GB502139A - Apparatus for vapourising or gasifying metals and other substances difficult to vapourise - Google Patents

Abstract

502,139. Electric furnaces. MAIER, R. June 8, 1937, No. 10685/38. Divided out of and addition to 498,921 under which a Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Dec. 9, 1937. [Class 39 (iii)] Apparatus for vaporising or gasefying metals, alloys, compounds and other solid mineral substances difficult to vaporize, according to the method claimed in the parent Specification, comprises a small vaporizing chamber, Fig. 2, haying a substantially smooth, horizontal refractory floor 32 and a roof 19 tapering towards a substantially central outlet 24, eloctrocles 22 for highly heating said chamber and terminating beneath said outlet and above said floor, and means separate from said electrodes for feeding the material on to the refractory floor in the form of individual drops or particles. Such means may comprise a reservoir 29, a tube 28 and control valve 30, the tube 28 leading into a tube 26 carrying at its end a transparent inspection plate 27. The electrodes 22 which are mounted in tubes 20 are fed from a three-phase supply 42, the star point of the three-phase transformer being connected to the casing 16 : alternatively, two-phase or direct current may be employed. A tube 31 extends slightly above the graphite plate forming the floor 32 and is connected by means of a tube 34 to a tank 37 having a discharge tube 39. Alternatively, metals or alloys may be fed to the furnace in the form of wire at such a rate that individual drops melt from the end of the wire and fall on to the crucible floor as such. A relay system may be provided for automatic feed control. The tube 34 and tank 37 are preferably heated. The plate forming the floor 32 may be plane or have very small depressions or may be made of porous material. An atmosphere of nitrogen may be employed and the process may be carried out at atmospheric, reduced or increased pressure. In another form, Fig. 3, a graphite crucible 43, embedded in a conductive trough 44 containing small coal 45, has a conical roof 46 leading to an outlet tube 47, material being fed to the crucible from a reservoir 52 through a tube 51 having a control valve 53. The tube 47 and trough 44 are connected to the secondary of a transformer 50. In another form, Fig. 4, the crucible is in the form of a graphite tube 54 connected to a transformer 55. In another form, Fig. 5; the crucible is in the form of a graphite or like annular tube 59 surrounding the shank 60 of a transformer core 61, material being fed from the reservoir 65 through a tube 63 having a control valve 64. Specification 502,141 is referred to.