Patent ID: 6431464
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B05B,C23C

Abstract:
A thermal spraying apparatus comprising:a nozzle defining a throat including an inlet, an outlet and a gas low path which is aligned with the axis of the throat so that gas under pressure can be supplied to the inlet; at least first and second guides arranged to guide respective feedstock wire elements via the inlet of the throat towards a point of intersection in the throat; a power supply arranged to be connected to the feedstock elements to cause an arc in the throat between the elements; and a supply of compressed nitrogen rich gas at a pressure sufficient to cause choked gas flow in the throat, so that, in use the choked gas flow in the throat is accelerated due to rapid heating by the arc of the gas in the throat, to generate a supersonic gas flow leaving the nozzle with a spray of finely atomized particles entrained therein.