Casting methods

US8333230B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC · US

Inventors

• Kenneth C. Marsden · Idaho Falls, US
• Mitchell K. Meyer · Idaho Falls, US
• Blair K. Grover · Idaho Falls, US
• Randall S. Fielding · Idaho Falls, US
• Billy W. Wolfensberger · Rigby, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 17, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 18, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 16, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B22D27/15
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A casting device includes a covered crucible having a top opening and a bottom orifice, a lid covering the top opening, a stopper rod sealing the bottom orifice, and a reusable mold having at least one chamber, a top end of the chamber being open to and positioned below the bottom orifice and a vacuum tap into the chamber being below the top end of the chamber. A casting method includes charging a crucible with a solid material and covering the crucible, heating the crucible, melting the material, evacuating a chamber of a mold to less than 1 atm absolute through a vacuum tap into the chamber, draining the melted material into the evacuated chamber, solidifying the material in the chamber, and removing the solidified material from the chamber without damaging the chamber.