Vibrating ring motor for feeding particulate substances

An apparatus for mixing a particulate substance with a matrix metal, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a feed motor for a particulate substance, said feed motor having
• i) a ring arranged with a substantially vertical axis and having an upper surface which is oriented in one of a substantially horizontal and a declining inward orientation,
• ii) vibrating means for imparting radial vibration to said ring so to form a node on said vertical axis of said ring, and
• iii) particulate directing means for directing the particulate substance on to said upper surface of said ring;
• b) stream directing means for directing a stream of the matrix metal in molten form axially downward through the ring;
• and
• c) jet directing means for directing at least one downwardly inclined jet of atomizing gas onto the combined flow of molten metal and particulate material.

A method of feeding a particulate substance to a selected location utilizing a ring having a central axis, an upper surface, and a resonant frequency, said method comprising:

• a) disposing the ring with its axis arranged vertically and in position over the location, and arranging the upper surface of said ring in one of a substantially horizontal orientation and a declining orientation towards the axis of the ring;
• b) depositing the substance on the upper surface;
• and
• c) imparting radial vibration to the ring at the resonant frequency of the ring,
• wherein a node is formed on the axis of the ring.