US 11,951,538 B2
Hollow automotive parts and methods for fabricating hollow castings
Adam G. Kotlarek, Berkley, MI (US); and Frank D. Risko, Clarkston, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/157,293.
Prior Publication US 2022/0234097 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B22D 17/00 (2006.01); C22C 21/08 (2006.01); C22F 1/047 (2006.01)
CPC B22D 17/007 (2013.01) [C22C 21/08 (2013.01); C22F 1/047 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fabricating a hollow casting, the method comprising:
casting a first casting section and a second casting section from an aluminum slurry using a semi-solid casting process to form each casting section with a lowest material porosity at a first surface and a second surface and with a material porosity not less than the lowest material porosity in a remainder of each respective casting section; and
welding the casting sections together at the respective first surfaces and at the respective second surfaces to form the hollow casting as a ring shape in which an open void is encircled by the first casting section and the second casting section.