Abstract: A flask for containing mold sand within it prevents any mold shifting or mold dropping. Each of an upper flask 2 and a lower flask 3 includes a body that defines an opening in which a sand mold is to be molded. The body has at least one inlet 101 for introducing the mold sand into the opening. Two flanges 102 are extended from the body such that they are opposed to each other across the opening. Each flange has a through bore. The flask also includes engaging members for engaging an actuator in the outside of the flask such that a force or forces from said actuator could be transmitted to the flask. An upper flask 104 and a lower flask 105 are opposed to each other across a pattern plate 107. They are integrally assembled to make a flask unit by means of a pair of connecting rods 106 that are fitted in each bore.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating iron castings for metallic components. The method for fabricating the iron castings may include forming a molten solution by melting carbon and iron and combining carbon nanomaterials with the molten solution. A first portion of the carbon nanomaterials combined with the molten solution may be dispersed therein. The method may also include cooling the molten solution to solidify at least a portion of the carbon thereof to fabricate the iron castings. The first portion of the carbon nanomaterials may be dispersed in the iron castings.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing railcar coupler headcores includes providing a first corebox having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least one rotor core cavity. The method further comprises at least partially filling the at least one rotor core cavity with a first sand resin to form at least one rotor core. The method also includes providing a second corebox having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least one headcore cavity. The at least one rotor core is positioned within the second corebox. The method also comprises at least partially filling the at least one headcore cavity with a second sand resin to form at least one headcore.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the centrifugal casting of spheres, particularly solid and hollow spheres having a gradient internal density. Molten or self-hardening casting material is introduced into a hollow spherical mold and the mold made to rotate about two axes intersecting at the center of the mold. The resulting centrifugal forces cause the casting material to be evenly distributed about the inner surface of the mold. If a mixture of casting materials of different densities is used, the densest material will settle closer to the walls of the mold, while less dense materials will move closer to the center. The casting material is hardened and the resulting sphere is removed from the mold. One or more valves may be employed to transport fluent materials into and out of the mold. If gas is removed from a partially-filled mold prior to casting, the product will be a hollow sphere having an interior pressure less than ambient.

Abstract: A die casting apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a sleeve 30 to which molten metal is supplied, and dies 10 and 20 configured to form a cavity C, in which the molten metal supplied to the sleeve 30 is injected into the cavity C through a runner R linking the sleeve 30 with the cavity C. A plurality of protrusions 22 are provided in the runner R, the plurality of protrusions 22 extending in a direction in which the molten metal flows and being arranged in a comb-teeth arrangement in a width direction of the runner R.

Abstract: A system for controlling the progress of the manufacture of at least one product by vertical semi-continuous direct chill casting, in particular from aluminium alloy, in a fixed mold, the control system includes a dummy bottom configured to form a movable lower bottom of the fixed mold and to carry the product during casting; a weighing cell, on which the dummy bottom is arranged to rest, the weighing cell being configured to take measurements representative of the mass of the product carried by the dummy bottom during casting; and a support of the dummy bottom, to which the weighing cell is linked, configured to lower the false bottom relative to the fixed mold, substantially in a vertical direction, during casting; and a processing unit connected to each weighing cell, and configured to process the measurements, and calculate the variation in the mass of the product over time.

Abstract: A mold transfer assembly includes a transfer housing providing an interior defined by one or more sidewalls and a top. The transfer housing is sized to receive and encapsulate a mold as the mold is moved between a furnace and a thermal heat sink. An arm is coupled to the transfer housing to move the transfer housing and the mold encapsulated within the transfer housing between the furnace and a thermal heat sink. The transfer housing exhibits one or more thermal properties to control a thermal profile of the mold.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal component using lost-wax casting is provided. The component is made of, for example, nickel alloy, with a columnar or monocrystalline structure with at least one cavity of elongate shape. The method includes creating a wax model of the component with a ceramic core corresponding to the cavity, creating a shell mold around the model, placing the mold in a furnace, with the base standing on the sole of the furnace, pouring molten alloy into the shell mold, solidifying the poured metal by gradual cooling from the sole in a direction of propagation.

Abstract: Provided is a method for filling a stem-side hollow area of an engine valve with metallic sodium. The method includes injecting melted metallic sodium into a cylinder having a larger diameter than an inner diameter of the hollow area of the engine valve, forming a solidified metallic sodium rod having a substantially uniform structure in the cylinder, inserting the metallic sodium into the hollow area of the engine valve through a nozzle having a small diameter, and sealing the engine valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for casting of cast parts in which molten metal is poured via a feeder, separate runners, or casting channels into a mould cavity defined by a casting mould and modeling the shape of the cast part, whereby the casting mould includes mould parts which determine the shape of the cast part to be cast. Molten metal is conveyed via at least two connections into at least two sections of the mould cavity which correspond to different planes of the part to be cast. At least one of the connections is designed as an additional channel leading through one of the mould parts and independent of the contour of the cast part to be cast. The present invention also relates to a casting mould as described above.

Abstract: Shot sleeves for high temperature die casting include a low modulus single crystal nickel-based alloy having less than 1 ppm sulfur, a low modulus single crystal nickel-based alloy doped with a sulfur active element, a low modulus single crystal nickel-based alloy having a protective oxide coating, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

Abstract: An apparatus for the simultaneous casting of multiple components using a directional solidification process includes; a pouring cup arranged on a centerline, an array of moulds encircling the pouring cup and centre line, an array of feed channels extending from the pouring cup to a top end of each mould, and a heat deflector. The heat deflector comprises a wall arranged between the array of moulds and the centerline extending along the length of the moulds and in thermal contact with the moulds.

Abstract: A complex cast component of an internal combustion engine, in particular a crankshaft or a camshaft, has a longitudinal axis, a plurality of regions, along the longitudinal axis, and a first cavity. Each of the plurality of regions has a certain cool-down rate during a solidification process of a casting process. The first cavity is arranged in a first region of the plurality of regions and has a volume that depends on a first cool-down rate of the first region. In this way, a material thickness in the first region likewise depends on the first cool-down rate.

Abstract: The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mold for continuous casting including a temperature detection unit which can detect the temperature of a copper plate of the mold with high precision, and can be easily inserted into and pulled out of the copper plate. The present invention includes: a main body; and a temperature detection unit which is inserted in an insertion hole in the main body, and detects temperature inside the mold. The temperature detection unit includes: an FBG sensor inserted in a protection tube which can be deformed in a radial direction; and a support member which supports the FBG sensor along the longitudinal direction. At a temperature detection point, the protection tube in which the FBG sensor is inserted is held between a stretched member in the support member and an inner surface of the insertion hole.

Abstract: A mold for production of cast parts, having two mold parts in the form of mold plates, which mold parts arc movable with respect to each other from an open position into a closed position, wherein the mold parts in their closed position define a mold cavity which may be filled with liquid casting compound and in their open position enable removal of a cast part which has solidified by at least partial cooling, and are lockable in their closed position by a locking device which joining the two mold parts so as to be releasable, and which mold parts may also be swung, wherewith in the closed position the locking device produces the locking of the mold plates with the stipulation that the locking pressure is maintained. The locking device has an energy storage means with a gas pressure spring for maintaining the closing pressure which presses the mold plates together after they have initially been pressed together.

Abstract: A method of providing datum features on a ceramic article including the steps of providing a ceramic member having a plurality of substantially parallel holes extending into the ceramic member. Providing a plurality of tubular mounts, the cross-sectional area of each tubular mount being less than the cross-sectional area of the corresponding hole. Applying adhesive to the exterior surface of each one of the tubular mounts and inserting an adhesive covered tubular mount into each one of the holes. Providing a fixture member having a plurality of substantially parallel projections extending from predetermined positions. Positioning the ceramic member on the fixture member such that each projection locates in one of the tubular mounts and fixes the tubular mounts at the predetermined positions. The ceramic article may be removed from the fixture member or located in a machine tool using the fixture member and machining the ceramic article.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the centrifugal casting of spheres, particularly hollow spheres containing low air pressure. Molten or self-hardening casting material is introduced into a hollow spherical mold and the mold made to rotate about two axes intersecting at the center of the mold. The resulting centrifugal forces cause the casting material to be evenly distributed about the inner surface of the mold. The casting material is hardened and the resulting sphere is removed from the mold. One or more valves may be employed to transport fluent materials into and out of the mold. If gas is removed from a partially-filled mold prior to casting, the product will be a hollow sphere having an interior pressure less than ambient. Spheres made according to the present invention have a wide range of uses including insulation and bearing balls.

Abstract: A mould for casting a component in a directional solidification casting process having a preferred direction of grain growth (non-axial <001>) comprises a shell defining a cavity for receiving molten material. The cavity defines a three dimensional shape made up of a finished component geometry portion (42, 43, 44) and a sacrificial geometry portion (45) wherein the sacrificial geometry portion (45) includes a notch (48) which is shaped and positioned so as to, in use, contain high angle grain boundaries between dendritic growth in the preferred direction (non-axial <001>) and dendritic growth in a competing direction to the preferred direction (axial <001>) within the sacrificial geometry portion of a casting solidifying in the mould.

Abstract: Improved casting powders and improved casting slags enable production of steels having high aluminum contents of greater than or equal to 1% by weight and, in some cases, high manganese content of greater than or equal to 15% by weight. In some examples, such steels may also or alternatively include greater than or equal to 0.2% by weight titanium. The casting slag may result from a casting powder that comprises CaO and Al2O3 components essentially in the form of prefused calcium aluminate. Methods for casting steel, including methods for continuously casting steel, are also disclosed based on the use of the disclosed casting powders or casting slags.

Abstract: Providing a method of modifying refractory particles used to produce a casting mold by using a furan resin as a binder, so as to effectively improve a strength of the casting mold and to reduce a required amount of the binder. An artificial aggregate which is artificially produced and which has an apparent porosity of not more than 5% is used as the refractory particles, and the artificial aggregate is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of 400-1500° C. for not shorter than one hour in a heating atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of not higher than 15%.