Tapered phase change crucible system for the separation of rare earth elements

1 . A crucible comprising:

a body having a sidewall portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the body at least partially defines a cavity and an aperture extending to the cavity; wherein the cavity is tapered along the longitudinal axis; and

an ejector at least partially positioned in the aperture; wherein the ejector is movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;

wherein the aperture includes a recess portion and a bore portion, and wherein the ejector includes a head at least partially positioned in the recess portion when the ejector is in the first position, and wherein the ejector includes a shaft positioned in the bore portion; and

wherein the aperture further includes a vent portion extending radially from the bore portion and the shaft includes a shaft aperture extending to a shaft vent.

2 . The crucible of claim 1 , wherein the ejector includes a collection surface that at least partially defines the cavity when the ejector is in the first position and at least partially extends into the cavity when the ejector is in the second position.

3 . The crucible of claim 1 , wherein the body defines an open end and the cavity has a first diameter at the open end and a second diameter at a position spaced from the open end, the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

4 . The crucible of claim 1 , wherein:

the sidewall portion includes an outer surface and an inner tapered surface;

the body further includes a floor surface contiguous with the inner tapered surface;

the inner tapered surface and the floor surface at least partially define the cavity; and

the ejector includes a collection surface that at least partially defines the cavity when the ejector is in the first position.

5 . The crucible of claim 4 , wherein the collection surface is aligned with the floor surface when the ejector is in the first position and the ejector at least partially extends into the cavity when the ejector is in the second position.

6 . The crucible of claim 1 , wherein the ejector includes a collection surface that defines an entire floor portion of the cavity.

7 . The crucible of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the ejector towards the first position.

8 . The crucible of claim 1 , wherein the crucible comprises a material that is chemically non-reactive with ytterbium.

9 . A crucible comprising:

a body having a sidewall portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the body at least partially defines a cavity that is tapered along the longitudinal axis; and

an ejector that is movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position; and

wherein the body includes a deformable wall portion positioned between and separating the cavity and the ejector,

wherein the deformable wall portion deforms into the cavity in response to the ejector moving from the first position to the second position.

10 . The crucible of claim 9 , wherein body includes an inner tapered surface and a floor surface that define the cavity.

11 . The crucible of claim 9 , wherein the sidewall portion includes an outer cylindrical surface and at least one outer planar surface.

12 . The crucible of claim 9 , wherein the ejector includes a screw and a pin, wherein the screw and the pin are received within a bore formed in the body with the pin positioned between the screw and the deformable wall portion.

13 . A crucible comprising:

a body having a sidewall portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the body at least partially defines a cavity and an aperture extending to the cavity; wherein the cavity is tapered along the longitudinal axis; and

an ejector at least partially positioned in the aperture; wherein the ejector is movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position; and

wherein the aperture and the ejector form a threaded connection, and wherein the ejector is moved between the first position and the second position in response to rotation of the ejector about the longitudinal axis.

14 . The crucible of claim 13 , wherein the threaded connection is tapered along the longitudinal axis.

15 . The crucible of claim 13 , wherein the ejector includes a collection surface that at least partially defines the cavity when the ejector is in the first position and at least partially extends into the cavity when the ejector is in the second position.

16 . The crucible of claim 13 , wherein the body defines an open end and the cavity has a first diameter at the open end and a second diameter at a position spaced from the open end, the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

17 . The crucible of claim 13 , wherein:

the sidewall portion includes an outer surface and an inner tapered surface;

the body further includes a floor surface contiguous with the inner tapered surface;

the inner tapered surface and the floor surface at least partially define the cavity; and

the ejector includes a collection surface that at least partially defines the cavity when the ejector is in the first position.

18 . The crucible of claim 17 , wherein the collection surface is aligned with the floor surface when the ejector is in the first position and the ejector at least partially extends into the cavity when the ejector is in the second position.

19 . The crucible of claim 13 , wherein the ejector includes a collection surface that defines an entire floor portion of the cavity.

20 . The crucible of claim 13 , wherein the crucible comprises a material that is chemically non-reactive with ytterbium.