Patent ID: 6581673
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A countergravity casting method for producing a cast article comprising the steps of:(a) providing a casting apparatus having a mold, a substantially air tight casting chamber in communication with the mold, a first supply port for supplying a molten metal to the casting chamber, and a second supply port for supplying a pressurized fluid to the casting chamber; (b) supplying the molten metal to the first supply port to cause the molten metal to be supplied to the casting chamber; (c) supplying the pressurized fluid to the second supply port to cause the molten metal to be supplied from the casting chamber to the mold; (d) determining the amount of the molten metal in the casting chamber as a variable V1; (e) determining the amount of the fluid in the casting chamber as a variable V2; (f) determining the amount of humidity in the casting chamber as a variable V3; (g) determining the amount of the fluid entering the casting chamber as a variable V4; (h) determining the pressure of the fluid in the casting chamber as a variable V5; (i) determining the amount of the molten metal needed to produce a cast article in the mold as a variable V6; (j) determining the change in the pressure of the molten metal in the casting chamber as a variable V7; (k) sensing the position of the molten metal with respect to the mold as a variable V8; (l) providing a control panel which receives a signal representative of the variables V1-V8; and (m) adjusting the supply of one or both of the molten metal or the pressurized fluid in response to at least one of the signals representative of the variables V1-V8.