Controlled method for injection casing using a mold under vacuum, especially intended for aluminium or magnesium alloys and device for carrying out said method

• US 5,597,032 A
• Filed: 03/11/1996
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pierre Merrien
• Original Assignee: Pierre Merrien
• Inventors: Merrien, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Kuang Y.
• Application Number:
  US08/617,959
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 164/119, 164/306, 164/63, 164/254, 164/255, 164/457, 164/151.3, 164/155.2
• US Class Current: 164/457
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 18/08 Controlling, supervising, e.g. for safety reasons controlling or regulating in general G05

Abstract

A device for injection casting includes a furnace within which is position a crucible, a bell mounted atop a table into which a mold is positioned and a tube interconnecting the crucible and the mold. A device is provided to sense the level of metal within the crucible; piping is provided into the bell and the furnace for controlling the respective pressures therein and various sensors are provided in the bell, mold, tube and furnace which sense various pressures and temperatures experienced within the device during the casting operation. These sensors provide signals to a control apparatus which controls the pressure inside the furnace in order to fill the mold with metal inside the crucible and regulates the speed and pressure inside the mold. A method of operating the device is also provided.

Claims

1. A process for injection casting parts, particularly thin walled parts made of metallic alloys, polymers and alloy fiber composites, comprising:

placing inside a furnace a crucible containing a casting metal;

plunging an injection tube, arranged upon a plate covering the furnace, into the casting metal;

placing a mold on a support with the mold in fluid communication with the injection tube;

sealingly positioning a bell about the mold;

creating an equal vacuum level in both the mold and furnace without causing either the injection of the metal into the mold or the expulsion of the metal from the crucible;

filling the mold by pressurizing the furnace while maintaining pressure variations inside the furnace and the mold and speed variations of the metal inside the mold at any given instant at desired values based on a geometry of a part to be poured and a difference in height of the metal inside the crucible from the beginning of the filling of the mold to the given instant thereby causing a controlled injection of the metal into the mold while creating a pressure differential between the furnace and the bell;

bringing the bell to a pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure while maintaining a difference in pressure between the furnace and the bell at least equal to said pressure differential;

maintaining the pressures in the furnace and the bell while the metal in the mold cools and solidifies; and

depressurizing the furnace and the bell to atmospheric pressure.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

sensing the height of metal inside the crucible by sensing the quantity of metal inside the crucible.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the speed variations of the metal inside the mold at desired values during filling of the mold in dependence upon a temperature difference between the metal when entering the mold and a reference temperature.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

applying on the metal, following filling of the mold, an overpressure which is greater than a pressure level present in the furnace during filling of the mold.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

injecting liquid nitrogen into the mold at predetermined points as the metal cools and solidifies.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

sensing a temperature of the metal at an opening of the mold; and

further governing the controlled rate and the pressure in the mold at the beginning and throughout the filling of the mold based on the sensed temperature.

7. A method of performing an injection casting operation comprising:

placing a crucible adapted to house a casting metal inside a furnace;

fluidly interconnecting the crucible with a mold;

sensing the height of metal inside the crucible;

simultaneously placing the mold and the furnace under an equal starting vacuum;

filling the mold at a controlled rate by pressurizing the furnace to cause the metal to flow from the crucible to the mold;

directly sensing a pressure inside the mold;

sensing the quantity of the metal in the crucible by sensing the height of metal inside the crucible;

governing the controlled rate and the pressure in the mold as a function of the sensed quantity of metal inside the crucible at the beginning of and throughout the filling of the mold;

maintaining the pressures in the mold and the furnace while the metal in the mold is cooled and solidified; and

depressurizing the furnace to atmospheric pressure.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

placing the mold and the crucible in two separate enclosures and sealing said two separate enclosures.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

injecting liquid nitrogen into the mold at predetermined points as the metal is cooled and solidified therein.

10. An injection casting device comprising:

a sealed furnace;

a table;

a bell sealed to said table and fluidly isolated from said furnace;

a metal containing crucible located in said furnace;

a tube fixed to one of said table and said bell and extending into said crucible;

a mold located in said bell and open to said tube;

means for simultaneously creating a vacuum in said bell and said furnace, said creating means including;

at least one vacuum pump;

a first pipe interconnected between said at least one vacuum pump and said bell;

a second pipe interconnected between said at least one vacuum pump and said furnace;

a first valve arranged in said first pipe; and

a second valve arranged in said second pipe;

pressure sensors for directly sensing a pressure in said mold and in said furnace respectively;

means for continuously determining the height of metal inside the crucible; and

means for controlling, based on signals received from said pressure sensor and said determining means and through at least said first and second valves, the pressure inside said mold and said furnace in order to fill said mold with metal from said crucible and to regulate a metal flowing speed and pressure inside said mold during filling thereof.

11. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising temperature sensor means for sensing a temperature of a metal at an entrance to said mold and signalling said controlling means.

12. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for continuously determining the height of metal inside the crucible comprises a pivotable lever provided at one end with a float adapted to rest on an upper surface of the metal in said crucible and a sensor for determining a rotational angle of said pivotable lever, said sensor being interconnected with said controlling means.

13. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a nozzle formed integral with said tube; and

means for electrically heating and regulating the temperature of said nozzle.

14. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a sensor for detecting the passage of metal in said tube, said sensor being defined by a tubular member including a chip which closes one end of the tubular member and to which is attached a thermocouple, said tubular member further including an air intake and an air outlet for supplying cooling air to said chip in order to maintain the chip at a predetermined temperature before a casting operation.

15. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a valve arranged in the air intake.

16. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a chamber surrounding a portion of said tube;

means for injecting a metal protecting gas within said chamber; and

insulating O-rings provided at an upper part of said chamber, said O-rings being sealed against said table.

17. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising heating elements located in said furnace.

18. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for insulating the furnace, said furnace insulating means being formed of non-siliceous material.

19. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a pressurized tank of gas;

a third pipe interconnected between said furnace and said pressurized tank of gas; and

a third valve arranged in said third pipe.

20. The injection casting device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first, second and third valves constitute proportional valves.