High temperature fluidized bed for powder treatment
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsYing She, Aaron T. Nardi, Michael A. Klecka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system comprises a furnace, a fluidized bed assembly and a powder bed. The fluidized bed assembly is positioned in the furnace and comprises an outer chamber having an outer chamber inlet for receiving gas, an inner chamber positioned inside of the outer chamber. The inner chamber comprises an inner chamber inlet in fluid communication with the outer chamber, and an outlet through which the gas may exit the inner chamber and the outer chamber. The powder bed is disposed in the inner chamber.
Claims28
A system comprising:
- a furnace;
- a fluidized bed assembly positioned in the furnace, the fluidized bed assembly comprising:
- an outer chamber having an outer chamber inlet for receiving gas;
- and
- an inner chamber positioned inside of the outer chamber, the inner chamber comprising:
- an inner chamber inlet in fluid communication with the outer chamber;
- and
- an outlet through which the gas may exit the inner chamber and the outer chamber;
- and
- a powder bed disposed in the inner chamber.
A method of processing powder, the method comprising:
- introducing powder particles into an inner chamber,
- positioning the inner chamber inside of an outer chamber disposed within a furnace;
- supplying a gas to the outer chamber to surround the inner chamber;
- flowing the gas into the inner chamber;
- fluidizing the powder particles with the gas;
- and
- heat-treating the powder particles with the furnace.
A fluidized bed assembly comprising:
- an outer chamber, the outer chamber partially defined by a removable cap;
- a fluid inlet connected to the outer chamber;
- an inner chamber disposed within the outer chamber, the inner chamber partially defined by a perforated plate;
- and
- an outlet tube connected to the inner chamber and passing through the outer chamber.
A method comprising:
- introducing a metallic powder into a multi-walled fluidizing bed;
- heat-treating the metallic powder inside the multi-walled fluidizing bed by applying heat to the metallic powder;
- removing the metallic powder from the multi-walled fluidizing bed;
- and
- performing an additive manufacturing process using the metallic powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.