Patent US4226499A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3759310A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3759310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nsumable electrode method and apparatus for providing single crystal castings using a co
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-30
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-08-30
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method by which to produce single crystal articles using a ceramic mold and consumable arc melting technique with cooling from a chill plate at the base of the apparatus and with the ceramic mold limiting the heat loss laterally from the molten metal.
Inventors
- 👤 L Sink
- 👤 R Barrow
- 👤 M Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:42
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B11/00; C30B11/04; C30B11/08; C30B11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In the manufacture of a single crystal article, the Steps of mounting an oriented single crystal seed on a chill block, providing a ceramic shell extending upwardly from the chill plate to serve as a mold and as a heat barrier, striking an arc between said seed and a consumable electrode of the material for the article to cause partial melting of the seed and melting of the electrode, heating the ceramic shell at least in part by radiant heat from the arc to minimize heat loss through the mold walls, solidifying the seed and the molten metal of the electrode upwardly from the seed by heat conduction from the seed and molten metal into the chill plate, continuing to melt the electrode ahead of the liquid-solid interface of the solidifying material, and maintaining by heat from the arc a high temperature in the inner surface of the shell at and above the level of the liquid-solid interface thereby to prevent nucleation on the shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In the manufacture of a single crystal article, the Steps of mounting an oriented single crystal seed on a chill block, providing a ceramic shell extending upwardly from the chill plate to serve as a mold and as a heat barrier, striking an arc between said seed and a consumable electrode of the material for the article to cause partial melting of the seed and melting of the electrode, heating the ceramic shell at least in part by radiant heat from the arc to minimize heat loss through the mold walls, solidifying the seed and the molten metal of the electrode upwardly from the seed by heat conduction from the seed and molten metal into the chill plate, continuing to melt the electrode ahead of the liquid-solid interface of the solidifying material, and maintaining by heat from the arc a high temperature in the inner surface of the shell at and above the level of the liquid-solid interface thereby to prevent nucleation on the shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 in which the shell is exposed directly to the radiant heat of the arc and the wall surface of the shell is heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for casting oriented single crystal articles by consumable arc melting, including a cooled chill plate, a cylinder above and resting on the chill plate, an oriented single crystal seed crystal on the chill plate, a ceramic mold within the cylinder of sufficient thickness to form a heat barrier to the heat from the arc in which the article is formed, said seed crystal being in the base of said mold, means positioned close to the mold between the mold and cylinder for heating the mold, and a consumable electrode positionable within the mold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for casting oriented single crystal articles by consumable arc melting, including a cooled chill plate, a cylinder above and resting on the chill plate, an oriented single crystal seed crystal on the chill plate, a ceramic mold within the cylinder of sufficient thickness to form a heat barrier to the heat from the arc in which the article is formed, said seed crystal being in the base of said mold, means positioned close to the mold between the mold and cylinder for heating the mold, and a consumable electrode positionable within the mold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which the chill plate is protected from the arc by a ceramic material surrounding the seed crystal and covering the chill plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including means for supplying electrical energy from the electrode to the seed crystal to cause arc melting of the electrode and for heating of the wall of the mold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for casting an oriented single crystal ingot including a chill plate, an oriented single crystal seed secured to the plate, a crucible surrounding the seed and projecting upwardly from the chill plate, a thick ceramic mold within and spaced from the crucible, means externally of the mold and between the mold and crucible for heating the crucible, a consumable electrode movable into the crucible to contact with the seed, and means for supplying electrical energy between said electrode and seed for causing melting of the electrode within the mold and for heating the inner wall of the mold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for casting an oriented single crystal ingot including a chill plate, an oriented single crystal seed secured to the plate, a crucible surrounding the seed and projecting upwardly from the chill plate, a thick ceramic mold within and spaced from the crucible, means externally of the mold and between the mold and crucible for heating the crucible, a consumable electrode movable into the crucible to contact with the seed, and means for supplying electrical energy between said electrode and seed for causing melting of the electrode within the mold and for heating the inner wall of the mold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 including a granular ceramic filling the space between the crucible and the mold.
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) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |