Apparatus for forming fin particles
AssigneeBoard of Regents of the University of Nebraska
InventorDennis R. Alexander
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To alter feedstock material, the material is exposed to laser radiation applied at a selected angle of incidence, intensity and wavelength related to the refractive index of the feedstock material. Fine uniform particles may be formed through vapor explosion and/or plasma formation and used by this method to coat surfaces, such as with paint or adhesive or to supply uniform small particles to a heat engine. Moreover, moving materials such as a column of liquid may be subjected to high internal pressure and temperature for creating physical and chemical changes.
Claims19
Apparatus for forming and using small particles comprising:
- feeder means for supplying a feedstock material;
- atomizer means for breaking the feedstock material into particles using vapor explosion and/or plasma formation;
- said atomizer means including means for receiving the feedstock material from said feeder means;
- means controller means includingg means for receiving said particles from said atomizer means and confining said particles to a preselected density range;
- and
- direction control means for moving the particles within said mass controller means to a location for use at a velocity of less than 1 meter per second.
Apparatus for changing the form of a feedstock comprising:
- feeder means for supplying at least one feedstock material of a plurality of feedstock materials;
- means for irradiating said feedstock material as said feedstock material flows continuously with electromagnetic energy having an angle of incidence, wavelength, and intensity related to the refractive index, shape, size and velocity of movement of said feedstock material to be below the intensity of vapor explosion and/or plasma formation but sufficiently high to change the characteristics of at least one feedstock material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.