Abstract: A casting apparatus wherein a weighted lever operated plunger has its operational rate regulated by a friction brake. A movable weight on the lever provides a selection of amplified operating force on the plunger. The lever is coupled with the piston of a vacuum pump having a valve to regulate the rate of application of vacuum to the molding flask. Safety linkages coupled to the lever prevent non-scheduled operation of the casting apparatus.

Abstract: A device for transfer of critical liquids, such as molten metals, has a body member including a short leg inlet liquid conveying passage submergeable in a large storage vessel containing the critical liquid. An intermediate high level liquid conveying passage is disposed over the vessel and connected in fluid transferring relationship to the inlet portion at one end, and at its other end to a long down leg passage which is connected to a smaller liquid storing chamber positioned substantially lower than the liquid level in the storage vessel. A pouring outlet is connected to the lower chamber to conduct liquid out of the lower chamber. The flow of metal is controlled by a vacuum source selectively connectable to the high level passage which causes a siphon action through the device. The lower chamber is adapted in cooperation with its storage vessel, to maintain a vacuum in the system during start up and the transfer of liquid from the storage vessel to the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming metal articles, such as rods and tubes by aspiration casting is provided in which a hollow frangible mold, such as a glass tube, is immersed at one end in a molten metal bath, a vacuum is applied to the other end controlled with respect to temperature of the molten metal so as to substantially fill the mold with a minimum of turbulence, the filled mold is withdrawn from the metal and the frangible mold is shattered to remove it from the metal article formed within.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a metal ribbon has a rotary roll. Molten metal is poured from a heated nozzle onto the outer peripheral surface of the roll to form a solidified metal ribbon on the roll surface. To facilitate easy separation of the metal ribbon from the roll surface, a jet of a non-oxidizing gas is directed to the point of separation of the ribbon from the roll surface. The roll surface just upstream of the metal-pouring nozzle is enclosed by a cover the inside of which is evacuated to assure intimate contact of the poured metal with the roll surface and thus improve cooling of the poured metal. A heater is provided in the cover to heat the roll surface just upstream of the metal-pouring nozzle for thereby removing dew droplets and ambient gases from the roll surface whereby the formation of depressions or recesses in the roll-containing ribbon surface is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mold structure for casting large metallic parts such as ingots so as to avoid the formation of the "shrinkage pipe" which normally develops on the exposed top surface of such castings during their solidification. The structure comprises a cap for placement on a mold which includes a diaphragm having a front surface located to intercept radiation emitted from the top surface of the cooling metal mass and to reemit radiation back thereto, and a means for returning radiation emitted from the back surface of the diaphragm such as an infrared reflector or a stack of baffles. The cap may include means for cooling the reflective surface and suitable ports which allow the interior of the mold and cap to be evacuated. Portions of the mold adjacent its open top may be provided with insulation to prevent heat loss from the metal by conduction. Various means for providing make-up heat to the top surface of the metal mass may also be included in the structure.

Abstract: A casting furnace includes upper and lower chambers, separated by a wall having a pouring path extending therethrough. A crucible is positioned in the upper chamber and a mold is positioned in the lower chamber, both in alignment with the pouring path. A body of casting metal is placed in the crucible and is melted from the top down by an electric arc generated in the upper chamber, the bottom portion of the body of casting metal blocking the pouring path until the casting metal has become molten. Thereafter, the molten casting metal falls by gravity through the pouring path, and into the mold. The arrangement is such that the molten metal requires nothing but the force of gravity to enter the mold cavity.

Abstract: A casting head and clamp arrangement for vacuum aspiration casting of metal rods in glass tubes is provided having a casting head with a generally vertical vacuum passage, a removable vacuum chuck in the lower end of said vacuum passage adapted to receive and hold the end of a glass tube, said chuck including a pair of spaced annular support discs, spaced elongate members connecting said support discs, sleeve members having an internal diameter larger than a glass tube to be held fixed on each of support disc annulus and projecting beyond said discs between the elongate members, an elastomer tube stretched and fixed at its opposite ends to the sleeve members and having an internal diameter smaller than the diameter of the glass tube to be held and vacuum means acting between said discs to cause the elastomer tube to enlarge in internal diameter under vacuum to permit insertion of the glass tubes to be held and to engage and hold the glass tube ends when the vacuum is released.

Abstract: A centrifugal casting machine includes a plurality of split centrifugal molds which are successively brought to a casting station in which the molds are closed, clamped together and rotated rapidly while molten metal is fed through a central sprue to mold cavities therein. For feeding the molten metal, a vacuum chamber is provided at the casting station above the mold, and a feed pipe leading to a reservoir of molten metal extends into the vacuum chamber through a nozzle which discharges into a funnel communicating with the central sprue of the mold. Means are provided to create a vacuum condition within the vacuum chamber, the funnel, nozzle and the mold cavities when the mold is closed and clamped, whereby the molten metal is drawn by a siphoning action through the feed pipe and discharged from the nozzle into the mold cavities. The feed flow of the molten metal is accomplished solely by the vacuum condition which is timed to feed a selected charge of molten metal to the mold cavities.

Abstract: A centrifugal casting machine includes a rotatable shaft having a mounting plate for receiving a pair of molds containing the casting cavities. A passage in the shaft has one end connected to a source of vacuum and the other end opening in the plate. A conduit is provided from the casting cavities to the exterior of the molds. Connection means are provided for applying the vacuum in the passage to the cavity through the conduit. The vacuum so applied improves both the operation of the casting machine and the quality of the castings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for gravity molding articles such as battery straps or the like in open or non-pressurized molds. The apparatus uses an upwardly inclined molding head including a molten metal reservoir and a nozzle discharge end positioned adjacent the mold for delivering molten metal into the mold. Delivery of molten metal can be from a molten lead vat through a siphon conduit and stop-cock valve at the mold head. At the end of each pour, upon closing of the stop-cock valve, a small amount of molten metal is withdrawn from the heated reservoir into a suction system to decrease the level of the reservoir slightly below the lower lip of the nozzle end and thereby prevent dripping from the nozzle end between pours. At the beginning of each pour, the molten metal is released from the suction system back into the reservoir for use in the pour.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing light metal alloys, in particular aluminum alloys, in which the desired alloying elements are first introduced into a vacuum furnace which is then evacuated, whereafter light metal melt is introduced into the furnace chamber by suction in the form of a free-falling metal jet which is thereby subjected to a vacuum treatment for reducing the contents of impurities, such as hydrogen, sodium, oxides and other non-metallic particles, therein. The free-falling metal jet is given such a configuration with respect to composition and flow pattern, such an average length as well as such velocity and direction that the alloying elements are readily dissolved and mixed into the melt in the vacuum furnace, whereby an alloy of desired quality is ready for casting immediately after termination of the vacuum treatment and alloying process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing steel and other alloys by vacuum refining are disclosed. One preferred apparatus comprises a series of vacuum chambers, one containing an electron beam heating means, and a second containing a means for adding an alloying constituent. Apparatus for melting, transferring, and casting metals is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for reducing the cooling of metal and the projection of metal onto the walls in the course of degasing of liquid metals by vacuum jet, which comprises establishing, in the area of the nozzle extending into the vacuum chamber and beneath said nozzle, a magnetic field tending to contract or confine the jet admitted by the nozzle into the vacuum chamber.It further comprises an apparatus for degasing liquid metals by vacuum jet technique, comprising, around the nozzle which forms the jet between an upper ladle containing the liquid metal to be degased and the vacuum chamber containing a lower laddle or an ingot mold to receive the degased liquid metal and beneath said nozzle, a solenoid having an a.c. electric current flowing therethrough such that the electric currents induced in the liquid metal tend to contract or confine the liquid metal jet ejected from said nozzle.

Abstract: Metal in the molten state is transferred from one treating stage or zone to a succeeding stage or zone by gravity flow, the flow from one zone to the next being controlled by gas pressure, thus eliminating the need for valves, gates or similar moving parts. The process is particularly adapted to the treating of ferrous metal, more particularly to the making of steel. By providing sufficient zones in the series a continuous process can be run, starting with feed from a blast furnace, and conducting the material through alloying stages and a degassing stage and into a continuous casting zone.