Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Stephen M Fitch

Christopher D Cogan

Qigui Wang

David Douglas Goettsch

Maurice G Meyer

James T Singer

Methods, systems, and apparatus for reduction of gas pressure within a core, such as a sand casting core package, during a casting process in order to reduce bubble defects. Some embodiments may comprise a mold configured to receive a molten metal to create a metal casting, such as an engine block casting. The mold may comprise a mold core configured to create a cavity within the metal casting. The system may further comprise a filling device configured for delivering a molten metal into the mold for creating the metal casting. The mold core may comprise a material that is permeable to certain gases known to often result in bubble defects. The system may further comprise a vacuum configured to be coupled with the mold to reduce gas pressure within a permeable portion of the mold in order to reduce the incidence of bubble defects within the casting.

Methods for sand core gas evacuation and related systems and apparatus

A method of forming a casting using a casting apparatus is disclosed, the method including the steps of lowering a ladle having a hollow interior into a source of molten material and an aperture facilitating flow into the hollow interior, filling the interior of the ladle with the molten material through the aperture, introducing an inert gas into a portion of a nozzle, removing the ladle from the source of molten material, causing the nozzle to contact a casting mold, and pressurizing the hollow interior with an inert gas to cause the molten material to flow into the casting mold.

Pour ladle for molten metal

A casting apparatus and a method of forming a casting using the casting apparatus is disclosed, the casting apparatus comprising a ladle having a hollow interior adapted to receive a molten material therein; a nozzle in fluid communication with the hollow interior, the nozzle having a first portion disposed outside of the ladle and a second portion disposed within the hollow interio; an additive feeder in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the ladle; and a gas conduit in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the ladle.

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Oakwood, OH, United States of America

Stephen M Fitch