Pressure Forming Patents (Class 164/113)
  • Patent number: 10124405
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a metallic housing of an electronic device is provided. The method includes providing a die-casting mold including a male die and a female die; positioning an outer frame in a cavity of the female die, the outer frame including a plurality of latching portions protruding from an inner surface inwardly and a plurality of latching grooves, each latching portion including at least one receiving groove; assembling the male die to the female die; casting pressured molten metal-alloy into the cavity to form an inner structural member embedded in the outer frame, the inner structural member including a plurality of engaging portions respectively embedded in the plurality of receiving grooves, and a plurality of matching portions respectively embedded in the plurality of latching grooves; dissembling the male die from the female die; and removing the outer frame and the inner structural member from the female die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cai-Hua Wang, Yue-Jian Li, Chen-Shen Lin, Wen-Hsiung Chang, Chun-Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 10118219
    Abstract: An excellent cast and forged product that is superior in mechanical properties and has a microstructure and which may not only be a thin but also be a thick product can be made without using complicated process steps or equipment. A semisolid casting and forging method is provided in which a metal melt is teemed so that it is supercooled into a lower die in a press so controlled that the metal melt has a rate of solidification as desired, thereby preparing a semisolid slurry; an upper die is brought into contact with the semisolid slurry; and thereafter at least one of the upper and lower dies is moved relatively towards the other at a rate of movement between 0.1 and 1.5 m/sec, thereby compressing the semisolid slurry to mold it into a product. The semisolid slurry preferably has crystal grains of a grain size of 50 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Masayuki Itamura, Kouichi Anzai
  • Patent number: 10099278
    Abstract: A mold-making device may include a stirring device including a stirring tank and at least one stirring blade. The stirring device may further include a packing port that is configured to open and close on a bottom of the stirring tank. The stirring device may stir a particulate aggregate and at least one additive by rotating the at least one stirring blade within the stirring tank to yield an admixture. A forming mold may communicate with the packing port and mold the admixture into a predetermined shape. A packing device may compress a surface of the admixture within the stirring tank and pack the admixture into the forming mold via the packing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Uchida, Masaomi Mitsutake, Hirotsune Watanabe, Takumi Maegawa, Masashi Morikawa, So Nakayama, Tomokazu Suda, Toshihiko Zenpo
  • Patent number: 10086543
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in mixing and dispensing a curable fluid stream (stream) into an open mold to fill the mold to make polishing pads for chemical mechanical planarization of substrates. The apparatus comprises an actuator frame on which is mounted (i) a set of two plates releasably attached to the actuator frame and adapted to cut the stream when the mold is full and to release from the actuator frame after cutting the stream, and (ii) a dispenser unit for continuous pouring of the stream into an open mold, the apparatus adapted to enable removal of the released plates from the actuator during the continuous pouring after the mold is full, e.g. by raising the actuator frame and the (ii) dispenser unit, whereby one can place a container above the mold to catch the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian T. Cantrell
  • Patent number: 10071418
    Abstract: The damage to devices are avoided, by performing operation control of a hydraulic operating means and an electric servomotor, that are adapted as drive sources in an injection step, separately and not performing coordinate control. A die casting machine 1 includes a tubular injection sleeve 12, an injection plunger 13, an electric servomotor 17 and a hydraulic operating means 21 which are used as a drive source of an injection step, and a control means 30 which controls the electric servomotor 17 and the hydraulic operating means separately, when injecting and filling the cavity of the mold, which has been closed, with the molten metal by the advancing of the injection plunger 13, during a low-speed injection step and a high-speed injection step which is performed at a higher speed than the low-speed injection step, in the injection step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO MACHINERY & METAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Ikeda, Akihiro Yamanaka, Yuji Harada
  • Patent number: 10065239
    Abstract: A casting mold (260) comprises a shell (262) extending from a lower end (264) to an upper end (266) and having: an interior space (280) for casting metal; and an opening (268) for receiving metal to be cast. A plurality of thermocouples (900) are vertically-spaced from each other on the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Marcin, Jr., Steven J. Bullied, Dilip M. Shah, Alan D. Cetel, Emily K. Kreek
  • Patent number: 10040117
    Abstract: A die casting insert for producing die casted metal parts from liquid metal. The die casting insert has an outer casing shaped to be fixed in the die block of the die casting apparatus. The die casting insert also has a stopper with a purge opening that is adapted to evacuate contaminants topping the liquid metal as pressure is applied to the liquid metal. The stopper, fitted to mate with the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve, is constructed to seal the hollow inner cavity of the injection sleeve except at the purge opening when in a first position; and to permit the flow of the liquid metal into at least one molding cavity when the stopper is in a second position. The die casting insert also has an activation mechanism configured to shift the stopper between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Vinet Micro-Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Alain Vinet
  • Patent number: 10040120
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a metallic housing of an electronic device is provided. The method includes providing a die-casting mold, including a male die and a female die engaging with the male die, the male die defining a pouring gate therein, and the female die defining a cavity therein corresponding to the pouring gate; positioning a metallic outer case in the cavity of the female die as an insert; assembling the male die to the female die to cover the cavity, thereby communicating the pouring gate with the cavity; casting pressured molten metal-alloy into the cavity via the pouring gate to form an inner structural member embedded in an inner side of the outer case; dissembling the male die from the female die to expose the cavity, and removing the outer case and the inner structural member from the female die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cai-Hua Wang, Yue-Jian Li, Chen-Shen Lin, Wen-Hsiung Chang, Chun-Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 10041734
    Abstract: A dental furnace (10), with a furnace head (including firing space 16) and a firing space bottom (12) is provided which is suited to accommodate a dental restoration part (40). At least one optical sensor (22) is positioned at the dental furnace (10) or in its vicinity, which sensor comprises an output port (26) which is connected to an evaluation device for evaluating the dental restoration part (40) and/or a muffle (14) and/or a press plunger (52) and/or a firing-charge carrier as far as its dimensions and/or its shape and/or its position are concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Jussel, Gottfried Rohner
  • Patent number: 10029302
    Abstract: A method to manufacture reticulated metal foam via a dual investment, includes pre-investment of a precursor with a diluted pre-investment ceramic plaster then applying an outer mold to the encapsulated precursor as a shell-mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Breneman, Steven J. Bullied, David R. Scott
  • Patent number: 10012442
    Abstract: A device for producing semi-solid slurry, including a height adjustment mechanism, a position adjustment mechanism, a melt protection mechanism, a support mechanism, a revolving pipe, guide mechanisms, thermally-adapted elastic supports, a driving mechanism of the revolving pipe, and a cooling module. The height adjustment mechanism is a box structure including an upper casing and a lower casing. The position adjustment mechanism includes a stationary rail and a moving rail support, and the stationary rail is fixed on the upper casing of the height adjustment mechanism. The melt protection mechanism includes a seal box including a base plate fixed on the moving rail support. The support mechanism includes a main support frame and an angle adjustment bracket, the main support frame is fixed on the base plate of the seal box, and the angle adjustment bracket is mounted on the main support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Nanchang University
    Inventors: Xiangjie Yang, Chiwei Huang, Xubo Liu, Hongmin Guo
  • Patent number: 10005124
    Abstract: A multiple pressure casting mold includes a mold part having upper and lower molds, each having molten metal injection ports and the molded product accommodating parts for accommodating the molten metal for the molded product, a rotating unit for rotating the mold part so as to allow the molten metal injected through the molten metal injection ports to flow into the molded product accommodating parts, and a molten metal injection control unit having upper and lower pressing parts for pressing the molten metal injected through the molten metal injection ports so as to allow the molten metal to flow into the molded product accommodating parts with the rotating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
    Inventors: Young Cheol Lee, Jeong Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 10000837
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatuses for casting of BMG-containing parts. The surfaces of the mold that come into contact with the molten amorphous alloy comprise an amorphous material. In accordance with the disclosure, the mold may be coated with an amorphous material, e.g., to reduce, minimize, or eliminate crystallization of the molded BMG-containing part. The surfaces of the mold are coated, in certain aspects, so as to reduce or eliminate potential grain-boundary nucleation sites for BMG crystallization. The amorphous material may be selected based on the particular molten amorphous alloy to be cast, e.g., based on the wetting properties, the melting and cooling properties, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Kazuya Takagi, Theodore A. Waniuk
  • Patent number: 9993867
    Abstract: Provided is a high-pressure casting method and a high-pressure casting device which are capable of safe and high-quality casting of a high-fusion-point metal having a fusion point exceeding 1000 K. After melting a casting material (1) inside a melting container (2) of cartridge type, the melting container (2) is linearly moved to pass through a guide (14) attached to a casting port bush (13) to thereby be communicated with the casting port bush (13). The melting container (2) is brought into close contact with the guide (14) and is setting to a cooling state. After the elapse of prescribed time, a plunger (50) is brought into contact with a plunger tip (4), and is immediately transferred together with a molten metal to the casting port bush (13). The molten metal is pressurized inside the casting port bush (13), and is injection-filled into a cavity (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: FUKUI PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT
    Inventor: Koichi Tomita
  • Patent number: 9975171
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for mechanically reducing an amount of the skull material in a finished, molded part formed from amorphous alloy using an injection molding system. Skull material of molten amorphous alloy can be captured in a trap before molding such material. A cavity can be provided in the injection molding system to trap the skull material. For example, the cavity can be provided in the mold, the tip of the plunger rod, or in the transfer sleeve. Alternatively, mixing of molten amorphous alloy can be induced so that skull material is reduced before molding. A plunger and/or its tip can be used to induce mixing (e.g., systematic movement of plunger rod, or a shape of its tip). By minimizing the amount of skull material in the finished, molded part, the quality of the part is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore A. Waniuk, Quoc Tran Pham, Joseph Stevick, Sean Timothy O'Keeffe, Christopher D. Prest, Joseph C. Poole
  • Patent number: 9968998
    Abstract: An injection device has an injection cylinder for driving a plunger, a gas pressure type accumulator which supplies hydraulic fluid to the injection cylinder, a hydraulic fluid supply device which supplies the hydraulic fluid to the accumulator, a pressure sensor for detecting the gas pressure of the accumulator, and a control device which controls the hydraulic fluid supply device so as to suspend the supply of the hydraulic fluid when detection value of the pressure sensor reaches a predetermined target gas pressure before injection in the state where the hydraulic fluid is supplied from the hydraulic fluid supply device to the accumulator in a molding cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Tomioka, Ryusuke Nakata
  • Patent number: 9884365
    Abstract: A shot tube includes an inner bore for delivering molten material into a die-cast mold. The shot tube has an outer peripheral surface with at least one surface for receiving a locking member to lock the shot tube into an aperture in a fixed mold portion and an alignment structure for properly aligning the shot tube in the fixed mold portion. An opening receives molten material into the inner bore. A die-cast machine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mario P. Bochiechio, Yee Ling Kwan, Carl R. Verner
  • Patent number: 9885365
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an impeller includes: providing a disc comprising a plurality of blades, casting a shroud to a first state in a mold, providing a mounting space in the mold, mounting the disc in the mounting space and casting the shroud to a second state with the mounted disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Paeng, Jin-Hyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 9884364
    Abstract: A die casting machine has a clamping device and an injection device. The clamping device has a fixed die plate which holds a fixed die, a movable die plate which holds a moving die, an electrically operated die opening and closing-use driving device which moves the movable die plate in a die opening and closing direction, and a clamping cylinder which generates a clamping force. The injection device has a sleeve, a plunger which capable of sliding in the sleeve, an electrically operated injection-use driving device which drives the plunger at least at the time of low speed injection, and an injection cylinder which drives the plunger at least at the time of high speed injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Abe, Saburo Noda, Toshiaki Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 9878367
    Abstract: Congruent melting salt alloys for use as salt cores in high pressure die casting of metallic alloys for the production of complex metallic parts. Congruent melting salt alloys provide mechanical advantages in the high pressure die casting of both aluminum and magnesium alloys. Salt cores may be used to make complex high pressure die casting parts such as internal passages in a closed deck engine block. The congruently melting salt alloy is cast into a shape of a desired salt core. The cast salt core of the congruently melting slat alloy is placed into a high pressure die casting mold for a complex object. Molten metal is introduced into the high pressure die casting mold to form the complex part. The congruently melting salt alloys may be readily removed from the final cast part through flushing with a solvent, such as water, or through other processes known in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond J. Donahue, Mark T. Degler
  • Patent number: 9878368
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component in a die casting cell that includes a die casting system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, isolating a first chamber from a second chamber of the die casting system, melting a charge of material in the first chamber, sealing the second chamber relative to the first chamber, and simultaneously injecting the charge of material within the second chamber to cast the component and melting a second charge of material within the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mario P. Bochiechio, John Joseph Marcin, Carl R. Verner, John F. Blondin, Mark F. Bartholomew, Raymond P. Ristau, Kevin W. Chittenden, Gary M. Tamiso, Robert C. Renaud, Dennis M. Kraemer, Robert E. LeBrun, Paul R. Zamjohn, Charles A. Roohr, Kerry Kozaczuk, Roy A. Garrison, Steven J. Bullied
  • Patent number: 9862024
    Abstract: In a die casting apparatus, during feeding of molten metal by an electromagnetic pump, a molten metal level sensor repeatedly detects a during-feeding level of the molten metal stored in a molten metal holding furnace; a control unit corrects a molten metal feeding voltage to a during-feeding voltage based on the repeatedly detected during-feeding level of the molten metal such that an amount of the molten metal fed by the electromagnetic pump coincides with a prescribed amount; the control unit applies the during-feeding voltage to the electromagnetic pump to cause the electromagnetic pump to feed the molten metal from the molten metal holding furnace into a plunger sleeve; and casting is performed through an injecting operation in which the molten metal fed into the plunger sleeve is extruded by a plunger tip to be injected into a cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Tomita, Makoto Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9810482
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Apple Inc., Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore A. Waniuk, Joseph Stevick, Sean O'Keeffe, Dermot J. Stratton, Joseph C. Poole, Matthew S. Scott, Christopher D. Prest
  • Patent number: 9802246
    Abstract: A device for die-casting metal material, including a screw unit for bringing the material into a thixotropic state and a cylinder/piston unit fed by the screw unit for applying pressure to the thixotropic material for the die casting, wherein a thermally controllable valve is arranged between the screw unit and the cylinder/piston unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Mold-Thix-Consulting Bueltermann GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Bültermann
  • Patent number: 9731347
    Abstract: A core pin is provided that prevents a molten metal from flowing into a pipe and a casting device using the same is also provided. The core pin specifically contacts a first end of the pipe inserted into a mold to close the end of the pipe, to thus prevent the molten metal from flowing into the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mun Gu Kang, Kwang Min Yoon, Tae Ho Jeong, Hyung Sop Yoon
  • Patent number: 9724753
    Abstract: A system for injecting semisolid metal into a mold, the system including a mold having a mold chamber, at least one press device having a cylinder, an injection chamber, and a thrust piston, a positioning device supporting a blending device having an active portion and a cover, and an actuating device that selectively injects the semisolid metal into the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FRENI BREMBO S.P.A.
    Inventors: Renzo Moschini, Marcello Boschini, Cristian Crippa
  • Patent number: 9718123
    Abstract: Provided are a die casting method and a die casting apparatus for preventing molten metal from being unexpectedly supplied into a sleeve under decompression. Molten metal supply control for pumping up molten metal with an electromagnetic pump and supplying the molten metal into a sleeve in a state of decompressing a cavity of a die and the inside of the sleeve attached to the die, including: moving the surface of the molten metal, with the electromagnetic pump, from a standard position to the side opposite to a supply direction of the molten metal; decompressing the cavity and the inside of the sleeve; and weakening force of the electromagnetic pump, which pumps down the molten metal to the side opposite to the supply direction to supply the molten metal into the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9682423
    Abstract: An electric die casting machine is provided with a screw shaft which is held rotatably, a nut body which is threadably mounted on the screw shaft so as to be able to move forward and backward, an injection plunger which moves forward and backward in conjunction with the forward and backward movement of the nut body, an injection electric servo motor and an intensification electric servo motor which drive and rotate the screw shaft, and a one-way clutch which is disposed between the screw shaft and the intensification electric servo motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Toyo Machinery & Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 9663845
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy for components with increased rigidity, having a tensile yield strength Rp0.2>200 MPa and simultaneous elongation at break A>6% after a heat treatment, or a tensile yield strength Rp 0.2>120 MPa and simultaneously high elongation at break A>9% in the cast state, or >10% after a T6 heat treatment, in particular for structural and chassis components of a motor vehicle, containing 9 to 11.5 wt % silicon, 0.5 to 0.8 wt % manganese, 0.2 to 1.0 wt % magnesium, 0.1 to 1.0 wt % copper, 0.2 to 1.5 wt % zinc, 0.05 to 0.4 wt % zirconium, 0.01 to 0.4 wt % Cr, max. 0.2 wt % iron, max. 0.15 wt % titanium, 0.01 to 0.02 wt % strontium and the remainder as aluminum and production-related impurities with a maximum total of 0.5 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: Georg Fischer Druckguss GmbH & Co. KG, Georg Fischer GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Stuart Wiesner, Leif Speckert
  • Patent number: 9643243
    Abstract: A pressure casting machine can be configured to mold a molten material into a workpiece. The pressure casting machine can include a vacuum chamber and a pressure casting mechanism coupled to the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber can include a processing section having a top wall and a bottom wall opposite to the top wall, a first gate configured to seal the processing section, and a first vacuum pump coupled to the processing section. The pressure casting mechanism can include a first driver positioned adjacent to the top wall, a first core received in the processing section and coupled to the first driver, a second core received in the processing section, and a plurality of pushing members received in the processing section. The second core can be coupled to the bottom wall and opposite to the first core. The pushing members can be coupled to the top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: JI ZHUN PRECISION INDUSTRY (HUI ZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tang-Quan Chen, Xian-He Li, Xiao-Bo Yuan, Yi-Min Jiang, Jun-Qi Li
  • Patent number: 9623478
    Abstract: In a die casting apparatus, during feeding of molten metal by an electromagnetic pump, a molten metal level sensor repeatedly detects a during-feeding level of the molten metal stored in a molten metal holding furnace; a control unit corrects a molten metal feeding voltage to a during-feeding voltage based on the repeatedly detected during-feeding level of the molten metal such that an amount of the molten metal fed by the electromagnetic pump coincides with a prescribed amount; the control unit applies the during-feeding voltage to the electromagnetic pump to cause the electromagnetic pump to feed the molten metal from the molten metal holding furnace into a plunger sleeve; and casting is performed through an injecting operation in which the molten metal fed into the plunger sleeve is extruded by a plunger tip to be injected into a cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Tomita, Makoto Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9586259
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for loading one or more alloy ingots into a molding machine. The apparatus includes a holder configured to hold a plurality of the alloy ingots and dispense one or more of the alloy ingots into a melt zone of the molding machine through an opening in a mold of the machine. The holder is moved in a perpendicular direction with respect to an axis along a center of the opening in the mold between a first position in line with the opening in the mold to dispense one or more of the alloy ingots and a second position away from the opening in the mold. The apparatus can carry ingots of amorphous alloy material so that when the machine melts and molds the material, it forms a bulk amorphous alloy containing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph W. Stevick
  • Patent number: 9579716
    Abstract: An production apparatus of a semi-solidified metal has a vessel and a cooling device. The vessel into which a liquid-state metal material M is poured has a hollow member which is opened in up and down directions, and a bottom member which can close the lower opening of the hollow member and can be separated from the hollow member. The cooling device can cool the bottom member more than the hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA KIKAI KABUSHIKAI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koei Nakata, Satoru Aida, Satoshi Tomioka
  • Patent number: 9528464
    Abstract: A tool and a method of using the tool are provided for forming an engine component. The engine has a block defining a first cylinder and a second cylinder spaced apart by a bore bridge. The bore bridge defines a first cooling passage spaced apart from a deck face and extending transversely, and a second cooling passage positioned between the first passage and the deck face and extending transversely. The first and second passages are formed by a casting skin. In forming the engine component, a die is provided that defines a locator recess and at least one core. An insert is positioned into the recess on the die. The insert has a cast shell surrounding a lost core. The component is die cast with the die and the insert to form a cooling jacket. The insert is adapted to form the cooling passages for the bore bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Beyer, Antony George Schepak, Mathew Leonard Hintzen, Jody Michael Slike, Venkat Nara
  • Patent number: 9522426
    Abstract: Scanning Laser Epitaxy (SLE) is a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process that allows for the fabrication of three-dimensional objects with specified microstructure through the controlled melting and re-solidification of a metal powders placed atop a base substrate. SLE can be used to repair single crystal (SX) turbine airfoils, for example, as well as the manufacture functionally graded turbine components. The SLE process is capable of creating equiaxed, directionally solidified, and SX structures. Real-time feedback control schemes based upon an offline model can be used both to create specified defect free microstructures and to improve the repeatability of the process. Control schemes can be used based upon temperature data feedback provided at high frame rate by a thermal imaging camera as well as a melt-pool viewing video microscope. A real-time control scheme can deliver the capability of creating engine ready net shape turbine components from raw powder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suman Das, Rohan Bansal, Justin Gambone
  • Patent number: 9505053
    Abstract: A casting plunger for a casting unit of a casting machine, includes a casting-plunger shut-off valve integrated into the casting plunger, having a valve seat and a valve body interacting therewith, wherein the shut-off valve, in an open position, enables a flow of a melt material through the casting plunger during a melt suction operation and, in a closed position, blocks said flow during a mold-filling operation. The casting plunger has a plunger sleeve, which is placeable against an inner wall of a casting cylinder of the casting unit and contains the valve seat, and a plunger ram which contains the valve body. The plunger sleeve and the plunger ram are movable axially with respect to one another by a predefinable valve stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Oskar Frech GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Ronny Aspacher, Erich Kuhn, Norbert Erhard
  • Patent number: 9469216
    Abstract: A fitting for a motor vehicle seat adjusting device and a method for producing same is based on a relatively adjustable fitting top part and a fitting bottom part, a transmission gear unit, in operative connection with the fitting parts, for adjusting the fitting top part relative to the fitting bottom part, and a drive shaft (21) extending at one end through the fitting in a longitudinal axial direction of a fitting axis and in engagement with the gear unit. The drive shaft (21) is wobble riveted to a bushing (6) to axially secure the fitting top part (2) relative to the fitting bottom part (3). The bushing is arranged in an opening (11), coaxially to the fitting axis, of the fitting top part or fitting bottom part. The drive shaft rests, on the side opposite the bushing, with a stop (12) against the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Metals and Mechanisms GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Eduard Vatmakhter
  • Patent number: 9457400
    Abstract: A casting valve configured to supply a melt of a casting device includes a valve housing including a melt channel connection as an inlet and a valve outlet as a run-out. A melt channel is configured to be pressurizable via a casting pressure. A valve compartment is configured to receive the melt. The valve compartment is connectable via the melt channel connection with the melt channel. A closing device is configured to modify a cross-sectional surface of the valve outlet. A post-compression piston is configured to post-compress the melt after a completion of a mold filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Fahrenbach, Martin Gaebges, Michael Richter, Tobias Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9444091
    Abstract: The approaches and apparatuses for fabricating cathodes can be adapted to improve control over cathode composition and to better accommodate batteries of any shape and their assembly. For example, a first solid having an alkali metal halide, a second solid having a transition metal, and a third solid having an alkali metal aluminum halide are combined into a mixture. The mixture can be heated in a vacuum to a temperature that is greater than or equal to the melting point of the third solid. When the third solid is substantially molten liquid, the mixture is compressed into a desired cathode shape and then cooled to solidify the mixture in the desired cathode shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Kerry D. Meinhardt, Vincent L. Sprenkle, Gregory W. Coffey
  • Patent number: 9434001
    Abstract: A three-plate die casting tool has a gating system, and a gating system is used in the tool. The tool includes a gating cone, at least one gating distributor channel connected with the gating cone, as well as at least one gating sprue connected with the at least one gating distributor channel. The gating cone makes a transition into at least one gating distributor channel that deflects the casting material capable of flow. The gating distributor channel opens into a kind of central gating distributor location, from which multiple gating re-distributor channels proceed, which make a transition, in each instance, into at least one, preferably only one gating sprue that deflects the casting material capable of flow. The gating sprues form the connection or the entry to the cast component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: KSM Castings Group GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang-Michael Schirm, Juergen Hofmeister, Viktor Boeshans, Joerg Gieseke
  • Patent number: 9421018
    Abstract: An orthopaedic knee cutting block prepared by a process comprising the steps of: creating a mold with a first core detail and a second core detail, each of the core details corresponding to a volume; filling the mold with a mixture of a binder and a metal; releasing a green part from the mold, the green part having a first void corresponding to the first core detail and a second void corresponding to the second core detail; removing the binder from the green part; heating the green part to create a sintered part; and machining the part by sawing a cutting slot such that the cutting slot overlaps with the first void and the second void. Alternatively, the orthopaedic knee cutting instrument may be made by a simple metal casting method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Alec Paul Porzel, Robert H Dyer, Thomas William Lux
  • Patent number: 9393611
    Abstract: A method for reinforcing a die is described. A die material made of a high speed tool steel for hot dies including a matrix high speed tool steel, an alloy tool steel for hot dies or a stainless steel is irradiated as an irradiated object with a large-area electron beam so that a smooth surface modification layer of 2 to 5 ?m in thickness is formed by elution of a contained substance in the die material. Then, the die material is subjected to a sulphonitriding treatment so that a sulfurized film having a thickness less than the thickness of the surface modification layer prior to the sulphonitriding treatment and containing the sulfur compound of the contained substance more than the sulfur compound of the main substance in the die material, and a diffusion layer of nitrogen and sulfur adjacent to the inner side of the sulfurized film are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SODICK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Motohiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9370821
    Abstract: A die cast part of a die casting mold having at least one first component comprising a pressure zone, at least one second component and at least one heat exchange chamber permeated by a fluid and formed by the components for controlling the temperature of the pressure zone. The first component comprises a heat transfer surface integral to at least one wall of the heat exchange chamber and thermally associated with the pressure zone, and the pressure zone bounds at least one region of the gate region. The second component comprises at least one fluid guiding protrusion protruding into the heat transfer chamber and/or a fluid guiding recess open toward the first component. The fluid guiding recess forms at least one portion of the heat exchange chamber and/or the fluid guiding protrusion and/or the fluid guiding recess forms a flow contour surface of the second component in particular adapted to the curve of the heat transfer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: GEORG FISCHER AUTOMOTIVE (SUZHOU) CO LTD, GEORG FISCHER GMBH & CO KG, GEORG FISCHER DRUCKGUSS GMBH & CO KG, GEORG FISCHER GMBH
    Inventors: Ignaz Huber, Johannes Wunder, Michael Guenzel, Sebastien Nissle
  • Patent number: 9364893
    Abstract: A die casting apparatus includes: an electromagnetic pump body disposed at a plunger sleeve-side end portion of a molten metal holding furnace; and a connecting pipe connected to the electromagnetic pump body and the plunger sleeve to provide communication between the electromagnetic pump body and a molten metal feed port, the connecting pipe being separable from the electromagnetic pump body. The die casting apparatus further includes a moving mechanism configured to allow the electromagnetic pump body to move between an inclined state where the electromagnetic pump body is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane in the molten metal holding furnace at an angle of approximately 45 degrees and an upright state where the electromagnetic pump body is perpendicular to the horizontal plane in the molten metal holding furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Tomita, Makoto Kikuchi, Takayuki Koganezawa, Yuji Kayashita
  • Patent number: 9352388
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an inner door panel for a vehicle side door that employs a die casting process. The method includes providing a die cast mold having opposing mold halves that combine to define a die cavity configured to provide the inner door panel having an integrated impact beam. The mold cavity also includes channels that form a runner and gating system that causes the molten material to form an outer frame defining a central opening that allows the mold halves to be separated when the door panel has hardened within the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bin Hu, Jeff Wang, Xin Yang, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Patent number: 9352387
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing light alloy castings by die casting with disposable cores, including a mold filling phase in which the parameters of pressure and speed of the molten alloy are controlled at levels tolerable by the cores until the cavities around the latter are filled by the molten alloy, and thereafter the pressure and speed parameters are controlled at levels suitable for completing and compacting the casting, the alloy being kept at a temperature close to its melting temperature throughout the whole path between the pump that pressurizes it and the entrance to the cavities around the cores. The invention relates also to a plant implementing said method by means of a pump connected to a mold through a duct that comes out within the casting envelope at a point close to the centroid of the cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Flavio Mancini
  • Patent number: 9346099
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and methods for containing the molten materials within a melt zone during melting. The apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein and an induction coil with unevenly spaced turns along its length. Induction coil can have a series of turns acting as a first (e.g., load) induction coil and a series of turns acting as a second (e.g., containment) induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated and contained by the separated turns of the induction coil. A plunger can also assist in containing material during melting. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold using the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventors: Adam A Verreault, Sean T. O'Keeffe, Joseph W Stevick, Brennan D Yahata
  • Patent number: 9339867
    Abstract: A device for die-casting metal material, including a screw unit for bringing the material into a thixotropic state and a cylinder/piston unit fed by the screw unit for applying pressure to the thixotropic material for the die casting, wherein a thermally controllable valve is arranged between the screw unit and the cylinder/piston unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Mold-Thix-Consulting Bueltermann GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Bültermann
  • Patent number: 9340429
    Abstract: A preparation method for graphitized carbon material is disclosed. The method may include placing a water-cooled copper mold having a water-cooling equipment at a bottom thereof in a vacuum arc melting furnace, wherein the water-cooled copper mold has disposed thereon a graphite crucible with carbon material therein and the graphite crucible has a tungsten rod placed thereon, with a lower terminal of the tungsten rod and the carbon material within the graphite crucible aligning. The method may further include flowing a gas after placing the vacuum arc melting furnace in a vacuum environment before heating the vacuum arc melting furnace to at least 3200 degrees Celsius to graphitize the carbon material and to form a fully graphitized carbon material after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Swe-Kai Chen
  • Patent number: 9327347
    Abstract: Devices may be in contact with molten metals such as copper, for example. The devices may include, but are not limited to, a die used for producing articles made from the molten metal, a sensor for determining an amount of a dissolved gas in the molten metal, or an ultrasonic device for reducing gas content (e.g., hydrogen) in the molten metal. Niobium may be used as a protective barrier for the devices when they are exposed to the molten metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Victor F. Rundquist, Kevin S. Gill