US3598169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for casting directionally solidified discs and the like
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1969-03-13
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-03-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for inducing radial directional solidification in parts having a relatively large dimension at right angles to the major axis such as discs and the like, in which, for example, a (010) radial and (100) tangential orientation is generated.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen M Copley
- 👤 Anthony F Giamei
- 👤 Merton F Hornbecker
- 👤 Bernard H Kear
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:12
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D27/00; B22D27/04; B22D27/045; C; C30; C30B; C30B11/00; C30B29/00; C30B29/10; C30B29/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for casting relatively flat articles with a selected grain orientation including a chill plate, a mold having an article-shaped cavity and a centrally located downward extension forming a vertically positioned cavity communicating with said first cavity and opening onto the chill plate, and a plurality of heating means adjacent to the mold and arranged on top and bottom of the article cavity and in steps outwardly from the downward extension to the remote edge of the mold to establish a thermal gradient radially outward from the extension toward the remote edge of the mold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for casting relatively flat articles with a selected grain orientation including a chill plate, a mold having an article-shaped cavity and a centrally located downward extension forming a vertically positioned cavity communicating with said first cavity and opening onto the chill plate, and a plurality of heating means adjacent to the mold and arranged on top and bottom of the article cavity and in steps outwardly from the downward extension to the remote edge of the mold to establish a thermal gradient radially outward from the extension toward the remote edge of the mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the heating means are arranged in concentric rings from the extension to the periphery of the mold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 in which insulation is placed on the mold from the extension to the periphery in gradually decreasing thickness from the periphery toward the extension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which a selectively oriented seed is placed on the chill plate and within the extension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which A seed having multiple orientations is placed on the chill plate and within the extension.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of casting discs and the like including the step of providing a mold having an article forming cavity and a downward extension thereon forming a vertical cavity communicating with said first cavity and open at the bottom, providing a chill plate on which the downward extension rests, heating the mold to a point above the melting point of the alloy, pouring the alloy into the mold, cooling the chill plate to remove heat from the alloy, and cooling the mold in steps radially outward from the extension thereby providing a radially outward thermal gradient from the downward extension of the mold to the outer periphery of the mold laterally remote therefrom.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of casting discs and the like including the step of providing a mold having an article forming cavity and a downward extension thereon forming a vertical cavity communicating with said first cavity and open at the bottom, providing a chill plate on which the downward extension rests, heating the mold to a point above the melting point of the alloy, pouring the alloy into the mold, cooling the chill plate to remove heat from the alloy, and cooling the mold in steps radially outward from the extension thereby providing a radially outward thermal gradient from the downward extension of the mold to the outer periphery of the mold laterally remote therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
In the method of claim 6 in which the mold cavity is relatively flat, the extension is located centrally of the cavity, and the step of cooling the mold in steps radially outward produces a radial thermal gradient horizontally from the central extension to the periphery of the annulus thereby promoting a radial grain growth horizontally in the mold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
In the method of claim 6 the step of providing a seed in the extension before pouring the alloy with the orientation of the grain of the seed in the desired orientation for the solidified alloy in the cast article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
In the method of claim 7 the added step of providing a suitably oriented seed in the extension before pouring the alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
In the method of claim 7 the added step of providing a seed made up of wedges each of radially oriented grains to produce an annulus in which the grains are substantially all radially oriented.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for casting relatively flat articles with a selected grain orientation including a chill, a mold defining a ring-shaped cavity, one surface of which is defined by the chill, and a plurality of annular heating means adjacent to the mold and arranged in steps radially outward outwardly from the axis of the ring and on opposite sides thereof to establish a thermal gradient from the axis to the periphery of the mold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for casting relatively flat articles with a selected grain orientation including a chill, a mold defining a ring-shaped cavity, one surface of which is defined by the chill, and a plurality of annular heating means adjacent to the mold and arranged in steps radially outward outwardly from the axis of the ring and on opposite sides thereof to establish a thermal gradient from the axis to the periphery of the mold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 in which the chill is a cylinder extending axially of and surrounded by the mold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 in which the cavity defines a plurality of radially extending article forming cavities all communicating with a central cavity in contact with the chill.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 in which the chill is a vertically extending centrally located chill surrounded by the mold, and in which a seed made up of properly oriented segments surrounds the chill within the cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |