Jason M Unruh

US Patent:

20030037900, Feb 27, 2003

Filed:

Aug 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/932610

Inventors:

Walter Winterbottom - Jackson TN, US
Dan Chirieac - Somerset KY, US
Jason Unruh - Jackson TN, US
Jian Lu - Ballwin MO, US

International Classification:

B22D017/12
B22D027/04

US Classification:

164/113000, 164/900000

Abstract:

A method of producing a semi-solid material without stirring, including heating a metal alloy to form a metallic melt, transferring a select amount of the melt into a vessel, nucleating the melt by regulating the transferring of the melt into the vessel, and crystallizing the melt within the vessel by cooling the melt at a controlled rate to produce a semi-solid material having a microstructure comprising rounded solid particles dispersed in a liquid metal matrix. In one form of the invention, a temperature-controlled shot sleeve is provided for receiving and cooling an amount of metallic melt at a controlled rate to produce the semi-solid material. The shot sleeve has a number of heat transfer zones adapted to independently control the temperature of the melt disposed adjacent various portions of the shot sleeve. The shot sleeve also includes a ram operable to discharge the semi-solid material directly into a die mold to form a near-net-shape part.

US Patent:

20040211542, Oct 28, 2004

Filed:

May 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/847404

Inventors:

Walter Winterbottom - Jackson TN, US
Dan Chirieac - Somerset KY, US
Jason Unruh - Jackson TN, US
Jian Lu - Ballwin MO, US

International Classification:

B22D017/08
B22D025/00

US Classification:

164/113000, 164/900000

Abstract:

A method of producing a semi-solid material without stirring, including heating a metal alloy to form a metallic melt, transferring a select amount of the melt into a vessel, nucleating the melt by regulating the transferring of the melt into the vessel, and crystallizing the melt within the vessel by cooling the melt at a controlled rate to produce a semi-solid material having a microstructure comprising rounded solid particles dispersed in a liquid metal matrix. In one form of the invention, a temperature-controlled shot sleeve is provided for receiving and cooling an amount of metallic melt at a controlled rate to produce the semi-solid material. The shot sleeve has a number of heat transfer zones adapted to independently control the temperature of the melt disposed adjacent various portions of the shot sleeve. The shot sleeve also includes a ram operable to discharge the semi-solid material directly into a die mold to form a near-net-shape part.