Abstract: A gas-shielded siphonic valve for controlling the flow of molten metal from one vessel to another. The valve includes a hollow conduit extending between the vessels above the surfaces of the metal therein with opposite ends thereof immersed in the metal in both vessels. An exhaust port permits evacuation of the inside of the conduit sufficiently to draw enough metal up into the conduit to effect a siphoning action between the vessels. A housing surrounding the conduit defining a chamber about the conduit for holding an inert gas. Any leaks in the system will neither break the siphoning action nor contaminate the metal. Varying the amount of vacuum applied to the system can be used to control the rate of flow of metal therethrough.

Abstract: The machine includes a train of molds moving through an arcuate pouring zone, a supply vessel for the metal, a trough extending between the vessel and the mold trains to convey the metal therebetween. The metal is discharged from beneath the surface of the metal in the vessel and into one end of the trough beneath the surface of the metal therein. The other end of the trough is registered with a mold in the trains and moves with the trains while metal is dispensed into the mold from beneath the surface of the metal in the trough. Valves control the discharging and dispensing of the metal to and from the trough. A motor moves the trough, as needed, in the pouring cycle, and a coupler coordinates the movement of the trough and the mold to keep them registered in the pouring zone.

Abstract: An improved lost foam pour box and lost foam casting process wherein the improvements are positioning one or more fluid permeable separators, such as well points, within the contained volume of the box so that the gasses generated in the lost foam casting process can be vented to the exterior of the box by passing through the separators. By positioning the separators within the box, a larger box can be used and more castings can be made within with reduced burn-in and porosity defects in the resulting castings.

Abstract: An improved rotary mace for striking off extraneous transient projections from, e.g., ferrous castings, the mace having a hub, at least one hammer and means for pivotably securing each of the at least one hammers to the hub, the improved means for securing the hammers including an adapter block for the hammers, each adapter block being removably fixedly attached to a peripheral face of the hub and the hammer being removably pivotably attached to the adapter block, e.g., by a clevis. Preferably, each hammer is supported upon a respective adapter block and each adapter block is provided with means for holding resilient bumper means positioned to receive the impact of the pivotable hammer at either maximal pivotable position. The novel adapter block also has secure fastening means for releasably securing the means for pivotably attaching each hammer.