General Electric Company

Edward J Cove

Richard Ludwig Schmidt

Gary Eugene Wheat

Terri Kay Brown

A method for introducing an inert carrier gas into a coating container used to provide a metallic coating on articles. The method includes introducing the inert carrier gas into the coating container as a plurality of carrier gas streams proximate the top of the coating container. The carrier gas streams are formed and introduced into the coating container before encountering a source material for the metallic coating, and each carrier gas stream is introduced so that the inert carrier gas at least initially moves within the coating container in a circular swirling fashion above and before encountering the source material and the article.

Gas distributor for vapor coating method and container

A gas distributor suitable for introducing a carrier gas at the top of a coating container used to provide a metallic coating on articles. The gas distributor includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet head in communication with the gas inlet for receiving a flow of gas from the gas inlet. A plurality of gas outlets through which the gas flow exits as a gas stream are spaced along the peripheral surface of the gas outlet head. A plurality of gas deflectors, each proximate to one of the gas outlets, at least initially direct the gas stream exiting the gas outlet in at least a generally centripetal path. This gas distributor can be used in vapor coating apparatus having a coating container, at least one holder for each article to be coated positioned within the coating container and below the gas outlet head of the gas distributor and at least one holder for the source of the metallic coating positioned within the coating container and below the gas outlet head of the gas distributor. A method is also provided for introducing the carrier gas as a plurality of carrier gas streams proximate the top of the coating container so that each carrier gas stream flows at least initially in at least a generally centripetal path, as well as a method for coating the articles with a metallic coating in the coating container.

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Middleton, MA, United States of America

Edward J Cove