Abstract: In order to feed molten metal to a casting mold with precision while preventing introduction of metal oxide into a cylinder casing, an entire valve box 19 is disposed below a liquid level of the molten metal C inside a molten metal furnace D. A discharge duct 23 is upwardly open at a lower end of a valve-element moving space 24. An inlet duct 22 is open to the valve-element moving space 24 at a position higher than the discharge duct 23. Around an opening of the discharge duct 23 to the valve-element moving space 24, there is formed a lower receiving seat 29 in the form of a ring. A valve element 21 includes a lower contact portion 31 which comes into annular contact with the lower receiving seat 29 in association with a lowering movement of the valve element 21.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying melt from a melt-holding vessel to a casting machine comprises a ceramic melt pump casing or housing submersible in the melt. The casing includes a melt-pumping chamber with a melt inlet and melt outlet and a piston-receiving bore communicated to the chamber. A piston having a ceramic pumping portion is movable in the bore relative to the chamber in a suction stroke to draw the melt into the chamber through the melt inlet and in a pumping stroke to discharge the melt from the chamber through the melt outlet to, for example, a melt casting machine. A melt inlet valve having a ceramic valve portion submersible in the melt is movable relative to the melt inlet to open/close the melt inlet when the piston pumping portion is moved in the respective suction/pumping stroke.