CATHODE UNIT OF VACUUM ELECTRON-PLASMA FURNACE Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC H05H1/42 C22B9/22 B22F9/14 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention is designed for implementation in electric-thermal installations of various function, wherein highly ionised plasma is used as heater for production of metal ingot or fine dispersed purified powder out of source material. The cathode unit of the vacuum electron-plasma furnace consists of a cathode holder, of a hollow cylinder cathode having a channel for supply of plasma forming gas and of a mechanism of securing the cathode to the cathode holder; also the unit consists of an installed inside the cathode cooled tube for supply of powder of source material to a column of plasma. The cooled tube is equipped with a mechanism for transfer along lengthwise axis of the cathode; a regulator of direction and gas jet shape and particles of source powder is installed in the tube. Particles of source powder are uniformly heated, melted and refined flying via the shaped channels of the regulator inside the column of plasma and acquiring specified vector of velocity and required direction. While varying location of the cooled tube inside the cathode by means of the mechanism of transfer, distribution of powder supplied into the cathode is controlled along section of plasma discharge depending on conditions of burning and a discharge shape.

EFFECT: control and essential improvement of properties of finish powder or ingot.

1 dwg