Means for supporting core in open ended shell mold

Claim 2

A mold for the production of cast hollow articles including, a shell having a main cavity corresponding substantially in shape to the article to be cast, and a core positioned within the cavity corresponding substantially in shape to the opening within the cast article, a filling space in the mold at one end of, and forming a continuation of the main cavity, the end of the core extending beyond the filling space and being positioned in and supported by the mold, a cavity extension at the other end of the main cavity, and supporting elements extending laterally from the mold into contact with the adjacent end portion of the core, the latter end portion being located within said cavity extension, the end of the cavity extension being open to be positioned on a chill plate, and the cavity extension providing a growth zone in the casting which is outside the dimensions of the finished article.

Claim 3

A mold as in claim 1 in which the supporting elements are located in the growth zone.

Claim 4

A mold for the production of cast hollow articles which are directionally solidified by casting in a heated mold with one end of the casting against a chill plate, said mold including a shell having a main cavity corresponding in shape to the article, a filling cavity forming an extension at one end of the main cavity, and a growth zone cavity extension at the opposite end of the main cavity, the growth zone cavity extension having an open end for contact with the chill plate, and a core positioned within the cavities and extending from the filling cavity through the main cavity and into the growth zone to define a space within the cast article, said core extending into and being supported by the portion of the mold defining the filling cavity, the other end of the core terminating within the growth zone cavity extension (short of the open end to be out of contact with the chill plate), said mold in this growth zone extension having inwardly extending elements to engage and support the end of the core to locate it within the growth zone.

Claim 5

A mold for the production of cast hollow articles which are directionally solidified by casting in a heated mold with one end of the casting against a chill plate, said mold including a shell having a main cavity corresponding in shape to the article, a filling cavity forming an extension at one end of the main cavity, and a growth zone cavity extension at the opposite end of the main cavity, the growth zone cavity extension having an open end for contact with the chill plate, and a core positioned within the cavities and extending from the filling cavity through the main cavity and into the growth zone to define a space within the cast article, said core extending into and being supported by the portion of the mold defining the filling cavity, the other end of the core terminating within the growth zone cavity extension (short of the open end to be out of contact with the chill plate), said mold in this growth zone extension having inwardly extending elements to engage and support the end of the core to locate it within the growth zone.

Claim 6

A mold as in claim 3 in which the elements are located externally of the part of the cast article that is used as a finished part.

Claim 7

A mold as in claim 3 in which the lateral dimension of the extensions is such as not to interfere with the desired grain growth in the cast article.

Claim 8

A mold as in claim 3 in which the temperature of the mold and the chill plate is so controlled as to produce directional grain growth from the growth zone to the filling cavity, and the core supporting elements are so positioned and have such a lateral dimension as not to affect detrimentally the directional grain growth within the casting.