MOLD PUMP

• US 20170246681A1
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Inventors: TIPTON, Jon, HORSFALL, Andrew, FRITZKE, Jay, HENDERSON, Richard S.
• Application Number:
  US15/513,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20170246681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 13/02 of elongated solid or hollow bodies, e.g. pipes, in moulds rotating around their longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 13/107 Means for feeding molten metal
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 13/12 Controlling, supervising, specially adapted to centrifugal casting, e.g. for safety reasons controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/08 Cold chamber machines, i.e. with unheated press chamber into which molten metal is ladled
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/2023 Nozzles or shot sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/203 Injection pistons B22D17/2053 takes precedence; for plastics B29C45/53
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/30 Accessories for supplying molten metal, e.g. in rations supplying molten metal in ration in general B22D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/32 Controlling equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 35/04 into moulds, e.g. base plates, runners
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 39/04 having means for controlling the amount of molten metal by weight
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal

Abstract

A molding machine for molding material is provided. The machine includes a cavity to be filled with molten metal and a conduit system leading to the cavity, thus forming a system of interconnected hollow spaces. At least one pressure member is moveable in at least part of the conduit system. A centrifugal pump in fluid communication with a reservoir of molten metal is provided, the pump providing molten metal to the hollow space receiving the at least one pressure member.

Claims

1. A molding machine comprising a cavity to be filled with molten metal;

a conduit system leading to said cavity and forming a system of interconnected hollow spaces;

at least one pressure member moveable in at least part of said hollow space system; and

a centrifugal pump in fluid communication with a reservoir of molten metal and the part of said hollow space system receiving the at least one pressure member.

2. The molding machine of claim 1 wherein said pressure member comprises a casting piston and the part of the hollow space system comprises a shot sleeve.

3. The molding machine of claim 2 wherein said molten metal is introduced to said shot sleeve at a bottom side or end.

4. The molding machine of claim 2 wherein said shot sleeve includes a molten metal inlet disposed in a lower half.

5. The molding machine of claim 1 wherein said centrifugal pump includes an electronic brake.

6. The molding machine of claim 1 further comprising a controller, said controller configured to control a motor associated with the centrifugal pump, said controller receiving data from at least one position, velocity, acceleration, or pressure sensor.

7. The molding machine of claim 1 further comprising a controller, said controller configured to control a motor associated with the centrifugal pump, said controller receiving data concerning molten metal depth in said reservoir or an associated furnace.

8. The molding machine of claim 1 including a shut-off valve comprised of a resilient material and a plunger configured to deform or actuate said resilient material.

9. A method for delivering molten metal to a shot sleeve of a casting machine which comprises the steps of:

providing a molten metal furnace, said furnace having a refractory lining for holding the molten material therewithin,

introducing a molten metal pump into said furnace,

providing the pump with a molten metal outlet conduit in fluid communication with the shot sleeve and selectively rotating a shaft and impeller assembly of the pump to introduce molten metal to the shot sleeve in a predetermined quantity.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each fill of said shot sleeve includes a cycle having a first relatively low fill speed, a second relatively high fill speed, and a third hold period.

17. The method of claim 9

wherein the molten metal outlet conduit is in fluid communication with an inlet located in a lower half of the shot sleeve.

11. A dosing pump suitable for introducing molten metal to a shot sleeve of a casting apparatus, said pump comprising a base housing an impeller, the base arranged to output the molten metal to the casting apparatus, said impeller connected to a shaft, said shaft connected to a motor, said motor including an inverter, said inverter in communication with a controller and said controller including a software program configured to modify current delivered to said inverter such that a predetermined shot weight of the molten metal is delivered to the shot sleeve.

12. The dosing pump of claim 11 wherein said controller is in communication with at least one position sensor, velocity sensor, acceleration sensor, pressure sensor, laser sensor, or an encoder.

13. The dosing pump of claim 12 wherein a feedback loop is provided between the controller and the inverter and/or encoder.

14. The dosing pump of claim 12, further comprising a human-machine interface.

15. The dosing pump of claim 11 wherein said controller provides automatic and/or operator adjustment of pump RPM based on shot weight data.

16. The dosing pump of claim 11 wherein biscuit length data is communicated to the controller.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. A method for delivering molten metal to a mold cavity which comprises the steps of:

providing a molten metal furnace, said furnace having a refractory lining for holding the molten material therewithin,

associating a molten metal pump into said furnace,

providing the pump with a molten metal outlet in fluid communication with the mold cavity, introducing molten metal to the cavity in a predetermined quantity and sealing an inlet to said cavity by deforming or actuating a resilient material.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said mold cavity is associated with a rotary casting system.