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US 10,376,961 B2Granted
Powder spheroidizing via fluidized bed
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael A. Klecka, Ying She, Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, Aaron T. Nardi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment includes a powder spheroidizing method. The method includes loading a powder into a fluidized bed assembly, fluidizing at least some of the powder in the fluidized bed assembly using an inert gas, and heating the powder while fluidized in the fluidized bed assembly.
Claims15
A powder spheroidizing method comprising:
- loading a powder into a fluidized bed assembly;
- fluidizing at least some of the powder in the fluidized bed assembly using an inert gas introduced into a fluidized bed chamber through a plate at a bottom portion of the fluidized bed chamber;
- heating the powder while fluidized in the fluidized bed assembly;
- and
- circulating the powder within the fluidized bed chamber, wherein the powder is circulated between an outlet at a top portion of the fluidized bed chamber and the plate at a bottom portion of the fluidized bed chamber, and wherein circulating the powder comprises slowing a velocity of the powder near the outlet.
2 more elements
A method for spheroidizing powder, the method comprising:
- loading a powder into a fluidized bed assembly;
- fluidizing at least some of the powder in the fluidized bed assembly using an inert gas introduced into a fluidized bed chamber through a plate at a bottom portion of the fluidized bed chamber;
- heating the powder while fluidized in the fluidized bed assembly to a temperature ranging between a temperature at or above which the powder softens and below a melting point of the powder, wherein the powder is heated until substantially all particles of the powder are spheroidized;
- circulating the powder within the fluidized bed chamber, wherein the powder is circulated between an outlet at a top portion of the fluidized bed chamber and the plate at a bottom portion of the fluidized bed chamber, and wherein circulating the powder comprises slowing a velocity of the powder near the outlet;
- removing the powder from the fluidized bed assembly;
- and
- additively manufacturing an article using the powder removed from the fluidized bed assembly.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.