Patent ID: 7353858
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: B22D,B29C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of servicing a molding-system valve, comprising: permitting solidification of a molten molding material to weld the molding-system valve to a barrel, the molding-system valve attached to a screw of a thixo-molding system, and in response a seal is created, the seal blocking oxygen from entering the barrel and reaching the molten molding material contained in the barrel; maintaining a remainder of the molten molding material within the barrel in non-solid state; removing a barrel head from the barrel once the seal is airtight so that the molten molding material behind the seal and in the barrel is not exposed to air; installing a cap to the barrel; heating up a distal end of the barrel, and in response solidified material located proximate to the molding-system valve is returned to a molten state; translating the screw forwardly so that the molding-system valve is pushed into the cap; permitting the solidification of the molten molding material to seal off the barrel; servicing the molding-system valve; heating the distal end of the barrel, and in response the solidified melt located in the distal end of the barrel is re-melted; and retracting the screw, and in response the molding-system valve is pulled within the barrel.