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:
Aug. 02, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2010
Tokihiro Shimura, Hachinohe, JP;
Tokihiro Shimura, Hachinohe, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
A method of producing metal powder using a nozzle including a flow path and an orifice includes: storing molten metal in a supply part; passing the molten metal through a tubular member below the supply part and injecting the molten metal from a bottom end of the tubular member into the flow path; subjecting the molten metal to primary breakup via depressurization inside the flow path to yield liquid droplets; and subjecting the liquid droplets to secondary breakup via contact with fluid injected from the orifice to yield further fine shapes, and solidifying them by cooling to obtain the metal powder, wherein the orifice opens toward a bottom end of the flow path, and the depressurization inside the flow path is generated by a stream of the fluid injected from the orifice into the flow path.