Patents Assigned to Consolidated Engineering Company
  • Patent number: 5439045
    Abstract: Waste gasses generated in the process of manufacturing cores and castings are collected and inventively routed to a heat treating furnace for incineration. Additionally, as a portion of the waste gas is being routed, it is put to use in the reclaiming of uncured scrap materials and the reclaiming of sand within the furnace. Additionally, provisions are made for decreasing the height of the furnace by decreasing the height of hoppers therein and increasing the size of the base of the hoppers to maintain proper flow of reclaimed sand and portions of core materials being reclaimed therein toward the base of the hopper. Multiple fluidizers are employed in the base of the hopper to accommodate for the increased size of the base of the hopper and maintain optimum flow of materials toward the base and optimum fluidization of the materials within the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott P. Crafton
  • Patent number: 5354038
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for reclaiming substantially pure sand from a heat treating furnace; wherein a casting with sand core and/or sand mold, comprising sand bound by a combustible binder, attached thereto is introduced into the heat treating furnace; or, wherein portions of sand core and/or sand mold that are not attached to a casting are introduced into the heat treating furnace. Wherein, the reclaiming within the furnace is carried out, in part, by a fluidizer that promotes binder combustion by one or more process of agitating, heating, and oxygenating. Wherein, the characteristics of tile reclaimed sand are selectively controlled by controlling the dwell time of tile sand within the heat treating furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott P. Crafton
  • Patent number: 5350160
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for heat treating metal castings with sand cores provides for removal of the sand core and recovery of the sand core material for reuse. The method and apparatus eliminate the need for removing the sand core from the casting prior to heat treatment and thus eliminate the labor, expense, and possible damage to the casting incidental to conventional core removal techniques such as chiseling and shaking. The method involves heating the casting with sand core therein to a temperature sufficient to burn off the binder component of the sand core. The sand comprising the sand core is then blown out of the casting by directing a flow of air over the workpiece. The sand thus dislodged is then collected for reuse. According to the disclosed apparatus, the castings are heated in a furnace having fans for directing a flow of air over the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul M. Crafton, Scott P. Crafton
  • Patent number: 5294094
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for heat treating metal castings with sand cores provides for removal of the sand core and recovery of the sand core material for reuse. The method and apparatus eliminate the need for removing the sand core from the casting prior to heat treatment and thus eliminate the labor, expense, and possible damage to the casting incidental to conventional core removal techniques such as chiseling and shaking. The method involves heating the casting with sand core therein to a temperature sufficient to burn off the binder component of the sand core. The sand comprising the sand core is then blown out of the casting by directing a flow of air over the workpiece. The sand thus dislodged is then collected for reuse. According to the disclosed apparatus, the castings are heated in a furnace having fans for directing a flow of aid over the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul M. Crafton, Scott P. Crafton
  • Patent number: 3937521
    Abstract: The disclosure, for classification, is to a pressure vessel with fill valve admitting thereinto material to drop into a perforate diaphragm to be transferred, vacuum pulling in the material upon the perforate membrane or diaphragm, to upstand thereabove, the gas plenum below the diaphragm having activating gas inlet valve means communicating therewith and opened at intervals temporarily to break the vacuum. When a batch of material has been drawn in, the fill valve and the vacuum (and air break) valves are automatically closed, the activating gas inlet valve is opened to admit activating gas, as compressed air, to pass upwardly through diaphragm and activate the material to a highly flowable state. A discharge valve is then opened to let the pressurized material flow out through a discharge line to point of transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1976
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company
    Inventor: Brian R. Reuter