Abstract: Provided herein is a system, apparatus, and method for venting a direct chill casting mold by venting excess casting gas and retaining oxide from atop a casting during the direct chill casting process. Methods of venting casting gas from a direct chill casting mold include: supplying the direct chill casting mold with molten metal through a transition plate; supplying a casting gas through a casting surface of the direct chill casting mold; venting the casting gas from a gas pocket in the transition plate, wherein venting the casting gas from the gas pocket in the transition plate is performed in response to a pressure of the casting gas in the gas pocket reaching a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system, apparatus, and method for venting a direct chill casting mold by venting excess casting gas and retaining oxide from atop a casting during the direct chill casting process. Methods of venting casting gas from a direct chill casting mold include: supplying the direct chill casting mold with molten metal through a transition plate; supplying a casting gas through a casting surface of the direct chill casting mold; venting the casting gas from a gas pocket in the transition plate, wherein venting the casting gas from the gas pocket in the transition plate is performed in response to a pressure of the casting gas in the gas pocket reaching a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: An opening 206 is provided in a system for delivering molten metal to the mold cavity 18 of a molten metal casting apparatus. A valve closure device 192, 196 is mounted at 198 to be reciprocated in relation to the opening 206 to control the flow of molten metal therethrough, and the driven end 206 of a bellows motor 208 is connected with the valve closure device at 258 to reciprocate the device in relation to the opening. A pair of concentric relatively inside and outside thimble-shaped chambers 238 and 240, 264 is circumposed about the bellows motor so that the bight portions thereof are opposed to the driven end of the motor, and interconnected with one another by a restricted liquid flow passage 270 in the screw 268. When fluid input signals are generated in the relatively outside chamber 240, 264, for the actuation of the closure device through the bellows motor, each signal is transmitted to the end of the bellows motor through the restricted liquid flow passage 270 and the relatively inside chamber 238.

Abstract: Balance beams are pivotally mounted on and crosswise of an elongated rack extending parallel to a trough over a series of mold cavities, valve closure devices are suspended from corresponding first end portions of the beams to throttle valve openings in the trough, float sensors are suspended from points on the opposing second end portions of the beams to contact the surfaces of molten metal columns brought to a state of equilibrium in the cavities, and the rack is elevated in relation to the cavities as molten metal is delivered to the trough, so that as the first end portions impose a desired value on the rate at which the surfaces escalate up the axes of the cavities, the second end portions elevate the suspension points for the sensors at a rate commensurate therewith, to assure that the input signals transmitted to the first portions through the fulcra for the beams, are consistent with the imposed value.

Abstract: To control the admission of molten metal to a series of mold cavities through a series of valve openings in the downspouts of a trough thereabove, an elongated rack is arranged parallel to the trough, a set of balance beams is pivotally mounted on the rack, a set of valve closure devices is suspended from corresponding first end portions of the beams for throttling the openings, and a set of float sensors is suspended from points on the opposing second end portions of the beams for contact with the surfaces of the molten metal in the cavities.

Abstract: The mold has a first chamber defined by a pair of inner and outer peripheral walls circumposed about the axis of the cavity and spaced apart from one another transverse the axis. The first chamber has oppositely disposed end walls that extend transverse the axis and an inlet for the supply of liquid coolant under pressure. The inner peripheral wall has a step which projects into the first chamber. The step has a first surface that extends transverse the axis and a second surface that extends parallel to the axis and coterminates with the first surface to form a corner. A second chamber is formed in the inner peripheral wall at the step. A series of holes open into the first chamber at one of the surfaces of the step to permit coolant to discharge into the second chamber at a reduced pressure. A passage opening discharges the reduced pressure coolant onto a body of metal emerging from the discharge end opening of the cavity.