To improve the life of a barrel in an apparatus for processing a metallic material feed stock into a molten or semisolid state.
The apparatus includes: a means 70 which is located upstream of a barrel 12 in order to preheat a feed stock to higher than the ambient temperature of the feed stock and lower than the solidus temperature of any constituent in the feed stock, and preheats the feed stock before the feed stock is introduced into the barrel; a feeder 22 coupled to the barrel via the inlet 18 of the barrel; a drive means 40 which is located within a passageway of the barrel, includes a body having a vane which at least partially forms a helix around the body to rotate a screw propelling the feed stock through the barrel, and shears the feed stock at a rate sufficient to inhibit complete formation of dendritic structure therein when the feed stock is in a semisolid state thereby processing the feed stock; and a heating means 24 for transferring heat through the barrel into the feed stock so that the feed stock is heated to a temperature higher than the solidus temperature of at least one constituent of the feed stock.
DECKER RAYMOND F
CARNAHAN ROBERT D
WALUKAS D MATTHEW
KILBERT ROBERT
VANSCHILT CHARLES
NEWMAN RICH
| JPH09103859A | 1997-04-22 |
Hajime Asamura
Toru Mori
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