Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for securing facing edge portions of a pair of adjacent photovoltaic panels to a torque tube beam of a solar tracking assembly. The mounting bracket includes a mounting bracket and a fastener assembly including a securing strap for securing the mounting bracket to the torque tube beam. The mounting bracket includes: an upper support structure, a central attachment structure and a lower projection structure extending in a vertical direction downwardly away from the upper support structure. The upper attachment structure includes a first body and a second body spaced apart by the central attachment structure. The lower projection structure including a first rib extending vertically downwardly from the first body and a second rib extending vertically downwardly from the second body. A lower portion of the lower projection structure including a through slot sized to receive the torque tube beam.

Abstract: A flask for containing mold sand within it prevents any mold shifting or mold dropping. Each of an upper flask 2 and a lower flask 3 includes a body that defines an opening in which a sand mold is to be molded. The body has at least one inlet 101 for introducing the mold sand into the opening. Two flanges 102 are extended from the body such that they are opposed to each other across the opening. Each flange has a through bore. The flask also includes engaging members for engaging an actuator in the outside of the flask such that a force or forces from said actuator could be transmitted to the flask. An upper flask 104 and a lower flask 105 are opposed to each other across a pattern plate 107. They are integrally assembled to make a flask unit by means of a pair of connecting rods 106 that are fitted in each bore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal fiber manufacturing system. The system casts molten metal as a metal fiber; collects the metal fiber in real time; transfers the metal fiber; separates normal products from defective products; and packages a predetermined amount of the normal product metal fiber. The system processes the cast metal fiber continuously or in batches, and manufactures the same, thereby having effects of improving the efficiency of the production process and obtaining significant economic benefits.

Abstract: A control device of a processing machine actuates an axle drive of the processing machine commensurate with a reference displacement movement, displacing a mechanical structure of the processing machine accordingly. The control device determines an absolute movement of the mechanical structure in space and therefrom, taking into account the reference displacement movement of the mechanical structure, a compensation movement for a compensating mass damping a vibration of the mechanical structure. Arranged on the mechanical structure is a compensating drive which acts on the compensating mass. The control device actuates the compensating drive in accordance with the compensation movement, displacing the compensating mass relative to the mechanical structure and thereby damping the vibration of the mechanical structure.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing devices operable in various external force environments are disclosed. In an aspect, an additive manufacturing device operable in microgravity is disclosed. In other aspects, devices which are operable in high-vibration environments or varying external force environments are disclosed. Additive manufacturing devices herein may produce parts from metal, polymer, or other feedstocks.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling the advancing movement of a casting plunger in a casting chamber of a cold-chamber die casting machine by way of an actuating signal, the advancing movement comprising a chamber filling movement phase from a partial filling position, with a partially filled casting chamber starting volume, to a full filling position, with a filled casting chamber remaining volume. In the device, a respective associated progression of an actuating signal is provided for different specified sets of values of a plurality of process parameters that influence the movement of the molten material in the casting chamber during the chamber filling movement phase, which progression is defined as the most suitable actuating signal progression for the particular set of parameter values.

Abstract: The Present invention provides an arc melting furnace apparatus and a method of controlling arc discharge, in which a melt material having been melted can be stirred efficiently, avoiding labor intensive work. The furnace is provided with a mold 3 having a recess 3a and provided in a melting chamber 2, a non-consumable discharge electrode 5 for heating and melting a melt material accommodated in the recess 3a, a power source unit 10 for supplying electric power to the non-consumable discharge electrode 5, and a control device 11 which controls the power source unit to control output intensity of the arc discharge from the non-consumable discharge electrode. The control device 11 controls output current from the power source unit 10 and its current frequency to vary the output intensity of the arc discharge from the non-consumable discharge electrode 5 and stir a molten metal resulting from heating and melting the melt material.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for positioning at least one of two casting rolls in a continuous casting process for producing a metal strip. The device and the method allow adjusting or modifying the casting gap between the casting rolls during the ongoing operation, thereby having an influence on the strip thickness and the strip profile of the produced metal strip.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the level of a plurality of phases of a conductive or semi-conductive mixture in a vessel. The systems and method include a vessel configured to hold the mixture, a plurality of antennas configured to transmit electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals into the mixture to impinge upon the plurality of phases and to receive corresponding signals reflected from the plurality of phases, a transmitter module configured to generate electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals in communication with the plurality of antennas, a receiver module configured to receive electromagnetic and/or eddy current signals in communication with the plurality of antennas, a control module in communication with the transmitter module and the receiver module configured to control their operation, and a signal analysis module in communication with the receiver module configured to process the reflected signals to determine the levels of the plurality of phases within the vessel.

Abstract: To provide a method and a machine for forming flaskless molds with a shortened cycle time even if many cores are placed, to thereby achieve efficient molding.

Abstract: A casting method to produce a casting and a press used for the casting method, using a mold which forms a cavity in a shape of a casting, so as to produce a casting by overlapping a lower mold with an upper mold, which molds are molded by a molding method, the casting method comprises the steps of: pouring into the lower mold a quantity of molten metal required to produce a casting; lowering the upper mold at a predetermined first speed until the upper mold reaches a predetermined position just before the upper mold starts contacting a surface of the molten metal; lowering the upper mold at a predetermined second speed after the upper mold is further lowered beyond the predetermined position; detecting and obtaining information on the status of the upper mold which overlaps the lower mold; and stopping the lowering of the upper mold when detecting the information on the status of the upper mold that shows that the predetermined conditions are met.

Abstract: This invention relates to flaskless molding equipment for molding a mold that provides support for quickly restoring the stopped equipment to a normal operation. The control circuit (sequencer 200) monitors the movements of the movable members (lower squeezing board 4, lower filling frame 6, upper flask 10, master plate 22, and pushing plate 32), the cylinders (cylinder for squeezing a set of flasks 2, cylinder for a lower filling frame 5, cylinder for upper flask 9, pattern-shuttle cylinder 21, and cylinder for pushing molds 31), and the mechanisms for driving a cylinder (mechanism driving a cylinder for squeezing a set of flasks 400, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.

Abstract: A molding machine able to detect a burr or other abnormality by detecting the position of tie bars. A control device detects an occurrence of burrs according to whether or not displacement amounts of pistons associated with the tie bars, using position sensors which detect the position of the pistons. The position sensors detect position from the start of injection to the completion of the injection to determine whether detected values are within a permissible range.

Abstract: A clamping system provided with a fixed die plate, a movable die plate, a plurality of tie bars, half nuts able to be coupled with or release coupled parts of a plurality of tie bars, clamping cylinders accommodating pistons of a plurality of tie bars, position sensors detecting positions of pistons, a plurality of direction control valves connected to a plurality of clamping cylinders, and a control unit controlling the plurality of direction control valves so that a difference of movement amounts of pistons among the plurality of tie bars from the time of die contact to the time of the completion of clamping becomes within a predetermined permissible value based on detection results of the position sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for electric clamping, which performs a clamping process in parallel with a core-drawing-in process, avoiding damages of molds and core mechanisms and enabling secure clamping.

Abstract: A molding machine able to stably detect an abnormality of a squeeze pin, for example, a die cast machine having a squeeze pin able to apply pressure to a melt of a cavity repeatedly performing a molding cycle including a pressing process making the squeeze pin advance and applying pressure to the melt of the cavity in a state where the melt is filled in the cavity and a spray process making the squeeze pin advance and performing at least one of lubrication and cooling of the squeeze pin in the state where the melt is not filled in the cavity, and, in the spray process, detecting a stroke of the squeeze pin and detecting an abnormality of the squeeze pin based on a comparison of the detection result about the stroke and a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: A monitor system for monitoring a molding machine that includes a vertically-movable supporting frame, a pattern carrier on which a pattern is placed, a flask placed on a leveling frame, a sand hopper provided with an optional an air-jet chamber, sand-charging nozzles disposed around a plurality of squeeze feet that is disposed at a lower end of the sand hopper, and a filling frame connected to filling-frame cylinders and surrounding the squeeze feet and the sand-charging nozzles from their outside, the filling frame to be placed on the flask when lowered, comprising at least one sensor connected to the molding machine, for detecting an attribute of the molding sand as required and data analyzing monitor means connected to the sensor, for receiving data that correspond to the attribute detected by the sensor and analyzing the attribute and displaying the results of the analysis.

Abstract: To provide a mold clamping apparatus that a new actuator is not necessary for a mold thickness adjustment and that the mold thickness adjustment can be performed at low cost. A mold clamping apparatus has a tie bar having a piston and a coupled groove, a cylinder for mold clamping that has the piston of the tie bar built in and that pressured driving liquid for generating mold clamping force is supplied, a half nut coupled with the tie bar releasably by meshing with the coupled groove, a position sensor detecting a position of a moving direction of the tie bar, a direction change valve changing a supply of the driving liquid between a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, and a control apparatus positioning a position of the tie bar at a position that the half nut and the coupled groove are able to be meshed by controlling the direction change valve in response to the position of the tie bar detected by the position sensor.

Abstract: To provide a mold clamping apparatus able to suppress spout of a molding material from between mating faces of dies and to extend the lifetime of the dies. A mold clamping apparatus has a control apparatus deciding a distribution of a load divided by a plurality of tie bars based on information concerning to the die and controlling pressure of driving oil of a cylinder chamber of each cylinder for mold clamping independently to become a load having a determined distribution.

Abstract: A monitor system for monitoring a molding machine that includes a vertically-movable supporting frame, a pattern carrier on which a pattern is placed, a flask placed on a leveling frame, a sand hopper provided with an optional an air-jet chamber, sand-charging nozzles disposed around a plurality of squeeze feet that is disposed at a lower end of the sand hopper, and a filling frame connected to filling-frame cylinders and surrounding the squeeze feet and the sand-charging nozzles from their outside, the filling frame to be placed on the flask when lowered, comprising at least one sensor connected to the molding machine, for detecting an attribute of the molding sand as required and data analyzing monitor means connected to the sensor, for receiving data that correspond to the attribute detected by the sensor and analyzing the attribute and displaying the results of the analysis.

Abstract: Twin roll caster for casting thin steel strip comprises chilled casting rolls mounted on carriers. One roll is fixed and the other is moveable laterally and biased toward the other roll by carrier drive units acting on the moveable roll carriers. A casting pool of molten steel is supported on the rolls which are rotated to produce a solidified steel strip delivered downwardly from the nip therebetween. A substantially constant gap is maintained between the rolls such that unsolidifed molten metal passes through the nip between the solidified shells of the forming strip and solidifies below the nip. The carrier drive units are effective to apply to the biased roll substantially constant and low biasing forces, which may be between the same and slightly more than the force required to balance the hydrostatic pressure of the casting pool and to overcome the mechanical friction involved in moving the biased roll.

Abstract: A monitor system for monitoring a molding machine that includes a vertically-movable supporting frame, a pattern carrier on which a pattern is placed, a flask placed on a leveling frame, a sand hopper provided with an optional an air-jet chamber, sand-charging nozzles disposed around a plurality of squeeze feet that is disposed at a lower end of the sand hopper, and a filling frame connected to filling-frame cylinders and surrounding the squeeze feet and the sand-charging nozzles from their outside, the filling frame to be placed on the flask when lowered, comprising at least one sensor connected to the molding machine, for detecting an attribute of the molding sand as required and data analyzing monitor means connected to the sensor, for receiving data that correspond to the attribute detected by the sensor and analyzing the attribute and displaying the results of the analysis.

Abstract: A vacuum die casting apparatus includes a casting cavity (10), which is evacuatable via a vacuum valve (26). A liquid casting material is pressable into the casting cavity by a piston (14) actuated by an actuator (17). A filling level sensor (20) detects a predetermined filling level of the casting material in the casting cavity. A control device (34) is connected to the filling level sensor for controlling the vacuum valve, and a position sensor (32) is connected to the control device (34) for detecting movement of the piston (14). The control device generates a closing signal for the vacuum valve (26) when the piston, after reaching the position (s1) at which the filling level sensor (20) indicates a predetermined filling level of the casting cavity (10) with casting material has been reached, is displaced in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A monitor system for monitoring a molding machine that includes a vertically-movable supporting frame, a pattern carrier on which a pattern is placed, a flask placed on a leveling frame, a sand hopper provided with an optional an air-jet chamber, sand-charging nozzles disposed around a plurality of squeeze feet that is disposed at a lower end of the sand hopper, and a filling frame connected to filling-frame cylinders and surrounding the squeeze feet and the sand-charging nozzles from their outside, the filling frame to be placed on the flask when lowered, comprising at least one sensor connected to the molding machine, for detecting an attribute of the molding sand as required and data analyzing monitor means connected to the sensor, for receiving data that correspond to the attribute detected by the sensor and analyzing the attribute and displaying the results of the analysis.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for machining a mold material to produce a mold. By casting based on a cast mold model (15), a mold material (20) is produced in a form having a work margin. Thereafter, a shape of the mold material (20) is measured by a measuring device (16), and measurement data and an envelope model (M2) generated based on the measurement data are stored in a storage unit (12A) of a computer (12). Thereafter, a mold model (M1) based on mold design data and an envelope model (M2) are displayed on a display unit (12C), and the envelope model (M2) is linearly moved in direction of three axes X, Y and Z orthogonal to one another respectively and rotated around the three axes to bring a product forming plane (M2B) of the envelope model (M2) into close proximity of a product forming plane (M1B) of the mold model (M1).

Abstract: A casting machine is provided for producing an as-cast product by using horizontally split type metal molds, which are closed and held horizontally to define a cavity, and by pouring molten metal from a holding furnace into the cavity. The casting machine includes a metal drag held horizontally at a fixed position; a plurality of upwardly-facing cylinders disposed around the metal drag and mounted on a floor or a base, each cylinder having a cylinder rod that extends and retracts; and a cope die base mounted for vertical movement on the distal ends of the cylinder rods of the upwardly-facing cylinders for horizontally holding a metal cope at a position above the metal drag so that the metal cope is mated with the metal drag to define the cavity when the cope die base is lowered by the upwardly-facing cylinders.

Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.

Abstract: Steel strips and methods for producing steel strips are provided. In an illustrated embodiment, a method includes continuously casting molten low carbon steel into a strip of no more than 5 mm thickness having austenite grains that are coarse grains of 100-300 micron width; and providing desired yield strength in the cast strip by cooling the strip to transform the austenite grains to ferrite in a temperature range between 850° C. and 400° C. at a selected cooling rate of at least 0.01° C./sec to produce a microstructure that provides a strip having a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. The low carbon steel produced desired microstructure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for increasing production efficiency of mold lines where molten metal or other material requiring a cooling period is poured sequentially into moving molds. The invention particularly comprehends the tracking of individual molds and the individualized control of the cooling time of the molds from beginning to end of the line in the presence of random line stoppages and variant mold size.