Abstract: A method of using a bonded refractory mold is disclosed. The method includes forming a refractory mold including a mold wall on a fugitive pattern including a thermally removable material. The mold wall including a refractory material and defining a sprue, a gate and a mold cavity, the gate having a gate inlet opening into the sprue and a gate outlet opening into the mold cavity; a gas vent extending through the mold wall; and a gas permeable refractory material covering the gas vent, the fugitive pattern having a sprue portion, the sprue portion having a sprue channel that is in fluid communication with a sprue inlet and that extends toward a sprue outlet. The method also includes heating the refractory mold with a hot gas to remove the thermally removable material, wherein a portion of the hot gas is exhausted from the refractory mold through the gas vent.

Abstract: A bonded refractory mold is disclosed. The mold includes a mold wall. The mold wall includes a bonded refractory material and defining a sprue, a gate and a mold cavity, the gate having a gate inlet opening into the sprue and a gate outlet opening into the mold cavity. The mold also includes a gas vent extending through the mold wall. The mold also includes a gas permeable cover covering the gas vent.

Abstract: A method of making a bonded refractory mold is disclosed. The method includes forming a fugitive pattern including a thermally removable material. The method also includes forming a refractory mold including a mold wall, the mold wall including a refractory material and defining a sprue, a gate and a mold cavity, the gate having a gate inlet opening into the sprue and a gate outlet opening into the mold cavity, the mold defined by the fugitive pattern. The method further includes forming a gas vent that extends through the mold wall. The method also includes covering the gas vent with a gas permeable cover.

Abstract: A method of using a bonded refractory mold is disclosed. The method includes forming a refractory mold comprising a mold wall on a fugitive pattern comprising a thermally removable material, the mold wall comprising a refractory material and defining a sprue, a gate and a mold cavity, the gate having a gate inlet opening into the sprue and a gate outlet opening into the mold cavity; a gas vent extending through the mold wall; and a gas permeable refractory material covering the gas vent, the fugitive pattern having a sprue portion, the sprue portion having a sprue channel that is in fluid communication with a sprue inlet and that extends toward a sprue outlet. The method also includes heating the refractory mold with a hot gas to remove the thermally removable material, wherein a portion of the hot gas is exhausted from the refractory mold through the gas vent.

Abstract: A bonded refractory mold is disclosed. The mold includes a mold wall, the mold wall comprising a bonded refractory material and defining a sprue, a gate and a mold cavity, the gate having a gate inlet opening into the sprue and a gate outlet opening into the mold cavity. The mold also includes a gas vent extending through the mold wall. The mold also includes a gas permeable cover covering the gas vent.

Abstract: A method of making a bonded refractory mold is disclosed. The method includes forming a fugitive pattern comprising a thermally removable material. The method also includes forming a refractory mold comprising a mold wall, the mold wall comprising a refractory material and defining a sprue, a gate and a mold cavity, the gate having a gate inlet opening into the sprue and a gate outlet opening into the mold cavity, the mold defined by the fugitive pattern. The method further includes forming a gas vent that extends through the mold wall. The method also includes covering the gas vent with a gas permeable cover.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compacting support particulates media around ceramic shell molds and around fugitive patterns wherein the mold or pattern is placed in a container and the container is filled with support particulates media. The container is set to rotating and vibrating while it is tilted. The combination of rotation and tilting cause voids at the wall of the mold or pattern to be constantly and methodically reoriented so that the free surface of the support media in the voids is moved past its dynamic angle of repose and is caused to flow into those voids by the combined action of the vibration and the constantly changing orientation of the voids relative to the gravity vector.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compacting support particulates media around ceramic shell molds and around fugitive patterns wherein the mold or pattern is placed in a container and the container is filled with support particulates media. The container is set to rotating and vibrating while it is tilted. The combination of rotation and tilting cause voids at the wall of the mold or pattern to be constantly and methodically reoriented so that the free surface of the support media in the voids is moved past its dynamic angle of repose and is caused to flow into those voids by the combined action of the vibration and the constantly changing orientation of the voids relative to the gravity vector.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for countergravity casting a plurality of articles wherein a ceramic mold is provided having an upstanding riser passage and a plurality of mold cavities disposed along a length of the riser passage at different elevations, each mold cavity communicating to the riser passage via a gate passage, wherein molten metal is forced to flow upwardly from a source into the riser passage for supply to the mold cavities via their gate passages, wherein the mold is rotated so that molten metal that resides in the gate passages is subjected to centrifugal force in a direction toward the mold cavities, and wherein molten metal in the riser passage is drained to empty the riser passage before molten metal in the mold cavities and the gate passages solidifies, leaving the gate passages at least partially filled with molten metal for supply to the mold cavities in response to shrinkage as molten metal therein solidifies while the container is rotated.