ALLEN ROY PRICE
Pilots at Michillinda Rd, Sylvan Beach, MI

5931214, Aug 3, 1999

Aug 7, 1997

8/908446

Robert A. Spicer - Willoughby Hills OH
Allen R. Price - Whitehall MI

Howmet Research Corporation - Whitehall MI

B22D 2704

164258

Mold heating vacuum casting furnace system comprising a mold preheating chamber located above and connected to a vacuum casting chamber via an intermediate isolation valve. A mold elevator is provided in the casting chamber and can be moved into the mold preheating chamber to lower the mold onto an annular rotary chill member residing in the casting chamber. The elevator includes an upstanding elevator shaft that moves in the opening of the annular chill member in a manner that the preheated mold is deposited or set on the annular chill member as the elevator is lowered into the casting chamber. The chill member includes an upwardly diverging mold engaging surface onto which the preheated mold is set by the elevator as it is lowered. The chill member is disposed on a turntable such that the turntable and melt-filled mold residing thereon can be rotated in stop/start manner to form equiaxed grain structure in a hub region of the casting following solidificatin of columnar grain airfoils by cooperation between the chill member and mold.