Feeder system

1. A feeder system for metal casting comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a tubular body;

the tubular body having a first end and an opposite second end and a compressible portion therebetween so that upon application of a force in use, the distance between the first and second ends is reduced;

the feeder sleeve having a longitudinal axis and comprising a continuous sidewall extending generally around the longitudinal axis that defines a cavity for receiving liquid metal during casting, the sidewall having a base adjacent the second end of the tubular body;

the tubular body defining an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting, wherein

at least one cut-out extends into the sidewall from the base and the second end of the tubular body projects into the at least one cut-out to a fixed depth, and

the feeder sleeve is supported by a portion of the tubular body that projects into the at least one cut-out and that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feeder sleeve.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the compressible portion consists of a single step or kink constituted by first and second sidewall regions.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein (i) the angle θ formed between a pair of the first and second sidewall regions is from to 60 to 90°; (ii) the angle α formed between the first sidewall region(s) and the longitudinal axis of the tubular body is from 30 to 60°; and/or (iii) the angle β formed between the second sidewall region(s) and the longitudinal axis of the tubular body is from 30 to 60°.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the step or kink of the compressible portion of the tubular body is located outside of the feeder sleeve.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the step or kink of the compressible portion of the tubular body is spaced from the at least one cut-out.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the compressible portion consists of an alternating series of first and second sidewall regions thereby providing multiple steps or kinks.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the alternating series of first and second sidewall regions together form four steps or kinks.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the steps or kinks has a diameter measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and all of the steps or kinks have the same diameter.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the steps or kinks has a diameter measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the diameter of the steps or kinks decreases towards the first end of the tubular body to form a frustoconical compressible portion.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the frustoconical compressible portion is inclined from the longitudinal axis at an angle of no more than 15°.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein all of the steps or kinks of the compressible portion of the tubular body are located outside of the feeder sleeve.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the compressible portion of the tubular body projects partly into the at least one cut-out in the feeder sleeve.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is metal.

14. The system claim 1 , wherein the at least one cut-out extends away from the base to a first depth and the tubular body projects into the at least one cut-out to the first depth.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cut-out is a groove.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cut-out is contiguous with the feeder sleeve cavity.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feeder sleeve is an exothermic feeder sleeve.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feeder sleeve has a crush strength of at least 25 kN.

19. A feeder system for metal casting comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a tubular body;

the tubular body having a first end and an opposite second end and a compressible portion therebetween so that upon application of a force in use, the distance between the first and second ends is reduced;

the feeder sleeve having a longitudinal axis and comprising a continuous sidewall extending generally around the longitudinal axis that defines a cavity for receiving liquid metal during casting, the sidewall having a base adjacent the second end of the tubular body;

the tubular body defining an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting,

wherein at least one cut-out extends into the sidewall from the base and the second end of the tubular body projects into the at least one cut-out to a fixed depth, and

wherein a portion of the tubular body between the second end and the compressible portion projects into the at least one cut-out and is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feeder sleeve.

20. A process for preparing a mould comprising

placing a feeder system on a pattern plate, the feeder system comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a tubular body;

the feeder sleeve comprising a continuous sidewall that defines a cavity for receiving liquid metal during casting, the sidewall having a base adjacent the tubular body;

the tubular body defining an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting, the tubular body having a first end and an opposite second end and a compressible portion therebetween,

wherein a cut-out extends into the sidewall from the base and the second end of the tubular body projects into the cut-out to a fixed depth;

surrounding the pattern with mould material;

compacting the mould material; and

removing the pattern from the compacted mould material to form the mould;

wherein compacting the mould material comprises applying pressure to the feeder system such that the compressible portion is compressed and the distance between the first and second ends is reduced; and

wherein the feeder sleeve is supported by a portion of the tubular body that projects into the cut-out and that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feeder sleeve.

21. The process of claim 20 , wherein the compacting the mould material comprises applying a ram up pressure of at least 30 N/cm 2 .