Degassing and microstructure refinement of shape casting aluminum alloys

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981310-B2
Application number	US-201514841752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2015
Priority date	Sep 1, 2015
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A degassing and grain refinement system for a cast aluminum-based component and a method of achieving both hydrogen gas presence reduction and grain size reduction in a cast aluminum-based component. Ultrasonic vibrations are imparted to both the liquid metal travel path from its source to the mold to achieve the reduction in hydrogen gas in the molten metal, as well as to one or more locations within the mold to achieve relatively small and equiaxed grains in the component upon solidification.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A degassing and grain refinement system for a cast aluminum-based component, said system comprising:
a molten metal conveyance assembly configured to fluidly couple a source of said molten metal to a mold with a shape therein that substantially defines said component, said molten metal conveyance assembly having a launder tube, a ladle, and a pour basin and said mold having a sprue and runner; and
an apparatus cooperative with said conveyance assembly to impart ultrasonic vibrations thereto such that during at least a portion of its travel path between said source and said mold, said molten metal experiences reductions in hydrogen gas presence therein relative to no such vibrations being present, and further such that during a subsequent solidification of said molten metal in said mold, at least a portion of said component exhibits reductions in grain size relative to no such vibrations being present.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic vibration imparting apparatus is situated at discrete locations along at least the portion of said travel path that is defined by said launder tube.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said ultrasonic vibration imparting apparatus is further situated at discrete locations along at least a portion of said travel path that is defined by said ladle, pour basin, sprue and runner.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein said ultrasonic vibration imparting apparatus is further situated in at least one location within said mold.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said system prohibits an introduction of any grain-refining agents to said liquid metal.

6. A degassing and grain refinement system for a cast aluminum-based component, said system comprising:
a molten metal conveyance assembly configured to fluidly couple a source of said molten metal to a mold with a shape therein that substantially defines said component, said molten metal conveyance assembly having a launder tube, a ladle, and a pour basin and said mold having a sprue and runner; and
a plurality of vibration imparting apparatuses to impart ultrasonic vibrations thereto such that during at least a portion of its travel path between said source and said mold, said molten metal experiences reductions in hydrogen gas presence therein relative to no such vibrations being present, and further such that during a subsequent solidification of said molten metal in said mold, at least a portion of said component exhibits reductions in grain size relative to no such vibrations being present, wherein said plurality of vibration imparting apparatuses are situated at discrete locations along at least the portion of said travel path that is defined by said launder tube, situated at discrete locations along at least a portion of said travel path that is defined by said ladle, pour basin, sprue and runner, and situated in at least one location within said mold.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wang Qigui
• Hess Devin R
• Traub Jason R
• Cogan Christopher D
• Genualdi Andrew J

Classifications

• B22D35/04

  into moulds, e.g. base plates, runners · CPC title

• B22D27/08 Primary

  Shaking, vibrating, or turning of moulds · CPC title

• B22D1/007 Primary

  Treatment of the fused masses in the supply runners (B22D1/002, B22D1/005 take precedence) · CPC title

• C22B9/026

  by acoustic waves, e.g. supersonic waves · CPC title

• C22B21/06

  refining {(electrolytic refining C25C; C22B21/0046, C22B21/0061 take precedence)} · CPC title