Rectification mechanism in atomizer

Abstract

To provide a rectification mechanism in an atomizer that is allowed to prevent the fluctuation of molten metal due to a current of air drawn into a spray space upon jetting high-pressure water or gas or the like to the molten metal.SOLUTION: In a rectification mechanism in an atomizer for producing a particulate by jetting high-pressure fluid to a molten metal flowing out of a discharge nozzle 3 provided in a bottom 2a of a storage container 2, the atomizer has a spray nozzle chamber 5 that is provided below the storage container 2 to jet high-pressure fluid to a molten metal flowing out of the discharge nozzle 3, the spray nozzle chamber 5 is formed with an upper opening 5s for a molten metal flowing out of the discharge nozzle 3 to pass through, and a rectification mechanism is provided between the storage container 2 and the spray nozzle chamber 5 to control a flow of gas into the spray nozzle chamber 5 through the upper opening 5s.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rectifying mechanism in an atomizing device.

Background Art

[0002] As a method for producing metal powder, a method for producing metal powder using an atomizing device for pulverizing molten metal is used (see Patent Document 1). For example, in the production of metal powder using a water atomizing device, metal powder (atomized powder) is produced by the following method. First, a liquid metal (hereinafter referred to as molten metal) obtained by melting a metal material is supplied to a container (crucible) of a water atomizing device. A nozzle for discharging the molten metal is provided at the bottom of the crucible, and high-pressure water is sprayed and collided with the molten metal flowing out from this nozzle. Then, since the molten metal collided with the high-pressure water becomes fine metal powder (atomized powder), the metal powder can be obtained by collecting this metal powder together with water in a collection pot.

[0003] In such a water atomizing device, usually, a plurality of nozzles for spraying high-pressure water onto molten metal are provided, and the high-pressure water ejected from the plurality of nozzles is provided so as to collide with the molten metal at a single point (focus). However, the space (spraying space) for spraying a fluid such as high-pressure water or high-pressure gas onto the molten metal has an opening (upper opening) through which the molten metal is supplied to the spraying space and an opening (lower opening) through which the molten metal and the like are discharged from the spraying space. Also, usually, the spraying space is not completely sealed, so there are gaps communicating between the spraying space and the outside other than the upper opening and the lower opening. For this reason, when high-pressure water is sprayed onto the molten metal in the spraying space, a phenomenon occurs in which gas around the spraying space is sucked into the spraying space through gaps or the like due to the ejector effect when the high-pressure water is ejected. When gas is sucked into the spraying space, an air flow is generated, but this air flow is unstable and may cause fluctuations in the molten metal in the spraying space. And if fluctuations in the molten metal occur, the flowing-down molten metal will deviate from the focus of the high-pressure water. When the molten metal contacts the high-pressure water at a position deviated from the focus where the pulverizing force is the highest, the metal powder generated at that position becomes coarse-grained and solidifies. As a result, the particle size distribution of the metal powder varies and a metal powder with a uniform particle size cannot be obtained, or the average particle size increases due to a shift in the particle size distribution to the large particle size side, and the desired particle size distribution cannot be obtained.

[0004] On the other hand, in an atomizing device, as a technique for manufacturing fine and uniformly sized particles, there are techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3. Patent Document 2 is a technique related to a water atomizing device, and it is disclosed that by making the high-pressure water sprayed onto the molten metal into a swirling flow, pulverization is performed so as to scrape the periphery of the molten metal, and thus particles with a fine particle size and a narrow particle size range can be obtained. Also, Patent Document 3 is a technique related to a gas atomizing device, and it is disclosed that by making the supersonic gas sprayed onto the molten metal into a swirling flow, the flow of the supersonic gas can be rectified, and thus variations in the particle size of the metal powder can be suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-273505 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-123012 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-119200 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] Even with the technologies of Patent Documents 2 and 3, there is a possibility that the state of high-pressure water, high-pressure gas, etc. may change due to such airflows, resulting in a deviation between the focus of the high-pressure water, etc. and the molten metal. And the technologies of Patent Documents 2 and 3 are merely technologies for adjusting the state of high-pressure water, high-pressure gas, etc. sprayed onto the molten metal to be appropriate. In the first place, as described above, the technologies of Patent Documents 2 and 3 do not assume suppressing the fluctuation of the molten metal in the spraying space by the airflow generated by the surrounding gas being sucked into the spraying space, and there is no description regarding a method for preventing this fluctuation.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a rectifying mechanism in an atomizing device that can prevent the fluctuation of molten metal due to the airflow sucked into the spraying space when high-pressure water, high-pressure gas, etc. are sprayed onto the molten metal. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0008] The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device of the first invention is a rectifying mechanism in an atomizing device that produces granular bodies by spraying a high-pressure fluid onto molten metal flowing out of a discharge nozzle provided at the bottom of a storage container. The atomizing device includes a spraying nozzle chamber provided below the storage container for spraying a high-pressure fluid onto the molten metal flowing out of the discharge nozzle. An upper opening through which the molten metal flowing out of the discharge nozzle passes is formed in the spraying nozzle chamber. The rectifying mechanism is provided between the storage container and the spraying nozzle chamber and controls the flow of gas flowing into the spraying nozzle chamber through the upper opening. The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device of the second invention is, in the first invention, the rectifying mechanism includes a gas flow path provided radially around the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber. The gas flow path has an inner end opening provided on the upper opening side of the spraying nozzle chamber and an outer end opening provided at a position spaced apart from the upper opening side of the spraying nozzle chamber. Gas flowing into the spraying nozzle chamber from the inner end opening through the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber is formed into a swirling flow around the central axis of the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber. The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device of the third invention is, in the second invention, the rectifying mechanism has a plurality of partition walls that form the gas flow path and are provided at intervals around the central axis of the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber. Each partition wall is provided so as to have a wall surface that is inclined with respect to a plane including the central axis of the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber and including the edge on the upper opening side of the spraying nozzle chamber when the partition wall is viewed from the direction of the central axis of the through hole. In the atomizing device of the fourth invention, in the second invention, the rectifying mechanism has a rectifying member disposed between the storage container and the spraying nozzle chamber, and the rectifying member includes a base plate formed with through holes penetrating the front and back surfaces thereof, and a plurality of gas flow path forming walls erected on the surface of the base plate and forming the gas flow path when the rectifying member is disposed between the storage container and the spraying nozzle chamber. Each gas flow path forming wall is provided such that when the rectifying member is viewed in the central axis direction of the through hole, it has a wall surface inclined with respect to a plane including the central axis of the through hole and including the edge on the through hole side. In the atomizing device of the fifth invention, in the fourth invention, the base plate of the rectifying member is characterized by including a cylindrical flow path portion extending from the through hole and continuous with the spraying nozzle chamber.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the first, second, and third inventions, since the fluctuation of the molten metal can be prevented, the molten metal can be efficiently pulverized, and moreover, metal powder with little variation in particle size can be produced. According to the fourth invention, the state of the swirling flow formed in the spraying nozzle chamber can be easily and freely adjusted only by changing the rectifying member. Therefore, the particle size and the variation in particle size of the metal powder can be freely and easily adjusted. According to the fifth invention, since a swirling flow along the inner surface of the cylindrical flow path portion is formed, a stable swirling flow can be formed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The flow rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device of the present embodiment is a mechanism for preventing the fluctuation of molten metal in the atomizing device, and is characterized in that it can suppress the variation in the particle size distribution of metal powder produced from the molten metal.

[0012] The granular material produced in the atomizing device to which the flow rectifying mechanism of the present embodiment is applied is not particularly limited. For example, metal powder such as alloys of copper, tin, etc. can be mentioned. In the following, the granular material produced by the atomizing device to which the flow rectifying mechanism of the present embodiment is applied may sometimes be simply referred to as metal powder.

[0013] In the following, the case where the atomizing device to which the flow rectifying mechanism of the present embodiment is applied is a water atomizing device in which the fluid sprayed onto the molten metal is high-pressure water will be described as a representative. However, the atomizing device to which the flow rectifying mechanism of the present embodiment is applied is not limited to a water atomizing device and can also be applied to a gas atomizing device. That is, in the atomizing device to which the flow rectifying mechanism of the present embodiment is applied, high-pressure gas can be employed as the high-pressure fluid sprayed onto the molten metal.

[0014] <Atomizing Device 1> As shown in FIG. 4, the atomizing device 1 includes a metal powder forming portion 1a, a recovery portion 1b which is a hollow structure, and a recovery container 1c. In the atomizing device 1 having such a structure, metal powder is formed from the molten metal (molten metal) in the metal powder forming portion 1a, and this metal powder and the water used for forming the metal powder are recovered in a recovery container 1c provided at the lower part of the recovery portion 1b.

[0015] <Metal powder forming section 1a> As shown in FIG. 4, the metal powder forming section 1a is a part that forms metal powder from molten metal (molten metal), and is provided above the recovery section 1b.

[0016] <Storage container 2> As shown in FIG. 1(A), the metal powder forming section 1a includes a storage container 2 such as a crucible into which molten metal is supplied. This storage container 2 is a hollow container having a space for accommodating molten metal inside, and has heat resistance such that it is not damaged even when high-temperature molten metal is supplied.

[0017] <Discharge nozzle chamber 4> As shown in FIG. 1, a discharge nozzle chamber 4 is provided below the bottom 2a of the storage container 2. This discharge nozzle chamber 4 is a hollow cylindrical structure having openings at the upper end and the lower end. This discharge nozzle chamber 4 is installed such that its upper end contacts the outer surface of the bottom 2a of the storage container 2 (that is, the bottom surface of the storage container 2).

[0018] <Discharge nozzle 3> As shown in FIG. 1, in the bottom 2a of the storage container 2, a discharge nozzle 3 is provided at a portion located inside the discharge nozzle chamber 4. This discharge nozzle 3 has a flow path (a flow path through which molten metal flows) that communicates between the upper opening and the lower opening. That is, the discharge nozzle 3 has a function of dropping (flowing down) the molten metal in the storage container 2 downward by gravity, that is, into the discharge nozzle chamber 4.

[0019] <Spray nozzle chamber 5> As shown in Fig. 1, a spraying nozzle chamber 5 is provided below the discharge nozzle chamber 4. This spraying nozzle chamber 5 has a spraying space 5h with openings at the upper and lower ends inside. That is, the spraying nozzle chamber 5 has a spraying space 5h provided inside so as to communicate with the inside of the discharge nozzle chamber 4 through the upper opening 5a and communicate with the recovery section 1b through the lower opening 5b. The upper opening 5a of this spraying nozzle chamber 5 is provided such that the central axis 5s of the upper opening 5a coincides (is coaxial) with the axial direction of the molten metal (in other words, the central axis 3s of the discharge nozzle 3) when the molten metal discharged from the discharge nozzle 3 falls vertically (see Fig. 1).

[0020] <Nozzle holding part 7> As shown in Fig. 1, the upper opening 5a of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 is formed in the upper wall 5c of the spraying nozzle chamber 5, and a nozzle holding part 7 is provided in this upper opening 5a. This nozzle holding part 7 is a member provided with a spraying nozzle 8 for spraying high-pressure water inside. This nozzle holding part 7 is provided with a flow path 7h having an opening 7a formed at the upper end and an opening 7b formed at the lower end. And the nozzle holding part 7 is provided in the spraying nozzle chamber 5 such that the central axis 7s of the flow path 7h coincides (is coaxial) with the central axis 5s of the upper opening 5a of the spraying nozzle chamber 5.

[0021] Also, the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding part 7 has a nozzle holding space 7d at its lower part, which is a space where a plurality of spraying nozzles 8 are provided. The plurality of spraying nozzles 8 provided in this nozzle holding space 7d are installed in the nozzle holding space 7d such that the high-pressure water ejected from all the spraying nozzles 8 collides at the same position on the central axis of the nozzle holding space 7h (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the focal point).

[0022] <Rectifying mechanism> As shown in Fig. 1, a rectifying member 11 of the rectifying mechanism is provided between the nozzle holding part 7 and the discharge nozzle chamber 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the rectifying member 11 has a base plate 12 and a plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 erected on the surface of this base plate 12.

[0023] <Base plate 12> As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base plate 12 is a plate-shaped member, and its front surface (the upper surface in FIGS. 2(B) and 3(B)) and back surface (the lower surface in FIGS. 2(B) and 3(B)) are members formed as flat surfaces. This base plate 12 is installed on the upper surface of the nozzle holding portion 7 with its front surface facing the discharge nozzle chamber 4 side. A through hole 12h penetrating through the front and back is formed in this base plate 12. The base plate 12 is installed on the nozzle holding portion 7 such that the central axis 12s of this through hole 12h is coaxial with the central axis 7s of the flow path 7h (see FIGS. 2(B) and 3(B)).

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are provided on the surface of the base plate 12. These plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are wall-shaped structures erected on the surface of the base plate 12. For example, the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are formed by attaching a plate material or the like to the surface of the base plate 12 such that its surface intersects (for example, is orthogonal to) the surface of the base plate 12. These plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are installed side by side at substantially the same intervals around the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h of the base plate 12. For example, the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are arranged such that the inner edge 13a of the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 is at substantially equal angular intervals around the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h of the base plate 12.

[0025] Further, the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are arranged such that their inner edge 13a is near the edge of the through hole 12h (for example, coincides with the edge). Also, the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are arranged such that the distance L1 (see FIG. 3(A)) between the inner edges 13a of adjacent gas flow path forming walls 13 is shorter than the distance L2 (see FIG. 3(A)) between the outer edges 13b of adjacent gas flow path forming walls 13. Moreover, the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are arranged to incline in the same direction with respect to the radial direction of the through hole 12h of the base plate 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(A), when the base plate 12 is viewed from the direction of the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h, the side surfaces 13s of the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ with respect to the plane hs that includes the central axis 12s of the through hole 12 and the inner edge 13a on the through hole 12 side. Here, the statement that the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 "incline in the same direction with respect to the radial direction of the through hole 12h of the base plate 12" means that when the base plate 12 is viewed from the direction of the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h, all the gas flow path forming walls 13 incline to the counterclockwise (or clockwise) side with respect to the plane hs. For example, in FIG. 3(A), when the base plate 12 is viewed from the direction of the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h, it shows a state where all the gas flow path forming walls 13 incline to the counterclockwise side with respect to the plane hs.

[0026] Note that this side surface 13s corresponds to the wall surface referred to in the claims. Also, the gap formed between adjacent gas flow path forming walls 13 corresponds to the gas flow path referred to in the claims. Further, the gap between the inner edges 13a of adjacent gas flow path forming walls 13 and the gap between the outer edges 13b of adjacent gas flow path forming walls 13 respectively correspond to the inner end opening and the outer end opening of the gas flow path referred to in the claims.

[0027] Since the commutation member 11 of the commutation mechanism has the structure as described above, if this commutation member 11 is provided in the atomizing device 1, the fluctuation when the molten metal discharged from the discharge nozzle 3 in the storage container 2 falls can be suppressed. Then, it is possible to prevent the high-pressure water ejected from all the spraying nozzles 8 from colliding with the molten metal at a position deviated from the focus, so that the molten metal can be efficiently pulverized, and moreover, metal powder with little variation in particle size can be produced.

[0028] First, if high-pressure water is ejected from the spraying nozzle 8, due to the influence of the ejected water, ambient gas flows into the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding part 7 from the opening 7a between the discharge nozzle chamber 4 and the nozzle holding part 7 (in other words, between the bottom 2a of the storage container 2 and the nozzle holding part 7), and the gas flows into the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 from the upper opening 5a. The gas flowing in below may sometimes be referred to as the inflowing gas.

[0029] At this time, the inflowing gas flowing into the flow path 7h from the opening 7a of the nozzle holding part 7 passes between the adjacent gas flow path forming walls 13 of the commutation member 11 and flows into the through hole 12h of the base plate 12 (see Fig. 3(A)). When the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are viewed from the direction of the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h of the base plate 12, all the gas flow path forming walls 13 are inclined counterclockwise with respect to the plane hs, so that a clockwise swirling flow is formed around the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h by the inflowing gas flowing into the through hole 12h. That is, due to the inflowing gas flowing in from the through hole 12h of the base plate 12, swirling flows are formed around the central axis 7s of the flow path 7h and around the central axis 5s of the upper opening 5a in the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding part 7 and in the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5.

[0030] That is, when high-pressure water is ejected from the spraying nozzle 8, even if ambient gas flows into the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7 and the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5, the inflowing gas forms a swirling flow surrounding the falling molten metal. In other words, the molten metal falls inside the swirling flow formed by the inflowing gas. That is, by providing a rectifying mechanism, not only can the fluctuation of the molten metal caused by the inflowing gas be prevented, but also the falling of the molten metal can be made in a more stable state by the swirling flow formed by the inflowing gas.

[0031] Therefore, if the rectifying member 11 of the rectifying mechanism is provided in the atomizing device 1, the fluctuation when the molten metal discharged from the discharge nozzle 3 in the storage container 2 falls can be suppressed. Then, since the molten metal can reach the focal point in a state where the fluctuation is suppressed and collide with the high-pressure water, the molten metal can be efficiently pulverized by the high-pressure water, and moreover, metal powder with little variation in particle size can be produced.

[0032] Further, if the rectifying member 11 is made detachable from the nozzle holding portion 7 and changed, the state of the swirling flow formed by the inflowing gas can be adjusted only by changing the rectifying member 11. Then, the state of the swirling flow formed in the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7 and the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 can be adjusted simply and freely. Therefore, the particle size and the variation in particle size of the metal powder can be adjusted freely and simply, and even when the metal or the like forming the metal powder is changed, a swirling flow suitable for the metal or the like can be formed simply and easily.

[0033] <Regarding the nozzle holding portion 7> In the above description, the case where the nozzle holding portion 7 is provided in the spraying nozzle chamber 5 has been described, but the nozzle holding portion 7 does not necessarily have to be provided. For example, without providing the nozzle holding portion 7, a plurality of spraying nozzles 8 may be provided in the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5. In this case, the plurality of spraying nozzles 8 may be arranged in the spraying space 5h so that the high-pressure water ejected from all the spraying nozzles 8 collides at the same position (focal point) on the central axis 5s of the upper opening 5a.

[0034] Also, when the nozzle holding portion 7 is not provided, the rectifying member 11 of the rectifying mechanism described above may be provided on the upper surface of the upper wall 5c of the spraying nozzle chamber 5. Further, when the rectifying mechanism is configured not to have the rectifying member 11, the plurality of partition walls and the gas flow path partition walls of the rectifying mechanism described later may be installed in the upper wall 5c of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 or in the space between the upper wall 5c of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 and the storage container 2 (or between the discharge nozzle chamber 4).

[0035] <Regarding the rectifying member 11 of the rectifying mechanism> The size and shape of the through hole 12h formed in the base plate 12, the length and installation position of the gas flow path forming wall 13, the inclination angle θ at which the side surface 13s of the gas flow path forming wall 13 inclines with respect to the flat surface hs, etc. are not particularly limited. It is only necessary that an appropriate air flow can be formed in the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7 or in the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as within the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5, etc.). For example, the through hole 12h can have the same size and shape as the opening 7a of the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7. Also, the inclination angle θ can be 5 to 35°.

[0036] Also, in the above description, it was described on the premise that the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 are flat plates with a flat surface, but the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 may be formed of plates with a slightly curved surface.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2(B) and 3(B), a cylindrical flow path portion 14 continuous from the through hole 12h may be provided in the base plate 12. Specifically, a cylindrical cylindrical flow path portion 14 erected on the back surface (the lower surface in FIGS. 2(B) and 3(B)) of the base plate 12 may be provided so that the central axis coincides with the central axis 12s of the through hole 12h. By providing such a cylindrical flow path portion 14, the airflow flowing from the through hole 12h into the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7 and the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 can be made into a swirling flow along the inner surface of the cylindrical flow path portion 14, so that a stable swirling flow can be formed. In forming a stable swirling flow, it is desirable that the surface of the base plate 12 and the inner surface of the cylindrical flow path portion 14 be continuous with a gentle curved surface. Further, when the cylindrical flow path portion 14 is provided, its outer diameter is not particularly limited, but it is desirable to form it to be the same as the inner diameter of the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7. Then, when the rectifying member 11 is installed in the nozzle holding portion 7, the rectifying member 11 can be in a stable state. Also, the length of the cylindrical flow path portion 14 is not particularly limited, but when the rectifying member 11 is installed in the nozzle holding portion 7, it is desirable that the lower end of the cylindrical flow path portion 14 and the lower end of the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7 be at the same position (see FIGS. 2(B) and 3(B)). Then, when the airflow flows out from the lower end of the cylindrical flow path portion 14, the disturbance of the swirling flow is less likely to occur.

[0038] <Regarding other structures of the rectifying mechanism> In the above-described example, the case where the rectifying mechanism has the rectifying member 11 has been described. However, the rectifying mechanism may be any configuration that can form a swirling flow as described above by the inflowing gas that flows into the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7 or the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as within the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 or the like). For example, a plurality of partition walls having the same configuration as the plurality of gas flow path forming walls 13 described above may be directly provided on the nozzle holding portion 7, or when the nozzle holding portion 7 is not provided, a plurality of partition walls may be directly provided on the upper wall 5c of the spraying nozzle chamber 5. In such a case, each partition wall, when viewed from the direction of the central axis 7s of the flow path 7h of the nozzle holding portion 7 having a through hole as the partition wall or the direction of the central axis 5s of the upper opening 5a of the spraying nozzle chamber 5, includes the central axis 7s of the opening 7a of the flow path 7h and the central axis 5s of the upper opening 5a and may be provided so as to have a wall surface inclined with respect to a plane including the edge on the opening 7a side of the flow path 7h and the upper opening 5a side.

[0039] Also, as long as a swirling flow as described above can be formed, the gas flow path of the rectifying mechanism does not necessarily have to be formed by a partition wall or the like. For example, a member having a gas flow path provided radially around the flow path 7h and the upper opening 5a, having an inner end opening on the opening 7a side of the flow path 7h or the upper opening 5a side of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 and an outer end opening on the opposite side, may be used as the rectifying mechanism.

[0040] <Regarding the discharge nozzle chamber 4> In the above description, the case where the upper end of the discharge nozzle chamber 4 is provided so as to contact the outer surface of the bottom portion 2a of the storage container 2 has been described. The upper end of the discharge nozzle chamber 4 does not necessarily have to be provided so as to contact the outer surface of the bottom portion 2a of the storage container 2.

[0041] In addition, in Fig. 1, the discharge nozzle chamber 4 is shown as having a structure with an upper small-diameter portion 4a and a lower large-diameter portion 4b, that is, a stepped cylinder. However, the discharge nozzle chamber 4 does not necessarily have to be a stepped cylinder and may have the same diameter throughout. However, if it is a stepped cylinder having a small-diameter portion 4a and a large-diameter portion 4b, the flow of the molten metal flowing out from the discharge nozzle 3 can be stabilized. That is, the function of preventing problems such as the molten metal flowing out from the discharge nozzle 3 from being shaken due to the influence of the air flow generated by the high-pressure water sprayed onto the molten metal in the spraying nozzle chamber 5 can be exerted not only by the rectifying mechanism but also by the discharge nozzle chamber 4, so that the formation of metal powder can be stabilized.

[0042] Further, when adopting a structure in which the discharge nozzle chamber 4 has a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion, the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion may be integrated, or the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion may be separate. When the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion are separate, it is desirable to provide a sealing member or the like between the lower end of the small-diameter portion and the upper end of the large-diameter portion to prevent the molten metal from flowing out between them and the outside air from flowing in.

[0043] Also, if the molten metal discharged from the discharge nozzle 3 can be supplied stably to a certain extent into the spraying space 5h of the spraying nozzle chamber 5 or the like, the discharge nozzle chamber 4 does not necessarily have to be provided. For example, when the distance from the bottom 2a of the storage container 2 to the spraying nozzle chamber 5 (the nozzle holding portion 7 when the spraying nozzle chamber 5 has a nozzle holding portion 7) is short, the discharge nozzle chamber 4 does not have to be provided.

Industrial Applicability

[0044] The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device of the present invention is suitable as a mechanism for suppressing the fluctuation of the molten metal flowing down in the atomizing device.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1 Atomizing device 2 Storage container 2a Bottom 3 Discharge nozzle 4 Discharge nozzle chamber 5 Spraying nozzle chamber 7 Nozzle holding part 8 Spraying nozzle 11 Rectifying member 12 Base plate 12h Through hole 13 Airflow forming wall 14 Cylindrical flow path part

Claims

1. A rectifying mechanism in an atomizing device for producing granular bodies by spraying a high-pressure fluid onto molten metal flowing out from a discharge nozzle provided at the bottom of a storage container, wherein the atomizing device comprises a spraying nozzle chamber provided below the storage container for spraying a high-pressure fluid onto the molten metal flowing out from the discharge nozzle, and an upper opening through which the molten metal flowing out from the discharge nozzle passes is formed in the spraying nozzle chamber, and the rectifying mechanism is provided between the storage container and the spraying nozzle chamber and controls the flow of gas flowing into the spraying nozzle chamber through the upper opening. The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device is characterized by the above.

2. The rectifying mechanism comprises a gas flow path provided radially around the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber, and the gas flow path has an inner end opening provided on the upper opening side of the spraying nozzle chamber and an outer end opening provided at a position spaced from the upper opening side of the spraying nozzle chamber, and the gas flowing into the spraying nozzle chamber from the inner end opening through the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber is formed into a swirling flow around the central axis of the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber. The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device according to Claim 1 is characterized by the above.

3. The rectifying mechanism has a plurality of partition walls forming the gas flow path, which are provided at intervals around the central axis of the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber, and each partition wall is provided so as to have a wall surface inclined with respect to a plane including the central axis of the upper opening of the spraying nozzle chamber and including the edge on the upper opening side of the spraying nozzle chamber when the partition wall is viewed from the central axis direction of the through hole. The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device according to Claim 2 is characterized by the above.

4. The rectifying mechanism has a rectifying member disposed between the storage container and the spraying nozzle chamber, and the rectifying member has a base plate in which a through hole penetrating the front and back is formed, and a plurality of gas flow path forming walls standing on the surface of the base plate and forming the gas flow path when the rectifying member is disposed between the storage container and the spraying nozzle chamber, and each gas flow path forming wall is provided so as to have a wall surface inclined with respect to a plane including the central axis of the through hole and including the edge on the through hole side when the rectifying member is viewed from the central axis direction of the through hole. The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device according to claim 2, characterized in that...

5. The base plate of the rectifying member is... It is provided with a cylindrical flow path portion that is continuous from the through hole and extends to the spraying nozzle chamber. The rectifying mechanism in the atomizing device according to claim 6, characterized in that...

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