REFINING AND CASTING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

An apparatus for casting metals by a nucleated casting technique to create a preform, the apparatus including a mold having a base and a side wall where the base can be moved relative to the side wall to withdraw the preform as it is being created. In various circumstances, portions of a droplet spray created by an atomizing nozzle, i.e., overspray, may accumulate on a top surface of the side wall and prevent or inhibit the preform from being moved relative to the side wall. The atomizing nozzle can be oriented such that the droplet spray passes over the top of the side wall to remelt and remove at least a portion of the overspray that has accumulated thereon. The mold can be rotated such that the overspray formed on a region of or on the entire perimeter of the top surface can pass through the droplet spray and can be removed from the side wall.

主权项

1. An apparatus for producing a preform by nucleated casting, the apparatus comprising:
an atomizing nozzle is structured to produce a droplet spray of molten metallic material for producing the preform; a mold in which the preform is formed, wherein said mold comprises a base, a side wall, and an axis of rotation, wherein said base rotates about said axis of rotation, and wherein said side wall includes a top surface and selectively rotates about said axis of rotation, wherein said base is movable relative to said side wall along said axis of rotation to control a distance between said atomizing nozzle and said base; and wherein said atomizing nozzle is configured to produce said droplet spray in a direction that is neither parallel to nor collinear with said axis of rotation, and wherein at least a portion of said droplet spray is directed into the mold and passes over said top surface to remelt at least a portion of metallic material accumulated on said top surface.