US Patent 11866816 Apparatus for use in coating process

An apparatus for use in a coating process includes a chamber, a crucible configured to hold a coating material in the chamber, an energy source operable to heat the interior of the chamber, a coating envelope situated with respect to the crucible, and at least one gas manifold located near the coating envelope. The at least one gas manifold is configured to provide a gas screen between the coating envelope and the crucible.