Metal powder producing apparatus and gas jet device for same

A metal powder producing apparatus comprising:

• a spray chamber;
• a plurality of liquid nozzles causing a molten metal stored in a crucible to flow down into the spray chamber;
• a gas jet device provided with a plurality of liquid nozzle insertion holes into each of which respective of the plurality of liquid nozzles are inserted;
• a first gas jet nozzle including a plurality of first jet holes disposed in a bottom surface of the gas jet device in such a manner as to form first rings each around a corresponding one of the plurality of liquid nozzle insertion holes, gas jet directions of all the first jet holes pass through a first focus, the first gas jet nozzle jetting gas against the molten metal flowing down through the liquid nozzles to pulverize the molten metal;
• a second gas jet nozzle including a plurality of second jet holes disposed in the bottom surface of the gas jet device in such a manner as to form second rings each on an outer side of a corresponding one of the first rings, gas jet directions of all the second holes pass through a second focus that is positioned below the first focus, the second gas jet nozzle jetting gas to prevent scatter of metal particles resulting from pulverization by the first gas jet nozzle;
• and
• a third gas jet nozzle including a plurality of third jet holes disposed in the bottom surface of the gas jet device in such a manner as to form a third ring on an outer side of the second gas jet nozzle, axial directions of the third jet holes are set such that the gas jet direction of each third holes radially extends outward from a center of the third ring to a closest portion of an inner wall surface of the spray chamber, the third gas jet nozzle jetting gas against an inner wall surface of the spray chamber.