Abstract: A baffle retard the transfer of heat from a mold structure to a chill plate during casting of molten metal. The baffle includes a circular support portion and a plurality of flexible segments which extend from the support portion. Each of the segments is engageable with an irregular side portion of the mold structure. During a casting operation, the chill plate and mold structure are lowered from a furnace chamber. As they are lowered, the baffle is maintained in engagement with an irregular side portion of the mold structure until the irregular side portion moves below the baffle. To maintain the baffle in engagement with the irregular side portion of the mold structure during lowering of the mold structure, the flexible segments of the baffle resiliently flex toward and away from the central axis of the baffle. The flexible segments of the baffle may advantageously be formed of a graphite foil.

Abstract: A single crystal selector has a passage into which a plurality of crystals grow from a starter cavity and from which a single crystal emerges into an article mold cavity. The single crystal selector passage includes a linear lower vertical portion which extends upwardly away from an end portion on the starter cavity. A linear vertical upper portion of the selector passage extends downwardly from a lower end portion of the article mold cavity. A single bend portion of the selector passage extends between the upper and lower portions of the selector passage. A support element extends upwardly from a lower section of the selector to an upper section of the selector to at least partially support a single bend section of the selector. The single bend portion of the selector passage has a generally circular cross sectional configuration with a diameter which is less than 0.25 inches. The single bend portion of the selector passage extends sidewardly for a distance which is at least 1.