Controlled atmosphere gravity casting system

Claim 2

An improved controlled atmosphere liquid metal quenching system, comprising: a. a container for holding a metal to be heated to said liquid state capable of free fall: b. means for heating said container and metal to the melting point of said metal: c. support means having first and second positions, said first position supporting said container in an upright position and said second position causing said container to free fall for maintaining said container in said heating means and for causing said metal when heated to said liquid state to leave said container under the influence of gravity; d. a cooling chamber for receiving said liquid metal; e. a mold coupled to said cooling chamber for receiving said liquid metal and to hold it while cooling to the solid state; and f. a means for providing a controlled atmosphere surrounding said liquid metal at all times during the heating and cooling stages until it is in the solid and its temperature has been reduced to a point wherein rapid oxidation will not take place.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherEin said container is a crucible having an open end and the supporting means is a rod rotatable between first and second positions, said first position supporting said crucible in the upright position and in the second position allowing said crucible to fall.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said cooling chamber has means positioned therein to rotate said crucible to a position where the liquid metal freely falls therefrom.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein a cooling jacket is provided about said cooling chamber.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein the coolant in said cooling jacket is water.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 wherein there is provided a vacuum system coupled to said controlled atmosphere system for cleansing and purging the atmosphere in the heating means, the cooling chamber and the mold.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein said crucible is made of aluminium the said support rod of platinum.

Claim 9

An improved controlled atmosphere liquid metal quenching system, comprising: a. furnace means having a hollow portion; b. a sample holder for liquid metal positioned in said hollow portion; c. actuating rod support means in said furnace rotatable between two positions, said first position supporting said sample holder, said second position releasing said sample holder from within said furnace; d. a cooling chamber coupled to said furnace and directly below said hollow position; e. means in said cooling chamber for mounting said sample holder to release said liquid metal; f. a moulding means coupled to said cooling chamber to receive said liquid metal; g. means for cooling said cooling chamber and said molding means to bring said liquid sample to a solid state temperature; and h. atmosphere control means coupled to said furnace, drop chamber and said mold for cleaning and purging said system and for providing an inert atmosphere during the heating, cooling and solidifying phases of said quenching system to prevent oxidization and impurity inclusion.

Claim 10

An improved controlled atmosphere liquid metal quenching system, comprising: a. furnace means having a hollow portion; b. a sample holder for liquid metal positioned in said hollow portion; c. actuating rod support means in said furnace rotatable between two positions, said first position supporting said sample holder, said second position releasing said sample holder from within said furnace; d. a cooling chamber coupled to said furnace and directly below said hollow position; e. means in said cooling chamber for mounting said sample holder to release said liquid metal; f. a moulding means coupled to said cooling chamber to receive said liquid metal; g. means for cooling said cooling chamber and said molding means to bring said liquid sample to a solid state temperature; and h. atmosphere control means coupled to said furnace, drop chamber and said mold for cleaning and purging said system and for providing an inert atmosphere during the heating, cooling and solidifying phases of said quenching system to prevent oxidization and impurity inclusion.