Patent ID: 6367538
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A unidirectional mold basket for supporting at least one unidirectional mold for insertion in a liquid metal bath furnace, said mold basket comprising:a flange for suspending said mold basket, said flange having at least one aperture for receiving said at least one unidirectional mold, wherein said aperture is defined by an inner wall of said flange, said inner wall being radially disposed in spaced apart relation to said unidirectional mold and acting as a detent to limit lateral movement of said unidirectional mold, and wherein said unidirectional mold is slidably removable vertically relative to said inner wall; a horizontal plate disposed beneath said flange for supporting said unidirectional mold, said horizontal plate being thermally conductive; and a plurality of tie rods, each of said tie rods having a first rod end received in a rod aperture in said horizontal plate and a second rod end received in a corresponding rod aperture in said flange, said second rod end being distal from said first rod end, wherein said plurality of tie rods extend vertically between said horizontal plate and said flange, thereby connecting said horizontal plate to said flange.