Device and method for producing a rotationally symmetrical, hollow metallic workpiece

Abstract

Methods for producing a rotationally symmetrical, hollow metallic workpiece may involve rotating a casting mould about a rotation axis and introducing a melt into the casting mould. The melt may be thrown towards an inner contour of the casting mould by centrifugal forces, and hollow bodies may be added to the melt. Furthermore, a device for producing a rotationally symmetrical, hollow metallic workpiece may include a casting mould that is rotatable about a rotation axis, a feeder device for introducing a melt into the casting mould such that the melt is thrown towards an inner contour of the casting mould by the effect of a centrifugal force, and a metering device for adding hollow bodies to the melt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a rotationally symmetrical, hollow metallic workpiece, the method comprising:
 rotating a casting mould about a rotation axis;   introducing a melt into the casting mould, wherein the melt is thrown towards an inner contour of the casting mould by centrifugal forces; and   adding hollow bodies to the melt.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a material of the hollow bodies has a higher melting point than a material of the melt. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow bodies are configured as hollow spheres. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow bodies comprise a ceramic material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow bodies comprise aluminum oxide, zirconium dioxide, silicon carbide, boron carbide, silicon nitride, titanium boride, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, or silicone dioxide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow bodies comprise a metallic material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow bodies comprise iron or an iron alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow bodies comprise a ceramic material, aluminum oxide, zirconium dioxide, silicon carbide, boron carbide, silicon nitride, titanium boride, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, silicone dioxide, a metallic material, iron, an iron alloy, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising preheating the hollow bodies prior to adding the hollow bodies to the melt. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hollow bodies are added to the melt in the casting mould after the melt has at least partially solidified in the casting mould. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the melt is a first melt, the method further comprising introducing a second melt into the casting mould after the addition of the hollow bodies, wherein the second melt is thrown by centrifugal forces towards the first melt that has already at least partially solidified on the inner contour of the casting mould. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising adding additional hollow bodies after introducing the second melt and after the second melt has at least partially solidified. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rotation axis about which the casting mould is rotated is a horizontal rotation axis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rotation axis about which the casting mould is rotated is a vertical rotation axis. 
     
     
         15 . The rotationally symmetrical, hollow metallic workpiece produced from the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A device for producing a rotationally symmetrical, hollow metallic workpiece, the device comprising:
 a casting mould that is rotatable about a rotation axis;   a feeder device for introducing a melt into the casting mould; and   a metering device for adding hollow bodies to the melt.