(19)
(11) EP 2 027 953 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
20.01.2010 Bulletin 2010/03

(43) Date of publication A2:
25.02.2009 Bulletin 2009/09

(21) Application number: 08167058.0

(22) Date of filing: 07.08.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B22D 29/00(2006.01)
 C21D 9/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 08.08.2002 US 401969 P

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
03785083.1 / 1575722

(71) Applicant: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144-3651 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Crafton, Scott, P.
    Marietta, GA 30064 (US)
  • Crafton, Paul, M.
    Kennesaw, GA 30144 (US)
  • Knobloch, Volker, R.
    Woodstock, GA 30189 (US)
  • Lewis, James, L., Jr.
    Kennesaw, GA 30144 (US)
  • French, Ian
    Berlin, NJ 08009 (US)
  • Ruegg, Franz
    Kennesaw, GA 30152 (US)

(74) Representative: Hofstetter, Alfons J. 
Hofstetter, Schurack & Skora Balanstrasse 57
81541 München
81541 München (DE)

   


(54) Methods and apparatus for heat treatment and sand removal for castings


(57) A method of processing a metal casting, comprising: Pouring a metal in molten form into a mold containing a core formed from a binder soluble in a fluid selected from water, steam, organic solvents, thermal oils and combinations thereof; retaining the metal within the mold for a time and to a temperature sufficient to at least partially solidify the metal so as to form the casting; placing the mold in a heat treatment station for heat treating the casting within the mold with the casting aligned in a defined, indexed position; and applying a flow of the fluid in which the binder is soluble at the casting to degrade a portion of the core and to heat treat the casting.







Search report