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.

Abstract: A foundry molding system for molding and closing cope and drag molds includes a linear idler molding line conveyor adjacent a cooling conveyor. Short powered sections are provided at each end of the molding line conveyor for set-off from the cooling conveyor to form the assembled cope and drag flasks into horizontally abutting drag and cope sets on the molding line conveyor and for closing and setting on the cooling conveyor the assembled cope and drag molds. Reciprocating index and control means are provided at each end of the molding line conveyor for indexing the sets therealong in abutting relationship. Powered roller detents or locaters are provided along the conveyor to hold the flasks to separate, center and retain the flasks for a variety of operations such as set-down, molding, drag rollover, coring, closing and set-on. The roller detents at the drag rollover are located in the trunnions of the rollover for operation therewith.

Abstract: A foundry molding machine of the horizontal stack type such as shown in Hatch U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,621 employs a programmable solid state electrical control system operating in conjunction with a closed-loop hydraulic servo-system to obtain greater flexibility of set-up and higher mold uniformity and precision with fewer reject molds. Each of four of the major moving components of the machine may be provided with an encoder or position, velocity and direction monitoring device, such components being the two opposed squeeze rams, the mold traction device, and the pusher. Such monitors not only measure the final position of one squeeze ram, but also enable the calculation or measurement of the mold thickness so that the pusher cylinder can be controlled during its movement to contact a formed cake at a null condition and to move that cake into contact also at a null condition with a horizontally formed stack.

Abstract: A heated ladle provides a reserve of molten metal. Vertical closing rods release desired quantities into pouring troughs. These are indexed into alignment with the mold casting orifices. The system includes a chassis movable parallel to the step-by-step movable casting line, a mobile cart carried by the chassis and also movable parallel to the line, and trough-bearing means movable perpendicularly to the line and also providing pivotal movement capability for the troughs. Reference marks on the molds or inter-mold spaces cooperate with position sensors to control the indexing. Redescent and resulting closing of the closing rods is automatic.

Abstract: A plurality of carriages, each containing a pouring ladle, are provided for pouring molten metal into moving molds of a conveyor. The carriages are essentially driven from a single motor and move in a closed loop containing a loading zone and a pouring zone. Each carriage contains a clutch pump to control movement along the loop. Rotation of ladles to a pour position is attained by use of a parallelogram linkage on the carriage and remotely located variable pour rate controls. A sensor system including an extension arm is supported by each carriage for sensing the presence of a mold car and for causing the carriage to match the speed of the mold.

Abstract: A process relating to the pouring of ferrous metal into a permanent mould made of iron or other like material, automating said 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 produce a machinable product.

Abstract: A device for handling flaskless moulds relates to foundry equipment and can prove to be most advantageous for use in automatic lines for flaskless horizontal-stack moulding. The device of this invention comprises a stationary bed adapted for arranging moulds, and a mechanism or gear for moving the moulds assembled into a stack. The gear is made as two sprocket endless chains running from both sides of the stationary bed concordantly thereto and carrying grips for retaining a stack of flaskless moulds during its travel along the stationary bed. The top horizontal portions of the chains are provided with guides adapted to draw these portions together above the bed. As a result, smooth bringing of the grips to and from the stack is performed.

Abstract: A novel "cast-on" method and apparatus are disclosed wherein in the preferred embodiment only one major moving part is provided which is indexed through various positions to cast a group or element from a battery plate stack engaged thereby. In the preferred embodiment, a mold carriage block having a plurality of mold voids formed therethrough slidingly reciprocates along a base plate on which are defined fluxing (loading), casting and part-release positions. In the casting position, lead gravitationally siphons into the mold voids defined in the mold carriage through molten lead supply orifices defined in the base plate along which the carriage slides. Once the casting operation is completed, sliding the carriage out of the casting position effectively seals the molten lead supply orifices. The apparatus and method are particularly suited for use by a single operator who manually loads stacks into the apparatus and subsequently unloads completed groups or elements from the apparatus.

Abstract: A plurality of carriages, each containing a pouring ladle, are provided for pouring molten metal into moving molds of a conveyor. The carriages are essentially driven from a single motor and move in a closed loop containing a loading zone and a pouring zone. Each carriage contains a clutch pump and a brake pump to control movement along the loop. Rotation of ladles to a pour position is attained by use of a parallelogram linkage on the carriage and remotely located variable pour rate controls.

Abstract: When an empty molding box arrives at the molding machine on a roller track extending through the machine, it is placed on a pattern plate carrier with a pattern situated thereon and is lowered thereon on to a transverse roller track on which it is transferred, by means of a thrust drive operating on the carrier, to the empty station of a two-station transporting carriage on which it is then moved, by means of another thrust drive operating on the carriage, to one of the two outer working stations of a three-station roller track, namely a preparation track, parallel to the first-mentioned roller track, where the preparation work is done. As the two-station carriage moves thus, an already prepared molding box and carrier on its other station arrives at the central station of the preparation track and is then drawn back to the molding machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a casting machine which includes a truck driven horizontally in an advancing direction. A plurality of molds are carried on the truck. The molds are aligned in the advancing direction and are rotatable about axes extending perpendicular to the advancing direction. Each mold has a rearwardly extending lip which overlaps the forward edge of the next succeeding mold when the molds are horizontally arranged. Arms are connected to each of the molds for rotation therewith. The arms have wheels thereon which cooperate with guides adjacent to the path of travel of the truck in the advancing direction to control the rotational attitude of the molds. The aforesaid guides have horizontal sections which maintain the molds in a horizontal attitude, and curved sections which rotate the molds about their respective axes in order to discharge the contents thereof at a casting discharge position.

Abstract: A casting mould consisting of closely collected uniform mould parts is advanced stepwise on a conveyor path by a main piston, exerting an endwise pressure on the endmost mould part, and by an auxiliary mould advancing device incorporating a hydraulic cylinder, the piston of which is greater than said main piston. Hydraulic fluid displaced by the main piston is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder together with additional hydraulic fluid admitted through a differential pressure valve responding on the pressure difference between the two sides of the main piston.

Abstract: In a casting apparatus using a mould which comprises a horizontal series of identical mould parts and presents at least one casting cavity at each joint between successive mould parts, the mould is advanced stepwise through a pouring station including a pouring sow, the bottom of which rests on the top surface of the mould and has at least one outlet to successively communicate with the inlets of the casting cavities of the mould during the stepwise advance thereof.

Abstract: Core conveyor means of the endless type moving synchronously or non-synchronously with one or more continuous casting devices is disposed in side-by-side relation with the continuous casting device or devices, and the conveyor means is moved in the same direction as the molds moving in the continuous casting device or devices. The cores supplied from a core supply source which may be a core making machine, a group of core making machines consisting of two or more core making machines or a core cage stack hose with stacker crane are fed through the agency of the core conveyor means to the continuous casting device or devices. By this arrangement, it is possible to supply cores quickly or smoothly or supply large numbers of cores of different types with a high degree of efficiency to the casting device or devices.

Abstract: A continuous mechanical iron pouring line for pouring molten metal into a moving conveyor line of abutting sand molds. A plurality of pouring ladles mounted on independently driven and controlled carriages move along a track in a closed-loop between: (1) a stationary ladle filling station wherein molten metal flows from a stationary holding vessel into the ladle; (2) a pouring station wherein the molten metal is conveyed from the ladle into an associated moving mold as the ladle and mold move together through the pouring station; and (3) back to the filling station. Control of each carriage is effected by interaction of that carriage with preceding and succeeding carriages. At the pouring station, the mold line parallels the track along which the carriages move and defines a sector wherein the metal may be poured.

Abstract: A method and the apparatus for casting molten metal into desired shapes utilizing a permanent metal mold for supporting a destructible mold liner which defines the final shape of the casting.

Abstract: A molding system includes apparatus for moving a flask from one portion of a mold car conveyor and for transferring it across the mold car conveyor loop and for depositing the mold at another portion of the mold car conveyor. The apparatus comprises a first structure for picking up the flask from the one portion of the mold car conveyor, a flask and mold feeder movable transverse of the mold car conveyor, and a second structure for picking up a mold from the flask and mold feeder at a mold removal station, and for moving the mold to the other portion of the mold car conveyor. A single fluid cylinder is provided for effecting the movement of the flask and mold feeder, as well as the first and second structures. A linkage means interconnects the single fluid motor with the first and second structures and the flask and mold feeder to effect these various movements.