A method for producing a feeder (10) that is intended for use in a casting mold used for the casting of metals and comprises a feeder body (11), which encloses an inner cavity (25) as a feeder volume, consists of an exothermic and/or insulating material, has at least one lateral wall region (12) and a bottom region (13) with a feeder opening (14) arranged therein for connecting the inner cavity (25) of the feeder body (11) to the mold cavity of the casting mold during the casting operation and has a mesh-like fabric consisting of a refractory material covering over the feeder opening (14) therein, is characterized in that, in the course of the production of the feeder in a core shooter, a piece of fabric (21) of the mesh-like fabric is positioned in a pattern device (17) forming the shape of the feeder (10) in a core box (30) of the core shooter, in such a way that the peripheral region (22) of the piece of fabric (21) positioned in the bottom region (13) of the later feeder (10) is at least partially bent up in the direction of the lateral wall region (13) of the feeder body (11) and, during the shooting of the feeder (10), the bent-up peripheral region (22) is surrounded by the material shot in and is anchored in the material of the finished shot feeder (10).

A feeder system for metal casting comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a tubular body. The tubular body has a first end and an opposite second end and a compressible portion therebetween so that upon application of a force in use, the distance between the first and second ends is reduced. The feeder sleeve has a longitudinal axis and comprises a continuous sidewall extending generally around the longitudinal axis that defines a cavity for receiving liquid metal during casting, the sidewall having a base adjacent the second end of the tubular body. The tubular body defines an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting. The feeder sleeve has at least one cut-out that extends into the sidewall from the base and the second end of the tubular body projects into the cut-out to a fixed depth. The cut-out can be a groove which is separate from the cavity. The invention also resides in a process employing the feeder system.

A method for casting metal using a semi-permanent mold connected to a feed portion includes forming a coolant jacket in a sprue of the feed portion. A coolant source is connected to the coolant jacket. A metal in a molten state is poured into the feed portion for gravity induced flow into the semi-permanent mold. A wall thickness of the sprue is predetermining which minimizes heat transfer from the sprue, thereby forcing the metal in the molten state to cool slower in the sprue than in the mold. After a predetermined time for the metal to cool to a solid state in the mold, flow of a coolant from the coolant source into the coolant jacket is initiated to cool the metal in the sprue before opening the mold.

The invention relates to a feeder insert (1, 1, 1, 1, 100, 100) for use in metal casting in casting molds, comprising a feeder body (2, 2, 2, 2, 102, 102) which delimits a feeder cavity (4, 4, 4, 4, 104, 104) for receiving liquid metal, wherein the feeder body (2, 2, 2, 2, 102, 102) has a first end (6, 6, 6, 6, 106, 106) having a passage opening (8) for the liquid metal and a second end (10, 10, 10, 10, 110, 110) opposite the first end (6, 6, 6, 6, 106, 106), and wherein the feeder body (2, 2, 2, 2, 102, 102) comprises a central axis (Z) extending through the passage opening (8). The feeder body (2, 2, 2, 2, 102, 102) is separated at least one partition plane (E) extending in a direction of the central axis (Z) and is formed at least from a first feeder shell (18, 18, 18, 18, 118, 118) and a second feeder shell (20, 20, 20, 20, 120, 120). The first and second feeder shells (18, 18, 18, 18, 118, 118) are connected to each other to form the feeder body (2, 2, 2, 2, 102, 102).

A mold assembly and method for fabricating an infiltrated drill bit may comprise a mold forming a bottom of the mold assembly, a funnel operatively coupled to the mold, an infiltration chamber defined at least partially by the mold and the funnel to receive and contain matrix reinforcement materials and a binder material used to form the infiltrated drill bit, a displacement core arranged within the infiltration chamber and having one or more legs that extend therefrom, a metal blank arranged about the displacement core within the infiltration chamber, and one or more thermal elements. A method may comprise providing a mold assembly having component parts that include a mold that forms a bottom of the mold assembly and a funnel operatively coupled to the mold, imparting thermal energy to the infiltration chamber with one or more thermal element, and heating contents contained within the infiltration chamber.

In a method for producing a riser for inserting into a casting mold used for casting metals, the riser includes a riser body (31) surrounding an inner cavity (36) as a riser volume and is composed of an exothermic and/or insulating riser material (30). To produce a single-piece riser body (31) in a two-part core box (10), a cavity (14) reproducing the outer contour of the riser body (31) is formed and, in order to produce the inner cavity (36), a reversibly expandable king (15) is set in the cavity (14) in such a way that, in the shooting of the riser body (31), the wall region (32), the cup region (33), and the base region (34) of the riser body are formed by the riser material (30) introduced into the intermediate space (41) between the expanded king (15) and the inner wall (40) of the cavity (14).

A feeder system for metal casting comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a tubular body. The feeder sleeve has a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending generally between said first and second ends. The feeder sleeve comprises a continuous sidewall that extends generally around the longitudinal axis that defines a cavity for receiving liquid metal during casting and the sidewall has a base at the first end of the feeder sleeve. The tubular body defines an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting in use. The feeder sleeve comprises at least one cut-out that extends into the sidewall from the base to a first depth and the tubular body projects into the cut-out to a second depth, the tubular body having at least one abrading region in contact with a surface of the feeder sleeve within the cut-out. The second depth is equal to or less than the first depth so that upon application of a force in use the abrading region abrades the surface of the feeder sleeve with which it is in contact such that the tubular body is pushed towards the second end. The invention also resides in a feeder sleeve for use in the system and a process for preparing a casting mould employing the system.

A method for manufacturing a bolster of a railway car truck includes providing a drag portion and a cope portion of a mold. In a main body section of the mold, a parting line that separates the drag portion from the cope portion is substantially centered between portions of the mold that define brake window openings in sides of the bolster. One or more cores are inserted into the mold and a molten material is poured into the mold to thereby case the bolster.

An example mold assembly for fabricating an infiltrated downhole tool includes a mold forming a bottom of the mold assembly, and a funnel operatively coupled to the mold. An infiltration chamber is defined at least partially by the mold and the funnel to receive and contain matrix reinforcement materials and a binder material used to form the infiltrated downhole tool. One or more thermal elements are positioned within at least one of the mold and the funnel, and the one or more thermal elements are in thermal communication with the infiltration chamber.

There is provided a refractory article for use in metal casting and a composition for manufacture thereof, comprising a particulate refractory material, an oxidisable fuel, an oxidant, a sensitizer; a binder, and from 0.5 to 5 wt % CaSO.sub.4.