Patent · US Expired

Investment casting using pour cup reservoir with inverted melt feed gate

US6019158A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
29References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1998
Grant dateFeb 1, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB22D35/04
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A ceramic investment mold is disposed in a casting chamber and communicates with a pour cup melt reservoir connected to the mold and having a reservoir volume for holding enough melt to fill the mold. The melt pour cup reservoir is communicated to the mold via an inverted loop feed gate so that the melt is fed from a lower region of the reservoir through the inverted loop feed gate to the mold upon gas pressurization of the reservoir. The loop feed gate is configured to have a loop region above the melt level in the reservoir so as to prevent melt flow from the reservoir to the more mold cavities in the absence of reservoir pressurization. While residing in the pour cup reservoir, oxides and other inclusion-forming particles in the melt can float to the upper surface of the melt, whereby the melt fed from the lower region of the reservoir to the mold via the inverted loop melt feed gate includes reduced amount of inclusion-forming particles. After the melt is introduced into the pour cup, a pressure cap can be positioned in sealing engagement with the pour cup to provide selective or local gas pressure on the melt in the pour cup reservoir to force the melt in the reservoir through…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.