Apparatus for casting of directionally solidified articles

Claim 2

Apparatus for solidification by columnar growth of an alloy including a support plate for a mold, a susceptor positioned above the support plate and forming a heating chamber for the mold, means for filling the mold, a container for a cooling liquid positioned below the susceptor, means for supporting the plate and mold during heating and filling with the plate at least partially immersed in the cooling liquid during the heating operation, and means for gradually surrounding the mold with the cooling liquid from the support plate upwardly around the mold for cooling the material poured into the mold.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the cooling liquid is molten tin.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1 including liquid in the container to a level to partially immerse the support plate during heating of the mold, and means for moving the mold and support plate gradually into the liquid in the container after the mold is filled.

Claim 5

Apparatus for directional solidification including a support plate for supporting a mold, a container for a liquid for cooling the mold, a heating chamber directly above said container and having means associated therewith for heating the mold, the support plate being located at the bottom of said chamber, liquid in the container to a height to partially immerse the support plate during heating of the mold in the chamber, and to be close to the bottom of the heating chamber, and means for providing vertical movement between the support plate and the chamber and container for moving the mold out of the chamber and into the container thereby immersing the mold in a cooling liquid therein.

Claim 6

Apparatus for directional solidification including a support plate for supporting a mold, a container for a liquid for cooling the mold, a heating chamber directly above said container and having means associated therewith for heating the mold, the support plate being located at the bottom of said chamber, liquid in the container to a height to partially immerse the support plate during heating of the mold in the chamber, and to be close to the bottom of the heating chamber, and means for providing vertical movement between the support plate and the chamber and container for moving the mold out of the chamber and into the container thereby immersing the mold in a cooling liquid therein.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 4 including means for controlling the temperature of the liquid within the container.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the container is surrounded by heating means and also cooling means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the means for controlling the temperature includes a cooling coil surrounding the container adjacent to portions of the surface of the pool of liquid.

Claim 10

Apparatus for directional solidification including a support plate for a mold, a container below and in a position to surround the support plate, a liquid bath in said container, a heating chamber above said container and having means associated therewith for heating the mold, the level of the surface of the liquid bath being close to the bottom of the chamber and being such that the support plate is partially immersed in the liquid while the mold is being heated within the chamber, and means for moving the support plate vertically at a controlled rate for moving the mold out of the chamber and into the container after solidification begins on the support plate thereby immersing the mold in the liquid.

Claim 11

Apparatus for directional solidification including a support plate for a mold, a container below and in a position to surround the support plate, a liquid bath in said container, a heating chamber above said container and having means associated therewith for heating the mold, the level of the surface of the liquid bath being close to the bottom of the chamber and being such that the support plate is partially immersed in the liquid while the mold is being heated within the chamber, and means for moving the support plate vertically at a controlled rate for moving the mold out of the chamber and into the container after solidification begins on the support plate thereby immersing the mold in the liquid.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 8 in which the surface of the liquid bath is closely below the bottom of the heating chamber.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 8 in which the support plate is supported from above the chamber.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 8 including cooling means associated with the container and located adjacent to the level of the surface of the liquid bath for cooling the bath, and other means also associated with the container and located adjacent to the bottom thereof for heating the bath.

Claim 15

Apparatus for directional solidification of alloys and metals including a container for a cooling liquid, a susceptor positioned above the container and forming a heating chamber for a mold, means for supporting the mold within the susceptor, the bottom of the susceptor and the surface of the cooling liquid being so closely positioned that the bottom of the mold is cooled by the cooling liquid while the mold is in heating position within the susceptor, means for filling the mold while it is in heatiNg position, and means for moving the mold gradually into the liquid in the container for controlled solidification of material in the mold.

Claim 16

Apparatus for directional solidification of alloys and metals including a container for a cooling liquid, a susceptor positioned above the container and forming a heating chamber for a mold, means for supporting the mold within the susceptor, the bottom of the susceptor and the surface of the cooling liquid being so closely positioned that the bottom of the mold is cooled by the cooling liquid while the mold is in heating position within the susceptor, means for filling the mold while it is in heatiNg position, and means for moving the mold gradually into the liquid in the container for controlled solidification of material in the mold.

Claim 17

Apparatus as in claim 12 in which means are provided for controlling the temperature of the liquid in the container.