Die casting pump
First Claim
1. An apparatus for pumping molten metal, comprising:
- a pump base comprised of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted to be submerged in a bath of molten metal, said pump base comprising a molten metal inlet opening;
a molten metal valve chamber in communication with said inlet opening;
a molten metal pumping chamber;
a passageway that communicates said valve chamber and said pumping chamber, and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with said pumping chamber;
a first piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted for reciprocal movement in said valve chamber;
a second piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted for reciprocal movement in said pumping chamber;
at least one annular gasket comprised of refractory material disposed around said second piston in said pumping chamber;
a first connecting member that extends upwardly from said first piston;
a second connecting member that extends upwardly from said second piston; and
at least one actuator in communication with said first member and said second member, wherein the at least one said actuator acts upon said first member and said second member to effect said reciprocal movement of said first piston and said second piston.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for pumping molten metal includes a pump base comprised of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted to be submerged in a bath of molten metal. The pump base includes a molten metal inlet opening; a molten metal valve chamber in communication with the inlet opening; a molten metal pumping chamber; a passageway that communicates the valve chamber and the pumping chamber and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with the pumping chamber. A first piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material is adapted for reciprocal movement in the valve chamber. A second piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material is adapted for reciprocal movement in the pumping chamber. A first connecting member extends upwardly from the first piston and a second connecting member extends upwardly from the second piston. At least one actuator is in communication with the first and second connecting members. The at least one actuator acts upon the first and second connecting members to effect the reciprocal movement of the first and second pistons. When used in a die casting apparatus, also featured is a shot chamber disposed near the discharge opening for receiving molten metal discharged from the conduit. A ram is disposed in the chamber for injecting the molten metal in the chamber into a die for casting the molten metal.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for pumping molten metal, comprising:
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a pump base comprised of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted to be submerged in a bath of molten metal, said pump base comprising a molten metal inlet opening;
a molten metal valve chamber in communication with said inlet opening;
a molten metal pumping chamber;
a passageway that communicates said valve chamber and said pumping chamber, and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with said pumping chamber;
a first piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted for reciprocal movement in said valve chamber;
a second piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted for reciprocal movement in said pumping chamber;
at least one annular gasket comprised of refractory material disposed around said second piston in said pumping chamber;
a first connecting member that extends upwardly from said first piston;
a second connecting member that extends upwardly from said second piston; and
at least one actuator in communication with said first member and said second member, wherein the at least one said actuator acts upon said first member and said second member to effect said reciprocal movement of said first piston and said second piston. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for die casting molten metal, comprising:
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a pump for pumping molten metal comprising;
(a) a pump base comprised of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted to be submerged in a bath of molten metal, said pump base comprising a molten metal inlet opening;
a molten metal valve chamber in communication with said inlet opening;
a molten metal pumping chamber;
a passageway that communicates said valve chamber and said pumping chamber, and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with said pumping chamber;
(b) a conduit extending from said outlet opening to a discharge location outside the bath, said conduit having an outlet located at said discharge location;
(c) a first piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted for reciprocal movement in said valve chamber;
(d) a second piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted for reciprocal movement in said pumping chamber;
(e) at least one annular gasket comprised of refractory material disposed around said second piston in said pumping chamber;
(f) a first connecting member that extends upwardly from said first piston;
(g) a second connecting member that extends upwardly from said second piston; and
(h) at least one actuator in communication with said first member and said second member, wherein the at least one said actuator acts upon said first member and said second member to effect said reciprocal movement of said first piston and said second piston;
(i) a shot chamber fluidly connected with said discharge opening for receiving molten metal discharged from said conduit; and
(j) a ram disposed in said chamber and adapted to direct molten metal in said chamber to a die for casting said molten metal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of pumping molten metal using a pump base that is comprised of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted to be submerged in a bath of molten metal, said pump base comprising a molten metal inlet opening, a valve chamber in communication with said inlet opening, a molten metal pumping chamber;
- a passageway that communicates said valve chamber and said pumping chamber, and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with said pumping chamber, said method comprising;
a molten metal inlet stage comprising positioning a first piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material at a location that enables molten metal to enter said valve chamber; and
positioning a second piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material in said pumping chamber so as to permit molten metal to enter said pumping chamber;
sealing said pumping chamber using an annular sealing member comprised of refractory material disposed around said second piston; and
a molten metal pumping stage comprising positioning said first piston so as to prevent molten metal from entering said valve chamber;
moving said second piston so as to discharge molten metal from said pumping chamber and to direct molten metal through said outlet opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- a passageway that communicates said valve chamber and said pumping chamber, and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with said pumping chamber, said method comprising;
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19. A method of die casting molten metal using a pump base that is comprised of non-metallic, heat resistant material and adapted to be submerged in a bath of molten metal, said pump base comprising a molten metal inlet opening, a valve chamber in communication with said inlet opening, a molten metal pumping chamber;
- a passageway that communicates said valve chamber and said pumping chamber, and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with said pumping chamber, said method comprising;
a molten metal feed stage comprising positioning a first piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material at a location that enables molten metal to enter said valve chamber through said inlet opening, and positioning a second piston made of non-metallic, heat resistant material in said pumping chamber so as to permit molten metal to enter said pumping chamber;
sealing said pumping chamber using an annular sealing member comprised of refractory material disposed around said second piston;
a molten metal pumping stage comprising positioning said first piston so as to prevent molten metal from entering said valve chamber;
moving said second piston so as to discharge molten metal from said pumping chamber and to direct molten metal from said outlet opening through a conduit into a shot chamber located outside said bath; and
injecting said molten metal in said shot chamber into a cavity of a die. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
- a passageway that communicates said valve chamber and said pumping chamber, and a molten metal outlet opening that communicates with said pumping chamber, said method comprising;
- 23. In a method of die casting molten metal comprising moving a piston in a pumping chamber within a bath of molten metal to inject the molten metal into a die and then casting the molten metal, said improvement comprising sealing said pumping chamber using an annular sealing member disposed around said piston, and relieving pressure by passing molten metal outwardly through radial exit openings in said sealing member and through a drain hole in said base to an exterior of said base.
Specification