GB1356890A - Directed solidification casting - Google Patents

Abstract

1356890 Casting apparatus and plant LEYBOLD-HERAEUS-VERWALTUNG GmbH 14 July 1972 [14 July 1971] 33178/72 Heading B3F An apparatus for the preparation of unidirectionally solidified castings in an inert atmosphere or under vacuum, comprises a melting chamber 1 having a tiltable melting crucible 10, the chamber 1 having a downwardly depending shaft portion 16, at least one casting treatment chamber 19 including a casting mould 37 and a heater 38 and an upwardly extending shaft portion 23, means 27 for interconnecting the depending shaft portion 16 with the upwardly extending shaft portion 23, valves 17, 24 for sealing the shaft portions 16, 23 and a lift 35, 36, 43 for lifting and lowering the casting mould 37 and heater 38 into and out of the melting chamber 1 from the casting treatment chamber 19. In operation, both chambers 1, 19, sealed by valves 17, 24, are evacuated through ports 7, 50 respectively. The mould 37 and heater 38 are located at a level 37a on an arm 42. At this position, the mould 37 is preheated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the metal to be cast, while a chill plate 44 on the lift 35, 36, 43 is at a lower level than the mould 37 and is protected from condensing vapours by a shield 47. Meanwhile, a charge is melted in the crucible 10, the shaft portions 16, 23 brought into registration and sealed together by moving the chamber 1 on wheels 4 and the valves 17, 24 opened. The lift 35, 36, 43 and chillplate 44 move upwardly to entrain the mould 37 and heater 38 thereby to raise them into the melting chamber 1, where the mould 37 is filled. The lift 35, 36, 43 moves rapidly downwardly until the heater 38 is entrained by stops 40a whereupon the valves 17, 24 are once more closed and the lift moves downwardly slowly to remove the mould 37 from the heater and thereby induce upward unidirectional solidification of the melt from the chill plate 44. Plant.-Several casting treatment chambers 19 each with a valve 24 may be arranged in a line with the single melting chamber 1 mounted on wheels 4 and running on rails 5 over the line of treatment chambers 19 to supply all the treatment chambers 19 with molten metal.