Abstract: A cylindrical drum is driven for rotation about its axis by a drive mechanism. A braking mechanism selectively applies braking forces to the drum to impede or brake its rotational movement. A first movement sensor senses movement of the drive mechanism while a second movement sensor senses movement of the drum. An electronic comparator circuit compares these sensed movements and generates a control signal when the drive mechanism movement and drum movement are not in synchronism. In response to such loss of synchronism, a control mechanism causes the braking mechanism to apply braking forces.

Abstract: The mold handler includes a mold closer mechanism that supports the cope and drag halves and effects movement in a closing direction whereby cope and drag halves are moved into mating alignment with one another. The cope and drag halves are with respective alignment structures that mediate the mating alignment of cope and drag halves as they are moved into mating alignment with one another. An air bearing mechanism that supports at least one of said cope and drag halves permits low friction lateral movement in a plane perpendicular to the closing direction to thereby adjust the relative positional relationship of cope and drag by interaction of the alignment structures.

Abstract: A brazing system for brazing component members of a workpiece has a brazing chamber an inside of which is made a heating space of a volume corresponding to the workpiece, a radiant heating means provided with a plurality of heating sources which are positioned so as to correspond to a plurality of regions into which two facing surfaces of the workpiece are respectively divided, a convection heating means for circulating a heated inert gas to the heating space so as to heat the workpiece, and a control means for controlling the operation of the heating sources and the circulation of the inert gas. Each heating source is independently controlled by the control means, and the convection heating means circulates the inert gas so as to reduce a temperature difference of the workpiece caused by the heating sources.

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: This invention relates to a mold rollover apparatus including a wheel member defining an axis and selectively rotatable about the axis and at least one carrier member carried by the wheel member and adapted to carry at least one mold member having a cast part disposed therein. The at least one carrier member is selectively rotatable at least from a first position, wherein the cast part is generally retained in the at least one mold member, to a second position, wherein the cast part is generally free to fall or drop from the at least one mold member. According to the present invention, the at least one carrier member is selectively rotatable about the axis at least from the first position to the second position independent of the rotation of the wheel member about the axis.

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 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 casting rollover apparatus includes a cage supporting a casting mold and a slide coupled to the cage for advancing the mold into and out of engagement with a molten metal discharge nozzle. A spindle is carried on the slide and coupled to the cage for rotating the cage. A clamp cylinder is carried on the cage for clamping the mold in the closed position. A single transducer is mounted on one of a pair of pressurized fluid drive cylinders on the slide to detect the position of the slide. Electrical plug connectors are coupled to the transducer and the cylinder control elements. Thrust bearings are mounted on the spindle and apply a pre-load to the spindle. A digital proportional valve is coupled to a drive cylinder for controlling the deceleration of the spindle. A position detector switch is mounted in the path of angular rotation of the spindle to initiate spindle deceleration. The clamp cylinder carries a tubular member coupled to the piston and movable with respect to the clamp cylinder housing.

Abstract: A casting rollover apparatus includes a cage supporting a casting mold and a slide coupled to the cage for advancing the mold into and out of engagement with a molten metal discharge nozzle. A spindle is carried on the slide and coupled to the cage for rotating the cage. A clamp cylinder is carried on the cage for clamping the mold in the closed position. A single transducer is mounted on one of a pair of pressurized fluid drive cylinders on the slide to detect the position of the slide. Electrical plug connectors are coupled to the transducer and the cylinder control elements. Thrust bearings are mounted on the spindle and apply a pre-load to the spindle. A digital proportional valve is coupled to a drive cylinder for controlling the deceleration of the spindle. A position detector switch is mounted in the path of angular rotation of the spindle to initiate spindle deceleration. The clamp cylinder carries a tubular member coupled to the piston and movable with respect to the clamp cylinder housing.

Abstract: The device is constituted by a prism-shaped structure which has flat faces, is internally hollow and is rotatably mounted, with preset stops, about a horizontal axis which lies at right angles to the direction of movement of the casting head. A core box is mounted on at least two oppositely arranged faces of the rotating prism-like structure and supports a lower half-mold and associated plates for extracting the finished core; each one of the lower half-molds can be placed in succession, upon rotation of the prism-like structure, at the movable upper half-mold so as to allow, by means of a single upper half-mold, to mold a core in each one of the lower half-molds and to simultaneously extract the previously finished core from the oppositely arranged half-mold.

Abstract: The flaskless molding machine includes a drag flask arranged so as to be rotated between a horizontal position and a vertical position, a cope flask arranged so as to be moved up and down when the drag flask takes its horizontal position and to be also rotated between a horizontal position and a vertical position in association with the rotation of the drag flask, and a squeeze plate for the cope flask arranged in the mold flask so as to be movable therein between the upper and lower openings of the cope flask.

Abstract: A handling apparatus for a core molding machine is capable of moving a core box portion between a molding position and an eject position using only a single actuator. A carriage carries a platen that supports a core box portion wherein the platen is rotatable about a pivot axis relative to the carriage. The platen carries a roller that rolls on a cam surface adjacent the carriage. As the carriage is retracted away from a molding position, the roller rolls over the cam surface and permits the platen to pivot relative to the carriage downwardly toward the eject position.

Abstract: For the production of horizontally divided flaskless foundry molds a mold making plant is employed consisting of a vacuum mold blowing machine, joined with a casting and cooling line and a shake out station. The vacuum mold blowing machine is provide with a pattern plate swapping device and designed in the form of a single station mold making maching, in which drags and copes of a mold are produced alternately. The single mold flask is part of the mold making machine and has means for stripping it from a drag or cope before removal of the same from the machine. This makes it possible to have one core insertion station with space for a plurality of drag without having more than one machine flask.

Abstract: Apertures are formed in the top surface of the platen assembly. A resilient diaphragm extends across each aperture and is extended upwardly through the aperture by a plunger. The extended diaphragm protrudes into sand within the flask and locks the sand mold against movement parallel to the top of the platen assembly.

Abstract: The cope flask and drag platen of a matchplate molding machine are supported for up and down movement on vertical guide rails by sliding bearings or slippers located adjacent to corners of the flask and the platen. Each slipper includes a mounting block and a separate bearing pad connected to the mounting block by screws which may be independently adjusted to establish uniform face-to-face contact between the bearing pad and the rail. The screws also may be quickly released to enable removal and replacement of the bearing pad without disturbing the position of the mounting block.

Abstract: Foundry sand molding apparatus for simultaneously forming cope and drag molds. The cope and drag molds are substantially simultaneously pre-jolted and jolt-squeezed to assure uniform density in the molds. Thereafter the apparatus laterally transfers the cope and drag molds into vertical alignment at an assembly station, with the drag mold being inverted and lowered during lateral transfer of same.

Abstract: A moulding plant comprises a sandslinger 2 and a turnover and withdrawal mechanism mounted on a common bed. The turnover mechanism is made in the form of two disks spaced apart and coupled to a drive designed to turn the turnover and withdrawal apparatus in a vertical plane relative to their horizontal axes. Rigidly fixed between the disks are side-roller conveyers wherebetween is mounted a double-sided pattern plate with top and bottom patterns. The withdrawal mechanism comprises power cylinders for moving the pattern plate with the top and bottom patterns. Mounted on the bed are two side-roller conveyers designed for carrying empty moulding boxes to the turnover and withdrawal mechanism.

Abstract: A foundry core or mold machine utilizes a horizontally extending frame pivoted at one end which fixedly supports one box half or cope and movably supports the other box half or drag. A power actuator pivots the frame to clamp the box halves closed against a blow head or gassing head which may be shuttled thereabove. The drag box half is mounted on a cradle on the frame for movement toward and away from the cope or fixed box half and for pivoting movement to bring the box to a core or mold discharge or an inspection or disassembly position when the box halves are not clamped against the blow head or gassing head. Each box half includes a machine actuated stripping mechanism to insure removal of the core or mold both from the cope and drag with the latter then placing the core on a discharge conveyor. The conveyor may be of the flat belt type canted slightly to present a flat surface to receive the core or mold.

Abstract: A mold handler for flaskless foundry molds made up basically of a horizontal support beam and two clamping arms supported for movement along the beam toward and away from each other. Each clamping arm has rotationally mounted pads with gripping surfaces having serrations thereon. The pads are self-aligning. The clamping arms move via a fluid circuit operably connected thereto. The entire structure is suspended by apparatus lying substantially within a plane containing the center of gravity of the beam and the structure it supports. The clamping arms are maintained at equal and opposite distances from the center of gravity at all times during operation of the mold handler by means of an interconnecting synchronizing linage. The fluid circuit controls and actuates fluid cylinders to urge the clamping arms toward and away from one another selectively to engage and release the gripping surfaces with and from a flaskless mold positioned therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic no-bake core and mold-making machine. A frame is rotatably mounted on a base and carries a plurality of core-forming patterns around its periphery. Plates surround the patterns to form a continuous, flat surface interrupted only by the pattern cavity. A mixing machine located adjacent to the rotating frame continuously pours sand and binder on the patterns and surrounding plates. A stationary plow under which the plates and patterns pass continuously wipes excess sand and binder into the next succeeding pattern passing below the plow. Means are provided for ejecting the cores from the patterns after they are cured.

Abstract: A foundry core making machine is disclosed which produces large or fragile cores. The core is initially made in two parts, which are later adhered together by movement between first and second stations. The separate core halves are made in third and fourth stations and then relatively moved to be in the first and second stations, vertically one above the other, and with flat surfaces facing each other. The core box booking means is utilized to move the lower core half upwardly against the upper core half to have the two adhere together. This same booking means was previously used to press vent grooves in one core half so that when the two core halves were assembled, a generally centrally extending core venting aperture was established. The core box ejection means then ejects the completed core from one core box in a carefully controlled movement.

Abstract: A dosed amount of molding sand is placed in a vessel arranged at a given distance from a pattern device from which a mold is to be formed, and a pressurized force is applied against the molding sand in the vessel from the side thereof remote from the pattern device in order thereby to impart to the molding sand an acceleration in the direction of the pattern device to compress the sand about the pattern device with the velocity of the accelerated molding sand being braked by impact with the pattern device and also by impact partially with a molding box within which the pattern device is contained. The vessel containing the molding sand is connected to a pressure source by a valve device which controls the application of pressure to the molding sand. Additionally a vacuum device is utilized to apply suction tending to compact the sand within the vessel to produce a more cohesive mass.

Abstract: Apparatus useful in foundry moulding or casting embodying a turret having a lurality of arms rotatably mounted on and extending radially from a hub or drum rotatable about a vertical axis. The arms comprise a base, an inclined intermediate portion and an end portion parallel with the base. A fixed rack is disposed horizontally on the turret frame and extends along the arc of a circle in part of the zone swept by the arms during rotation of the hub. Each of the arms carries a pinion, whose teeth mesh with the teeth of the rack to induce rotation of each arm by 180.degree. to invert the mould or die carried on the end of the arm.

Abstract: Foundry sand molding apparatus includes a head and table between which sand molds are squeezed. The head is rotatably indexable about a horizontal axis above the table, and carries different cope and drag squeeze boards selectively alignable with the table for producing different cope and drag sand molds on the same apparatus. The head has a sand supply passage therethrough and is rotatably indexable to a sand supply position with the passage vertically aligned with the table for supplying sand therethrough to a flask supported on the table. The head is rotatable in either of opposite directions from its sand supply position for selectively aligning either the cope or drag squeeze board with the table. Baffles extending across the sand supply passage perpendicular to one another are individually adjustable for adjusting the distribution of sand supplied through the passage.

Abstract: A molding machine for producingcasting molds has several angularly spaced molding stations and includes a main column and at least one swivel column positioned within and rotatable relative to the main column. Swivel bearings connect swivel arms to the main and swivel columns so that the arms extend transversely of and can be moved between the molding stations. Box frames for forming mold parts are secured to the free ends of the swivel arms so that they can be inverted or turned over. The swivel arms can be moved one above the other with the box frames holding mold halves which can be combined to form a complete mold.

Abstract: A machine for producing sand molds by a single operator, wherein the flask assembly, including the cope, drag and matchplate remain in the machine at all times, and the method utilized therein.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for producing rigid sand cores from a molding mixture of a refractory granular material such as sand and a hardenable binder. These rigid sand cores then are used in foundries for metal casting. The machine of the present invention is capable of producing several different types of rigid sand cores including hollow shell sand cores, hot box cores and cold box cores. The machine includes means for curing the molding mixture used to produce shell sand cores and hot box cores by applying heat to the molding mixture after it is placed in a core or molding box. Other means are provided in the machine for curing cold box cores by applying a gas catalyst to the molding mixture after it is placed in the core box. The machine of the present invention is automatically controlled by a circuit arrangement which can be programmed by the machine operator.

Abstract: Automatic sand mold fabricating apparatus and a method for using the apparatus is disclosed. The present invention provides at least a first cope and a first drag. Preferably, first and second copes and first and second drags are used. Where two pairs of copes and drags are utilized, the first pair will be filled at two diametrically opposed stations while the other pair will be positioned at one of two ejection stations that are both 90.degree. spaced apart from the first and second stations. The pairs of copes and drags alternate between the filling stations that are diametrically opposed to each other and the ejection stations which are 90.degree. away.

Abstract: An automatic mold and core forming machine is described wherein an endless chain conveyor is in engagement with a plurality of flasks carriers for movement therewith with a mold material retaining means positioned adjacent and end of the chain conveyor and arranged to contact the material in the flasks and retain it therein as the flasks are inverted in passage around the conveyor. A flask filling and compacting assembly is provided adjacent the opposite upper end of the chain conveyor for automatically filling and compacting the flasks as they pass thereunder and a mold draw station is provided at the underside of the chain conveyor.

Abstract: A moulding process includes closing a multi-part die onto hollow-forming members to produce a hollow core mould. The mould is used in the "cold" process to produce a hardened foundry core about the cavity-forming members. Parting the die causes the cavity-forming members and the hardened core to be pivoted so that the hardened core rests on a conveyor belt with the longitudinal axes of the cavity forming members aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt and with the cavity forming members lying in respective slots in a web fixed transverse to the conveyor belt. Subsequent movement of the conveyor belt causes the web to abut the hardened core and to extract the cavity-forming member from the hardened core as the hardened core is moved on the conveyor belt. In a modification of the process, the cavity forming members are partly extracted from the hardened core before the pivoting movement takes place.

Abstract: A vertical split shell molding machine characterized by comprising hanging top board rails which are movably and fixably mounted to the top board of the principal body of said machine, a blow head assembly which is arranged movably beneath said hanging top board rails, an assembly which rotates a core box by 180.degree. in the vise assembly, and an assembly which overturns a fixed core box outside the machine.