IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0420910
(2012-03-15)
|
등록번호 |
US-8302661
(2012-11-06)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Forbes Jones, Robin M.
- Shaffer, Sterry A.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
146 |
초록
▼
A nucleated casting apparatus including an atomizing nozzle configured to produce a droplet spray of a metallic material, a mold configured to receive the droplet spray and form a preform therein, and a gas injector which can limit, and possibly prevent, overspray from accumulating on the mold. The
A nucleated casting apparatus including an atomizing nozzle configured to produce a droplet spray of a metallic material, a mold configured to receive the droplet spray and form a preform therein, and a gas injector which can limit, and possibly prevent, overspray from accumulating on the mold. The gas injector can be configured to produce a gas flow which can impinge on the droplet spray to redirect at least a portion of the droplet spray away from a side wall of the mold. In various embodiments, the droplet spray may be directed by the atomizing nozzle in a generally downward direction and the gas flow may be directed in a generally upward direction such that the gas flow circumscribes the perimeter of the mold.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for producing a preform by nucleated casting, the apparatus comprising: a mold comprising a side wall and a top surface, and wherein the side wall of the mold comprises a mold upper portion;an atomizing nozzle adapted to produce a droplet spray directed toward the mold; anda gas inje
1. An apparatus for producing a preform by nucleated casting, the apparatus comprising: a mold comprising a side wall and a top surface, and wherein the side wall of the mold comprises a mold upper portion;an atomizing nozzle adapted to produce a droplet spray directed toward the mold; anda gas injector comprising a plate and a gas injector upper portion, the gas injector adapted to produce a gas flow;wherein the plate and the mold define a plurality of unconnected gas flow passageways therebetween, each gas flow passageway terminating in an opening positioned on a perimeter of the mold top surface; andwherein each of the plurality of gas flow passageways is configured to produce a gas flow at the opening of the gas flow passageway that redirects at least a portion of the droplet spray away from the side wall of the mold 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a configuration of the opening of each of the plurality of gas flow passageways can be altered to change at least one of a size of the opening and a direction of the gas flow exiting the opening. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas injector upper portion comprises one of a rounded and a radiused edge surface that can be configured to adjust at least one of a direction of the gas flow and a profile of the gas flow. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas injector upper portion is articulable to change at least one of a size of the opening of each of the plurality of gas flow passageways and a direction of the gas flow. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas injector further comprises at least one actuated element to selectively constrict gas flow through the plurality of gas flow passageways. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas injector further comprises at least one manifold and at least one gas supply line, wherein the at least one manifold is configured to selectively fluidly connect the at least one gas supply line and the plurality of gas flow passageways. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gas injector urther comprises at least one valve adapted to selectively restrict gas flow from the at least one gas supply line into the at least one manifold. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plate is welded to the mold with at least one weld bead configured to seal the plurality of gas flow passageways so that gas flowing through the at least one manifold into the plurality of gas flow passageways is directed to the opening of each of the plurality of gas flow passageways. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mold defines a perimeter, and the gas flow produced by the gas injector circumscribes the perimeter. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the mold further comprises a base;the side wall is selectively rotatable about an axis of rotation; andthe base is movable relative to the side wall along the axis of rotation to change a distance between the atomizing nozzle and the base. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a melting and refining apparatus in fluid communication with the atomizing nozzle, wherein the melting and refining apparatus is selected from an electroslag remelting apparatus and a vacuum arc remelting apparatus. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a chamber adapted to maintain a protective gas atmosphere therein, wherein the mold is positioned in the chamber. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mold and the gas injector comprises a polished surface adapted to inhibit accumulation of the droplet spray on the polished surface. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the polished surface comprises an average surface roughness no greater than approximately 1 micrometer. 15. An apparatus for producing a preform by nucleated casting, the apparatus comprising: a melting and refining apparatus selected from an electroslag remelting apparatus and a vacuum arc remelting apparatus;a mold comprising a top surface, a side wall, and a mold upper portion;an atomizing nozzle fluidly communicating with the melting and refining apparatus and adapted to produce a droplet spray directed towards the mold; anda gas injector comprising a plate and a gas injector upper portion, the gas injector adapted to produce a gas flow; anda chamber adapted to maintain a protective gas atmosphere therein, wherein at least the mold is positioned in the chamber;wherein the plate and the mold define a plurality of gas flow passageways therebetween that are not in fluid communication with each other;wherein each of the plurality of gas flow passageways comprises an opening, and the openings are positioned about a perimeter of the mold top surface; andwherein the opening of each gas flow passageway is configured to produce a gas flow in a direction that redirects at least a portion of the droplet spray away from at least one of the top surface of the mold and the side wall of the mold. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a configuration of the opening of each gas flow passageway is adjustable to change at least one of a size of the opening and a direction of the gas flow exiting the opening. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gas injector upper portion comprises one of a rounded and a radiused edge surface that can be configured to affect at least one of a direction of the gas flow and a profile of the gas flow. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gas injector upper portion is articulable to change at least one of a size of the gap and a direction of the gas flow. 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gas injector further comprises at least one actuated element adapted to selectively constrict gas flow through the plurality of gas flow passageways. 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gas injector further comprises at least one manifold and at least one gas supply line, wherein the at least one manifold is configured to selectively fluidly connect the at least one gas supply line and the plurality of gas flow passageways. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one gas supply line further comprises at least one valve adapted to restrict gas flow from the at least one gas supply line into the at least one manifold. 22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plate is welded to the mold with at least one weld bead configured to seal the plurality of gas flow passageways so that gas flowing through the at least one manifold into the plurality of gas flow passageways is directed to the opening of each of the gas flow passageways. 23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mold defines a perimeter and a gas flow produced by the gas injector circumscribes the perimeter. 24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: the mold further comprises a base;the side wall is selectively rotatable about an axis of rotation; andthe base is movable relative to the side wall along the axis of rotation to change a distance between the atomizing nozzle and the base. 25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the mold and the gas injector comprises a polished surface adapted to inhibit accumulation of the droplet spray on the polished surface. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the polished surface comprises an average surface roughness no greater than approximately 1 micrometer.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.