Aluminum Company of America

Alcoa Inc.

James R Fields

Lawrence W Cisko

Robert C Wallace

C Edward Eckert

Ralph R Sawtell

Jen C Lin

Men Glenn Chu

Albert L Askin

Xinyan Yan

Eric D Arndt

Marshall A Klingensmith

Thomas R Hornack

Gerald D Scott

M K Premkumar

Shawn Patrick Sullivan

Thomas J Kasun

Mohammad A Zaidi

Richard A Manzini

Janell Lyn Abbott

George C Full

Michael J Kinosz

Larry K King

William G Truckner

Elmer H Rogers, Jr

Joshua C Liu

Thomas J Rodjom

Ronald E Boylstein

Jamal Righi

Janel M Miller

Jerri F McMichael

Robert E Robinson

Donald L Drane

Decorative shape cast products and methods, systems, compositions and apparatus for producing the same are described. In one embodiment, the decorative shape cast products are produced from an Al&#x2014;Ni or Al&#x2014;Ni&#x2014;Mn alloy, with a tailored microstructure to facilitate production of anodized decorative shape cast product having the appropriate finish and mechanical properties.

Aluminum alloys, aluminum alloy products and methods for making the same

A molten metal treatment furnace ( ) with metal treatment and level control includes a heating chamber ( ) for containing and heating a supply of molten metal ( ), a pump ( ) connected to the heating chamber ( ), a molten metal treatment chamber ( ) located at the outlet of the pump ( ), and a dosing chamber ( ) located downstream and in fluid communication with the molten metal treatment chamber ( ). A trough ( ) is connected to the dosing chamber ( ) for supplying the molten metal ( ) to a downstream process. A molten metal level sensor ( ) is located in the dosing chamber ( ). The pump ( ) is a variable speed pump having a pump inlet ( ) connected to the heating chamber ( ) and configured to pump the molten metal ( ) through the furnace ( ) during operation. The molten metal level sensor ( ) is connected to the pump ( ) for providing a pump speed control signal to the pump ( ). The molten metal level sensor ( ) is configured to monitor the level of the molten metal ( ) in the dosing chamber ( ) and maintain a preset level of the molten metal ( ) in the dosing chamber ( ) by controlling the speed of the pump ( ) with the pump speed control signal.

Molten metal treatment furnace with level control and method

A vacuum die-casting machine has a sprue cavity with sufficient depth facing the shot cylinder that the shot cylinder piston can easily crush with a pressure of less than 1000 psi the thin cylindrical shell of solidified metal which develops into the biscuit, and continue to advance after the die cavity becomes fried with molten metal to inject additional molten metal into the die cavity to make up for shrinkage porosity as the cast part cools. The runner through which the molten metal passes from the sprue cavity into the die cavity has generally spherical reservoirs adjacent circular gates to further assure the supply of the additional molten metal to make up for shrinkage in the part. In addition, the piston can be oil cooled steel to delay formation of the biscuit.

Apparatus and method for cold chamber die-casting of metal parts with

The shot sleeve of the invention is used in a die casting machine and defines a bore for containing molten metal to be injected into a die. At least one passageway disposed generally parallel to the bore for containing a first fluid having a fluid temperature and a fluid flow rate is provided, whereby substantially uniform temperatures can be maintained across the width of the shot sleeve by controlling the fluid temperature of the fluid flow rate or both the fluid temperature and the fluid flow rate. A die casting machine and an associated method are also disclosed.

Shot sleeve having a passageway for fluid flow

The fill chamber bore of a die-casting machine is lubricated and prepared for casting by inserting an elongated member into the die-end of the bore while spraying with lubricant. During withdrawal of the elongated member, a conical spray of gas directed toward the die-end drys the lubricant and sweeps vapor and flash, or solder, out of the die-end. The elongated member is preferably a flexible carrier which is guided between the bore and a path between the open die halves lateral to the bore. The lateral path is perferably defined by a tubular member supported by a vertical carriage mounted on a vertical mast for alignment of the flexible carrier with the fill chamber bore when the dies are open. The vertical mast can be mounted on a horizontal carriage moveable along a horizontal bore to preclude interference with normal operation of the die-casting machine. The flexible carrier can be housed in a arcuate chamber pivoted on the side of the fixed platen and swung between the open dies to align the flexible carrier with the fill chamber bore.

Apparatus and method for lubricating and cleaning out die-casting

The die casting machine includes a trough containing a supply of molten metal and a feed tube extending into the supply of molten metal in the trough. A flow of molten metal is maintained in the trough past the feed tube independent of the transfer of molten metal through the feed tube. The die casting machine further includes a filtering system.

Die-casting process and equipment

A vacuum die-casting machine has a bellows forming a sealed enclosure between the rear of the fill chamber and the piston rod. A vacuum is applied to the enclosure during evacuation of the die cavity and charging of the fill chamber with molten metal. As the piston moves forward, an inert gas at about atmospheric pressure is introduced into the enclosure and extends into the feed tube.

Vacuum die-casting machine with apparatus and method for controlling

This invention provides improved casting processes, equipment, and products. The invention is especially advantageous for die casting.

Separating volatile impurities from AlCl.sub.3 by supplying impure AlCl.sub.3 into a molten salt bath of a gas separation compartment in an electrolysis cell. The impurities are removed from the compartment and molten salt bath containing dissolved AlCl.sub.3 is carried under a partition into a chamber where the AlCl.sub.3 is electrolyzed. In a preferred embodiment, desublimation is avoided by supplying AlCl.sub.3 to the bath as a gas rather than in solid form.

Separation of volatile impurities from aluminum chloride before

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Export, PA, United States of America

James R Fields