Abstract: An apparatus for variable length belt splitting includes a stepwise feeder which urges the belt, such as conveyor belt, forward in discrete steps and a reciprocating cutter disposed downstream from the feeder. The feeder preferably includes both a holding clamp and a feed clamp that is connected to, and is moved with respect to, the holding clamp by a feed actuator. The cutter preferably moves parallel to the holding clamp and is moved back and forth by a bi-directional ram. The cutter splits the belt edge to edge at a predetermined depth in length increments corresponding to the feeder's step length to a total length determined by the user. Optionally, the feeder and cutter are connected to a support structure which allows the feeder and cutter to be placed at an angle with respect to the path of the belt through the machine, thereby allowing for diagonal splits to be made with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt without stewing of the belt.

Abstract: Gas atomization nozzle for producing metal powder from a molten bath. The nozzle is characterized in that the angle of convergence of the gas to the metal stream can be varied and total volumetric flow of gas through the nozzle can be varied and precisely controlled.The nozzle is characterized by having a generally cylindrical shaped housing containing means to tangentially direct gas introduced from outside the housing to a recess in the inner wall of the cylinder with the tangential gas passages having means to adjust the total volumetric flow of atomizing gas through the nozzle. Disposed in the inside of the cylindrical housing juxtaposed to the recess and in combination therewith is a flow direction insert and a flow direction plate, the flow direction insert being variably positionable in relation to the flow direction plate to control the width of the spray zone.