GB1336280A - Device for producing fine metal powder - Google Patents

Abstract

1336280 Making metal powder S G GLAZUNOV L A KHRUSTSEVICH and J F ALTUNIN 14 March 1972 11894/72 Headings B3A and B3V [Also in Division C7] A device for producing metal powder comprises a chamber 1 which can be made air-tight, two adjacent rolls 20 rotatable around a horizontal axis, means 21-26 for rotating the rolls in the same sense, a holder 12 for a non-consumable electrode 13 in the chamber, means 30, 31 for urging a consumable electrode 27 against the two rolls so that the electrode can be rotated by the rotating rolls, and means 35-39 for moving the consumable electrode towards the holder. Operation.-Consumable electrodes 27 are placed on an inclined platform (44), Fig. 2 (not shown), and roll downwardly to be transferred singly via distributing gear (45) to rolls 20. A crank gear (41) causes cranks 33, 34 to pivot about screw 38 to clamp the electrode 27 using rollers 30, 31. A flange 32 co-operates with an annular groove 29 in a holder 28. A current collector 40 is automatically moved into position, electrode 13 is secured to holder 12, and doors 4, 43 are closed and the chamber evacuated through pipe 50. At a required pressure inert gas is fed via sleeve 51 into the chamber and electric motor 25 actuated to rotate the rolls. Motor 37 imparts longitudinal motion to nut 35 and crank 33. The current collector 40 is then moved to contact holder 28 and the electrode 13 brought near electrode 27 to strike an arc. The molten metal droplets formed cool in the inert gas atmosphere to form spherical particles which fall into hopper 16. A rack 11 on rod 8 ensures that the spark gap is always maintained. When melting is completed a lever (49) is turned causing lever 47 to discard the residual electrode part and holder 28 from rolls 20 into compartment A. The roller 30 can then be returned to its initial position and the cycle is repeated when distributing gear (45) directs another electrode 27 on to the rolls 20.