US884571A - Process for forming metal into flakes. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 14, 1908 P. F. GOWING'.

mocsss FOR FORMING METAL INTO FLAKES.

APPLIGATION FILED APE. 5.1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFT@E.

PERCY F. COWING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS FOR FORMING METAL INTO FLAKES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY FboTE CowING, a citizen of the United States, and a-resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Forming Metal into Flakes, of which the following is a specification.

One of the objects of my invention is to flatten small particles of molten metal so as to produce them in flaky form.

Another object is to form such flakes rapidly and cheaply.

Other objects will appear from the hereinafter description.

The process will now be described as carried out by one form of-apparatus, such as is shown, described and claimed in my Patent Number 12,568 reissued November 27, 1906, for improvements in shot making machines, although it is to be understood that my invention is not confined to the operation of this or any other specific apparatus.

In the present process the metal, including the dross issubjected, while in a fluid mass to centrifugal action by which the heavler material is thrown outward. This heavier material is confined,

'ugal action and from which it small particles except at one, laces through y the centrifis emitted in (the metal flowing through the small places in a continuous stream and breaking up into small particles when it leaves the same, or issuing from the small places referred to in succession of small or preferably a series, of small wlnch it is forcibly expelled particles): and the movement of these particles is suddenly stopped before they ave become chilled, so as to cause them to flatten into small flakes. The metal thus forcibly projected, in the form of apparatus herein illustrated, is taken from a portion of the mass which is, located at a distance above the bottom and somewhat below the top of the mass, and immediately prior to its expulsion through the small places referred to the metal flows through a passage from which the dross is held from entering, being thus further separated from the dross.

Referring to the drawing: the figure is a vertical section of an apparatus by which my Iprocess may be carrled out.

e part marked 1 on the drawing represents a rotary shaft driven by a motor 2. Connected to this shaft is a vessel 3 adapted Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 5, 1906.

, these holes, but it is Patented April 14, 1908.

Serial No. 310,082.

to receive the molten metal to be operated on and having considerable depth as compared with its diameter, or greater length than diameter. This vessel is open at one end and has an inturned flange 3 provided with an opening 3' through which a funnel 4 projects into the vessel. The wall of the vessel near the turn of the flange is provided with a series of small openings or holes 3 which are'located near one end of the vessel, and at a considerable distance from the other end thereof and preferably below the level of the metal. I have shown a single row of apparent that any desired number of holes or slits or rows of holes or slits may be used. They are sufliciently small to emit the metal in fine particles only. The vessel 3 is provided with the baflle 5 secured to the inturned flange 3 by arms 5*, and is formed with an opening 5*. This bafile extends nearly to the inner wall of the vessel 3, leaving a narrow passage between the baffle and the inner wall of the vessel.

The vessel 3 is surrounded by a jacket 6 of non-conducting material, such as fire brick, provided with an opening 6 through which the shaft 1 projects. It is also provided with an opening or recess 6 into which fits a gas pipe 7 provided with openings or burners 7 8 is a wall which surrounds the rotary vessel 3 and against which particles of metal strike to flatten them.

9 is a cone which extends underneath the wall 8 and inclines up towards'the vessel .3, the lower part of the cone extending beyond the wall 8.

10 is a trough or receptacle placed adjacent to and just below the lower edge of the cone 9 to receive the particles of flaky metal from the cone as they fall from the wall 8 onto the cone.

The operation of this apparatus to carry out my process is as follows: The motor 2 is put in operation torotate the shaft 1, and the vessel 3 secured to the shaft is also'rotated at the desired speed. Molten metalis poured into the funnel 4 throu h which it runs, and passes down through the opening 5 in the aflie and into the vessel 3. The rotation of the vessel 3 causes the molten metal to flow towards the open end thereof and to be thrown or projected through the openings or holes 3 in the wall of the vessel in streams. After the metal passes through these holes, it breaks up into small particles 11" which are forced against the wall 8 before they become chilled. When these articles in their molten condition hit the wa ls they are flattened and are formed into flakes 11, which fall down upon the to of the cone 9 and then slide down thereon into the receptacle 10. The size of the flattened articles or flakes and the thinness thereof epends u on the size of the openings in the vessel 3, the force at which they are projected against the wall obstruction, and the fluidity of the particles when they strike the obstruction.

It may be stated that the jacket 6 and the burners 7 are provided to keep the metal in.

the vessel hot and in a fluid state.

The baffle 5 is used to separate the dross or lighter impure material from the molten metal operated upon. It is apparent that the heavier molten metal during the rotation of the vessel 3 will be thrown towards the wall of the vessel and be forced toward the open end of said vessel. The baffle plate 5 will keep the dross, which is on the inner side, back, while the pure metal will be forced through the passage 6 between the edge of the baflie and the wall of the vessel. If there should be a metal of which the dross or other like impurities are heavier than the metal itself so that the impurities will be thrown to the walls of the vessel, leaving the metal in the center, the baffle plate will be so arranged as to keepthe impurities from reaching the openings in the wall of the vessel, but will permit the metal to be forced to the openings and projected therethrough.

I desire it to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention erein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is '1. The process which. consists in forcibly projecting molten metal through apertures adapted to emit only small particles of the metal, and suddenly arresting the movement of the particles before they become chilled or solidified.

2. The rocess which consists in first separating mo ten metal from its drossfsecond dividing the metal freed from dross into small articles by forcibly projecting the same t ough passages adapted to emit only small particles, and finally suddenly arresting the movement of the particles while in their molten condition.

3. The process which consists in forcibly expelling om a mass of metal small particles thereof taken from below the top of the mass, and suddenly arresting the movement of the particles before they become chilled or solidified.

4. The process which consists in forcibly expelling from a mass of metal having considerable depth as compared. with its diameter, small particles thereof taken from a place at a'distance from the bottom of the mass, and suddenly arresting the movement of the particles before theybecome chilled or solid1fied. v

5. The rocess which consists in forcibly expelling om a mass of metal having considerable depth as compared with its diameter, small particles thereof taken from a place at a distance from the bottom and below the top of. the mass, and suddenly arresting the movement of the particles before they become chilled or solidified.

6. The process which consists in first separating molten metal from its dross, second forcibly expelling the metal through passages adapted to emit small particles of metal only and, third, forcibly arresting the movement of the particles before they have .become chilled or solidified.

7. The process which consists in melting metal, se arating the dross therefrom by centrifuga force, projecting the metal by centrifugal force, causing said projected metal to separate into particles, and causing said particles to strike an obstruction before they become chilled or solidified, whereby the said particles are flattened and formed into flakes of metal.

8. The process which consists in confining amass of molten metal in a vessel having an emission aperture or apertures of small size, subjecting the same to centrifugal force whereby the dross is se arated from the metal and the metal orcibly projected through the emission aperture or apertures in a series of small particles, and finally suddenly arresting the movement of these particles before they have become chilled or solidified.

j 9. The process which consists in centrifugally freeing a metal from its dross, dividing the metal into fine particles and forcibly projecting it in the form of such fine particles against an obstruction by which the particles are flattened and formed into flakes of metal.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at the city, county and State of New.

Images