EP0477118B1 - Device for positioning and clamping foundry moulds - Google Patents

Abstract

Installation is for the positioning and securing of foundry moulds (2) for the upward casting of alloy metal on a casting station close to a casting ladle. Installation is made up of a support structure (1) carrying the mould (2) incorporating a casting hole open towards the bottom, some means (4) of translational transfer, at least one suspended jack (18) essentially vertical and at least one securing jack (12) essentially vertical. Casting station is sited on the nose of the melting appts. Support structure (1) incorporates flanges (8) and at least one mould carrying plate (9), the flanges (8) and the lower part of the mould carrying plate (9) being in the same horizontal plane.

Description

The present invention relates to an installation for positioning and clamping foundry molds.

More particularly, it relates to an installation for positioning and clamping foundry molds for the upward casting under low pressure of a metal alloy on a casting station near a metal alloy melting apparatus.

The installation consists of at least one blind mold holder frame comprising a casting well open downwards, a transfer means in translation, at least one substantially vertical suspension jack and at least one substantially vertical clamping cylinder, the casting station being located on the casting nose of the melter.

An installation of this type is disclosed in patent GB-A-726355. It largely corresponds to the preamble of the main claim.

It is necessary to adjust the mold displacement height. It is also necessary to obtain the most effective tightening without leakage of liquid metal.

In order to keep the same installation for several castings with different molds, the present invention provides a clamping installation which can be used for molds of different dimensions. The blind sand molds each comprise a downwardly open pouring well, supplied via a pouring nose connected to a metal alloy pouring ladle, and means for applying the base of the pouring well to the upper opening of the pouring noses, which can be of different heights, depending on the configuration.

So that the installation can be dismantled more quickly, it is characterized in that the frame comprises retractable cleats between the open and closed positions and at least one mold-carrier plate, the bearing face of the cleats in the closed position and the lower part of the mold tray are in the same horizontal plane.

Preferably, the installation according to the invention, of the type allowing repetitive pouring in which the transfer means carries a member for gripping and suspending the frame, is characterized in that the member for gripping and suspending the frame of the transfer means, includes cylinder for hanging an upper plate from the frame, and on this plate, the clamping cylinder, the head directed downwards is linked, free in rotation, by means of a ball joint, to a clamping plate.

• les taquets sont rotatifs horizontaux ;
• le plateau supérieur du bâti, sensiblement horizontal, est lié fixement à au moins deux tiges de suspension du moule, qui descendent sensiblement verticalement, et qui comprennent chacune à leur extrémité inférieure un taquet tournant sensiblement horizontal, support de plateau porte-moule du moule. Chaque taquet est escamotable entre une position ouverte du bâti et une position fermée ou de prise sous la face inférieure de plateau porte-moule ;
• un moule est appliqué par sa face inférieure sur un nez de coulée, se caractérisant en ce qu'au poste de coulée, le moule est appliqué sur la face supérieure d'un dispositif intermédiaire d'usure de façon à assurer une étanchéité parfaite.

According to other characteristics:

• the cleats are horizontal rotary;
• the upper plate of the frame, substantially horizontal, is fixedly connected to at least two mold suspension rods, which descend substantially vertically, and which each comprise at their lower end a substantially horizontal rotating cleat, support for the mold-carrier plate of the mold. Each cleat is retractable between an open position of the frame and a closed or gripped position under the underside of the mold carrier plate;
• a mold is applied by its lower face to a pouring nose, characterized in that at the casting station, the mold is applied to the upper face of an intermediate wear device so as to ensure perfect sealing.

In order to keep the mold tray horizontal, the frame is guided vertically by at least one vertical rod. In addition, the tabs are calibrated so that the bearing faces form a horizontal plane on which is placed the mold carrier plate. This plane is perpendicular to said vertical rod.

The subject of the invention is also an installation for positioning and clamping a blind sand foundry mold for the upward casting of metal alloy; the blind sand mold comprising a pouring open open well, via a pouring nose connected to a metal alloy pouring ladle, and means for applying the base of the pouring well to the upper opening of the nose casting characterized in that the installation is as defined above.

Various details and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing, the single figure of which schematically represents a foundry installation in accordance with the invention .

The installation shown in the drawing comprises a frame 1 in which is fixed a blind mold 2 comprising a pouring well 3 open downwards. It is of the type allowing repetitive pouring and further comprises a known horizontal transfer means 4 such as, for example, from patent FR-A 2,533,847, patented by the Applicant. The transfer means carries, according to the invention, a member for gripping and suspending the frame. The installation is intended to automatically position and tighten repeatedly, a mold 2 on an upward flow channel 5.

The frame 1 comprises at its upper part a plate 6, substantially horizontal and assumed to be rectangular. The upper plate 6 is fixedly linked to four rods 7, two of which are not shown, for suspending the mold, descending vertically, and each comprising at their lower end a rotary horizontal cleat 8, for supporting the mold carrier plate 9 of the mold 2; each cleat 8 being retractable between an open position of the frame 1 and a closed or gripped position under the underside 10 of the mold carrier plate 9 of the mold 2. The blind sand mold 2 is centered on the mold carrier plate 9 and clamped between said plate 9 and the upper clamping plate 11 by means of a double-acting clamping cylinder 12, the head 13 of which pointing downwards is linked, free in rotation, by a ball joint 14, to the clamping plate 11 of the mold 2. The body 17 of the jack 12 is linked to the plate 6. The rotation allowed by the ball 14 makes it possible to use a mold, the upper face of which, represented in dashed dashed lines, is in an inclined plane with respect to the plane from the underside. The lower face of the upper plate 11 being larger or of the same dimension as the upper face of the mold 2.

At the casting station, the mold 2 is applied to the upper face of an intermediate wear device 15.

The frame 1 is moved in translation by the transfer means 4. The transfer means 4 carries a member for gripping and suspending the frame which comprises a double-acting cylinder 18 for suspending the upper plate 6 of the frame 1. The cylinder 18 is directed downwards and its head 19 carries the frame 1.

To prepare the positioning, the mold 2 arrives by a conveying means inside the frame 2, the cleats being in the open position.

The tabs 8 are returned to the gripping position. The mold can no longer leave the frame 2. The tabs are adjusted so that their bearing face and the lower part of the mold carrier plate 9 are now in the same horizontal plane. The pouring well 3 of the mold 2 opening downwards leads to the vacuum.

Then, the clamping cylinder 12 presses the mold 2 and binds it to the frame by clamping, the mold 2 not having been moved relative to the frame 1.

Then, the translational transfer means 4 places the frame 1 containing the mold 2 above the feed chute 16.

Then the jack 18 descends the frame 1 so as to put the mold 2 in the casting position.

During the entire period of time in which the mold 2 is kept in the casting position, in order to prevent said mold 2 from being lifted in the frame, which would cause leaks of liquid metal, the clamping cylinder 12 exerts pressure directed downwards, greater than the pressure supplied by the suspension cylinder (s) 18 for positioning and holding the mold 2 on the intermediate wear device 15.

After casting, the cylinders 12 and 18 are double-acting, all the above operations are carried out in reverse order.

Then, another mold arrives in the frame 1 for the next casting. The height of the second mold may be different from that of the first, the stroke of the jack 12 adapting to the height of the mold.

Claims (8)

1. A rapidly dismantlable device for positioning and clamping foundry moulds (2) for the uphill casting of metal alloy at a casting station from a ladle of metal alloy, the said installation comprising at least one frame (1) holding the mould (2) comprising a casting well which is open at the bottom, means (4) for the lateral transfer of at least one substantially vertical suspension jack (18), at least one substantially vertical clamping jack (12), the casting unit being located on the spout of the melting device, characterised in that the frame (1) incorporates catches (8) which can be retracted between open and closed positions and at least one mould-bearing plate (9), the bearing face of the catches (8) in the closed position and the lower part of the mould-bearing plate (9) being in the same horizontal plane.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the catches (8) can rotate horizontally.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 of the type which permits repeated casting in which the transfer means incorporates a member for grasping and suspending the frame, characterised in that the grasping and suspending member for the frame (1) of the transfer means (4) incorporates the jack (18) suspending an upper plate (6) of the frame (1), this plate (6) incorporating the clamping jack (12), the downwardly directed head (13) being connected but free to rotate by means of a swivel joint (14) to a plate (11) securing the mould (2).
4. A device according to claim 3 comprising a frame in accordance with the device in any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the upper plate (6) of the said frame (1), which is substantially horizontal, is fixedly attached to at least two mould suspension rods (7) which descend substantially vertically and each incorporate at their lower end a horizontal catch (8), against which the mould-bearing plate (9) of the mould (2) bears, each catch (8) being capable of retraction between a position in which the frame (1) is open and a closed position or position engaging the lower side (10) of the mould-bearer (9).
5. A device according to any one of the foregoing claims of the type in which a mould is applied by its lower side to a casting spout, characterised in that at the casting station the mould (2) is applied to the upper face of an intermediate wearing device (15).
6. A device according to any one of the foregoing claims characterised in that the clamping jack (12) exerts a downward pressure which is greater than the pressure provided by the suspension jack(s) (18) to position and hold the mould (2) on the intermediate wearing device (15).
7. A device according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the frame (1) is guided vertically by at least one vertical rod.
8. A device for positioning and securing blind sand casting moulds for the uphill casting of metal alloy, the blind sand mould incorporating a casting well which is open at the base fed by a casting spout connected to a casting ladle for metal alloy and means to apply the base of the casting well to the upper opening of the casting spout characterised in that the device is in accordance with any one of the foregoing claims.

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