Metallurgical apparatus – Process – Plugging or tapping
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-28
2001-04-03
Kastler, Scott (Department: 1742)
Metallurgical apparatus
Process
Plugging or tapping
C266S208000, C266S211000, C222S590000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210628
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a melt delivery system for use in casting molten metals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the vacuum casting of molten metals, such as superalloys, a superalloy charge is melted in a melting furnace vessel (e.g. crucible) in an upper melting chamber usually under vacuum and then poured into casting mold positioned in a lower mold pour chamber located beneath the melting chamber and communicated thereto via an open isolation valve. In many cases, the molten metal pour stream height from the melting vessel above the underlying refractory mold is reduced by raising the mold in the lower mold pour chamber using an elevator or other mold lift mechanism. However, in the case of fixed mold height equipment, the distance of the mold from the melting vessel results in an inherently long molten metal pour stream that is difficult to control and can introduce molten metal turbulence within the mold during mold filling.
An object of the present invention is provide a melt delivery system that substantially reduces the length of the melt pour stream from a melting vessel to a casting vessel, such as a mold or shot sleeve, and overcomes problems associated with the above described upper melting chamber/lower mold pour chamber system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a melt delivery system and method including a melting chamber and a laterally adjacent pour chamber arranged side-by-side to one another. A melt delivery system includes a transport mechanism having a horizontally translatable carriage disposed on a carriage support frame. A shaft mechanism has one end disposed on the carriage and another end disposed on the frame for translation and rotation relative thereto for carrying a melting vessel, such as for example an induction melting crucible, in a manner that the melt-filled vessel can be horizontally translated from the melting chamber where a metal charge is melted in the vessel to the adjacent pour chamber where the melt is poured into a casting vessel, such as a casting mold or shot sleeve of a die casting machine, by rotation of the shaft mechanism. The carriage is translated by an actuator motor on the carriage support frame, and the shaft mechanism is independently rotated by an actuator motor on the carriage. The carriage support frame carries a sealing door disposed about the shaft mechanism to mate with the melting chamber to seal it from ambient atmosphere during vacuum melting of the charge in the melting vessel and translation/rotation of the melting vessel.
In an embodiment of the invention, the shaft mechanism comprises a coaxial shaft arrangement wherein an inner tube is disposed in an intermediate tube to provide coolant and electrical power supplies to the melting vessel. The inner and intermediate tubes are disposed in an outermost support tube. The melting vessel is mounted on the outermost support tube and is connected to coolant and electrical power supplies via the shaft mechanism.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3565156 (1971-02-01), Vollmer et al.
patent: 4917359 (1990-04-01), Ichikawa et al.
patent: 5335711 (1994-08-01), Paine
patent: 5634514 (1997-06-01), Gagliano
patent: 5753004 (1998-05-01), Hanai et al.
patent: 5819837 (1998-10-01), Hugo et al.
Booth Lloyd M.
Callaway Martin A.
Kring David L.
Howmet Research Corporation
Kastler Scott
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