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US 2010/0132906 A1Published application
Method of casting a metal article
OwnerLawrence D. Grahaminventor
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OwnerLawrence D. Grahaminventor
Estimating the term…
During the casting of the metal article, a mold is lowered from a furnace assembly into a body of an inert gas. A stream having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the inert gas is directed against a first portion of the mold to initiate solidification of molten metal in the first portion of the mold. The stream is subsequently directed against portions of the mold disposed in the body of inert gas and disposed above the first portion of the mold to initiate solidification of molten metal and portions of the mold above the first portion of the mold. The stream may be formed of a molten metal. Alternatively, the stream may be formed of an inert gas in which particulate is entrained.
A method of casting a metal article, said method comprising the steps of filling a mold with molten metal while the mold is disposed in a furnace, lowering the mold from the furnace in a body of inert gas, directing a stream having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the inert gas against a first portion of the mold disposed in the body of inert gas to initiate solidification of molten metal in the first portion of the mold, and directing the stream having a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the inert gas against portions of the mold disposed in the body of gas and disposed above the first portion of the mold to initiate solidification of molten metal in portions of the mold above the first portion of the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.