Patent ID: 7494554

Claim:
A method for continuous manufacturing of engine blocks and engine block heads, wherein said engine blocks and engine block heads comprise engine components that have internal passageways, and wherein a plurality of fluidized beds are utilized, said method comprising: casting one or more engine components using a lost foam casting process, wherein the cast engine components and lost foam casting molds comprise bonded clusters surrounding the cast engine components and filling the internal passageways of the engine components after casting; transferring the bonded clusters and engine components to a first heated, fluidized bed; heat treating the engine components while simultaneously removing the bonded clusters from the engine components and cleaning the internal passageways of the engine components; removing the engine components from the first heated, fluidized bed; quenching the engine components; transferring the quenched engine components to a second heated, fluidized bed; aging the engine components in a second heated fluidized sand bed at a desired aging temperature; removing the aged engine components from the second heated, fluidized bed; and machining the engine components; wherein said continuous method lasts a maximum 8 hours from the beginning of the casting step to the end of the machining step.