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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: In an arrangement of an ingate system with feeding reservoir for feeding castings, preferably in moulds with pouring form the bottom (ascending casting), with which ingate system at least a feeding reservoir is connected. The ingate system is connected to one or a number of mould cavities least one feeding reservoir (7) is provided consituting a widened part of a duct (4) or a part of a duct in the ingate system (1), and that a partition (6) consisting of a gauze screen (6) or equivalent is provided separating the feeding reservoir (7) and the duct (4).

Abstract: A method of advancing molds (5), after pouring to form castings (9) in the casting cavities (8), leaving a foundry plant comprising a mould-making station (A, 1-4) and a pouring station (B,7), the molds (5) leaving the plant in the form of closely juxtaposed mold parts (5) with the castings (9) in casting cavities (8) at the mainly vertical parting surfaces between successive molds (5), the latter constituting a mold string (F), in which each mold (5) occupies a given length (S) in the longitudinal direction of the mold string (F), the latter after having passed a precision conveyor (6, 16) being transferred to a second conveyor (10, 16, D).

Abstract: In a conveyor or other foundry equipment having surfaces protected by a wear plate secured to a structural part of the equipment, the wear plate is detachably secured by means of studs permanently secured to a structural part of the equipment. Heads of the studs cooperate with engagement flanges in keyhole-like recesses in the wear plate, all in such a manner that the wear plate can be detached by sliding it in a direction to disengage the flanges from the heads. With this arrangement, the wear plate can be attached and detached without the use of tools other than possibly a soft mallet, and without the use of screws exposed at the wear face of the wear plate. The arrangement can also be used to detachably secure a wear plate to other structural parts of foundry equipment such as a moulding chamber or a clamp.

Abstract: Crushed and graded magnetite ore is mixed with clay to form foundry moulds and cores. These moulds or cores are useful when casting non-ferrous metals or alloys, especially light metals and light-metal alloys.

Abstract: In a string of molds (32) with vertical parting surfaces, each mold cavity (35) is connected through a wide throat with its own after-feeding reservoir (36). When the mold has been poured, a gas pressure is applied through a channel (43) and a passage (41) to a lower metal surface in the after-feeding reservoir (36). This gas pressure is not allowed to exceed the metallostatic pressure in the mold at the surface, at which the pressure is applied, until the metal in the ingate (37) has solidified or the ingate has been blocked in some other way. At the location where the passage (41) opens into the after-feeding reservoir, it is covered by an element (42) that is impermeable to the metal having been poured but permeable to the pressurized gas. When the metal in the ingate (37) has solidified or the ingate has been blocked in some other way, the gas pressure may be increased.

Abstract: A casting device for counter gravity casting of a light-metal alloy avoids local expansion of the mould cavity. The device includes a pump for conveying molten light metal from a holding furnace through a reservoir via a nozzle to an inlet system in a mould in order fill the mould cavity. The mean cross-sectional area of the reservoir is substantially greater than the mean cross-sectional area of the inlet in the mould. The length of the reservoir constitutes a major portion of the distance between the pump and the mold.

Abstract: A cylindrical element (14) with a through-going passage (15) is retained in the mold in such a manner that a part of the element (14) protrudes from the outside of the mold, and so that the passage (15) opens into a part of the runner (8) of the mold, the internal terminal surface of element (14) lying opposite a plane surface (16) in the runner (8). During casting, the nozzle (13) of a casting device is brought into tight-fitting abutment against the outer end of the element, and the molten metal alloy is cast into the mold through the nozzle (13), the passage (15) in the element (14) and the runner (8) of the mold.