A casting machine having a furnace body, a first heater, a first surface and pressure means. The furnace body has a melting portion and a holding portion, material being supplied and melted to form the molten metal in the melting portion, the holding portion holding the molten metal which has flowed out from the melting portion. The first heater heats the material supplied to the melting portion to melt it. The first surface is provided on a hearth surface of the melting portion and has concavities and convexities, the material to be heated being laid on the first surface.

A casting machine having a furnace body, a first heater, a first surface and pressure means. The furnace body has a melting portion and a holding portion, material being supplied and melted to form the molten metal in the melting portion, the holding portion holding the molten metal which has flowed out from the melting portion. The first heater heats the material supplied to the melting portion to melt it. The first surface is provided on a hearth surface of the melting portion and has concavities and convexities, the material to be heated being laid on the first surface.

Vessels used for melting material to be injection molded to form a part are described. One vessel has a body formed from a plurality of elongate segments configured to be electrically isolated from each other and with a melting portion for melting meltable material therein. Material can be provided between adjacent segments. An induction coil can be used to melt the material in the body. Other vessels have a body with an embedded induction coil therein. The embedded coil can be configured to surround the melting portion, or can be positioned below and/or adjacent the melting portion, so that meltable material is melted. The vessels can be used to melt amorphous alloys, for example.

Vessels used for melting material to be injection molded to form a part are described. One vessel has a body formed from a plurality of elongate segments configured to be electrically isolated from each other and with a melting portion for melting meltable material therein. Material can be provided between adjacent segments. An induction coil can be used to melt the material in the body. Other vessels have a body with an embedded induction coil therein. The embedded coil can be configured to surround the melting portion, or can be positioned below and/or adjacent the melting portion, so that meltable material is melted. The vessels can be used to melt amorphous alloys, for example.

An integrated aluminum melting and holding system is provided. The system includes, in combination, a hearth for receiving and melting a charge of aluminum pieces, a holding chamber for maintaining the elevated temperature for casting, and a well to allow removal of the molten aluminum for delivery to a casting station. The hearth includes a combustion chamber having a fuel burner section communicating with the hearth for burning hydrocarbon fuel with air to produce effluent hot gases in the burner section for circulation through the hearth for melting the aluminum pieces. The holding chamber receives molten aluminum from the hearth. The holding chamber has at least a substantial portion positioned below a substantial portion of the hearth. The holding chamber includes at least one immersion heater in contact with the molten aluminum. The holding chamber further includes a lid configured to contact the molten aluminum disposed within the holding chamber. The open top well is in fluid communication with the holding chamber for receiving the molten aluminum.

An integrated aluminum melting and holding system is provided. The system includes, in combination, a hearth for receiving and melting a charge of aluminum pieces, a holding chamber for maintaining the elevated temperature for casting, and a well to allow removal of the molten aluminum for delivery to a casting station. The hearth includes a combustion chamber having a fuel burner section communicating with the hearth for burning hydrocarbon fuel with air to produce effluent hot gases in the burner section for circulation through the hearth for melting the aluminum pieces. The holding chamber receives molten aluminum from the hearth. The holding chamber has at least a substantial portion positioned below a substantial portion of the hearth. The holding chamber includes at least one immersion heater in contact with the molten aluminum. The holding chamber further includes a lid configured to contact the molten aluminum disposed within the holding chamber. The open top well is in fluid communication with the holding chamber for receiving the molten aluminum.

An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode substrate of a secondary battery may include a reinforcement body molding machine configured to mold a reinforcement body from a reinforcement material, a melting furnace configured to melt a substrate material and mix the molded reinforcement body in the melted substrate material for dispersion, a casting machine containing the reinforcement body configured to mold a slab with the melted substrate material produced by the melting furnace, and a rolling mill configured to form an electrode substrate by rolling the slab.

An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode substrate of a secondary battery may include a reinforcement body molding machine configured to mold a reinforcement body from a reinforcement material, a melting furnace configured to melt a substrate material and mix the molded reinforcement body in the melted substrate material for dispersion, a casting machine containing the reinforcement body configured to mold a slab with the melted substrate material produced by the melting furnace, and a rolling mill configured to form an electrode substrate by rolling the slab.

An apparatus for low-pressure casting of metal alloys comprising: a loading hatch, a region for holding previously loaded molten metal, pressurization elements for pressurizing the region for holding the molten metal, and a die which is in fluidic communication with the region for holding the molten metal and is at least partially superimposed on the latter; the region for holding the molten metal comprises: a first chamber, connected to the loading hatch and to the pressurization elements, a second chamber, which is fluidically connected to the die, the first chamber and the second chamber being in fluidic connection through a passage.

An apparatus for low-pressure casting of metal alloys comprising: a loading hatch, a region for holding previously loaded molten metal, pressurization elements for pressurizing the region for holding the molten metal, and a die which is in fluidic communication with the region for holding the molten metal and is at least partially superimposed on the latter; the region for holding the molten metal comprises: a first chamber, connected to the loading hatch and to the pressurization elements, a second chamber, which is fluidically connected to the die, the first chamber and the second chamber being in fluidic connection through a passage.