Method for producing solid or hollow spherical particles of chosen chemical composition and of uniform size
US4774037A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 1986 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S376/916
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for producing commercially large quantities of high melting temperature solid or hollow spherical particles of a predetermined chemical composition and having a uniform and controlled size distribution. An end (18, 50, 90) of a solid or hollow rod (20, 48, 88) of the material is rendered molten by a laser beam (14, 44, 82). Because of this, there is no possibility of the molten rod material becoming contaminated with extraneous material. In various aspects of the invention, an electric field is applied to the molten rod end (18, 90), and/or the molten rod end (50, 90) is vibrated. In a further aspect of the invention, a high-frequency component is added to the electric field applied to the molten end of the rod (90). By controlling the internal pressure of the rod, the rate at which the rod is introduced into the laser beam, the environment of the process, the vibration amplitude and frequency of the molten rod end, the electric field intensity applied to the molten rod end, and the frequency and intensity of the component added to the electric field, the uniformity and size distribution of the solid or hollow spherical particles (122) produced by the inventive…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.