Abstract: A tubular melt containment member for transient containment of molten metals and alloys, especially reactive metals and alloys, includes a melt-contacting layer or region that comprises an oxygen-deficient rare earth oxide material that is less reactive as compared to the counterpart stoichiometric rare earth oxide. The oxygen-deficient (sub-stoichiometric) rare earth oxide can comprise oxygen-deficient yttria represented by Y2O3-x wherein x is from 0.01 to 0.1. Use of the oxygen-deficient rare earth oxide as the melt-contacting layer or region material reduces reaction with the melt for a given melt temperature and melt contact time.

Abstract: Alloy formation systems and methods and a mechanism, strategy and design for power electronics having high operating temperatures. The system creates a bondline targeted for performance in power electronics. The system provides for sequential alloy growth in high temperature operating power electronics. The system is at least applicable to wafer-to-wafer, die-to-wafer, die-to-substrate, or die-to-die bonding.

Abstract: A casting apparatus for casting a railcar coupler, which includes a shank portion and a head portion, includes cope and drag portions that define an external shape of the coupler. The casting apparatus also includes one or more cores that define an interior of the shank portion and a separate head core with an exterior that defines an interior of the head portion that includes lock chamber, guard arm side portion, and knuckle side portions of the head. The head core is a single piece with a hollow center section that defines a front face gating system that includes at least one in-gate configured to direct molten material to top and bottom regions of the head to define the lock chamber, guard arm side portion, and knuckle side of the head.

Abstract: Provided is a die-casting die which is less likely to cause gas defects. A die-casting die in which a runner (1) is branched at a branch section (3), and cavities are connected to the respective downstream ends of the branched runner, wherein the runner (1) comprises a main runner (2) that is located upstream of the branch section (3) and a plurality of sub-runners (4) that are located downstream from the branch section (3), a volume section (5) having an opening (6) that opens toward the main runner (2) is formed at a portion of the branch section (3) that represents an extension of the direction of the main runner (2), and the width of the opening (6) is greater than the width of the main runner (2).

Abstract: A method of making a turbomachine part, wherein the method can include machining a blank into a base having blades extending therefrom, the blades defining a channel therebetween. The method can also include forming a bridge constructed from refractory material in the channel between the blades, and forming a cover on the tops of the blades and over the channel, such that the base, the blades, and the cover form a single substantially homogenous turbomachine part once the bridge is removed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a strip joining apparatus for pipe mill equipment. The strip joining apparatus cuts a trailing end of a preceding steel strip and a leading end of a following steel strip, and puts the cut surfaces of the two steel strips into contact with each other, and then welds them to each other. Particularly, a cutting blade of a first cutting unit and a cutting blade of a second cutting unit are inclined in the downward direction at predetermined angles relative to each other. Thus, the ends of the two steel strips, which are respectively cut by the cutting blades, define a ‘V’-shape groove. In this state, the cut ends of the two steel strips are put in close contact with each other and are welded to each other, so that the quality of welding of the junction between the thick strips can be enhanced.

Abstract: Methods of casting improved scroll compressor components having high quality involute portions are provided. The casting method comprises gating molten metal through a patterned region of a core or mold defining the involute vanes. In certain aspects, during casting, molten metal passes through one or more gates that extend through a core in a central patterned region that forms the involute portion of the scroll component. In certain variations, the metal comprises a gray cast iron, so the cast part comprises an involute having a matrix of pearlite and Type A graphite that is substantially free of undercooling defects. Further, in certain variations, the involute portion is substantially free of Types B-E graphite. Thus, high-quality low-defect cast scroll components are formed having good machinability and superior fatigue strength.

Abstract: Maintaining the shell surface temperature profile under transient conditions by spray water cooling in continuous casting of steel is often desired to reduce occurrence of surface cracks. For this purpose, a real-time spray-cooling control system is provided that includes one or more of: a virtual sensor for accurate estimation/prediction of shell surface temperature, control algorithm and data checking subroutines for robust temperature control, server and client programs for communicating between these software components and the caster, and a real-time monitor to display the predicted shell surface temperature profiles, water flow rates, and operating data, among other things.

Abstract: A device that holds and replaces a casting plate in a continuous casting installation metallurgical vessel contains a detector-limit switch assembly that automatically moves a casting plate to the casting position or to the sealing position, depending on whether a replacement plate is on standby on the device or not. Casting plates used with the invention are provided with a metallic casing. The casting plates and metallic casing are configured to interact with the detector contained in the device.

Abstract: A core assembly for casting a railcar coupler knuckle includes a first core and a second core. The first core includes a lug. A slot is defined in the second core. First and second positive stop surfaces are provided. The invention reduces core shifting during casting and therefore improves the strength and fatigue life of a coupler knuckle.

Abstract: A cleaning system and method for cleaning die cast metal waste from an interior of a die cast machine riser tube is provided whereby the cleaning system includes a riser tube stand, a heating means, a cleaning tool and leak test materials. The method includes heating the riser tube to a predetermined temperature to melt away the waste and cleaning the remaining residue with the cleaning tool.

Abstract: A molten metal casting die having a modified surface, a method for making such dies, and a method for making articles of manufacture from such dies is disclosed. The methods are designed to protect die steel surfaces having a protective coating from corrosion by molten metals substantially containing liquid copper.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing alloy sheet, comprising a container for melted alloy liquid positioned in an inductive heating coil; a liquid flow stabilization outfit comprising a barrel container with open bottom and a base board arranged below the open bottom, and the barrel container's upper part being positioned below the mouth of the container for melted alloy liquid; a quenching wheel positioned below the melted alloy liquid flown from the liquid flow stabilization outfit's base board, which carries the melted alloy liquid and spins it into strips, to make the strips become alloy sheets after collision; a transferring outfit positioned below the wheel for further cooling and transferring of the alloy sheets, wherein the quenching wheel is equipped with a means for differentiating cooling rate for various alloy sheets. The magnetic material made of these alloy sheets is good in orientation, easy for post-sinter processing, and suitable for mass production.

Abstract: A casting device includes a covered crucible having a top opening and a bottom orifice, a lid covering the top opening, a stopper rod sealing the bottom orifice, and a reusable mold having at least one chamber, a top end of the chamber being open to and positioned below the bottom orifice and a vacuum tap into the chamber being below the top end of the chamber. A casting method includes charging a crucible with a solid material and covering the crucible, heating the crucible, melting the material, evacuating a chamber of a mold to less than 1 atm absolute through a vacuum tap into the chamber, draining the melted material into the evacuated chamber, solidifying the material in the chamber, and removing the solidified material from the chamber without damaging the chamber.

Abstract: A three-dimensional thin-film solar cell 100, comprising a three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprising a plurality of single-aperture or dual-aperture unit cells with emitter junction regions 522 and doped base regions 530, emitter metallization regions 525 and base metallization regions 532. Optionally, the three-dimensional thin-film solar cell may be mounted on a rear mirror for improved light trapping and conversion efficiency.

Abstract: System, method, and apparatus are provided for harvesting electrical energy from a photovoltaic source of electrical energy. The photovoltaic source has power-generating characteristics defined by a family of voltage-current curves comprising points of maximum electrical power over a respective range of at least one of the following for the photovoltaic source: distinct illumination intensities and distinct temperatures. The apparatus is made up of a switching converter coupled to the photovoltaic source. The converter has an input voltage-current curve having a predefined functional relationship between the input voltage and the input current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the continuous casting of a metal strand (1), in which the cast strand (1) leaves a die (2) vertically or arcuately downwards and is subsequently guided in a strand guide (3), wherein the strand guide (3) has a number of pairs of rollers (4), which define between them an adjustable roller nip (5), and wherein, at the start of casting, to close the die (2) in the downward direction, a piece of strand (6) is introduced into the die (2) and is followed by the cast strand (1). In order to improve the adjustment of the roller nip, the invention provides that the piece of strand (6), which is produced with a defined or calibrated thickness (d), is inserted between the respective pairs of rollers to calibrate and/or measure the roller nip (5).

Abstract: A method for centrifugal casting using a sand core having a refractory coating applied in a dry state, without the use of a liquid carrier, said coating sufficient to withstand the adverse forces of the centrifugal casting environment and yield a finished cast surface with a consistent, smooth surface. The coating may be applied by pressing the coating into a mixture of refractory material and impacting media fluidized in a vibratory bed such that the core floats in the mixture, and then rotating the core to coat the surfaces that will be in contact with the molten metal in the casting process.

Abstract: An apparatus for centrifugal casting under vacuum includes a rotor having a shaft extending in an essentially vertical direction and being rotatable around an axis defined by the shaft. The rotor has at least one mold, at least one crucible, and a gas-tight housing in which the mold and the crucible are accommodated. The apparatus also includes a vacuum source to create a vacuum in the housing, a heating device that melts a metal, a drive device that drives the shaft in order to rotate the rotor, and an auxiliary acceleration device configured to generate a force to further rotate the rotor to overcome a moment of inertia of the rotor. The auxiliary acceleration device includes a jet propulsion and/or at least one pushing actuator accelerating the resting rotor.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming electrode heads includes a first and second lost-wax areas; a first and second electrode head forming areas; and a first, second and third transfer units. The first transfer unit rotates an electrode plate group from a horizontal to a vertical orientation. The second transfer unit holds the electrode plate group oriented vertically, and delivers it to be dipped in wax in the first lost-wax area, and then delivers the wax dipped electrode plate group to the first electrode head forming area to form one electrode head on one end thereof. The third transfer unit rotates the electrode plate group with the first electrode head, and delivers it to be dipped in wax in the second lost-wax area, and then delivers the wax dipped electrode plate group with the first electrode head to the second electrode head forming area to form another electrode head on thereof.