Patents by Inventor Joseph J. Airey

Joseph J. Airey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for producing fine metal powder
    Patent number: 4824478
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing fine metal powder. The method includes the steps of forming a centrifugally maintained annulus of a liquified gas quench medium, forming molten metal drops within the eye of the annulus, urging the drops into the quench medium to solidify the drops, and boiling away the quench medium to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder. The apparatus includes a drum for containing a liquified gas quench medium, means for adding liquified gas to the inside of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to form an annulus of quench medium. The apparatus further includes means for forming molten metal to be made into powder, and means disposed along the longitudinal axis of the drum and within the eye of the annulus for creating molten metal drops. The molten metal drops are then urged into the quench medium to solidify them into a powder, and the quench medium is boiled away to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Nuclear Metals, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Roberts, James J. Airey, James E. Blout, Joseph J. Airey