Abstract: The toy uses metal molding material having a relatively low melting point which produces realistic toy metal objects. The metal is heated in a crucible and poured into a preferably closed, flexible mold made of rubber. The crucible and the mold are mounted to a molding platform held in a fixed position relative to each other with an outlet of the crucible communicating with an inlet of the mold. The molding platform is pivotally mounted in the toy, and both the crucible and the mold are pivoted or tilted to allow liquefied metal in the crucible to flow into the mold. A crank mechanism pivots the molding platform. The toy has a removable inner cover which mounts to the molding platform to cover the crucible and the mold, and a pivotally mounted outer cover which when closed blocks access to the molding platform and the inner cover.

Abstract: The surface features of an article are replicated by preparing a master model having a preselected surface feature thereon which is to be replicated, and replicating the preselected surface feature of the master model. The replication is accomplished by providing a piece of a bulk-solidifying amorphous metallic alloy, contacting the piece of the bulk-solidifying amorphous metallic alloy to the surface of the master model at an elevated replication temperature to transfer a negative copy of the preselected surface feature of the master model to the piece, and separating the piece having the negative copy of the preselected surface feature from the master model.

Abstract: The coated pattern is formed from a consumable pattern, preferably polystyrene, and is adapted to be decomposed and replaced by molten metal to form a casting. The improved coating is the dried residue of an aqueous coating formed from water, refractory particles, and from between about 25 wt-% and 75 wt-% organic polymer on a non-volatile solids basis (i.e., dry film basis). Lustrous carbon is reduced when casting iron.

Abstract: The apparatus has a starter bar of novel design which avoids the problems of deformation of the billet base, loss and waste of casting metal and loss of billet stability. The apparatus includes a tub-like having a peripheral wall and a central raised element or cone having tapered outer surfaces, to stabilize the base of the billet during casting and to dislodge the cooled billet as it shrinks.

Abstract: Mold coatings that are relatively unreactive with titanium and titanium alloys during casting are prepared from yttria slurries, which may contain other refractory materials, an acid and an inert organic solvent.

Abstract: Metal matrix composite is made by assembling pre-forms of porous reinforcing material with an array of separator plates in a die in a pressure vessel, and infiltrating molten metal matrix material. Pre-evacuation followed by pressurisation when the molten metal matrix material is introduced into the die aids the infiltration. Re-introduction of gas during initial heating prior to melting speeds the heat-up process.

Abstract: The controlled pre-rolling of a slab, leaving a continuous casting plant is carried out with pairs of pre-rolling elements (14, 114, 16) assembled in at least one pre-rolling assembly (10), the first of these pre-rolling assemblies (10) being positioned immediately downstream of the foot rolls (12) of a crystalliser (11). At least one data processing and controlling unit (21) governs the positioning and the adjustment of the pre-rolling elements (14, 114, 16), the final pre-rolling zone being pre-defined by a specific pair (No.

Abstract: A space defined by inside surfaces of a main molding flask and lower auxiliary flask and the upper surface of a pattern plate where the upper surface of the pattern plate is retained at a predetermined level along the inside surfaces of the main molding flask and lower auxiliary flask is filled with an amount of molding sand. The molding sand is then squeezed in the space with upper and lower press heads in at least one of upward and downward directions to form at least one of first and second halves of a sand mold such that a lower surface of the first or second half of the sand mold is formed at a desired level along the inside surfaces of the main molding flask and lower auxiliary flask irrespective of edges of the main molding and lower auxiliary flasks. The desired level is determined by the level of the upper surface of the pattern plate at the time when the squeezing step has finished.

Abstract: The casting plant includes dual independent casting workstations which sequentially interact with a common core inserting station, the dual workstations include casting removal stations, cooling and blackwash stations, and casting die travelling and manipulating units. The several workstations are compactly arranged, whereby only one operator is needed for core inserting and cleaning of the die halves. Each set of workstations may operate independently of the other set.

Abstract: Process for detecting defects during continuous casting between rolls where, during casting, a signal depending on the rolls separating force (RSF) is measured, the signal being separated into various harmonic components, the result of the comparison of the harmonic components thus obtained with reference harmonics being representative of a defective status of the rolls, this defective status of the rolls enabling various rules to be defined for the execution of the process.

Abstract: The upper level of a pouring conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. Each mold is provided with a supportive weight and jacket before pouring. After the castings have been poured, the molds are transferred to the lower level of the pouring conveyor for cooling purposes, and then back to the upper level to remove the weight and jacket. The sand molds are then transferred to the upper level of a cooling conveyor and are deposited into trays provided on the cooling conveyor. Each tray is adapted to receive a plurality of molds to enable the molds to move from serial to parallel movement. An indexable pusher arm is provided to accurately place each mold in a respective tray to insure proper spacing for uniform cooling. After each tray has traversed the upper and lower levels of the cooling conveyor, the molds are removed from the trays and the sand is broken away to reveal the castings for harvest.

Abstract: Before supplying molding sand into the blow head, a blow-in port of the mold-defining device is connected to a blow-off port of the blow head so that molding sand flowing out of the blow-off port is received by the device after the molding sand has been supplied to the blow head. Preferably, after molding sand has been charged into the mold space but before the mold-defining device is moved out of engagement with the blow head, sand remaining in the blow-off port is hardened.

Abstract: In order to effectively remove and reclaim sand from a metal casting, an apparatus and system includes a bed having an entrance for receiving the casting and an exit for removing the casting. The bed is adapted to fluidize sand and may also be subjected to vibratory forces. The apparatus and system further includes a sand distribution conveyor for supplying sand to be fluidized to the bed at a point generally near the entrance and a sand transfer conveyor for removing sand to be recirculated from the bed at a point generally near the exit. The bed achieves a thorough mixing of the sand due to the fluidization and vibratory forces. With these features of construction, the apparatus and system also includes a sand return conveyor with all of the conveyors being vibratory and insulated to achieve energy efficient sand recirculation.

Abstract: Aluminum parts are cast in a plurality of permanent-type or semi-permanent-type molds, the molds being preheated to a predetermined temperature before starting the casting operation, and being provided with temperature sensors and a logic device which produces a blocking signal for the casting system when the temperature of the mold is below a predetermined casting temperature in order to minimize the number of scrap castings due to uneven or low mold temperature. Hot gases are created and flowed through the interior of the mold, by a burner and hood shaped to fit over at least some mold openings.

Abstract: In a method of producing a piston through casting, the piston has a piston head, a skirt, a pin boss and a supporting area, the supporting area connecting a periphery of the pin boss with the skirt. A plurality of molds are arranged such that the molds form cavities corresponding to a configuration of the piston. Mold matching surfaces between the molds are arranged such that the molds are contacted by each other at positions different from corners of the supporting area of the piston. A casting is performed by using the molds so that the piston is produced.

Abstract: An improved soluble core for die casting metals or metal matrix composites is formed of a mixture of salt and about more than 0 weight % and less than 20 weight % of ceramic material blended together to produce a homogeneous mixture and compacted under pressure to produce a soluble core having little or no porosity. The ceramic material can be in the form of fibers, particulates, whiskers, and/or platelets, and has a melting temperature greater than that of the salt. The core can include a thermally insulating outer ceramic coating to enable the core to withstand higher die casting temperatures than conventional salt cores. The improved soluble core is removable with hot water and/or steam and the core material can be reclaimed for reuse.

Abstract: A mold sand feeding tank 4 is provided for feeding mold sand S into a hollow core molding portion 2 defined by a pair of molds 1a and 1b mating with each other. A switching valve 7 is disposed within the mold sand feeding tank 4 and has a mold sand feeding opening 5, through which the mold sand S is fed into the mold sand feeding tank 4 from the outside, and a mold sand discharging opening 6, through which non-hardened mold sand Sb within the hollow core molding portion 2 is directly and externally discharged.

Abstract: Metal strip close to its final dimensions is cast using a strip-casting apparatus provided with a melt-holding vessel and a conveyor belt, in which a metal melt, in particular steel, flows out of a casting nozzle of a closable pouring chamber which can be put under vacuum and is connected via a siphon to a main chamber which can be put under pressure. The casting nozzle is inclined by about 45.degree. and is of trumpet-like configuration in the region of the orifice on the inside of the nozzle wall remote from the main chamber. Additionally, a shut-off element which can be opened in a slit-shaped manner is provided near the orifice of the casting nozzle.

Abstract: The casting apparatus has a holding furnace for holding a reservoir of molten material, at least one smaller pumping furnace also for holding a reservoir of molten material and a casting cavity connected to the pumping furnace by one or more feed pipes. The pumping furnace is provided with a pressurizing assembly for applying a pressure to force the molten material from the pumping furnace into the casting cavity. The pumping furnace and holding furnace are contiguous and are connected by a non-return valve which prevents the flow of molten material from the pumping furnace to the holding furnace during pressurization but which allows the flow of molten material from the holding furnace to the pumping furnace after pressurization.

Abstract: A chill vent made of copper or copper alloy has a concave section and a convex section, each being subjected to removal of flat parting portions on both side surfaces, and a gas exhaust passage is formed over the entire width region. These gas exhaust passage portions have side surfaces and back surfaces which are enclosed in hard U-shaped guide frames. It is possible to effectively avoid occurrence of leakage or flashing of molten metal due to a plastic deformation of the chill vent by a mold fastening force applied upon assembly of a die-casting mold, which may occur when a copper or copper alloy having a superior cooling property as the material for chill vent.