Optimized multi-stage inductive melting of amorphous alloys
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsTheodore A. Waniuk, Joseph Stevick, Sean O'Keeffe, Dermot J. Stratton, Joseph C. Poole, Matthew S. Scott, Christopher D. Prest
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Abstract
Described herein is a method of melting a bulk metallic glass (BMG) feedstock, comprising: heating at least a portion of the BMG feedstock to temperatures slightly below a solidus temperature of the BMG, wherein the portion remains a solid at the temperatures slightly below the solidus temperature and wherein a temperature distribution of the portion is essentially uniform; heating the portion of the BMG feedstock to temperatures above a liquidus point.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first solenoid configured to inductively heat a portion of a bulk metallic glass (BMG) feedstock to temperatures slightly below a solidus temperature of the BMG;
- wherein the portion remains a solid at the temperatures slightly below the solidus temperature and wherein a temperature distribution of the portion is essentially uniform;
- a second solenoid configured to inductively heat the portion of the BMG feedstock to temperatures above a liquidus temperature.
An apparatus,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to heat a portion of a bulk metallic glass (BMG) feedstock to temperatures slightly below a solidus temperature of the BMG;
- wherein the portion remains a solid at the temperatures slightly below the solidus temperature and wherein a temperature distribution of the portion is essentially uniform;
- the apparatus comprising a first solenoid configured to inductively heat the portion of the BMG feedstock to temperatures above a liquidus temperature.
A method of melting a bulk metallic glass (BMG) feedstock, comprising:
- heating at least one portion of the BMG feedstock to temperatures slightly below a solidus temperature of the BMG, or to temperatures above the solidus temperature but below a liquidus temperature, wherein said at least one portion remains a solid or not completely molten, and wherein a temperature distribution of said at least one portion is essentially uniform;
- heating said at least one portion of the BMG feedstock to temperatures above the liquidus temperature, while the portion remains stationary;
- wherein said at least one portion is an entire region of the BMG feedstock that is inductively heated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.