Method and apparatus for production of a cast component
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsDonald J. Frasier, M. Eric Schlienger, Matthew T. Kush
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for producing cast components from molten metal. One form of the present invention includes a system for the precision pouring of molten metal within a casting mold. The precision pouring system is driven by a pressure differential.
Claims21
An apparatus for exchanging heat with a metallic starter seed during the directional solidification of a molten metal, comprising:
- a grasping mechanism having a linkage and configured to engage the metallic starter seed, the grasping mechanism including at least one member having separable surfaces for mechanically gripping the metallic starter seed and maintaining a heat transfer path with the starter seed as the metal material solidifies, the separable surfaces mechanically coupled together via the grasping mechanism during a metal pour operation;
- and
- a heat transfer sink connected with said at least one member for removing heat therefrom.
An apparatus for transferring heat with a seed during the solidification of a molten metal in an investment casting process, the apparatus comprising:
- a metallic seed coupling device having a first coupling portion movably connected via a mechanical interconnect arrangement to a second coupling portion such that the first coupling portion can be moved via the mechanical interconnect arrangement relative to the second coupling portion, the relative movement providing the capability of the first coupling portion and second coupling portion to engage different portions of a metallic starter seed;
- and
- wherein the first portion includes a thermal device to actively affect a temperature gradient of the metallic starter seed as the molten metal solidifies.
An apparatus for transferring heat with a starter seed during the solidification of a molten metal in an investment casting process, the apparatus comprising:
- a seed grappling device having a starter seed engagement portion and a moveable portion that are movingly coupled with a movement mechanism, the seed grappling device capable of being movingly engaged toward the starter seed engagement portion through the movement mechanism to capture the starter seed between the engagement portion and the moveable portion, the seed grappling device including a heat transfer mechanism oriented to transfer heat with the starter seed to affect a temperature gradient within the seed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.