Aluminum Company of America

Alcoa Inc.

Richard A Manzini

C Edward Eckert

Men Glenn Chu

Lawrence W Cisko

James R Fields

Thomas R Hornack

Gerald D Scott

M K Premkumar

Mohammad A Zaidi

Marshall A Klingensmith

William G Truckner

Thomas J Kasun

Thomas J Rodjom

Robert C Wallace

George C Full

David H De Young

Janel M Miller

Jerri F McMichael

Apparatus and method for providing a classification of inclusions in molten metal. The apparatus and method include the steps of and means for obtaining an analog signal stream from a data collection apparatus, passing the analog signal stream through an analog to digital converter to convert the analog signal stream to a digital signal stream, and partitioning the digital signal stream into a discrete time frame of 5 milliseconds. The digital signal stream is vector normalized to provide a normalized signal stream having a largest amplitude magnitude of 1. The normalized signal stream is compared to a control of a prototype shape for determining a classification for the digital signal stream over the discrete time frame by decision logic to determine hard inclusions versus soft inclusions in the liquid metal. In one aspect, the normalized signal stream is passed through a decision module having at least one threshold unit and at least one digital logic table to make a decision of a soft, deformable inclusion or a hard inclusion. In one embodiment, the classification and size of the inclusions are counted in an histogram of classification and a histogram of size. The classification and size of the inclusions are viewed in a graphical user interface.

Detecting and classifying hard and soft inclusions in liquid metal

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

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

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Greensburg, PA, United States of America

Richard A Manzini