Abstract:
A furnace for heat treating a workpiece is provided, comprising at least one high pressure heating zone including at least one fluid impingement device capable of directing a heated fluid medium at a workpiece within the furnace, wherein the fluid impingement device is less than about 6 inches from the workpiece and is capable of directing the heated fluid medium at the workpiece at about 4,000 feet per minute. The furnace may further comprises a rotating mechanism for rotating the workpiece, a gripping mechanism for inverting the workpiece and a soak zone including an air recirculation system downstream from the high pressure heating zone. The system may further comprise a process control temperature station and a core sand reclamation system.
Abstract:
A system for supporting castings during thermal treatments, such as solution heat treatment, quenching and aging, that includes a tray defining a horizontal base plane and having a plurality of tray openings therethrough, and a fixture extending over one or more of the tray openings. The fixture is formed by a plurality of support plates oriented vertically with lower portions extending across the tray opening and top edges extending above the tray opening with shaped profiles along the lengths thereof. The plurality of support plates form an open lattice having a plurality of top edges that together define an open support surface that is substantially complementary with an underside surface of a casting and configured to loosely support the casting atop the lattice and align the casting in space above the tray opening.
Abstract:
A quench system for applying cooling air to one or more hot metallic components that are supported on a component support having a substantially open construction. The quench system includes a housing having sidewalls that define a cooling chamber with peripheral portions proximate the sidewalls and a center portion spaced inwardly from the sidewalls. The quench system also includes a conveyance system that is configured to carry the component support into the center portion of the cooling chamber, as well as a forced air fan that generates a bulk flow of cooling air through the cooling chamber. The quench system further includes a plurality of nozzle baffles extending inwardly from the plurality of sidewalls to define a narrowing region within the housing between the forced air fan and the conveyance system, whereby, during operation of the fan, cooling air flowing through the peripheral portions of the cooling chamber is redirected into the center portion of the cooling chamber.
Abstract:
A system and method for forming and heat treating metal castings is provided with a vertical heat treatment unit positioned adjacent and downstream from a pouring station at which a series of molds are filled with a molten metal to form the castings. The vertical heat treatment unit includes a vertically oriented furnace chamber in which the castings are received, and which has a reduced footprint to reduce the manufacturing floor space required for the vertical heat treatment unit, and to enable the vertical heat treatment unit to be positioned in close proximity to the pouring station.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for dislodging a mold from a casting formed within the mold. The mold may be removed from the casting by scoring the mold and applying a force sufficient to cause the mold to fracture and break into pieces. Additionally, the mold may be fractured by either explosive charges placed in the mold pack or by high energy pulsations directed at the mold. Once the mold is fractured and broken into various pieces it may then be dislodged from the casting.
Abstract:
Waste gases generated in the process of manufacturing cores and castings are collected and inventively routed to a heat treating furnace (12) for incineration. Additionally, as a portion of the waste gas is being routed, it is put to use in the reclaiming of uncured scrap materials and the reclaiming of sand within the furnace. Additionally, provisions are made for decreasing the height of the furnace by decreasing the height of hoppers therein and increasing the size of the base of the hoppers to maintain proper flow of reclaimed sand and portions of core materials being reclaimed therein toward the base of the hopper. Multiple fluidizers (18) are employed in the base of the hopper to accomodate for the increased size of the base of the hopper and maintain optimum flow of materials toward the base and optimum fluidization of the materials within the hopper.
Abstract:
A casting mold with a multi-functional chill, a multi-functional chill, and a casting process facilitated by the multi-functional chill are disclosed herein. In addition to affecting the cooling rate of a casting inside the mold, the multi-functional chill may support and/or index the mold during handling and/or conveyance. The present invention allows for conveyance and/or handling of the mold or casting, with or without the mold, and allows for easy indexing and easy interaction with conveying and handling devices during and after heat treatment.
Abstract:
A method for heat treating cast aluminum alloy components that includes obtaining a casting formed from an aluminum alloy having a silicon constituent and at least one metal alloying constituent, and heating the casting to a first casting temperature that is below but within 10 °C of a predetermined silicon solution temperature at which the silicon constituent rapidly enters into solid solution. The method also includes increasing the rate of heat input into the casting to raise the temperature of the casting to a second casting temperature that is above but within 10 °C of a predetermined alloying metal solution temperature at which the at least one metal alloying constituent rapidly enters into solid solution, maintaining the casting at the second casting temperature for a period of time that is less than about 20 minutes, and then quenching the casting to a temperature less than or about 250 °C.