EP0127788B1 - Installation for handling and positioning a socket core in a centrifugal casting machine for casting iron pipes having a socket - Google Patents

Abstract

A support stirrup 7 is rotatably mounted by horizontal shaft 8 at one end of a machine for centrifugally casting iron pipes 41 having end sockets 42a in a chill-mould 1. A ring assembly 31, CL is mounted between the arms of the stirrup for rotation about an axis Z-Z perpendicular to the shaft axis, but the plane of the assembly is tilted from its rotation axis by an acute angle D via an offset arm 34. With the stirrup raised to an intermediate position and the ring assembly rotated 90 DEG (FIGS. 3, 6) an operator can easily and safely mount a relatively heavy socket core 36 to the ring assembly, whereafter the latter is reverse rotated 90 DEG and the stirrup lowered to position the core in the end of the mould (FIGS. 1, 4). The stirrup can be fully raised (FIG. 2) to enable pipe extraction and visual inspection during casting.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for handling and laying an interlocking core for a centrifugal casting machine for interlocking cast iron pipe.

Such a machine, of known type, comprises a casting shell rotatably mounted in a casing provided with means for cooling the shell and a casting channel, this channel being capable of traversing the entire length of the shell, inside this in order to pour liquid iron into it during a relative translational movement between the casing of the machine and the channel.

More specifically, the shell which gives the outside shape of the cast iron pipe receives at one end a core giving the inside shape of the fitting of the pipe. This core of molding sand, which can be used for a single casting, that is to say for a single centrifuged pipe, is replaced after each casting. It is brought and placed at the end of the shell by means of a handling and laying support device which is the subject of the invention.

Patent FR-A-2 314 790 discloses a support device for handling and for fitting a nesting core at the end of a centrifugation shell, which is articulated on a horizontal shaft carried by the casing of the machine, which can rotate by rotation around this shaft between a high position, retracted above the nesting end of the shell, and a low position for introducing the core into the shell.

This support device has two parts. both rotatably mounted around the same horizontal shaft of rotation under the antagonistic actions of a jack and a counterweight: a core support proper which is retracted upwards during casting, and a support element which is retracted upward to receive a new core but which remains in the lowered position of axial support of the core inside the shell during casting.

This device has the advantage of only requiring the operator to place a new core on the support in the upwardly retracted position. In addition, it offers good visibility inside the nesting of the shell when the core is applied to it during casting. It is ideal for cores with small diameters (for example less than 300 mm) which an operator can easily place on their support in the high position, without excessive fatigue, due to the limited weight of the core.

On the other hand, for diameters greater than 300 mm, and remaining within the limit of the portable cores by an operator, these reach relatively high weights which can make it difficult for the operator to place the core repeatedly on its support. in the high position, a large number of times during a work period.

The object of the invention is therefore to produce a support device for handling and laying portable cores by an operator, making it possible to reduce the fatigue thereof, by a more comfortable position of the support for the installation of 'a new nucleus.

The device for handling and laying an interlocking core for a centrifugal casting machine for interlocking cast iron pipes by the invention comprises a tilting support mounted on the end of the centrifugal casting machine, tilting around d '' a horizontal shaft under the action of a jack carried by the machine, and receiving means for gripping and supporting the core, arranged to introduce the latter into a centrifugal casting shell of the machine when the jack tilts said support .

According to the invention, the means for gripping and supporting the core are pivotally mounted on the support around an axis of rotation orthogonal to the aforementioned shaft, under the action of a control jack, and comprise an articulated crown directly on said support around the orthogonal axis so that the general plane of this crown always remains inclined at an acute angle on the orthogonal pivot axis, this angle being open downwards when the crown and its support are lowered, in order to present on an inclined plane substantially at the height of the operator's arms and laterally to the machine the means for gripping the core.

Thanks to this arrangement, not only does the device according to the invention ensure a comfortable position for the operator for laying portable cores away from the heat coming from the molded pipe, but this device also ensures a safety position, since the operator is on the side of the machine, out of the path of the extractor carriage of the molded pipe out of the shell.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective partielle d'une machine de coulée centrifuge équipée d'un dispositif de manutention et de pose d'un noyau d'emboîtement selon l'invention, en position abaissée;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique partielle en élévation latérale du dispositif de manutention et de pose de noyau, escamoté en position haute au-dessus de la machine;
• la figure 3 est une vue en élévation frontale du dispositif de manutention en position pour le chargement latéral d'un noyau par un opérateur;

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof:

• Figure 1 is a schematic partial perspective view of a centrifugal casting machine equipped with a device for handling and placing a nesting core according to the invention, in the lowered position;
• Figure 2 is a partial schematic view in side elevation of the core handling and laying device, retracted in the high position above the machine;
• Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the handling device in position for lateral loading of a core by an operator;

• la figure 5 est une vue en élévation et coupe partielle agrandie du dispositif de réglage transversal du support basculant du noyau d'emboîtement;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique partielle en élévation latérale illustrant les différentes positions angulaires pouvant être prises par le support basculant du dispositif de manutention selon l'invention, pour chacune des phases de fonctionnement de ce dispositif.

fig. 4 is a schematic elevation view of the handling device according to the invention, with partial section of the end of the centrifugal casting machine, the handling device being in its position for placing the core in the shell;

• Figure 5 is an elevational view in enlarged partial section of the transverse adjustment device of the tilting support of the nesting core;
• Figure 6 is a partial schematic view in side elevation illustrating the different angular positions that can be taken by the tilting support of the handling device according to the invention, for each of the operating phases of this device.

The interlocking core handling and laying device such as the core 36 shown in the drawings is arranged to equip the end of a centrifugal casting machine C with interlocking cast iron pipe. In a manner known per se, the CO casting machine comprises a shell 1 housed in a casing 2, and rotated around an axis of revolution XX. The assembly thus produced can move on parallel rails 3 by means of rollers 4, along the longitudinal axis XX, in the direction of a weir 5 bringing the liquid metal into the shell 1 by means of a pouring channel 6 fixedly mounted and independent of the CO machine.

The core 36, constructed of agglomerated sand (FIG. 4), is placed in the nesting end of the shell 1 before the start of the centrifugal casting, so as to delimit an annular volume 42 with the end of the shell 1, this volume 42 being filled with liquid metal during casting in order to form the interlocking of the pipe.

The core handling and laying device 36, designated by the general reference M, comprises a tilting support 7 mounted on the end of the casting machine CO, in the shape of a stirrup and tilting around a horizontal shaft 8 of axis YY, orthogonal to axis XX. The shaft 8 can pivot at its ends in two bearings 9 and 10 rigidly fixed to each of the upper corners of the casing 2 and substantially in line with the lateral flanks of the latter, so that the vertical median plane of the shaft 8 along YY is practically coincident with the end plate 11 of the casing 2.

Seen at the end of the CO casting machine, the tilting support 7 in the shape of a U or a stirrup with short branches of substantially equal length, turned 90 ° to the left while observing Figures 1 and 3 with its branches 22, 23 open below and above respectively the axis XX, the lower branch 22 being narrower than the upper branch 23 secured to the shaft 8. The support 7 can tilt around the latter under the action of a jack 29 mounted laterally on the CO machine. On the other hand, the support 7 receives gripping and support means for the core 36 arranged to introduce the latter into the shell 1 when the jack 29 causes the support 7 to tilt.

In accordance with the invention, the means for gripping and supporting the core 36 are pivotally mounted on the support 7 around an axis of rotation ZZ orthogonal to the shaft 8, under the action of a control jack 38. These means comprise a crown 31 articulated directly on the support 7 around the orthogonal axis ZZ, so that the general plane of the crown 31 always remains inclined at an acute angle D (Figures 3 and 4) on the axis Pivoting ZZ, this angle D being open downwards when the crown 31 and its support 7 are lowered.

The crown 31 is part of a cylinder head CL schematically represented in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6, and which cooperates with a bowl 43 for supporting and placing the core 36 in the shell 1. The cylinder head CL and the bowl 43 can be carried out in a known manner, for example in accordance with patent FR-A-2,051,993 or patent FR-A-2,053,388, and will therefore not be described in more detail.

The crown 31 is articulated around the orthogonal axis Z-Z by pins 32, 33 of which the most distant 33 from the tilting shaft 8 of the support 7, is extended by an offset arm 34 perpendicular to the orthogonal axis Z-Z. The crown 31 is fixed to the arm 34 at a location diametrically opposite to that of the fastening of the pin 32 closest to the shaft 8, so that the crown 31 is inclined at an acute angle D on its pivot axis ZZ , which allows it to be presented to the operator like a desk to receive a core 36 (Figure 3).

The pins 32, 33 are respectively mounted in bearings 25 and 24 fixed to the ends of the branches 23 and 22 of the support 7, these bearings 24, 25 being coaxial with the axis Z-Z.

The support 7 is provided laterally with a head 27 (FIG. 1) fixed to said support, and on which a yoke 28 is articulated forming the end of the rod of the jack 29, itself articulated around a pin 30 integral of the side wall of the casing 2. The arrangement is such that the axis of translation TT of the jack 29 is in a vertical plane, the support 7 thus being able to tilt under the action of the jack 29 around the shaft 8 in order to take angular positions from its highest retracting position above the CO machine (Figure 6, angle A) to its lowest position for fitting the core 36 into the shell 1 (Figure 6, angle C). Between these two extreme positions, the support 7 and the crown 31 can take all the intermediate positions, such as the position illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the support 7 forms with the plane of the end face 11 of the CO machine a angle B. The angular movement between the extreme positions corresponding to angles A and C is approximately 80 °.

To laterally retract the crown 31 in order to present it to the operator 35 in the manner of a desk (FIG. 3), inclined on the axis ZZ by an angle D of about 15 ° for example, a jack 38 d 'horizontal axis UU is articulated inside a yoke 39 secured to a console 40 (Figures 1 and 3) fixed laterally to the support 7 substantially at the same level as the connecting rod head 27 (in Figure 1, the console 40 and its yoke 39 have not been shown so as not to mask the end of the jack 29). The rod 38a of the actuator 38 is articulated in a yoke 37 integral with the upper part of the crown 31. The latter can thus pivot around the axis ZZ under the action of its actuating actuator 38, of course always remaining inclined by an angle (D) on said axis ZZ.

The jack 38 mounted on the support 7 therefore follows the pendulum movement of the latter and can thus, independently of this movement, rotate the crown 31 around the axis Z-Z in an angular range between 0 ° and more than 90 °. The 0 ° position of the crown 31 is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6, while the angular spacing of 90 ° relative to the general plane of the support 7 is visible in Figure 3, when the crown 31 is suitably presented to the operator 35.

According to one feature, the invention provides that the bearing 25, which is closest to the tilting shaft 8, forms a nut for receiving an adjustment screw with a handwheel 60. This screw thus makes it possible to adjust along the axis Z-Z the position of the crown 31 integral in translation with said screw, by a screw-nut movement.

The shaft 8 for rotation of the support 7 is provided with means for adjusting its transverse position by compared to the CO casting machine, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 5.

The aforementioned adjustment means thus comprise in this example, a screw 16 coaxial at one end 8a of the shaft 8 engaged in the bearing-nut 10 of support integral with the machine CO. The end portion 15 of the screw 16 being introduced into the end 8a and thus secured in translation with the shaft 8, the screw 16 is screwed into the bearing-nut 10 and is provided with a control wheel 17. The rotation of the latter makes it possible to move the shaft 8 along its axis Y-Y and the tilting support 7 between the bearings 9 and 10.

• 1) Un tuyau 41 (figure 2) à emboîtement vient d'être coulé. Le noyau d'emboîtement 36 est encore emprisonné entre l'emboîtement 42a et la cuvette 43 supportant le noyau 36, elle-même verrouillée sur la coquille 1 de façon connue en soi par des clavettes centrifuges non représentées. Tandis que la machine et plus spécialement la coquille 1, est dans sa position la plus éloignée du déversoir 5, le support 7 est en position haute d'attente avec sa couronne 31 supportant la culasse CL orientée vers le sol, comme illustré à la figure 2, sous l'action du vérin de commande 29 dont la tige est complètement sortie. L'angle A entre l'axe Z-Z et le plan de la face terminale 11 du carter 2 (figure 6) est d'environ 1100.
• 2) On extrait de la coquille 1 la cuvette 43 supportant le noyau 36, cette cuvette étant en effet restée encastrée dans l'extrémité d'emboîtement de la coquille 1 pendant la coulée centrifuge du tuyau 41.

The operation of the handling device which has just been described is as follows.

• 1) A pipe 41 (FIG. 2) has just been poured. The nesting core 36 is still trapped between the socket 42a and the bowl 43 supporting the core 36, itself locked on the shell 1 in a manner known per se by centrifugal keys not shown. While the machine and more specifically the shell 1, is in its position furthest from the weir 5, the support 7 is in the high standby position with its crown 31 supporting the cylinder head CL oriented towards the ground, as illustrated in the figure 2, under the action of the control cylinder 29, the rod of which is completely extended. The angle A between the axis ZZ and the plane of the end face 11 of the casing 2 (FIG. 6) is approximately 1100.
• 2) The bowl 43 supporting the core 36 is extracted from the shell 1, this bowl having in fact remained embedded in the nesting end of the shell 1 during the centrifugal casting of the pipe 41.

To do this, the support 7 is lowered by retracting the rod of the jack 29, until the cylinder head CL comes to bear against the bowl 43 secured to the shell 1 rotating at low speed, by its centrifugal keys. In known manner, the cylinder head CL is automatically locked on the bowl 43 while, during this time, the support 7 is maintained in its lowest position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, so as to form an angle C of about 15 ° between the ZZ axis and the end face 11.

The extraction of the bowl 43 then takes place by raising the support 7 towards its initial retracted position, that is to say until it makes an angle A of approximately 110 ° C. with the end face. 11, the cylinder head CL remaining in engagement with the bowl 43 extracted from the shell 1 after erasing these centrifugal keys, when the rotation of the shell 1 is stopped. During the extraction of the bowl 43, the core 36 separates automatically from the latter and disintegrates mechanically in a natural manner, a very small pull-out force being sufficient for the support 7 to allow this separation.

3) The pipe 41 is extracted from the shell 1 (FIG. 2) by means of an extractor E known per se, while the support 7, the cylinder head CL and the bowl 43 are in the high position. Pipe 41 is extracted axially along X-X in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2.

4) By triggering the jack 29, the support 7 is tilted around the shaft 8 to its position in which the axis ZZ forms an angle B with the end face 11 (FIG. 6), the angle B being adjusted to best suit the operator 35, and may for example be about 50 °.

At the same time as the support 7 rocks downwards, or at the end of this tilting, the bowl 43 is pivoted by actuating its control cylinder 38 so as to present it in the desired angular position (FIGS. 3 and 6) at the operator 35 to allow the latter to place a new core 36 on the bowl 43 locked on the cylinder head CL.

The presentation of the bowl 43 to the operator 35 in the manner of a desk which is suitably inclined as a function of the morphology of the operator is advantageous and ergonomic in that it very significantly facilitates the placement of cores 36 relatively heavy.

This suitable inclination of the bowl 43 is made possible by the angular offset of the crown 41 by the arm 34.

In addition, this arrangement also has the advantage of allowing the operator 35 to work in complete safety, while remaining away from the dangerous zones of the CO casting machine, since he can thus set up the successive cores 36 while remaining laterally away from the CO machine, out of the path of the extractor E on its undercarriage, and heat radiation.

5) A new core 36 being fixed on the bowl 43 in a manner known per se and not shown, the cylinder head CL thus provided is brought back to its initial position, that is to say by rotating it 90 ° around of the ZZ axis clockwise (arrow shown in Figure 3), thanks to the jack 38.

By maintaining this new position of the cylinder head CL, the support 7 is lowered by tilting it around the shaft 8, and the core 36 is thus introduced into the socket of the shell 1. This operation should preferably be carried out with the shell 1 rotating at low speed around its axis XX. Under the action of the jack 29 which continues to run, the force exerted by the bowl 43 against the bearing surfaces of the shell 1 intensifies, and forces the centrifugal keys of the bowl 43 to just snap into a groove receiving the nesting of the shell 1. This then leads to the situation visible in FIGS. 4 and 6, in which the angle C is approximately 15 °. The cup 43 is then automatically dissociated from the cylinder head CL, then the latter is retracted by raising the support 7 by means of the jack 29, to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6 in which it is spaced by an angle A from the end face 11.

The inlet of the shell 1 socket is then completely cleared, which facilitates the view of the casting inside the shell 1, so that the casting can begin.

At the end of the pouring of a new pipe 41, the process described above begins again. As explained below, the essential advantage of the invention consists in the fact that the crown 31 can be presented laterally to the operator 35, suitably inclined in the manner of a desk, which facilitates repeated laying during a work period, relatively heavy nesting cores 36. Correspondingly, the arrangement provided by the invention significantly improves the security of the operator 35, who can set up the successive cores while remaining on the side of the machine.

Of course, the angle D of inclination of the crown 31 on the axis ZZ can vary appreciably, as can the inclination B of the support 7, depending on the morphology of the operator in order to offer him- ci the most suitable ergonomic plan for fitting the nesting cores 36.

It should also be noted that the complete retraction of the support 7 and of the cylinder head CL on the top of the machine CO, completely clears the view of the interior of the shell 1 during casting.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for handling and positioning a socket core (36) for a machine (CO) for the centrifugal casting of cast-iron pipes with a socket, comprising a tilting support (7) mounted on the end of the centrifugal casting machine (CO), able to tilt about a horizontal shaft (8) under the action of a jack (29) supported by the machine (CO) and receiving means (31; CL) for gripping and supporting the core (36), which are arranged in order to introduce the latter into a centrifugal casting chill-mould (1) of the machine (CO) when the jack (29) causes the said support (7) to tilt, characterised in that the means (31) in this case gripping and support means for the core (36) are mounted to pivot on the support (7) about an axis of rotation (Z-Z) at right angles to the said shaft (8), under the action of a control jack (38) and comprise a ring (31) pivoted directly on the said support (7) about the orthogonal axis (Z-Z) so that the general plane of this ring (31) always remains inclined by an acute angle (D) with respect to the orthogonal pivot axis (Z-Z), this angle (D) being open in a downwards direction when the ring (31) and its support (7) are lowered, in order to present the means (31) for gripping the core (36) to the machine (CO) on a plane which is inclined substantially at the height of the operator's arms and laterally.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the ring (31 ) is pivoted about the said orthogonal axis (Z-Z) by journals (32, 33) whereof the furthest (33) from the tilting shaft (8) of the support (7) is extended by a cut-away arm (34) perpendicular to the orthogonal axis (Z-Z) and to which the ring (31 ) is fixed at a point diametrically opposed to the attachment point of the journal (32) which is closest to the tilting shaft (8), so that the ring (31) is inclined by an acute angle (D) with respect to its pivot axis (Z-Z) and is presented in this way to the operator in the manner of a desk in order to receive a core (36).

3. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the jack (38) for controlling the rotation of the ring (31) which belongs to the means for gripping and supporting the core (36), is mounted on a bracket (40) integral with the tilting support (7) and its rod (38a) is pivoted in a clevis (37) fixed to the upper part of the ring (31 close to the journal (32) which is closest to the tilting shaft (8).

4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the support (7) of the ring (31) which belongs to the means (CL) for gripping and supporting the core (36) is in the general form of a stirrup with two sides (22, 23), arranged at the opposite ends of which are bearings (24, 25) for receiving journals (32, 33) for the pivoting of the ring (31) about the said orthogonal axis (Z-Z).

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rotation shaft (8) of the support (7), with which it is integral, is provided with means for regulating its transverse position with respect to the casting machine (CO), by a screw/nut system comprising a screw (16) which is coaxial with one end (8a) of this shaft (8) engaged in a support bearing nut

(10) integral with the machine (CO) and whereof the terminal part (15) is fitted in the said end (8a) of the shaft (8) and is connected to move longitudinally with the shaft (8), this adjusting screw (16) being screwed into the bearing nut (10) and being provided with a control hand-wheel (17) whereof the rotation makes it possible to move the shaft (8) along its axis (Y-Y) and the tilting support (7) between the bearings (9, 10) of the shaft (8).

6. Apparatus according to Claims 2 and 4, characterised in that the bearing (25) closest to the tilting shaft (8) forms a nut for receiving a screw on the axis (Z-Z), which is adjusted by an operating hand-wheel (60) able to regulate the position of the ring (31), connected to move longitudinally with the said adjusting screw along the axis (Z-Z), by the screwnut movement.

Images