Abstract: A continuous casting member causes a final solidification portion to be displaced from a central portion of a cast member to reduce influence of cast defects that may be generated on a plastic worked article. In a continuous casting method for continuously manufacturing a cast member by driving a plurality of rotational molding members disposed to form a casting space, the plurality of rotational molding members are differentiated in temperature. A portion of one of the rotational molding members that starts to come into contact with molten metal can be set to a temperature of [(melting point or liquidus temperature of the metal)×0.35] or more, and the other of the rotational molding members can be cooled.

Abstract: Horizontally continuously cast aluminum alloy rods excellent in quality are efficiently manufactured using a melting/holding furnace (101) to produce molten aluminum alloy, a molten-metal treatment apparatus (201) to remove aluminum oxide and hydrogen gas from the molten aluminum alloy, a horizontally continuously casting apparatus (301) to cast the treated molten aluminum alloy into horizontally continuously cast aluminum alloy rods, a cutting machine (408A, 408B) to cut to a standard length the cast rods, a first straightening apparatus (1001) to straighten bend of the cut rods, a peeling apparatus (1101) to peel skin portions of the straightened rods, a nondestructive inspection apparatus (1401) to inspect surface and internal portions of the peeled rods, a sorting apparatus (1501) to sort the inspected rods judged non-defective based on results of the nondestructive inspection step and a packing apparatus to pack the sorted rods, and continuously using at least the first straightening apparatus (1001) et

Abstract: A continuous casting member causes a final solidification portion to be displaced from a central portion of a cast member to reduce influence of cast defects that may be generated on a plastic worked article. In a continuous casting method for continuously manufacturing a cast member by driving a plurality of rotational molding members disposed to form a casting space, the plurality of rotational molding members are differentiated in temperature. A portion of one of the rotational molding members that starts to come into contact with molten metal can be set to a temperature of [(melting point or liquidus temperature of the metal)×0.35] or more, and the other of the rotational molding members can be cooled.

Abstract: Horizontally continuously cast aluminum alloy rods excellent in quality are efficiently manufactured using a melting/holding furnace (101) to produce molten aluminum alloy, a molten-metal treatment apparatus (201) to remove aluminum oxide and hydrogen gas from the molten aluminum alloy, a horizontally continuously casting apparatus (301) to cast the treated molten aluminum alloy into horizontally continuously cast aluminum alloy rods, a cutting machine (408A, 408B) to cut to a standard length the cast rods, a first straightening apparatus (1001) to straighten bend of the cut rods, a peeling apparatus (1101) to peel skin portions of the straightened rods, a nondestructive inspection apparatus (1401) to inspect surface and internal portions of the peeled rods, a sorting apparatus (1501) to sort the inspected rods judged non-defective based on results of the nondestructive inspection step and a packing apparatus to pack the sorted rods, and continuously using at least the first straightening apparatus (1001) et

Abstract: A forged piston for an internal combustion engine formed from an aluminum alloy containing silicon in an amount of 6 to 25 mass %, includes an oil ring groove section (12) and a skirt section (13). The ratio (A/B) of the average size (A) of eutectic silicon grains contained in the oil ring groove section to the average size (B) of eutectic silicon grains contained in the frontal end portion (18) of the skirt section is at least 1.5. The average size (A) is at least 4 ?m. With the configuration such that the average size (B) is small and that the average size (A) is large, the skirt section exhibits excellent forgeability and the oil ring groove section exhibits reliable mechanical workability and improved wear resistance.

Abstract: A continuously cast aluminum alloy rod 101 is produced through a horizontal continuous casting method employing a tubular mold which is supported such that its center axis extends substantially horizontally and which has a forced cooling device. The rod includes a Si-rich portion 104 having a thickness of at least 20 ?m on a surface of a lateral side of the rod that has a central angle 103 of at least 30°.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting an ingot includes a molten metal reservoir (51) positioned at an upper portion, a casting chamber (5) positioned at a lower portion and a partition wall (3) between the reservoir and the chamber, a spruce (7) formed in the partition wall, an opening/closing plug (8) for opening and closing the sprue and control means for controlling an opening and closing operation of the plug. The casing chamber is defined in a mold (1) that includes a lower mold member (4), a side mold member (2) and the partition wall (3) that constitutes an upper mold member. At least one of the lower mold member, side mold member and upper mold member includes a plurality of divided sections (21,22) in accordance with a shape of a cast ingot C.

Abstract: A material for plastic working is produced by the steps of using a mold having a mold cavity (16) partially defined by an end surface of a stopper (13) for closing a molten metal inlet (101), teeming molten metal (10) into the mold cavity through the inlet and cooling the molten metal to thereby attain unidirectional solidification of the molten metal. Regulation of the cooling rate enables the mean grain size to be graded in the direction from the cooled face (B surface) to the opposing face (T surface) and the added components to increase in the same direction. It is possible to obtain a material for plastic working that has a selected portion exhibiting an excellent function.

Abstract: A forged piston for an internal combustion engine formed from an aluminum alloy containing silicon in an amount of 6 to 25 mass %, includes an oil ring groove section (12) and a skirt section (13). The ratio (A/B) of the average size (A) of eutectic silicon grains contained in the oil ring groove section to the average size (B) of eutectic silicon grains contained in the frontal end portion (18) of the skirt section is at least 1.5. The average size (A) is at least 4 &mgr;m. With the configuration such that the average size (B) is small and that the average size (A) is large, the skirt section exhibits excellent forgeability and the oil ring groove section exhibits reliable mechanical workability and improved wear resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a casting apparatus 10A including a mold 12 having a molten metal inlet 21 at a first end portion of a partition wall 12a, and an open/close plug 13 for opening and closing the inlet 21 of the mold 12, the plug 13 being brought into contact with or detached from an inlet-defining wall, in which molten metal 1′ is teemed into the mold 12 when the plug 13 is detached from the inlet-defining wall, and teeming of the molten metal 1′ into the mold 12 is stopped when the plug 13 is brought into contact with the inlet-defining wall, wherein a member 20 having the inlet-defining wall is separable from the mold 12, and the member 20 having the inlet-defining wall is removably provided on the mold 12.

Abstract: A material for plastic working is produced by the steps of using a mold having a mold cavity (16) partially defined by an end surface of a stopper (13) for closing a molten metal inlet (101), teeming molten metal (10) into the mold cavity through the inlet and cooling the molten metal to thereby attain unidirectional solidification of the molten metal. Regulation of the cooling rate enables the mean grain size to be graded in the direction from the cooled face (B surface) to the opposing face (T surface) and the added components to increase in the same direction. It is possible to obtain a material for plastic working that has a selected portion exhibiting an excellent function.

Abstract: A metal ingot (1) solidified through unidirectional forced-cooling from a cooling member (100) to an end surface of a stopper (13), by the cooling member, of molten metal (1′) teeming via a molten metal inlet (101) of a closable mold (12) into a mold cavity (16) is plastic-worked at percent working equl to or higher than a predetermined level to obtain a plastic-worked member. The end surface of the stopper and the cooling member partially define the mold cavity. The plastic-worked member is improved in mechanical characteristics that have heretofore been inferior on the side of the end surface of the stopper and is increased in entire strength.

Abstract: [Purpose] To provide, in relation to casting of materials to be subjected to plastic working such as cold forging, hot forging, enclosed forging, rolling, extrusion, and roll-forming of metals, including nonferrous metals, such as aluminum and magnesium (inclusive of respective alloys), and ferrous metals (i.e., iron and steel) or to direct casting of products (i.e.

Abstract: In a metallic ingot used as a forging stock, high dimensional accuracy, small dispersion of weight, good inner quality, and small radius of meniscus are required. In the metallic ingot fulfilling these requirements, the metallic melt 7 is completely filled the mold comprising a sprue 4 closed after pouring of the melt and is forcedly solidified at its bottom by the cooling plate 1. The crystal grains grow almost parallel to the rising direction of the upper surface of the melt 7. The ingot has no cutting surface on the casting surface.

Abstract: In a metallic ingot used as a forging stock, high dimensional accuracy, small dispersion of weight, good inner quality, and small radius of meniscus are required. In the metallic ingot fulfilling these requirements, the metallic melt 7 is completely filled the mold comprising a sprue 4 closed after pouring of the melt and is forcedly solidified at its bottom by the cooling plate 1. The crystal grains grow almost parallel to the rising direction of the upper surface of the melt 7. The ingot has no cutting surface on the casting surface.

Abstract: In a continuous casting a hollow ingot by means of a forcedly cooled tubular mold and a core, gas is introduced around an outer peripheral surface of the core along longitudinal slits to form an annular gap surrounding an inner peripheral surface of hollow metallic molten metal, and gas pressure is applied on said inner peripheral surface of the hollow molten metal. Refractory heat-insulative material, starter bar, is brought into contact with the molten metal poured into said annular space at the casting start, encased in the metal solidified thereon, and withdrawn together with the hollow ingot being withdrawn. By these methods smooth cast skin is formed on the inner peripheral surface of a hollow ingot.

Abstract: In a method for continuous casting of an aluminum-lithium alloy through an open-ended mold for forming an ingot, wherein gas under pressure is brought into contact with a molten surface part of said ingot directly before solidification, the gas used consists of from 1 to 15 volume % of oxygen and balance of inert gas. The casting is stabilized and cast skin is improved by the use of said gas.

Abstract: In continuous casting of a non-ferrous metal melt by a gas-pressure impartation method, the cast skin of a large size ingot is usually impaired by the chilling effect of a mold, and it is difficult to stably produce a large size ingot. This difficulty is overcome by controlling the quantity of gas inflow in accordance with the quantity of the light emitted from a light source provided below a mold and laterally to an ingot, which light reaches a separate chamber for gas-pressure impartation.