Apparatus for the low-pressure casting of metal alloys, in particular for aluminum alloys and/or magnesium alloys

Abstract

An apparatus for low-pressure casting of metal alloys comprising: a loading hatch,a region for holding previously loaded molten metal,pressurization elements for pressurizing the region for holding the molten metal,and a die which is in fluidic communication with the region for holding the molten metal and is at least partially superimposed on the latter;the region for holding the molten metal comprises:a first chamber, connected to the loading hatch and to the pressurization elements,a second chamber, which is fluidically connected to the die,the first chamber and the second chamber being in fluidic connection through a passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for low-pressure casting of metal alloys comprising:
 a loading hatch,   a region for holding previously loaded molten metal,   pressurization means for pressurizing said region for holding said molten metal,   and a die which is in fluidic communication with said region for holding said molten metal and is at least partially superimposed on said region,   wherein said region for holding said molten metal comprises:   a first chamber, connected to said loading hatch and to said pressurization means,   a second chamber, which is fluidically connected to said die,   said first chamber and said second chamber being in fluidic connection through a passage.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said passage is placed proximate to/at a bottom of said first chamber and a bottom of said second chamber and so that a bottom of said passage connects said bottom of said first chamber to said bottom of said second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said passage has a height lower than:
 a height of said first chamber,   and a height of said second chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said passage is formed by a metal connector for connecting said first chamber to said second chamber, a ceramic bushing being present within said metal connector. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a seal between said ceramic bushing and said first chamber is provided by a first sealing element interposed between said ceramic bushing and said first chamber,   the seal between said ceramic bushing and said second chamber is provided by a second sealing element interposed between said ceramic bushing and said second chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said ceramic bushing has a flanged portion which is flanged for shape mating with said metal connector, a seal between said bushing and said connector being provided by:
 a third sealing element interposed between a surface of said flanged portion directed toward said first chamber and said connector,   a fourth sealing element interposed between the surface of said flanged portion directed toward said second chamber and said connector.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said metal connector has a vent. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more casting ducts which fluidically connect said second chamber to said die, said one or more casting ducts extending from a ceiling of said second chamber toward said die. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said first chamber has first heating means arranged proximately to/at a ceiling thereof, in an upper region with respect to said molten metal bath and outside said molten metal bath in an operating configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said second chamber has second heating means arranged within said molten metal bath in the operating configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said loading hatch is arranged at an upper portion of said first chamber, adjacent to said ceiling. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said first chamber has an internal surface which is inclined so as to form a chute from said loading hatch toward the bottom of said first chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said pressurization means comprise one or more apparatuses for introducing pressurized gas inside said first chamber, starting from said upper portion of said first chamber, generating a pressure on a free surface of said molten metal bath. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising third heating means for heating said one or more casting ducts, said third heating means being arranged between said second chamber and said die, substantially around said one or more casting ducts. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein an overall bottom of said region for holding said molten metal is constituted in the following order by:
 said bottom of said first chamber,   said bottom of said passage,   said bottom of said second chamber,   said overall bottom of said region for holding said molten metal being inclined substantially homogeneously with:   a first end at said first chamber adjacent to said inclined internal surface,   a second end, at a higher level than said first end, at said second chamber and opposite said first end.