JPS6340844B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling a metal powder into a metal capsule for high temperature isostatic pressure treatment.

PRIOR ART Heat-resistant superalloy powders are known as forging raw materials used in high-load applications such as aircraft engines, generator turbines, and the like.

Therefore, the mixing of non-metallic inclusions into the powder will lead to serious accidents later on.

For this reason, when manufacturing such metal powder (active metals such as aluminum, titanium, superalloys, etc.), it is necessary to powderize the powder using gas atomization means and then store it in a container and use a vibrating sieve, a classifier, a blender, etc. After passing through a degassing device, it is hermetically filled into a metal capsule, which is then molded into the desired shape using isotropic pressure from a pressurized soot body, known as the HIP (hot isostatic pressing) process.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a raw material 2 is melted in a crucible 6 in a melting tank 1, and is introduced into an atomizing chamber 5 from a nozzle 4 through a tundish 3, and argon gas is ejected from the nozzle 4 into the molten metal. is sprayed onto it, which causes it to be rapidly cooled and turned into powder.

This powder is stored in a container 7A of the container accommodating part 7, and the container 7A is transferred to a classifying part 8 shown by a vibrating sieve.The classified powder is put into a blending part 9, and the blended powder is put in a container 10. The container 10 is loaded into the top of the heating vibration degassing section 11, and the degassed powder is loaded into the metal capsule 14 through the shute pipe 13 with the valve 12, and then the container 10 is loaded into the metal capsule 14 with an enclosing cutting section 15A. Filling part 1
5, sealed under vacuum.

As these facilities, the applicant proposed a heating degassing device and a blender device in publications such as Utility Model Publication No. 58-42414 and Utility Model Publication No. 58-42415, respectively.
Protective wall 1 that isolates and shields the working space of all parts from the chute 5A onward at the bottom of the chamber from the outside world.
6 is provided to prevent inclusions from entering.

Thereafter, in FIG. 4, 31 is a cyclone, and the purified air can be released to the atmosphere via a heat exchanger 32 and a vacuum device (not shown).

Further, 33 is a gas supply system, 34 is an exhaust system, 35 is a cart for the capsule 14, and 36 is a cart for the filling section.

(Problems with the Prior Art) In the conventional example described above, although the amount of powder filled into the metal capsule 14 is important, there was no means for measuring the amount of powder filled, which was a problem.

Furthermore, even if a measuring means is provided, it is necessary to accurately measure the level while avoiding the inclusion of inclusions.
This is a problem because it is done in a vacuum.

For example, as shown in Figure 3, the conditions for removing argon gas are 300℃ and 10 ^-5 torr vacuum, which poses a problem because the measurement means must have heat resistance. Filling by checking the level was considered difficult and has not been achieved at present.

(Means for Solving Problems by the Invention) The present invention is particularly applicable to the metal powder manufacturing equipment shown in FIG. This method ensures filling without contamination with impurities, and therefore, the present invention uses a vacuum melting furnace for metal powder raw materials, a gas atomizing chamber for powdering the melt flow from the melting furnace, and the chamber. A container storage section for powder material in the lower part, a classification section for the powder material contained in the container, a blend section for the classified powder material, a degassing section for the blended powder material, and a degassing section for the degassed powder material. A sealed filling section for pressurized metal capsules is provided, and the entire working space of the container accommodating section, classification section, blending section, degassing section, and sealed filling section is isolated and shielded from the outside world from the bottom of the chamber. In the metal powder manufacturing equipment provided with a protective wall, the metal capsule has a neck barrel part connected to the container body, a shoot pipe of the degassing section is communicated with the neck barrel part, and the neck barrel part and the shoot pipe are connected to each other. A level detection rod that can be raised and lowered freely is inserted, and the detection rod consists of an electrode rod that is linked to the control section, a heat-resistant insulating cylinder that is fitted around the electrode rod, and the cylinder. It consists of a heat-resistant and abrasion-resistant metal sheath fitted into the body, and the sheath is supported on the chute tube side via a seal member so as to be movable and fixed, and the control panel is attached to the neck tube side. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for filling metal powder into a metal capsule for high temperature isostatic pressure treatment, characterized in that parts are interlocked.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The configuration of the metal powder manufacturing equipment is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, so common members are indicated by common symbols.

In FIG. 1, the metal capsule 14 is the main body 14.
A and a neck cylinder part 14B, and a chute 13 is connected to the neck cylinder part 14B in an airtight manner via a packing 17.

The chute tube 13 has a corresponding tube portion 13A on the same cylinder center as the neck tube portion 14B.

A level detection rod 18 that can be raised and lowered is inserted onto the tube cores of the tube portion 13A and the neck tube portion 14B of the chute tube 13.

The level detection rod 18 includes an electrode rod 20 which can be raised and lowered in conjunction with a control unit 19, a heat-resistant insulating cylinder 21 fitted into the rod 20, and a heat-resistant insulating cylinder 21 fitted into the cylinder 21. and a wear-resistant metal sheath 22, and the upper part of the sheath 22 is connected to the pipe portion 13A.
It is airtightly and slidably supported by a gasket 24 shown as an oil seal on the upper boss portion 23 of the holder.

The seal 24 is pressed by a seal retainer 25, and the retainer 25 is tightened with a nut 26 screwed onto the boss portion 23.

The electrode rod 20 can be raised and lowered freely,
In order to facilitate this movement, the insulating cylinder 21 is made of conductive metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or copper, and the insulating cylinder 21 is made of synthetic resin that can withstand temperatures of 250°C or higher, such as tetrafluoroethylene, silicone resin, or fluorine rubber, or alumina, Made of zirconia, silica, etc.

The upper part of the detection rod 18 protrudes from the boss part 23, and a sheath body 27 is welded to its upper end. A nut 29 is screwed to the sheath body 27 via a rubber packing 28, and a nut 29 is screwed to the upper end of the electrode rod. A terminal 30 is attached.

One end of the control section 19 is connected to the terminal 30, and the other end is detachably connected to the neck tube section 14B as a terminal.

Furthermore, the control section 19 is composed of a circuit shown in FIG.

In other words, relay R is connected to alarm H such as a buzzer or lamp.
The switch S ₁ for the valve 12 is connected to the
An ON-OFF switch section _S2 is connected, and these are connected to a power source B indicated by a battery.

(Function) By opening the valve 12, the powder K degassed from the degassing section 11 is transferred to the main body 1 through the neck tube section 14B of the capsule 14 via the chute pipe 13.
It is filled in 4A.

During this filling, the powder K comes into contact with the detection rod 18,
Moreover, since the temperature is high, the heat-resistant insulating cylinder 2
The metal sheath 22, which has a smooth circumferential surface such as stainless steel, prevents this surface from peeling off. Impurities other than powder K are prevented from being mixed into the container body 14A during filling.

The main body 14A is filled with powder, and the neck barrel portion 1 is filled with powder.
When the powder K is located at a predetermined position of 4B, that is, above the cutting and sealing part 15A of the sealing and filling part 15, the electrode rod 20 detects the powder level, and in this example, the control part 1
Relay R of 9 operates, switches _S1 and _S2 are closed, alarm H is activated, and thereafter, valve 12 is closed and powder K supply from chute pipe 13 is interrupted.

When the powder level reaches a certain level in this way, the detection rod 18 is raised and the neck tube part 14B is moved to the sealing part 15A.
During this time, the argon, etc. is sealed at a level slightly below the powder level in the neck tube portion 14B, and even when the detection rod 18 is rising, it is made airtight with the sealing member 24. Therefore, it will not be mixed into the capsule 14, and will not cause deterioration of the mechanical properties of the product, especially the low cycle fatigue properties, during HIP treatment.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the level detection rod 1 is attached to the filling part 15.
8, the amount of powder to be filled into the capsule 14 can be determined by the control section 19 regardless of whether it is inside or outside the protective wall 16, and automation can be achieved here.

The core of the detection rod 18 is an electrode rod 20, which is covered with a heat-resistant insulating cylinder 21 and a smooth metal sheath 22, so it can withstand temperatures of 300°C or higher. In addition, there are no impurities that may fall off upon contact with the powder during level detection, and the active metal powder can be filled into the capsule 14 with pure active metal powder.

Furthermore, since the detection rod 18 is maintained in a vacuum state through the sealing member 24, gas and other outside air particles are not mixed in, and the detection rod 18 is kept in a vacuum state during the hot isostatic pressurization process. We can produce high-quality products without quality defects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional view of the main parts of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an overall view including the control section, Fig. 3 is a graph showing the relationship with argon gas temperature, and Fig. 4 is to which the present invention can be applied. It is an explanatory diagram of the entire equipment of a conventional example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Melting furnace, 5...Chamber, 7...Container accommodating part, 8...Classifying part, 9...Blending part, 11...
... Degassing section, 13 ... Shute pipe, 14 ... Metal capsule, 15 ... Sealed filling section, 16 ... Protective wall, 18 ... Detection rod, 19 ... Control section, 20 ...
Electrode rod, 21... Insulating cylinder, 22... Metal sheath.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A vacuum melting furnace 1 for metal powder raw materials, a gas atomizing chamber 5 for pulverizing the melt flow from the melting furnace 1, a container accommodating portion 7 for powder material in the lower part of the chamber 5, and the container. 7A, a classification section 8 for the powdered material housed in the container, a blending section 9 for the classified powdered material, a degassing section 11 for the blended powdered material, and a metal capsule 1 for pressure treatment of the degassed powdered material.
4 are each provided with a sealed filling section 15, and a container accommodating section 7, a classifying section 8,
Blending section 9, degassing section 11 and sealed filling section 1
In the metal powder manufacturing equipment provided with a protective wall 16 for isolating and shielding the entire working space from the outside world, the metal capsule 14 has a neck barrel part 14B connected to a container body 14A, and a neck barrel part 14B is connected to the neck barrel part 14B. The chute pipe 13 of the degassing section 11 is connected, and a level detection rod 18 that can be raised and lowered freely is inserted between the neck tube section 14A and the chute pipe 13, and the detection rod 18 is interlocked with the control section 19. The electrode rod 20 is made up of a heat-resistant insulating cylinder 21 that is fitted around the electrode rod 20, and a metal sheath 22 that is heat-resistant and wear-resistant that is fitted around the cylinder 21. The sheath 22 is slidably and fixedly supported on the shute pipe 13 side via a seal member 24, and the control section 19 is linked to the neck cylinder section 14B side. Equipment for filling metal powder into metal capsules for pressure treatment.