Abstract: A closed deck type cylinder block providing an optimum area ratio of opening at a top deck side, and a method for producing such cylinder block having the reduced area ratio of the opening at a reduced energy cost and with reduced labor, yet exhibiting smooth discharge of waste sand converted from a water jacket core through the opening in spite of the reduced area ratio of the opening. The cylinder block is formed with a plurality of cylinders juxtaposedly arranged to each other and a water jacket portion surrounding the cylinders. An upper end of the water jacket portion is open at a top deck and is partly covered with bridge portions. The opening has an area ratio of from 10 to 30% of a projection area of the water jacket portion at the top deck surface.

Abstract: A metal mold arrangement for producing a closed deck type cylinder block in which a plurality of bridge portions partly cover an open end of a water jacket at a top deck side of the cylinder block. A water jacket die provides a configuration of a water jacket. A plurality of recesses are formed in the water jacket die, and each separate core having a shape complementary to the recess is insetted in each recess. Each separate core has a top deck side end face and a crank case side end face opposite thereto. The two faces are slanted in a direction opposite to each other for serving as drafts. A bottom of each recess is also slanted coincident with the slant of the top deck side end face, and each bridge portion is formed adjacent the bottom of the recess. Upon solidification of a molten metal, the water jacket die is removed from the casted product while each separate core remains in a resultant water jacket.

Abstract: A cylinder liner or a cylinder block's bore portion formed of a composite alloy material reinforced with fibers and dispersed with ceramic particles. In the cylinder liner or the bore portion of the cylinder block, ceramic particles and alumina short fibers are uniformly dispersed in a light metal matrix. For producing the cylinder liner and the cylinder block, a preform having a shape identical with the cylinder liner or the bore portion is produced by mixing together the ceramic particles and the alumina short fibers. Molten light metal is infiltrated into voids of the preform during casting.

Abstract: A molten metal supply device capable of supplying molten metal with high precision to an injection sleeve of a die-casting machine, and capable of reducing molten metal leakage and damage to a molten metal conduit bridging between a holding furnace and the injection sleeve. The holding furnace is divided into a holding chamber and a supply chamber in fluid connection with the injection sleeve through the conduit. Both chambers can be selectively brought into and out of fluid connection by a stopper. First and second immersion bodies are immersibly provided to the chambers, respectively. The laser sensor detects a predetermined level of the molten metal. The first immersion body is immersed until the sensor detects the surface of the molten metal, whereupon the stopper blocks fluid communication between the chambers. By then lowering the second immersion body, molten metal is pushed out of the supply chamber and a predetermined amount of molten metal is supplied to the injection sleeve.