Patent ID: 7341094
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
1. For any one of a metallic alloy slurry molding machine, a metallic alloy slurry molding assembly, a metallic alloy slurry hot runner assembly and any combination thereof, a metallic alloy slurry dispenser, comprising: a dispensing body defining an outlet; and an outlet cover cooperating with the outlet, wherein the outlet cover is configured to cooperate with the outlet more than once, the outlet cover being movable relative to the outlet between a flow disabled position and a flow enabled position, so that: (i) in the flow disabled position, the outlet cover covers the outlet to block any flow of metallic alloy slurry held behind the covered outlet, and (ii) in the flow enabled position, the outlet cover uncovers the outlet to permit a flow of metallic alloy slurry from the covered outlet; a dispensing body heating apparatus operatively coupled to the dispensing body, and maintaining, in use, a molten metallic alloy slurry being contained within the outlet in a substantially molten condition; an outlet cover heating apparatus operatively coupling the outlet cover, and maintaining, in use, a thixotropic material disposed in the outlet in a molten state while the thixotropic material remains in the outlet in the flow disabled position; and an outlet cover cooling apparatus operatively coupling the outlet cover, and cooling, in use, a molten metallic alloy slurry disposed between a gap defined between the outlet cover and the dispending body into a solidified state.