Patent Number: 6,637,499

Title: Heat shield with adjustable discharge opening for use in a casting furnace

Abstract: A heat shield for a casting furnace (e.g., a directional solidification or single crystal casting furnace) includes a plurality of heat insulating plates (e.g., 6 plates), each with a leading edge. The plurality of heat insulating plates are arranged, for example, in an overlapping layout, such that at least a portion of their leading edges define a discharge opening (e.g., a hexagonal discharge opening in the case of a heat shield with 6 heat insulating plates) circumscribed by the heat insulating plates. The heat insulating plates are moveable in a manner that adjusts (i.e., increases or decreases) the size of the discharge opening. The heat shield also includes a rotatable disk operatively coupled to the heat insulating plates such that when the rotatable disk is rotated in one direction, the heat insulating plates are moved in a manner which decreases the size of the discharge opening. Furthermore, when the rotatable disk is rotated in another direction, the heat insulating plates are moved in a manner which increases the size of the discharge opening.

Inventors: Hainz, III; Leonard Charles (Albany, OR)

Assignee: Retech Systems LLC

International Classification: F27D 5/00 (20060101); B22D 027/04 ()

Expiration Date: 10/28/2020