolant liquid across the upwardly facing surface of said disc-like member, whereby the molten material dropped to the apex of said protrusion is dispersed thereby into said film of coolant liquid.