Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for casting ferrous or heavy metal articles in vertically parted sand moulds of a mould string plant through an inlet below or aside the mould cavity, by filling the moulds with molten metal by counter-gravity delivery using a source of pressure. The pressure is varied during the filling procedure to steer the flow speed and impact on the mould of the molten metal upon complete filling of the mould cavity is reduced.

Abstract: In a mould forming machine comprising a moulding chamber, a movable squeeze plate and a pattern, the filling of selected parts of the pattern with compressible mould material is improved by applying vacuum to said selected parts. By applying the vacuum separately to different parts of the pattern at different periods, of time during the filling step, the vacuum application can be applied during shorter periods only when needed, thereby reducing the drying out of the mould material and reducing the amounts of air to be removed by the vacuum system.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the movements of the squeeze plates of a string moulding apparatus where the apparatus generally includes a moulding chamber defined between two squeeze plates. One of the squeeze plates can be pivoted to open the moulding chamber. The production cycle of the apparatus includes, apart from the charging of the chamber with mould material, several movements of the squeeze plates. A movement of one plate commences before the preceding movement of the other plate has finished. The hydraulic system of the apparatus comprises two pumps, one pump for each actuator associated to one of the squeeze plates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cleaning the filter surface of a filter element, through which the liquid to be filtered flows, during a filtration operation using a pressurised cleaning fluid. According to an improvement of the invention, a distribution device is provided which delivers an essentially even pressure distribution of the cleaning fluid over the entire area of the filter surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: When casting metal articles in a mould by forcing molten metal upwardly through a filling tube by gas pressure in a closed chamber, the datum level just below that of a connector connecting the filling tube to the mould is registered by a level sensor in a sensing tube while the latter's upper end is connected to atmosphere through a vent tube. At the same moment, the pressure is measured by a pressure sensor and recorded by a control unit and maintained constant by the latter after the emptying of the sensing tube, by connecting its upper end to the chamber through an equalizing tube, until the pressure is increased to fill the mould according to a predetermined function of time programmed into the control unit. The starting point for the filling of all moulds in succession is the same, regardless of the amount of metal in the supply unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the movements of the squeeze plates of a string moulding apparatus, and to an apparatus for carrying out the method. Such an apparatus generally comprises a moulding chamber defined between two squeeze plates. One of the squeeze plates can be pivoted to open the moulding chamber. The production cycle of an apparatus of said kind comprises apart from the charging of the chamber with mould material several movements of the squeeze plates. A movement of one plate commences before the preceding movement of the other plate has finished. The hydraulic system of the apparatus comprises two pumps, one pump for each actuator associated to one of the squeeze plates.

Abstract: A molding machine for producing flaskless molds is provided with at least a cope flask and a drag flask and a pattern plate therebetween. The pair of flasks is alternatively positioned in a horizontal position in which the produced molds are removed and the pattern plate is inserted and removed, and in a vertical mold-forming position in which the sand is charged and compacted. The cope flask, the drag flask, the first squeeze plate, the second squeeze plate are rotatable in unison.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing casting mould parts by compacting sand or other like material between a vertical squeeze plate (1) and a vertical swingable plate (2) in a squeeze chamber (3), wherein the swingable plate (2) swings away after the compaction to allow passage of the mould part from squeeze chamber (3) by further forward movement of the squeeze plate (1) and the swingable plate is journaled on a front yoke (4) mounted on guide columns (5) for movement relative to the squeeze chamber (3), a pull yoke (6) is placed behind the squeeze chamber (3) and connected to the guide columns (5). At least two of the guide columns (5) are journalled in a number of guides (7) connected to a fixed part of the apparatus close to the position of the front yoke (4) in the compacting position and the pull yoke (6) is provided with at least one guide (8) journaled on guide columns (9) connected to fixed parts of the apparatus.

Abstract: When casting e.g. aluminium alloy in a mould (2), that may be one of a string of moulds extending at right angles to the plane of the drawing, the pressure used for filling the mould (2) against gravity by a pressurizing device (4) is controlled according to a predetermined pressure/time programme having previously been read into a control unit (22), e.g. a digital computer, at least one of a number of sensors sensing pressure (8), levels (9,10) and full level (11) being used to supply inputs to the control unit (22). Sensors are chosen according to need for each particular casting programme.

Abstract: An apparatus for uphill low pressure casting of molten metal in sand molds conveyed in synchronized manner with a casting station located at the conveyor, a gas pressure holding furnace containing the molten metal and located at the casting station with a rising casting tube connectable to the sand molds has a device for refilling the holding furnace with molten metal. To permit a rapid casting cycle and high casting capacities, the refilling device has at least one pressure-tight melt container and a filling tube located in the holding furnace with a seal positioned outside the same. The melt container is couplable in pressure-tight manner by means of its outlet to the holding furnace filling tube. The holding furnace is connected to the melt container by means of a pneumatic pressure compensating line.

Abstract: An apparatus for uphill low pressure casting of metals in split sand moulds and having a sprue in one of the two moulds, to which can be connected the casting tube of a melt container and which is connected to the lowest area of the mould cavity, and having a sealing plug integrated into the mould and which after the filling of the mould cavity can be brought into the closed position by means of an external drive engaging in the mould, including a seal which does impairing casting quality and moulding sand preparation. Between the sprue and the mould cavity is provided a casting channel connecting the sprue and the mould cavity. The sealing plug is constructed as a sand mould body and in a shaped-in guide of the mould is displaceable between an open position and a closed position, and seals a casting channel and a metallostatic pressure of the molten metal in the mould acts against the guide on the sealing plug.

Abstract: A method of ascending casting in a casting cavity where filling from the bottom results in a region of reduced pressure formed during the cooling in which solidification can be expected to take place last. The region is post-fed with molten material from a shortest possible feeding duct. By doing this, the consumption of casting metal is reduced, because it is no longer necessary to use a surplus of molten material to keep the bottom ingate open for feeding purposes and the consumption of mold material is also reduced because it is no longer necessary to adapt the mold to accommodate surplus molten material.

Abstract: There is provided a blast wheel assembly comprising an abrasive throwing wheel and a plurality of throwing blades evenly spaced axially on the wheel. The wheel has a central opening, an outer periphery, and a plurality of channels therein for receipt of the throwing blades. The channels extend from the outer periphery with a diminishing cross-section toward the central opening. The outer periphery includes an opening for insertion of a fastener. Each of the blades comprises an inner end, outer end, a surface for throwing abrasive, and a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to the abrasive throwing surface. Each blade diminishes in cross-section from its outer end to its inner end. Each blade includes a lug disposed proximate the outer end and between the outer end and the inner end of the blade. The lug has an opening therein adapted to align with the opening in the outer periphery of the wheel when the blade is inserted in one of the channels in the wheel.

Abstract: In a method of extracting castings (1, 2, 3) from moulds in a mould-string plant, the downstream-most mould (1) is gripped by a robot gripper (9) and made to cooperate with an engagement member (14), the latter first penetrating into the mould adjacent the casting (4) and then pulling the latter away from the mould. By proceeding in this manner it is possible to achieve a reliable extraction using relatively simple equipment and procedures. Other types of engagement members could be suctions cups or electromagnets.

Abstract: In casting metal objects in casting cavities (2) in moulds (1), connectable to a pressurized mould-filling furnace (5) through a delivery tube (8) and a connector (9), an external riser (13) is connected to and extends upwardly from the junction of the tube (8) and the connector (9). The riser (13) is used as a temporary reservoir in which the level of molten metal is regulated by controlling the gas pressure in space 7 in the furnace (5) such that the filling head, defined as the difference in level between the metal in the casting cavities (2) and that in the external riser (13), is kept constant or made to vary in a desired manner, e.g. so as to cause the level in the cavities to ascend at a substantially constant rate. The invention makes it inter alia possible to produce high-quality aluminum castings in sand moulds, e.g. using automatic foundry equipment of the DISAMATIC® type.

Abstract: An abrasive cleaning device and method are provided in which a rotating, oscillating drum tumbles articles being cleaned while they are subjected to oscillating blast streams of abrasive particles. Variable closure of alternating portions of an upper opening in the drum through which the blast streams are directed is accomplished by means of a flexible belt that moves in concert with the drum and blast head oscillations.

Abstract: In the case of uphill low pressure casting of metals, particularly light metal, a casting mold is connected by its gate, via a riser to a melting container and the melt contained therein is displaced under pressure through the riser into the mold. For increasing the casting capacity while maintaining a high quality of the casting, most of the melt volume necessary for filling the mold is displaced into the latter at the maximum casting speed, then the melting column in the riser is sheared and a residual volume remaining between the shearing point and the gate is displaced into the mold with a negative speed gradient. An apparatus for performing the above process is includes a tubular portion provided between the riser and the gate, the tubular portion forming a residual volume, an opening being formed between the riser and the tubular portion.

Abstract: Molten metal (6) in a furnace (5) and containing particles of solid material (not shown) in suspension is cast in moulds (1) conveyed continuously past the mould-filling station shown by a conveyor (4). To maintain the particles in suspension and keep the metal (6) homogeneous throughout the furnace (5), a paddle-wheel rotor (10) driven by a motor (13) keeps the molten metal in constant movement. A curved guide vane (14) is shaped, placed and oriented so as to divert some of the centrifugal flow from the rotor (10) towards the delivery tube (8) for the moulds (1), thus ensuring that the tube (8) is supplied with freshly-agitated metal.

Abstract: For desanding castings cast in moulding sand by means of at least one fluid pressure pulse acting on the sand mould, the fluid is bundled into at least one cutting jet and the latter is made to act directly on the sand mould.

Abstract: When pouring casting cavities in casting moulds having after-feeding reservoirs, tubular lances are introduced, firstly with their point at a short distance from the after-feeding reservoir, after which the lances are pressurized from a pressure chamber and by means of a member with an inclined surface pressed downwardly through the last short distance to the after-feeding reservoir so as to pressurize the latter. With this arrangement it is possible to pressurize the after-feeding reservoirs without the need of equipping the casting moulds with complicated extra equipment and without risk of the molten metal being pressurized unnecessarily.