MOLTEN METAL INJECTOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

Disclosed is a molten metal injector system (10) including a holder furnace (12), a casting mold (16) supported above the holder furnace, and a molten metal injector (18) supported from a bottom side of the mold. The holder furnace contains a supply of molten metal (14) having a metal oxide film surface (20). The bottom side of the mold faces the holder furnace. The mold defines a mold cavity (34) for receiving the molten metal from the holder furnace. The injector projects into the holder furnace and is in fluid communication with the mold cavity. The injector includes a piston (58) positioned within a piston cavity (48) defined by a cylinder (46) for pumping the molten metal upward from the holder furnace and injecting the molten metal into the mold cavity under pressure. The piston and cylinder are at least partially submerged in the molten metal when the holder furnace contains the molten metal. The cylinder further includes a molten metal intake (68, 71, 72) for receiving the molten metal into the piston cavity. The molten metal intake is located below the metal oxide film surface of the molten metal when the holder furnace contains the molten metal. A method of injecting molten metal into a mold cavity of a casting mold is also disclosed.