Vacuum fluidized powder feed apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is an improved powder feed apparatus of the type having a feed cup defining an internal cylindrical cavity for holding a quantity of powdered material, an exit aperture provided through the bottom of the feed cup connecting the cylindrical cavity with an evacuated chamber of a utilization device to be filled with the powdered material, and means received in the cylindrical cavity for producing a force urging the powdered material towards the exit aperture.
The improvement characterized by a porous annulus disposed in the bottom of the feed cup having an external diameter mating with the internal surface of the cylindrical cavity and an internal conical surface sloping towards and terminating in an aperture coincident with said exit aperture and a vent aperture provided through the sidewall of said feed cup intercepting the peripheral edge of said porous annulus permitting a gaseous fluid flow into said cylindrical cavity through said porous annular.
The gaseous fluid flow through said porous annulus fluidizing the powdered material and a producing a fluidized powder flow directed through the exit aperture into the evacuated chamber of the utilization device.
In the preferred embodiment, the powder feed apparatus is used in conjunction with powder mold which includes means for vibrating the mold to enhance the transport and distribution of the powdered material in the mold cavity.
The advantage of the improved powder feed apparatus is that the fluidizing of the powdered material adjacent to and through the exit aperture prevents the powdered material from agglomerating in this region assuring complete filling of the mold cavity.
Another advantage of the improved powder feed mechanism is the use of the reduced pressure in the evacuated mold cavity to draw the fluidized powdered material into the mold cavity eliminating the need for an external source of pressurized fluid for fluidizing the powdered material.
These and other advantages of the improved powder feed apparatus will become apparent from a reading of the specification in conjunction with the drawings