Semi-solid casting apparatus and method
US6640879B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S164/90
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A die casting system includes a vessel defining a reservoir with a controlled heater and an agitator for maintaining the bath of semi-solid metal in a homogeneous isothermal state, a transfer system capable of transferring a known quantity of metal in its semi-solid state to a mold cavity in a die casting machine, the transfer system including a heated suction tube, a vacuum source for vacuum ladling semi-solid metal from the bath to a die, and a plunger tip providing a path for free air flow to allow evacuation of the suction tube during casting and a metal replacement system for replacing the known quantity of transferred metal with a similar amount of liquid metal so that a stable homogeneous isothermal bath of semi-solid metal is controllably maintained to be available for die casting operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.