US20010020526A1 - Metal casting method and apparatus, and metal material manufacturing method and apparatus - Google Patents
Metal casting method and apparatus, and metal material manufacturing method and apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010020526A1 US20010020526A1 US09/799,561 US79956101A US2001020526A1 US 20010020526 A1 US20010020526 A1 US 20010020526A1 US 79956101 A US79956101 A US 79956101A US 2001020526 A1 US2001020526 A1 US 2001020526A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- metal
- metal material
- cooling
- slurry
- solid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C1/00—Making non-ferrous alloys
- C22C1/12—Making non-ferrous alloys by processing in a semi-solid state, e.g. holding the alloy in the solid-liquid phase
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
- B22D17/00—Pressure die casting or injection die casting, i.e. casting in which the metal is forced into a mould under high pressure
- B22D17/007—Semi-solid pressure die casting
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for casting metals including alloys and to a method and apparatus of manufacturing metal materials using a casting apparatus or injection molding machine, and more particularly, this invention relates to a metal casting method and apparatus and a metal material manufacturing method and apparatus, wherein semi-melted and semi-solid metal thixotropy is effectively utilized for each method and apparatus.
- Thixo-casting (semi-melted casting) and rheocasting (semi-solid casting) are known as casting methods utilizing thixotropy, or low viscosity and high fluidity, of a semi-melted and semi-solid metal. These casting methods are implemented by using a semi-melted and semi-solid metal slurry containing a mixture of liquid-phase metal and solid-phase metal.
- thixo-casing a solid metal is heated to form a semi-melted metal slurry and the slurry is then supplied into a mold.
- rheocasting after a solid metal is perfectly melted, the molten metal is cooled to form a semi-solid slurry containing granular crystals and the slurry is then poured into a mold.
- mold filling is improved because it is possible to conduct casting using a metal exhibiting a high solid-phase ratio and low viscosity.
- These methods further have the advantages of enabling (1) a higher yield, (2) molding of large-sized products, (3) suppression of shrinkage cavity formation and improvement in mechanical strength, and (4) molding of thinner products.
- the service life of a mold is prolonged owing to a decreased heat load on the mold.
- a screw extruder is generally used in an injection-molding machine, and a solid metal in the extruder barrel is successively heated while applying a shearing force to the metal to obtain a semi-melted state metal slurry.
- a molten metal is subjected to refrigeration in a holding furnace by contact with a cooling body to obtain a half-melted metal in which a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist.
- the half-melted metal is further cooled in a holding vessel while maintaining the coexisting state, thereby forming a metal slurry.
- the molten metal yields many crystal nuclei when it undergoes refrigeration.
- the crystals become spherical in the vessel, and a desired metal slurry can be produced without use of an expensive extruder generally used in thixo-casting.
- the material cost increase can be controlled, as a metal ingot can be charged into the holding furnace as it is.
- a casting procedure effectively utilizing the fluidity of semi-solid metal can be implemented.
- the present invention has been accomplished, and one object thereof is to provide a metal casting method and apparatus and a metal material manufacturing method and apparatus that can reduce their operation costs and material costs and effectively utilize thixotropy without need of complicated control.
- the present invention provides a casting method comprising a first step of cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase, a second step of cooling the metal slurry to form a solid metal material, and a third step of heating the metal material to a semi-melted metal material and supplying it into a mold.
- the second step preferably includes continuously forming metal materials from the metal slurry and cutting the metal materials to a predetermined length.
- This invention further provides a casting apparatus comprising first means for cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase and second means for cooling the metal slurry to form a solid metal material. The metal material is then heated to a semi-melted state and the resultant metal material is poured into a mold.
- the second means preferably forms metal materials continuously from the metal slurry and includes a cutting unit for cutting the metal materials to a predetermined length.
- the cutting unit can preferably move along the advancing direction of the metal material and cut the metal material when its velocity relative to the metal material becomes zero.
- This invention further provide a metal material manufacturing method that produces a metal material being heated to a semi-melted state and then supplied into a mold and comprises a first step of cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase and a second step of cooling the metal slurry to form a solid metal material.
- the second step preferably includes continuously solidifying the metal slurry into solid metal materials and cutting the metal materials to a predetermined length.
- This invention further provides a metal material manufacturing apparatus that produces a metal material being heated to a semi-melted state and then supplied into a mold and comprises first means for cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase and second means for cooling the slurry to form a solid metal material.
- the second means can preferably solidify the metal slurry continuously into solid metal materials and includes a cutting unit for cutting the solid metal materials to a predetermined length.
- a metal slurry excelling in fluidity and containing non-dendrite crystals can easily be produced, without need of complicated control, by rapidly cooling a molten metal into a metal slurry containing non-dendrite crystals in the first step, cooling the slurry into a solid metal material in the second step, and heating the metal material into a semi-melted state.
- the metal slurry thus produced can be supplied into a mold.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section showing one embodiment of a casting apparatus according to this invention.
- FIG. 2( a ) is a vertical cross section showing first means of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1 for cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry.
- FIG. 2( b ) is a lateral cross section showing the first means of FIG. 2(a).
- FIG. 3( a ) is a cross section showing second means of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1 for producing a metal material from the metal slurry.
- FIG. 3( b ) is an enlarged cross section taken along line 3 - 3 of FIG. 3( a ).
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken along line 4 - 4 in the FIG. 1.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a sequence of processes for cutting a metal material with a cutting unit of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a sequence of processes for supplying metal materials into a mold of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a casting apparatus according to the invention.
- This casting apparatus is for casting desired products using magnesium alloy (AZ91D) and has a melting pot 1 .
- AZ91D magnesium alloy
- the melting pot 1 is covered at its periphery and heated by a melting heater 2 to hold the magnesium alloy in a melted condition or liquid-phase temperature state.
- the melting pot 1 has at its bottom a gate 3 for a molten material.
- the gate 3 is for pouring downward molten magnesium alloy stored in the melting pot 1 .
- the gate 3 is bent like a crank and has a switching valve 4 in the middle.
- the switching valve 4 has a sidable valve plunger 5 to open and shut the gate 3 and a valve cylinder 6 to slide the valve plunger 5 .
- a cooling unit 10 is placed near the lower area of the melting pot 1 .
- the cooling unit 10 has a plurality of guide recesses 11 formed on its surface and a cooling water circulating passage 12 therein.
- the cooling unit 10 is inclined so the guide recesses 11 face the lower open end of the gate 3 .
- Reference number 13 in FIG. 1 represents a cover block that communicates with the lower open end of the gate 3 and has a predetermined space between it and the surface of the cooling unit 10 .
- a reservoir 20 having a rapid cooling unit 22 , a pair of feed rollers 30 and 31 and a cutting unit 40 are set in the casting apparatus.
- the reservoir 20 is open at its top and is set in position below the cooling unit 10 .
- a material forming passage 21 has a circular section and is attached to the reservoir 20 .
- the material forming passage 21 is located at the lower part of the reservoir 20 , extends horizontally and is open to the side wall of the reservoir 20 .
- the rapid cooling unit 22 is set at the end of the passage 21 . As shown in FIG. 3( a ), the rapid cooling unit 22 comprises a ring jacket 23 surrounding the passage 21 and a spouting nozzle 24 open toward the axial center of the ring jacket 23 .
- the feed rollers 30 and 31 are aligned in parallel, one above the other, and have feed recesses 30 a and 31 a , respectively. These feed recesses have substantially the same radius of curvature as the inside diameter of the material forming passage 21 . The distance between the feed recesses 30 a and 31 a is maintained equal to the inside diameter of the passage 21 .
- Each feed roller is coupled with a rotary actuator (not shown) so that the top feed roller 30 rotates clockwise while the bottom feed roller 31 rotates counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 3( a ).
- the cutting unit 40 comprises a main body 41 , a fixed damper 42 A, a movable damper 42 B and a pair of feed-out rollers 44 and 45 .
- the main body 41 of the cutting unit 40 is movably held by a guide rod 46 and reciprocates horizontally along the axial direction of the material forming passage 21 on an extension area of the passage 21 .
- a retraction cylinder 47 is placed between the main body 41 and a fixed frame F.
- the retraction cylinder 47 serves as an actuator for allowing the main body 41 to move when an external force acts on the main body 41 in the direction away from the reservoir 20 and causing the main body 41 to return back to a position near the reservoir 20 when the retraction cylinder 47 is operated to extend.
- the fixed damper 42 A and movable damper 42 B are block members having clamp through-holes 49 A and 49 B that are made open by slits 48 A and 48 B.
- the clamp through-holes 49 A and 49 B are formed to have a slightly larger inside diameter than the material forming passage 21 .
- the slits 48 A and 48 B are formed along a plane containing the axis of the damp through-holes 49 A and 49 B and adapted to increase or decrease the diameters of the clamp through-holes 49 A and 49 B by changing the widths of the slits.
- Tapered surfaces 50 A and 50 B are located at the open ends of the slits 48 A and 48 B, and rod through-holes 51 A and 51 B intersect the slits 48 A and 48 B at positions midway of the slits.
- the tapered surfaces 50 A and 50 B are inclined so that their widths increase gradually toward the outside.
- the rod through-holes 51 A and 51 B are parallel to each other and have hemispheric dent portions 52 A and 52 B at their respective open ends.
- Clamping hydraulic cylinders 53 A and 53 B and unclamping hydraulic cylinders 54 A and 54 B are set on the dampers 42 A and 42 B.
- the clamping hydraulic cylinders 53 A and 53 B have piston rods 53 a A and 53 a B inserted via clamp pieces 55 into the rod through-holes 51 A and 51 B and held by the dampers 42 A and 42 B because clamp pieces 56 are attached to the dent portions 52 A and 52 B at the ends of the piston rods 53 a A and 53 a B.
- the clamp pieces 55 and 56 have spherical parts facing and conforming in radius to the dent portions 52 A and 52 B of the rod through-holes 5 lA and 51 B. These clamp pieces can reduce the widths of the slits 48 A and 48 B of the dampers 42 A and 42 B via the dent portions 52 A and 52 B when hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic cylinders 53 A and 53 B. As a result, the diameters of the clamp through-holes 49 A and 49 B can be made smaller.
- the unclamping cylinders 54 A and 54 B, with the pointed ends of piston rods 54 a A and 54 a B opposing the open ends of the slits 48 A and 48 B, are held by the dampers 42 A and 42 B via a holding bracket 57 .
- An expansion rod 58 is located between the piston rods 54 a A and 54 a B of the unclamping hydraulic cylinders 54 A and 54 B and the tapered surfaces 50 A and 50 B of the slits 48 A and 48 B.
- the expansion rod 58 is a columnar part attached to the tapered surfaces 50 A ad 50 B.
- the expansion rod 58 spreads the slits 48 A and 48 B of the dampers 42 A and 42 B via the tapered surfaces 50 A and 50 B, or increases the diameter of the clamp through-holes 49 A and 49 B.
- the fixed damper 42 A adjusts the axis of the clamp through-hole 49 A to coincide with the axis of the material forming passage 21 and is fixed onto the main body 41 of the cutting unit 40 along the vertical above part of the slit 48 A.
- the movable damper 42 B is set on a cutting cylinder 59 along the vertical below part of the slit 48 B so that its end facing the reservoir 20 abuts on the fixed damper 42 A.
- the cutting cylinder 59 and its cylinder body 59 b are set on the main body 41 of the cutting unit 40 so that its piston rod 59 a is directed vertically downward, and moves the movable damper 42 B in a vertical direction relative to the fixed damper 42 A.
- the movable damper 42 B stops at its uppermost position so that the axis of the clamp through-hole 49 B coincides with the axis of the material forming passage 21 or so that the clamp through-hole 49 B coincides with the clamp through-hole 49 A of the fixed damper 42 A.
- the feed-out rollers 44 and 45 are set parallel to each other, one above the other, on a roller bracket 60 extending from the movable damper 42 B.
- the feed-out rollers 44 and 45 have feed-out recesses 44 a and 45 a on their circumferences, and the radius of curvature of each feed-out recess is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the material forming passage 21 .
- the interval between the feed-out recesses 44 a and 45 a is secured to coincide with the inside diameter of the material forming passage 21 .
- the feed-out rollers 44 and 45 are linked to rotary actuators (not shown). As shown in FIG. 5( c ), the upper fed-out roller 44 rotates clockwise, while the lower feed-out roller 45 rotates counterclockwise.
- Reference numeral 61 in FIG. 1 denotes a guide block that connects between the cover block 13 and the reservoir 20 .
- an injection apparatus 70 is set in the casting apparatus.
- the injection apparatus 70 supplies heated semi-melted metal into a mold 90 and has a heating chamber 71 .
- the heating chamber 71 has a substantially sealed space covered by a heater 72 .
- An outlet nozzle 73 provided on the upper end of the heating chamber 71 is connected to a sprue 91 of the mold 90 through an auxiliary nozzle 74 .
- a suction rod 75 and a pre-heating barrel 76 are set on the heating chamber 71 .
- the suction rod 75 is a movable columnar part in the upper end wall of the heating chamber 71 . It is connected to a suction cylinder 77 and moved into or out of the heating chamber 71 by the suction cylinder 77 .
- the pre-heating barrel 76 is a cylindrical part extending horizontally from the side wall of the heating chamber 71 .
- the distal end of the pre-heating barrel 76 has substantially the same inside diameter as the material forming passage 21 of the reservoir 20 .
- the inside diameter of the proximal end of the barrel 76 adjacent to the heating chamber 71 is slightly larger than the distal end inside diameter, and these ends are connected by a part with a tapered inside diameter.
- a material intake hole 78 is set at the distal end of the pre-heating barrel 76 , and a shoot board 79 is connected to the material intake hole 78 .
- a pre-heater 80 is set around the proximal end of the pre-heating barrel 76 , and a plunger 81 is set at the distal end of the pre-heating barrel 76 .
- the pre-heater 80 surrounds the pre-heating barrel 76 and heats the pre-heating barrel 76 , and is set to have a slightly lower temperature than the heater 72 of the heating chamber 71 .
- the plunger 81 is a cylindrical part having a size fitted into the distal end of the pre-heating barrel 76 .
- a push-out cylinder 82 is connected to the plunger 81 in order to move the plunger 81 forward and backward inside of the pre-heating barrel 76 .
- magnesium alloy ingots are first introduced into the melting pot 1 , and the melting heater 2 is turned on. With the melted magnesium alloy held in the melting pot 1 , cooling water is circulated in the cooling unit 10 and then supplied into the rapid cooling unit 22 to establish a standby state.
- the retraction cylinder 47 in the cutting unit 40 is operated to extend and the main body 41 of the cutting unit 40 is located near the reservoir 20 .
- the cutting cylinder 59 is operated to retract, and the movable damper 42 B is stopped at the highest location.
- Unclamping oil pressure is then applied to the unclamping hydraulic cylinders 54 A and 54 B so that the clamping hydraulic cylinders 53 A and 53 B are held at tank pressure and the fixed damper 42 A and movable damper 42 B spread the inside diameters of the clamp through-holes 49 A and 49 B. Moreover, the feed rollers 30 and 31 are rotated at a fixed speed, while the feed-out rollers 44 and 45 are held stopped.
- valve cylinder 6 retracts and the valve plunger 5 is moved backward in the standby state, the gate 3 for the molten material is opened and a molten magnesium alloy M 1 stored in the melting pot 1 is poured onto the cooling unit 10 through the gate 3 (Arrow A in FIG. 1).
- the magnesium alloy M 1 poured onto the inclined cooling unit 10 flows along the guide recess 11 of the cooling unit 10 downward (Arrow B in FIG. 1) and is then held in the reservoir 20 .
- the molten magnesium alloy M 1 flowing onto the cooling unit 10 is suitably cooled by the cooling unit 10 and becomes a metal slurry M 2 with many nuclei crystallized out therein. These crystal nuclei then grow to become finely grained and uniformly spherical crystals.
- the metal slurry M 2 may thus be sufficiently fluid without use of an expensive extruder, thereby greatly decreasing the equipment cost.
- the material cost can be reduced.
- the metal slurry M 2 stored in the reservoir 20 is continuously discharged through the material forming passage 21 .
- the metal slurry M 2 passing through the passage 21 is cooled by the cooling water flowing in the ring jacket 23 in the rapid cooling unit 22 and rapidly cooled by the cooling water supplied from the spouting nozzle 24 , and perfectly solidified as a columnar-rod metal material M 3 .
- perfectly solidified metal material M 3 is produced by rapidly cooling a metal slurry with perfect thixotropy, and therefore potentially retains the thixotropy itself. This can easily be confirmed by observing the crystal structure in the metal material M 3 .
- the metal material M 3 discharged from the reservoir 20 is supplied to the cutting unit 40 by the feed rollers 30 and 31 , and passes through the clamp through-holes 49 A and 49 B of the fixed and movable dampers 42 A and 42 B, and is then supplied to between the feed-out rollers 44 and 45 .
- the cutting cylinder 59 is then operated to extend, and the movable damper 42 B is gradually moved downward relative to the fixed damper 42 A.
- a shearing stress acts between part of the metal material M 3 that has passed through the fixed damper 42 A and part of the metal material M 3 before passing through the fixed damper 42 A.
- the metal material M 3 is then sheared, with the parts as the boundary.
- the metal materials M 3 of the pre-fixed length are continuously discharged onto the carrying conveyor 100 .
- the metal materials M 3 thus produced are successively passed through the shoot board 79 and dropped into the pre-heating barrel 76 from the material intake hole 78 .
- both the pre-heater 80 and the heater 72 of the heating chamber 71 are operated in order just when one piece of the metal material M 3 has been dropped into the pre-heating barrel 76 .
- the metal material M 3 that has been dropped into the pre-heating barrel 76 is supplied into the heating chamber 71 by the reciprocating movement of the plunger 81 and held therein in a semi-melted condition as shown in FIG. 6( b ).
- the metal material M 3 in the pre-heating barrel 76 is heated by the pre-heater 80 , so it is possible to obtain a semi-melted magnesium alloy M 4 immediately when the metal material M 3 reaches the heating chamber 71 . Since the inside diameter of the distal end of the pre-heating barrel 76 is the same as the outside diameter of the metal material M 3 , the distal end is closed by the metal material M 3 not semi-melted to prevent the semi-melted magnesium alloy M 4 in the heating chamber 71 from flowing backward.
- the semi-melted alloy M 4 supplied into the mold 90 is obtained by heating the metal material M 3 that potentially has thixotropy, and is able to exhibit thixotropy again when molded into a desired shape. Therefore, the casting successfully utilizing thixotropy can be ensured. In other words, the casting using magnesium alloy having low viscosity and a high solid-phase ratio can be conducted. The filling ability of the mold 90 and the yield are therefore improved and the casting rate is increased. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture large-sized products, suppress the shrinkage cavity formation, improve the mechanical strength and manufacture thin products, thus creating many new advantages. Furthermore, the thermal load on the mold 90 can be reduced to prolong the service life of the mold.
- the casting apparatus is designed so that the metal slurry M 2 is solidified to form a metal material M 3 that is then heated to form a semi-melted metal material that is then supplied into the mold 90 . It is therefore unnecessary to couple the cooling unit 10 which cools the molten metal M 1 and the injection apparatus 70 together or to accurately control the temperature of the metal material M 3 . This eliminates the need for complicated control, and it is possible to easily carry out casting that effectively utilizes thixotropy. Moreover, it is possible to handle the solidified metal material M 3 as a small billet, which may lead to more convenient handling procedures.
- the casting apparatus manufactures products from magnesium alloy, but it can also manufacture products from aluminum, aluminum alloy and other metals and alloys.
- the cutting unit is used to cut the metal material for easier handling, but this is not always necessary. In the absence of the cutting unit, it may be adopted to heat the produced metal material to a semi-melted state and supply the semi-melted metal material into the mold. Furthermore, the cross section of the produced metal material need not be circular.
- this invention helps reduction of the operation and material costs, because it does not require use of an expensive extruder normally used in thixo-casting and because metal blocks can be used without any pretreatment. Moreover, the formed metal slurry is solidified, so it is not necessary to couple the metal slurry forming process and its supply to the mold, eliminating the need to accurately control the temperature of the solidified metal slurry. It is also possible to perform casting that effectively utilizes thixotropy.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Continuous Casting (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for casting metals including alloys and to a method and apparatus of manufacturing metal materials using a casting apparatus or injection molding machine, and more particularly, this invention relates to a metal casting method and apparatus and a metal material manufacturing method and apparatus, wherein semi-melted and semi-solid metal thixotropy is effectively utilized for each method and apparatus.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- Thixo-casting (semi-melted casting) and rheocasting (semi-solid casting) are known as casting methods utilizing thixotropy, or low viscosity and high fluidity, of a semi-melted and semi-solid metal. These casting methods are implemented by using a semi-melted and semi-solid metal slurry containing a mixture of liquid-phase metal and solid-phase metal.
- In thixo-casing, a solid metal is heated to form a semi-melted metal slurry and the slurry is then supplied into a mold. In rheocasting, after a solid metal is perfectly melted, the molten metal is cooled to form a semi-solid slurry containing granular crystals and the slurry is then poured into a mold.
- In the two casting methods, mold filling is improved because it is possible to conduct casting using a metal exhibiting a high solid-phase ratio and low viscosity. These methods further have the advantages of enabling (1) a higher yield, (2) molding of large-sized products, (3) suppression of shrinkage cavity formation and improvement in mechanical strength, and (4) molding of thinner products. In addition, the service life of a mold is prolonged owing to a decreased heat load on the mold.
- In the above casting procedures, it is necessary that ultrafine, uniform non-dendrite crystals (desirably spherical crystals) exist in a semi-melted semi-solid metal in order to effectively utilize the thixotropy of a semi-melted metal and the fluidity of a semi-solid metal. However, if the solid metal is simply heated to a semi-melted state or the melted metal is simply cooled to a semi-solid state, almost all metal crystals become dendrite crystals in the semi-melted and semi-solid metal. For this reason, it is impossible to attain sufficient thixotropy of the semi-melted metal and sufficient fluidity of the semi-solid metal.
- Therefore, in thixo-molding, a screw extruder is generally used in an injection-molding machine, and a solid metal in the extruder barrel is successively heated while applying a shearing force to the metal to obtain a semi-melted state metal slurry.
- However, since a screw extruder is complicated in structure and expensive, the cost to establish casting equipment having the screw extruder is very high. Moreover, since the metal slurry produced in the extruder barrel is supplied directly into a mold, it is impossible to confirm whether or not the metal crystals have become complete non-dendrite crystals. Furthermore, it is necessary to use molded metal chips as a solid metal to be supplied into the barrel, making the material cost very expensive.
- In rheocasting disclosed in JP-A-HEI 10-34307, for example, a molten metal is subjected to refrigeration in a holding furnace by contact with a cooling body to obtain a half-melted metal in which a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist. The half-melted metal is further cooled in a holding vessel while maintaining the coexisting state, thereby forming a metal slurry.
- In the prior art rheocasting, the molten metal yields many crystal nuclei when it undergoes refrigeration. The crystals become spherical in the vessel, and a desired metal slurry can be produced without use of an expensive extruder generally used in thixo-casting. Moreover, the material cost increase can be controlled, as a metal ingot can be charged into the holding furnace as it is. In addition, since it is easy to confirm whether or not the metal slurry has non-dendrite crystals, a casting procedure effectively utilizing the fluidity of semi-solid metal can be implemented.
- However, when a real mass production system is constructed by the rheocasting, a large number of holding vessels must be installed between the cooling body and the mold to hold the metal slurry. At the same time, the process that refrigerates the molten metal and the process that supplies the metal slurry into the mold need to be linked by using the large number of holding vessels, thus requiring extremely complicated control. Moreover, it is necessary to accurately control the temperature of the metal slurry in the holding vessels before pouring the slurry into the mold, making the control even more complicated.
- In view of the above problems, the present invention has been accomplished, and one object thereof is to provide a metal casting method and apparatus and a metal material manufacturing method and apparatus that can reduce their operation costs and material costs and effectively utilize thixotropy without need of complicated control.
- To attain the above object, the present invention provides a casting method comprising a first step of cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase, a second step of cooling the metal slurry to form a solid metal material, and a third step of heating the metal material to a semi-melted metal material and supplying it into a mold. In this method, the second step preferably includes continuously forming metal materials from the metal slurry and cutting the metal materials to a predetermined length.
- This invention further provides a casting apparatus comprising first means for cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase and second means for cooling the metal slurry to form a solid metal material. The metal material is then heated to a semi-melted state and the resultant metal material is poured into a mold. In this apparatus, the second means preferably forms metal materials continuously from the metal slurry and includes a cutting unit for cutting the metal materials to a predetermined length. Moreover, the cutting unit can preferably move along the advancing direction of the metal material and cut the metal material when its velocity relative to the metal material becomes zero.
- This invention further provide a metal material manufacturing method that produces a metal material being heated to a semi-melted state and then supplied into a mold and comprises a first step of cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase and a second step of cooling the metal slurry to form a solid metal material. In this method, the second step preferably includes continuously solidifying the metal slurry into solid metal materials and cutting the metal materials to a predetermined length.
- This invention further provides a metal material manufacturing apparatus that produces a metal material being heated to a semi-melted state and then supplied into a mold and comprises first means for cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry containing a solid phase and second means for cooling the slurry to form a solid metal material. In this apparatus, the second means can preferably solidify the metal slurry continuously into solid metal materials and includes a cutting unit for cutting the solid metal materials to a predetermined length.
- It has been found that when a metal slurry containing non-dendrite crystals is cooled rapidly into a solid metal material, thixotropy is potentially maintained in the solid metal material and that when the solid material is heated into a metal slurry in a semi-melted state again, the metal slurry exhibits thixotropic properties. Therefore, a metal slurry excelling in fluidity and containing non-dendrite crystals can easily be produced, without need of complicated control, by rapidly cooling a molten metal into a metal slurry containing non-dendrite crystals in the first step, cooling the slurry into a solid metal material in the second step, and heating the metal material into a semi-melted state. The metal slurry thus produced can be supplied into a mold.
- The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description of the embodiment.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section showing one embodiment of a casting apparatus according to this invention.
- FIG. 2(a) is a vertical cross section showing first means of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1 for cooling a molten metal to form a metal slurry.
- FIG. 2(b) is a lateral cross section showing the first means of FIG. 2(a).
- FIG. 3(a) is a cross section showing second means of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1 for producing a metal material from the metal slurry.
- FIG. 3(b) is an enlarged cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 3(a).
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken along line4-4 in the FIG. 1.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a sequence of processes for cutting a metal material with a cutting unit of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a sequence of processes for supplying metal materials into a mold of the casting apparatus of FIG. 1.
- As a result of inventors' earnest researches and studies to solve the above problems, it has been confirmed that when a metal slurry containing non-dendrite crystals is cooled rapidly, thixotropy is potentially maintained after the metal slurry is solidified into a metal material and that if the metal material is heated to the semi-melted state again, the semi-melted metal material exhibits thixotropic properties for about one hour. This invention has been perfected by utilizing the characteristics of a metal slurry containing non-dendrite crystals that a solid metal material into which the metal slurry is heated and which is heated to a semi-melted state can show thixotropy.
- This invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a casting apparatus according to the invention. This casting apparatus is for casting desired products using magnesium alloy (AZ91D) and has a melting pot1.
- The melting pot1 is covered at its periphery and heated by a
melting heater 2 to hold the magnesium alloy in a melted condition or liquid-phase temperature state. The melting pot 1 has at its bottom agate 3 for a molten material. Thegate 3 is for pouring downward molten magnesium alloy stored in the melting pot 1. Thegate 3 is bent like a crank and has a switching valve 4 in the middle. The switching valve 4 has asidable valve plunger 5 to open and shut thegate 3 and a valve cylinder 6 to slide thevalve plunger 5. - As first means for producing a metal slurry containing a solid phase, a cooling
unit 10 is placed near the lower area of the melting pot 1. As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the coolingunit 10 has a plurality of guide recesses 11 formed on its surface and a coolingwater circulating passage 12 therein. The coolingunit 10 is inclined so the guide recesses 11 face the lower open end of thegate 3.Reference number 13 in FIG. 1 represents a cover block that communicates with the lower open end of thegate 3 and has a predetermined space between it and the surface of the coolingunit 10. - As second means for cooling the metal slurry into a solid metal material, a
reservoir 20 having arapid cooling unit 22, a pair offeed rollers cutting unit 40 are set in the casting apparatus. - The
reservoir 20 is open at its top and is set in position below the coolingunit 10. Amaterial forming passage 21 has a circular section and is attached to thereservoir 20. Thematerial forming passage 21 is located at the lower part of thereservoir 20, extends horizontally and is open to the side wall of thereservoir 20. Therapid cooling unit 22 is set at the end of thepassage 21. As shown in FIG. 3(a), therapid cooling unit 22 comprises aring jacket 23 surrounding thepassage 21 and a spoutingnozzle 24 open toward the axial center of thering jacket 23. - The
feed rollers recesses material forming passage 21. The distance between the feed recesses 30 a and 31 a is maintained equal to the inside diameter of thepassage 21. Each feed roller is coupled with a rotary actuator (not shown) so that thetop feed roller 30 rotates clockwise while thebottom feed roller 31 rotates counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 3(a). - As shown in FIG. 1, the cutting
unit 40 comprises amain body 41, a fixeddamper 42A, amovable damper 42B and a pair of feed-outrollers - The
main body 41 of the cuttingunit 40 is movably held by aguide rod 46 and reciprocates horizontally along the axial direction of thematerial forming passage 21 on an extension area of thepassage 21. Aretraction cylinder 47 is placed between themain body 41 and a fixed frame F. Theretraction cylinder 47 serves as an actuator for allowing themain body 41 to move when an external force acts on themain body 41 in the direction away from thereservoir 20 and causing themain body 41 to return back to a position near thereservoir 20 when theretraction cylinder 47 is operated to extend. - As shown in FIG. 3(b), the fixed
damper 42A andmovable damper 42B are block members having clamp through-holes slits holes material forming passage 21. Theslits holes holes Tapered surfaces slits holes slits tapered surfaces holes hemispheric dent portions - Clamping
hydraulic cylinders hydraulic cylinders dampers - The clamping
hydraulic cylinders clamp pieces 55 into the rod through-holes dampers clamp pieces 56 are attached to thedent portions clamp pieces dent portions slits dampers dent portions hydraulic cylinders holes - The
unclamping cylinders slits dampers bracket 57. Anexpansion rod 58 is located between the piston rods 54 aA and 54 aB of the unclampinghydraulic cylinders tapered surfaces slits expansion rod 58 is a columnar part attached to thetapered 50B. When the unclampingsurfaces 50A adhydraulic cylinders expansion rod 58 spreads theslits dampers tapered surfaces holes - The fixed
damper 42A adjusts the axis of the clamp through-hole 49A to coincide with the axis of thematerial forming passage 21 and is fixed onto themain body 41 of the cuttingunit 40 along the vertical above part of theslit 48A. - On the other hand, the
movable damper 42B is set on acutting cylinder 59 along the vertical below part of theslit 48B so that its end facing thereservoir 20 abuts on the fixeddamper 42A. - The
cutting cylinder 59 and itscylinder body 59 b are set on themain body 41 of the cuttingunit 40 so that itspiston rod 59 a is directed vertically downward, and moves themovable damper 42B in a vertical direction relative to the fixeddamper 42A. When the cuttingcylinder 59 retracts to its maximum position, themovable damper 42B stops at its uppermost position so that the axis of the clamp through-hole 49B coincides with the axis of thematerial forming passage 21 or so that the clamp through-hole 49B coincides with the clamp through-hole 49A of the fixeddamper 42A. Conversely, when the cuttingcylinder 59 extends to its maximum position, themovable damper 42B descends to its extreme position and stops at a position where the clamp through-hole 49B deviates completely from the clamp through-hole 49A of the fixeddamper 42A. - The feed-out
rollers movable damper 42B. The feed-outrollers material forming passage 21. The interval between the feed-out recesses 44 a and 45 a is secured to coincide with the inside diameter of thematerial forming passage 21. The feed-outrollers roller 44 rotates clockwise, while the lower feed-outroller 45 rotates counterclockwise. -
Reference numeral 61 in FIG. 1 denotes a guide block that connects between thecover block 13 and thereservoir 20. - As shown in FIG. 1, an
injection apparatus 70 is set in the casting apparatus. Theinjection apparatus 70 supplies heated semi-melted metal into amold 90 and has aheating chamber 71. Theheating chamber 71 has a substantially sealed space covered by aheater 72. Anoutlet nozzle 73 provided on the upper end of theheating chamber 71 is connected to asprue 91 of themold 90 through anauxiliary nozzle 74. - A
suction rod 75 and apre-heating barrel 76 are set on theheating chamber 71. - The
suction rod 75 is a movable columnar part in the upper end wall of theheating chamber 71. It is connected to a suction cylinder 77 and moved into or out of theheating chamber 71 by the suction cylinder 77. - The pre-heating
barrel 76 is a cylindrical part extending horizontally from the side wall of theheating chamber 71. The distal end of thepre-heating barrel 76 has substantially the same inside diameter as thematerial forming passage 21 of thereservoir 20. The inside diameter of the proximal end of thebarrel 76 adjacent to theheating chamber 71 is slightly larger than the distal end inside diameter, and these ends are connected by a part with a tapered inside diameter. As shown in FIG. 4, amaterial intake hole 78 is set at the distal end of thepre-heating barrel 76, and ashoot board 79 is connected to thematerial intake hole 78. - A pre-heater80 is set around the proximal end of the
pre-heating barrel 76, and aplunger 81 is set at the distal end of thepre-heating barrel 76. - The pre-heater80 surrounds the pre-heating
barrel 76 and heats the pre-heatingbarrel 76, and is set to have a slightly lower temperature than theheater 72 of theheating chamber 71. - The
plunger 81 is a cylindrical part having a size fitted into the distal end of thepre-heating barrel 76. A push-out cylinder 82 is connected to theplunger 81 in order to move theplunger 81 forward and backward inside of thepre-heating barrel 76. - In the casting apparatus, magnesium alloy ingots are first introduced into the melting pot1, and the
melting heater 2 is turned on. With the melted magnesium alloy held in the melting pot 1, cooling water is circulated in thecooling unit 10 and then supplied into therapid cooling unit 22 to establish a standby state. In this operation, theretraction cylinder 47 in the cuttingunit 40 is operated to extend and themain body 41 of the cuttingunit 40 is located near thereservoir 20. Simultaneously, the cuttingcylinder 59 is operated to retract, and themovable damper 42B is stopped at the highest location. Unclamping oil pressure is then applied to the unclampinghydraulic cylinders hydraulic cylinders damper 42A andmovable damper 42B spread the inside diameters of the clamp through-holes feed rollers rollers - If the valve cylinder6 retracts and the
valve plunger 5 is moved backward in the standby state, thegate 3 for the molten material is opened and a molten magnesium alloy M1 stored in the melting pot 1 is poured onto the coolingunit 10 through the gate 3 (Arrow A in FIG. 1). - The magnesium alloy M1 poured onto the
inclined cooling unit 10 flows along theguide recess 11 of the coolingunit 10 downward (Arrow B in FIG. 1) and is then held in thereservoir 20. During the above operation, the molten magnesium alloy M1 flowing onto the coolingunit 10 is suitably cooled by the coolingunit 10 and becomes a metal slurry M2 with many nuclei crystallized out therein. These crystal nuclei then grow to become finely grained and uniformly spherical crystals. The metal slurry M2 may thus be sufficiently fluid without use of an expensive extruder, thereby greatly decreasing the equipment cost. Moreover, as a metal ingot can be supplied into the melting pot 1 without conducting any pre-treatment, the material cost can be reduced. - The metal slurry M2 stored in the
reservoir 20 is continuously discharged through thematerial forming passage 21. At the same time, the metal slurry M2 passing through thepassage 21 is cooled by the cooling water flowing in thering jacket 23 in therapid cooling unit 22 and rapidly cooled by the cooling water supplied from the spoutingnozzle 24, and perfectly solidified as a columnar-rod metal material M3. In this operation, perfectly solidified metal material M3 is produced by rapidly cooling a metal slurry with perfect thixotropy, and therefore potentially retains the thixotropy itself. This can easily be confirmed by observing the crystal structure in the metal material M3. - The metal material M3 discharged from the
reservoir 20 is supplied to the cuttingunit 40 by thefeed rollers holes movable dampers rollers - During the above operation, the rotation of the
feed rollers - When the number of rotations of the
feed rollers hydraulic cylinders hydraulic cylinders holes movable dampers dampers main body 41 of the cuttingunit 40 moves together with the metal material M3 along theguide rod 46 while theretraction cylinder 47 retracts, the relative velocity between thedampers - The
cutting cylinder 59 is then operated to extend, and themovable damper 42B is gradually moved downward relative to the fixeddamper 42A. As result, as shown in FIG. 5(b), a shearing stress acts between part of the metal material M3 that has passed through the fixeddamper 42A and part of the metal material M3 before passing through the fixeddamper 42A. The metal material M3 is then sheared, with the parts as the boundary. - As shown in FIG. 5(c), when the cutting
cylinder 59 extends to its maximum position and the metal material M3 has been sheared, the oil pressure that acts upon the clamping and unclampinghydraulic cylinders movable damper 42B is suitably switched. Themovable damper 42B increases the diameter of the clamp through-hole 49B. At the same time, the feed-outrollers movable damper 42B and discharge it onto a carrying conveyor 100 (FIG. 1). - When the sheared metal material M3 has been discharged onto the carrying conveyor, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the feed-out
rollers cylinder 59 and fixeddamper 42A are returned to their respective standby positions. Theretraction cylinder 47 is then operated to extend, and theunit body 41 is also returned to its standby position. - By repeating the above operation, the metal materials M3 of the pre-fixed length are continuously discharged onto the carrying conveyor 100.
- In the above cutting process, since the cutting
unit 40 cuts a metal material M3 when the relative velocity thereof to the metal material M3 becomes zero, continuous cutting is possible without interrupting the formation of metal material M3. - As shown in FIG. 4, the metal materials M3 thus produced are successively passed through the
shoot board 79 and dropped into the pre-heatingbarrel 76 from thematerial intake hole 78. As shown in FIG. 6(a), both the pre-heater 80 and theheater 72 of theheating chamber 71 are operated in order just when one piece of the metal material M3 has been dropped into the pre-heatingbarrel 76. - The metal material M3 that has been dropped into the pre-heating
barrel 76 is supplied into theheating chamber 71 by the reciprocating movement of theplunger 81 and held therein in a semi-melted condition as shown in FIG. 6(b). - According to the casting apparatus, the metal material M3 in the
pre-heating barrel 76 is heated by the pre-heater 80, so it is possible to obtain a semi-melted magnesium alloy M4 immediately when the metal material M3 reaches theheating chamber 71. Since the inside diameter of the distal end of thepre-heating barrel 76 is the same as the outside diameter of the metal material M3, the distal end is closed by the metal material M3 not semi-melted to prevent the semi-melted magnesium alloy M4 in theheating chamber 71 from flowing backward. - As shown in FIG. 6(c), when a necessary volume of semi-melted magnesium alloy M4 is stored in the
heating chamber 71, the extending action of the feed-outcylinder 82 allows theplunger 81 to advance. At the same time, thesuction rod 75 is moved into theheating chamber 71 by the extending action of the suction cylinder 77. As a result, the semi-melted magnesium alloy M2 stored in theheating chamber 71 is supplied into themold 90 through theoutlet nozzle 73 andauxiliary nozzle 74 and molded into a desired shape. - The semi-melted alloy M4 supplied into the
mold 90 is obtained by heating the metal material M3 that potentially has thixotropy, and is able to exhibit thixotropy again when molded into a desired shape. Therefore, the casting successfully utilizing thixotropy can be ensured. In other words, the casting using magnesium alloy having low viscosity and a high solid-phase ratio can be conducted. The filling ability of themold 90 and the yield are therefore improved and the casting rate is increased. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture large-sized products, suppress the shrinkage cavity formation, improve the mechanical strength and manufacture thin products, thus creating many new advantages. Furthermore, the thermal load on themold 90 can be reduced to prolong the service life of the mold. - Moreover, the casting apparatus is designed so that the metal slurry M2 is solidified to form a metal material M3 that is then heated to form a semi-melted metal material that is then supplied into the
mold 90. It is therefore unnecessary to couple thecooling unit 10 which cools the molten metal M1 and theinjection apparatus 70 together or to accurately control the temperature of the metal material M3. This eliminates the need for complicated control, and it is possible to easily carry out casting that effectively utilizes thixotropy. Moreover, it is possible to handle the solidified metal material M3 as a small billet, which may lead to more convenient handling procedures. - After the termination of supplying the semi-melted magnesium alloy M4 into the
mold 90, the push-out cylinder 82 retracts, the suction cylinder 77 retracts and the level of the molten metal in theheating chamber 71 decreases as shown in FIG. 6(d). This prevents the semi-melted magnesium alloy M4 from being solidified in theoutlet nozzle 73 andauxiliary nozzle 74. - The above actions are then repeated to mass-produce desired products using the
mold 90. - Moreover, in the above embodiment, the casting apparatus manufactures products from magnesium alloy, but it can also manufacture products from aluminum, aluminum alloy and other metals and alloys.
- Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cutting unit is used to cut the metal material for easier handling, but this is not always necessary. In the absence of the cutting unit, it may be adopted to heat the produced metal material to a semi-melted state and supply the semi-melted metal material into the mold. Furthermore, the cross section of the produced metal material need not be circular.
- As has been described in the foregoing, this invention helps reduction of the operation and material costs, because it does not require use of an expensive extruder normally used in thixo-casting and because metal blocks can be used without any pretreatment. Moreover, the formed metal slurry is solidified, so it is not necessary to couple the metal slurry forming process and its supply to the mold, eliminating the need to accurately control the temperature of the solidified metal slurry. It is also possible to perform casting that effectively utilizes thixotropy.
Claims (10)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2000-062924 | 2000-03-08 | ||
JP2000062924A JP4195767B2 (en) | 2000-03-08 | 2000-03-08 | Casting method, casting equipment, metal material manufacturing method and metal material manufacturing apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010020526A1 true US20010020526A1 (en) | 2001-09-13 |
Family
ID=18582873
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/799,561 Abandoned US20010020526A1 (en) | 2000-03-08 | 2001-03-07 | Metal casting method and apparatus, and metal material manufacturing method and apparatus |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20010020526A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1132162B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4195767B2 (en) |
AU (1) | AU783639B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2339398C (en) |
DE (1) | DE60112980T2 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030094258A1 (en) * | 2001-11-22 | 2003-05-22 | Demag Ergotech Gmbh | Apparatus and method for casting metallic materials |
US20050034837A1 (en) * | 2003-07-11 | 2005-02-17 | Tetsuichi Motegi | Pressure casting method of magnesium alloy and metal products thereof |
US20050139297A1 (en) * | 2003-12-31 | 2005-06-30 | Shin Kwang S. | Magnesium alloy and method of manufacturing a seat frame for an automobile using the same |
US20050194117A1 (en) * | 2004-02-27 | 2005-09-08 | Kazuo Anzai | Method of molding low melting point metal alloy |
US20050194116A1 (en) * | 2004-02-27 | 2005-09-08 | Kazuo Anzai | Method of molding low melting point metal alloy |
US20060243414A1 (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2006-11-02 | Kiyoto Takizawa | Method for melting metallic raw material in metal molding apparatus |
CN102000784A (en) * | 2010-11-17 | 2011-04-06 | 昆明理工大学 | Method for controlling large-scale nodular iron cast coagulation tissue |
CN102773413A (en) * | 2012-07-24 | 2012-11-14 | 江苏万里活塞轴瓦有限公司 | Temperature controllable semi-solid touch deforming mold |
CN106825483A (en) * | 2017-03-21 | 2017-06-13 | 昆明理工大学 | A kind of method and device for preparing semi solid slurry |
CN106944599A (en) * | 2017-04-21 | 2017-07-14 | 苏州金澄精密铸造有限公司 | Semi-solid slurrying pulper and semi-solid slurrying method |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3503898B1 (en) | 2003-03-07 | 2004-03-08 | 権田金属工業株式会社 | Method and apparatus for manufacturing magnesium metal sheet |
CN100389908C (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2008-05-28 | 日精树脂工业株式会社 | Production method for metallic material in metal forming machine |
JP4051350B2 (en) * | 2004-03-05 | 2008-02-20 | 日精樹脂工業株式会社 | Low melting point metal alloy forming method |
JP2007046071A (en) * | 2005-08-05 | 2007-02-22 | Chuo Kosan Kk | Mg ALLOY, AND CASTING METHOD OR FORGING METHOD OF THE SAME |
JP4051393B2 (en) * | 2007-06-13 | 2008-02-20 | 日精樹脂工業株式会社 | Low melting point metal alloy forming method |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5161601A (en) * | 1990-04-12 | 1992-11-10 | Stampal, S.P.A. | Process and relevant apparatus for the indirect casting of billets with metal alloy in semi-liquid or paste-like state |
US5993939A (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 1999-11-30 | Tdk Corporation | Method for preparing permanent magnet material, chill roll, permanent magnet material, and permanent magnet material powder |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3211754B2 (en) * | 1996-11-28 | 2001-09-25 | 宇部興産株式会社 | Equipment for manufacturing metal for semi-solid molding |
NO950843L (en) * | 1994-09-09 | 1996-03-11 | Ube Industries | Method of Treating Metal in Semi-Solid State and Method of Casting Metal Bars for Use in This Method |
US5571346A (en) * | 1995-04-14 | 1996-11-05 | Northwest Aluminum Company | Casting, thermal transforming and semi-solid forming aluminum alloys |
CA2177455C (en) * | 1995-05-29 | 2007-07-03 | Mitsuru Adachi | Method and apparatus for shaping semisolid metals |
DE69738657T2 (en) * | 1997-12-20 | 2009-06-04 | Ahresty Corp. | Method of providing a shot of mushy metal |
-
2000
- 2000-03-08 JP JP2000062924A patent/JP4195767B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-03-05 CA CA002339398A patent/CA2339398C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-03-05 EP EP01301973A patent/EP1132162B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-03-05 DE DE60112980T patent/DE60112980T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-03-07 US US09/799,561 patent/US20010020526A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-03-08 AU AU26421/01A patent/AU783639B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5161601A (en) * | 1990-04-12 | 1992-11-10 | Stampal, S.P.A. | Process and relevant apparatus for the indirect casting of billets with metal alloy in semi-liquid or paste-like state |
US5993939A (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 1999-11-30 | Tdk Corporation | Method for preparing permanent magnet material, chill roll, permanent magnet material, and permanent magnet material powder |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030094258A1 (en) * | 2001-11-22 | 2003-05-22 | Demag Ergotech Gmbh | Apparatus and method for casting metallic materials |
US20050034837A1 (en) * | 2003-07-11 | 2005-02-17 | Tetsuichi Motegi | Pressure casting method of magnesium alloy and metal products thereof |
US7343959B2 (en) * | 2003-07-11 | 2008-03-18 | Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. | Pressure casting method of magnesium alloy and metal products thereof |
US20060272750A1 (en) * | 2003-07-11 | 2006-12-07 | Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. | Pressure casting method of magnesium alloy and metal products thereof |
US20050139297A1 (en) * | 2003-12-31 | 2005-06-30 | Shin Kwang S. | Magnesium alloy and method of manufacturing a seat frame for an automobile using the same |
US20060243414A1 (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2006-11-02 | Kiyoto Takizawa | Method for melting metallic raw material in metal molding apparatus |
US7331372B2 (en) * | 2004-02-25 | 2008-02-19 | Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. | Method for melting metallic raw material in metal molding apparatus |
US20050194117A1 (en) * | 2004-02-27 | 2005-09-08 | Kazuo Anzai | Method of molding low melting point metal alloy |
US7036551B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2006-05-02 | Nissei Plastics Industrial Co., Ltd. | Method of molding low melting point metal alloy |
US7032640B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2006-04-25 | Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. | Method of molding low melting point metal alloy |
US20050194116A1 (en) * | 2004-02-27 | 2005-09-08 | Kazuo Anzai | Method of molding low melting point metal alloy |
CN102000784A (en) * | 2010-11-17 | 2011-04-06 | 昆明理工大学 | Method for controlling large-scale nodular iron cast coagulation tissue |
CN102773413A (en) * | 2012-07-24 | 2012-11-14 | 江苏万里活塞轴瓦有限公司 | Temperature controllable semi-solid touch deforming mold |
CN106825483A (en) * | 2017-03-21 | 2017-06-13 | 昆明理工大学 | A kind of method and device for preparing semi solid slurry |
CN106944599A (en) * | 2017-04-21 | 2017-07-14 | 苏州金澄精密铸造有限公司 | Semi-solid slurrying pulper and semi-solid slurrying method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1132162A1 (en) | 2001-09-12 |
JP4195767B2 (en) | 2008-12-10 |
DE60112980T2 (en) | 2006-06-14 |
JP2001252759A (en) | 2001-09-18 |
EP1132162B1 (en) | 2005-08-31 |
AU783639B2 (en) | 2005-11-17 |
DE60112980D1 (en) | 2005-10-06 |
AU2642101A (en) | 2001-09-13 |
CA2339398A1 (en) | 2001-09-08 |
CA2339398C (en) | 2009-08-04 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP1132162B1 (en) | Metal casting method and apparatus | |
US10118219B2 (en) | Semisolid casting/forging apparatus and method as well as a cast and forged product | |
US6745818B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for producing semisolid method slurries and shaped components | |
US5979535A (en) | Methods for semi-melting injection molding | |
EP0859677B1 (en) | Apparatus for processing semisolid thixotropic metallic slurries | |
US7051784B2 (en) | Method of producing semi-solid metal slurries | |
EP1292411B1 (en) | Production of on-demand semi-solid material for castings | |
US10046386B2 (en) | Device for casting | |
JP2004538153A (en) | Apparatus and method for producing slurry material without agitation for use in semi-solid molding | |
EP0931607B1 (en) | Method of preparing a shot of semi-solid metal | |
US7469738B2 (en) | Process for injection molding semi-solid alloys | |
US10384262B2 (en) | Die-casting apparatus, die-casting method, and diecast article | |
US20020011321A1 (en) | Method of producing semi-solid metal slurries | |
EP2106867B1 (en) | Device for casting | |
JP4509343B2 (en) | Semi-molten metal forging method and forging apparatus | |
Schwam et al. | Optimization of Squeeze Casting for Aluminum Alloy Parts | |
US20030226651A1 (en) | Low-velocity die-casting | |
EP1787740A2 (en) | In-situ semi solid metal slurry formation and delivery apparatus and method | |
JP2004291025A (en) | Device and method for feeding semimolten metal |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MOTEGI, TETSUICHI, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MOTEGI, TETSUICHI;MIYAZAKI, KIICHI;TEZUKA, YOSHITOMO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012005/0301 Effective date: 20010226 Owner name: MIYAZAKI, KIICHI, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MOTEGI, TETSUICHI;MIYAZAKI, KIICHI;TEZUKA, YOSHITOMO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012005/0301 Effective date: 20010226 Owner name: TEZUKA, YOSHITOMO, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MOTEGI, TETSUICHI;MIYAZAKI, KIICHI;TEZUKA, YOSHITOMO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012005/0301 Effective date: 20010226 Owner name: YOSHIWARA, KIYOTAKA, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MOTEGI, TETSUICHI;MIYAZAKI, KIICHI;TEZUKA, YOSHITOMO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012005/0301 Effective date: 20010226 Owner name: SEIKO IDEA CENTER CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MOTEGI, TETSUICHI;MIYAZAKI, KIICHI;TEZUKA, YOSHITOMO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012005/0301 Effective date: 20010226 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |