Fabricating heating elements
AssigneeDesign Dynamics Limited
InventorIbrahim Al-Shawi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing heating elements in the form of tubes with a resistive heater therein, surrounded by refractory powder. A filling pipe is inserted into said tube, and powder is allowed to flow down said pipe. The pipe is moved upwardly, to allow powder to flow out, and then moved downwardly to rest on the powder. In a preferred form, the pipe is forced downwardly to further compact the powder, preferably by means of an impact with a hammer. Means may be provided to selectively grip the pipe to move it upwards, and the gripping means and the hammer can have a common drive mechanism. A valve may be provided to allow flow of powder into the pipe to be shut off when said tube is filled with powder.
Claims24
A method of filling a tube with a powder, comprising the steps of:
- i) positioning said tube generally vertically;
- ii) inserting a filling pipe into said tube;
- iii) allowing powder to flow into said filling pipe;
- iv) moving said filling pipe upwardly a small distance to allow powder to flow from its lower end into said tube;
- v) moving said filling pipe downwardly to contact against and rest on the powder in said tube;
- vi) repeating steps (iv) and (v) until the tube is filled with powder;
- and
- vii) stopping further flow of powder into said pipe.
A method of filling a tube with a powder, comprising the steps of:
- i) positioning said tube generally vertically;
- ii) inserting a filling pipe into said tube;
- iii) allowing powder to flow into said filling pipe;
- iv) moving said filling pipe upwardly a small distance by means of a grip mechanism to allow powder to flow from a lower end of said filling pipe into said tube;
- v) moving said filling pipe downwardly by said grip mechanism to contact against and rest on the powder in said tube;
- vi) impacting said grip member with a hammer so as to compact the powder beneath the filling pipe;
- vii) repeating steps (iv), (v) and (vi) until the tube is filled with powder;
- and
- viii) stopping further flow of powder into said pipe.
Apparatus for filling a tube with a powder, comprising:
- a structure for supporting a tube to be filled;
- a filling pipe into which powder is flowable, a mechanism for moving said filling pipe upwardly to allow said powder to flow into said tube;
- a mechanism for moving said filling pipe downwardly to contact against and rest on the powder in said tube;
- and
- a hammer for imparting an impact force to said filling pipe when it rests on the powder in said tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.