Gold casting method and apparatus

Abstract

A method of making jewelry in which liquid gold is shaped into the desired hollow configuration using centrifugal/gyroscopic motion. The gold is liquidified either before application to a mold or melted after it is deposited into the mold. A centrifugal force is applied to the mold to press the gold against the interior walls of the mold and the gold is allowed to solidify. Once solid, in the preferred embodiment, the gold is “hardened” using a pulse of air pressure applied to the interior of the mold.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a component of jewelry comprising the steps of: 
 a) rotating a mold containing melted gold therein;    b) while said mold is rotating, allowing said melted gold to solidify; and,    c) expanding said solidified gold against the walls of said mold using compressed air passed into a core of said mold.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to    claim 1   , further including the steps of, after said gold has solidified: 
 a) allowing said mold to become stationary; and,    b) creating an opening into the core of said mold for the passage of said compressed air.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 2   , wherein the step of passing compressed air into the core of said mold includes the step of pulsing said air pressure into the core of said mold.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 2   , wherein the step of rotating said mold includes the step of rotating said mold around an axis.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 2   , wherein the step of rotating said mold includes the step of rotating said mold through three-dimensional space.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to    claim 1   , further including the steps of: 
 a) placing a carbon liner in said mold; and,    a) pouring melted gold into the mold.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to    claim 1   , further including, prior to the step of rotating a mold containing melted gold, the steps of: 
 a) placing a carbon liner in said mold;    b) placing solid gold within said mold; and,    c) melting said solid gold within said mold.    
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing gold jewelry comprising the steps of: 
 a) rotating a mold containing melted gold therein;    b) while said mold is rotating, allowing said melted gold to solidify; and,    c) removing the solidified gold from said mold.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to    claim 8   , further including the steps of: 
 a) after said gold has solidified, bringing said mold to a stationary position; and,    a) expanding said solidified gold against the walls of said mold by, 
 1) creating an opening into a core of said mold, and,  
 2) pulsing compressed air into the core of said mold.  
   
     
     
         10 . The method according to    claim 8   , wherein the step of rotating said mold includes the step of rotating said mold around a central axis.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to    claim 8   , wherein the step of rotating said mold includes the step of rotating said mold through three-dimensional space.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to    claim 8   , further including, prior to the step of rotating said mold, the steps of: 
 a) placing a carbon liner in said mold; and,    b) pouring melted gold into the mold.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to    claim 8   , further including, prior to the step of rotating the mold, the steps of: 
 a) placing a carbon liner in said mold;    b) depositing solid gold within said mold; and,    c) melting said solid gold within said mold.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to    claim 8   , 
 a) further including the step of placing said mold containing solid gold into an oven; and,    b) wherein the steps of rotating said mold and melting said solid gold is done simultaneously while said mold is within said oven.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 8   , further including the step of attaching a fastening mechanism to said solidified gold, said fastening mechanism adapted to secure said solidified gold to a wearer.  
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing jewelry comprising the steps of: 
 a) rotating a mold containing melted gold therein;    b) while said mold is rotating, allowing said melted gold to solidify;    c) expanding said solidified gold against the walls of said mold using compressed air passed into a core of said mold;    d) removing said solidified gold from said mold; and,    e) securing to said solidified gold, a fastening mechanism adapted to secure said solidified gold to a wearer.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to    claim 16   , prior to the step of rotating the mold, further including the step of pouring melted gold into the mold.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to    claim 16   , further including, prior to the step of rotating the mold, the steps of: 
 a) placing solid gold within said mold; and,    b) melting said solid gold within said mold.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 16   , wherein the step of expanding said mass of gold against the walls of said mold includes the step of pulsing said compressed air into the core of said mold.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to    claim 16   , further including the steps of: 
 a) removing said solidified gold from said mold; and,    b) attaching to a fastening mechanism to said solidified gold, said fastening mechanism adapted to secure said solidified gold to a wearer.