1. An alloy flake production apparatus, comprising:
a crystallinity control device for controlling an alloy crystal structure of fed alloy flakes to a desired state;
a cooling device for cooling alloy flakes discharged from the crystallinity control device; and
a chamber for keeping the crystallinity control device and the cooling device under reduced pressure or under an inert gas atmosphere,
the crystallinity control device including a rotary heating drum in a cylindrical shape for heating the fed alloy flakes, and a switching device for switching between storage and discharge of the alloy flakes fed to an inner wall side of the heating drum.
2. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating drum includes at least one scooping blade plate for scooping up the alloy flakes fed to the inner wall side with rotation thereof.
3. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching device is a screw that allows the alloy flakes to be stored when rotated in one direction, and allows the alloy flakes to be discharged when rotated in the other direction opposite to the one direction.
4. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching device is a lid that is provided at a discharge side of the heating drum and includes an opening and closing mechanism.
5. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling drum in a cylindrical shape, the cooling drum having a structure in which a coolant circulates.
6. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cooling drum includes fins at an inner wall of the cooling drum for cooling the fed alloy flakes, a cooling shaft provided at a position of the rotation axis and having a structure in which a coolant circulates, and fins at an outer wall of the cooling shaft for cooling the fed alloy flakes.
7. The alloy flake production apparatus according claim 1, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling body, the cooling body having a structure in which a coolant circulates and being provided, at predetermined angular intervals, with a plurality of cooling chambers having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and extending therethrough in the direction of the rotation axis.
8. A production method for raw material alloy flakes for a rare earth magnet, comprising:
under reduced pressure or under an inert gas atmosphere, casting an ingot from a molten R-T-B type alloy through a strip casting method; heating alloy flakes made by crushing the ingot to a predetermined temperature; holding the alloy flakes at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined time; and then cooling the alloy flakes,
wherein when the alloy flakes are heated to and held at the predetermined temperature for the predetermined time and then cooled, the alloy flakes are heated to and held at a temperature of 800\xb0 C. or higher and lower than 1100\xb0 C. for at least 20 minutes, or heated to and held at a temperature of 1100\xb0 C. or higher for at least 8 minutes, and then cooled.
9. A production method for raw material alloy flakes for a rare earth magnet, comprising:
under reduced pressure or under an inert gas atmosphere, casting an ingot from a molten R-T-B type alloy through a strip casting method; heating alloy flakes made by crushing the ingot to a predetermined temperature; holding the alloy flakes at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined time; and then cooling the alloy flakes,
wherein when the alloy flakes are heated to and held at the predetermined temperature for the predetermined time and then cooled, the alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 1 is used.
10. The production method for raw material alloy flakes for a rare earth magnet according to claim 9, wherein when the alloy flakes are heated to and held at the predetermined temperature for the predetermined time and then cooled, the alloy flakes are heated to and held at a temperature of 800\xb0 C. or higher and lower than 1100\xb0 C. for at least 20 minutes, or heated to and held at a temperature of 1100\xb0 C. or higher for at least 8 minutes, and then cooled.
11. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switching device is a screw that allows the alloy flakes to be stored when rotated in one direction, and allows the alloy flakes to be discharged when rotated in the other direction opposite to the one direction.
12. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switching device is a lid that is provided at a discharge side of the heating drum and includes an opening and closing mechanism.
13. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling drum in a cylindrical shape, the cooling drum having a structure in which a coolant circulates.
14. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling drum in a cylindrical shape, the cooling drum having a structure in which a coolant circulates.
15. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling drum in a cylindrical shape, the cooling drum having a structure in which a coolant circulates.
16. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cooling drum includes fins at an inner wall of the cooling drum for cooling the fed alloy flakes, a cooling shaft provided at a position of the rotation axis and having a structure in which a coolant circulates, and fins at an outer wall of the cooling shaft for cooling the fed alloy flakes.
17. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cooling drum includes fins at an inner wall of the cooling drum for cooling the fed alloy flakes, a cooling shaft provided at a position of the rotation axis and having a structure in which a coolant circulates, and fins at an outer wall of the cooling shaft for cooling the fed alloy flakes.
18. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling body, the cooling body having a structure in which a coolant circulates and being provided, at predetermined angular intervals, with a plurality of cooling chambers having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and extending therethrough in the direction of the rotation axis.
19. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling body, the cooling body having a structure in which a coolant circulates and being provided, at predetermined angular intervals, with a plurality of cooling chambers having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and extending therethrough in the direction of the rotation axis.
20. The alloy flake production apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cooling device includes a rotary cooling body, the cooling body having a structure in which a coolant circulates and being provided, at predetermined angular intervals, with a plurality of cooling chambers having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and extending therethrough in the direction of the rotation axis.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A lighting device for internal illumination of plants comprising a case adapted to house a power source, a light source operatively connected to said power source by an electrical circuit, a penetrating tip surrounding said light source whereby said light source may be inserted inside a plant and transmit visible light through the structure of the plant.
2. A lighting device of claim 1 comprising said case being of a size and shape to be supported by a plant without deformation thereof, a switch in said electrical circuit, said switch including a removable insulator whereby removing said insulator causes said light source to illuminate.
3. A lighting device of claim 2 comprising at least one battery in said case, a thin insulator positioned between said battery and said light source, a portion of said insulator extending beyond said case whereby said insulator is grasped and removed from said case thereby completing said electrical circuit.
4. A lighting device of claim 1 comprising a tube connected at one end to said light source, said electrical circuit partially enclosed in said tube, said tube being rigid whereby said penetrating tip is inserted into the plant.
5. A lighting device of claim 4 comprising said tube connected at the other end to said case.
6. A lighting device of claim 4 comprising said penetrating tip permanently attached to said one end of said tube, said penetrating tip transmitting light from said light source.
7. A lighting device of claim 6 comprising said penetrating tip being a conically shaped polymer with the apex forming said penetrating tip.
8. A lighting device of claim 4 comprising said case having a base with a continuous upstanding sidewall, a portion of said electrical circuit in said base, a switch in said base operatively connected to said electrical circuit, more than one separate light source, each said light source operatively connected to said electrical circuit, said switch controlling illumination of each said light source.
9. A lighting device of claim 1 comprising said case being of a size and shape to be supported by a plant without deformation thereof, a tube connected at one end to said light source, said electrical circuit partially enclosed in said tube, flexible wires connected to the other end of said tube and connected to said case, said wires operatively connected to said electrical circuit whereby the location of said light source is adjustable relative to the location of said case.
10. A lighting device for internal illumination of plants comprising a case, at least one battery disposed in said case, a light source connected to one end of a tube, a conically shaped penetrating tip surrounding said light source and connected to said one end of said tube, said penetrating tip transmitting visible light, an electrical circuit connecting said at least one battery and said light source through said tube, said case including an off-on switch controlling said electrical circuit to produce illumination, said device being of a size and shape to be supported by a plant without deformation thereof whereby said penetrating tip is inserted into the plant by manipulating said tube, said visible light illuminating the structure of said plant.
11. A lighting device of claim 10 comprising two batteries in said case, said off-on switch having a thin insulator positioned between said batteries, a portion of said insulator extending beyond said case whereby said insulator is grasped and removed from said case thereby completing said electrical circuit.
12. A lighting device of claim 10 comprising said tube connected at the other end to said case.
13. A method of illuminating the internal structure of a plant comprising the steps of:
a) providing a lighting device for internal illumination of plants comprising a case, a power source disposed in said case, a light source connected to one end of a tube, a conically shaped penetrating tip surrounding said light source and connected to said one end of said tube, said penetrating tip transmitting visible light, an electrical circuit connecting said power source and said light source through said tube, said case including an off-on switch controlling said electrical circuit to produce illumination, said device being of a size and shape to be supported by a plant without deformation thereof;
b) providing a plant having stem and a bloom;
c) manipulating said tube to insert said penetrating tip within said plant to a desired location to illuminate said bloom; and
d) operating said off-on switch to illuminate said light source thereby providing visible light through said plant.