US3559718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for centrifugal casting of molten metal
Assignee: Foote Mineral Co
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Filing: 1968-09-06
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1988-09-06
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method especially suitable for casting lowdensity, high-surface tension, molten materials of high chemical activity into thin sheets. A crucible containing the molten material and having a top opening is mounted on a carriage which is in turn slidably mounted on one arm of a centrifuge. A mold for receiving the molten material is also mounted on the centrifuge arm, radially-outward of the crucible. The carriage is initially held at a radially inward position as the centrifuge is started up, and then released to slide rapidly outward against a stop arrangement which arrests its outward motion abruptly. During its radially-outward motion the crucible is tilted outwardly to a substantially horizontal position so that, when its outward motion is abruptly arrested, the crucible opening confronts the fill opening in the mold. The molten metal is thereby thrown out of the crucible through the top opening thereof into the mold-fill opening with a high velocity sufficient to cause injection of the molten material into the mold despite small lateral dimensions of the mold cavity. The mold may be of metal and operated relatively cool.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay R Hitchings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:02
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D13/00; B22D13/06; B22D13/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of casting a material which comprises: imparting a linear velocity to a container carrying a molten metal to be cast and having an opening therein, to cause said container to approach a mold having a fill opening for receiving said molten metal, said container initially being oriented so that said opening therein is turned away from said fill opening; rapidly decelerating said container as it approaches said opening in said mold; and turning said container, while it is moving toward said mold, so that said opening in said container is turned toward said fill opening in said mold when said deceleration occurs, whereby said molten metal is ejected from said opening in said container and injected into said fill opening in said mold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of casting a material which comprises: imparting a linear velocity to a container carrying a molten metal to be cast and having an opening therein, to cause said container to approach a mold having a fill opening for receiving said molten metal, said container initially being oriented so that said opening therein is turned away from said fill opening; rapidly decelerating said container as it approaches said opening in said mold; and turning said container, while it is moving toward said mold, so that said opening in said container is turned toward said fill opening in said mold when said deceleration occurs, whereby said molten metal is ejected from said opening in said container and injected into said fill opening in said mold.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of casting a molten metal material, which comprises: placing said material in a container having an opening above the level of said material in said container; rotating said container and said material therein about an axis outside said container to impart to said container a radially-outward motion with respect to said axis; thereafter abruptly arresting said radially-outward motion while holding the fill opening of a receiving mold in a position adjacent and radially outward of said container with respect to said axis; and during said radially-outward motion and prior to said arresting, turning said container so that said opening therein is directed toward said opening in said mold, whereby said material is ejected from said container and injected into said mold by way of said opening in said container and by way of said fill opening in said mold.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of casting a molten metal material, which comprises: placing said material in a container having an opening above the level of said material in said container; rotating said container and said material therein about an axis outside said container to impart to said container a radially-outward motion with respect to said axis; thereafter abruptly arresting said radially-outward motion while holding the fill opening of a receiving mold in a position adjacent and radially outward of said container with respect to said axis; and during said radially-outward motion and prior to said arresting, turning said container so that said opening therein is directed toward said opening in said mold, whereby said material is ejected from said container and injected into said mold by way of said opening in said container and by way of said fill opening in said mold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2, comprising initially restraining said container against said radially-outward motion with respect to said axis while said container is rotating about said axis and thereafter releasing said container from said restraining while continuing said rotating thereof.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
199 words
The method of casting a molten metal material, comprising: providing said material in molten form in a chemically-inert crucible having a top opening; rotating said crucible containing said material about a substantially verticaL axis outside said crucible while initially holding said crucible generally upright and while restraining it against radially-outward motion with respect to said axis; rotating a mold along with said crucible but in a position radially outward therefrom with respect to said axis, said mold having a fill opening facing radially inward with respect to said axis, said mold being maintained at a temperature substantially below the melting point of said material and composed of a substance which tends to react with said material when said material is in the molten state; releasing said crucible from said restraining while continuing said rotation of said crucible to impart to said crucible an accelerated radially-outward motion with respect to said axis; thereafter abruptly arresting said radially-outward motion adjacent, and radially inward of, said fill opening in said mold; and during said radially-outward motion and prior to said arresting, turning said crucible so that it is substantially horizontal with said top opening confronting said fill opening when said arresting occurs.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
199 words
The method of casting a molten metal material, comprising: providing said material in molten form in a chemically-inert crucible having a top opening; rotating said crucible containing said material about a substantially verticaL axis outside said crucible while initially holding said crucible generally upright and while restraining it against radially-outward motion with respect to said axis; rotating a mold along with said crucible but in a position radially outward therefrom with respect to said axis, said mold having a fill opening facing radially inward with respect to said axis, said mold being maintained at a temperature substantially below the melting point of said material and composed of a substance which tends to react with said material when said material is in the molten state; releasing said crucible from said restraining while continuing said rotation of said crucible to impart to said crucible an accelerated radially-outward motion with respect to said axis; thereafter abruptly arresting said radially-outward motion adjacent, and radially inward of, said fill opening in said mold; and during said radially-outward motion and prior to said arresting, turning said crucible so that it is substantially horizontal with said top opening confronting said fill opening when said arresting occurs.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
207 words
The method of casting into the form of a thin sheet a molten material consisting principally of lithium or aluminum, or alloys thereof, comprising: melting said material; introducing the molten material into a refractory crucible having an opening at its top; rotating said crucible containing said molten material about a substantially vertical axis outside said crucible, together with an unheated metal mold containing a cavity for forming a thin sheet of said material, said mold being positioned radially of said crucible with its fill opening facing radially inward with respect to said axis; initially restraining said crucible in a generally upright position at a first distance from said axis during said rotating; thereafter releasing said crucible from said restraining to permit radially-outward motion thereof with respect to said axis while continuing said rotating; abruptly arresting said radially-outward motion at a second radial distance from said axis greater than said first distance; and while said crucible is traveling from said first position to said second position, turning said crucible from said generally-upright position to a generally-horizontal position with said opening in the top thereof aligned with and confronting said fill opening of said mold, whereby said molten material is thrown out of said crucible and into said mold.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
207 words
The method of casting into the form of a thin sheet a molten material consisting principally of lithium or aluminum, or alloys thereof, comprising: melting said material; introducing the molten material into a refractory crucible having an opening at its top; rotating said crucible containing said molten material about a substantially vertical axis outside said crucible, together with an unheated metal mold containing a cavity for forming a thin sheet of said material, said mold being positioned radially of said crucible with its fill opening facing radially inward with respect to said axis; initially restraining said crucible in a generally upright position at a first distance from said axis during said rotating; thereafter releasing said crucible from said restraining to permit radially-outward motion thereof with respect to said axis while continuing said rotating; abruptly arresting said radially-outward motion at a second radial distance from said axis greater than said first distance; and while said crucible is traveling from said first position to said second position, turning said crucible from said generally-upright position to a generally-horizontal position with said opening in the top thereof aligned with and confronting said fill opening of said mold, whereby said molten material is thrown out of said crucible and into said mold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for injecting a molten material into a mold, comprising: centrifuge means comprising an arm extending radially from, and rotatable about, a predetermined axis of rotation; a carriage mounted on said arm for rotation therewith and for easy radial motion along said arm; means for abruptly arresting radially-outward motion of said carriage along said arm at a predetermined first radial position; means for rotating said arm with said carriage spaced radially inward of said first position, whereby said carriage is provided with a radially-outward motion and then abruptly arrested at said first position; crucible means pivotably mounted on said carriage and having a top opening; means for holding said crucible initially in a generally-upright orientation and at a position spaced radially inward of said first position; means for tilting said crucible, during said radially outward motion, about an axis of pivot from said initial generally upright orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, whereby said molten material is ejected from said crucible when said motion is abruptly arrested by said arresting means; and mold means positioned radially outward of said first position and having a fill opening adjacent and confronting said top opening when said crucible is abruptly arrested by said arresting means, whereby said ejected material is injected into said mold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
211 words
Apparatus for injecting a molten material into a mold, comprising: centrifuge means comprising an arm extending radially from, and rotatable about, a predetermined axis of rotation; a carriage mounted on said arm for rotation therewith and for easy radial motion along said arm; means for abruptly arresting radially-outward motion of said carriage along said arm at a predetermined first radial position; means for rotating said arm with said carriage spaced radially inward of said first position, whereby said carriage is provided with a radially-outward motion and then abruptly arrested at said first position; crucible means pivotably mounted on said carriage and having a top opening; means for holding said crucible initially in a generally-upright orientation and at a position spaced radially inward of said first position; means for tilting said crucible, during said radially outward motion, about an axis of pivot from said initial generally upright orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, whereby said molten material is ejected from said crucible when said motion is abruptly arrested by said arresting means; and mold means positioned radially outward of said first position and having a fill opening adjacent and confronting said top opening when said crucible is abruptly arrested by said arresting means, whereby said ejected material is injected into said mold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 6, in which said tilting means comprises trip means havIng a fixed radial position with respect to said predetermined axis, and arm means contacting said trip means and connected to said crucible off said axis of pivot to tilt said crucible in response to radial motion of said carriage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |