Method and apparatus for casting articles
First Claim
1. A mold for use in casting a plurality of articles, said mold comprising a plurality of article molds disposed in an array having an open central portion, each of said article molds having an article mold cavity with a configuration corresponding to the configuration of one of the articles, molten metal distribution means for conducting molten metal to each of said article mold cavities, said molten metal distribution means including a primary distribution system separate from said article molds and having a pluality of passages for conducting molten metal, a plurality of separable joint means connected in fluid communication with said article mold cavities and with said passages in said primary distribution system for conducting a flow of molten metal from said primary distribution system at a plurality of locations and for enabling relative movement to occur between said array of article molds and said primary distribution system after said article mold cavities have been filled with molten metal, baffle plate means disposed in the central portion of the array of article molds for retarding heat transmission from said article molds, and support means disposed in the central portion of the array of article molds and extending between said baffle plate means and said primary distribution system for supporting said baffle plate means from said primary distribution system and for holding said baffle plate means against movement relative to said primary distribution system during relative movement between the array of article molds and said primary distribution system.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved mold includes an upper mold section having a primary distribution system which is connected with a furnace and a lower mold section which is withdrawn from the furnace on a chill plate. A baffle plate is supported from the primary distribution system. The lower mold section includes a secondary distribution system which is connected in fluid communication with the primary distribution system at separable joints. The secondary distribution system is connected in fluid communication with article molds which are disposed in an annular array. During pouring of molten metal, reaction forces are transmitted to the chill plate from the pour cup through a support post and baffle plate. Once the article molds have been filled with molten metal, the chill plate is lowered. The primary distribution system which is connected to the furnace, remains stationary. As the article molds are withdrawn from the furnace, the baffle blocks the transfer of heat from the furnace through the central portion of the array of article molds.
16 Citations
59 Claims
- 1. A mold for use in casting a plurality of articles, said mold comprising a plurality of article molds disposed in an array having an open central portion, each of said article molds having an article mold cavity with a configuration corresponding to the configuration of one of the articles, molten metal distribution means for conducting molten metal to each of said article mold cavities, said molten metal distribution means including a primary distribution system separate from said article molds and having a pluality of passages for conducting molten metal, a plurality of separable joint means connected in fluid communication with said article mold cavities and with said passages in said primary distribution system for conducting a flow of molten metal from said primary distribution system at a plurality of locations and for enabling relative movement to occur between said array of article molds and said primary distribution system after said article mold cavities have been filled with molten metal, baffle plate means disposed in the central portion of the array of article molds for retarding heat transmission from said article molds, and support means disposed in the central portion of the array of article molds and extending between said baffle plate means and said primary distribution system for supporting said baffle plate means from said primary distribution system and for holding said baffle plate means against movement relative to said primary distribution system during relative movement between the array of article molds and said primary distribution system.
- 10. A method of casting a plurality of articles, said method ccmprising the steps of providing a plurality of article molds disposed in an array having an open central portion, providing a primary distribution system which is separate from the article molds, conducting a flow of molten metal from the primary distribution system to cavities in the article molds to fill the cavities in the article molds with molten metal, separating the article molds and primary distribution system by providing relative movement between the article molds and primary distribution system, retarding the transmission of heat from the article molds with a baffle plate disposed in the central portion of the array of article molds, and supporting the baffle plate frcm the primary distribution system during the relative movement between the article molds and primary distribution system.
- 15. A ceramic mold for use in casting a plurality of articles, said mold comprising a plurality of article molds disposed in an annular array having an open central portion, each of said article molds having an article mold cavity with a configuration corresponding to the configuration of one of the articles, molten metal distribution means for conducting molten metal to each of said article mold cavities, said molten metal distribution means including a primary distribution system separate from said article molds and a secondary distribution system connected to said article molds, said primary distribution system including a pour cup disposed in a coaxial relationship with the circular array of article molds and a plurality of runners extending outwardly from said pour cup, said secondary distribution system including an annular distribution ring separate from said runners and disposed at a first axial end portion of and coaxial with the annular array of article molds, said annular distribution ring being formed as one piece with said article molds and having an annular cavity connected in fluid communication with said article mold cavities, joint means connecting said runners and said distribution ring in fluid communication for conducting a flow of molten metal from said primary distribution system to said secondary distribution system and for enabling said secondary distribution system and array of article molds to be moved away from said primary distribution system after said article molds have been filled with molten metal.
- 19. An apparatus for use in casting a plurality of articles, said apparatus comprising furnace means for supplying heat to a mold receiving chamber in said furnace means, a plurality of article molds at least partially disposed in said mold receiving chamber, each of said article molds having a mold cavity with a configuration corresponding to the configuration of one of the articles, molten metal distribution means for conducting molten metal to each of the article mold cavities, said molten metal distribution means including a primary distribution system at least partially disposed in said mold receiving chamber and separate from said article molds, said primary distribution system including a pour cup for receiving molten metal and a plurality of passages for conducting molten metal away from said pour cup, connector means for connecting said primary distribution system with said furnace means, a plurality of separable joint means connected in fluid communication with said article mold cavities and with said passages in said primary distribution system for conducting a flow of molten metal from said primary distribution system at a plurality of locations and for enabling relative movement to occur between said article molds and said primary distribution system, and means for providing relative movement between said article molds and said furnace means while said connector means holds said primary distribution system against movement relative to said furnace means to separate said article molds from said mold receiving chamber while at least a portion of said primary distribution system remains in said mold receiving chamber.
- 32. A method of casting a plurality. of articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a mold having a plurality of article molds disposed in an array having an open central portion, a primary distribution system connected in fluid communication with cavities in the article molds and a baffle disposed in the central portion of the array of article molds, moving the mold into a chamber in a furnace, connecting the primary distribution system with the furnace, connecting the baffle with the furnace, thereafter, pouring molten metal into the primary distribution system, conducting a flow of molten metal from the primary distribution system to the cavities in the article molds, thereafter, moving the article molds at least part way out of the chamber in the furnace while maintaining the primary distribution system and baffle stationary in the chamber in the furnace, and retarding the radiation of heat from the chamber in the furnace with the baffle during performance of said step of moving the article molds out of the chamber in the furnace.
- 40. A method comprising the steps of providing a furnace having a mold receiving chamber, mounting in the furnace chamber a primary distribution system which includes a pour cup and a plurality of passages extending outwardly from the pour cup, providing a plurality of mold structures each of which includes a plurality of article molds and a secondary distribution system which includes a distribution channel connected in fluid communication with article mold cavities in the article molds, moving a first one of the plurality of mold structures into the furnace chamber with the secondary distribution system of the first mold structure disposed adjacent to the primary distribution system, pouring molten metal into the pour cup of the primary distribution system, conducting a plurality of streams of molten metal from the pour cup through the passages in the primary distribution system to the channel in the secondary distribution system of the first mold structure, conducting molten metal from the distribution channel in the secondary distribution system of the first mold structure to the article mold cavities in the article molds of the first mold structure, emptying the passages in the primary distribution system of molten metal, thereafter, moving the first mold structure out of the furnace chamber, moving a second one of the plurality of mold structures into the furnace chamber with the secondary distribution system of the second mold structure adjacent to the primary distribution system, again pouring molten metal into the pour cup of the primary distribution system, conducting a plurality of streams of molten metal from the pour cup through the passages in the primary distribution system to the channel in the secondary distribution system of the second mold structure to the article mold cavities in the article molds of the second mold structure, emptying the passages in the primary distribution system of molten metal, and, thereafter, moving the second mold structure out of the furnace.
- 43. An apparatus for use in casting a plurality of articles, said apparatus comprising furnace means for supplying heat to a mold receiving chamber in said furnace means, a support member movable toward and away from said furnace means, a plurality of article molds disposed on said movable support member in an annular array, each of said article molds having a cavity with a configuration corresponding to the configuration of one of the articles, drive means for moving said support member toward said furnace means to move said article molds into the chamber in said furnace means and for moving said support member away from said furnace means to withdraw said article molds from the chamber in said furnace means, a primary distribution system for receiving molten metal and directing the molten metal toward article molds, said primary distribution system being disposed adjacent to a first axial end portion of the annular array of article molds when said article molds are in the chamber in said furnace means, baffle means disposed adjacent to a second axial end portion of the annular array of article molds when said article molds are in the chamber in said furnace means for retarding heat transmission from the chamber in said furnace means during withdrawal of said article molds from the chamber in said furnace means, said baffle means having a lower side surface area disposed in abutting engagement with said support member when said article molds are in the chamber in said furnace means, and means extending between said baffle means and said primary distribution system for transmitting forces from said primary distribution system to said baffle means to press the lower side surface area on said baffle means against said support member to at least partially support said primary distribution system during the receiving of molten metal in said primary distribution system and for supporting said baffle means in a stationary relationship with respect to said furnace means during operation of said drive means to withdraw said article molds from said chamber in said furnace means.
- 50. A mold for use in casting a plurality of articles, said mold comprising a plurality of article molds disposed in an annular array having an open central portion, each of said article molds having an article mold cavity with a configuration corresponding to the configuration of one of the articles, molten metal distribution means for conducting molten metal to each of said article mold cavities, said molten metal distribution means including a primary distribution system separate from said article molds and a secondary distribution system connected to said article molds, said primary distribution system including a pour cup disposed in a coaxial relationship with the circular array of article molds and a plurality of runners extending outwardly from the pour cup, said secondary distribution system including an annular distribution ring separate from said runners and disposed at a first axial end portion of and coaxial with the annular array of article molds, said annular distribution ring being formed as one piece with said article molds and having an annular cavity connected in fluid communciation with said article mold cavities, joint means connecting said runners and said distribution ring in fluid communication for conducting a flow of molten metal from said primary distribution system to said secondary distribution system and for enabling said secondary distribution system and array of article molds to be moved away from said primary distribution system after said article mold cavities have been filled with molten metal, and baffle plate means disposed at a second axial end portion of and coaxial with the annular array of article molds for retarding heat transmission from said article molds, said baffle plate means being separate from said article molds to enable said article molds to be moved relative to said baffle plate means.
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55. In an apparatus for casting metal forms, said apparatus being adapted to establish controlled heating zones, the combination comprising:
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an induction heating source; a mold assembly in the form of an annular array of individual molds, adapted to receive heat energy on the outer and inner surfaces of said array and adapted to move in a predetermined direction; a liquid metal distribution means adapted to separably and matingly engage said mold assembly into which said liquid metal is poured, said distribution means retarding the entry of radiant energy to the interior of the annular array of molds when said distribution means is in metal pouring communication with said mold assembly; a first heating zone defined by said induction heat source with said mold assembly and distribution means disposed therein; a second zone in which the temperature is less than in said first zone; baffle means fixedly secured to said distribution means forming a separation between said first and second zones to restrict the flow of radiant energy emanating from said first zone from entering said second zone; means for moving said mold assembly from said first zone to said second zone; means for retaining said distribution means stationary in said first zone during movement of said mold assembly to effect the separation of said mold assembly from said distribution means when said mold assembly begins its movement toward said second zone to expose the inner surface of said mold assembly to the radiant energy while in said first zone to maintain the metal in its liquid state, said mold assembly being rapidly cooled in said second zone; whereby said combination produces a high temperature gradient for each unit of length along at least a portion of said mold assembly. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification