Apparatus for and method of metalizing metal bodies
(57) An apparatus and method for metalizing the surface of metal bodies, such as bars,
rods and tubes is providing using a substantially enclosed chamber in which the metalizing
is caused to occur. An elongated body to be metalized is moved axially into the chamber
through an entrance opening while the body is simultaneously rotated, and then passes
through a first induction heating coil to pre-heat a portion of the body surface to
a selected pre-heat temperature. The pre-heated portion is then advanced past the
pre-heating coil to a point where it is subjected to, and bathed by, a flowing stream
of metalizing powder entrained within a heated non-oxidizing gas, such as nitrogen,
with the flowing stream directed against the pre-heated body portion so that the entrained
metalizing powder impinges against and clings to and covers the entire surface of
the pre-heated portion. The pre-heated body portion with metalizing powder clinging
thereto then moves through a second induction heating coil which heats the body and
metalizing powder to a fusing temperature greater than the pre-heat temperature, so
as to fuse the metalizing powder to the body. The interior of the chamber is filled
with the non-oxidizing gas to prevent entry of air. The moving body with fused metalized
surface thereon then exits from the chamber and is arranged to pass through a water
quenching station which quenches and cools the metalized body.