Patent ID: 7578961
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: B22F

Abstract:
1. A metal powder production apparatus comprising: a supply part for supplying molten metal; and a nozzle provided below the supply part, the nozzle including a flow path defined by an inner circumferential surface of the nozzle through which the molten metal supplied from the supply part can pass and having a bottom end portion and an orifice opened toward the bottom end portion of the flow path for injecting fluid into the flow path, whereby the molten metal can be dispersed and turned to a multiplicity of fine liquid droplets by bringing the molten metal passing through the flow path into contact with the fluid injected from the orifice of the nozzle so that the multiplicity of fine liquid droplets are cooled and solidified to thereby produce metal powder, wherein the metal powder production apparatus further comprises a tubular member provided between the supply part and the flow path of the nozzle, the tubular member having a top end, a bottom end and a bore through which the molten metal supplied from the supply part passes to make contact with the fluid, wherein the tubular member is provided with a split means for substantially uniformly splitting the molten metal, which has passed the bore of the tubular member, in a divergent manner.