Centrifugal casting method and apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for forming a cast component has a chamber for holding an alloy and which is rotated about an axis to separate an impurity from the alloy by centrifugal force. The chamber feeds a mould that is also rotating and into which the alloy is supplied to form a component by centrifugal casting.

1 . A method of forming a cast component comprising the steps of:
 providing a chamber containing a molten alloy and an impurity;   rotating the chamber about an axis to separate the alloy and the impurity by centrifuging; and   supplying the alloy from the chamber to a mould rotating about the axis to centrifugally cast the alloy in the mould.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the molten alloy comprises titanium. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the molten alloy comprises aluminium. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the molten alloy comprises titanium, aluminium, vanadium and chromium. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the alloy is formed from constituent elements of titanium oxide, vanadium oxide and chromium oxide which react exothermically with the aluminium in the chamber. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the impurity is aluminium oxide. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a conduit between the chamber and the mould has a supply valve which is opened after a predetermined period to allow molten alloy to be supplied to the mould. 
   
   
       8 . A cast component produced by a method according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus for forming a cast component, the apparatus comprising a chamber for holding an alloy and being rotatable about an axis, a rotatable mould rotatable about the axis, a conduit connecting the chamber with the mould, rotating means for rotating the chamber with a velocity sufficient to separate molten alloy from an impurity by centrifuging and for rotating the mould with sufficient velocity to centrifugally cast a component 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the conduit has a supply valve for controlling the supply of alloy from the chamber to the mould following a predetermined period. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the mould is annular. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the chamber can withstand an exothermic reaction of constituent elements of titanium oxide, vanadium oxide and chromium oxide and molten aluminium.