# US 5,887,640 A · Apparatus and method for semi-solid material production > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,887,640 A - Document ID: US5887640A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/726,099 - Filed: 1996-10-04 - Granted: 1999-03-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-10-04 - Assignees: Semi-Solid Technologies Inc. - Inventors: Stuart B. Brown; Patricio F. Mendez; Christpher S. Rice; Shinya Myojin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5887640A ## CPC - B22D 1/00: Treatment of fused masses in the ladle or the supply runners before casting {(for continuous casting B22D11/10; metallurgical processing, e.g. refining of iron or other metal C21, C22, C25C)} - B22D 17/007: {Semi-solid pressure die casting} - Y10S 164/90: Rheo-casting - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An apparatus and process is provided for producing semi-solid material suitable for directly casting into a component wherein the semi-solid material is formed from a molten material and the molten material is introduced into a container. Semi-solid is produced therefrom by agitating, shearing, and thermally controlling the molten material. The semi-solid material is maintained in a substantially isothermal state within the container by appropriate thermal control and thorough three dimensional mixing. Extending from the container is a means for removing the semi-solid material from the container, including a temperature control mechanism to control the temperature of the semi-solid material within the removing means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for producing a semi-solid material suitable for forming directly into a component comprising: a source of molten material; a container for receiving said molten material; a thermal control means for controlling the temperature of said container; a mechanical agitating device including a primary rotor and a secondary rotor coupled to said container for providing three-dimensional mixing of material in said container and acting in conjunction with said thermal control means to produce a substantially isothermal semi-solid material; and means for removing said semi-solid material from said container, said removing means having a temperature control mechanism to control the temperature of said semi-solid material within said removing means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said removing means further comprises a flow control mechanism for regulating a flow of said semi-solid material out of said chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said source of molten material includes a flow regulator operating with said flow control device to maintain a substantially constant level of semi-solid material in said container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said flow control mechanism includes a removal port and regulates said flow of semi-solid material out of said chamber such that no more than one tenth of said semi-solid material is removed per a removal cycle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanical agitating device is made of a high-temperature alloy coated with a ceramic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said primary rotor includes a shaft from which extends an arm having a first portion being substantially parallel to a side wall of said container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said arm includes a second portion being substantially parallel to a bottom wall of said container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first and said second portions of said arm are no more than two inches from said walls of said container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said secondary rotor is auger-shaped and promotes mixing of said semi-solid material along an axis of said secondary rotor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said removal means comprises a removal port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said removal port extends though a cover in said chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said removal port extends through a side wall in said chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said removal port extends through a bottom wall in said chamber. ### Claim 14 An apparatus for producing a semi-solid material comprising: a container; an agitating means acting with said container for agitating a material in said container; said agitating means including a primary rotor and a secondary rotor operating in concert to provide three dimensional shearing of said material; and a thermal control means for controlling the temperature of said material in said container, said thermal control means and said agitating means serving to produce said semi-solid material and maintain said semi-solid material in a substantially isothermal condition. ### Claim 15 A method of directly producing a component from a semi-solid material comprising: receiving a molten material in a container; shearing said molten material in said container in three dimensions with a stirring means including a primary rotor and a secondary rotor; mixing said molten material in said container in three dimensions with said stirring means; thermally controlling said molten material, in conjunction with said stirring and mixing, to form a semi-solid material maintained in a substantially isothermal condition; transferring said semi-solid material from said chamber via a removal port having a temperature control means.