US 11,883,876 B2
Dynamic mold shape control for direct chill casting
Craig Richard Cordill, Liberty Lake, WA (US); Craig Lee Shaber, Liberty Lake, WA (US); and Michael Kim Anderson, Otis Orchards, WA (US)
Assigned to WAGSTAFF, INC., Spokane Valley, WA (US)
Filed by WAGSTAFF, INC., Spokane Valley, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/658,269.
Application 17/658,269 is a continuation of application No. 16/621,125, granted, now 11,331,715, previously published as PCT/IB2018/054214, filed on Jun. 11, 2018.
Application 16/621,125 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/619,866, filed on Jun. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,350,674, issued on Jul. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0226884 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B22D 11/049 (2006.01); B22D 11/04 (2006.01); B22D 11/055 (2006.01); B22D 11/124 (2006.01); B22D 11/16 (2006.01); B22D 11/00 (2006.01); B22D 11/05 (2006.01)
CPC B22D 11/049 (2013.01) [B22D 11/001 (2013.01); B22D 11/0406 (2013.01); B22D 11/05 (2013.01); B22D 11/055 (2013.01); B22D 11/124 (2013.01); B22D 11/168 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wall of a direct chill casting mold comprising:
a longitudinally extending body extending along a length between a first end and a second end;
a graphite insert defining, at least in part, a casting face of the wall; and
one or more force receiving members attached to the longitudinally extending body, wherein the one or more force receiving members is configured to impart a bend to the longitudinally extending body between the first end and the second end relative to a straight line between the first end and the second end, and wherein the graphite insert maintains contact with the longitudinally extending body along its length as the bend is imparted to the longitudinally extending body.
 
14. A wall of a direct chill casting mold comprising:
a longitudinally extending body extending along a length between a first end and a second end;
an inner face extending from proximate the first end to proximate the second end;
a graphite insert secured to the inner face and extending from proximate the first end to proximate the second end, the graphite insert defining a portion of a mold cavity; and
an outer surface opposite the inner face;
wherein at least one force applied to the outer surface imparts a bend to the longitudinally extending body relative to a straight line between the first end and the second end, and wherein the graphite insert bends in congruence with the longitudinally extending body.
 
20. A graphite insert for a wall of a direct chill casting mold comprising:
a longitudinally extending graphite body;
a casting surface extending along a first side of the graphite body; and
a back surface extending along a second side of the graphite body, opposite the first side;
wherein the back surface is configured to be secured to a wall of a direct chill casting mold, wherein the back surface maintains contact with the direct chill casting mold and bends in congruence with the wall of the direct chill casting mold as the wall bends along its length between a first end and a second end.