The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 1991
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1989
Robert E Smith, San Jose, CA (US);
Ami E Berkowitz, Del Mar, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A liquid dielectric having a surface that is contacted by an end of an electrode so as to form a contact area between the electrode and dielectric liquid wherein said area is limited thereby providing a contact resistance that is large compared to the rest of the electrode and dielectric liquid. Current through the contact area causes local heating of the electrode at the contact and raises its temperature toward the melting point of the electrode. Heating causes an increase in resistance of the electrode region so that the area of contact can be increased further immersion of the electrode. The contact area becomes a high-energy region where high energy reactions can be sustained such as fusion and the erosion of the electrode to generate powder having a very fine particle size. When the intention is to generate powders, compounds may be dissolved in the liquid containing elements that combine with the eroding surface of the electrode to provide particles having a stoichimetric ration that depends on the concentration of the dissolved compound. In this manner, finely divided particles of Ba Ferrite are generated using an iron electrode and Barium Hydroxide dissolved in water.