Metal powder production method and metal powder production device

Abstract

A metal powder production method and a metal powder production device capable of reducing the size of the device, reducing costs, and obtaining spherical metal powder are provided. Supply means supplies a downward flow of molten metal, and a plurality of jet burners emit flame jets to the downward flow of the molten metal supplied from the supply means. Each of the jet burners is provided to emit the flame jet from the same angle and from each of positions rotationally symmetrical with each other with respect to the downward flow of the molten metal.

1 . A metal powder production method for obtaining metal powder by using a principle of an atomization method, the metal powder production method comprising the steps of:
 providing a circular jet orifice for emitting a flame jet;   arranging molten metal or a metal wire on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice; and   emitting the flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire so as to obtain the metal powder.   
     
     
         2 . The metal powder production method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the flame jet is emitted from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire.   
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A metal powder production device for obtaining metal powder by using a principle of an atomization method, the metal powder production device comprising:
 supply means for supplying molten metal or a metal wire; and   a jet burner for emitting a flame jet to the molten metal or the metal wire supplied from the supply means,   wherein the jet burner comprises a circular jet orifice for emitting the flame jet, and the molten metal or the metal wire is arranged on an inner side of the flame jet emitted from the jet orifice.   
     
     
         6 . The metal powder production device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the jet burner emits the flame jet from a periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire so that the flame jet collides against the molten metal or the metal wire with an almost equal jet pressure and without leaving any space along an outer periphery of the molten metal or the metal wire.   
     
     
         7 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The metal powder production method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the jet orifice comprises a Laval nozzle type.   
     
     
         12 . The metal powder production device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the jet orifice comprises a Laval nozzle type.   
     
     
         13 . The metal powder production method according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the jet orifice comprises a Laval nozzle type.   
     
     
         14 . The metal powder production device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the jet orifice comprises a Laval nozzle type.