US5147448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Techniques for producing fine metal powder
Assignee: State Street Bank and Trust Co NA
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Filing: 1990-10-01
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Granted: 1992-09-15
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Expires: 2010-10-01
Abstract
Abstract Techniques for producing fine metal powder are described, including producing droplets of molten metal to be formed into a powder, providing an environment including a substance specifically introduced for combining with the droplets, and submitting the droplets to the environment for combining the introduced substance with the droplet metal to form at least a partial coating on the powder including the introduced substance.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter R. Roberts
- 👤 James E. Blout
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:59
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F9/00; B22F9/02; B22F9/06; B22F9/08; B22F9/10; B22F1/00; B22F1/14; B22F1/145; C; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/10; C22C1/1036; C22C1/1042; B22F9/082; B22F2009/086; B22F2998/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of producing fine metal powder particles, comprising: producing droplets of molten metal to be formed into a powder; providing an environment including a substance specifically introduced for combining with said droplets; and submitting said droplets to said environment for combining said introduced substance with the droplet metal to form at least a partial coating including at least part of said introduced substance on said powder particles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of producing fine metal powder particles, comprising: producing droplets of molten metal to be formed into a powder; providing an environment including a substance specifically introduced for combining with said droplets; and submitting said droplets to said environment for combining said introduced substance with the droplet metal to form at least a partial coating including at least part of said introduced substance on said powder particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which producing droplets includes atomizing molten metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which producing droplets includes centrifugally forming droplets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which the environment includes a gaseous atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which the environment includes a liquid medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 in which said introduced substance includes a substance for alloying the droplet metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 in which atomizing molten metal includes impinging a gas stream on the molten metal to break it into droplets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3 in which centrifugally forming droplets includes providing a rotating bar including the metal to be melted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 in which centrifugally forming droplets includes melting a rotating metal disc.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 in which centrifugally forming droplets includes breaking a molten metal stream into droplets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 in which said introduced substance is at least part of the atmosphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 in which said introduced substance includes an aerosol of finely divided solid material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 in which the liquid medium includes a liquefied gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 in which said gas stream includes said introduced substance for combining with the droplet metal on droplet formation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 in which centrifugally forming droplets further includes melting the metal in said rotating bar.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 in which a rotating member breaks said stream into droplets and projects them away to solidify.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 in which said introduced substance is at least part of said liquefied gas medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 in which melting the metal in said rotating bar includes providing a high energy arc to melt said metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 18 in which melting the metal in the rotating bar further includes introducing said introduced substance into the arc to begin reaction with said droplet metal as the droplets are formed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 18 in which said arc is provided directly to said rotating bar.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for producing fine metal powder, comprising: rotating at a high rate of speed an at least partly consumable cylinder including the metal to be powdered; surrounding the distal end of said cylinder with a gaseous atmosphere including a reactive substance; and heating said distal end of said rotating cylinder to melt the metal and fling from said cylinder into the atmosphere molten metal droplets to simultaneously cool and alter the composition of the droplets.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for producing fine metal powder, comprising: rotating at a high rate of speed an at least partly consumable cylinder including the metal to be powdered; surrounding the distal end of said cylinder with a gaseous atmosphere including a reactive substance; and heating said distal end of said rotating cylinder to melt the metal and fling from said cylinder into the atmosphere molten metal droplets to simultaneously cool and alter the composition of the droplets.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for producing fine reacted metal powder, comprising: providing a gaseous atmosphere including a reactive substance; forming at a location within the atmosphere molten metal droplets; and urging said droplets away from the location into said atmosphere to at least partly react and cool said droplets for forming the reacted powder.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for producing fine reacted metal powder, comprising: providing a gaseous atmosphere including a reactive substance; forming at a location within the atmosphere molten metal droplets; and urging said droplets away from the location into said atmosphere to at least partly react and cool said droplets for forming the reacted powder.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for producing coated fine metal powder particles, comprising: producing droplets of a molten metal to be formed into a powder; providing a liquid medium including a substance specifically introduced for reacting with said metal; and submitting said droplets to said liquid medium to harden said droplets and form at least a partial coating including said substance on said powder.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for producing coated fine metal powder particles, comprising: producing droplets of a molten metal to be formed into a powder; providing a liquid medium including a substance specifically introduced for reacting with said metal; and submitting said droplets to said liquid medium to harden said droplets and form at least a partial coating including said substance on said powder.
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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) | 1995-09-15 | 1996-03-16 | 1996-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-15 | 2000-03-16 | 2000-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-15 | 2004-03-16 | 2004-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |