Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Aemp Corporation

Suraltech, Inc.

Innovative Products Group, LLC

Jian Gang Lu

Shaupoh Wang

Samuel M D Norville

Ronald Lee Beckmann

Navtej S Saluja

Youdong Zhou

Patrick J Lombard

Alfredo Riviere V

Alfredo Riviere, V

Xian Li Ni

A method of producing on-demand, semi-solid material for a casting process includes the steps of first heating a metal alloy until it reaches a molten state and maintaining that molten state within a desired temperature range. The next step is to ladle out a portion of the molten alloy and transfer it into a processing vessel. In one arrangement the vessel is configured with its own cooling arrangement so as to begin the solidification process for the molten alloy. In another embodiment, a thermal jacket is used to facilitate the cooling of the vessel and accordingly the cooling of the molten alloy. The next step is to apply an electromagnetic field to the molten alloy in order to create a stirring action which results in a desired flow pattern of the molten alloy within the vessel. The electromagnetic stirring begins as soon as the molten alloy is placed in the vessel and continues while the cooling continues in order to create a slurry billet of the desired metallurgical composition. The final step is to discharge the slurry billet from the vessel directly into a shot sleeve of a casting machine. The apparatus related to the described method includes a vessel which is constructed and arranged for receipt of the molten alloy. A robotic arm is provided in one embodiment for moving the vessel into a stator and then from the stator to the discharge location. In another embodiment, pneumatic cylinders are used in cooperation with structural linkages to effect movement of the vessel first into the stator and then from the stator to the discharge location. Suitable cooling arrangements for the vessel include cooling lines within the vessel, the passage of cooling air between the stator and the vessel, and the use of a thermal jacket.

Apparatus for and method of producing on-demand semi-solid material for castings

A method and apparatus for stirring a molten thixotropic aluminum alloy comprising a first solid particulate phase suspended in a second liquid phase so as to maintain its thixotropic character by degenerating forming dendritic particles into spheroidal particles while simultaneously equilibrating the melt temperature by quickly transferring heat between the melt and its surroundings. The melt is stirred by a magnetomotive force field generated by a stacked stator assembly. The stacked stator assembly includes a stator ring adapted to generate a linear/longitudinal magnetic field positioned between two stator rings adapted to generate a rotational magnetic field. The stacked stator rings generate a substantially spiral magnetomotive mixing force and define a substantially cylindrical mixing region therein.

Method and apparatus for magnetically stirring a thixotropic metal slurry

There is provided a continuous casting and rolling process for continuously producing a deformed fine grain solid metal composition suitable for semi-solid forming. The process is characterized by high throughput, continuity, and precise control of the process parameters, such as solidification rate, rolling temperature and speed and total deformation. The solidification rate is preferred to be in a range of 10 to 150&deg; C./s, and the total deformation is controlled to be larger than a Mises effective strain of 2.3 to obtain a deformed fine grain structure with enough distortion energy. A method combining the continuous casting and rolling process of preparing semi-solid raw material with semi-solid forming of shaped articles is also disclosed.

Processes for continuously producing fine grained metal compositions and for semi-solid forming of shaped articles

There are provided a continuous frictional extrusion process for continuously producing a deformed fine grain solid metal composition suitable for semi-solid forming. The process is featured by a large range of produce dimension and by precise control of the process parameter, such as total deformation, extrusion temperature and speed. The total deformation is controlled to be larger than a Mises effective strain of 2.3 to obtain a deformed fine grain structure with enough distortion energy stored, having a grain size less than 30 .mu.m and a subgrain size less than 2 .mu.m. A method combining the continuous extrusion process of preparing semi-solid raw material with semi-solid forming of shaped articles is also disclosed.

Processes for producing fine grained metal compositions using continuous

A transmission shift control has a detent mechanism to provide a shift effort so that the operator has a sense of feel during shifting between ranges. During a manual shift between reverse and park, the shift effort or 'detent feel' is normally higher than the effort occurring during manual shifts between other ranges. The detent mechanism providing the 'detent feel' is comprised of a spring-biased roller in a notched detent plate comprised of rises and valleys. The spring urges the roller against the notched surface on the plate. The ramps or rises provide increased shift effort during movement of the plate from range to another. In each range, the spring-biased roller is disposed in the appropriate valley. A channel is formed in the plate to provide a path for the roller, such that the park to reverse shift effort is less than the reverse to park effort.

Transmission shift control detent mechanism

An elastic band powered ball projecting machine is capable of hurling baseball, softball, tennis ball and simulated ball for batting practice. The machine includes a tube assembly within which a carrier and a piston slide rearwardly between a neutral position and a loaded position and forwardly between the loaded position and a release position. An elastic band is disposed in the piston and the two ends of the elastic band are secured on a frame which is mounted on a supporting assembly. The piston is linked with a roller of a clutch and ratchet mechanism by a wire. The elastic band is stretched under the tension of its own elasticity between the neutral position and the loaded position by pedaling a clutch and ratchet mechanism. A ball placed in the carrier is propelled forwardly out of the tube assembly when a release handle pushes a clutch sleeve of the clutch and ratchet mechanism and the clutch sleeve disengage with the roller of the clutch and ratchet mechanism to release the stored energy in the tension bands.

Elastic band powered ball projecting machine

A connector assembly includes a female member having a bore extending therethrough and a male member for insertion into the bore of the female member. The male member has a shoulder portion thereon. A resilient member is disposed on the female member and extends partially into the bore. The resilient member engages the shoulder portion of the male member to lock the male member in position within the female member. In addition, a retainer is provided for coaxial connection to the female member. The retainer has an internal retainer groove axially aligned for receiving the resilient member therein when the retainer is coaxially connected to the female member. Thus, the resilient member is captured in the retainer groove between the retainer and the female member when the retainer is coaxially connected to the female member.

Connector assembly with retainer

Flexible cables require an adjustable end fitting to permit the exact length to be attained at installation in the system in which is to be controlled. The adjusting structure includes a body adjusting portion on the one end of the cable and an adjustable body core which will be attached to one of the working members. Each of the body core and the body adjusting portion have a toothed portion formed thereon which are alignable when the body adjusting portion is inserted within the adjustable body core. A lock member secures these two portions together with a toothed portion which engages the aligned toothed portions on the body members. In order to prevent premature locking of the two elements together, the retaining member is secured out of engagement with the toothed elements and also after engagement of the toothed elements the lock member is secured in the lock position. The positioning of the lock member is controlled by a single retainer clip which is slidably disposed on the adjustable body core.

Core adjuster with lock member

A cable mechanism has an adjustment portion which allows the cable length to be adjusted at assembly. A first movable lock member is provided to prevent inadvertent early adjustment of the cable length by stabilizing a lock member on the cable in an unadjusted position prior to removal of the first lock member. A second movable lock member is provided to maintain the cable lock portion in the adjusted position and to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the cable adjusting mechanism.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Jian Gang Lu