Methods of high throughput pressure infiltration casting
AssigneeMetal Matrix Cast Composites, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Cornie, Stephen S. Cornie, Ralph P. Mason, Mark A. Ryals
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Abstract
A mold cavity in a mold vessel is evacuated. A charge of molten infiltrant is transported into the mold vessel while the vacuum is maintained in the mold cavity. Pressure is applied to the molten infiltrant to move the molten infiltrant from the mold vessel into the mold cavity. The molten infiltrant is cooled in the mold cavity to solidify the infiltrant. A fill tube can be used to transport the infiltrant to the mold vessel.
Claims34
A method of high throughput pressure infiltration casting comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a mold vessel housing a mold defining a mold cavity;
- (b) evacuating said mold cavity;
- (c) transporting a charge of a molten infiltrant into said mold vessel using a fill tube while maintaining a vacuum in said mold cavity;
- (d) applying pressure to said molten infiltrant to move said molten infiltrant from said mold vessel into said mold cavity;
- and
- (e) cooling said molten infiltrant in said mold cavity to solidify said molten infiltrant.
A method of high throughput pressure infiltration casting comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a mold vessel housing a mold defining a mold cavity;
- (b) evacuating said mold cavity;
- (c) transporting a charge of a molten infiltrant into said mold vessel while maintaining a vacuum in said mold cavity;
- (d) transferring said mold vessel comprising said charge of molten infiltrant to a pressure vessel;
- (e) applying pressure to said molten infiltrant to move said molten infiltrant from said mold vessel into said mold cavity;
- and
- (e) cooling said molten infiltrant in said mold cavity to solidify said molten infiltrant, wherein said cooling comprises using a low melting temperature material to increase heat transfer between said molten infiltrant and said low melting temperature material.
A method of high throughput pressure infiltration casting comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating a mold vessel housing a mold defining a mold cavity to provide a heated mold vessel;
- (b) evacuating said mold cavity;
- (c) transporting a charge of a molten infiltrant into said heated mold vessel using a fill tube while maintaining a vacuum in said mold cavity;
- (d) insulating said heated mold vessel comprising said charge of molten infiltrant to provide an insulated, heated mold vessel;
- (e) transferring said insulated, heated mold vessel to a pressure vessel;
- (f) applying pressure to said molten infiltrant to move said molten infiltrant from said insulated, heated mold vessel into said mold cavity;
- and
- (g) cooling directionally said molten infiltrant in said mold cavity to solidify said molten infiltrant while applying pressure to said molten infiltrant, wherein said cooling comprises using a low melting temperature material to increase heat transfer between said molten infiltrant and said low melting temperature material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.