Abstract: A mold handling system for carrying and transporting sand molds comprises a mold handling conveyor with multiple mold exits to provide different outputs for the sand molds. The mold handling system may include flags which can be used to mark selected molds to segregate the sand molds into different groups. A control system responds to flag sensors and tracks the molds to selectively control output of sand molds through the mold exits. Methods of handling sand molds using a mold handling system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mold flask assembly is provided with a novel clamping mechanism for clamping a pattern plate in the mold flask assembly of an automated molding machine. The clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp abutment and a clamping head extending along an axis. The clamping head provides a second clamp abutment. The first and second clamp abutments engage each other in a clamped position. The first and second clamp abutments are spaced along the axis and angularly displaced in a released position. A combination rotary and linear actuator is operative to facilitate relative linear translation and rotation between the rod and the bushing to move between the clamped and released positions.

Abstract: An automated matchplate molding machine includes a cope flask, a pattern plate and a drag flask for creating formed sand molds. A lock is provided to lock the drag flask to the platen table of the molding machine during desired stages of an individual sand molding sequence. The lock between the drag flask and the platen table may include actuated pins which engage corresponding detent structures such as tapered holes integral with the drag flask and prevent lateral migration of the drag flask relative to the platen table. Additionally, cope flask actuators are provided which vertically support and are operable to raise the cope flask relative to the squeeze head to facilitate release the cope mold from the cope flask.

Abstract: A mold flask assembly is provided with a novel clamping mechanism for clamping a pattern plate in the mold flask assembly of an automated molding machine. The clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp abutment and a clamping head extending along an axis. The clamping head provides a second clamp abutment. The first and second clamp abutments engage each other in a clamped position. The first and second clamp abutments are spaced along the axis and angularly displaced in a released position. A combination rotary and linear actuator is operative to facilitate relative linear translation and rotation between the rod and the bushing to move between the clamped and released positions.

Abstract: An automated matchplate molding machine includes a cope flask, a pattern plate and a drag flask for creating formed sand molds. A lock is provided to lock the drag flask to the platen table of the molding machine during desired stages of an individual sand molding sequence. The lock between the drag flask and the platen table may include actuated pins which engage corresponding detent structures such as tapered holes integral with the drag flask and prevent lateral migration of the drag flask relative to the platen table. Additionally, cope flask actuators are provided which vertically support and are operable to raise the cope flask relative to the squeeze head to facilitate release the cope mold from the cope flask.

Abstract: An automatic molding machine has different operational molding stations in which at least two different safety zones are provided for the different molding stations. Such an automated machine includes a mold flask assembly including a drag flask, a cope flask and a pattern plate. An electronic controller controls the molding machine differently when different safety zones are breached.

Abstract: A method and automated matchplate molding machine for blowing sand horizontally into the horizontally spaced open ends of the cope and drag flasks with a perpendicular trajectory relative to a vertically aligned matchplate between the cope and drag flasks. Sand is pneumatically blown horizontally from sand magazines through opposing ends of the cope and drag flasks toward the matchplate. The cope and drag flask can be turned between the upright and rotated positions. The machine disassembles the mold flask and removes the mold in the upright position and fills the mold with sand horizontally when in the rotated position. The molding machine includes a rotating turret that carries two mold flasks between a mold forming station and a draw station. The mold flasks may also be rotated about a horizontal axis relative to the turret to facilitate turning of the mold flasks between upright and rotated positions.

Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.

Abstract: A method and automated matchplate molding machine for blowing sand horizontally into the horizontally spaced open ends of the cope and drag flasks with a perpendicular trajectory relative to a vertically aligned matchplate between the cope and drag flasks. Sand is pneumatically blown horizontally from sand magazines through opposing ends of the cope and drag flasks toward the matchplate. The cope and drag flask can be turned between upright and rotated positions. The machine disassembles the mold flask and removes the mold in the upright position and fills the mold with sand horizontally when in the rotated position. The molding machine includes a rotating turret that carries two mold flasks between a mold forming station and a draw station. The mold flasks may also be rotated about a horizontal axis relative to the turret to facilitate turning of the mold flasks between upright and rotated positions.

Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.

Abstract: A method and automated matchplate molding machine for blowing sand horizontally into the horizontally spaced open ends of the cope and drag flasks with a perpendicular trajectory relative to a vertically aligned matchplate between the cope and drag flasks. Sand is pneumatically blown horizontally from sand magazines through opposing ends of the cope and drag flasks toward the matchplate. The cope and drag flask can be turned between upright and rotated positions. The machine disassembles the mold flask and removes the mold in the upright position and fills the mold with sand horizontally when in the rotated position. The molding machine includes a rotating turret that carries two mold flasks between a mold forming station and a draw station. The mold flasks may also be rotated about a horizontal axis relative to the turret to facilitate turning of the mold flasks between upright and rotated positions.

Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.

Abstract: A conveyor for a molding machine and a molding machine incorporating the conveyor in which the portion of the conveyor and its driven rollers that run through the pouring station have been shortened such that the pallets extend over the conveyor to shield the conveyor and rollers from molten metal, and in which the rollers are slanted at an oblique angle relative to the intended path of the molds such that the driven rollers bias the pallets away from the pouring line to ensure that pallets carrying molds do not fall off the conveyor onto the pouring line.

Abstract: A conveyor for a molding machine and a molding machine incorporating the conveyor in which the portion of the conveyor and its driven rollers that run through the pouring station have been shortened such that the pallets extend over the conveyor to shield the conveyor and rollers from molten material, and in which the rollers are slanted at an oblique angle relative to the intended path of the molds such that the driven rollers bias the pallets away from the pouring line to ensure that pallets carrying molds do not fall off the conveyor onto the pouring line.

Abstract: The invention consists of a floating production vessel operating on the surface of the sea with two or more risers connected between equipment or wells on the sea floor and the vessel or its equipment at the surface. The risers are rigid, jointed pipe with rugged field proven drill-pipe type connections. The arrangement, spacing, and support of the risers at the vessel and on the sea floor is such that the vessel, riser supports, and upper ends of the risers may be rotated from a neutral heading up to about 90 degrees in either direction without the use of a swivel or turret at the surface or sub-sea, and without damage to the risers or reducing the spacing between the risers unacceptably.

Abstract: A two tiered mold handling system for use in a sand mold casting machine which comprises a two tiered conveyor for pouring and cooling, or a two tiered conveyor for cooling only. The two-tiered conveyor has an upper linear track and a lower linear track disposed at a lower vertical elevation. The tracks carry a plurality of mold pallets along an endless path around the upper and lower linear tracks. The application is directed toward several concepts including two tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors, two tiered combination pouring and cooling conveyors, and one tiered pouring conveyors in combination with two tiered cooling conveyors to provide a lower pouring elevation.

Abstract: A deep ocean drilling system is disclosed for drilling offshore wells in extremely deep water using smaller and more economical drilling vessels. The system utilizes a reduced diameter drilling riser that reduces the size and cost of conventional floating drilling unit. The reduced diameter drilling riser is detached from the blowout preventer stack and repositioned and attached to a mud return assembly. Large diameter casing is lowered into the wellbore outside of the reduced diameter riser. Thereafter, the reduced diameter drilling riser is released from the mud return assembly and repositioned over and reconnected to the blowout preventer stack.

Abstract: A mold handling system for transferring molds from multiple feed lines to a single main conveyor. The present invention provides an improved and simplified system for transferring molds from several mold making machines to a single conveyor leading to a pouring station. Through the use of a transfer conveyor with cantilevered arms which intersect with the feed lines and the main line, molds can be transferred from the transfer conveyor to the main line by raising and lowering the cantilevered arms. A simplified mechanism for raising and lowering the transfer conveyor is provided in the form of an air actuated bellows apparatus. In order to provide lateral support to the transfer conveyor, brackets flank the bellows that are provided with a predetermined amount of lateral play to provide both the lateral support to the transfer conveyor, as well as enable the transfer conveyor to be raised and lowered.

Abstract: A simplified mold handling system has a linear flowpath with adjustable throughput, variable cooling cycle capability, and minimized equipment and cost. The system has a mold handling conveyor with upper and lower levels on which pouring and cooling of the molds occur. The upper level of the conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. After the castings have been poured, the molds are transferred to the lower level of the pouring conveyor for cooling purposes, and then back to the upper level. The sand molds are then either pushed to another row of the pallet, or are pushed down a ramp to a vibrating conveyor for removal of the sand. Such features allow adjustability in the dwell time required for cooling of the given metal.

Abstract: Cope and drag molds are formed using a matchplate, in which the matchplate has shift blocks on its upper and lower surfaces. The shift blocks form corresponding cavities in the cope and drag molds. Then, a gauge mechanism is calibrated with a gauge standard. The gauge mechanism generally includes a gauge block, a spring biased arm, and a meter adapted to measure movement of the spring biased arm relative to the meter. The calibrating step is performed by sliding the gauge mechanism into the gauge standard which provides prototypical drag and cope mold surfaces. The gauge mechanism is calibrated by setting the meter to zero when the spring biased arm engages the prototypical cope mold surface. Lastly, the gauge mechanism is inserted into the formed cavities in the actual cope and drag molds such that the gauge block engages the drag mold and the spring biased arm engages the cope mold.