US3857436A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for manufacturing monocrystalline articles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-02-13
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A method comprising pouring of molten metal into a mould, cooling of its base and subsequent cooling of the mould from the bottom up for crystallization of the melt. This method is carried out in an apparatus comprising a mould having a main cavity ''''A'''' following the shape of an article, and an auxiliary cavity ''''B'''' made in the form of a downwardly diverging truncated cone which has a horizontally extending wedge-shaped projection disposed at the lower base of the cone. The mould base is cooled by gradually moving a chill from the underside towards the mould. In so doing a sole natural nucleus of the article crystal is formed at the point of the wedge-shaped projection, which rapidly propagates over the perimeter of the base thereby preventing the formation of parasitic crystals.
Inventors
- 👤 D Petrov
- 👤 A Tumanov
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:13
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D27/00; B22D27/04; B22D27/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manufacturing monocrystalline articles comprising the steps of pouring molten metal into a mould comprising a main top cavity following the article shape and an auxiliary bottom cavity adjacent thereto and made in the form of a downwardly enlarging truncated cone, said cone having a horizontally extending wedge-shaped projection at the lower base thereof, which defines the base of said mould; cooling the base of said mould by means for cooling thereof so as to create the most abrupt supercooling of the melt at the point of said wedge-shaped projection, to form at this point a sole natural crystal seed and to ensure its rapid propagation over the entire perimeter of said base; and subsequent gradual cooling of said mould from the bottom up to effect the crystallization proper.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manufacturing monocrystalline articles comprising the steps of pouring molten metal into a mould comprising a main top cavity following the article shape and an auxiliary bottom cavity adjacent thereto and made in the form of a downwardly enlarging truncated cone, said cone having a horizontally extending wedge-shaped projection at the lower base thereof, which defines the base of said mould; cooling the base of said mould by means for cooling thereof so as to create the most abrupt supercooling of the melt at the point of said wedge-shaped projection, to form at this point a sole natural crystal seed and to ensure its rapid propagation over the entire perimeter of said base; and subsequent gradual cooling of said mould from the bottom up to effect the crystallization proper.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for manufacturing monocrystalline articles comprising a mould adapted to be poured with a molten article material; said mould having a flat horizontally extending base; said mould having a main cavity following the article shape and an auxiliary bottom cavity adjacent thereto and made in the form of a downwardly enlarging truncated cone, said cone having a horizontally extending wedge-shaped projection at the lower base thereof; a chill arranged under the base of said mould in parallel therewith.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for manufacturing monocrystalline articles comprising a mould adapted to be poured with a molten article material; said mould having a flat horizontally extending base; said mould having a main cavity following the article shape and an auxiliary bottom cavity adjacent thereto and made in the form of a downwardly enlarging truncated cone, said cone having a horizontally extending wedge-shaped projection at the lower base thereof; a chill arranged under the base of said mould in parallel therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary cavities of at least two moulds are connected at the points of their wedge-shaped projections to form a unit, with the point of their connection being located over the central part of the chill and representing the point of formation of a sole natural crystal nucleus forming at least two articles having an identical crystallographic orientation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mould for a large-size article has two auxiliary cavities disposed under the main cavity and connected at the points of their wedge-shaped projections, the point of their connection being located over the central part of the chill.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an artificial crystal nucleus is introduced at the point of formation of the natural crystal nucleus through a crystal seed, said artificial nucleus allowing for obtaining a crystal with the crystallographic orientation of the article axis predetermined by the artificial crystal nucleus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the crystal seed comprises a body of revolution cut from a crystal having a predetermined crystallographic orientation, the crystallographic plane of the crystal seed being set in parallel with the article planeby rotating said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a unit for cooling the crystal seed is arranged under the crystal seed and in contact therewith, said unit being adapted to control melting of the top of the crystal seed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a mould is provided with a seed pocket disposed under the point of formation of the natural crystal nucleus and adapted to accommodate the crystal seed, said pocket being arranged normally to the base of the mould.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a core is placed into the mould for obtaining a hollow article, said core being removed upon completion of crystallization.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the chill is provided with a recess at the central part thereof to accommodate the seed pocket with the crystal seed and the unit for cooling the crystal seed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |