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US 2003/0196775 A1Published application
Semi-solid molding apparatus and method
AssigneeTHT Presses Inc.
InventorsRichard J. Kamm, John L. Jorstad
Life of this patent
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AssigneeTHT Presses Inc.
InventorsRichard J. Kamm, John L. Jorstad
Estimating the term…
A metal alloy is heated to a molten state and is poured into a shot sleeve of a vertical die cast press and on top of a shot piston. The shot sleeve is transferred to an injection station while the molten alloy is cooled to a semi-solid slurry and a globular, generally non-dendritic microstructure. A retractable cooling pin is temporarily inserted into a center portion of the slurry while in the shot sleeve to obtain optimum cooling. A center portion of the slurry is injected upwardly by the piston through a gate opening into a die cavity while an outer more solid portion of the slurry is entrapped in an annular recess. After the slurry solidifies, the shot piston retracts, and the shot sleeve is transferred to a position where the residual biscuit is removed. Another shot sleeve filled with the molten allow is transferred, and the process is repeated.
Apparatus for producing a metal part within a die cavity defined by a die set mounted on a vertical die cast press, said press comprising a shot sleeve defining a shot chamber having a generally vertical axis, a shot piston supported for axial movement within said shot sleeve, coolant passages with said shot sleeve for cooling an outer portion of a molten metal within said shot chamber to within a predetermined temperature range, a retractable cooling element supported within a center portion of said shot chamber for cooling the molten metal within a center portion of said shot chamber to within a predetermined temperature range, and a power actuator for moving said shot piston upwardly to transfer molten metal from said shot chamber through a gate opening into the die cavity where the molten metal solidifies to form the metal part.
Apparatus for producing a metal part within a die cavity defined by a die set mounted on a vertical die cast press, said press comprising a shot sleeve defining a shot chamber having a generally vertical axis, a shot piston supported for axial movement within said shot chamber, coolant passages with said shot sleeve for cooling an outer portion of a molten metal within said shot chamber to within a predetermined temperature range, an elongated retractable cooling pin supported for generally vertical movement between a retracted position and an extended position within a center portion of said shot chamber for cooling the molten metal within a center portion of said shot chamber to within a predeteremined temperature range, a first power actuator for moving said cooling pin between said retracted and extended positions, and a second power actuator for moving said shot piston upwardly to transfer molten metal from said shot chamber through a gate opening into the die cavity where the molten metal solidifies to form the metal part.
A method of producing a high strength metal part within a die cavity defined by a die set mounted on a vertical die cast press including a shot sleeve defining a shot chamber having a generally vertical axis and a shot piston movable axially within the chamber, the method comprising the steps of heating a solid metal to form a molten metal, directing the molten metal into the shot chamber, cooling the shot sleeve to cool an outer portion of the molten metal within the shot chamber to within a predetermined temperature range, inserting an elongated cooling pin within a center portion of the molten metal within the shot chamber for cooling the molten metal within the center portion to within a predetermined temperature range and to form a semi-solid slurry having a globular and generally non-dendritic microstructure, moving the shot piston upwardly to transfer the semi-solid slurry from the shot chamber through a gate opening into the die cavity, and allowing the semi-solid slurry to solidify within the die cavity to form the metal part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.