Directional solidification method and apparatus

Abstract

Method as well as apparatus for DS casting by withdrawing a melt-filled mold from an end of a casting furnace, spraying a liquid cooling medium to impinge on exterior surfaces of the mold as the mold is withdrawn, and collecting the cooling medium after it impinges on the exterior mold surfaces.

I Claim  
     
         1 . Method of casting, comprising relatively moving a metallic melt-filled mold and a casting furnace to withdraw said metallic melt-filled mold from an end of a casting furnace and spraying a liquid cooling medium to impinge on exterior surfaces of said mold as said mold is withdrawn.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including disposing a plurality of spray nozzles below a thermal baffle at said end to discharge sprays of said cooling medium to impinge on said exterior surfaces.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  including collecting said cooling medium after it impinges on said exterior mold surfaces and reusing it.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cooling medium is selected from the group consisting of molten tin and molten aluminum.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said mold is withdrawn from said end of said casting furnace by moving a chill member on which said mold rests.  
     
     
         6 . Method of directional solidification, comprising withdrawing a melt-filled mold from an end of a casting furnace disposed in a vacuum chamber by relative movement therebetween, spraying a liquid cooling medium to impinge on exterior surfaces of said mold as said mold is withdrawn, and collecting said cooling medium in said vacuum chamber after it impinges on said exterior mold surfaces.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  including disposing a plurality of spray nozzles below a thermal baffle at said end to discharge sprays of said cooling medium to impinge on said exterior surfaces.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  including reusing the collected cooling medium.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the cooling medium is selected from the group consisting of molten tin and molten aluminum.  
     
     
         10 . Directional solidification casting apparatus, comprising a casting furnace having an open lower end, a metallic melt-filled mold, said furnace and said metallic melt-filled mold being relatively movable to withdraw said melt-filled mold through said end out of said furnace, and means for spraying a liquid cooling medium to impinge on exterior surfaces of said mold as said mold is moved out of said furnace.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  including a thermal baffle at said lower end, said means being disposed below said baffle.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said means comprises a plurality of spray nozzles disposed below a thermal baffle at said end to discharge sprays of said cooling medium to impinge on said exterior surfaces.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said means comprises an annular pipe disposed below a thermal baffle at said end and having one or more orifices to discharge one or more sprays of said cooling medium to impinge on said exterior surfaces.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  including means for collecting said cooling medium after it impinges on said exterior mold surfaces.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the cooling medium is selected from the group consisting of molten tin and molten aluminum.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  including a chill member on which said mold is disposed and moved out of said end of said casting furnace by moving said chill member relative to said furnace.