Valve and an atomization chamber
First Claim
1. A valve comprising a conduit, a valve member having surfaces and a sealing means arranged around its peripheral edge, the valve member being pivotably mounted in the conduit such that it is movable between a first position in which it prevents a flow of matter through the conduit and a second position in which it allows the flow of matter through the conduit, a protecting member which is positioned in the conduit upstream of the valve member with respect to the flow of matter through the conduit, the protecting member being positioned in the conduit such that when the valve member is in its second position the protecting member is positioned immediately upstream of a portion of the peripheral edge of the valve member to prevent the flow of matter impinging upon the sealing means, a cooling fluid supply arranged to supply cooling fluid to the protecting member, the protecting member having at least one cooling fluid passage arranged to direct cooling fluid over at least one surface of the valve member exposed to the flow of matter through the conduit when the valve member is in the second position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve for an extraction device of a molten metal or molten alloy atomizing chamber comprises a valve member which is rotatably mounted in a pipe. The peripheral edge of the valve member has a groove in which is located a rubber seal. A protecting member is located in the pipe upstream of the valve member with respect to the flow of an atomizing gas and metal particles through the pipe. The protecting member is positioned such that when the valve member is in the open position the protecting member is immediately upstream of the peripheral edge of the valve member to prevent metal particles impinging upon and wearing the rubber seal. The protecting member is also supplied with cooling gas and is arranged to direct the cooling gas through passages over the surfaces of the valve member to prevent the seal overheating.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A valve comprising a conduit, a valve member having surfaces and a sealing means arranged around its peripheral edge, the valve member being pivotably mounted in the conduit such that it is movable between a first position in which it prevents a flow of matter through the conduit and a second position in which it allows the flow of matter through the conduit, a protecting member which is positioned in the conduit upstream of the valve member with respect to the flow of matter through the conduit, the protecting member being positioned in the conduit such that when the valve member is in its second position the protecting member is positioned immediately upstream of a portion of the peripheral edge of the valve member to prevent the flow of matter impinging upon the sealing means, a cooling fluid supply arranged to supply cooling fluid to the protecting member, the protecting member having at least one cooling fluid passage arranged to direct cooling fluid over at least one surface of the valve member exposed to the flow of matter through the conduit when the valve member is in the second position.
- 14. An atomising chamber having means for atomising a molten metal or molten alloy using an atomising gas, a collecting surface onto which the atomised metal or alloy is deposited, extraction means to remove the atomising gas and any metal or alloy not deposited on the collecting surface from the chamber, pipe means to interconnect the chamber and the extraction means, a valve member pivotably mounted in the pipe such that it is movable between a first position in which it substantially maintains the atomising chamber at a predetermined pressure or a vacuum and a second position in which it allows the flow of atomising gas and any metal or alloy through the pipe, the valve member has surfaces and sealing means arranged around its peripheral edge, a protecting member positioned in the pipe upstream of the valve member with respect to the flow of the atomising gas and any metal or alloy through the pipe, the protecting member is arranged to be supplied with cooling fluid, the protecting member has at least one cooling fluid passage arranged to direct cooling fluid over at least one surface of the valve member when the valve member is in the second position, the protecting member is positioned in the pipe such that when the valve member is in the second position the protecting member is positioned immediately upstream of a portion of the peripheral edge of the valve member to prevent the flow of metal or alloy particles impinging upon the sealing means.
Specification