EP0973623B1 - Method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes - Google Patents

Method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0973623B1
EP0973623B1 EP98903132A EP98903132A EP0973623B1 EP 0973623 B1 EP0973623 B1 EP 0973623B1 EP 98903132 A EP98903132 A EP 98903132A EP 98903132 A EP98903132 A EP 98903132A EP 0973623 B1 EP0973623 B1 EP 0973623B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
trimethylamine
metering device
sand
gaseous
core
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP98903132A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0973623A1 (en
Inventor
Heinz Josef Hemsen
Christoph Genzler
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Foseco International Ltd
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Foseco International Ltd
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22C—FOUNDRY MOULDING
    • B22C9/00—Moulds or cores; Moulding processes
    • B22C9/12—Treating moulds or cores, e.g. drying, hardening
    • B22C9/123—Gas-hardening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22C—FOUNDRY MOULDING
    • B22C9/00—Moulds or cores; Moulding processes
    • B22C9/12—Treating moulds or cores, e.g. drying, hardening

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with a method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes.
  • urethane Cold Box Process which utilises amines as catalyst or curing agent, and which is described in an article in the special issue of Giesserei 78 (1991), volume 11, pages 372 to 374.
  • a moulding composition which contains a benzyl ether resin (ortho-phenol resol) and an isocyanate, and which is cured using a tertiary amine as catalyst.
  • TMA trimethylamine
  • a binder for moulding materials for casting light metals is described in DE-A-3017925, which discusses details of Cold Box Process technology. It is shown that for example trimethylamine or triethylamine could be used as the tertiary amine. In the method described the use of a stream of inert gas, such as air, carbon dioxide or nitrogen, containing 0.01 to 30 vol. % of tertiary amine is advantageous.
  • inert gas such as air, carbon dioxide or nitrogen
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes in which the above disadvantages are largely avoided, while at the same time providing a method which can be carried out in a relatively cost effective manner.
  • a method for the manufacture of sand cores for metal casting processes in which gaseous trimethylamine is conducted through parts of a metering device (3) and then, in a concentration of from 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % based on the quantity of sand used per core, it is conducted into a core shooting machine (4) where it is brought into contact with the sand, wherein prior to the introduction of the gaseous trimethylamine into the core shooting machine (4) a purging gas is introduced, and wherein for a quantity T of trimethylamine the quantity L of purging gas used is in the ratio of T: L of from 1 : 1000 to 1 : 10000.
  • the sand which is fed into the core shooting machine has already been mixed with a benzyl ether resin and an isocyanate so that core production can take place according to the principles of the urethane Cold Box Process.
  • General conveying equipment for gases may be used, for example a metering device in which the quantity of trimethylamine is suitably adjusted by means of a control chain or by a regulator. Accordingly the equipment may consist of several parts, such as conveying equipment, measuring apparatus, controllers etc., or it may be manufactured as a single unit.
  • the gaseous trimethylamine is conducted through a part of the metering device, although it need not flow through all of the parts.
  • liquid trimethylamine to flow through several parts of the metering device, and then be transformed to the gaseous phase, and flow through the remaining parts of the metering device in the gaseous form.
  • an extreme odour nuisance can be largely avoided, so that expensive insulation of parts of the core making installation is not necessary.
  • advantageously there is no odour nuisance during subsequent storage of the manufactured cores. It is also surprising that an almost stoichiometric conversion of the trimethylamine can be achieved so that the method of the invention can be carried out cost effectively because of the relatively low amounts of trimethylamine which are used.
  • the introduction of the purging gas may take place before or after the metering device. It is advantageous that the sand in the core shooting machine is contacted simultaneously by the trimethylamine and the purging gas so that an extreme odour nuisance can also be completely avoided during core storage, because the core is purged by the purging gas at the same time that it is exposed to the trimethylamine.
  • the purging gas is introduced directly into the metering device.
  • the trimethylamine is supplied in liquid form to metering bellows forming part of a metering device, and thereafter it is conducted in gaseous form through a measuring, controlling or regulating unit which also forms part of the metering device.
  • Trimethylamine is normally available commercially in liquid form. However, before the trimethylamine comes into contact with the sand, which has already been mixed with a benzyl ether resin and an isocyanate, in the core shooting machine, it is advantageously converted to the gaseous phase. This makes possible relatively simple homogeneous mixing of the trimethylamine with sand, and at the same time increases reactivity of the trimethylamine.
  • the conversion of the trimethylamine from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase can be achieved advantageously by introducing the trimethylamine into metering bellows.
  • the metering bellows remains able to function better than other conveying equipment.
  • the gaseous trimethylamine is passed through a measuring, controlling or regulating unit, which is able to dispense the desired specified quantity of trimethylamine which is to be used.
  • This information is transferred directly to the metering bellows by means of a circuit, and is there changed into the corresponding setting for the stroke of the metering bellows. It is particularly advantageous that the metering bellows can take a relatively simple form because it can readily be adapted for use on existing core making equipment.
  • sand which has already been mixed with a benzyl ether resin and an isocyanate, is taken out of sand mixer (5) and transported to a core shooting machine (4) by means of conduit (10).
  • a cylinder (1) contains liquid trimethylamine and is warmed with the aid of a water bath (8). Heating is achieved by means of a heating coil (7) which is connected directly to a heating apparatus (6). Conversion of the trimethylamine from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase results from the application of heat.
  • the gaseous trimethylamine is passed through conduit (2) to a metering device (3). In the metering device (3) the amount of trimethylamine is measured , and is adjusted to the desired amount according to a given specified value. Subsequently the trimethylamine is passed through conduit (9) into the core shooting machine (4) in a concentration of 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % based on the weight of sand being used per core, and makes contact with the sand there.
  • purging air is introduced to the conduit (2) through conduit (11) and valve (12) so that during introduction of the trimethylamine through the conduit (9) into the core shooting machine (4) air purging of the sand in the core shooting machine (4) takes place at the same time.
  • metering bellows (3a) and measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b) together form a metering device corresponding to the metering device (3) of Figure 2.
  • Trimethylamine is present as a liquid in cylinder (1).
  • valve (15) When valve (15) is closed liquid trimethylamine is conducted into the metering bellows (3a) via open valve (13). Thereby the trimethylamine expands and is largely converted to the gaseous phase.
  • the setting of the stroke of the metering bellows (3a) is made by means of circuit (14) according to the given specified value of the measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b).
  • valve (13) when the valve (13) is closed, the gaseous trimethylamine is conducted via valve (15), which been opened, into the measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b). Addition of purging air is achieved by means of conduit (11) and valve (12). Since the metering bellows (3a) and the measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b) together correspond to the metering device (3) of Figure 1, the addition of purging air in the Figure 2 embodiment also takes place directly into the metering device.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mold Materials And Core Materials (AREA)
  • Molds, Cores, And Manufacturing Methods Thereof (AREA)
  • Casting Devices For Molds (AREA)
  • Polyurethanes Or Polyureas (AREA)

Description

This invention is concerned with a method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes.
Methods are known for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes. One such method is the urethane Cold Box Process which utilises amines as catalyst or curing agent, and which is described in an article in the special issue of Giesserei 78 (1991), volume 11, pages 372 to 374. In this known method for core and mould production a moulding composition is used which contains a benzyl ether resin (ortho-phenol resol) and an isocyanate, and which is cured using a tertiary amine as catalyst. As the catalytic effect of the amine is particularly advantageous in the gaseous phase tests were carried out using trimethylamine (TMA) whose boiling point is about 3 °C, and with which, for this reason, curing is possible in a relatively simple manner with a gaseous amine. The accelerating effect of a tertiary amine by the formation of reactive transitional compounds during the polyurethane reaction is described by the following reaction equation :
Figure 00010001
When making cores by this known method it is disadvantageous that the tertiary amine is fed to the core shooting machine considerably in excess of the required amount. Although it has been shown that the application of trimethylamine makes it possible to advantageously reduce the amount of amine used by about 50% in comparison to other amines, the application of trimethylamine still has associated disadvantages. One problem is the extreme nuisance created by the odour which makes it essential that all parts of the equipment used are absolutely leak proof. All pipework must there be insulated at relatively high expense.
From the Giesserei article it may further be seen that the reactivity of the different amines increases from "sluggish" to "reactive" in the order TEA, DMIA, DMEA, TMA. Apart from its poor reactivity TEA also suffers from the disadvantage that it forms an aerosol.
A binder for moulding materials for casting light metals is described in DE-A-3017925, which discusses details of Cold Box Process technology. It is shown that for example trimethylamine or triethylamine could be used as the tertiary amine. In the method described the use of a stream of inert gas, such as air, carbon dioxide or nitrogen, containing 0.01 to 30 vol. % of tertiary amine is advantageous.
In G. Engels "Öffentliche Diskussion Cold-Box-Verfahren (Open Discussion Cold Box Process) in Stuttgart, Giesserei 58 (1971), No. 9, 6 May, pages 249 to 254 the application of triethylamine is described in greater detail. There it is shown that the quantity of triethylamine to be used is dependent inter alia on the size of the core. It is indicated that theoretically one can use as little a quantity of catalyst as from 0.01 to 0.02 vol. %. An addition rate of from 0.05 to 0.1 vol. % should not be exceeded under any circumstances because an excess is disadvantageous not only because of the odour nuisance, but also because it results in a reduction in core quality.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes in which the above disadvantages are largely avoided, while at the same time providing a method which can be carried out in a relatively cost effective manner.
According to the invention there is provided a method for the manufacture of sand cores for metal casting processes in which gaseous trimethylamine is conducted through parts of a metering device (3) and then, in a concentration of from 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % based on the quantity of sand used per core, it is conducted into a core shooting machine (4) where it is brought into contact with the sand, wherein prior to the introduction of the gaseous trimethylamine into the core shooting machine (4) a purging gas is introduced, and wherein for a quantity T of trimethylamine the quantity L of purging gas used is in the ratio of T: L of from 1 : 1000 to 1 : 10000.
As a rule, the sand which is fed into the core shooting machine has already been mixed with a benzyl ether resin and an isocyanate so that core production can take place according to the principles of the urethane Cold Box Process. General conveying equipment for gases may be used, for example a metering device in which the quantity of trimethylamine is suitably adjusted by means of a control chain or by a regulator. Accordingly the equipment may consist of several parts, such as conveying equipment, measuring apparatus, controllers etc., or it may be manufactured as a single unit. The gaseous trimethylamine is conducted through a part of the metering device, although it need not flow through all of the parts. Thus it is possible for liquid trimethylamine to flow through several parts of the metering device, and then be transformed to the gaseous phase, and flow through the remaining parts of the metering device in the gaseous form. Surprisingly it has been found that when using the method of the invention an extreme odour nuisance can be largely avoided, so that expensive insulation of parts of the core making installation is not necessary. In addition, advantageously, there is no odour nuisance during subsequent storage of the manufactured cores. It is also surprising that an almost stoichiometric conversion of the trimethylamine can be achieved so that the method of the invention can be carried out cost effectively because of the relatively low amounts of trimethylamine which are used.
The introduction of the purging gas may take place before or after the metering device. It is advantageous that the sand in the core shooting machine is contacted simultaneously by the trimethylamine and the purging gas so that an extreme odour nuisance can also be completely avoided during core storage, because the core is purged by the purging gas at the same time that it is exposed to the trimethylamine.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the purging gas is introduced directly into the metering device. By this measure the amount of conduits or piping can be reduced, and this is particularly advantageous when space for installation of the core making equipment is limited.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the trimethylamine is supplied in liquid form to metering bellows forming part of a metering device, and thereafter it is conducted in gaseous form through a measuring, controlling or regulating unit which also forms part of the metering device. Trimethylamine is normally available commercially in liquid form. However, before the trimethylamine comes into contact with the sand, which has already been mixed with a benzyl ether resin and an isocyanate, in the core shooting machine, it is advantageously converted to the gaseous phase. This makes possible relatively simple homogeneous mixing of the trimethylamine with sand, and at the same time increases reactivity of the trimethylamine. Surprisingly it has been shown that the conversion of the trimethylamine from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase can be achieved advantageously by introducing the trimethylamine into metering bellows. Although heat is absorbed from the surroundings during conversion of the trimethylamine from the liquid to the gaseous phase, the metering bellows remains able to function better than other conveying equipment. Subsequently the gaseous trimethylamine is passed through a measuring, controlling or regulating unit, which is able to dispense the desired specified quantity of trimethylamine which is to be used. This information is transferred directly to the metering bellows by means of a circuit, and is there changed into the corresponding setting for the stroke of the metering bellows. It is particularly advantageous that the metering bellows can take a relatively simple form because it can readily be adapted for use on existing core making equipment.
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which :
  • Figure 1 is a simplified, schematic process flow diagram of a method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes according to the invention and
  • Figure 2 is a simplified, schematic process flow diagram of another embodiment of the method of the invention.
    • Referring to Figure 1, sand, which has already been mixed with a benzyl ether resin and an isocyanate, is taken out of sand mixer (5) and transported to a core shooting machine (4) by means of conduit (10). A cylinder (1) contains liquid trimethylamine and is warmed with the aid of a water bath (8). Heating is achieved by means of a heating coil (7) which is connected directly to a heating apparatus (6). Conversion of the trimethylamine from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase results from the application of heat. The gaseous trimethylamine is passed through conduit (2) to a metering device (3). In the metering device (3) the amount of trimethylamine is measured , and is adjusted to the desired amount according to a given specified value. Subsequently the trimethylamine is passed through conduit (9) into the core shooting machine (4) in a concentration of 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % based on the weight of sand being used per core, and makes contact with the sand there.
    To avoid causing an extreme nuisance due to the odour of the trimethylamine, purging air is introduced to the conduit (2) through conduit (11) and valve (12) so that during introduction of the trimethylamine through the conduit (9) into the core shooting machine (4) air purging of the sand in the core shooting machine (4) takes place at the same time.
    Referring to Figure 2. metering bellows (3a) and measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b) together form a metering device corresponding to the metering device (3) of Figure 2. Trimethylamine is present as a liquid in cylinder (1). When valve (15) is closed liquid trimethylamine is conducted into the metering bellows (3a) via open valve (13). Thereby the trimethylamine expands and is largely converted to the gaseous phase. The setting of the stroke of the metering bellows (3a) is made by means of circuit (14) according to the given specified value of the measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b). Subsequently, when the valve (13) is closed, the gaseous trimethylamine is conducted via valve (15), which been opened, into the measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b). Addition of purging air is achieved by means of conduit (11) and valve (12). Since the metering bellows (3a) and the measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b) together correspond to the metering device (3) of Figure 1, the addition of purging air in the Figure 2 embodiment also takes place directly into the metering device.

    Claims (3)

    1. A method for the manufacture of sand cores for metal casting processes in which gaseous trimethylamine is conducted through parts of a metering device (3) and then, in a concentration of from 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % based on the quantity of sand used per core, it is conducted into a core shooting machine (4) where it is brought into contact with the sand, wherein prior to the introduction of the gaseous trimethylamine into the core shooting machine (4) a purging gas is introduced, and wherein for a quantity T of trimethylamine the quantity L of purging gas used is in the ratio of T : L of from 1 : 1000 to 1 : 10000.
    2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the purging gas is introduced directly into the metering device (3).
    3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the trimethylamine is supplied in liquid form to metering bellows (3a) forming part of the metering device (3) and is then conducted in gaseous form through a measuring, controlling or regulating unit (3b) which also forms part of the metering device (3).
    EP98903132A 1997-02-19 1998-02-04 Method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes Expired - Lifetime EP0973623B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    DE19706472A DE19706472C1 (en) 1997-02-19 1997-02-19 Foundry core production using tri:methyl-amine catalyst with cost-effective odour control
    DE19706472 1997-02-19
    PCT/GB1998/000351 WO1998036859A1 (en) 1997-02-19 1998-02-04 Method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0973623A1 EP0973623A1 (en) 2000-01-26
    EP0973623B1 true EP0973623B1 (en) 2002-01-16

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    EP98903132A Expired - Lifetime EP0973623B1 (en) 1997-02-19 1998-02-04 Method for the manufacture of cores for metal casting processes

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    EP (1) EP0973623B1 (en)
    JP (1) JP2001511710A (en)
    KR (1) KR20000071196A (en)
    CN (1) CN1252020A (en)
    AR (1) AR005411A1 (en)
    AT (1) ATE211954T1 (en)
    AU (1) AU733863B2 (en)
    BR (1) BR9807578A (en)
    CA (1) CA2282309A1 (en)
    DE (2) DE19706472C1 (en)
    TR (1) TR199902016T2 (en)
    TW (1) TW404865B (en)
    WO (1) WO1998036859A1 (en)
    ZA (1) ZA98938B (en)

    Families Citing this family (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    AU2530499A (en) * 1998-02-10 1999-09-15 Dean Anthony Jones Heater for gaseous substances and core production with such a heater
    KR101579549B1 (en) * 2015-01-23 2015-12-22 에이비이씨기업 주식회사 How to neutralize the stench of amine gas for cold box process, and amine gas generator containing the same
    CN105945242B (en) * 2016-06-30 2018-08-31 施密特钢轨技术（昆山）有限公司 One kind is easily demoulding to penetrate sand mobile work platform

    Family Cites Families (6)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE2413537C2 (en) * 1974-03-21 1984-11-15 Horst-Werner Ing.(Grad.) 7707 Engen Michel Device for manufacturing cores for foundry purposes
    US4293480A (en) * 1979-05-11 1981-10-06 Ashland Oil, Inc. Urethane binder compositions for no-bake and cold box foundry application utilizing isocyanato-urethane polymers
    US4362204A (en) * 1980-03-17 1982-12-07 The Mead Corporation Method and apparatus for curing a foundry core
    JPS59153543A (en) * 1983-02-22 1984-09-01 Chuzo Gijutsu Fukiyuu Kyokai Process for supplying hardening gas in gas hardening mold
    JPS60132639A (en) * 1983-06-01 1985-07-15 Naniwa Seisakusho:Kk Gas generating apparatus for molding cold box casting mold
    DE4431560A1 (en) * 1994-09-05 1996-03-07 Gtg Gieserei Technik Romeo Goe Prodn. of a sand mould element, e.g. mould cores

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    CN1252020A (en) 2000-05-03
    CA2282309A1 (en) 1998-08-27
    DE19706472C1 (en) 1998-06-04
    TW404865B (en) 2000-09-11
    DE69803170T2 (en) 2002-10-31
    AU5996098A (en) 1998-09-09
    TR199902016T2 (en) 1999-12-21
    JP2001511710A (en) 2001-08-14
    EP0973623A1 (en) 2000-01-26
    ZA98938B (en) 1998-08-07
    AU733863B2 (en) 2001-05-31
    AR005411A1 (en) 1999-06-23
    BR9807578A (en) 2000-03-21
    KR20000071196A (en) 2000-11-25
    WO1998036859A1 (en) 1998-08-27
    ATE211954T1 (en) 2002-02-15
    DE69803170D1 (en) 2002-02-21

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