Patents Examined by Kuang Y. Lin
  • Patent number: 6942006
    Abstract: A metal injection molding apparatus is provided with features which reduce the amount of metal which enters the drive mechanism of the apparatus. The apparatus contains a piston having the head and the shaft, the shaft having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head. At least one piston ring circumscribes the piston shaft. The apparatus contains an injection chamber having an accumulation portion and a shaft housing portion. The shaft housing portion has openings in the sidewalls and a polygonal internal cross section. The accumulation portion of the injection chamber is maintained at a higher temperature than the shaft housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Kaname Kono
  • Patent number: 6942013
    Abstract: In twin roll casting of steel strip, molten steel is introduced into the nip between parallel casting rolls to create a casting pool supported on casting surfaces of the rolls and the rolls are rotated to deliver solidified strip downwardly from the nip. Casting surfaces are textured by a random pattern of discrete projections at least some of which include peaks having a surface distribution of between 5 and 200 projections per mm2 and an average height of at least 10 microns. The random texture may be produced by grit blasting the casting surfaces on a substrate covered by a protective coating. Alternatively the texture may be produced by chemical deposition or electrodeposition of a coating onto a substrate to form the casting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventors: Lazar Strezov, Kannappar Mukunthan
  • Patent number: 6938674
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous casting of metals has members (16) adapted to generate a stationary magnetic field of a variable strength over substantially the entire horizontal cross section of the mould from one long side to the other long side close to, or below, the region for supply of molten metal at a distance below the upper surface of the molten metal. There are also members (17) adapted to generate a variable magnetic field in the area of the upper surface in a region that is centrally located with respect to said cross section and close to a region for supply of molten metal. A unit (12) is adapted to control said magnetic members (16, 17) to generate, independently of each other, magnetic fields with an appearance that is dependent on the value prevailing of one or more predetermined casting parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Jan-Erik Eriksson
  • Patent number: 6938669
    Abstract: According to the present invention, between the mold-clamping process S1 in which the mold 1 is closed and the injection-pressure increase (solidifying) process S3, the gate-melting process for heating the hot runner 21 to melt the plug (metallic material) of the gate 27, the mold-lubricant coating process for spraying the lubricant onto the wall surface of the cavity 10, and the material-metering process are simultaneously carried out in parallel to each other. Thus, the molding cycle time can be reduced to a great extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Suzuki, Koichiro Sato, Ryuichi Onoda
  • Patent number: 6935406
    Abstract: A system and method for centrifugal casting of composites, especially metal-matrix composites. According to the system and method, a porous preform is infiltrated with matrix material using a centrifugal force to pressurize the matrix material against the preform. The pressure head of the matrix material is maintained at an approximately constant level throughout infiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Merton C. Flemings, Jessada Wannasin, Hoe Phong Tham
  • Patent number: 6935407
    Abstract: A casting apparatus has a melting pot (4) in which pieces of metal (8) to be melted is placed. A RF induction heater coil (10) is disposed in association with the melting pot (4) to heat the metal pieces (8). An inverter (18) supplies the coil (10) with high-frequency power to melt the metal pieces (8) in the melting pot (4), and the resulting molten metal is poured into a die (6). A control unit (36), after all of the metal pieces (8) having various sizes and shapes are melted, causes the operation of the inverter (18) to continue for a first time period and, after that, to suspend the operation of the inverter (18) for a second time period so that the heating can be stopped. After that, the control unit (36) causes the inverter (18) to resume its operation to heat the melted metal (8) in the melting pot (4) until the molten metal (8) assumes a predetermined state and, a third predetermined time after that, operates a melting pot driver (9) to cause the molten metal (8) to be poured into the die (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Sansha Electric Manufacturing Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kunio Shikata, Yoshiaki Komuro, Masayuki Ono, Kumiko Kurohara, Hideo Ishii
  • Patent number: 6932144
    Abstract: A method of casting an object, usually a railroad wheel, is provided. A graphite mold having a drag section and a cope section requires a plurality of riser openings in the cope section to ensure proper dimensional accuracy of the cast railroad wheel by allowing molten metal to continue to feed downwardly through the riser openings to the cast wheel cavity during initial cooling. The riser openings are lined with an improved insulating material in an accurate manner such that the insulating material is added between a machined riser opening in the graphite cope mold section and a mandrel inserted in the riser opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Amsted Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Shirley, Michael A. Bland
  • Patent number: 6932142
    Abstract: A reduction casting method includes the steps of: pouring a molten metal into a cavity of a molding die; and performing casting while reducing an oxide film formed on a surface of the molten metal by allowing the molten metal and a reducing substance to come into contact with each other in the cavity. On this occasion, the molten metal is poured into the cavity in a state in which the molding die is forcibly cooled by a cooling device, thereby being rapidly cooled. Further, on this occasion, a solidification speed at which the molten metal is rapidly cooled is allowed to be 600° C./min or more. Still further, on this occasion, the molten metal is filled into the cavity in a filling time of from 1.0 second to 9.0 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Ban
  • Patent number: 6932146
    Abstract: A method for casting an article composed of a foamed metal includes positioning a die with a die cavity above a bath of a molten metal and pressurizing the bath to cause the molten metal to fill the die cavity. A gas is then bubbled through the molten metal to form a foam. The foam is formed in the die cavity. Once the foam in the die cavity is solidified, the pressure in the bath is released and the formed article is removed. An apparatus for the method includes a die positioned above the bath, the die having a die cavity in fluid communication with the bath. The bath is provided with a pressurizing means and a venting means as well as a gas supply port for forming the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Cymat Corp.
    Inventors: Scott Nichol, James K. Killingbeck, Richard G. Manely
  • Patent number: 6929050
    Abstract: A wax runner is provided having risers along the edge of the surface which is melted to attach the wax gates of wax patterns to the wax runner. The risers prevent the flow of molten wax over the edge of the wax runner. In addition to the risers or separately, at least one locator extends from both ends of the wax runners, the locators are aligned with one another and assure a constant distance between the ends of the wax runner and the wax pattern being affixed to it. The locators further provide a fixed reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: MPI Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond H. Puffer, Jr., Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory MacKean, Jason Chalfant
  • Patent number: 6929052
    Abstract: A method for uphill casting/low-pressure casting, especially of light metal alloys, with a casting furnace lying below a casting table, having a riser pipe and a mouth opening of the riser pipe and having a mould with an underlying pouring-in opening and having a slide valve closure, forming a flow-through channel which for casting takes on a substantially straight, longitudinal course, wherein for shut-off in the slide valve closure, two opening sections of the flow-through channel directly adjacent one to the other are displaced with respect to one another transversely to the longitudinal course of the flow-through channel directly after casting with still liquid melt in the pouring-in opening, so that an overlying opening section remains in open communication with the pouring-in opening free from undercut and an underlying opening section remains in open communication with the mouth opening of the riser pipe, wherein the opening sections are completely offset with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Hydro Aluminium Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Fischer, Wolfgang Müller
  • Patent number: 6929055
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a submerged entry nozzle (6) having outlets in the main casting plane (P) which differ in their direction of output and fall within two categories (7, 8). The nozzle is associated with two inductors (14, 15) opposite each other on each broad face (22) of the casting mold forming a gap which surrounds the nozzle and produces a traversing magnetic field covering the outlets of at least one category (7). Elements are provided for adjusting the intensity of the field or for moving it so as to be able to change the distribution between the outlets of the total flow of molten metal. Implementing the invention makes it possible to adjust at any time that fraction of the metal flow which is directed toward the free surface (9) with respect to that, main, fraction directed toward the bottom of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Rotelec
    Inventors: Siebo Kunstreich, Marie-Claude Nove
  • Patent number: 6929051
    Abstract: A mold and a method of casting a part wherein the casting surfaces of the mold including the nooks and crannies of the mold are bounded by pitted mold surfaces with the pitted mold surfaces having surface voids therein that are sufficiently small to prevent the molten metal to enter therein; however, when the molten metal is poured in the mold having the pitted surfaces the molten metal solidifies on top of the pitted surface without entering into the pits in the mold surface, yet at the same time the molten metal flows smoothly over all the mold surfaces including the structural nooks and crannies of the mold to form a cast product that is substantially free of voids and fissures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Water Gremlin Company
    Inventors: Norman E. Peterson, Tracy L. Cain
  • Patent number: 6923245
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a metal strip, whereby molten is continuously poured between two casting rolls (1, 2) of a strip casting machine with rolls. Above the molten bath (4) and respectively proximate to the molten bath (5) casting rolls (1, 2) transition surface a rotating magnetic field is produced which generates, in the molten metal, local turbulent flows, so that a surface current is formed in said molten metal, which surface current is directed by the casting rolls (1, 2) towards the central plane (E) of the molten bath (4), that is towards the plane for output of the metal strip (8), thereby enabling to largely prevent supernatant impurities at the surface of the molten bath and oxides located on the surface of the rolls from being deposited, and the molten metal particles from being prematurely solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignees: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft, Main Management Inspiration AG
    Inventors: Heinrich Marti, Jacques Barbe, Dominique Salathe, Alfred Koch
  • Patent number: 6923239
    Abstract: The use of green sand is eliminated by replacing green sand molds with all core sand assemblies that provide, during casting, both the internal and external surfaces of a casting, such as a cylinder head or engine block. In the process, a mold is formed from the same core sand that is used to form the core elements defining the internal passageways of the casting. A mold-core carrier is constructed with downwardly converging sides that hold assembled mold and core elements together, without fasteners, during transportation and pouring of the molten iron alloy into the mold-core assembly and the cooling period to form the casting. After the casting is formed, the core sand from both the mold elements and core elements is recovered, and may be recycled and processed to form further mold elements or core elements or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Billy J. Cagle, Paul E. Flick, Arthur D. Parks, Edward A. Reelfs
  • Patent number: 6923244
    Abstract: A pouring apparatus for castings uses separate systems for supplying billets and delivering the semi-molten material, making it possible to readily modify the discharge flows and pressure. A pouring apparatus for castings that comprises solid material supply means for supplying solid material to a melting basin; heating means for heating the melting basin to semi-melt solid material supplied to the melting basin; a conveyance chamber provided adjacent to the melting basin; and delivery means for discharging, from a discharge nozzle, semi-molten material conveyed from the melting basin to the conveyance chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignees: Seiko Idea Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuichi Motegi, Kiichi Miyazaki, Yoshitomo Tezuka, Kiyotaka Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 6918428
    Abstract: A chill tube made of copper for the continuous casting of metals has a multi-corner inner and outer cross section and a nominal wall thickness which amounts to 8% to 10% of the separation distance of the inner surfaces lying frontally opposite each other at the tube opening. The inner surfaces are placed indirectly under the heat-removing influence of a cooling medium suppliable from the outside to the tube wall. In the height range of the bath level of the liquid metal, the wall thickness is reduced over the entire circumference by 10% to 40% of the nominal wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: KM Europa Metal AG
    Inventor: Roland Hauri
  • Patent number: 6913066
    Abstract: A method for producing metallic ingots or strands, especially from steel and Ni and Co based alloys, by melting self-consuming electrodes in an electroconductive slag bath, using an alternating current or a direct current in a short water-cooled mold which opens downwards, via which an electric contact can be produced for the slag bath. The supplied melt current is passed via the consumable electrode, the bottom plate, the remelt ingot and the melting bath, and optionally at least one electroconductive element of the mold, to the slag bath. The current distribution can be regulated in a controlled manner and the return circuit of the melt current passes back via at least one other electroconductive element of the mold, which is electrically isolated in relation to a first part of the mold which forms the remelt ingot. The proportion of the entire melt current supplied via the bottom plate is selected between 0 and 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Inteco Internationale Technische Beratung Ges. mbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzgruber, Harald Holzgruber, Lev Medovar, Izrail Lantsman
  • Patent number: 6913065
    Abstract: A device for continuously casting metals, especially steel, consists of multipleconsecutive segments (1) which each form the strand guide for casting strands of different widths (4), with roller pairs (2). The rollers are rotationally mounted on segment frames (5; 6), these segment frames (5; 6) each being braced with strand guide frames (10) on both sides. The aim of the invention is to reduce profile increases in the cross-section of the casting strand (4d) in the residual solidification area (4b), by providing a power mechanism (13) at least on the fixed side of the segment frame (5) of a segment (1), between the segment frame (5) and a transversal member (11) connecting the strand guide frames (10) on the two sides. Said power mechanism is situated approximately on the middle strand axis. The power transmission element (13a) of the power mechanism acts upon the segment frame (5), while its base (13b) is supported on the transversal member (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Günter Kneppe, Joachim Schwellenbach, Hans Streubel
  • Patent number: 6910520
    Abstract: There is disclosed a mold (1) for casting including: a lower mold (6) having four gates (5) (at least one gate); an upper mold (7) being matched with the lower mold (6) to form a cavity; and side molds (2a), (2b) being matched with the lower mold (6) and upper mold (7) to form the cavity and being split (into at least two). In the mold (1) for casting is constituted an upper surface of a weir (4) of a flat portion of side molds (2a), (2b), and other surfaces of the weir (4) is constituted of a concave portion of the lower molds (6), and the weir (4) is disposed so as to keep a parting line (3) between the side molds (2a), (2b) away. The mold (1) for casting can easily be demolded, and the desired number of gate systems can be formed in desired positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Asahi Tec Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Aoki