Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.

Scott P Crafton

Paul M Crafton

James L Lewis, Jr

Ian French

Volker Knobloch

Paul Fauteux

Shanker Subramaniam

James Garrett

Andrew Turner

Franz Ruegg

Robert Howard

James L Lewis, Sr

John Dalton

James L Lewis

Shanker Subramanian

John W Dalton

Jim Garrett

Volker R Knobloch

James R Garrett

A method for heat treating cast aluminum alloy components that includes obtaining a casting formed from an aluminum alloy having a silicon constituent and at least one metal alloying constituent, and heating the casting to a first casting temperature that is below but within 10&#xb0; C. of a predetermined silicon solution temperature at which the silicon constituent rapidly enters into solid solution. The method also includes increasing the rate of heat input into the casting to raise the temperature of the casting to a second casting temperature that is above but within 10&#xb0; C. of a predetermined alloying metal solution temperature at which the at least one metal alloying constituent rapidly enters into solid solution, maintaining the casting at the second casting temperature for a period of time that is less than about 20 minutes, and then quenching the casting to a temperature less than or about 250&#xb0; C.

System and method for heat treating aluminum alloy castings

A quench system for applying cooling air to one or more hot metallic components that are supported on a component support having a substantially open construction. The quench system includes a housing having sidewalls that define a cooling chamber with peripheral portions proximate the sidewalls and a center portion spaced inwardly from the sidewalls. The quench system also includes a conveyance system that is configured to carry the component support into the center portion of the cooling chamber, as well as a forced air fan that generates a bulk flow of cooling air through the cooling chamber. The quench system further includes a plurality of nozzle baffles extending inwardly from the plurality of sidewalls to define a narrowing region within the housing between the forced air fan and the conveyance system, whereby, during operation of the fan, cooling air flowing through the peripheral portions of the cooling chamber is redirected into the center portion of the cooling chamber.

System and method for improving quench air flow

A system for supporting castings during thermal treatments, such as solution heat treatment, quenching and aging, that includes a tray defining a horizontal base plane and having a plurality of tray openings therethrough, and a fixture extending over one or more of the tray openings. The fixture is formed by a plurality of support plates oriented vertically with lower portions extending across the tray opening and top edges extending above the tray opening with shaped profiles along the lengths thereof. The plurality of support plates form an open lattice having a plurality of top edges that together define an open support surface that is substantially complementary with an underside surface of a casting and configured to loosely support the casting atop the lattice and align the casting in space above the tray opening.

System for supporting castings during thermal treatment

A quench system includes an enclosure defining a quench chamber sized to receive hot castings, and bulk air fans in fluid communication with the quench chamber and configured to establish a bulk flow of cooling air that surrounds and extracts heat from the hot castings at a first cooling rate. The quench system also includes a pressurized cooling system in fluid communication with a plurality of nozzles within the quench chamber and configured to spray a plurality of a directed flows of cooling fluid onto the hot castings to extract heat at a second cooling rate. The quench system further includes a programmable controller configured to sequentially activate the bulk air fans to cool the casting at the first cooling rate for a first predetermined period of time, and then activate the pressurized cooling system to cool the casting at the second cooling rate for a second predetermined period of time.

System and method for quenching castings

A furnace for heat treating a metal workpiece is provided. A method and system for processing a workpiece also are provided.

High pressure heat treatment system

Disclosed is a method for dislodging a mold from a casting formed within the mold. The mold may be removed from the casting by scoring the mold and applying a force sufficient to cause the mold to fracture and break into pieces. Additionally, the mold may be fractured by either explosive charges placed in the mold pack or by high energy pulsations directed at the mold. Once the mold is fractured and broken into various pieces it may then be dislodged from the casting.

Method and apparatus for assisting removal of sand moldings from castings

An integrated metal processing facility in which molten metal is poured into a series of molds at a pouring station to form metal castings, which are then transferred to a heat treatment line. Prior to introduction of the castings into a heat treatment station of the heat treatment line, the castings are subjected to heating sufficient to arrest cooling of the castings at or above a process control temperature for the metal thereof.

Integrated metal processing facility

A system and method for forming and heat treating a metal casting are provided.

A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply fluid to the castings for heat treating the castings and degrading the sand cores for removal from the castings.

Methods and apparatus for heat treatment and sand removal for castings

A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply heat to the castings for heat treating the castings and dislodging the sand cores for removal from the castings.

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Marietta, GA, United States of America

Scott P Crafton