With Means For Handling Expelled Cast Product Patents (Class 164/269)
  • Patent number: 9700938
    Abstract: A casting/rolling installation for producing hot-rolled strip. In order to save investment costs for the roll changing device in a corresponding installation with two parallel casting lines, without a roll change taking place in the process in a less operationally reliable and more complicated manner, the roll changing device is configured in the form of a rotary table and arranged in the intermediate space between the two casting lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Eberhard Witschas, Jürgen Heppelmann
  • Patent number: 8800636
    Abstract: Equipment for the removal of billets (5) of aluminum after casting. The equipment lifts billets out of a casting pit (2) after the end of the casting cycle and transfers the billets to desired transport equipment (20) for transport on to a store or further treatment/processing. The equipment includes a lifting device (6) with a gripping device (21) to retain a number of billets. The lifting device is arranged so that it can move over the casting pit and lift and move the stated number of billets. A ramp (18) extends from the casting pit to transport equipment (20). The lifting device includes preferably a lifting frame that is U-shaped with legs (7, 8) that are connected to a step (11) and are arranged upright. Each leg is supported on its own wheeled chassis or wheeled bogie, while the step in the U-shaped frame connects the legs in a structure that is connected for strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Geir Mæland, Rune Fjærvik
  • Patent number: 8387680
    Abstract: A device for the hydraulic positioning of structural component parts, in particular rollers of strand guide segments of a continuous casting installation, with hydraulic cylinders, each of which is divided into a cylinder space and an annular cylinder space by a piston having a piston rod. The cylinder spaces can be connected to a pressure source by of control members. Hydraulic connection lines are reduced or components used are reduced. Either the annular cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled, or the cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the annular cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventors: Holger Beyer-Steinhauer, Peter Jonen, Dietmar Hinz, Lothar Schaps, Axel Weyer
  • Publication number: 20120305211
    Abstract: A metal delivery apparatus for casting metal strip includes at least one elongated segment having a main portion extending longitudinally through the main portion with end walls at opposite ends thereof, the main portion communicating with outlets along opposite sides of each segment adapted to upwardly discharge flow of molten metal into a casting pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: NUCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Schlichting, Brian Bowman, Clark Ponder, Peter Woodberry
  • Patent number: 8205660
    Abstract: A device for transferring continuous cast slabs arranged parallel to and equidistant from one another to an individual production line arranged in extension of one of the continuous casting strands, wherein the cycle time for transferring and conveying the slabs is to be reduced. This is achieved by a ferry which is movable transversely by steps between the ends of the continuous casting strands and the start of the production line and which has berths serving for receiving and delivering the slabs substantially simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventor: Michael Lipowski
  • Patent number: 8171982
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing a metal strip has solidification section (3) formed as a horizontally extending conveyor element for transporting cast metal in a transport direction (F), a delivery vessel (2) for delivering liquid metal to a first location of the solidification section (3), a delivery vessel (2) for delivering liquid metal to a first location of the solidification section (3); and a device provided at or downstream of a second location spaced from the first location for maintaining a desired tension of a metal strip and including at least one driver (8, 9) for transporting the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rolf Franz, Olaf Norman Jepsen, Christian Mengel, Michael Breuer
  • Publication number: 20120097358
    Abstract: A roll line in a continuous caster is disclosed. It comprises at least two segment roll lines (1, 2) for transporting steel. Each segment roll line (1, 2) comprises a roll body (3, 4), bearings (5) for supporting the roll body (3, 4), bearing housings (6). The roll body (3, 4) has two shaft ends (7, 8, 9, 10), and a ring (11). Adjacent shaft ends (8, 9) of segment roll lines (1, 2) are at least partly inside the through-hole of the ring (11) and the adjacent shafts ends (8, 9) are connected via torque transferring element (t1). There is a closed compartment (12) for receiving lubricant for lubricating the torque transferring element (T1). The closed compartment (12) is in the through-hole and is sealed off by sealing elements (s1, s2) located between the ring (11) and circumferential surfaces of the first and second adjacent shaft ends (8, 9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Mats Johansson, Daniel Johansson
  • Publication number: 20120048499
    Abstract: Equipment for the removal of billets (5) of aluminium after casting, comprising lifting billets out of a casting pit (2) after the end of the casting cycle and transferring the billets to the desired transport equipment (20) for transport on to a store or further treatment/processing. The equipment consists of a lifting device (6) with a gripping device (21) to retain a number of billets (5). The lifting device is arranged so that it can move over the casting pit and is designed to lift and move the stated number of billets, and a ramp (18) that extends from the casting pit to the transport equipment (20) and into contact with which the billet is designed to be brought and transported along in the direction of the transport equipment (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Geir Maeland, Rune Fjærvik
  • Publication number: 20120037331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for guiding and orienting a strand (5) in a continuous casting facility for large-sized round sections made of steel or a similar material. In order to prevent the formation of cracks while the strand is oriented, the outer surface (15) of the strand is heated from above and from below inside the orienting track. For this purpose, porous burners (10, 17) are arranged in the discharge section of the directing track, the hot gas emitted from said burners flowing entirely around the outer surface (15) of the strand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SMS CONCAST AG
    Inventors: Thomas Meier, Klaus Von Eynatten
  • Publication number: 20120018930
    Abstract: A temperature maintenance and/or possible heating apparatus for long products, continuously cast and sheared to size by means of shearing means so as to define segments of bloom, said apparatus being disposed between a casting machine having a first casting line and a second casting line, and a rolling line disposed downstream of the casting machine in order to make long rolled metal products. The apparatus comprises a first furnace, a second furnace and a transit tunnel. The first furnace is provided with a first introduction rollerway to introduce the bloom segments, disposed aligned with said first casting line, a removal rollerway, aligned with said rolling line and suitable to render the bloom segments available to said rolling line, and transverse transfer devices to transfer the bloom segments from the first introduction rollerway to the removal rollerway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA
    Inventor: Gianpietro Benedetti
  • Publication number: 20120018111
    Abstract: A temperature maintenance and/or possible heating apparatus for long products continuously cast and sheared to size by means of shearing means so as to define segments of bloom, said apparatus being disposed between a casting machine having a first casting line and a second casting line, and a rolling line disposed downstream of the casting machine in order to make long rolled metal products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA
    Inventor: Gianpietro Benedetti
  • Publication number: 20120006502
    Abstract: The invention essentially relates to a device and a method for casting and rolling metal, wherein at least one first and one second casting line for casting slabs and a rolling train for rolling the casted slabs are provided. The first casting line is designed as a horizontal thin-slab casting system (1) which comprises at least one dispensing vessel (5) for a melt and a conveyor belt (6) running horizontally downstream of the at least one dispensing vessel (5) in the casting direction. The second casting system is likewise designed as a horizontal thin-slab casting system (1) and/or as a vertical thin-slab casting system (2), which comprises at least one mold (4) for vertically casting slabs and a bending and straightening device (7) for bending and straightening the vertically casted slabs into a horizontal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jörg Bausch, Lothar Fischer
  • Patent number: 8042600
    Abstract: A production apparatus is provided which can produce an alloy which can produce a rare-earth magnet having high coercive force. The apparatus for producing an alloy is a device that includes at least a casting device for casting a molten alloy by a strip casting method, a crushing device for crushing cast alloy after casting, a heat-retaining device for maintaining temperature of cast alloy flakes N supplied from the crushing device, and a storage container for storing the cast alloy flakes N after maintaining the temperature. The heat-retaining device includes a heat-retaining container for storing the cast alloy flakes N supplied from the crushing device, a temperature retaining heater for maintaining the temperature of the cast alloy flakes N in the heat-retaining container, an inclination device for sending the cast alloy flakes N in the heat-retaining container to the storage container by inclining the heat-retaining container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8011418
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal strip includes casting a slab (3) or preliminary strip (3?) in a casting machine (2) and subsequently rolling the cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3?) in at least one rolling train (4, 5) in a first operating mode with the at least one rolling train being connected with the casting machine for continuously manufacturing the metal strip, and in a second operating mode removing the cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3?) from the main transport line (6) with a shuttle system arranged between the casting machine (2) and the at least one rolling train (4, 5), storing the removed slab (3) or preliminary strip (3?), and subsequently transporting the removed slab (3) or preliminary strip back into the main transport line, with the removed slab (3) or preliminary strip (3?) being heated to a desired temperature or maintained at a desired temperature prior to the transport back into the main transport line (6) for discontinuously manufacturing the metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: SMA Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Rosenthal, Stephan Krämer, Christoph Klein, Jürgen Seidel, Wolfgang-Dietmar Hackenberg
  • Patent number: 7980291
    Abstract: An arrangement for maintaining the warmth of slabs which exit from a continuous casting installation and which can be transported on a roller table for further processing. In order to optimize the thermal balance between the continuous casting installation and the hot rolling mill, a supporting part is provided for receiving a slab, which supporting part can be placed on the roller table and transported thereon, and an insulating box which can be placed upon the supporting part and which substantially encloses the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventors: Thomas Fest, Erich Hovestädt, Wolfgang Mossner
  • Patent number: 7958929
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an alloy, including: a casting device which casts a molten alloy using the strip cast method; a crushing device which crushes the cast alloy after casting; and a heating device which keeps the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing at a predetermined temperature or which heats the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing, wherein the heating device is equipped with a container and a heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Kazuya Ueno, Shinichi Osawa, Shiro Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20100300642
    Abstract: A tumbling unit such as a casting shake-out unit, rotary media drum, sand reclaimer or the like includes a cylindrical outer shell and a cylindrical inner liner. The inner liner is formed of a series of interfitting segments. The segments each have an inner surface, an outer surface, side edges, a front edge, a back edge, and two vanes extending from the outer surface. The side edges of the segments have a groove and the grooves of neighboring segments define a channel between the segments. A pin in the channel urges the neighboring segments apart to form a tight interfit among the segments in a row of the liner. The pin conforms in shape and size to the cross section of the vanes, and aligns with the vanes of the adjacent segments to form a continuous spiral upon the outside of the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Michael S. Didion
  • Publication number: 20100252223
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a strip (1) of metal, particularly of steel, wherein liquid metal is delivered to a solidification section (3) from a delivery vessel (2), and wherein the cast metal solidifies along the solidification section (3). In order to achieve an optimal strip quality without damages, the inventive method proposes that liquid metal is delivered to a first location (4) of the solidification section (3) that is realized in the form of a horizontally extending conveyor element, and in that the solidified metal departs the conveyor element (3) at a second location (5) that is spaced apart from the first location in the transport direction (F), wherein means (6, 7) for maintaining the mass flow of the strip departing the solidification section (3) and/or the tension in the strip at a desired value are provided at or downstream of the second location (5) referred to the transport direction (F).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Rolf Franz, Olaf Norman Jepsen, Christian Mengel, Michael Breuer
  • Publication number: 20100230067
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for maintaining the warmth of slabs (3) which exit from a continuous casting installation and which can be transported on a roller table (1) for further processing. In order to optimize the thermal balance between the continuous casting installation and the hot rolling mill, it is proposed to provide a supporting part (2) for receiving a slab (3), which supporting part (2) can be placed on the roller table (1) and transported thereon, and an insulating box (4) which can be placed upon the supporting part (2) and which substantially encloses the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Thomas Fest, Erich Hovestädt, Wolfgang Mossner
  • Publication number: 20100147484
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a metal strip (1) by means of continuous casting and rolling, wherein a thin slab (3) is initially cast in a casting machine (2) and this thin slab is subsequently rolled in at least one rolling train (4, 5) by utilizing the primary heat of the casting process, wherein a continuous manufacture of the metal strip (1) (continuous rolling) can be realized in a first operating mode by directly coupling the casting machine (2) to the at least one rolling train (4, 5), and wherein a discontinuous manufacture of the metal strip (1) (batch rolling) can be realized in a second operating mode by decoupling the casting machine (2) from the at least one rolling train (4, 5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Dieter Rosenthal, Stephan Kraemer, Christoph Klein, Juergen Seidel, Wolfgang-Dietmar Hackenberg
  • Publication number: 20100132908
    Abstract: A device for the hydraulic positioning of structural component parts, in particular rollers of strand guide segments of a continuous casting installation, with hydraulic cylinders, each of which is divided into a cylinder space and an annular cylinder space by a piston having a piston rod. The cylinder spaces can be connected to a pressure source by control members. Hydraulic connection lines are reduced or components used are reduced. Either the annular cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled, or the cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the annular cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventors: Holger Beyer-Steinhauer, Peter Jonen, Dietmar Hinz, Lothar Schaps, Axel Weyer
  • Publication number: 20090159236
    Abstract: Fibers, pipes, rods, strips or profiles made of high-melting inorganic oxides or minerals are used in great quantities, for example for reinforcing plastics, ceramics and metals. In order to produce said products, use is made of apparatuses comprising a melt container with an individual orifice, or orifice plate with a multiplicity of orifices, arranged in the base of the melt container. The melt in the melt container has to be kept at as homogeneous as possible an operating temperature above the individual orifice or orifice plate. For this purpose, the melt container is usually heated by a direct through flow of current. This results in high radiation losses to the surroundings and to a correspondingly high need for electric energy. It is proposed, for the heating of the melt, to arrange one or more pipes in the melt container, the pipes having at least one connection to the outside through the container casing, and electric heating elements being inserted into the pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Oechsle
  • Publication number: 20090095938
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing an alloy, including: a casting device which casts a molten alloy using the strip cast method; a crushing device which crushes the cast alloy after casting; and a heating device which keeps the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing at a predetermined temperature or which heats the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing, wherein the heating device is equipped with a container and a heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Kazuya Ueno, Shinichi Osawa, Shiro Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20090020259
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous casting plant (1), in particular for the continuous casting of thin slabs, which has a vertically oriented strand guide (3) arranged below a mould (2), wherein means (4, 5) for driving the cast strand (6) and for bending the same into the horizontal (H) are arranged below the strand guide (3). In order to be able to extend the strand guide without any drawbacks, the invention provides for a means (4) for exclusively driving the cast strand (6) to be arranged below the bottom end of the strand guide (3) and for a means (5) for exclusively bending the cast strand (6) to be arranged below the driving means (4). The invention also relates to a method of operating a continuous casting plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Jorg Bausch, Bernd Leifeld, Jurgen Muller
  • Publication number: 20080198900
    Abstract: The invention provides a temperature measurement system including a temperature sensor and means for biasing the temperature sensor in the direction of a thermal energy source in response to receiving thermal energy from the source. The invention also provides a continuous casting system including at least one temperature sensor disposed in the secondary cooling region and means for biasing the temperature sensor in the direction of the strand of metal in response to receiving thermal energy from the strand of metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Douglas C. Myhre
  • Patent number: 7308929
    Abstract: An aluminum ingot casting machine comprising a source of molten metal, a rotatable annular ring, carrying ingot casting moulds and a drive means for indexing the moulds. The machine includes a vacuum demoulder having a vacuum seal arrangement comprising a sealing element having a flexible core which can deform to form a vacuum seal against an ingot and a flexible abrasion resistant outer layer on said core, and retaining elements located on a lower face of the vacuum lifting head for releasably retaining the sealing element onto the lifting head. The vacuum seal comprises a flexible ring shaped body, being rounded in cross section, having a fibre cord core and an abrasion resistant flexible sheathing surrounding the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: David James Beale, Matthew James Astill Holmes
  • Patent number: 6953079
    Abstract: A die casting machine injecting and filling a molten metal into a cavity formed between a pair of dies so as to cast a product, comprising an ejecting pin for ejecting a casting by its front and sticking out inside the cavity and a powder feeder for feeding a powder release agent for promoting release of the casting from the dies, the ejecting pin including a release agent feed path for guiding powder release agent fed from the powder feeder to a front end of the ejecting pin and feeding it to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Suzuki, Shoko Kubota, Kazumi Tsuruda, Isao Kuboki, Toshiaki Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 6595267
    Abstract: A tumbling unit such as a casting shake-out unit, rotary media drum, sand reclaimer or the like, is provided. The tumbling unit includes a cylindrical outer shell and a cylindrical inner shell. The inner liner is formed of a series of interfitting segments. The segments each have an inner surface, an outer surface, side edges, a front edge, a back edge, and a vane extending from the outer surface. The side edges of the segments have a groove formed therein which extends the length of said the edges. The grooves of neighboring segments define channel between the segments. A pin or liner lock key is received in the channel to urge the neighboring segments apart to form a tight interfit among the segments in a row of the liner. The retaining pin has a body having side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A hole extends through the pin body and receives a dowel, which is sized to extend from opposite sides of said pin body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Didion Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael S. Didion, Charles J. Didion
  • Patent number: 6467529
    Abstract: The removal of bonded sand, either core sand or mold sand, from a metal casting comprises placing the metal casting in a furnace chamber and subjecting the metal casting to the action of a high velocity heated gas stream (preferably above 3000 ft/minute) from hot air generators positioned on opposite sides of the chamber at the approximate level of the metal casting and directed to the metal casting. The heated gas stream is at a temperature and oxygen content sufficient to oxidize the binder in the bonded sand and a velocity sufficient to remove the debonded sand. The sand is removed by gravity from the furnace chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Can-Eng Furnaces, Ltd.
    Inventor: John R. Kay
  • Publication number: 20020079081
    Abstract: A thin-strip casting device (1) assures across the entire selected range of the width an about constant production of thin-strip (12) without requiring artificially extended charging times of the steel plant installed upstream. A multitude of interchangeable pairs of casting rollers (2) having different casting roller diameters “D” depending on the strip width “B” to be cast, are associated with the thin-strip casting device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Georg Bollig
  • Publication number: 20020023729
    Abstract: A tumbling unit such as a casting shake-out unit, rotary media drum, sand reclaimer or the like, is provided. The tumbling unit includes a cylindrical outer shell and a cylindrical inner shell. The inner liner is formed of a series of interfitting segments. The segments each have an inner surface, an outer surface, side edges, a front edge, a back edge, and a vane extending from the outer surface. The side edges of the segments have a groove formed therein which extends the length of said the edges. The grooves of neighboring segments define channel between the segments. A pin or liner lock key is received in the channel to urge the neighboring segments apart to form a tight interfit among the segments in a row of the liner. The retaining pin has a body having side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A hole extends through the pin body and receives a dowel, which is sized to extend from opposite sides of said pin body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Michael S. Didion, Charles J. Didion
  • Patent number: 6273176
    Abstract: A tumbling unit such as a casting shake-out unit, rotary media drum, sand reclaimer or the like, is provided. The tumbling unit includes a cylindrical outer shell and a cylindrical inner shell. The inner liner is formed of a series of interfitting segments. The segments each have an inner surface, an outer surface, side edges, a front edge, a back edge, and rifling extending from the outer surface. The side edges of the segments have a groove formed therein which extends the length of said the edges. The grooves of neighboring segments define channel between the segments. The pin is received in the channel to urge the neighboring segments apart to form a tight interfit among the segments in a row of the liner. The retaining pin has a body having side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A rib extends along each side surface which is shaped and sized to be received in the grooves of the neighboring segments. An arm extends upwardly from the pin body top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Didion Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Michael S. Didion
  • Patent number: 5948341
    Abstract: Lightweight part retention apparatus is arranged on a removal tool plate. A low pressure air supply is supplied to the apparatus to induce an area of reduced pressure in a channel formed in a passage therein, the reduced pressure being formed by a jet pump action within the channel. The reduced pressure draws a part to be removed from a mold or the like into the apparatus and retains it therein until a separate device removes it and/or the air supply is interrupted. Due to the relatively low mass of the retention apparatus, the tool plate and retention apparatus, with the molded part retained therein, can then be rapidly withdrawn from the open mold to permit early closing of the mold so that a new molding cycle may begin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrea Lucille Diamond, Paul Fedor Kresak
  • Patent number: 5725041
    Abstract: A static pour, gravity feed permanent mold machine for molding a casting from molten metal heated in a furnace, consisting of a chassis, a die holder adapted to receive a reusable die, a reusable open-face die for insertion in the die holder, a vertically-oriented die ejection system for ejecting the casting from the die, an ejector pin lubrication system, horizontal mobile gating blocks which together form a gating system when brought together over the die opening, a horizontally-mounted degater for severing the gating system from the casting while the gating system and casting are still hot, a mobile casting receiver for removing the casting from machine, and a mobile robot arm for dipping molten metal from the furnace and for returning the gating system to the furnace for remelting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Eugene F. Schultz
  • Patent number: 5664617
    Abstract: A sow lifter includes a vacuum hood with a gasket which establishes a seal between the hood and a sow to be lifted from a mold. Preferably, the gasket is of a circular cross section before use and includes a core of a first material surrounded by a high temperature resistant fabric. The gasket is detachably mounted to the vacuum hood. A sow gripper may be provided and may take the form of fluid cylinder actuated arms with sow gripping elements. The gripping elements are shiftable from a first position in which the elements are not positioned beneath a lifted sow to a second position in which the gripping elements are at least partially positioned beneath the sow. The sow lifter is preferably utilized in combination with a sow train to facilitate the cyclical removal of at least partially solidified sows from cars or molds in the train as such molds pass a sow removal location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Columbia Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Russell D. Patton, Delbert A. Beckstrand
  • Patent number: 5638887
    Abstract: A retaining rod is provided for forcing a tight interfit between adjacent segments of a liner of a casting shake-out unit, sand reclaimer, rotary media drum, or a tumbling unit. The adjacent edges of the liner segments have triangular grooves which combine to create diamond shaped channels between adjacent segments of the liner. The rod is generally diamond shaped in cross-section and tapered from front to back, giving the rod an overall trapezoidal appearance. The cross-sectional height of the rod is greater than the cross-sectional width of the rod. Thus, the rod can be placed in the channel in one of two positions and the same rod may be used if the clearance between adjacent segments is large or small simply by rotating the rod 90.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Nidion Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Michael S. Didion
  • Patent number: 5638890
    Abstract: A casting shake-out unit has an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is made of a plurality of interfitting segments which interlock and cooperate with each other to prevent a segment from falling out of the completed inner cylinder. Each segment includes tongues extending from opposing edges of the segment's body and pockets formed in the body. The pockets of one segment receive at least a part of the tongue of a neighboring segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Didion Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael S. Didion, Charles J. Didion
  • Patent number: 5536318
    Abstract: A method of application of finning preventive agent in an apparatus for casting anodes for electrolyzing copper by pouring molten copper into the molds, in which the inner planes of the molds can be coated with the finning preventive agent in a reliable and efficient manner, is provided. Before pouring molten copper into the molds, silicon oil is automatically applied to the inner planes 2a.sub.1, to 2a.sub.10 of the molds M dividedly in three applications by industrial robots 24, 25 of a vertical multi-articulate type having brushes 30. An amount of silicon oil consumed is 4 to 10 cc for one mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Hashiuchi, Yushirou Hirai, Eiji Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5531263
    Abstract: An oscillating trough for shotblasting, which prevents workpieces (W) from being damaged when they are turned over in the trough, is provided. The trough includes a depression (24) defined by two surfaces X.sub.4, X.sub.5 extending from the bottom (21) of the transfer portion upwardly and outwardly thereby making an inner angle of 80.degree.-100.degree. and an arcuate surface S connected to the top of each surface X.sub.4, X.sub.5 of the depression. The surface S is an arc in cross section of a radius of 70-100% of the radius of the largest cylinder inscribable in imaginary planes Y and Z each of a predetermined length in cross section, the plane Y at one end intersecting an upper end of the surface X.sub.4 or X.sub.5 with an external angle of 140.degree.-160.degree., and the plane Z at one end intersecting the plane Y with an inner angle of 120.degree.-140.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yamamoto, Mitsuo Matsuba, Hideaki Kaga, Masaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 5505247
    Abstract: In order to effectively enhance the overall efficiency in casting operations, a process and system for cooling and cleaning a casting is disclosed. The process and system include removing the casting from a molding machine after it has been formed. The casting is then moved to a punch-out station for removing it from a sand mold. Next, the casting is moved to a shake-out station for shaking residual sand from it. The casting is then conveyed away from the shake-out station on a cooling conveyor. Next, the temperature of the casting is monitored at or near a downstream end of the cooling conveyor. The casting is then transferred from the cooling conveyor into a vibratory cooling drum where it is further cooled. In addition to these unique aspects, the process and system includes controlling the rate of cooling of the casting within the vibratory cooling drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventor: Albert Musschoot
  • Patent number: 5350160
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for heat treating metal castings with sand cores provides for removal of the sand core and recovery of the sand core material for reuse. The method and apparatus eliminate the need for removing the sand core from the casting prior to heat treatment and thus eliminate the labor, expense, and possible damage to the casting incidental to conventional core removal techniques such as chiseling and shaking. The method involves heating the casting with sand core therein to a temperature sufficient to burn off the binder component of the sand core. The sand comprising the sand core is then blown out of the casting by directing a flow of air over the workpiece. The sand thus dislodged is then collected for reuse. According to the disclosed apparatus, the castings are heated in a furnace having fans for directing a flow of air over the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul M. Crafton, Scott P. Crafton
  • Patent number: 5335713
    Abstract: In an installation for the manufacture of hot-rolled steel strip from continuously cast stock, a caster for the continuous casting of the stock into steel strip, a furnace positioned for receiving the strip after it leaves the caster and containing at least two winding/unwinding mandrels each placed in first and second proximate locations, respectively, the first mandrel is placed in the first location adapted to receive and wind the strip into a coil, transport devices are provided for transporting the coil and first mandrel from the first location to a second location and the second mandrel from the second location to the first location; the strip is unwound from the first mandrel in said second location and then fed to a mill. Alternative embodiments include vertical or horizontal movement of the mandrels, more than two mandrels, devices for driving the mandrels at different speeds, cutting means, clamping devices, furnace heating devices, dividing shears and descaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Hoppmann, Klaus Frommann
  • Patent number: 5253698
    Abstract: Sand castings are removed from their molds before cooling and reheated in a heat treating booster furnace. The castings are transferred from the booster furnace to a rotary drum filled with agitation media. As the castings pass through the media drum, they are simultaneously cleaned of sand particles and down-quenched by the agitation media. The system is particularly suited for austempering cast iron parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Applied Process
    Inventors: John R. Keough, William R. Keough, Bela V. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 5080161
    Abstract: A system for preparing a self-hardening casting mold including a mass of sand which contains an organic binder and which has a pattern-contact layer having a surface for contact with a pattern disposed in a flask. The pattern defines a cavity into which a melt is poured to produce a cast product. The mold further includes a mass of ceramic balls placed on the pattern-contact layer of the sand mass. The system includes a temperature adjusting device for regulating the temperature of the mass of ceramic balls prior to introduction thereof into the flask, so as to control the hardening rate of mass of sand in the flask, a separating device operable on a mixture of sand and ceramic balls obtained from the mold after the cast product is produced by the mold with the pattern removed. The separating device separates the ceramic ball from the sand, and supplies the ceramic balls to the temperature adjusting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Okamoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Horie, Shoichi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5054538
    Abstract: In an automatic foundry plant of the kind in which at an extraction station (41) water is dosed in (at 42) in order to maintain the correct moisture content in the molding sand, which is returned to the molding station (11), and in which new molding sand (at 43), new binder (at 44), and/or new additive (at 45) may be added in a sand treatment station (46), the new feature consists in that the dosing of water and possibly of the other agents mentioned is controlled by means of an automatic control system (51-53) in dependence of information collected upstream of the extraction station regarding the condition of the individual molds arriving at the extraction station, especially with regard to whether metal has been poured in them or not, a very important factor for the moisture content, because this is greatly reduced by the hot metal poured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
    Inventor: Peter Ibsen
  • Patent number: 4955425
    Abstract: Apparatus for non-impact handling of foundry castings utilizes a sand pervious basket to receive a sand mold and casting and to segregate the casting from the mold. A turntable assembly lifts and translates the basket to a secondary conveyor which removes the casting for further processing. The secondary conveyor may be a walking beam conveyor adapted to operate inside a quenching tank and the basket adapted to align with the walking beam conveyor for removal of the casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventor: James F. McKenna
  • Patent number: 4807689
    Abstract: A rotary take-off system comprising an apparatus for removing manufactured objects such as cast metal anodes from a first work station and transporting these objects to a second work station. The first station, at which the object is manufactured, may preferably be a mold located upon a rotatable casting wheel, while the second work station is preferably a quenching medium for cooling and temporarily holding the manufactured object. After the object is manufactured at the first work station it is then transported through an arc of approximately 180.degree. by a pair of rotatable arms to the second work station for further processing. The arms are coupled to a motor which is operated in order to cause the rotation thereof. Within the quenching medium, a pair of pivotably connected hydraulic push arms is positioned, which accept the anode as it drops from the rotatable arms and which thereafter facilitate the sliding and stacking of the completed anodes to a rear portion of the quenching medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Magma Copper Co.
    Inventor: Raymond D. Beneitone
  • Patent number: 4741384
    Abstract: Apparatus for melting, casting and discharging a metal in a chamber. The apparatus includes a hopper outside of the furnace for delivering metal to a crucible inside of the furnace. The crucible pivots to pour molten metal into a mold which also pivots to pour solidified metal into a bin. The crucible, mold and bin are in a unitary chamber. Also provided is an improved electrode, crucible and mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: George J. Healey
  • Patent number: 4619306
    Abstract: Multiple castings are cut into billets, combined in a transverse transport facility, separate into billets to be inspected or not, recombined and cooled. Transportation includes two transverse facilities and two longitudinal facilities, combined in various combinations. The transportation is carried out with only one, or no, pivoting action and cooling is provided for alongside one of the multiple transport paths with overall accommodation to subsequent transport of billets out of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Gruner, Helmuth Orsech, Hans Schrewe
  • Patent number: 4592407
    Abstract: A full automatic die casting machine including a fixed die, a movable die, a melting furnace and an injection cylinder. At least either one of the fixed die and the movable die is provided with a first recess for forming an article and second recess for forming an engageable portion on the article. The die casting machine further includes an article supporting device, a coating device for coating die lubricant on the first recess and the second recess, a finishing device, a packing device and a recycling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Terumoto Yamaguchi, Tuneo Terashima