Abstract: The pouring ladle can not only be tilted by a tilting drive and a cable around a permanent tilting axis in order to pour the molten metal in a mould, respectively to interrupt the pouring process, but the tilting axis can be lifted and lowered by a determined value by a lifting drive. By lifting and lowering the tilting axis, the tilting motion of the pouring ladle takes place approximately in the center of gravity of the molten metal. This permits to avoid compensating streams and wave motions of the molten metal when the pouring ladle tilts forward and backward and more definite and reliable processes are achieved, capable to be controlled, at the start of pouring and at the time of terminating the pouring. The lifting drive and the tilting drive can be utilized for further lifting the pouring ladle in order to advance the pouring ladle further toward the center of the mould at the first pouring process under holding a determined distance of security from the mould.

Abstract: The back and the braking body of the brake shoe are both formed as cast iron elements. The brake shoe, mainly consisting of molded parts, allows a particularly rational manufacture by casting operations or as a composite casting in one and the same casting mold, the casting mold being divided into casting cavities for the back and the braking body by a steel sheet. Cast-in steel reinforcements may be provided as well.

Abstract: A casting plant comprises a pressure ladle and a small-capacity tilting ladle to regulate the filling of molds making up a casting line and successively moving to a position beneath the tilting ladle. The control system comprises two servo loops. One servo loop includes sensors acting upon a motor to control the angular position of the tilting ladle so that the level of metal in the pouring gate of the mold remains constant during the pouring operation. During this time, an optical sensor, an angular-position sensor, and a pressure sensor included in the other servo loop supply input data which are processed to supply a signal acting upon a valve in a gas line feeding the pressure ladle. This valve regulates the flow of molten metal from the pressure ladle to the tilting ladle so that the quantity of metal contained in the tilting ladle remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A foundry installation control device is disclosed for causing a rapid cut off of a molten metal flow at the time when a mold is full. Two detectors are provided, one of which collects information concerning the instantaneous rate of metal flow pouring from a ladle into a sprue cup while the other collects information on the level of the molten metal in the cup. An electronic circuit connected to the outputs of the two detectors produces a mold filling signal which undergoes a sharp fluctuation at the precise moment when filling is completed. This signal is compared with an instruction value and causes the generation of a flow cut-off signal which triggers the cessation of pouring by righting of the ladle in the case of a tilting ladle, closing of the stopper in the case of a bottom-pour ladle, or closing the discharge valve in the case of a pressure ladle.

Abstract: In casting apparatus, a device is provided for the rapid exchange of a ladle to be tilted during the casting operation about a horizontal axis situated at its lip. In this device, a carriage can be run up and down on a stationary guide support which is curved about the aforementioned axis. The carriage has supporting arms which cooperate with hooking members disposed at the rear of the ladle in order to hold the ladle fast during tilting. After the empty ladle has been replaced on a dolly upon which it was moved into position, the supporting arms make it possible to move this ladle immediately away to the side and simultaneously to move a full ladle into a position where it is ready for lifting and tilting.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically controlling the pouring of molten metal into a series of closed casting molds is disclosed. Molten metal flows in a stream from a lip-pour or bottom-pour casting ladle into a pouring gate at the top of a mold and partially fills the gate. Visible light or infrared radiation is emitted from the metal surface in the gate and is detected by a sensing device. The sensing device generates a signal which is a function of the radiation received, and therefore the apparent area of the surface of metal in the gate. The signal operates a ladle control mechanism to control the flow rate of the stream to keep the gate level substantially constant during pouring.