Investment casting using melt reservoir loop
US6453979B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB22D18/04
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Method and apparatus for investment casting wherein a ceramic investment mold is disposed in a chamber and communicates with a 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 melt in 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 pressurization. While residing in the 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.