Abstract: Ceramic mold and core materials of magnesia doped alumina are removed from castings by a solution of either KOH or NaOH at elevated temperatures and pressures in an autoclave.

Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus for pressure casting metal are disclosed. The method is generally known in the art as "squeeze casting". The present method provides for casting articles under forging pressures in a die to predetermined dimensions regardless of varying amounts of excess of poured molten metal, by the inclusion of a retractable charge-quantity compensator positioned adjacent the casting cavity to form on the cast article an extension which may vary in volume from article to article. The extension is later removed. The charge-quantity compensator may be in the form of a piston in a cylinder with hydraulic fluid behind the piston connected to a hydraulic source. The piston, which may be normally biased toward the die cavity but yieldable away therefrom is fixed in position when the punch die has advanced to a predetermined position at which the quantity of casting material in the die cavity is appropriate for the article being formed. Full casting pressure is then applied.

Abstract: A band-shaped metal layer useful as a resistance layer and/or a contact layer is pyrolytically deposited onto a cylindrical substrate by surrounding the surface of the substrate with a mixture of a thermally decomposable metal compound and a carrier therefor and substantially simultaneously heating only precise surface areas of the substrate, as by a laser beam, to a temperature slightly above the thermal decomposition temperature of the metal compound and moving the substrate in a rotational and/or axial manner so that a band-shaped metal layer forms only at the heated surface areas of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grouping metal ingots of predetermined shape into ingot groups each consisting of four ingots and stacking these ingot groups in tiers to form a stack. In the method and apparatus, two kinds of ingot groups of different patterns are automatically alternately stacked in tiers utilizing the movement of a conveyor conveying the ingots, so that dangerous relative sliding movement of the ingots in the stack may not occur during transportation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for casting steel slugs which utilizes a measured charge of molten steel discharged centrally of a rotating table having radial channels to distribute the metal rapidly to circumferentially-spaced, individual, trunnion-mounted receptacles at the end of each channel. The receptacles are designed to have a center of gravity outside the trunnion axis when empty, and inside the trunnion axis when charged. After a predetermined cooling period, a mechanical latch release allows the rotating, loaded receptacles to dump radially to a suitable conveyor and the cycle may be repeated.

Abstract: Ceramic shell molds are removed from cast turbine blades by contacting the shell mold with a concentrated solution of HF whereby the binder of the shell is destroyed and the shell material falls away from the metal casting.

Abstract: In a casting shake-out unit comprising a longitudinal cylinder being approximately horizontally disposed is driven in rotation by means of a motor, the cylinder includes a concentric inner cylinder formed as an apertured surface having rifling arranged helically upon its interior surface, with integral vanes helically arranged intermediate the inner apertured cylinder and the outer longitudinal cylinder. As sand encrusted castings are deposited into the cylinders, and while they are rotated, said castings are tumbled and urged to move longitudinally of the apertured cylinder while the loosened mold sand falls therethrough, and is likewise moved longitudinally of the apertured cylinder while the loosened mold sand falls therethrough, and is likewise moved longitudinally of the outer cylinder to a location for collection.

Abstract: An elongated movable water cooled mold of any desired cross section has an open bottom end which is lowered into a pot of molten metal a predetermined distance with the metal being pulled into the mold under vacuum operated by suitable controls for establishing the desired length of the casting or billet. Water is supplied to the mold while still in the pot to permit the casting to harden and the mold is then removed therefrom and moved to a position close to floor level where termination of the water supply allows the contained heat in the casting to reheat the mold and expand it sufficiently so that the casting can drop free of the mold upon release of the vacuum.

Abstract: An investment casting method for making a desired casting of a relatively large size by the use of a mold of one-piece construction within close dimensions, which comprises preparing a thermally fusible pattern which is a replica of the desired casting, forming a refractory investment enveloping the thermally fusible pattern, melting the thermally fusible pattern out of the investment leaving a cavity in the refractory investment, and heating the investment to provide a rigid ceramic mold of one-piece construction. Melting of the thermally fusible pattern out of the investment is carried out in contact with a vaporized organic solvent without causing the thermally fusible pattern to thermally expand which may otherwise result in formation of cracks in the refractory, investment, that is, mold.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of casting molten nonferrous metal ingots, skimming scum foaming on the surface of the molten metal in each mold, cooling the molds to release ingots therefrom, stacking the ingots released from the molds to form ingot stacks each comprising a plurality of layers of ingots arranged in vertically stacked relation alternately in two different patterns, weighing the ingot stacks, and tightly binding the weighed ingot stacks with steel bands.

Abstract: For the purpose of separating castings from the sand or similar material forming a string of moulds, each of the castings proper together with a lump of heat damaged mould material totally surrounding the castings is separated from the mould string. After having been subjected to an appropriate degree of cooling, the castings are separated from the lump material which, after sufficient regeneration, may be re-used together with the non-damaged material of the moulds.