US2460993A - Apparatus for atomizing metal - Google Patents

Description

Feb 8, 1949-v` G. J. LE BRAssE ET Al. v 2,460,993

APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING METAL Filed Feb. 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING METAL Gordon J. Le Brasse, Ann Arbor, and Harold E.

Francis, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Federal- Mogul Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 6, 194.6, Serial No. 645,946

This invention relates to apparatus for atomizing metal and has for its principalA object the provision of an apparatus of this character by means of which metal may be atomized and theA production of an oxide coating on the surface of the particles thus formed will be of a minimum value. Y

Objects of the invention include the provision of an apparatus for atomizing metal comprising a substantially closed container lled with a nonoxidizing gas and in which a stream or spray of water is projected into which one or more streams of the metal to be atomized, -in molten form, is introduced; the provision of apparatus of the type described in which a minimum amount of nonoxidizing or reducing gas or gases is required to maintain a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere in which the atomization of the metal occurs; the provision of apparatus of the type described including means, in the path of flow of the stream or spray of water into which the molten metal is introduced, to aid in dissipating the force of such stream; the provision of apparatus of the type described including means for separating out the various particles of metal atomizecl thereby in accordance with theirV size; the provision of apparatus of the type described in which the operation of the apparatus may be vcontinuous and the particles of atomized metal removed either continuously or periodically without interrupting the operation thereof and the provision of apparatus of the type described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and economical to produce and to use.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consisting of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the aboveand other objects in view. Y

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig 1 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally and longitudinally through a metal atomizing apparatus constructed in accordancewith the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1, Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,' and` Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on the line 4,-4 of Fig. v2, v

9 Claims. (Cl. 18-2.5)

While the apparatus of the present invention is of value in the atomization of any metal or metal alloy, it isv particularly useful rin the carrying out of theinvention disclosed and claimed in our copending applications for Letters Patent of the United States for improvements in Method of atomizing metal and for improvement in atomized metal, respectively, filed on even date herewith, and serially numbered 645,948 and f; 645,947, respectively. The said copending appli- Such atomizedparticles of copper-lead alloy find their principal use in connection with the formation of sintered bearings for rotating shafts and the like. When formed in accordance with conventional practice, the alloy isA melted and in the form of one or more fine streams is discharged into a blast or spray of water simply directed and surrounded by air. The blast of air breaks up the fine streams vof molten metal into fine particles and solidies vthem so that they produce a mass of loose powder-like material. However, the short time that such particles are exposed to the air in their molten state, as well as to the water, in accordance with conventional practices,

- is sucient to produce on each particle a coating consisting of one or more of the oxides of lead. When tin is also an element of the alloy, at least a partof the coating may -consist of tin oxide. Atomized particles produced in the conventional manner thus described will usually be found to have an oxygen content, because of the oxide coating, in excess of 1%, probably averaging about 1.2%. This means that for a given amount of such atomized alloy, there is present an averagel of in the neighborhood of 13% to 14% of the weight by the mass in the-form of an oxide coating on the particles Where a powder -comprising such atomized particles of lead containing copper alloys is applied as a coating to a steel strip and passed through a sinstering furnace to cause the various particles to adhere to one another and to the steel backing strip, as is a conventional practice in the formation of bearings, the amount of oxide present inthe conventionally formed powder is so great as to require reduction of the oxide coating in the sintering furance, by the combined application of heat and a reducing atmosphere, before a satisfactory bond can be obtained between the various particles and between the particles and metal is carried on in a non-oxidizing or' in a reducing atmosphere, the production'off an oxide coating on the atomized particles is reducedto a desired extent, the amount of oiiide'thusproduced being substantially limited to the amount of oxygen which the particles pick upsolely from the water spray. The amount of oxide coating thus produced on such atomized particles will be so small that the oxygen content of a given mass 'of particles may beas low as approximately 0.2%, and rarely; if ever, over 05%. Aslong as thefoxide coatings on such particles clonot proivide an oxygen inclusion in a' massofsuch particles greater than the percentage last stated, a satisfactory bond between theiva'rious particles, and between such particles and the steelv strip may be obtained in a s'inter-in'g furnace without the necessity of further reducing the oxygen content of thev mass of powdered' metal, and thereforethe speed of the' sinteri'n'g operations may be substantially doubled over that where conventionally yformed'- atoniized metal is; erm ployed as a powdered layer in the manufaotureoi bearings or the like',

However, the atomization of such molten rnetal must not only be'carried on in a non-'oxidizing or in a reducing atmosphere to' obtain the desired results, but in order toi be commercially practical, the operation must be such that xc'es'- sive amounts of these non-oxidizing or reducing gases are not used up in the process. The present invention provides an apparatus whereby such atomization may be carriedon in a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere and by the' use of a minimum amount of 'non-oxidizing 'or reducing gas. vThis is accomplishedby carrying on the atomizing operation Within a oontainer substantially sealedagainst the admission o air into it, which container may be made of relativelysmall size and from which air has been displaced by a non-oxidizing or a reducing gas, small 'amounts of which are preferably continuously supplied thereto so as to maintain a pressure therein slightly greater` than atmospheric pressure so as to positively eliminate the possibility of leakage of airthereinto As a result, the only oxide coatine whichmar be ,found @niet Particles atomzd will be causedsubstantially solely from the oxygen drawn bylsuch particles when in moltencondition from the Water employed in the 'atomization step, theamount of oxide formed thus beins kept at a minimum Itwill beappreciated thatthe f ormof the apparatus ,constructed in accordance with the present invention mayvary considerably in accordance withthe `desires of the particular designer without any particular diiference'in result asjlong as the essentialfeatures'fof the invention are, Vincorporated therein: The apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings illustrates one form of such apparatus which has been found satisfactory. l

Referringnow to theaccoxnpanying drawings, it will be noted that :the apparatus comprises generally a tank or container Si) in one end of which and adjacent the top thereof is positioned one or more, here shown as a single nozzle l2, arranged to direct a stream or spray of water therefrom preferably lengthwise of the tank as shown. It will be understood that the tank or container isei'tlie'ifclfosed" or is otherwiseA sealed against thele'akageof'air'thereinto. The nozzle i2 is connected by a pipe such as i4 with a suitable source of water under pressure, such as the pump I6.- Preferably, the pipe I4 projects into the container'i'ilthrc'ugh` a coverplate or manhole cover 4ST removably secured and sealed to the correspending end` face`V of the tank or container l over thlehol-e-ZG formed therein by means of bolts or screws such as 22,

Means areV also provided for introducing a suitable reducing or nonoxidizing gas such as nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, illuminating gas or the like into the tank or container i8, and this maybe donein' any suitable manner and'be obtaned'irom any suitablev source. In the drawings, suchf gas is obtained from a conventional pressure'bottle Rffromzwhichit is fed to the tank through'l a conventional reducing valve or the like '25. In Fig. l, one tube 28 isfshownas extending from the reducing valve 26 through the coverplate i8; torwhich itl is sealed, into the interior ofthe tank or container lil-A where it Yconnectswith a cross pipe 3G disposed with its axis vertical and its opposite ends open' for the escape of such gas into the interior of the tan-k or container I0. A second pipe or tube 3-2 is also shown as extending from the reducing valve 26 through the cover I'S to which it is sealed and into the interior of the nozzle i 2 where the @duction effect of the stream or spray of water dischargedgfrom the nozzle l2 aids in drawing the gas into the tank or container I6 and diiusing it therein. Either one or both of these two means for introducing the non-oxidizing or reducing gases into the tank or container Il! may be employed, o r any other suitable means for producing an equivalent result may be employed in place thereof.

The molten metal which is. to be atomized is introduced into the tank or container lil preferably in the form of one or more relatively ne streams which are discharged into the stream or spray 34 of water issuing from the nozzle I2, While any suitable means. may be provided for effecting this result, theL apparatus shown provides the following described means, asA disclosed in Fig. l. The upper Wall 'of thetank or container Hl is provided with a relatively short open ended cylindrical tube 36 which projects vertically threugh such wall and is rigidly fixed and sealed thereto 'as by welding or the like. The lower end of the'tube 3S terminates in vertically spaced relationabove the vstream or lspray 35., preferably a. substantial distance from the nozzle l2. A suitable crucible 38 is removably-ra ceived, preferably 4in more or `less fitted relation, inthe upper end offthe tube '36. The 'bottom wall of the Crucible -38 isV provided with one Aor more fine holes 4G lthrough which molten metal such as '42 introduced intothe-crucible 38, as for instance from -a ladle such `as M, may 'fflow 'in the form'of Viinestreams 146 into stream-or spray 34. The stream or spray 34 may Xbe unconilned below the ftube 36 wh'erethemolten metal is `introduced into it. Ori-theother hand, 'if desired, the Astream or -sprayjSll' 'at the point where the molten metal is fintroduce'd into `ii'fmay be con fined within an open '-'endedtube i138, as shown in Fig, 1, secured tothelowerend'of the-tube 146' and into which the tube 46 opens. Where the tube 4B is not employed, then it may be desirableL to provide a window such as 5l] directly over the stream or spray 34 on the downstream side of the tube 35 so as to enable the character of the stream or spray 34 to be visually inspected. The window 53 is, of course, sealed at its margins to the tank or container in any suitable manner.

In order to permit the escape of air and lgas from the tank or container, an inverted U-shaped' tube 52 is provided at'the rear end thereof with one leg thereof projecting through theupper wall of the tank as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, the other leg of the U is projected intoca body o f water such as 54 carried in an open Vtop container such as 5S so as to provide a water'seal for preventing the leakage of air back into the tank or container Hi.' The rear wall of the tank or container l0 is likewise provided with an'over iiow pipe 58 and, like the pipe 52, in orderto prevent leakage of air therethrough into the tank or container i3, the pipe 58 is preferably provided with a downwardly extending end portion El! which' may be submerged in a body of water 52 in an open top container 64. In this connection, it will be appreciated that the water introduced as the stream or spray 34 will fall to the Ybottom of the tank, and the pipe 58 serves as an overflow for such water and as a mea-ns for maintaining a constant level of water in the bottom of the tank or container Ill. Preferably, a drainage pipe 66 is provided leading into the bottom of the tank, shown at the rear end thereof in Fig. 1, and provided with'a shut-off valve G8 so that the tank' may'be drained of Water when necessary or desirable. Additionally, the rear end of the tank or container l0 is prefer-l ably provided with a hole of suicient size to permit a workman to crawl therethrough to the interior of the tank or container l0 and this opening is normally closed and sealed by Vmeans of a removable cover 12. Y Y l The apparatus thus far described is s uicient, in the broader aspects of the invention, for ac-` complishing the broad purposes of the present invention, and in such case,A its operation is as follows. The Crucible 38 is initially removed and the top of the tube closed, preferably in a more or less loose manner so as to permit the escape of air upwardly therethrough under the pressure of the non-oxidizing or reducing gas employed. The containers and 64 are filled with liquid. Reducing or non-oxidizing gas is thenintroducedA into the tank or containerV I 8 from the bottle 24, either through the pipe 28, the pipe 32, or both, and is allowed to discharge into the tank or container I8 at a sufficient rate of iiow and for a suflicient length of time to insure thebulk of the air being expelled or flushed therefrom, after which the rate of iiow` isre` duced to a point more fully explained later. An alternative method Vof flushing the air from the tank is to ll it with water to displace the air, and then drain out the desired amount of water and replace the drained water with a non-oxidizing or reducing gas. In such case, after the water has been drained, the flow of such gas is continued at a reduced rate. Thereupon, water is supplied to the nozzle l2 to form the stream or spray 34, whereupon the crucible 38 may be introduced into the upper end of `the tube 36, and molten metal introduced into the Crucible so that it will be discharged in the small or ne streams 46 into the stream or spray 34. The .fine streams of molten metal in being engaged by tinued, vbut only atja relatively small rate.

6 the stream or spray 34 will be causedto be broken up'into iinely divided particles, which are rapidly solidified, so"thatthey drop by gravity into the'bottom of the tank asa 'iinely divided loose powder or as extremely small particles. The -water employed in producing thestream or spray is preierably'under a relatively high pressure so as to enhance thebreaking up of the ne streams 46 Vof molten metal intoextremely fine particles. l()v A water'pressure of 150` pounds per square inch has been found suitable.

During the above-described operation, the supply vof. non-oxidizing or reducing gas from the bottle 24 into the tank or container l0 is con- 'All that isnecessary is that a suicient amount of a non-oxidizing or reducing gas .beV introduced into the tank or container lll to maintain the pressure therein slightly above atmospheric pressure so as to prevent any air on the outside ofthe tank or container from iinding itsway into the tank or container through .any cracks or apertures thatmay not otherwise be sealed. However; the tank or container. l0 mayv readily be sealed suf f ciently completely so that a very small amount of non-oxidizing or reducing gas is required to,

be continuously fed into the same. Thus, a very small-amount of such gas is used up during continued operation. e

The apparatus thus described may be operated until a desirable amount of metal has been atomizedand deposited in the bottom of the tank, upon which the flow of metal may be stopped, the gas and water turned ofi-valve 68 opened so asto drain the tank or container, andthen the closure `12 removed and the atomized metal scraped or otherwise removed from the bottoni ofthe tank through the opening-,13. Wherev necessary or desirable, such atomized metal may then be grade-d to different sizes adaptable for vdifferent uses.

`In actualV practice it is, of course, usually def sirable to provideA features, l other thanv those above described as essential, for enhancing the efiiciency of the apparatus, to permit continuous operation and for otherreasons. For instance, it has been found that ii one or more` screens such as 14, suitably supported on the'interior .of the tank or container i3, are provided in the path of flow of the stream o r spray 34 downstream from the point where the metal is introduced', it will aid in dissipating the force of the flow'of water, which tends .to cause a turbulence of the '...ofwhich water mightvotherwise be picked* up by the turbulent gas and be carried Yinto contact with thel bottom of the VCrucible, 38 where itmight freeze the metal 42 in theholes 40. Additionally',

y it is desirable, under some circumstances at least,

to provide some means whereby an initial sep. aration of the particles intodierent'sizes may be accomplished in the tank .orcontainer l0.

For the last described purpose, the bottom of the tank or container I0 and over the rearward portion thereof may be provided with a plurality of `transverse troughs, which may be of any number desired but `shown inthe drawings.' by way of illustration as three, namely 1B, 18 and `8l), with :in upwardly projecting baffle vor wall suchlasg, between each, the baiiies 82 terminating below the level of the water within the tank or container ,l 0. When such an arrangement is employed, then some means such as Vthe downwardly extending T9 are-preferably suitably sealedV against leakage thereinfBetween the side walls of each trough, a scraper bladei H2 is xe'd to each rod H0. The scraper bladesV H2 extend transversely of the length of the troughs 1S, 18 and 80 and each is of la shape complementary to the cross sectional shape of the corresponding trough, and preferably bears :against the converging bottom walls ofthe corresponding trough. It will be appreciated that .when rods "H are axially'reciproc'ated either manually'or mechanically, they will be caused to travel longitudinally Vof their respective troughs 16, land 8B yand in being reciprocated willfscrap'e anydeposit 'of atomized metal in such troughs out into the pockets I0, from which it may be readily manually or otherwise. removed. Thus 'with the apparatus as thus fully described and shown, continuous operation of the apparatus may be carried on.

To permit complete draining of the tank and troughs, it is necessary, in the construction shown, toprovide drainage pipes H4 on the level of the bottom of each trough 16, 'I8v and B and in communication therewith, each of the pipes being provided with a shut-0H valve H6.

It will be appreciated that formal changes may be made in the speciiic embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the 'appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a container, means for introducing a high velocity stream of water into the upper portion of `said container, means for introducing a Vstream of molten lead into said high velocity stream of water, means for introducing a nonoxidizing ngas into said container, means sealing said container against the entrance of air thereto, means for maintaining a predetermined level of water in the bottom portion of said container, and perforate means in the path of ilow of said high velocity stream of water on the downstream side of the'point where said molten metal is introduced thereinto and intermediate the ends of said container serving to dissipate the force of said high velocity stream of water.

2. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a container; means for introducing a high velocity stream of water into said container adjacent thetop thereof, means for introducingV a relatively fine stream of molten metal into said high velocity stream of water, perforate baiile means in the path of flow of said high velocity stream of water on the downstream side of the point where said stream of molten metal is introduced thereinto and intermediate the ends of said container for directing the water of said high velocity stream and the particles of metal broken up and solidified thereby to the bottom of said tank, means -for maintainingga nonoxidizing atmosphere within said tank, and means maintaining a level of water in the bottom of said tank serving as a water overflow means for said tank.

3. Metal -atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relatively elongated tank, means for introducing a high velocity stream of water into one end of said tank adjacent the top thereof and in a direction longitudinally of said tank, means for introducing a relatively iine stream of molten metal into said stream of water, means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into said container, means sealing said container against the entrance of air thereto, water overiiow meansat that end of said tank opposite that at which said stream Vof wateris introduced thereinto, baille means in said'. tank between 'the opposite ends thereof and in the path of flow of said'stream of watenand means for introducing an additional stream of water into 'the lower portion of said tank in the same direction as said stream of high velocity stream of water,l wherebyY to provide a .continuously iiowing stream of water from one end of said tank toward the other end thereof.

A4. Metal atomizingr apparatus comprising, in combination,` a relatively elongated tank., means for introducing a high Velocity stream of water into one end of said tank'adjacent the top thereof and in a directionvlongitudinally ofsaid tank, means for introducing a relatively fine stream of molten *metal` intosaid stream of water,v means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into said container, meanssealing .said container Yagainst the entrance of air thereto, water overflow means at that end of saidtank opposite that at which said stream of water is introduced thereinto, baffle means in said tank between the opposite ends thereof and in the path of flow of said'stream of water, means for introducing an additional stream of waterinto the lower portion of said tank in thesame direction assaid stream of high velocity stream ofw'ater, whereby to provide a continuouslyv flowing stream of water from one end of said tank toward the other end thereof, and means disposed transversely of the path of ow of said body' of water supplementing the effects of gravity in separating out said particles of metal from'said body of Water. y 5.v Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relatively elongated tank, means for introducing a relatively high velocity stream of Water into one endof said tank adjacent the upper portionthereof and directed toward the Vopposite end of said tank,ibaiiie means between the ends of said'tankI in the path of iiow of said high velocity stream of water serving to break up said stream and direct it toward the bottom of said tank, means intermediate the first two mentioned means -jor introducing moltenmetal in a relatively fine ystream into said high j velocity stream of water, means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into said tank, means sealing said tank against the entrance of air thereto, means including an overiiow at theopposite end'of said tank for maintaining 4a substantially constant water level therein, and means for introducing an additionalf'stream of water into the iirst mentioned end of said tank providing with said high velocity stream body oi"l water in the bottom portion of said container'iiowing from the rst mentioned end thereof vtoward said oppositeV end for the purposev of carrying particles of metal broken up by said high velocity stream in a rearward direction in said tank. f i

6. Metal atomiz'ing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relatively elongated tank, means for introducinga relativelyhigh velocity stream of water into one end of said tank adjacent ythe upper portion thereof and directedtoward the opposite end `of said'tank, baffle ,meansrbetween the ends of said tankV in the path of flow of said high velocity stream of watervserving to break up said stream and direct it toward the bottom of said tank, means intermediate the first two mentioned means for introducing molten metal in a relatively fine stream into said high velocity stream of Water, means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into said tank, means sealing said .tank against the entrance of air thereto, means including an overflow at the opposite end of said tank for maintaining'a substantially constant water level therein, means-'for introducing `an additional stream of 'water into the iirstmen tioned end of said tank providing with said high velocity stream a body of Water in the bottom portion of said container lioWing from the'first mentioned end vthereof toward 'said opposite end for the purpose of carrying particles of metal broken up by saidhigh velocity stream in 'a rearward direction in said tank, and a plurality of troughs in the Vbottom of said tank extending transversely of the path of flow of said body of Water therein serving to receive and retain said particles of metal carried "bysaid body of Water. V'7. Metal atomiing apparatus comprising, `in cmbination, a relatively elongated tank, mean-s for introducing a relatively high velocity stream of water into one end of said tankad'jacent the upper portion thereof and directed toward; the opposite end of said tank, baille means between the ends of Ysaid tank in the path of flow of said highveloc'ity stream of water serving to break up 'said Astream and direct it toward the Vbottom of said tank, means Vintermediate the first two mentioned vmeans for introducing molten metal yin a relatively line Stream into said high velocity stream of Water, means for introducing anonoxidizing gas into said tank, means sealing said tank against the Aer'itrance of air thereto, means including an overiiow at the opposite end of said tank for maintaining a substantially constant water level therein, means for introducing Van additional stream of water into the rs't inentioned end of said tank. providing with said high velocity stream a body'of water in the bottom portion of 'said container flowing from the rst 'mentioned end lthereof toward said opposite end for the purpose of carrying particles of metal broken up by said high velocity stream in a rearward direction in said tank, a plurality of troughs in thev bottom of said tank extending transversely of the path of iioW of said bodyof Water therein serving to receive and retain said particles of metal carried by said body of water, and means for agitating particles of said metal depositedin'said trough whereby to aid in eiecting a separation of vsaid. particles in accordance with the size thereof.

8. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relatively elongated tank, means for introducing a relatively'high velocity stream of Water into one end of said tank'adja-cent the upper Yportion thereof and directed toward Ythe opposite end Aof said tank, `baille means between the ends of said tank in the path of flow'of said fao high velocity ystream of` Water serving tobreak up said stream and direct it toward the bottom of said tank, means intermediate the iir'st two mentioned -means for introducing molten lmetal in a relatively fine stream into said high velocity stream of watch-means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into said tank, means sealing said tank against the entrance of air thereto, means including an overilow at the 'opposite end of sald tank for Vmaintaining a substantially constant WaterY level therein, means for introducing an additional streamfoi Waterinto the rst'men- Vtioned end of said tank providing with said high velocity stream'a body of water in the bottom portion of said container Viiotving from the -ilrst mentioned end thereof toward said vopposite end for the'purpo'se of carrying Vparticles of metal y*broken up by said highvvelocity stream in a rearward direction in saiditank, a plurality of troughs in the bottom of said tank .extending transversely of the path kof 'f'owfo said body of Water therein lserving to'receiveqand retain'said particles of metal carried by 'said' body o'water, and 'baie meansprojecting downwardly into said tank intermediate `the o'rward and rearward edges of each of said troughsfor deiiecting the How of said body of 'water to aid in the separation of said metal particles therefrom.

9. Metal atomizing apparatus comprising, in combination, a relatively elongated tank, means for introducing a relatively high velocity stream or" water into one end oi said tank vadjacent the upper portion thereof and directed toward the opposite end of vsaid tank, baie meansL between the ends-'of said 'tank lin the path of now of said high velocity stream 'of water serving to break up said 'stream' and direct it toward the botten-lbf said tank, means intermediate the 'ii-rst two mentioned means for introducing molten metal in a Arelatively .'ne stream -into saidhigh velocity stream of water, a'screen interposed'in said path of Vflow vof said high velocityY stream -of Water on the 'downstream side of the point where said'molten1metal,is introduced thereinto thereby to aid in dissipating the force of said stream of 'water before :it 'reaches' said baille means, k,means for introducing a nonoxidizing gas into 'said tank, means sealing `said tank against the 'entrance-of air thereto, means including an overiiow'at the opposite end'of said tank lfor maintaning'a substantially constant Watervlevel therein, and means for introducing an additional! stream el? 'Waterinto the r'stmentioned end'of said 'tank providing with said high velocity stream a body of Water in rvthe bottom portion 'of said container owing from the first-mentioned endthereof toward saidopposite end for the` purpose of carrying particles of 'metal broken up-by said high velocity lstream in a rearward `direction in said tank.

vGORDN J. LEBRASSE.

HAROIZD FRANCIS.

'REFERENCES CITED "The following referencesare of record `in lthe iile ofV this patent:

UNITED erases `Parr'nrrfrs Number v-Bate

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