A casting apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an upper frame, a lower frame, a main link member, a sub-link member and a lifting/lowering mechanism. The upper mold is attached to the upper frame. The lower frame is disposed in parallel with the upper frame. The lower mold is attached to the lower frame. A top end part of the main link member is rotatably connected to the upper frame and a bottom end part thereof is rotatably connected to the lower frame. The sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the main link member, the top end part thereof is rotatably connected to the upper frame and the bottom end part thereof is rotatably connected to the lower frame. The lifting/lowering mechanism causes the sub-link member to lift or lower with respect to the main link member.

A casting apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an upper frame, a lower frame, a main link member, a sub-link member and a lifting/lowering mechanism. The upper mold is attached to the upper frame. The lower frame is disposed in parallel with the upper frame. The lower mold is attached to the lower frame. A top end part of the main link member is rotatably connected to the upper frame and a bottom end part thereof is rotatably connected to the lower frame. The sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the main link member, the top end part thereof is rotatably connected to the upper frame and the bottom end part thereof is rotatably connected to the lower frame. The lifting/lowering mechanism causes the sub-link member to lift or lower with respect to the main link member.

An immersion-type burner heater includes a heater protection tube that is installed so as to penetrate a furnace wall or an upper lid of the molten-metal holding furnace with the tip end thereof being closed; an inner cylindrical member arranged inside the tube so as to define a combustion flow passage S between the tube and itself with the tip end side thereof being open and the inside thereof serving as an exhaust gas flow passage; and a gas burner part supplying fuel gas and air to the combustion flow passage. A helically extending projecting part is provided on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the member and the inner peripheral surface of the tube at a position that is closer to its tip end side than to the part penetrating the furnace wall or the upper lid.

An immersion-type burner heater includes a heater protection tube that is installed so as to penetrate a furnace wall or an upper lid of the molten-metal holding furnace with the tip end thereof being closed; an inner cylindrical member arranged inside the tube so as to define a combustion flow passage S between the tube and itself with the tip end side thereof being open and the inside thereof serving as an exhaust gas flow passage; and a gas burner part supplying fuel gas and air to the combustion flow passage. A helically extending projecting part is provided on at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the member and the inner peripheral surface of the tube at a position that is closer to its tip end side than to the part penetrating the furnace wall or the upper lid.

A pour cup assembly (10) includes a pour cup (12) of frusto-conical shape and which has an inlet end (14), of relatively larger diameter, and an outlet (16), of relatively smaller diameter. The assembly (10) also includes two yokes (18, 20) each including a body section (22) with a part frusto-conical internal profile and opposing arms (24, 26) extending laterally from the body section (22) and that lie in a common plan. Each arm (24, 26) has a bore or hole (30) therein. The body portion (22) has an external profile that is also part frusto-conical in shape and has one or more circumferential grooves (32) in its outer surface. The grooves (32) extend parallel to the arms (18, 20) and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the body portion (22). The grooves (32) in use accommodate a tie element disposed around the body portion (22) and cup (14) to hold the assembly together while the assembly (10) is subsequently coated with ceramic material to form the pour cup assembly. This is typically done at the same time as creating the investment cast around the invested pattern. The arrangement provides a pour cup assembly (10) that can be packaged and transported more efficiently and that can be handled with lifting assistance. The assembly also allows for the use of different sizes of pour cups with the same yokes, making the assembly more versatile.

A pour cup assembly (10) includes a pour cup (12) of frusto-conical shape and which has an inlet end (14), of relatively larger diameter, and an outlet (16), of relatively smaller diameter. The assembly (10) also includes two yokes (18, 20) each including a body section (22) with a part frusto-conical internal profile and opposing arms (24, 26) extending laterally from the body section (22) and that lie in a common plan. Each arm (24, 26) has a bore or hole (30) therein. The body portion (22) has an external profile that is also part frusto-conical in shape and has one or more circumferential grooves (32) in its outer surface. The grooves (32) extend parallel to the arms (18, 20) and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the body portion (22). The grooves (32) in use accommodate a tie element disposed around the body portion (22) and cup (14) to hold the assembly together while the assembly (10) is subsequently coated with ceramic material to form the pour cup assembly. This is typically done at the same time as creating the investment cast around the invested pattern. The arrangement provides a pour cup assembly (10) that can be packaged and transported more efficiently and that can be handled with lifting assistance. The assembly also allows for the use of different sizes of pour cups with the same yokes, making the assembly more versatile.

[Problem] To provide a marking method and a marking device for a casting that are, even when foreign matter is adhered to a casting to be marked, capable of making an effective and appropriate mark on the casting. [Solution] Detect foreign matter on an outer surface of a casting 100, set marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2, and make a mark on the marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2.

[Problem] To provide a marking method and a marking device for a casting that are, even when foreign matter is adhered to a casting to be marked, capable of making an effective and appropriate mark on the casting. [Solution] Detect foreign matter on an outer surface of a casting 100, set marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2, and make a mark on the marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2.

A system is disclosed for printing a component. The system may have a nozzle controlled for movement within a plane. The nozzle may be configured to dispense a molten metal. A substrate may be positioned within a reservoir. The substrate may receive the molten metal to form the component in a printing operation. A heated barrier material in a molten state may be contained within the reservoir for forming a liquid barrier between an atmosphere and the substrate. The nozzle has a tip which is submerged within the liquid barrier while dispensing the molten metal during the printing operation. The liquid barrier forms a barrier between an atmosphere in a vicinity of the substrate and the substrate.

A system is disclosed for printing a component. The system may have a nozzle controlled for movement within a plane. The nozzle may be configured to dispense a molten metal. A substrate may be positioned within a reservoir. The substrate may receive the molten metal to form the component in a printing operation. A heated barrier material in a molten state may be contained within the reservoir for forming a liquid barrier between an atmosphere and the substrate. The nozzle has a tip which is submerged within the liquid barrier while dispensing the molten metal during the printing operation. The liquid barrier forms a barrier between an atmosphere in a vicinity of the substrate and the substrate.