Method and apparatus for producing continuous powder metallurgy compacts
AssigneeManganese Bronze Limited
InventorGeoffrey Greetham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Continuous powder metallurgy compacts are produced from metal powder (1) placed in a tapered powder consolidation region (2) of a forming die (1). The die is made to undergo ultrasonic radial vibration about the consolidation region to effect radial compaction of the powder. The powder is progressively densified as it moves through the die, due to the tapered construction of the consolidation region, and emerges from the die at sufficient density to allow handling and further processing.
Claims18
An apparatus for producing continuous powder metallurgy compacts, which apparatus comprises:
- a one-piece forming die for charging a metal having an inlet for charging a metal powder to be compacted into the die and an outlet for said compacted powder charge;
- a powder consolidation region disposed between said inlet and said outlet and tapered about a first axis in the direction towards said outlet;
- means for stopping the outlet in the forming die at start up to retain in said consolidation region metal powder introduced initially into the said region;
- means for effecting ultrasonic radial vibration in said forming die along axes radiating from said first axis in a plane substantially normal to said first axis to consolidate a powder charge in said consolidation region;
- and
- restrainer means located above said powder charge for preventing movement of said charge within the consolidation region away from said outlet during the said radial vibration in the forming die.
A method for producing continuous powder metallurgy compacts, which method comprises:
- introducing a metal powder charge into a powder consolidation region of a unitary forming die, which consolidation region is tapered about a first axis in a direction towards an outlet in the forming die;
- inducing ultrasonic radial vibration in said forming die along axes radiating from said first axis in a plane substantially normal to said first axis to consolidate said powder charge;
- preventing movement of said metal powder charge within the consolidation region in a direction away from the outlet in the forming die during vibration in the forming die;
- and
- removing consolidated powder from the consolidation region through the outlet in the forming die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.