This specification discloses an open mould conveyer casting apparatus for forming a metal ingot including: a conveyer for conveying one or more ingot moulds from at least a first location where an ingot mould receives a molten metal having an exposed surface, to a second location where the molten metal has partially or completely solidified into a metal ingot; one or more magnetic field applicators configured to apply a varying magnetic field to the molten metal in the ingot mould between the first location and the second location, the magnetic field being of a magnetic field strength to induce stirring within the molten metal. This specification also discloses an open mould conveyer casting method for forming a metal ingot including: filling an ingot mould with a molten metal, the molten metal in the mould having an exposed surface; solidifying the molten metal to form the metal ingot; and applying a varying magnetic field to the molten metal of a magnetic field strength and frequency to induce stirring within the molten metal during the step of solidifying the molten metal.

A method of fabricating a two-component blade for a gas turbine engine, the method including in succession: obtaining a blade profile made of ceramic material having a hole passing right through the blade profile in its length direction so as to form a longitudinal channel opening out into a top cavity; positioning and maintaining the blade profile in a mold so as to form a bottom cavity communicating with the channel of the blade profile; casting molten metal into the blade profile so as to fill the top and bottom cavities and the channel interconnecting them; and cooling the metal so that the shrinkage of the metal cooled in the top and bottom cavities leads to the ceramic of the blade profile being subjected to compression prestress.

A method of fabricating a two-component blade for a gas turbine engine, the method including in succession: obtaining a blade profile made of ceramic material having a hole passing right through the blade profile in its length direction so as to form a longitudinal channel opening out into a top cavity; positioning and maintaining the blade profile in a mold so as to form a bottom cavity communicating with the channel of the blade profile; casting molten metal into the blade profile so as to fill the top and bottom cavities and the channel interconnecting them; and cooling the metal so that the shrinkage of the metal cooled in the top and bottom cavities leads to the ceramic of the blade profile being subjected to compression prestress.

A casting system and process employs sealed lightweight mold segments that are assembled into a fixture that serves as a mold transportation device that is delivered via a mold line to a production line roll-over system which performs as a metal pouring station. This system may be employed in sand, semi-permanent and permanent casting environments. The fixture is pressurized with He, inverted by the roll-over system, then connected to a low-pressure furnace where metal pouring begins while maintaining pressurized He in the mold cavity. A counter-gravity delivery system allows the low-pressure furnace to deliver molten lightweight material that is free from oxides and dissolved hydrogen gas into the mold cavity.

A casting system and process employs sealed lightweight mold segments that are assembled into a fixture that serves as a mold transportation device that is delivered via a mold line to a production line roll-over system which performs as a metal pouring station. This system may be employed in sand, semi-permanent and permanent casting environments. The fixture is pressurized with He, inverted by the roll-over system, then connected to a low-pressure furnace where metal pouring begins while maintaining pressurized He in the mold cavity. A counter-gravity delivery system allows the low-pressure furnace to deliver molten lightweight material that is free from oxides and dissolved hydrogen gas into the mold cavity.

A production method for producing cast parts from metal using a sand casting mold (1). The sand casting mold (1) is produced in this case in a molding box (2) by means of a negative-pressure molding method. According to the invention, the sand casting mold (1), which is under negative pressure, in the molding box (2) is first of all filled with molten metal (5). The molding box (2) with the sand casting mold (1), which is under negative pressure therein, is then completely or partially impinged upon by a cooling fluid (4) and after, at the same time as, or before the cooling fluid impingement is opened at places with cooling fluid impingement. As a result of this, cooling fluid (4) is sucked into the sand casting mold (1) which is under negative pressure, as a result of which the solidifying cast part (3) is quenched more quickly.

A production method for producing cast parts from metal using a sand casting mold (1). The sand casting mold (1) is produced in this case in a molding box (2) by means of a negative-pressure molding method. According to the invention, the sand casting mold (1), which is under negative pressure, in the molding box (2) is first of all filled with molten metal (5). The molding box (2) with the sand casting mold (1), which is under negative pressure therein, is then completely or partially impinged upon by a cooling fluid (4) and after, at the same time as, or before the cooling fluid impingement is opened at places with cooling fluid impingement. As a result of this, cooling fluid (4) is sucked into the sand casting mold (1) which is under negative pressure, as a result of which the solidifying cast part (3) is quenched more quickly.

A molten metal processing device including a molten metal containment structure for reception and transport of molten metal along a longitudinal length thereof. The device further includes a cooling unit for the containment structure including a cooling channel for passage of a liquid medium therein, and an ultrasonic probe disposed in relation to the cooling channel such that ultrasonic waves are coupled through the liquid medium in the cooling channel and through the molten metal containment structure into the molten metal.

A molten metal processing device including a molten metal containment structure for reception and transport of molten metal along a longitudinal length thereof. The device further includes a cooling unit for the containment structure including a cooling channel for passage of a liquid medium therein, and an ultrasonic probe disposed in relation to the cooling channel such that ultrasonic waves are coupled through the liquid medium in the cooling channel and through the molten metal containment structure into the molten metal.

A method of forming a component including coupling an array of receptacles to a mold core. Each receptacle in the array contains an amount of uncured mold material. The method further includes forming a layer of fugitive material on the mold core such that the array of receptacles is encapsulated within the layer of fugitive material. The method also includes forming a layer of uncured mold material on the layer of fugitive material, thereby forming an uncured mold assembly. The uncured mold assembly is heated to a temperature that solidifies the uncured mold material within each receptacle and of the layer, thereby forming an array of pins and a layer of solidified mold material. The uncured mold assembly is also heated to the temperature that removes the layer of fugitive material from between the mold core and the layer of solidified mold material such that a mold cavity, including the array of pins, is defined therebetween.