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US 11,597,008 B2Granted
Method for reducing local defects in a casting
OwnerQingyou Haninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process of reducing internal defects or enhancing mechanical properties in local regions in a casting utilizes the combined effect of compression, high-intensity ultrasound, heat, and feeding using extra material on improving the local microstructure. A modified version of the process can be used for accelerating the creep age forming process.
Claims8
A method for reducing local defects or for improving local performance in locations within a casting during its solidification and cooling stage in a mold cavity, the method comprising:
- preparing an elongated sonotrode for each one of the identified locations, the sonotrode comprising a first end and a second end, the first end connected to ultrasonic horn driven by an ultrasound generating system and the second end comprising a tip;
- providing a mold with a hole for housing each sonotrode for each one of the identified locations;
- providing a loading device to each sonotrode in which the loading device drives the sonotrode at predetermined forces, time, and travel rates;
- placing each sonotrode in each mold hole with the tip of each sonotrode at a certain predetermined distance to a final surface of the casting, forming a space that allows extra material to exist between the tip of the sonotrode and the final surface of the casting;
- filling the mold cavity and the space with liquid metal;
- applying ultrasonic vibrations to the liquid metal as soon as the liquid metal touches each sonotrode;
- and
- applying both ultrasonic vibration and a compressive loading to each sonotrode to push the extra material into the casting at the moment when an isolated liquid pool is formed in the casting before the molds are about to open for casting ejection.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.