Including Mold Translocating Means Patents (Class 164/323)
  • Patent number: 6145577
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
  • Patent number: 6073678
    Abstract: Method and simplified apparatus for manufacturing aluminum alloys castings, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufacture of automobile engines: cylinder heads, engine blocks and the like; whereby the castings are cast in a plurality of semi-permanent-type molds, said molds each being movable to a plurality of processing positions along one of a plurality of preferably straight line paths (five in the preferred embodiment), wherein the operations of cleaning, core setting, casting, and casting extraction are performed on each mold at predetermined positions along its respective path and alternating said operations among the molds in order to permit minimization of the number of robot equipment and to increase the aggregate productivity of said molds, since any one processing operation can be handled by only a few (and preferably only one) robot arm moving across a plurality of mold paths (preferably seriatim), so that a given process step is performed at any one time only at one (or at lea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Tenedora Nemak S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Oscar Garza-Ondarza, Gerardo Salinas-Pena, Octavio Juan Ochoa-Rodriguez, David Hugo Carrillo-Cantu
  • Patent number: 5971059
    Abstract: The upper level of the pouring conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. Each mold is provided with a supportive weight and jacket before pouring. 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 to remove the weight and jacket. The sand molds are then transferred to the upper level of the cooling conveyor and are deposited into trays provided on the cooling conveyor. Each tray is adapted to receive a plurality of molds to enable the molds to move from serial to parallel movement. An indexable pusher arm is provided to accurately place each mold in a respective tray to insure proper spacing for uniform cooling. After each tray has traversed the upper and lower levels of the cooling conveyor, the molds are removed from the trays and the sand is broken away to reveal the castings for harvest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
  • Patent number: 5937931
    Abstract: The casting plant includes dual independent casting workstations which sequentially interact with a common core inserting station, the dual workstations include casting removal stations, cooling and blackwash stations, and casting die travelling and manipulating units. The several workstations are compactly arranged, whereby only one operator is needed for core inserting and cleaning of the die halves. Each set of workstations may operate independently of the other set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventor: Harry Hassig
  • Patent number: 5901774
    Abstract: The upper level of the pouring conveyor receives sand molds and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. Each mold is provided with a supportive weight and jacket before pouring. 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 to remove the weight and jacket. The sand molds are then transferred to the upper level of the cooling conveyor and are deposited into trays provided on the cooling conveyor. Each tray is adapted to receive a plurality of molds to enable the molds to move from serial to parallel movement. An indexable pusher arm is provided to accurately place each mold in a respective tray to insure proper spacing for uniform cooling. After each tray has traversed the upper and lower levels of the cooling conveyor, the molds are removed from the trays and the sand is broken away to reveal the castings for harvest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Hunter Automated Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Hunter, William G. Hunter
  • Patent number: 5836373
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Disa A/S
    Inventors: Preben N. Hansen, Steen Pedersen, Niels W. Rasmussen, Vagn Mogensen, Emil Jespersen
  • Patent number: 5817164
    Abstract: Improvements in metallurgical conversion in accordance with the present intion consist in the preparation of a semifinished item (a charge stock) in the form of a pig by forming thereof in a molding box of a casting machine from a solid filler, for the most part an oxidizing agent, and a liquid pig iron followed by cooling, provided said solid filler and said liquid pig iron undergo, in the process of forming, an action which prevents the floating up of the solid filler in the liquid pig iron. Such an action is effected both by applying a mechanical force, in particular by providing a casting machine with a cantilever (8) having a hollow roller (9) which rests on a molding box (2) and a weighting material (10), and by choosing relative dimensions of the solid filler pieces and selecting a rate of pig casting. Optimal conditions for using such semifinished item for metallurgical conversion which in accordance with the present invention is carried out in oxygen converters and arc furnaces are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Zakrytogo TIPA "Intermet-Service & Co."
    Inventors: Genrikh Alexeevich Dorofeev, Serafim Zakharovich Afonin, Alexei Grigorievich Zubarev, Evgeniy Nektarievich Ivashina, Alexandr Vladimirovich Makurov, Alexandr Nikolaevich Panfilov, Vyacheslav Vasilievich Ryabov, Anatoly Georgievich Sitnov, Jury Viktorovich Utkin, Evgeniy Khristoforovich Shakhpazov, Mark Aronovich Tseitlin
  • Patent number: 5778962
    Abstract: Method and simplified apparatus for manufacturing aluminum alloys castings, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufacture of automobile engines: cylinder heads, engine blocks and the like; whereby the castings are cast in a plurality of semi-permanent-type molds, said molds each being movable to a plurality of processing positions along one of a plurality of straight line paths (five in the preferred embodiment), wherein the operations of cleaning, core setting, casting, and casting extraction are performed on each mold at predetermined positions along its respective path and alternating said operations among the molds in order to permit minimization of the number of robot equipment and to increase the aggregate productivity of said molds, since any one processing operation is handled by only one robot arm moving between the plurality of lines seriatim, so that a given process step is performed at any one time only at one of the plurality of lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Tendora Nemak, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Oscar Garza-Ondarza, Gerardo Salinas-Pena, Octavio Juan Ochoa-Rodriguez, David Hugo Carrillo-Cantu
  • Patent number: 5771956
    Abstract: A simplified apparatus of cooling lines is disclosed. A plurality of cooling lines (Z.sub.1 -Z.sub.4) are disposed between two parallel lines, a teeming line (X) and a mold-removing line (V). A mold sending-in line (Y) is disposed to connect the end portion of the teeming line and the starting portions of the cooling lines. A mold sending-out line (U) is disposed to connect the end portions of the cooling lines and the starting portion of the mold-removing line (V). A first transfer device (4) runs along the mold sending-in line (Y), while a second transfer device (6) runs along the mold sending-out line (U). Opposing electric servo-cylinders (15, 29) are mounted on a transfer truck (9) of the first transfer device (4) and a transfer truck (23) of the second transfer device (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Sintokogio, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunimasa Kimura
  • Patent number: 5735334
    Abstract: Light alloy metal products are cast by introducing the molten metal into a sand mold having a vertical parting line, characterized in that the mold is bottom filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Alloy Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Leonard Sutton, John Campbell, Michael Joseph Flynn, Gary McBain
  • Patent number: 5690160
    Abstract: A sand mould has a filling inlet defined by a solid insert (7). The insert provides a flat outer face for sealing and subsequently heat exchanging sliding contact with a sealing face of a chill plate (11). The mould is filled through the insert and then closed by means of the chill plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Alloy Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Leonard Sutton, John Campbell, Michael Joseph Flynn, Gary McBain
  • Patent number: 5524699
    Abstract: A method and system for producing a continuous supply of low volume fraction composite material that can be fed continuously into one or more molds. Composite inputs are fed into a mixing device such that a continuous supply of mixed composite material is available from the output side of the mixing device. The operation removes the step of creating master ingots and removes the need for a two step process in which the material is melted twice. This invention reduces the cost of producing composite components, reduces batch-to-batch variations, and allows for a continuous production flow. In addition, the invention allows for a much greater flexibility in the selection and optimization of material systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: PCC Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold J. Cook
  • Patent number: 5398750
    Abstract: The machine includes a train of molds moving through an arcuate pouring zone, a supply vessel for the metal, a trough extending between the vessel and the mold trains to convey the metal therebetween. The metal is discharged from beneath the surface of the metal in the vessel and into one end of the trough beneath the surface of the metal therein. The other end of the trough is registered with a mold in the trains and moves with the trains while metal is dispensed into the mold from beneath the surface of the metal in the trough. Valves control the discharging and dispensing of the metal to and from the trough. A motor moves the trough, as needed, in the pouring cycle, and a coupler coordinates the movement of the trough and the mold to keep them registered in the pouring zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul N. Crepeau, Gordon A. Tooley, A. Dean Vander Jagt
  • Patent number: 5183097
    Abstract: Quickly dismountable foundry mold positioning and clamping equipment installation. The casting station, positioned on the molten metal feed spout 16 of a supply crucible or furnace, comprises a sand mold 2 supported by a frame 1 and having a melt passage 3 opening facing downwardly, a mechanism 4 for implementing side-travel transfer of the frame, a suspension jack 18 mounted in the transfer mechanism, and a clamping jack 12 for urging the mold against support ledges defined by rotatable tappets 8 carried by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Pont-A-Mousson S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel Boudot
  • Patent number: 5163500
    Abstract: A metallurgically improved metal casting (10) is made with increased productivity, wherein molten metal is quiescently fed upwards into a molding chamber (14) which is then inverted. An assembly of refractory cores (12) is used that defines the molding chamber (14) with riser channels (16). A metal entrance (18) to the molding chamber (14) through a mold side wall (20) requires feeding molten metal against gravity to fill the molding chamber (14), and quiescently pressure feeding molten metal through a metal launder (26) to fill the molding chamber (14) and the riser channels (16). A mold/nozzle connection between the metal launder (26) and the source of molten metal delivered under pressure is rotationally flexible and axially compliant. The feeding of molten metal is interrupted and the assembly is rotated about an axis passing through the mold/nozzle connection (28) to invert the assembly while maintaining the mold/nozzle connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: William W. Seaton, Gregory W. Seaton
  • Patent number: 5133400
    Abstract: A mold table is linearly moved into a pouring position or a resting position in a vacuum casting unit and rotates around its vertical axis so that the ingot molds disposed on the mold table can be individually positioned in front of the pouring nose of a crucible. A flexible belt-type roller device, for example a roller chain 15 as used in the chain drive of a crawler, is guided around a rod-like carrier 13 disposed in direction F in the mold chamber, and a catch 16 is integrated into this flexible, belt-type device. A separate drive, preferably a rope drive, is provided for moving the apparatus 10, this drive being connected to the rotatable catch 16 generating the rotation of the mold table. All motors for linearly moving and rotating the mold table are disposed outside the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Daniel Bethge
  • Patent number: 5125448
    Abstract: In an automatic foundry plant were the molds are made in a molding station (11), and the metal is poured into the molds while these are in a pouring station (21), information concerning the characteristics of the individual molds is sensed from the molds in the molding station (11), and possibly also in a core setter (13). This information is recorded by parameter recording units and control signals based thereon are transmitted to the pouring station (21), and used in controlling the function of the latter at the time when the mold to which the information in question relates is in the pouring station (21). This arrangement prevents, without human surveillance, the occurrence of faulty operations such as pouring of casting metal outside the mold or pouring into defective molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat/AS
    Inventor: Kaj J. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5070930
    Abstract: Casting apparatus comprises a casting mold including first and second elongated pick-up ledges on first and second upstanding mold sides and a mold pick-up mechanism having first and second elongated, pivotal pick-up feet for supportingly engaging the mold ledges to carry the mold through a casting cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Kubisch, James B. Mercer, Thomas E. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 5069267
    Abstract: In an automatic foundry plant of the kind in which two or several sideways switchable switching conveyors (31,32) are placed between the pouring station (21) and the extraction station (41) in order to obtain the requisite cooling of the poured molds before these arrive to the extraction station (41) and at the same time to limit the length of the plant, the new feature consists in automatic equipment (51-53), which controls the crosswise movements of the switching conveyors (31, 32) to take place at times when the risk is as small as possible of damaging molds situated in the transition region between the mold conveyor (22) and the switching conveyor in question (31 or 32). When molds are used of the kind where two mold sections co-operate in forming a mold cavity between them, the automatic equipment (51-53) may also be adapted to control the function of the pouring station (21), thereby preventing pouring in the molds which at the conveyor switch happen to be situated in the transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
    Inventor: Kurt H. Larsen
  • Patent number: 5062465
    Abstract: Molds are conveyed from the delivery end (2) of a molding machine (1) to a cooling conveyor (3) or an extractor station. By this procedure the molds (4) are principally conveyed in a direction away from the molding machine in close contact with each other on the first conveyor (5), where the pouring takes place. Then the molds (4) are conveyed back in the direction of the molding machine (1) on a second conveyor (6) running parallel to the first conveyor, on which second conveyor the initial cooling and solidification takes place. The molds with the partially cooled castings are then pushed on to a cooling conveyor (3) or an extractor station by the action of a reciprocating ejector element (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
    Inventor: Anders Mortensen
  • Patent number: 5056584
    Abstract: A system for pouring molds on a continuously moving conveyor by an automated process has an apparatus positioned over a moving conveyor including a plurality of molds. The apparatus includes a frame adapted to be positioned over the moving conveyor. The apparatus includes a mechanism for moving the frame in a reciprocating forward and reverse direction along a path defined by the conveyor. The apparatus includes a mechanism to pour molten metal into the plurality of molds on the conveyor. The pouring mechanism is associated with the frame such that the pouring mechanism moves at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the conveyor to enable filling of the plurality of molds as the molds continue to move on the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: CMI International, Inc.
    Inventor: Williams W. Seaton
  • 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: 5048593
    Abstract: The apparatus consists of a weight iron (1) with a plane bottom face designed to rest on the top side (3) of the upper mold of a two part sand mold set (2,6), and a clamping plate (4, 5) located at either side of the closed mold parts (2, 6). The bottom face (7) of the lower mold (6) rests on a transport device (8). The apparatus also includes L-shaped arms (9, 10), which pivot with respect to the weight iron (1) and the two side clamping plates (4, 5). The two L-shaped arms (9, 10) are placed opposite to each other in a vertical plane through the mold parts (2, 6). The arms (9, 10) are laterally off-set and pivot with the weight iron (1) at points (16, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
    Inventor: Anders Mortensen
  • Patent number: 5035277
    Abstract: Casting apparatus comprises a vacuum box having a pair of laterally spaced side walls sealingly engaged to a pair of pick-up members disposed along laterally spaced apart sides of a casting mold. The vacuum box also comprises a pair of spaced end walls sealingly engaged to the casting mold. Sealing engagement of the laterally spaced vacuum box side walls to the pick-up members, rather than to the mold, permits a substantial reduction in the lateral dimension of the mold, thereby substantially reducing the amount of costly mold material (e.g., resin-bonded sand) needed to fabricate the mold for casting and to be disposed of after casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: John G. Kubisch
  • Patent number: 4976601
    Abstract: A die exchanger of a molding apparatus includes a die plate, a die carrying-in apparatus and a die carrying-out apparatus. The die carrying-in apparatus has at least one guide groove engaging a pin of the die and guiding a plurality of corresponding dies and has a first support plate movable forward and backward to the die plate so that the guide groove is connectable to a groove in clamp means provided on the die plate. The die carrying-out apparatus has a second support plate movable forward and backward to the die plate so that the second support plate can receive the die engaging the clamp, the second support plate movably supporting the die. The die carrying-in apparatus has a one-way feed mechanism feeding each of the corresponding dies which is supported by means of the guide groove of the first support plate to the die plate. The die carrying-out apparatus is tiltable for discharging the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Takaoka Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Tsuruta, Yuichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 4911222
    Abstract: A system for filling billet moulds, especially with liquid aluminium, in which a flume (1) is situated fundamentally horizontally with a downwards spout at one end, with the liquid metal flowing along the said flume (1). The spout deposits the metal on a horizontally arranged V cross section bucket (17), with upward concave arms. The upper arm has an access hole (18) for metal towards the other arm, which finished in a horizontal end near the bottom of the billet mould. The buckets are situated on a rotating bucket (6) elevator and the flume tilts, as does the bucket elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Remetal, S.A.
    Inventor: Ingnacio Alfaro
  • Patent number: 4855011
    Abstract: An arrangement for manufacturing complex structures by transferring heat and pressure from ceramic molds to the article to be molded. The arrangement comprises a combination of ceramic molds, a flexible pressure bag means for applying pressure to at least one of the ceramic molds and a flexible pressure heating blanket means to apply pressure and heat against at least one of the ceramic molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Legge, Frank C. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 4846251
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the transportation of horizontally split, boxless sand casting molds (1) for foundry purposes, from a molding station via a casting station to the knocking-out point by means of a series of transport plates (5, 50) which are guided one against the other along a track and whose length in each case, in the direction of transport, is equal to or only slightly larger than the corresponding length of the casting mold placed on top in each case, each transport plate (5, 50) has, at least at one of its ends, preferably the end facing away from the molding station, a face strip (6) arranged substantially vertical to it and directed upward, which prevents an offset between transport plate and casting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Michael Achinger
  • Patent number: 4787598
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the continuous production of pipes with cross-profiled walls from a pipe strand of thermoplastic plastic emerging in still plastic state from an extrusion nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Unicor GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Rahn, Helmut Grull
  • Patent number: 4774993
    Abstract: A device, configured as a double mold, for casting terminal bars (straps) and terminal poles onto the lugs of a completely assembled plate group for electric storage batteries ensures optimum attachment of all of the lugs (both polarities) to the molten bar lead if the heat exchange between the bar lead and the dipped volume of each negative or positive lug is identical. This requirement is met by causing the negative and positive casting molds, together with their contents, to form thermally equivalent sections or blocks, which are equalized if necessary, by changing the dimensions (thickness) of the mold's walls. When the lugs are made of lead or a lead alloy, such a double mold also makes it possible, during a subsequent two-stage cooling process, to first allow the terminal poles to solidify, simultaneously, and to then allow the terminal bars to solidify, simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Kallup, Wolfgang Glittenberg, Christian Kubis, Gerolf Richter, Christian Ressel
  • Patent number: 4749019
    Abstract: This invention relates to the production casting of molten metal. In such casting, the molten metal being poured into one cavity may be splashed or overflowed into another adjacent cavity. The invention provides a splash guard which defines a barrier to the molten metal and prevents such inadvertent introduction of the molten metal into an adjacent cavity. The splash guard preferably comprises a substantially solid object made of a material, such as graphite, that retains its structural integrity at high temperatures and upon contact with molten metal, but which does not strongly adhere or bond to the molten metal upon cooling. The invention can be embodied in both manual and automatic casting lines. In a manual casting line, the splash guard may physically contact a surface of the mold to create the molten metal barrier between the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Wagner Castings Company
    Inventors: Lowell E. Sorrell, William E. Barnes
  • Patent number: 4733714
    Abstract: A method of making a casting comprising the steps of, at a casting station, feeding molten metal from a primary source of molten metal into a mould cavity through an ingate below the top of the mould cavity, placing the cavity out of feeding relationship with the primary source by changing the orientation of the cavity relative to the direction of gravity to prevent flow of molten metal from the cavity towards the primary source and to permit of flow of metal from a secondary source to the cavity, the cavity being continuously connected to the primary source during said change of orientation, transferring the mould cavity to a cooling station spaced from the casting station and, at the cooling station, permitting molten metal to flow to the cavity from the secondary source while the metal in the cavity solidifies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Cosworth Research & Development Limited
    Inventor: Robert A. Smith
  • Patent number: 4708192
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneous casting of at least two casting moulds or balls. The apparatus comprises a carriage which is movable in the direction of a casting line and is provided with two gutters for transferring molten metal from respective furnace spouts to respective sprues. At least one of these gutters is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: ASEA Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Einar Anttila, Kare Folgero
  • Patent number: 4671338
    Abstract: A forced cooling casting apparatus has a loop track for guiding a stool having a lower mold fitted thereto and having a punch-out portion. A plurality of stations are sequentially disposed on the loop track for effecting the steps of cleaning the lower mold, arranging an upper mold, inserting tubular members for cooling, setting a cooling plate having a plurality of cooling nozzles for passing a cooling medium through the tubular members, pouring a molten metal, effecting cooling in several stages, removing the cooling plate and taking out the resulting casting. A cooling medium tube communicates with the cooling nozzles, having a coupler and disposed on the cooling plate. A cooling medium feeder is connected to the coupler and/or a cooling medium jet device for cooling the lower mold, and is disposed at each of the cooling stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Otsuka, Hiroshi Kawai, Kiyomi Iida, Hironobu Nakano
  • Patent number: 4655273
    Abstract: In an ingot mould casting device for casting a melt, the ingot moulds (1, 1a, 1b) of the individual ingot mould units (35, 36, 37) are movable in a U-shaped clamp (13), wherein at the free ends (43) of the U-shaped clamp (13) there is provided an ingot mould holding- and pulling-apart mechanism. With the aid of this ingot mould holding-and pulling-apart mechanism, the ingot moulds are opened so far, after casting has been effected in the casting position, until the resistance during pulling-apart of the ingot mould (1, 1a, 1b) drops to the resistance with respect to the shifting of the ingot mould half (1b) movable on the guide rods (2). In a second phase, the movable ingot mould half (1b) is moved completely away from the non-movable ingot mould half (1a). The discharged parts fall onto the conveyor belt (18). The entire operation from the actuation of the starting button (42) of an ingot mould arrangement can take place automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ivo Henych, Rudolf Pavlovsky
  • Patent number: 4628986
    Abstract: A register system is provided for making molds for metal casting which reduces flaws attributable to parting line shift. This is accomplished by urging the cope mold flask (11) against two fixed stops (50, 52) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (54) on the short axis of the flask. This same register principle is applied in the drag mold making station 18, where the drag flask (15) is urged against two fixed stops (100, 102) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (90) on the short axis of the flask. At the closer station (24), where the mold halves are assembled, they are again urged against two fixed stops (134, 136) on the long axis, and one fixed stop (142) on the short axis of the flasks. Thus the flasks are properly aligned to the patterns at the mold making stations, and again properly aligned to each other at the closer station, so as to eliminate parting line shift problems of the mold halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Danald L. Southam
  • Patent number: 4588014
    Abstract: Foundry molding system, apparatus and methods are characterized by horizontally reciprocating flask shuttles located beneath and at entry and exit ends of a molding line conveyor which is operative to support horizontally aligned cope and drag flask sets for indexing along the conveyor in abutting relation through a plurality of stations for production of cope and drag molds in the cope and drag flasks, respectively. The entry and exit flash shuttles respectively operate positively to locate and transfer along the conveyor one flask of cope and drag flask sets out of and into alignment with a flask separate/set-on and flask take-off/close to permit set-on and take-off of the other flask at high production rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Osborn Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Warren A. Blower, Rudolf Hermes
  • Patent number: 4585048
    Abstract: A pouring assembly for use in the manufacture of cast metal articles is provided. After a mold is filled with molten metal at a pouring station, it is lifted to a set down station. Simultaneously, an empty mold is lifted from a pick up location to the pouring station. After a hold down mechanism is set on the mold, the mold is filled with molten metal injected upwardly under pressure into the mold and a mold stopper is closed to prevent the molten metal from running out when the injection pressure is relieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Lyman W. Jeffreys
  • Patent number: 4576220
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a particular atmosphere above a predetermined portion of a train of closely spaced open top containers mounted on an endless conveyor chain, comprises a cover plate located at a predetermined distance above a number of such containers and extending before and after such predetermined portion. The cover plate has a predetermined number of ports therein for feeding a gas through the cover plate to progressively develop a particular atmosphere in the containers as they approach the predetermined portion of the endless conveyor and to maintain such atmosphere in the containers as they pass such predetermined portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Noranda Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence C. Smyth, George Deep
  • Patent number: 4566521
    Abstract: A hopper for providing moulding sand having an opened top and a bottom member having through holes for discharging the sand is positioned spaced apart at a suitable distance horizontally from a cover member connected to a suitable source for generating gas for hardening the moulding sand. A pattern plate provided with vacuum evacuating means is disposed to be selectively connected to either one of the hopper and the cover member for discharging and filling the moulding sands into a flask placed on a pattern plate and for introducing hardening gas and allowing said gas to penetrate and permeate through the layer of sand filled in the flask to harden the filled sand, respectively. By using vacuum evacuation of a hollow chamber in the pattern plate instead of pressurized air and hardening gas under pressure, the entire moulding apparatus can be rendered lighter in construction and smaller in size, while any leakage of poisonous hardening gas can be completely prevented from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Sintokogio Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagato Uzaki, Toshihisa Komori, Kazuharu Matui, Shigehiro Toyoda
  • Patent number: 4565234
    Abstract: The invention relates to casting non-ferrous metal from a storage vessel of the said molten metal into a receiving vessel of the said metal in the form of a gravity-free jet. According to the process, an isolating zone from the ambient air, covering the said receiving vessel and the said zone is rendered inert by introducing a liquified inert gas prior to and during casting. The process applies in particular to the continuous casting of zinc into ingots molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean F. Rimbert
  • Patent number: 4559989
    Abstract: An entirely automatic, cold box type machine for molding an integral connecting core, which machine is provided with a sand blowing mechanism and a gassing mechanism, these mechanisms being suspended above an upper frame of the molding machine and traversable, and with a liftable drag car being mounted on the platform of the molding machine, characterized in that a rotatable connecting core feeding device is provided at one side portion outside the molding machine, a reversing unloader is provided at the other side portion, and a connecting core transfer car having a connecting core lifting device is traversably suspended from the upper frame in parallel with the sand blowing mechanism and the gassing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Naniwa Products Co.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kawai, Sumikazu Kawai, Seiji Katashima
  • Patent number: 4549600
    Abstract: For the purpose of pouring a stepwise advanced casting mould consisting of identical, flaskless mould parts having vertical joints at which there are provided inlets or chutes extending from the top surface of the mould to its casting cavities, use is made of a pouring tundish having a slitlike bottom outlet adapted to cover three or more inlets temporarily blocked by an obstruction. After an additive has been fed to the tundish this is being filled with the necessary amount of molten iron which prior to removal of the obstruction gets the opportunity of being merged uniformly with the additive, and possible slag products may at the same time rise to the surface. The pouring tundish may meanwhile be advanced one or more steps together with the casting mould while being in firm contact with its top face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
    Inventor: Hakon Kauserud
  • Patent number: 4541476
    Abstract: In a plant for the production of vertically divided casting moulds consisting of flaskless mould parts, produced successively in a pressing chamber having pressing plates carrying exchangeable pattern boards. Carriers are arranged laterally of the pressing chamber with a view to allowing a quick changing of said pattern boards, one of the carriages serving to automatically feed and insert "new" pattern boards while the other one picks up and pulls away "used" pattern boards. The various operations are controlled by an electronic control system in dependence on a code on the pattern boards whereby to reduce waste of time to a minimum and avoid risk involving manual operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
    Inventor: Laurits A. B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 4540036
    Abstract: In a conveyor for the stepwise advance of a vertically parted boxless mould through a pouring and cooling zone of a guideway each side of this guideway is composed of mutually reciprocable rods or rails, at least some of which are operative to carry along the mould in its advance step and which during the advance movement as well as during the periods of standstill keep the mould permanently compressed in its transverse direction to the benefit of the accuracy of the castings produced. For the purpose of limiting the effect of possible expansion forces on the castings before full hardening thereof, at least some of the guideway rods may comprise aligned sections which in case of longitudinal expansion of the mould may be drawn apart against spring resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S
    Inventor: Kaj J. Jensen
  • Patent number: 4509578
    Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous casting of metal from a substantially stationary vessel wherein molds having elongated pouring basins are filled in increments via a plurality of serially arranged and sequentially actuated pouring spouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Shaw
  • Patent number: 4438801
    Abstract: For transporting a train (15) of flaskless molds using a simply designed system along a storing, teeming and cooling run or part of a conveyor in a foundry so that the castings are made highly true to size, the forces needed for speeding up and slowing down the mold train (15) are caused to take effect at a desired level on the mold train (15) and, together with the forces acting oppositely to the thermal expansion of the molds (7) within the mold train (15), the forces are transmitted to the full length of the mold train only by the molds (7) themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Inventor: Eugen Buhler
  • Patent number: 4422495
    Abstract: A mold handling system and method wherein cars are moved along a closed vertical loop. A first elevator positions an empty car adjacent a mold-supply conveyor, whereupon a mold is pushed onto the car, after which the car is transferred into a pre-pour mold storage. The mold-bearing car is then moved onto a second elevator which lifts the car upwardly adjacent an elevated pouring deck. As the mold is elevated, a jacket and weight are automatically deposited thereon, and the mold is poured while the car rests on the second elevator. The mold-bearing car is then moved forwardly through a jacket-and-weight transfer station, after which the jacket and weight are automatically removed and recycled back for positioning on another mold arriving on the second elevator. The mold-bearing car is moved through a cooling region, and this is then transferred onto a third elevator which is tiltable so that the mold is dumped from the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Joseph B. Stinson Co.
    Inventor: Adair B. Van Nette, III
  • Patent number: 4304288
    Abstract: A process relating to the pouring of molten metal into a permanent mould made of iron or other like material, automating the moulds within the system so as to offer diversification of production and while so doing having a finished product that is of a machinable and marketable nature. Slow cooling of the castings through the critical temperature in the system limits the formation of iron carbides and successfully produces a machinable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Cast-Tec Ltd.
    Inventor: Cornelius Pluim
  • Patent number: 4299269
    Abstract: An intermittently moving gondola-type conveyor for handling pallet-supported foundry sand molds includes stations along the curvilinear path of said conveyor where(1) each freshly made mold is invested with a weighted jacket;(2) each jacketed mold is moved to a position to receive molten metal;(3) each of said metal-filled molds is moved through a cooling zone;(4) at the end of said cooling zone, the weighted jacket is removed and transferred to an on-coming freshly made mold, and(5) said cooled metal casting and its surrounding unjacketed sand mold is subsequently discharged said conveyor; each gondola being movably suspended from an overhead curvilinear post-supported upper track, and stabilized against lateral swinging by movable attachments to a lower parallel track also supported by the vertical posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Grede Foundries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilmer J. Friesen, Frank A. Hulet