System for powder heat treatment and classification via fluidized bed

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144011-B2
Application number	US-201514972199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Dec 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A fluidized powder heat treatment classification assembly includes a gas source. A fluidized bed is connected to the gas source via a metered connection. The fluidized bed includes a first output connected to a powder classifier via at least a first valve. The powder classifier includes a catch container operable to decelerate a gas flow from the output and operable to catch particles entrained in the gas flow.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluidized powder heat treatment classification assembly comprising:
a gas source;
a fluidized bed connected to the gas source via a metered connection;
the fluidized bed including a first output connected to a powder classifier via at least a first valve;
the powder classifier including a catch container operable to decelerate a gas flow from the output and operable to catch particles entrained in the gas flow; and
an output line connecting the fluidized bed to the first valve and a vibrator coupled to the output line, the vibrator being configured to vibrate the output line.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least a first container configured to retain particles caught in said catch container.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first valve is one of a multi-output valve and a network of two-way valves, and wherein the assembly further comprises a fine powder collector.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fine powder collector includes a first fine powder collection chamber, and a liquid bubbler chamber connected to an output of the fine powder collection chamber.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fine powder collection chamber is shaped such that a flow of gas into the collection chamber is decelerated.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluidized bed is a heated degassing chamber.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluidized bed tapers into said first output and said taper is configured to accelerate a gas flow out of the first output.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluidized bed includes a primary chamber including a perforated floor, a gas inlet below said perforated floor, such that gas entering the fluidized bed flows upward through said perforated floor to said first output.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein a speed of said gas is controlled via a gas inlet valve, and the gas inlet valve is controlled by a controller.

10. A fluidized powder heat treatment classification assembly comprising:
a gas source;
a fluidized bed connected to the gas source via a metered connection;
the fluidized bed including a first output connected to a powder classifier via at least a first valve;
the powder classifier including a catch container operable to decelerate a gas flow from the output and operable to catch particles entrained in the gas flow; and
a cooling loop disposed between said first output and said powder classifier, the cooling loop being configured to cool a fluid passing from the first output to the powder classifier.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• She Ying
• Nardi Aaron T
• Binek Lawrence

Classifications

• B07B4/00 Primary

  Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents (using tables or jigs B03B4/00) · CPC title

• B03B4/00 Primary

  Separating by pneumatic tables or by pneumatic jigs · CPC title

• B22F1/142

  Thermal or thermo-mechanical treatment · CPC title

• B22F1/14

  Treatment of metallic powder (mixing with lubricating or binding agents or with organic material B22F1/10) · CPC title

• B07B7/01

  using gravity · CPC title