Abstract: A casting arrangement for the single crystal casting of a component in which a common feed for molten metal is provided with a filtration arrangement that incorporates an annular filter. Outlets in a housing surrounding the filter direct the filtered molten metal on to a seed crystal and into a spiral grain selector.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a pour hole and main sprue in an investment mold for lost wax casting. A sprue having a flared base, a base member adapted to receive the flared base of the sprue for vertically supporting the sprue, and a flask for containing investment material immersing the sprue, define the casting apparatus of the present invention. The present investment casting sprue apparatus forms a pour hole in the hardened investment material suitable for smoothly introducing liquid metals into the cavity formed by the sprue, thereby reducing the number of casting defects related to turbulent filling. This is accomplished as a result of the flared base of the sprue, which forms a gentle transition into the sprue. The current practice, by contrast, uses a sprue having a cylindrical base which is simply inserted into a hole in a finger or button formed in the supporting base member for the sprue without regard to this smooth transition.

Abstract: A method of ascending casting in a casting cavity where filling from the bottom results in a region of reduced pressure formed during the cooling in which solidification can be expected to take place last. The region is post-fed with molten material from a shortest possible feeding duct. By doing this, the consumption of casting metal is reduced, because it is no longer necessary to use a surplus of molten material to keep the bottom ingate open for feeding purposes and the consumption of mold material is also reduced because it is no longer necessary to adapt the mold to accommodate surplus molten material.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a pour hole and main sprue in an investment mold for lost wax casting. A sprue having a flared base, a base member adapted to receive the flared base of the sprue for vertically supporting the sprue, and a flask for containing investment material immersing the sprue, define the casting apparatus of the present invention. The present investment casting sprue apparatus forms a pour hole in the hardened investment material suitable for smoothly introducing liquid metals into the cavity formed by the sprue, thereby reducing the number of casting defects related to turbulent filling. This is accomplished as a result of the flared base of the sprue, which forms a gentle transition into the sprue. The current practice, by contrast, uses a sprue having a cylindrical base which is simply inserted into a hole in a finger or button formed in the supporting base member for the sprue without regard to this smooth transition.

Abstract: A filter unit for use in metal casting including a filter adapter, a filter adapter per se, and a mold for use in metal casting utilizing the filter unit, as well as a method of producing a metal casting, facilitate or practice direct pouring in a manner which provides for greater flexibility, being applicable to a wider range of castings. The apparatus elements and method are particularly suitable for the manufacturing of castings of relatively high modulus and low pour weight, and for the manufacture of high volume castings of low modulus. The mold includes a mold cavity and a sprue, a filter unit located in the sprue, and the filter unit comprising an adapter of refractory material having one or more ledges o10 for mounting a filter, and a filter (e.g. ceramic foam filter) supported by one of the ledges.

Abstract: In an arrangement of an ingate system with feeding reservoir for feeding castings, preferably in moulds with pouring form the bottom (ascending casting), with which ingate system at least a feeding reservoir is connected. The ingate system is connected to one or a number of mould cavities least one feeding reservoir (7) is provided consituting a widened part of a duct (4) or a part of a duct in the ingate system (1), and that a partition (6) consisting of a gauze screen (6) or equivalent is provided separating the feeding reservoir (7) and the duct (4).

Abstract: A casting process with a forced and controlled vortex at sprue intake comprising imposing rotating motion to molten metal in a pouring basin on a casting mold to create a vortex of molten metal while introducing the molten metal into a cavity, and causing the vortex of molten metal to flow into a sprue along an inner wall thereof so as to create a central vortex core in the molten metal in the sprue while the molten metal is being poured into the sprue.

Abstract: The sprue/riser sleeve 40 has a tubular, preferably cylindrical wall 42 extending between an inlet end 48 and an outlet end 50. The sleeve 40 has a woven mesh filter extending across a central passageway 51 with a periphery 54 of the filter 52 embedded into the wall 42. The periphery 54 has three or more, evenly spaced tabs 56 formed thereon that project further into or through the wall to secure the filter to the wall without materially weakening the wall. Preferably, the filter has a square-shaped periphery 54 with corners 64 that define the tabs 56. The main portion of the periphery extends into the wall less that one-half the thickness of the wall, whereas the tabs extend into the wall a distance greater than one-half the thickness.

Abstract: By providing a separate, independent, elongated, open-ended hollow conduit and positioning the conduit in the central sprue of an investment casting shell or mold, a unique dual chamber, bottom feeding system is obtained. In order to assure that the molten metal is fed to the bottom of the central sprue at the desired position, portal zones are formed near the distal end of the conduit and the molten metal is fed into the proximal end of the conduit. In the preferred embodiment, holding and locking means are employed to maintain the conduit in the desired position during the pouring process. In addition, the present invention also preferably employs a unique annular trap zone formed in the base of the central sprue in cooperating relationship, with the elongated conduit for receiving and holding impurities contained within the molten metal.

Abstract: In a process for the manufacture of brake discs, in particular of ventilated brake discs, a top runner is formed in a top box (cope), from which the brake disc is cast approximately centrally. The molten metal is uniformly distributed using star-shaped riser ribs.

Abstract: Apparatus useful in forming a mold from a wax pattern in an investment casting process, the invention provides a loop element having arm elements which spiral downwardly from and inwardly of the loop element to a base element. Sprue pins mount wax patterns to the loop element in a casting process known as the "lost wax" technique, the apparatus of the invention being particularly useful in the environment of a dental laboratory for formation of crowns and the like of high density. The loop element and arm elements of the apparatus leave channels in the investment material on "burn out" which quickly accelerate a casting material, such as a metal alloy, into the formed mold or molds with a reduction of turbulence which results in fewer defective castings. The channel geometry provided by the apparatus provides benefits due to a lack of right angles or sharp corners which restrict the flow of casting material into the mold or molds.

Abstract: A mould (61) for metal casting has a mould cavity (62) and a sprue (63) communicating directly with the mould cavity (62) and located in the sprue (63) a sleeve (64) of refractory material having a cellular ceramic filter (65) fixed therein. The mould, which has no running system apart from the sprue, may be a sand mould or a metal die for producing castings by gravity or low pressure diecasting. The cellular ceramic filter may be a honeycomb type of structure having cells which extend between two outer surfaces of the filter or a structure having interconnecting cells such as a ceramic foam.

Abstract: A mould (61) for metal casting has a mould cavity (62) and a sprue (63) communicating directly with the mould cavity (62) and located in the sprue (63) a sleeve (64) of refractory material having a cellular ceramic filter (65) fixed therein. The mould, which has no running system apart from the sprue, may be a sand mould or a metal die for producing castings by gravity or low pressure diecasting. The cellular ceramic filter may be a honeycomb type of structure having cells which extend between two outer surfaces of the filter or a structure having interconnecting cells such as a ceramic foam.

Abstract: A casting mold for foundry castings is proposed wherein the casting mold comprises a melt treatment chamber above a mold cavity wherein the treatment chamber and mold cavity are communicated via a duct. The treatment chamber is provided with a closure element formed as part of the casting mold which is shearable therefrom upon the application of a force for sealing the duct between the treatment chamber of the mold cavity.

Abstract: An article of refractory hollowware for use in a runner assembly for casting molten metals e.g. ferrous metals, has at least one inner surface adapted to increase the internal surface contact area of the article. The surface is so arranged as to effect at least two abrupt changes of direction of flow of molten metal flowing through the article. Use of the article minimizes the level of non-metallic inclusions in ingots and castings.

Abstract: A gravity poured foundry mold having a gating system and at least one complete mold casting cavity, the gating system allowing castings to be made in more compact molds, using less metal at lower temperature, obtaining less solidification strained castings, and requiring less fettling work and less pattern work. The gating system combines the use of a strainer such as a skin-strainer with any of several fluid restraining devices including but not limited to skin-strainer covers, restraining floating pieces, non-floating restraining pieces and blind floating pieces. Also disclosed are applications in which a skin-strainer is omitted. There is disclosed apparatus which may be standardized, thereby greatly increasing the ease, accuracy and confidence with which the gating system may be used in foundries which would have available to them sets of different sizes of standardized, interchangeable and prefabricated elements as disclosed herein.

Abstract: A bottom circular tray, a circular top cap and one or more circular disks are coupled thereto, the disks, the top cap and the bottom tray having a common central sprue or cylinder. The plurality of disks form an ascending spiral path from the bottom tray to the top cap. Liquid metal will flow through the central sprue to the bottom tray and up through the ascending spiral path to the top cap and into the mold cavity to form an inclusion free casting.

Abstract: A horizontal casting technique and mold for use specifically with shell molds and runner feeder sections. The runner feeder sections are assembled within the shell molds such that the ends of the runner feeder section protrude from the mold and can be flow connected to a runner feeder of an adjacent assembly. A plurality of these assemblies constitute the horizontal mold having a horizontal runner feeder and a plurality of shell molds in spaced, side-by-side relationship.

Abstract: The device comprises a plurality of superimposed sectional plates each of which is provided with aligned holes defining a plurality of ducts lying in side-by-side relation, each of the ducts containing a plurality of helically twisted vanes which are angularly displaced with respect to one another at angles of substantially 90.degree..

Abstract: A device for mitigating the splashing of droplets of molten metal during the pouring of same into a mould comprises a strip or strips of material which form a system of polygonal cells. The device is for vertical location with the strips edgewise in the base of a mould and fulfills the function of either a splash-guard when casting direct or a float when bottom-casting.

Abstract: A gating system of general application for pouring foundry molds by gravity, based on a distinct prefabricated casting skin-strainer, located along and following the casting surface, structurally constructed and mold supported to withstand the impact of falling molten metal and the consequent metalistatic pressure, all while the cavity is filled through a skin-strainer aperture and with the skin-strainer retaining its original position and shape. The skin-strainer is able, when necessary, to allow the feeding of the casting once the mold is full and before it is solidified. Depending on the casting to be poured the system may include an overhead melt distributor, and techniques for mold casting cavity venting and sprue-feeder extraction.

Abstract: A two-part mold insert for forming a riser in a sand mold with the insert having a breakable thin collar and a cellular riser material which is compressible and gasible so that hot metal dissolves the cellular riser material but not the collar which prevents molding sand from falling into the mold during the gasification of cellular riser material.

Abstract: A mould for use in the casting of molten metal, comprises one or more generally vertically disposed mould cavities with an ingate to the or each mould cavity, the ingate communicating with a part of the mould adapted to form part of a runner-feeder and the said part of mould adapted to form part of the runner-feeder being so formed as to provide a weir, whereby with several moulds secured in side-by-side relationship, adjacent said parts of the moulds combine to form a generally horizontal runner-feeder, with a weir between longitudinally successive adjacent ingates, the weir being of a height such that the minimum vertical cross-sectional area of the runner-feeder is not less than the cross-sectional area of the ingate or the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the ingates associates with one mould, and the top of the weir is above the uppermost part of the or each mould cavity, so that with molten metal poured into the runner-feeder, molten metal flows into the well associated with a first mould from where

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for conditioning a charge of molten cast iron, which would normally solidify with a flake graphite structure, to produce partial or total spheroidal graphite cast iron. In addition, the method and apparatus can be used to further condition a partially conditioned cast iron to yield a partial or fully spheroidal graphite cast iron. A recess is provided in the metal flow system (within or without the mold system) leading to the casting cavity or cavities. The recess has a shape and cross-section (taken in directions normal to the direction of flow of the molten charge) such that the spheroidizing agent dissolves uniformly when the molten iron flows over it to achieve unprecedented homogeneity. A dense solid unitary block of spheroidizing or nodularizing agent, substantially devoid of MgO interiorly thereof, is typically snugly fitted in said recess and mates with the side walls and bottom of said recess.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding, by inoculation, cast iron parts requiring a spheroidal graphite texture, includes a mold containing the impression of the item to be cast and a treatment chamber, situated within the inlet channel of the mold, which opens into the impression of the part. The chamber contains the necessary inoculant for the casting of parts, and the volume of the chamber is equal to the sum of the volumes of the part being cast and the deadhead. The chamber is closed off from the impression portion of the mold by means of a temporary plug which is capable of being destroyed by means of the combined action of the temperature and pressure of the molten metal, the inoculation being performed within this chamber during the time necessary for the destruction of the temporary plug.

Abstract: A stricture is formed between riser and cast article in a conventional metal mold casting process to facilitate clean removal of the riser after casting by interposing thin-walled frangible constriction means between riser cavity and casting cavity prior to pouring molten metal; the flow of metal into casting cavity is also regulated thereby.