Vacuum pressure transformation vessel and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020123072-A1
Application number	US-201816167748-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2018
Priority date	Oct 23, 2018
Publication date	Apr 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of forming a ceramic-metal composite part is described herein. The method includes maintaining molten metal in an interior of a housing in a liquefied state, the interior including a first chamber, a second chamber, and a port defined therebetween. The method further includes sealing the port such that the molten metal in the first chamber is maintained at a first liquid level, suspending a part at a height within the first chamber above the first liquid level, forming a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber, unsealing the port such that molten metal from the second chamber flows into the first chamber, and resealing the port when the molten metal in the first chamber reaches a second liquid level such that the ceramic part is submerged in the molten metal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of forming a ceramic-metal composite part, the method comprising:
maintaining molten metal in an interior of a housing in a liquefied state, the interior including a first chamber, a second chamber, and a port configured to provide flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber; sealing the port such that the molten metal in the first chamber is maintained at a first liquid level; suspending a ceramic part at a predetermined height within the first chamber above the first liquid level; forming a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber such that a first pressure within the first chamber is less than a second pressure within the second chamber; unsealing the port such that molten metal from the second chamber flows into the first chamber; and resealing the port when the molten metal in the first chamber reaches a second liquid level, wherein the ceramic part is submerged in the molten metal at the second liquid level.

2 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein forming a pressure differential comprises:
drawing a vacuum in the first chamber; sealing the ceramic part in the first chamber; and maintaining the vacuum in the first chamber for a predetermined duration.

3 . The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:
pressurizing the first chamber to increase the pressure therein after the port is resealed; and
maintaining the first chamber at the increased pressure for a predetermined duration.

4 . The method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising pressurizing the second chamber when the first chamber is at the increased pressure such that a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber is less than a predetermined threshold.

5 . The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:
forming a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber after the port is resealed such that the first pressure within the first chamber is greater than the second pressure within the second chamber;
unsealing the port such that molten metal from the first chamber flows into the second chamber; and
resealing the port when the molten metal in the first chamber returns to at least the first liquid level.

6 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein suspending a ceramic part comprises:
providing a part holder that includes a lid and a holding member statically affixed to the lid; coupling the ceramic part to the holding member; and coupling the lid to the housing.

7 . The method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein coupling the lid to the housing comprises forming an air tight seal between the housing and the lid.

8 . A vacuum pressure vessel comprising:
a housing comprising an interior that comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, and a port configured to provide selective flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber; a part holder selectively coupled to the housing, the part holder configured to suspend a part at a predetermined height within the first chamber; and a stopper configured to selectively seal the port such that a liquid level in the first chamber and the second chamber is maintained when the port is sealed, and such that the liquid level in the first chamber and the second chamber is adjustable when the port is unsealed and a pressure differential is defined therebetween.

9 . The vessel in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a pressurization device in flow communication with the interior, wherein the pressurization device is configured to adjust a pressure within the first chamber and the second chamber.

10 . The vessel in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a first pressure port configured to provide flow communication between the first chamber and the pressurization device, the first pressure port positioned to enable pressurization of the first chamber independently of the second chamber.

11 . The vessel in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a second pressure port configured to provide flow communication between the second chamber and the pressurization device, the second pressure port positioned to enable pressurization of the second chamber independently of the first chamber.

12 . The vessel in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the part holder comprises a lid and a holding member statically affixed to the lid.

13 . The vessel in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the lid is configured to couple to the housing with an air tight seal.

14 . The vessel in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a heating system comprising a first heater positioned in the first chamber, and a second heater positioned in the second chamber, wherein the heating system is configured to maintain molten metal in the interior in a liquefied state.

15 . A vacuum pressure vessel system comprising:
a vacuum pressure vessel comprising:
a housing comprising an interior that comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, and a port configured to provide selective flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber;
a heating system configured to maintain molten metal in the interior in a liquefied state;
a part holder selectively coupled to the housing, the part holder configured to suspend a part at a predetermined height within the first chamber; and
a stopper configured to selectively seal the port such that a liquid level in the first chamber and the second chamber is maintained when the port is sealed, and such that the liquid level in the first chamber and the second chamber is adjustable when the port is unsealed and a pressure differential is defined therebetween;
a pressurization device in flow communication with the interior, wherein the pressurization device is configured to adjust a pressure within the first chamber and the second chamber; and a controller in communication with the stopper and the pressurization device, wherein the controller is configured to selectively actuate the stopper and the pressurization device for controlling operation of the vacuum pressure vessel system.

16 . The system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a first pressure port configured to provide flow communication between the first chamber and the pressurization device, the first pressure port positioned to enable pressurization of the first chamber independently of the second chamber.

17 . The system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a second pressure port configured to provide flow communication between the second chamber and the pressurization device, the second pressure port positioned to enable pressurization of the second chamber independently of the first chamber.

18 . The system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the heating system comprises a first heater positioned in the first chamber, and a second heater positioned in the second chamber.

19 . The system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a first sensor configured to monitor the liquid level in the first chamber, and a second sensor configured to monitor the liquid level in the second chamber.

20 . The system in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the controller is in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the controller configured to selectively actuate the stopper and the pressurization device based on feedback received from the first sensor and the sec

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Schroeder Karl J
• De Neff Robert Craig

Classifications

• C04B41/009

  characterised by the material treated · CPC title

• C04B41/88 Primary

  Metals · CPC title

• C04B41/51 Primary

  Metallising {, e.g. infiltration of sintered ceramic preforms with molten metal (covering materials with metals in general C23C; ceramic compositions containing free metal bonded to carbides, diamond, oxides, borides, nitrides, silicides, e.g. cermets, or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides or sulfides, other than as macroscopic reinforcing agents C22C; infiltration of preforms containing free metal, e.g. cermets C22C)} · CPC title

• B01J2219/00182

  controlling the level of reactants in the reactor vessel · CPC title

• B01J2219/002

  inside the reactor · CPC title