Thermal isolation for casting articles
First Claim
1. A method for casting an article, comprising:
- providing a thermal blanket apart from a mold cavity, the thermal blanket comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and having a first surface and a second surface;
after providing the thermal blanket apart from the mold cavity, then positioning at least a portion of the thermal blanket within the mold cavity; and
introducing a molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the first surface of the thermal blanket until the molten material fills the mold cavity, wherein the molten material within the mold cavity remains in a molten state during a dwell time extending from the introducing of the molten material into the mold cavity at least until the molten material fills the mold cavity.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments provide methods and systems for casting articles. One example of a method includes providing and positioning a thermal blanket within a mold cavity and then introducing a molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the thermal blanket. The method allows the molten material to remain in a molten state during a dwell time that extends from the introduction of the molten material at least until the mold cavity is filled. In another example, a method of using a thermal blanket includes keeping a molten material in a molten state during a dwell time extending from first introduction of the molten material until pressurization. Systems including a variety of mold types, one or more thermal blankets, and in some cases preforms and/or inserts are also provided. Also described is a novel thermal blanket and method of manufacturing the same.
105 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for casting an article, comprising:
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providing a thermal blanket apart from a mold cavity, the thermal blanket comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and having a first surface and a second surface; after providing the thermal blanket apart from the mold cavity, then positioning at least a portion of the thermal blanket within the mold cavity; and introducing a molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the first surface of the thermal blanket until the molten material fills the mold cavity, wherein the molten material within the mold cavity remains in a molten state during a dwell time extending from the introducing of the molten material into the mold cavity at least until the molten material fills the mold cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for casting an article, comprising:
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providing a first thermal blanket, the first thermal blanket comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and having a first surface and a second surface; positioning at least a portion of the first thermal blanket within a mold cavity; introducing a first molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the first surface of the first thermal blanket; providing a second thermal blanket, the second thermal blanket comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and having a first surface and a second surface; positioning at least a portion of the second thermal blanket within the mold cavity; positioning at least the portion of the second thermal blanket adjacent the first molten material and introducing a second molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the first surface of the second thermal blanket, wherein the first and the second molten materials within the mold cavity remain in a molten state during a dwell time extending from the introducing of the first and the second molten materials into the mold cavity at least until the first and the second molten materials fill the mold cavity. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for casting an article, comprising:
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providing a thermal blanket apart from a mold cavity, the thermal blanket comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and having a first surface and a second surface; after providing the thermal blanket apart from the mold cavity, then positioning at least a portion of the thermal blanket within the mold cavity; introducing a molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the first surface of the thermal blanket; and applying pressure to the molten material until the molten material solidifies to form at least a portion of a cast article, wherein the molten material within the mold cavity remains in a molten state during a dwell time extending from the introducing of the molten material into the mold cavity to the applying of pressure to the molten material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for casting an article, comprising:
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providing a first thermal blanket, the first thermal blanket comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and having a first surface and a second surface; positioning at least a portion of the first thermal blanket within a mold cavity; introducing a first molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the first surface of the first thermal blanket; providing a second thermal blanket, the second thermal blanket comprising a layer of thermally insulating material and having a first surface and a second surface; positioning at least a portion of the second thermal blanket within the mold cavity; positioning at least the portion of the second thermal blanket adjacent the first molten material; introducing a second molten material into the mold cavity and into contact with the first surface of the second thermal blanket; applying pressure to the first molten material and the second molten material until the first and the second molten materials solidify to form at least a portion of a cast article, wherein the first and the second molten materials within the mold cavity remain in a molten state during a dwell time extending from the introducing of the first and the second molten materials into the mold cavity to the applying of pressure to the first and the second molten materials. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification