The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 01, 1987
Filed:
Dec. 15, 1986
Hugh R Lowry, Fairfield, CT (US);
Robert T Frost, Berwyn, PA (US);
General Electric Company, Bridgeport, CT (US);
Abstract
The new apparatus of this invention comprises an elongated casting vessel disposed in upright position to receive liquid metal for solidification, means for delivering liquid metal into the lower portion of that vessel, heat exchange means associated with the vessel for cooling and solidifying the liquid metal therein, means for removing solidified metal from the upper portion of the vessel, and electromagnetic field generating means disposed around the vessel along a portion of its length. The field generating means includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils for connection to successive phases of a polyphase electric current source to produce a combined electromagnetic upward levitating field effect and a containment field effect on liquid and metal in the vessel. By 'levitating effect' is meant that liquid metal is continuously suspended in space and urged upwardly into contact with the lower end of the solidifying product. In this way, voids and flaws are avoided. The containment field effect produces a slight gap between the walls of the casting vessel and the liquid metal so as to induce a pressureless contact condition in the solidification region. The casting apparatus includes a crucible to contain a bath of molten metal communicating with the lower end of the casting vessel and also includes means associated with the crucible to move liquid metal upwardly into the casting vessel to a level above the lower end of the electromagnetic field generating means. Such may take the form of a hydrostatic pressure source which operates to displace liquid metal upwardly into the casting vessel.