Localized Or Zone Heat Dissipation Patents (Class 164/125)
  • Patent number: 10287896
    Abstract: A blade (60; 60-2) comprises an airfoil (61) and an attachment root (63). The blade has a tipward zone (80; 80-2; 80-2, 81) and a rootward zone (82; 82-2, 81; 82). The rootward zone has a single crystal structure. The tipward zone has a single crystal structure. The crystalline orientations of the rootward zone and tipward zone are at least 15° out of registry with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Marcin, Jr., Steven J. Bullied, Dilip M. Shah, Alan D. Cetel
  • Patent number: 9925527
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytically active porous element and to a method of manufacturing same. The element is formed with at least 40% by mass cobalt and at least one further chemical element and/or at least one chemical compound which form a matrix into which particles of pure cobalt, of a cobalt alloy or of an intermetallic phase formed with cobalt are embedded. In this respect, the at least one chemical element and/or the at least one chemical compound have a lower sintering temperature and/or melting temperature than cobalt, the respective cobalt alloy or the intermetallic phase. Solely for this purpose or in addition thereto, cobalt can be partially soluble therein and/or can form a eutectic and/or a peritectic together with cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GLATT GMBH
    Inventors: Ulf Waag, Norman Reger-Wagner
  • Patent number: 9636639
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a metallic layer having pores extending therethrough, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a cathode substrate with an electrolyte solution comprising at least one cation; reducing the cation to deposit the metallic layer on a surface of the cathode substrate; and (c) generating a plurality of non-conductive regions on the cathode substrate surface during reducing step (b); wherein the deposition of the metallic layer is substantially prevented on the non-conductive regions on the cathode substrate surface to thereby form pores extending through the deposited metallic layer. The present disclosure further provides a metallic porous membrane fabricated by the disclosed process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Kambiz Ansari, Shilin Chen, Christina Yuan Ling Tan, Isabel Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8887794
    Abstract: In a process for casting a piston for an internal combustion engine, boundary layer solidification in the region of the gudgeon-pin bores (12) is followed by the withdrawal of at least one sleeve provided there and the cooling of the region of at least one gudgeon-pin bore (12). An apparatus for casting pistons for internal combustion engines has at least one sleeve which can be withdrawn from the region of a gudgeon-pin bore (12) and a device for cooling the region of the gudgeon-pin bores (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Isabella Sobota, Robert Sellner
  • Patent number: 8720528
    Abstract: In a method for casting a piston for an internal combustion engine, after solidification of the surface layer in the region of the piston-pin bores (12), at least one mandrel provided there is withdrawn and the region of at least one piston-pin bore (12) is cooled by coolant supplied through at least one mandrel. A device for casting pistons for internal combustion engines has at least one mandrel which can be withdrawn from the region of a piston-pin bore (12) and through which a coolant for cooling the region of the piston-pin bores (12) can be supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Silvio Stephan, Isabella Sobota, Rolf Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20130092342
    Abstract: In a process for casting a piston for an internal combustion engine, boundary layer solidification in the region of the gudgeon-pin bores (12) is followed by the withdrawal of at least one sleeve provided there and the cooling of the region of at least one gudgeon-pin bore (12). An apparatus for casting pistons for internal combustion engines has at least one sleeve which can be withdrawn from the region of a gudgeon-pin bore (12) and a device for cooling the region of the gudgeon-pin bores (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Isabella Sobota, Robert Sellner
  • Publication number: 20130092341
    Abstract: In a method for casting a piston for an internal combustion engine, after solidification of the surface layer in the region of the piston-pin bores (12), at least one mandrel provided there is withdrawn and the region of at least one piston-pin bore (12) is cooled by coolant supplied through at least one mandrel. A device for casting pistons for internal combustion engines has at least one mandrel which can be withdrawn from the region of a piston-pin bore (12) and through which a coolant for cooling the region of the piston-pin bores (12) can be supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Silvio Stephan, Isabella Sobota, Rolf Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 8360134
    Abstract: A method and system for eliminating near-surface porosity and surface tear defects in metal castings. The system includes a complex casting mold having at least one core pin or other regions susceptible to new surface porosity and surface tears. The system further includes a copper rod fused internally to the core pin to extract heat from a molten metal introduced in the mold. The copper rod extracts heat at a low thermal flux, preventing near surface porosity and surface tears. Moreover, the copper rod extracts heat from the hotter regions of the casting causing it to solidify at a rate comparable to the rate of solidification of other portions of the casting, thereby allowing uniform solidification of the casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Philip M. Durham, Bradley D. Guthrie
  • Patent number: 8256114
    Abstract: A cooling jacket casting core for the production of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The cooling jacket casting core has a slot running at least in part substantially in the direction of a crankshaft longitudinal axis and separating the cooling jacket casting core in at least one section. The slot can run at least in part in an impression of the cooling jacket and can have at least one elevation arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cooling jacket casting core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: FEV GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Hildebrand, André Küsters, Marc Grafen
  • Patent number: 8187563
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a Si bulk polycrystal ingot with high quality and high homogeneity, which has no significant crystal defects and is free from diffused impurities with a high yield. An upper face of a Si melt is locally cooled by bringing coolant close to a surface of the Si melt from an upper part of a crucible in the crucible containing the Si melt or by inserting the coolant into the Si melt. A dendrite crystal is formed in the vicinity of the surface of the Si melt. Cooling is performed thereafter while maintaining a proper temperature distribution, and a Si bulk crystal is grown from an upper part toward a lower part using a lower face of the dendrite crystal as a fresh growth face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Tohoku Technoarch Co., Ltd., Daiichi Kiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noritaka Usami, Kazuo Nakajima, Isao Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7987895
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the quality and mechanical properties of an aluminum alloy engine cylinder block or other large or complex castings by providing sand molds bound with a soluble binder only at locations on said casting from which rapid cooling for directional solidification and/or improved localized mechanical properties are desired with said molds being otherwise bound at the remaining locations only with a more typical insoluble binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Tenedora Nemak, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Oscar Garza-Ondarza, Juan Francisco Mojica-Briseño
  • Patent number: 7950442
    Abstract: A method for designing the location, surface temperature, flow rate, length and type of cooling lines within a mold for a casting process. The method allows the user to optimize each value for each individual cooling line of the mold. The method can utilize one or more parameters of the casting process and the heat load to be carried by each of the cooling lines in designing the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Die Therm Engineering LLC
    Inventor: J. Scott Kirkman
  • Patent number: 7926543
    Abstract: After a molten metal of aluminum or an aluminum alloy having a temperature, which is higher than the liquidus line temperature of aluminum or the aluminum alloy by 5 to 200° C., is injected into a mold, when the mold is cooled to solidify the molten metal, the molten metal injected into the mold is pressurized at a pressure of 1.0 to 100 kPa from a high-temperature side to a low-temperature side, and the mean cooling rate is set to be 5 to 100° C./minute while the mold is cooled from the liquidus line temperature to 450° C., the temperature gradient formed in the mold being set to be in the range of from 1° C./cm to 50° C./cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Dowa Metaltech Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Akira Sugawara, Takayuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20070277952
    Abstract: An arrangement for forcing rapid localized directional solidification, or global homogenous accelerated solidification of a liquid or semi-solid parent material, which is contained by a media mold that possesses porous properties. The process produces solidified matrix structures and cast properties in the parent material otherwise not possible through conventional solidification methods under ambient conditions. The process is capable of enhancing ordinary production cycles by reducing the overall cycle time required to produce a normally solidified material in a porous media mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Edward J. Le Vert, Bruce A. McMellon, Donald Young
  • Publication number: 20070227685
    Abstract: After a molten metal of aluminum or an aluminum alloy having a temperature, which is higher than the liquidus line temperature of aluminum or the aluminum alloy by 5 to 200° C., is injected into a mold, when the mold is cooled to solidify the molten metal, the molten metal injected into the mold is pressurized at a pressure of 1.0 to 100 kPa from a high-temperature side to a low-temperature side, and the mean cooling rate is set to be 5 to 100° C./minute while the mold is cooled from the liquidus line temperature to 450° C., the temperature gradient formed in the mold being set to be in the range of from 1° C./cm to 50° C./cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Akira Sugawara, Takayuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7169242
    Abstract: A method for removing casting defects (5) from an article (1) with an oriented microstructure can include locating at least one casting defect (5) and melting the casting defect (5) locally by a heat source (7) to a depth at least as great as the casting defect (5) itself. The molten material can then be solidified epitaxially with respect to the surrounding oriented microstructure of the article (1) in a way that the resulting solidified area is substantially free of any defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: John Fernihough, Matthias Hoebel, Maxim Konter
  • Patent number: 6776213
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in casting a metal article includes a furnace assembly into which a mold is raised and an annular fluidized bed adjacent to the furnace assembly. The mold is filled with molten metal and lowered into the fluidized bed. The molten metal is solidified in the mold as it is lowered into the fluidized bed. The mold and fluidized bed are then lowered. The fluidized bed is disposed in a container having annular inner and outer walls which are cooled and function as heat sinks. A mold support member may extend through a passage in the annular inner wall of the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: PCC Airfolis, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawerence D. Graham, Brad L. Rauguth, Michael J. Beffel
  • Patent number: 6725900
    Abstract: In the method of deoxidation casting, a disused metal left in a feeder head can be easily removed from a cast product, or the molten metal left in the feeder head can be removed from the cast product so as to easily finish the cast product. The method comprises the steps of: pouring a molten metal into a cavity of a casting die; and reacting a deoxidizing compound with the molten metal so as to deoxidize an oxide film formed on a surface of the molten metal. And the method is characterized in that rate of cooling the molten metal in a feeder head of the casting die is lower than that in the cavity, and that the molten metal in the feeder head, which is not solidified, is treated when the molten metal in the cavity is solidified so as to make an outline of a cast product correspond to that of a desired product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Ban, Koichi Ogiwara, Sakuzo Nakatani, Akira Sunohara
  • Patent number: 6719034
    Abstract: A process for producing a tube target for cathode sputtering plants, in which the tube target is formed from a metallic inner tube (target holder) made of a first material with a first melting point of Ts1≧900 K and a metallic outer tube (target) that concentrically surrounds the inner tube and that is made of a second material with a second melting point of Ts2≦800 K. The inside diameter of the outer tube and the outside diameter of the inner tube are proportioned in such a way that the two tubes fit together tightly and are mechanically firmly joined. The outer tube is formed by casting the second material in a molten state in a heated, vertical, cylindrical permanent mold, which has a heated mandrel that constitutes the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Heck, Rainer Jüttner, David Lupton, Egon Maier, Peter Mainz, Harald Manhardt, Bernd Stenger, Holger Zingg
  • Patent number: 6695034
    Abstract: The fluidized bed is formed of particulate material suspended in a flow of gas. A flow of particulate suspended in gas is conducted between a lower end portion of the fluidized bed and an upper end portion of the fluidized bed to cool the upper end portion of the fluidized bed. The flow of particulate suspended in gas may be conducted from a lower end portion of the fluidized bed to an upper end portion of a fluidized bed. Alternatively, the flow of particulate suspended in gas may be conducted from the upper end portion of the fluidized bed to the lower end portion of the fluidized bed. If desired, the flow of particulate suspended in gas may be conducted to the upper end portion of the fluidized bed from a location spaced from the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: PCC Airfoils, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Graham
  • Publication number: 20030234093
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for casting a metal by pouring molten metal into and around a mold assembly, where a riser is a component of the mold assembly. The process comprises (a) inserting a riser insert into the cavity of the riser, and (b) then allowing molten metal to flow into the cavity of the riser containing the riser insert. The process is carried out in a manner such that the density and the shape of the riser insert enables the riser insert to float on the surface of the molten metal when the molten metal enters the cavity of the riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Ronald C. Aufderheide, Ralph E. Showman, William J. Massey
  • Patent number: 6568456
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a directionally solidified columnar grained article with a reduced amount of secondary misorientation of the columnar grains. The method employs a casting assembly comprising a mold with a cavity, a selector section at a lower end of the mold, a heating chamber and a cooling chamber. The mold is fed with a liquid metal and then removed from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber where the columnar grained article is solidified. The article is solidified with at least two dendrites or grains emerging from the selector section and entering the main cavity of the shell mold. Further, the selector section is configured so that no dendrite or grain grows from the bottom of the selector section into the shell mold cavity along a continuous path of purely vertical growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventor: John Fernihough
  • Patent number: 6557618
    Abstract: The present invention relates to metal casting and can be used in producing large sized blades with directional and single crystal structure having large horizontal shoulders. The apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber inside which there is positioned a mold preheating furnace with a ceramic mold and a vertical shield disposed therein, and a crystallizer. The shield is positioned concentrically to the casting vertical axis and is fixed on the mold upper portion or on a hanger. The shield can be made integral or as a row of members having projecting flanges which telescopically insert into each other. The shield is made of a graphitized foil or a carbon/carbon based composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: General Electric Company, All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Materials
    Inventors: Vegeny Nikolaevich Kablov, Viktor Vladimirovich Gerasimov, Joseph Markovich Demonis, Elena Mikhailovna Visik
  • Patent number: 6523599
    Abstract: A casting furnace (1) for producing castings which are directionally solidified in monocrystalline and polycrystalline form. The casting furnace (1) includes an upper heating chamber (2), which is equipped with a heating chamber wall (4) which contains at least one heater element, a lower cooling chamber (3), and contains a casting mold (11) which is moved by means of a conveyor device. Inside the heating chamber (4) there is an internal heater (6) which heats the inner surfaces of the casting pieces (11a), which are shielded from the casting mold (11), and thus prevents the solidification front from sloping inside the casting pieces (11a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventor: Martin Balliel
  • Publication number: 20020144799
    Abstract: A casting apparatus for performing a casting while an oxide film formed on a surface of a molten metal is reduced by allowing the molten metal and a reducing compound to be contacted with each other, includes: a molding die having a cavity for receiving the molten metal, a sprue from which the molten metal is poured and a feeder head portion arranged between the sprue and the cavity. A difference of heat insulation is partially provided between the feeder head portion and the cavity such that the molten metal filled in the cavity and the feeder head portion is sequentially solidified in a direction of from a terminal portion of the cavity to the feeder head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Keisuke Ban, Akira Sunohara, Yasuhiro Sasaki, Koichi Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 6443214
    Abstract: A method for heat treating a mold cast product by releasing the product from a mold and hardening the product. Since the mold release is performed when a surface layer of the product held in contact with the mold has a hardening allowing temperature and after it becomes a shell-shaped solidified layer, the product immediately after release from the mold has a heat suitable for hardening. Using this heat, the product is thereafter hardened by means of a cooling agent. As a result, a heating process required for hardening can be omitted, thereby achieving energy conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsuo, Toshiaki Ohnuma, Tomotaka Takahashi, Noriyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 6443213
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in casting a metal article includes a furnace assembly into which a mold is raised and a fluidized bed adjacent to the furnace assembly. The mold is filled with molten metal and lowered into the fluidized bed. The molten metal is solidified in the mold as it is lowered into the fluidized bed. The mold and fluidized bed are then lowered. The mold may be supported on a grid or support member having openings through which gas and particulate in the fluidized bed can flow. A stirrer member may be moved in the fluidized bed to promote uniform distribution of particulate in the flow of gas. Gas may be conducted from the support member for the mold into a container which holds the fluidized bed. Gas at different pressures may be conducted into the fluidized bed at different locations in the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: PCC Airfoils, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Graham, Brad L. Rauguth
  • Patent number: 6422294
    Abstract: To obtain a high-quality cast product of a cylinder head, a proper directivity to the cooling process of the molten metal after a pouring process by utilizing the shape of a cylinder head is discussed. In a process where molten metal is injected to a casting mold cavity formed between upper and lower molds to fill it therewith so that the molten metal is solidified to form a cylinder head of an engine, a plurality of core protrusions corresponding to holes (plug holes and bolt holes) are formed in the upper mold, and a cooling means is attached to each of the core protrusions. With respect to cooling means attached to the plurality of core protrusions, those attached to the inner core protrusions comparatively closer to the center of the casting mold are designed so as to have a greater cooling capability than those attached to the outer core protrusions; therefore, with respect to the center portion and the outer portion of the casting mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Murata, Akihiro Nakano, Nobuyuki Matsubayashi, Takayuki Shouju, Tomoyuki Nozaki, Shigeo Yano
  • Patent number: 6199618
    Abstract: In order to produce castings from cast iron with foliated graphite, the carbon content of the cast iron can be set at between approximately 3 and 4% by controlling the melting process of the type and/or operation of the melting furnace. The molten mass is then cast in a sand-casting or lost-form method. During conventional cooling, the known mechanical properties of the cooled cast are set. In order to improve these mechanical properties in terms of hardness and strength, the casting is released from its mold at a temperature ranging from 1,100° C. to 800° C. and is immediately subjected to a cooling treatment by being blasted with an air flow in order to cool it to below 723° C. in a given amount of time. The casting, in selected regions, is cooled to below 723° C. by specific intermittent bursts of air in a relatively short amount of time in order to produce a harder structure. The cooling treatment is stopped when the temperature at the eutectoid line of the iron-carbon diagram is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventors: Michael Fenne, Oswald Holtz
  • Patent number: 6114052
    Abstract: An ingot plate (10) of cleaveable thermoelectric material has a layered structure having substantially parallel cleavage planes. Substantially all of the cleavage planes are disposed at a less cleavage angle with respect to the upper and lower faces (11, 12) of the plate. The ingot plate can be successfully cut into bars (20) along cutting planes generally perpendicular to the cleavage planes without causing substantial interlayer fracture. Electrodes (25) are formed on the opposite sides of the bar which are defined by the cutting planes. The bar is in use to be cut into a number of discrete chips (30) with one of the electrodes fixed on a substrate. Since the cutting is made along planes again generally perpendicular to the cleavage planes of the bar, the bar can be successfully cut into the corresponding chips without causing any substantial fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignees: Matshsuhita Electric Works, Ltd., Crystal Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuteru Maekawa, Belov Iouri Maksimovich
  • Patent number: 5931214
    Abstract: Mold heating vacuum casting furnace system comprising a mold preheating chamber located above and connected to a vacuum casting chamber via an intermediate isolation valve. A mold elevator is provided in the casting chamber and can be moved into the mold preheating chamber to lower the mold onto an annular rotary chill member residing in the casting chamber. The elevator includes an upstanding elevator shaft that moves in the opening of the annular chill member in a manner that the preheated mold is deposited or set on the annular chill member as the elevator is lowered into the casting chamber. The chill member includes an upwardly diverging mold engaging surface onto which the preheated mold is set by the elevator as it is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Spicer, Allen R. Price
  • Patent number: 5913353
    Abstract: A process for casting light metals. The process includes preheating ingots of the light metal in a protective atmosphere before being introduced into a melting furnace wherein the molten metal is degassed and filtered before transference in a heated delivery tube to a covered holding furnace. The filtered melt is made quiescent to reduce its kinetic energy and allow inclusions to settle and form a purified melt. A vacuum is applied to a die cavity in a casting press to displace air residing therein with an inert atmosphere. The purified melt is then transferred in a heated delivery tube as a charge to the casting press under the inert atmosphere to prevent burning and formation of accompanying reaction products. Upon cooling, a light metal casting is produced in the absence of air with minimum defects and inclusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Riley, Curtis Neal Paige
  • Patent number: 5855828
    Abstract: A refractory composite structure is formed which comprises a ductile refractory metallic layer with a roughened surface which is tightly bonded to a refractory composite structural shell. The roughened surface is preferably dendritic in form and produced by chemical vapor deposition techniques. The refractory composite structural shell is preferably a carbon-carbon composite formed by applying a carbon filament preform to the roughened surface, infiltrating the preform with a carbon matrix precursor, and carbonizing the precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Ultramet
    Inventors: Robert H. Tuffias, Brian E. Williams, Richard B. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 5578177
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing fully annealed metal anodes are disclosed. The methods contemplate supplying metal and heating the metal until it has obtained a molten state. The molten metal is permitted to flow into a die and transported therethrough where it is cooled until it solidifies. The flow rate of the metal through the die and the extent of cooling are selected such that a fully annealed metal anode is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: RFE Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary A. Wolf
  • Patent number: 5477906
    Abstract: A mould assembly comprising mould segments of generally non-thermally conductive material which define a mould cavity is upwardly filled with liquid metal through at least one in-gate. A thermal extraction member of a high thermally conductive material contacts a portion of the mould cavity through which heat is extracted rapidly to establish positive thermal gradients in the casting and thereby promote directional solidification. The mould assembly is also provided with a seal to selectively isolate the mould assembly from the liquid metal source to allow the mould assembly to be removed from the casting station and transferred to the cooling station, providing a more efficient use of the casting station. In addition, once a shell has solidified then the mould segments and metal contained therein can be transferred to the cooling station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminum Limited
    Inventors: Rodney A. Legge, John A. Eady, Rodney E. Proposch, Joseph R. Ponteri
  • Patent number: 5421397
    Abstract: An improved method of and system for die casting an engine block made of aluminum is provided. Included in the system is a calorific fluid for circulating through a bore pin assembly in a preselected temperature range which is continuously maintained by a heat transfer fluid controlling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventors: Robert K. Hembree, Mark L. Purtee
  • Patent number: 5348071
    Abstract: The apparatus for casting comprises a pressure vessel and a device for pressurizing the vessel. The pressurizing device is in fluidic connection with the vessel. The apparatus is also comprised of a chamber disposed in the pressure vessel within which material is melted. There is a mold adapted to contain a preform disposed in the vessel and in fluidic connection with the chamber by a passage such that melted material in the chamber can be forced down into the mold through the passage as the pressurizing device pressurizes the vessel. A heating device is disposed in the vessel. There is also a device for directionally solidifying the material in the mold. Additionally, there is a method comprising the steps of loading the pressure vessel by disposing a material within the chamber whereby the material is in fluidic connection with the mold adapted to contain a preform through the passage. The passage has a filter disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: PCC Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold J. Cook
  • Patent number: 5316070
    Abstract: Al base - Si hypereutetic alloys can exhibit problems of variable and unwanted microstructure throughout the section of the article being cast. This problem is overcome by controlled cooling of the mold in critical areas, to remove or prevent excessive accumulation of heat energy and avoid the formation of intense convection currents in still molten alloy. Consequently, the necessary coupled growth of the Al-Si eutectic is promoted and the resultant microstructure is substantially free of primary Si. The 3HA and modified 3HA alloys of the applicant are considered on the basis of their wear resistance and improved machineability for automotive applications, such as engine blocks and cylinder heads. A first feature of the controlled cooling procedure is supply of coolant to regions in the mold, above and extending from the gate, such that solidification progresses uniformly from the remote regions of the mold spaces towards the gate to give a substantially uniform microstructure throughout the casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminum Limited
    Inventors: Kevin P. Rogers, Christopher J. Heathcock
  • Patent number: 5314001
    Abstract: The lower mold which forms the external side of the vehicle wheel is water-cooled by water-cooling pipes. The rib-forming portions of the upper mold which forms the internal side of the vehicle wheel are forcibly air-cooled by the air passages provided along the rib-forming portions. Since water-cooling has better cooling capacity than air-cooling, the molten material inside the cavity between the lower mold and the upper mold is solidified from the external side thereof, and no defects such as shrinkage cavities occur on the external side thereof. When the internal side is solidified, the rib portions are solidified not much later than the other portion of the internal side, thereby shortening the casting cycle time. The split molds which form the cavity for forming therein the rim portion of the vehicle wheel are opened earlier than the upper mold, at the time when the surface layer portion of the molten material in the cavity has been solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Hidaka, Tsutomu Terajima, Yuu Haga, Shigemitsu Nakabayashi, Akihiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 5078200
    Abstract: Aluminothermically produced steel is poured into a casting mold which surrounds the two rail ends. A cooling agent is applied to the surfaces of the rail heads of the rail portions adjacent the two casting mold halves. The cooling agent is applied after the molten steel has been poured into the casting mold until the steel has solidified. The cooling agent may be applied until the projecting material and the casting mold halves has been sheared off. A casting mold for carrying out the method includes two casting mold halves which each has a groove for receiving a sealing paste in the inner surfaces thereof facing the rail ends, wherein the groove extends along the outer contour of the casting mold halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Elektro-Thermit GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Guntermann, Frank Kuster
  • Patent number: 5072771
    Abstract: A long thin metal article having a thick portion is cast with a stress free interconnection between the thick and thin portions of the article. A heat transfer wall is provided around at least a portion of a mold in which the article is cast. To preheat the mold, heat is radiated from an inner side surface of a furnace wall to an outer side surface of the heat transfer wall. Heat is radiated from an inner side surface of the wall to the mold. Molten metal is conducted into the long thin portion of the article mold at a location other than along the length of the long thin portion of the article mold. During solidification of the molten metal, heat is radiated from the thick portion of the article mold to the inner side surface of the heat transfer wall. As the mold structure is withdrawn from the furnace chamber during solidification of the molten metal in the article mold cavity, heat is radiated from the outer side surface of the heat transfer wall to locations outside of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: PCC Airfoils, Inc.
    Inventor: T. V. Rama Prasad
  • Patent number: 4905752
    Abstract: A long thin article having an enlarged end portion, such as a vane having a long thin airfoil and a shroud at the end of the airfoil, is cast by using a chill at the enlarged end portion of an article mold cavity. The chill is engaged by molten metal at the enlarged end portion of the article mold cavity. The molten metal quickly solidifies adjacent to the chill to eliminate the formation of defects. The chill is advantageously located in a pocket disposed at one end of the article mold cavity. The chills are placed in the pockets with the molds in an up-side-down orientation. The mold is then turned right-side-up and placed on a chill plate. The chills project from the mold and support the mold above the chill plate. During casting of an article, heat is transmitted from the enlarged end portion of the article through chill to the chill plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: PCC Airfoils, Inc.
    Inventor: T. V. Rama Prasad
  • Patent number: 4862947
    Abstract: An improved mold has a coating of material having a relatively high emissivity. The surface of the coating has an emissivity which is at least twice as great as the emissivity of the surface of the ceramic mold material. When the mold is removed from a furnace chamber, the surface of the coating radiates heat at a relatively high rate. In one embodiment of the invention, the coating is applied to only a portion of the surface of a ceramic mold. In another embodiment of the invention, the coating of material having a relatively high emissivity is applied to only a portion of a crystal selector on a mold for a single crystal article. The relatively high rate of radiation of heat from the coated portion of the crystal selector increases the rate of growth of an adjacent single crystal grain. If desired, the entire mold can be covered with the coating of material having a relatively high emissivity. The coating of material having a high emissivity may be formed of graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: PCC Airfoils, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Horton, Arunachalam Jeyarajan, Lawrence D. Graham
  • Patent number: 4813470
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling radial solidification in cast turbine wheel or nozzle assembly so as to produce an equiaxed fine grain structure in a hub portion and a directionally solidified grain structure in an integral blade portion by means of adjustable heat shields and heating elements disposed above and below the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Feng Chiang
  • Patent number: 4809764
    Abstract: A long, thin article or portion of an article of an equiaxed metal is cast without providing gates along the length of a portion of a mold cavity in which the long thin portion of the article is cast. Prior to casting the article, the lower half of the long thin portion of the article mold is heated into a temperature range in which the highest temperature is close to but less than the solidus temperature of the metal of the article. Molten metal is conducted into the long thin portion of the article mold cavity at a location other than along the length of the long thin portion of the article mold cavity. During solidification of the molten metal, molten metal is simultaneously solidified along surface areas in the lower half of the long thin portion of the mold cavity and along surface areas in the upper half of the long thin portion of the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: PCC Airfoils, Inc.
    Inventor: T. V. Rama Prasad
  • Patent number: 4804035
    Abstract: A method of carrying out gravity mold casting, i.e., pouring of molten metal into a mold cavity under the force of gravity. This particular method features the application of a heating insulating coating or an equivalent coating on the surfaces of an area the cross-sectional area of which is larger than that of other sections of the cavity and where the metal flowing speed is slower than in other areas of the mold. The coating is effected before pouring metal into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation, Sinto Kogio, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Murai, Norifumi Sagawa
  • Patent number: 4759399
    Abstract: Hollow metal ingots are produced by a hollow metal manufacturing apparatus comprising a mold placed on a stool, and a cylindrical metallic cooling core placed in the mold to form an annular casting space therebetween. During the casting, a cooling fluid is directly blown upon the inner surface of the core while the cylindrical metallic core is allowed to be buckled. The cooling core is constituted by an outermost metallic cylinder to be brought into contact with a molten metal, a cylindrical lattice-fashioned buckling-adjusting frame positioned in the metallic cylinder and provides passages through which the cooling fluid is passed, and a cooling fluid vessel which is positioned inside the buckling-adjusting frame and is provided with a number of cooling fluid blowing nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Saito, Yukio Oguchi, Toshio Kato, Hideshi Ohzu, Kanji Aizawa, Minoru Yao
  • Patent number: 4729542
    Abstract: A mold for producing connecting straps for lead batteries, particularly according to a cast-on-strap (COS) process or the like, is especially adapted for the simultaneous casting-in of a pole insert, and has wall thicknesses which vary inversely to changes in the thickness of the connecting strap. Heat transition adjusted to the local accumulation of material on the casting is thus achieved, and the development of unequal temperature conditions during the entire casting process is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dieter Bechtold
  • Patent number: 4724890
    Abstract: For the purpose of connecting frogs consisting of austenitic manganese steel casting with rails consisting of carbon steel there is proposed an aluminothermic process in which the carbon content of the aluminothermic welded connection is limited with 0.2 percent by weight. In this case, the procedure is preferably such that the composition of the melt corresponds, as related to the Schaffler-diagram, to a Ni-equivalent of 13 to 35 percent and to a Cr-equivalent of 8 to 25 percent, noting that for a carbon content of .ltoreq.0.15 percent and preferably .ltoreq.0.1 percent, the equivalent value for Ni is 1x%Ni+30x%C+0.5%Mn and the equivalent value for Cr is 1x%Cr+1x%Mo+1.5x%Si.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alfred Moser, Hubert Augustin
  • Patent number: 4709461
    Abstract: A method of forming a fine grained equiaxed ingot by melting metal and placing it in a mold having a restriction at the entrance disposed to solidify the metal in the entrance to the mold prior to complete solidification of the metal in the mold such that a shrinkage void is formed below the entrance to the mold. The ingot is then hot isostatically pressed (HIPped) to fully densify the ingot and eliminate the shrinkage void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Howmet Turbine Components Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Freeman, Jr.