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US4544404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for atomizing titanium
Assignee: Crucible Materials Corp
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Filing: 1985-03-12
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Granted: 1985-10-01
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Expires: 2005-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications by atomizing a free-falling stream of molten titanium. Prior to atomization the molten titanium is maintained in a crucible lined with a solidified layer of titanium which separates the molten mass of titanium from the crucible interior to protect it against contamination. The bottom of the crucible has a nozzle through which the titanium passes to form the free-falling stream. The nozzle may be likewise lined with a layer of solidified titanium which maintains the molten titanium passing through the nozzle out of contact with the nozzle material further protecting the titanium from contamination. The free-falling stream is contacted by an inert gas jet to atomize the stream into spherical particles, which are solidified and collected.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. Yolton
- 👤 John H. Moll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:01
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/02; B22F9/06; B22F9/08; B22F9/082; B22F2009/0848; B22F2009/0856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising producing a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having therein a nonoxidizing atmosphere, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible, producing a free-falling stream of said molten titanium from said crucible, striking said free-falling stream with an inert gas jet to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising producing a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having therein a nonoxidizing atmosphere, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible, producing a free-falling stream of said molten titanium from said crucible, striking said free-falling stream with an inert gas jet to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said molten mass of titanium is produced in said crucible by arc melting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said arc melting is performed by the use of a nonconsumable electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said molten mass of titanium is maintained out-of-contact with said crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between said molten mass and said crucible.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said crucible has in a bottom portion thereof a nozzle from which said free-falling stream passes, said nozzle being constructed from at least one refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and rhenium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said crucible is water cooled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said solidified layer of titanium is of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said inert gas jet strikes said free-falling stream at a distance apart from said nozzle sufficient that said jet and atomized particles do not contact said nozzle to cause erosion of said nozzle and cooling of said molten titanium passing through said nozzle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said inert gas is a gas selected from the group consisting of argon and helium.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising arc melting to produce a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between said molten mass and said crucible with said titanium of said solidified layer being of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, said crucible having in a bottom portion thereof a nozzle from which a free-falling stream of said molten titanium passes from said crucible, an inert gas jet adapted to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles by striking said free-falling stream at a distance apart from said nozzle sufficient that said jet and atomized particles do not contact said nozzle to cause erosion of said nozzle and cooling of said molten titanium passing through said nozzle, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising arc melting to produce a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between said molten mass and said crucible with said titanium of said solidified layer being of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, said crucible having in a bottom portion thereof a nozzle from which a free-falling stream of said molten titanium passes from said crucible, an inert gas jet adapted to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles by striking said free-falling stream at a distance apart from said nozzle sufficient that said jet and atomized particles do not contact said nozzle to cause erosion of said nozzle and cooling of said molten titanium passing through said nozzle, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said arc melting is performed by the use of a nonconsumable electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said crucible is water cooled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said inert gas jet is a gas selected from the group consisting of argon and helium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said nozzle is constructed from at least one refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and rhenium.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising arc melting to produce a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between said molten mass and said crucible with said titanium of said solidified layer being of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, said crucible having in a bottom portion thereof a nozzle from which a free-falling stream of said molten titanium passes from said crucible, said nozzle being lined with a solidified layer of titanium of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, whereby said molten titanium is maintained out-of-contact with said nozzle, an inert gas jet adapted to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles by striking said free-falling stream at a distance apart from said nozzle sufficient that said jet and atomized particles do not contact said nozzle to cause erosion of said nozzle and cooling of said molten titanium passing through said nozzle, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for producing titanium particles suitable for powder metallurgy applications, said method comprising arc melting to produce a molten mass of titanium in a crucible having a nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, maintaining said molten mass of titanium out-of-contact with said crucible by providing a solidified layer of titanium between said molten mass and said crucible with said titanium of said solidified layer being of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, said crucible having in a bottom portion thereof a nozzle from which a free-falling stream of said molten titanium passes from said crucible, said nozzle being lined with a solidified layer of titanium of the same composition as said molten mass of titanium, whereby said molten titanium is maintained out-of-contact with said nozzle, an inert gas jet adapted to atomize said molten titanium to form spherical particles by striking said free-falling stream at a distance apart from said nozzle sufficient that said jet and atomized particles do not contact said nozzle to cause erosion of said nozzle and cooling of said molten titanium passing through said nozzle, cooling said spherical particles to solidify said particles and collecting said solidified particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said arc melting is performed by the use of a nonconsumable electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said crucible is water cooled.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said inert gas jet is a gas selected from the group consisting of argon and helium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said nozzle is constructed from at least one refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten and rhenium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3963812A
Cited
US4474604A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-30 | 1989-04-01 | 1989-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-30 | 1993-04-01 | 1993-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-30 | 1997-04-01 | 1997-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |