US 11,772,156 B2
In-line pressurization chamber for casting
Qigui Wang, Rochester Hills, MI (US); Thomas W. Gustafson, Clarkston, MI (US); Steven L Burkholder, Archbold, OH (US); Daniel J. Wilson, Linden, MI (US); and Gregory Melekian, 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. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/153,049.
Prior Publication US 2022/0226885 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. B22D 27/13 (2006.01); B22D 47/02 (2006.01)
CPC B22D 47/02 (2013.01) [B22D 27/13 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for continuously producing cast metal components, comprising:
feeding molten metal into a first mold at a fill station;
providing a pressurized chamber including an upstream terminal chamber section, a central chamber section, and a downstream terminal section;
maintaining the central chamber section of the pressurized chamber at an elevated pressure;
moving the first mold from the fill station into the upstream terminal chamber section of the pressurized chamber;
sealing the upstream terminal chamber section of the pressurized chamber;
pressurizing the upstream terminal chamber section of the pressurized chamber;
moving the first mold from the upstream terminal chamber section to the central chamber section;
moving the first mold from the central chamber section to the downstream terminal chamber section, wherein the molten metal solidifies in the first mold under the elevated pressure; and
removing the first mold from the downstream terminal chamber section of the pressurized chamber.
 
7. An in-line casting system comprising:
a mold assembly station for assembling a mold;
a fill station for filling the mold with molten metal;
a pressurization station for densifying the molten and/or semi-solid metal under an elevated pressure, wherein the pressurization station comprises a series of chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber; and
a casting/mold disassembly station for disassembling the mold and a casting formed therein.
 
17. An in-line continuous casting system comprising:
a mold assembly station for assembling a mold;
a fill station for filling the mold with molten metal;
a pressurization chamber for densifying the molten and/or semi-solid metal under an elevated pressure higher than a pressure in a surrounding environment, wherein the pressurization chamber includes an upstream terminal chamber section, a central chamber section, and a downstream terminal chamber section, wherein the terminal chamber sections are configured to be selectively sealed from the surrounding environment, and wherein the central chamber section is configured to be selectively sealed from the terminal chamber sections;
a high thermal conductivity medium source for providing the pressurization chamber with a desired medium; and
a casting/mold disassembly station for disassembling the mold and a casting formed therein.