Patent ID: 7220292
Filing Date: 2007-05-22
Classification: B22D,B22F,D04H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A metallic fiber nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus comprising: a melting furnace comprising a molten metal purifying unit; a metallic fiber manufacturing unit which comprises a closed vessel having a crucible fpr storing a molten metal and a heater therefor; a molten metal feed pipe having one and an other opening, the one opening positioned near a bottom portion of the crucible, the other opening situated outside the closed vessel and an ejection nozzle having a plurality of ejection holes for ejecting the molten metal to the outside of the closed vessel at an end of the other opening; and a pressure unit for supplying a pressurized gas into the closed vessel; an ejection nozzle heater provided on an outer wall of the closed vessel to surround the ejection nozzle; a metallic fiber flying control unit for discharging compressed air and forming an air flow in an ejection direction of the molten metal from the nozzle as a control fluid for promoting a uniform distribution of metallic fibers by controlling flying of the metallic fibers produced by solidifying the molten metal ejected from the ejection nozzle, the metallic fiber flying control unit being positioned on a downstream side of the nozzle and adapted for continuously changing a direction of the air flow; a metallic fiber accumulating/conveying unit for temporarily accumulating the produced metallic fibers and conveying the fibers; a metallic fiber accumulating/conveying/roll-pressing unit for press-molding a metallic fiber nonwoven fabric by roll-pressing the obtained accumulated product; a nonwoven fabric areal density control mechanism for controlling a surface density of the metallic fiber nonwoven fabric to a predetermined range; and an automatic nonwoven fabric cutter.