US3677324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing a metal article
Assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
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Filing: 1970-07-09
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing a metal article having a unidirectional grain structure in a given direction comprises the steps of heating a mould for the article to a temperature above the melting point of the metal, charging molten metal into, or melting metal in, the mould, effecting relative movement between the mould and a furnace so that said mould moves through the furnace, said furnace having a heat front which is so disposed with respect to the direction of relative movement between the mould and the furnace, so that said heat front moves substantially perpendicular to said direction towards one end of the mould, and cooling the opposite end of said mould so that said heat front produces said grain structure in the article. There is also disclosed an apparatus for carrying out the method.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon John Spenc Higginbotham
- 👤 Douglas Wilson Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:43
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D27/00; B22D27/04; B22D27/045; C; C30; C30B; C30B11/00; C30B11/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of producing a metal article having a unidirectional grain structure in a given direction, comprising the steps of heating a mould for the article to a temperature above the melting point of molten metal in the mould, effecting relative movement between the mould and a furnace in a horizontal direction so that said mould moves through the furnace, said furnace having a heat front which is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of relative movement in a horizontal direction between the mould and the furnace, so that said heat front moves in a vertical direction with respect to said mould substantially perpendicular to said direction towards one end of the mould, and cooling the opposite end of said mould so that said heat front produces said grain structure in the article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of producing a metal article having a unidirectional grain structure in a given direction, comprising the steps of heating a mould for the article to a temperature above the melting point of molten metal in the mould, effecting relative movement between the mould and a furnace in a horizontal direction so that said mould moves through the furnace, said furnace having a heat front which is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of relative movement in a horizontal direction between the mould and the furnace, so that said heat front moves in a vertical direction with respect to said mould substantially perpendicular to said direction towards one end of the mould, and cooling the opposite end of said mould so that said heat front produces said grain structure in the article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a method of producing a metal article having a unidirectional grain structure in a given direction comprising the steps of a. heating a mould for the article to a temperature above the melting point of molten metal in the mould, b. effecting relative movement between the mould and a furnace so that said mould moves through the furnace, said furnace having a heat front which is disposed with respect to the direction of relative movement between the mould and the furnace, so that said heat front moves nearly perpendicular to said direction towards one end of the mould, c. cooling the opposite end of said mould so that said heat front produces said grain structure in the article, d. removing the mould containing the metal article thus produced from the cooling area, the improvement comprising: i. disposing said heat front at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of relative movement between the furnace and the mould, ii. effecting relative movement between the mould and the furnace in a substantially horizontal direction causing vertical movement of the heat front along the axis of the mould from one end oF the mould to the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a method of producing a metal article having a unidirectional grain structure in a given direction comprising the steps of a. heating a mould for the article to a temperature above the melting point of molten metal in the mould, b. effecting relative movement between the mould and a furnace so that said mould moves through the furnace, said furnace having a heat front which is disposed with respect to the direction of relative movement between the mould and the furnace, so that said heat front moves nearly perpendicular to said direction towards one end of the mould, c. cooling the opposite end of said mould so that said heat front produces said grain structure in the article, d. removing the mould containing the metal article thus produced from the cooling area, the improvement comprising: i. disposing said heat front at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of relative movement between the furnace and the mould, ii. effecting relative movement between the mould and the furnace in a substantially horizontal direction causing vertical movement of the heat front along the axis of the mould from one end oF the mould to the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said cooling is effected by contacting said opposite end of said mould with a cooled surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said cooling is effected by directing a cooling medium upon said opposite end of the mould.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said article is a blade, vane or component of a gas turbine engine.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in 1 in which said metal is an alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said mould is charged with molten metal while in the furnace.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said metal is a powder or pellets and is placed in said mould prior to melting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said furnace is stationary and said mould is moved therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein steps (a) through (d) are repeated, in series, thereby providing a continuous method of producing said metal article having unidirectional grain structure in a given direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3532155A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |