Apparatus for forming ceramic shell molds

Claim 1

AN APPARATUS FOR FORMING CERAMIC SHELL MOLDS BY DIP-COATING A PATTERN SET-UP IN A REFRACTORY SLURRY, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SLURRY TANK, A VACUUM LINE CONNECTED TO SAID SLURRY TANK, VALVE MEANS IN SAID VACCUM LINE, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING OPERABLE IN ONE POSITION TO PERMIT A VACUUM TO BE PRODUCED IN SAID TANK AND IN ANOTHER POSITION TO ADMIT AMBIENT AIR TO SAID SLURRY TANK A SLURRY RESERVOIR TANK, CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SLURRY TANK AND TO SAID SLURRY RESERVOIR TANKS, PUMP MEANS IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR CIRCULATING SLURRY THROUGH SAID SLURRY TANK, SLURRY SHUT-OFF MEANS IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR ISOLATING SAID SLURRY TANK FROM SAID RESERVOIR TANK WHEN SAID VALVE MEANS IS IN SAID ONE POSITION, A FRAME, A VERTICALLY RECIPROCAL CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ABOVE SAID SLURRY TANK, SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING A COVER FOR SAID SLURRY TANK AND A FIXTURE FOR HOLDING A PATTERN SET-UP, SAID FIXTURE BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE, A MOTOR ON SAID CARRIAGE IN ROTATABLE CONNECTION WITH SAID FIXTURE, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID CARRIAGE AND SELECTIVELY OPERATING SAID MOTOR.