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US 9,433,957 B2Granted
Cold spray systems with in-situ powder manufacturing
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsAaron T. Nardi, Michael A. Klecka, Daniel V. Viens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cold spray system includes a powder generator and a powder feeder. The powder generator has a powder source disposed within a housing. The powder feeder is in fluid communication with the housing and the powder generator within the housing. A closed circuit defined from the powder generator to the powder feeder conveys powder from the powder generator to the powder feeder without exposing the powder to contaminates from outside the closed circuit.
Claims19
A cold spray system, comprising:
- a powder generator having a powder source disposed within a housing;
- a powder feeder in fluid communication with the housing, wherein a closed circuit with an inert atmosphere is defined from the powder generator to the powder feeder for conveying powder from the powder generator to the powder feeder without exposing the powder to contaminates from outside the closed circuit;
- and
- a motive gas system in fluid communication with the powder generator for propelling particles produced in the powder generator through the closed circuit.
1 more element
A cold spray system, comprising:
- a powder generator having a powder source disposed within a housing;
- a powder feeder in fluid communication with the housing, wherein a closed circuit with an inert atmosphere is defined from the powder generator to the powder feeder for conveying powder from the powder generator to the powder feeder without exposing the powder to contaminates from outside the closed circuit and
- a classifier in fluid communication with the powder generator, wherein the classifier is configured for removing particles outside of a predetermined size range from a particle flow through the closed circuit.
A cold spray system, comprising:
- a powder generator having a powder source disposed within a housing;
- a powder feeder in fluid communication with the housing, wherein a closed circuit with an inert atmosphere is defined from the powder generator to the powder feeder for conveying powder from the powder generator to the powder feeder without exposing the powder to contaminates from outside the closed circuit;
- and
- a feedstock hopper in fluid communication with the powder generator and with the powder feeder for storing particles to regulate between a particle production rate of the powder generator and a particle usage rate of the powder feeder.
1 more element
A cold spray system, comprising:
- a powder generator having a powder source disposed within a housing;
- a classifier for removing particles outside of a predetermined size range from a particle flow received from powder generator;
- a feedstock hopper for storing particles received from the classifier to regulate between a particle production rate of the powder generator and a particle usage rate of the powder feeder;
- and
- a powder feeder for feeding a consistent flow of particles received from the feedstock hopper, wherein a closed circuit with an inert atmosphere is defined from the powder generator to the powder feeder including the classifier and feedstock hopper for conveying powder from the powder generator to the powder feeder without exposing the powder to contaminates from outside the closed circuit.
2 more elements
A method of cold spraying, comprising:
- generating powder within an inert environment of a powder generator chamber;
- removing particles of a predetermined size from the generated powder;
- conveying the generated powder having particles smaller than the predetermined size to a powder feeder in fluid communication with the power generator through a closed circuit without exposing the powder to contaminate from outside the closed circuit;
- and
- issuing a flow of particles as a spray from a nozzle in fluid communication with the powder feeder.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.