Slotted shot sleeve for induction melting of material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9445459-B2
Application number	US-201313940051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2013
Priority date	Jul 11, 2013
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of a vessel configured to contain a secondary magnetic induction field therein for melting materials, and methods of use thereof. The vessel can be used in an injection molding apparatus having an induction coil positioned along a horizontal axis and adjacent to the vessel. The vessel can have a tubular body configured to substantially surround and receive a plunger tip. At least one longitudinal slot extends through the thickness of the body to allow and/or direct eddy currents into the vessel during application of an RF induction field from the coil. The body also includes temperature regulating lines configured to flow a liquid within. The temperature regulating lines can be provided to run longitudinally within the wall(s) of the body between its inner bore and outer surface(s). A flange may be provided at one end of the body to secure the body within an injection molding apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature regulated vessel, comprising:
a substantially cylindrical body having a cylindrical axis, comprising:
a first end;
a second end; and
a substantially cylindrical inner wall extending between the first end and the second end of the body, the substantially cylindrical inner wall comprising:
a continuous first portion extending along at least a bottom quarter of the substantially cylindrical inner wall for supporting, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical axis, an amorphous alloy during melting; and
a second portion comprising a pair of edges defining a slot extending between the first end and the second end of the body and through a complete thickness of the body; and

one or more temperature regulating channels configured to flow a liquid within the body.

2. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein:
the substantially cylindrical body further comprises an outer wall; and
the one or more temperature regulating channels are between the inner wall and the outer wall.

3. The vessel of claim 2 , wherein:
the pair of edges extend from the inner wall to the outer wall; and
the pair of edges are parallel to one another.

4. The vessel of claim 3 , wherein a width of the slot is defined by a space between the parallel edges.

5. The vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a cap disposed at the first end of the substantially cylindrical body to seal an end of the one or more temperature regulating channels.

6. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein the cap is brazed or welded to the substantially cylindrical body.

7. The vessel of claim 5 , further comprising:
a recessed pocket in the first end of the substantially cylindrical body, wherein the cap is disposed at least partially within the recessed pocket.

8. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical body further comprises a flange to secure the substantially cylindrical body to an injection molding apparatus and to prevent movement of the substantially cylindrical body relative to the injection molding apparatus.

9. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the continuous first portion includes no slots.

10. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical body comprises a single slot.

11. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the slot extends a full length of the substantially cylindrical body.

12. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical body comprises one or more additional slots.

13. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the continuous first portion extends along at least an entire bottom half of the substantially cylindrical inner wall.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a vessel comprising:
a substantially cylindrical body having a cylindrical axis; and
a substantially cylindrical inner wall extending along the cylindrical axis and comprising:
a first portion defining a continuous surface extending along at least a bottom quarter of the substantially cylindrical inner wall for supporting a material during melting; and
a second portion defining a slot substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis and through a complete thickness of the body;

an induction coil encircling the vessel and configured to melt the material; and
a plunger configured to move the material through the vessel after the material is melted.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the vessel further comprises one or more temperature regulating channels configured to regulate a temperature of the vessel while the material is melted.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the vessel further comprises an outer wall; and
the one or more temperature regulating channels are between the inner wall and the outer wall.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a mold configured to receive the material from the vessel after the material is melted.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the continuous surface extends along at least a bottom half of the substantially cylindrical inner wall.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the vessel comprises a single slot.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the second portion extends along at least a top half of the substantially cylindrical inner wall.

21. A vessel, comprising:
an outer wall;
a substantially tubular inner wall extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a continuous first portion extending along at least a bottom quarter of the inner wall for supporting a material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
a second portion comprising at least one slot substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and through the vessel from the inner wall to the outer wall; and

one or more temperature regulating channels provided within the vessel between the inner wall and the outer wall and configured to flow a fluid therethrough.

22. The vessel according to claim 21 , wherein the vessel is configured for use in a horizontal direction with a horizontally positioned induction coil configured to melt the material in the vessel.

23. The vessel according to claim 21 , further comprising a flange at an end of the vessel configured to secure the vessel to an injection molding apparatus and prevent movement of the vessel relative to the injection molding apparatus.

24. The vessel according to claim 21 , further comprising:
a cap coupled to an end of the vessel to seal ends of the one or more temperature regulating channels; and
an inlet and an outlet connected to the one or more temperature regulating channels to flow the fluid in, through, and out of the body.

25. The vessel of claim 21 , wherein the vessel comprises a single slot.

26. The vessel of claim 21 , wherein:
the inner wall is substantially cylindrical;
the continuous first portion extends along a bottom half of the inner wall; and
the second portion extends along a top half of the inner wall.

Assignees

• Crucible Intellectual Prop Llc

Inventors

• Verreault Adam A
• O'Keeffe Sean T
• Stevick Joseph W

Classifications

• B22D17/2038

  Heating, cooling or lubricating the injection unit (for plastics B29C45/74, B29C45/83) · CPC title

• B22D17/007

  Semi-solid pressure die casting · CPC title

• B22D17/04

  Plunger machines · CPC title

• B22D17/10

  with horizontal press motion · CPC title

• H05B6/24 Primary

  Crucible furnaces (H05B6/30 takes precedence) · CPC title