Patent ID: 6070643
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
Die casting apparatus, comprising:a) first and second dies that are disposed in ambient air atmosphere and define a die cavity therebetween when the dies are closed, including a vacuum seal between said dies to isolate said die cavity from the ambient air atmosphere when said dies are closed,b) a shot sleeve communicated to the die cavity and having a melt inlet communicated to a vacuum chamber,c) a melting vessel disposed in the vacuum chamber for melting a metal or alloy that is introduced through said melt inlet into said shot sleeve ahead of a plunger that is movable in said shot sleeve,d) means for evacuating the vacuum chamber to less than 1000 microns when the metal or alloy is melted in said melting vessel such that said die cavity is concurrently evacuated through said shot sleeve by virtue of said die cavity being isolated from the ambient air atmosphere by said vacuum seal,e) said plunger being movable in said shot sleeve to inject the melted metal or alloy into said die cavity, andf) said dies being opened after the melted metal or alloy is injected therein to permit removal of a die cast component from the die cavity directly into the ambient air atmosphere.