Aluminum Company of America

Thomas V Pierce

Alfred F LaCamera

Jan H Van Linden

James O Parkhill

Ralph R Sawtell

John M Urbanic

Thomas R Hornack

Donald L Stewart

James E Luzader

John J Connelly

Michael S Cooper

Donald P Hill

A system for manufacturing metal matrix composites, each including a porous preform infiltrated with molten metal, includes a programmable, automated arrangement for handling preforms for sequential introduction into a die caster of the system. A preform loader includes a reciprocable loading head which receives each preform from an associated stack, and delivers each preform to a horizontally reciprocable carrier of a preform shuttle. The preform shuttle effects indexed movement of each preform along a substantially horizontal path, through a preheating furnace, and into the die caster. Efficient operation of the system is promoted, while undesirable damage to the relatively brittle porous preforms is avoided.

System for manufacturing metal matrix composites

Salt-based melting process

Electrolytic cell and process for metal reduction

Growing community of inventors

Delmont, PA, United States of America

Thomas V Pierce