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US 8,944,140 B2Granted
Squeeze-cast molding system suitable for molding amorphous metals
AssigneeCrucible Intellectual Property, LLC
InventorJoseph W. Stevick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
BMG may be squeeze cast in a squeeze cast machine. The squeeze cast machine may have a vacuum chamber, a transfer sleeve entirely located inside the vacuum chamber, and a plunger inside the transfer sleeve. The transfer sleeve may be configured to receive BMG feedstock from outside the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber may prevent contamination of a BMG in a molten state. The plunger may push a BMG in a molten state into a mold.
Claims19
A squeeze cast machine comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- a transfer sleeve entirely located inside the vacuum chamber;
- and
- a plunger inside the transfer sleeve,
- wherein the squeeze cast machine is configured to squeeze cast a solid article comprising Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG);
- wherein the transfer sleeve is configured to form a hermetic seal when connected, wherein the mold and the vacuum chamber are isolatable such that when the mold is opened or removed, vacuum in the vacuum chamber is not broken or inert atmosphere in the vacuum chamber does not mix with air outside the vacuum chamber.
3 more elements
A method of squeeze casting BMG in a squeeze casting machine, the squeeze cast machine comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- a transfer sleeve entirely located inside the vacuum chamber;
- and a plunger inside the transfer sleeve, wherein the squeeze cast machine is configured to squeeze cast a solid article comprising Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG);
- wherein the transfer sleeve is configured to form a hermetic seal when connected to a mold, wherein the mold and the vacuum chamber are isolatable such that when the mold is opened or removed, vacuum in the vacuum chamber is not broken or inert atmosphere in the vacuum chamber does not mix with air outside the vacuum chamber;
- the method comprising:
- receiving a BMG feedstock or a BMG in a molten state into the transfer sleeve;
- melting the BMG feedstock to form a BMG in a molten state or maintaining the BMG in a molten state in a molten state;
- forcing the BMG in a molten state into a mold cavity;
- solidifying the BMG in a molten state in the mold cavity to form a solid part comprising BMG;
- and
- ejecting the BMG part from the mold cavity.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.