Abstract: An apparatus for melting a solid metal having a vortex chamber disposed within the apparatus, the vortex chamber having an inlet and an outlet, and a molten metal mover configured to move molten metal within the apparatus into the vortex chamber and disposed proximate to the entrance of the vortex chamber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cast component with a casting device includes providing a casting device. The casting device comprises a filling chamber, a mold cavity comprising a hollow space, runners comprising at least one of a different length and a different cross-section, and a plunger arranged in the filling chamber. The metal melt is provided in a fluid state in the filling chamber. The metal melt is advanced via the runners from the filling chamber to the mold cavity by advancing the plunger in the filling chamber. Electromagnetic fields are provided. A flow velocity of melt currents in the respective runners is increased or decreased via the electromagnetic fields so that a melt front in each of the runners reaches the mold cavity when the filling chamber has been completely filled by the plunger.

Abstract: A low pressure die-casting machine has a ladle unit, a molten metal pressurizing unit, a switching unit, and a controller. The ladle unit has an intake/discharge port with a cross-sectional area in a range of from 20 to 80 mm.sup.2 so as to be capable of successively supplying the molten metal to a desired location. The molten metal pressurizing unit is switchable between two positions. One position is for selectively supplying compressed air to the ladle to positively discharge the molten metal from the ladle through the intake/discharge port. The other position is for selectively isolating the ladle in order to retain the molten metal therein. The switching unit is connected between the molten metal pressurizing unit and the ladle. It is switchable between first and second change-over positions. The first change-over position is for providing fluid communication between the ladle and the molten metal pressurizing unit.

Abstract: A countergravity low-pressure casting apparatus (10) includes a feedback control system (98) which continuously measures the actual pressure of metal being pumped into a mold (12) and controls the voltage applied to an electromagnetic pump (66) to conform the actual metal pressure with the ideal metal pressure versus casting cycle time fill schedule (96).

Abstract: A countergravity casting apparatus (10) includes a mold (12) supported above a furnace (14) containing a supply of molten metal to be cast into the mold (12). An electromagnetic pump (66) is accommodated in a casting chamber (46) of the furnace (14) and pumps the metal against gravity from the furnace (14) into the mold (12). The casting chamber (46) is enclosed by an insulating cover (40) and defines an air space over the metal in the chamber (46). A lance (64) extends through the cover (40) and delivers inert gas into the air space and purges it of outside atmospheric gases that would otherwise contaminate the metal in the chamber (46).

Abstract: A molten metal supplying apparatus has an electromagnetic pump for supplying molten metal under electromagnetic forces through a molten metal feed tube to a die-casting machine. An adapter is provided for maintaining molten metal therein at the same surface level as that of molten metal which is kept in a molten metal holding furnace at a prescribed temperature. The molten metal holding furnace is movable toward and away from a molten metal receiving member of the die-casing machine. An oxidized layer is prevented from being formed in the molten metal as it is fed through the feed tube, and the feed tube can easily be inspected and serviced. An orifice member is disposed in the feed tube for supplying even a small amount of molten metal accurately to the molten metal receiving member.

Abstract: A counter-gravity metal casting apparatus (10) comprises a reservoir (14) having a casting chamber (46) therein. An electro-magnetic pump (66) is accommodated in the chamber (b 46) and is responsive to input voltage for pumping molten metal from the chamber (46) into an above-situated distribution vessel (78) and mold (12). The chamber 46) is enclosed by cover (40) and supplied with inert gas (60) for purging the space (62) above the metal or outside atmospheric contaminated gases. A feed back controller (98) is also provided for continuously measuring the actual pressure of the pumped metal of the casting cycle and then controlling the output of the pump (66) to conform the actual metal pressure with an ideal reference metal pressure versus casting cycle time schedule.

Abstract: Process for casting billets with the metal alloy being in the liquid or paste-like state, which process consists of pouring the liquid alloy into a casting tank, then transferring it, by means of an electromagnetic-induction pump, to a mixer-cooler, preferably of static type, so as to obtain at the outlet of the latter an alloy in the semi-liquid state, and finally feeding said alloy directly to a traditional system for billet casting.

Abstract: An injection apparatus for a high-speed type thin plate continuous casting machine comprises linear motors (3A, 3B) interposing long sides of a flat nozzle (3), a power source unit for applying predetermined currents having a predetermined frequency to the linear motors (3A, 3B), and linear motor power factor improving capacitors (21) connected between the linear motors (3A, 3B) and the power source unit. A material on the inner walls of the short sides of the flat nozzle (3) is a conductive material to improve an edge effect, additionally, the apparatus is constructed to use a heating operation of the linear motor in heating the nozzle or a molten metal in the nozzle by adequately controlling a frequency or a current of a power supplied to the linear motors.

Abstract: When molten metal within a molten metal tank is supplied to an injection sleeve of a casting machine through a molten-metal supply pipe by the operation of an electromagnetic pump, a sensor detects changes in height of the surface of molten metal within the tank as time passes, and a controller corrects the period during which the pump is driven on the basis of molten-metal surface detection signals from the sensor. The controller divides the difference in height of the surface of molten metal within the tank as between its highest level and its lowest level into a number n of regions, and drives the pump in such a controlled manner that the pump is connected to a three phase AC power source and is intermittently supplied with three-phase power having a constant voltage and a constant frequency so that the pump controls the molten-metal supply amount with its driven period serving as a molten-metal supply period.

Abstract: In apparatus for supplying molten metal to an injection sleeve of a die cast machine from a pot containing the molten metal through a metal supply pipe, an electromagnetic pump is provided including an electromagnetic coil surrounding the molten metal supply pipe and a magnetic core inserted into the molten metal supply pipe from inside of the pot. The inner surface of the molten metal supply pipe is coated with a ceramic layer formed by centrifugal thermit method.

Abstract: A casting method and an apparatus therefor are disclosed, in which a molten material in a retaining furnace is poured through a supplying conduit directly into a cavity of a mold at a low pressure. A portion of the conduit is provided with an electromagnetic induction pump while the furnace is provided movably therein with a level-detecting sensor for detecting a level of the molten material in the furnace and generating a signal which provides instructions of computing, commanding and controlling an excitation voltage of the electromagnetic induction pump, thereby to optimize the injection pressure and the amount of the molten material in the conduit when the molten material is poured into the cavity of the mold through the conduit.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combination of several novel elements in combination with improved designs of existing elements, to provide a relatively simple means for delivering high melting molten metals, such as magnesium and its alloys, to a continuous caster without exposure of the metal to the ambient atmosphere, at reproducible pressures and quantities to enable the advanced casting technologies to be utilized to their fullest potential. Thus in accordance with the present invention there is described a molten metal handling system, particularly useful for delivering high melting temperature metals in their molten state from a melting pot or crucible to a casting machine, e.g. die caster, strip caster, sand molds and the like, remote from the melting pot or crucible without exposure to the ambient atmosphere. The essential elements of the present molten metal handling system are a pump and heated conduits to carry the molten metal to the casting station.

Abstract: A thin metal wire having a circular cross section is produced by a method which comprises spouting molten metal through a spinning nozzle and bringing the resultant flow of molten metal into contact with a layer of liquid cooling medium formed on a grooved conveyor belt in motion thereby quenching and solidifying the flow of molten metal. This method is capable of continuously producing a thin metal wire of high quality economically on a commercial scale. It is highly effective in directly producing a thin metal wire having an amorphous, non-equilibrium crystalline, or microcrystalline structure.