Abstract: A method and a die mold for molding destructible investment casting patterns of irregular shapes such as, for instance, investment casting patterns utilized in the production of vane sections for a jet engine turbine, or the like. The die mold comprises a mold cavity defined by surfaces extending arcuately in non-parallel relation, and includes a plurality of separable mold portions including rear, front, and side mold portions preferably movable outwardly with respect to one another and with respect to a mounting base, and also including coacting movable mold cavity insert portions disposed intermediate the first mentioned mold portions, and defining arcuate surface sections of the mold cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for molding ceramic cores and patterns to be used for investment casting of blades or vanes for a jet engine, turbine or the like, and having shapes to provide a strong structure with internal passages permitting the flow of a cooling medium. This invention provides a mold having upper and lower mold portions having parting lines in a general horizontal direction. The molded shapes have formations whose surfaces require molding shapes which require withdrawal in lines normal with such surfaces. Such formations described herein relate to the forming of internal passages in the completed blade structure to permit the flow of a cooling medium. The present invention provides pairs of core-forming blocks movably mounted in the upper and lower mold portions and so constructed that after a shape is formed, the blocks may be withdrawn in lines normal with the formed surfaces.

Abstract: The specification and drawings disclose an apparatus for permitting molding of components such as turbine blade assemblies and the like without the use of complex multipart molds. The disclosed apparatus comprises first and second mold halves carried by cooperating platens for relative movement toward and away from one another along a path. A connecting assembly is provided for attaching the first mold half to its respective platen in a manner which permits it to have free movement in directions perpendicular to the path and rotary movement about an axis parallel to the path. Additionally, a control assembly is provided to cause the first mold half to undergo predetermined transverse and rotary movement during movement along the path toward and away from the second mold half.