Spin helix wire casting
AssigneeBlue Origin, LLC
InventorsAlexander Imbault, Eric D. Contreras, Satyanarayana Venkata Emani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for forming metal wire are presented. A system may include a cylindrical vessel that has a threaded wall so as to have a continuous helical groove on the inside surface of the vessel wall. Molten metal settled at the bottom of the vessel may be centrifugally forced into the helical groove when the vessel is spun at a sufficient rate of rotation. Subsequently, after the molten metal in the groove has cooled to a solid, a wire has been formed, which may then be extracted from the helical groove.
Claims20
A method for forming wire, the method comprising:
- having a molten metal settled on a bottom of a vessel that includes a threaded wall;
- spinning the vessel so that the molten metal centrifugally climbs the threaded wall and at least partially fills a groove among threads of the threaded wall;
- allowing the molten metal in the groove to cool to a solid metal wire;
- and
- extracting the solid metal wire from the groove.
A system for forming wire, the system comprising:
- a vessel having a bottom and a threaded wall, wherein the vessel is configured to hold a molten metal;
- a motor configured to spin the vessel;
- and
- a groove among threads in the threaded wall that are configured to receive the molten metal during spinning of the vessel.
A method for forming wire, the method comprising:
- placing a molten metal in a cylindrical vessel that includes a helical groove in a wall of the cylindrical vessel;
- spinning the cylindrical vessel so that the molten metal centrifugally climbs the wall and at least partially fills the helical groove;
- allowing the molten metal in the helical groove to cool to a solid metal wire;
- and
- extracting the solid metal wire from the helical groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.