EP2946852B1 - Vacuum pressure casting system, and method for operating a vacuum pressure casting system - Google Patents

Vacuum pressure casting system, and method for operating a vacuum pressure casting system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2946852B1
EP2946852B1 EP15156875.5A EP15156875A EP2946852B1 EP 2946852 B1 EP2946852 B1 EP 2946852B1 EP 15156875 A EP15156875 A EP 15156875A EP 2946852 B1 EP2946852 B1 EP 2946852B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
casting
depression
hollow
piston
vacuum
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EP15156875.5A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2946852A1 (en
Inventor
Roman Kaczmarczyk
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KSM Castings Group GmbH
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KSM Castings Group GmbH
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D17/00Pressure die casting or injection die casting, i.e. casting in which the metal is forced into a mould under high pressure
    • B22D17/14Machines with evacuated die cavity
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D17/00Pressure die casting or injection die casting, i.e. casting in which the metal is forced into a mould under high pressure
    • B22D17/20Accessories: Details
    • B22D17/2015Means for forcing the molten metal into the die
    • B22D17/203Injection pistons

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a vacuum pressure casting system according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for operating such a vacuum pressure casting system.
  • Vacuum pressure casting is known for the production of castings from metals and metal alloys, in particular from alloys of the metals Al, Mg, Zn and Cu.
  • Corresponding systems for vacuum pressure casting are for example in the DE 4312647 A1 , the DE 102004057324 A1 or the DE 102006101560 A1 described.
  • Vacuum pressure casting is used in particular where there are high demands on tightness, elongation at break, strength and weldability of the cast parts. With vacuum pressure casting, the cast parts are of a higher quality, as less air and gases are trapped in the material. This applies in particular to cast parts made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy that will be heat treated or welded in a later process.
  • the present invention also includes such special processes as long as the corresponding vacuum pressure casting systems have a casting chamber with a filling opening, a casting piston movable in the casting chamber and a piston rod, the latter connecting the casting piston to a casting drive and being between the outer jacket of the casting piston and the inner wall an annular gap is formed in the casting chamber, which usually forms a leak as described below.
  • a negative pressure or vacuum is generated in the mold cavity of the casting mold of the vacuum pressure casting system after the casting chamber has been filled with casting melt and the casting piston has moved past the filling opening of the casting chamber.
  • the annular gap between the inner wall of the casting chamber and the outer casing of the casting piston is an extremely important leakage point. At this leak point, gases penetrating from the rear of the casting piston, foam the casting melt in the casting chamber, which is under vacuum, and create a gas porosity in the casting that minimizes or excludes heat treatment and weldability.
  • the DE 43 12 647 A1 offers a solution for closing this leak, after which a technically very complex evacuable sliding sleeve is pushed over the casting chamber or casting piston system in order to create a vacuum behind the piston.
  • the particular disadvantage here is the very high maintenance costs of such vacuum pressure casting systems.
  • the invention is based on the object of avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art and of improving the process for producing vacuum pressure cast parts, so that the quality of the cast parts increases.
  • the invention is also based on the object of improving the tightness, elongation at break, strength, heat treatability and / or weldability of the cast parts produced by vacuum pressure casting.
  • Another object of the invention is to accelerate the cycle time in vacuum pressure casting and thus to increase production output.
  • the invention is based on the object of improving the process for producing vacuum pressure cast parts or a vacuum pressure casting system in such a way that a higher vacuum can be set in the casting mold cavity.
  • a vacuum pressure casting system comprising a casting chamber with a filling opening, a casting piston movable in the casting chamber and a piston rod which connects the casting piston to a casting drive, an annular gap being formed between the outer jacket of the casting piston and the inner wall of the casting chamber, with the casting piston has at least one evacuable depression or cavity in flow connection with the annular gap and at least one, preferably two or more suction lines are provided, each of which has one end fluidically connected to the evacuable depression or cavity and the other end fluidically connected to a vacuum system are connected and via which the depression or cavity can be evacuated, the vacuum pressure casting system being characterized in that at least one collecting depression is provided which is not connected to a suction line and which is located in front of the we At least one evacuable depression or cavity is arranged and is in flow connection with the annular gap.
  • At least one collecting depression is not connected to a suction line, which is arranged in front of the at least one evacuable depression or cavity and is in flow connection with the annular gap, prevents undesired substances, for example flakes or lubricants, from passing through the annular gap during vacuum pressure casting get into the at least one evacuable depression or cavity.
  • the at least one collecting depression then serves, as it were, as a dirt trap and in particular also prevents the undesired substances from entering the vacuum system or from clogging the vacuum suction lines emanating from the at least one evacuable depression or cavity.
  • piston rod is broadly defined.
  • piston rod in the narrower sense, which is preferably advantageous for the majority of applications, it also includes other actuating means that move the casting piston linearly within the casting chamber.
  • piston rod is a connecting rod.
  • rod driving the casting piston is part of an eccentric.
  • the indentation or cavity provided according to the invention ensures that - when this is evacuated - less or preferably no gases or air flow through the gap into the casting chamber containing the casting melt when a negative pressure is generated in the casting mold cavity or in the casting chamber fluidically connected to it.
  • Quasi a preferably essentially pressure difference-free area is created, so that compared to the prior art less, preferably only minimally to no gases or air flow through the gap into the casting chamber filled with casting melt.
  • the negative pressure in the depression or cavity can even be greater than in the casting chamber filled with casting melt, so that the flow direction is reversed compared to the prior art and gases and air flow from the casting chamber filled with casting melt into the depression or cavity . In the latter case, of course, there is again a desired pressure difference across the annular gap.
  • the cast parts produced with the vacuum pressure casting system according to the invention are characterized by improved tightness, elongation at break, strength, heat treatability and weldability.
  • the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the functionality of the vacuum pressure casting system is easy to check and the vacuum pressure casting system does not require any additional moving components to seal the annular gap between the casting piston and the casting chamber, which would be disadvantageously susceptible to wear and maintenance-intensive.
  • All components of the vacuum pressure casting system according to the invention are advantageously very easily accessible and easily exchangeable for maintenance work on the vacuum pressure casting system.
  • the control effort for evacuating the depression or cavity is minimal and is preferably carried out via a path and / or time control.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that a higher vacuum can be achieved in the casting mold cavity, as a result of which the quality of the cast pieces is further improved.
  • the recess or cavity is formed in the casting piston itself. This can advantageously be done by shaping such a casting piston or preferably later by machining the casting piston, in particular by milling or grinding.
  • the recess or cavity is formed directly or indirectly behind the casting piston by arranging at least one workpiece behind the casting piston, the arrangement of the recess or cavity behind the casting piston being such that the recess or cavity is in front their evacuation can be brought into the area of the casting chamber that is not filled with casting melt by moving the casting piston into the casting chamber.
  • the recess or cavity can be formed in the workpiece itself.
  • the workpiece is spaced from the casting piston in such a way that between the casting piston or at least one further workpiece arranged behind the casting piston and the first-mentioned workpiece forms the recess or cavity.
  • the depression or cavity in the workpiece itself is formed in combination with the aforementioned spaced arrangement.
  • the workpiece is designed in the form of a ring and can preferably be pushed onto and fixed on the piston rod.
  • a conical design of the ring opening and / or the piston rod allows such a workpiece to be fixed in a simple manner by clamping on the piston rod.
  • the workpiece can also be arranged behind the casting piston by other types of fastening, although less preferred but nevertheless advantageous for certain applications, in particular by screwing, pressing in or welding.
  • the casting piston is constructed in several parts.
  • the casting piston is preferably designed in one piece or in one piece.
  • the casting piston is solid.
  • the collecting recess and / or evacuable recess or cavity is designed as a recess or cavity, preferably in the form of an annular groove, surrounding the outer jacket of the casting piston, the piston rod and / or the workpiece.
  • a circumferential evacuable depression is advantageously arranged completely within the flow path of the gases or air, so that little or preferably no gases or air pass through the gap between the casting chamber and the casting piston into the casting chamber.
  • An undesirable pressure difference known from the prior art that occurs when the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber is evacuated arises and leads to the inflow of gases or air through the annular gap into the casting chamber, is significantly reduced or preferably eliminated.
  • the undesired pressure difference is even reversed in that the negative pressure within the depression or cavity is selected to be greater than in the casting chamber filled with casting melt or in the mold cavity of the casting mold that is fluidically connected to the casting chamber. This creates a desired pressure difference that reverses the direction of flow.
  • a circumferential collecting recess can be particularly useful in order to create the most comprehensive limit possible for undesirable substances and to prevent such substances from penetrating into the recess or cavity as far as possible.
  • the collecting recess and / or the evacuable recess or cavity is only provided in the upper outer jacket area of the casting piston, the piston rod and / or the workpiece. It has been shown that, depending on the vacuum pressure casting system used or the dimension and weight of the casting piston movable in the casting chamber, the annular gap between the outer casing of the casting piston and the inner wall of the casting chamber is not uniform, but is larger at the top than at the bottom.
  • these depressions are arranged distributed over the circumference of a workpiece designed as a ring.
  • These recesses can be bores through to the inside of the ring.
  • the workpiece can be arranged directly behind the casting piston, only a vacuum being required on the inside of the ring to evacuate these depressions.
  • a circumferential recess can advantageously be created here, when said ring has a smaller outer diameter than the casting piston, in which case another workpiece, preferably also a ring, is arranged behind the ring to produce the circumferential recess, which has the same external diameter as the casting piston.
  • the individual depressions or bores then form a type of nozzle field through which the single circumferential depression can be evacuated evenly.
  • the evacuable depression or cavity is dimensioned and evacuated in such a way that when the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber is evacuated, less or preferably no gases or air flow through the annular gap into the casting chamber and, particularly preferably, the direction of flow in the annular gap is reversed and the gases or air flow in the direction of the evacuable recess or cavity.
  • the evacuable depression or cavity is subjected to a vacuum in such a way that when the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber is evacuated, less or preferably no gases or air flow through the mentioned gap into the casting chamber and, particularly preferably, the flow direction is in the The gap reverses and the gases or air flow in the direction of the evacuable recess or cavity.
  • the means for evacuating the recess or cavity have at least one recess, in particular a longitudinal recess, within the piston rod, which is fluidically connected at one end to the evacuable recess or cavity and at its other end is fluidically connected to a vacuum system .
  • the at least one evacuable recess can be used to introduce a lubricant or another functional substance into the casting chamber when it is not being evacuated, the lubricant or the other functional substance then via the at least one Vacuum suction line connected to the recess or another line provided for this purpose can be introduced into the recess or cavity and thus into the casting chamber.
  • the means for evacuating the depression or cavity include at least one line or bore contained in the piston rod, in particular a coolant line or bore.
  • the means expediently comprise at least one, preferably two or more suction lines, in particular suction pipes, each of which is fluidically connected at one end to the evacuable depression or cavity and at its other end is fluidically connected to a vacuum system.
  • the suction line in particular the suction pipe, runs along the piston rod, preferably in a groove made on the outside of the piston rod, and merges with one end through the piston or workpiece area facing the piston rod into the recess or cavity and is fluidically connected to it.
  • the cross section of the recess or the suction recess, in particular the suction tube is selected to be so large that the in the Depression or cavity adjustable vacuum despite existing leakage between the depression or cavity and the area which is arranged behind the depression or cavity and is connected to the depression or cavity via the annular gap starting from the depression or cavity and leading to the piston rod, is maintained over a predetermined time, in particular over the time in which the casting chamber and the casting mold cavity are evacuated and a negative pressure is maintained in the casting mold cavity.
  • At least one suction tube is provided within the piston rod, one end of which merges into the depression or cavity and is fluidically connected to it.
  • the vacuum pressure casting system is a cold chamber vacuum pressure casting system.
  • a control for the vacuum pressure casting system which is connected to a control for the vacuum system and a start signal is transmitted via this connection to the vacuum system for evacuating the depression or cavity.
  • a further development of the invention provides that the depression or cavity is arranged as close as possible to the region of the casting piston facing the casting chamber filled with melt. It is thereby achieved that the depression or hollow can be evacuated at an early stage, so that the switching time or usage time of the vacuum increases and the quality of the cast products is further improved by a correspondingly improved vacuum.
  • the method according to the invention leads to a significant improvement in the quality of the cast parts.
  • the adjustable vacuum in the recess or cavity in spite of the presence of leakage, between the recess or cavity and the area located behind the recess or cavity and over the one that emanates from the recess or cavity and leads to the piston rod Annular gap is connected to the recess or cavity, is maintained over a predetermined time, in particular over the time in which the casting chamber and the casting mold cavity are evacuated and a negative pressure is maintained in the casting mold cavity.
  • the vacuum pressure casting system has a casting mold, not shown here, which is made up of, for example, two mold halves.
  • the interior of the casting mold that is to say the cavity or the mold cavity, is connected to the casting chamber 10, which is filled with melt for the casting process.
  • This is filled through the filling opening 12 and pressed into the mold cavity by means of the casting piston 14.
  • the gas present in the mold cavity is sucked off via a vent valve (not shown here), for example a so-called washboard.
  • the solidifying metal rises up to this vent valve.
  • the casting piston 14 is from a casting drive, not shown here, via a
  • the casting piston rod 16 is moved, that is to say displaced in the casting chamber 10.
  • the control is carried out by the casting system control.
  • the vacuum pressure casting system also has a vacuum system, not shown here, which are connected to the casting chamber 10 and / or the mold cavity via corresponding vacuum lines and the mold cavity together with the space 32 of the casting chamber 10 located in front of the casting piston, for example at a predetermined time during the casting process, evacuated after a predetermined distance of the casting piston 14 or according to other criteria.
  • the casting piston 14 Since there is an annular gap 18 between the inner wall of the casting chamber 10 and the outer jacket of the casting piston 14, through which air or gases are drawn from the rear of the casting piston 14 into the casting chamber 10 or into the melt filled therein, whereby the penetrating gases
  • the melt in the casting chamber which is under vacuum, will actually foam up and produce a gas porosity in the cast part produced, which among other things will minimize or exclude heat treatment and weldability, it is now provided that the casting piston 14 has at least one evacuable depression 20 fluidically connected to the annular gap 18 and means are provided through which the depression or cavity is evacuated.
  • the evacuable recess 20 is here - as in Figs. 1 to 4 shown - designed as an annular groove 24 encircling the casting piston 14 and is therefore advantageously located completely in the flow path of the gases or air actually flowing through the annular gap 18 into the space 32 of the casting chamber 10 according to the prior art.
  • the means for evacuating the recess 20 comprise two suction pipes 22, each of which is connected with its one end 24 in terms of flow to the evacuable annular groove 20 and with its other end in terms of flow to the aforementioned or another vacuum system.
  • the suction pipes 22 are arranged opposite one another along the piston rod 16 in a groove 26 made on the outside of the piston rod 16, the ends 24 passing through the piston area 28 facing the piston rod 16 into the annular groove 20 and being fluidically connected to it.
  • the piston rod 16 itself is hollow and has piston cooling 30.
  • the casting piston 14 can be formed in one piece, the piston region 28 then being part of the one-piece casting piston 14 and the recess 20 being made in the casting piston 14 in the form of an annular groove, for example by machining.
  • the piston area 28 is a separate workpiece, for example in the form of a connecting ring, which is arranged at a distance from the casting piston 14, in particular clamped on the piston rod 16.
  • a recess 20 in the form of an annular groove is another of the numerous possibilities for producing the recess 20.
  • FIG. 3 Another of the numerous possibilities for producing the recess 20 is shown.
  • a first workpiece in the form of a ring 34 is arranged there behind the casting piston 14, the ring 34 having a smaller outer diameter than the casting piston 14.
  • the ring 34 has numerous depressions distributed over the circumference in the form of bores 36 which are fluidically connected on the inside of the ring. It is advantageous here that an evacuation on the inside of the ring leads to a uniform evacuation of the circumferential recess 20.
  • This numerous depressions in the form of bores 26 form a type of nozzle field.
  • a further workpiece in the form of a connecting ring connects to the ring 24. This connecting ring then forms the aforementioned piston area 28 and corresponds in terms of its outer diameter to that of the casting piston 14.
  • Fig. 4 finally shows the device according to Fig. 1 , however, has an additional collecting recess 38 according to the invention in the form of an annular groove, which serves to intercept undesirable substances such as flakes or lubricants and is connected upstream of the evacuable recess.
  • the control for the vacuum pressure casting system is advantageously connected to a control of the vacuum system for evacuating the annular groove 20, a simple path or time-controlled start signal transmitted to the vacuum system being sufficient for evacuating the annular groove 20.
  • the casting piston 14 is first moved so far that the annular groove 20 the Filling opening 12 has passed. Subsequently, preferably essentially simultaneously with the evacuation of the mold cavity and the casting chamber 10, the annular groove 20 is evacuated in such a way that no gases or air flow through the mentioned gap 18 into the casting chamber 10.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Molds, Cores, And Manufacturing Methods Thereof (AREA)
  • Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Vakuumdruckgussanlage nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 sowie auf ein Verfahren zum Betrieb einer solchen Vakuumdruckgussanlage.The invention relates to a vacuum pressure casting system according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for operating such a vacuum pressure casting system.

Vakuumdruckgießen ist zur Herstellung von Gussstücken aus Metallen und Metalllegierungen, insbesondere aus Legierungen der Metalle AI, Mg, Zn und Cu, bekannt. Entsprechende Anlagen zum Vakuumdruckgießen sind beispielsweise in der DE 4312647 A1 , der DE 102004057324 A1 oder der DE 102006101560 A1 beschrieben.Vacuum pressure casting is known for the production of castings from metals and metal alloys, in particular from alloys of the metals Al, Mg, Zn and Cu. Corresponding systems for vacuum pressure casting are for example in the DE 4312647 A1 , the DE 102004057324 A1 or the DE 102006101560 A1 described.

Vakuumdruckgießen wird insbesondere dort eingesetzt, wo hohe Anforderungen an Dichtheit, Bruchdehnung, Festigkeit und Schweißbarkeit der Gussteile gestellt werden. Durch das Vakuumdruckgießen wird eine qualitativ hochwertigere Güte der Gussteile erreicht, da weniger Luft und Gase im Material eingeschlossen werden. Dies gilt insbesondere für Gussteile aus Aluminium bzw. einer Aluminiumlegierung, die in einem späteren Verfahrensgang noch wärmebehandelt oder geschweißt werden.Vacuum pressure casting is used in particular where there are high demands on tightness, elongation at break, strength and weldability of the cast parts. With vacuum pressure casting, the cast parts are of a higher quality, as less air and gases are trapped in the material. This applies in particular to cast parts made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy that will be heat treated or welded in a later process.

Neben der Verwendung von flüssigen Metallen bzw. Metalllegierungen gibt es beim Vakuumdruckgießen diverse Sonderverfahren, wie sie beispielsweise bei " Rolf Roller (Hrsg.): Fachkunde für gießereitechnische Berufe, Haan-Gruiten, 2007; Seiten 186 - 187 " beschrieben sind. Die vorliegende Erfindung umfasst auch solche Sonderverfahren, soweit die entsprechenden Vakuumdruckgussanlagen eine Gießkammer mit Einfüllöffnung, einen in der Gießkammer bewegbaren Gießkolben und eine Kolbenstange aufweisen, wobei letztere den Gießkolben mit einem Gießantrieb verbindet und wobei zwischen dem Außenmantel des Gießkolbens und der Innenwandung der Gießkammer ein Ringspalt ausgebildet ist, der üblicherweise eine Leckstelle - wie nachfolgend beschrieben - bildet.In addition to the use of liquid metals or metal alloys, there are various special processes for vacuum pressure casting, such as those for " Rolf Roller (Ed.): Expertise for foundry-technical professions, Haan-Gruiten, 2007; Pages 186-187 ". The present invention also includes such special processes as long as the corresponding vacuum pressure casting systems have a casting chamber with a filling opening, a casting piston movable in the casting chamber and a piston rod, the latter connecting the casting piston to a casting drive and being between the outer jacket of the casting piston and the inner wall an annular gap is formed in the casting chamber, which usually forms a leak as described below.

Beim Vakuumdruckgießen wird bekanntermaßen ein Unterdruck bzw. Vakuum im Formhohlraum der Gießform der Vakuumdruckgussanlage erzeugt, nachdem die Gießkammer mit Gießschmelze befüllt und der Gießkolben an der Einfüllöffnung der Gießkammer vorbeigefahren ist.In vacuum pressure casting, as is known, a negative pressure or vacuum is generated in the mold cavity of the casting mold of the vacuum pressure casting system after the casting chamber has been filled with casting melt and the casting piston has moved past the filling opening of the casting chamber.

Um beim Vakuumdruckgießen den im Formhohlraum der Gießform bzw. in der mit dem Formhohlraum verbundenen Gießkammer erzeugten Unterdruck auf ein Minimum zu bringen, ist es erforderlich, alle möglichen Leckagen bzw. Fehlstellen innerhalb des kompletten Vakuumsystems weitestgehend abzudichten.In order to bring the negative pressure generated in the mold cavity of the casting mold or in the casting chamber connected to the mold cavity to a minimum during vacuum pressure casting, it is necessary to seal off all possible leaks or defects within the complete vacuum system as far as possible.

Eine außerordentlich bedeutende Leckstelle ist hierbei der Ringspalt zwischen der Innenwandung der Gießkammer und dem Außenmantel des Gießkolbens. An dieser Leckstelle, von der Hinterseite des Gießkolbens her eindringende Gase schäumen die Gießschmelze in der unter Vakuum stehenden Gießkammer regelrecht auf und erzeugen im Gussteil eine Gasporosität, die eine Wärmebehandlung und die Schweißbarkeit minimieren oder ausschließen.The annular gap between the inner wall of the casting chamber and the outer casing of the casting piston is an extremely important leakage point. At this leak point, gases penetrating from the rear of the casting piston, foam the casting melt in the casting chamber, which is under vacuum, and create a gas porosity in the casting that minimizes or excludes heat treatment and weldability.

Die DE 43 12 647 A1 bietet eine Lösung zum Schließen dieser Leckstelle an, wonach eine technisch sehr aufwendige evakuierbare Schiebehülse über das Gießkammer- bzw. Gießkolbensystem geschoben wird, um ein Vakuum hinter dem Kolben zu erzeugen. Nachteilig ist hierbei insbesondere der sehr hohe Wartungsaufwand solcher Vakuumdruckgussanlagen.The DE 43 12 647 A1 offers a solution for closing this leak, after which a technically very complex evacuable sliding sleeve is pushed over the casting chamber or casting piston system in order to create a vacuum behind the piston. The particular disadvantage here is the very high maintenance costs of such vacuum pressure casting systems.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, die Nachteile des Standes der Technik zu vermeiden und den Prozess zur Herstellung von Vakuumdruckgussteilen zu verbessern, so dass die Qualität der Gussteile steigt. Der Erfindung liegt außerdem die Aufgabe zugrunde, die Dichtheit, Bruchdehnung, Festigkeit, Wärmebehandelbarkeit und/oder Schweißbarkeit der durch das Vakuumdruckgießen hergestellten Gussteile zu verbessern. Eine weitere Aufgabe der Erfindung besteht darin, die Taktzeit beim Vakuumdruckgießen zu beschleunigen und damit die Produktionsleistung zu erhöhen.The invention is based on the object of avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art and of improving the process for producing vacuum pressure cast parts, so that the quality of the cast parts increases. The invention is also based on the object of improving the tightness, elongation at break, strength, heat treatability and / or weldability of the cast parts produced by vacuum pressure casting. Another object of the invention is to accelerate the cycle time in vacuum pressure casting and thus to increase production output.

Weiterhin liegt der Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, den Prozess zur Herstellung von Vakuumdruckgussteilen oder eine Vakuumdruckgussanlage derart zu verbessern, dass ein höheres Vakuum im Gießformhohlraum einstellbar ist.Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of improving the process for producing vacuum pressure cast parts or a vacuum pressure casting system in such a way that a higher vacuum can be set in the casting mold cavity.

Erfindungsgemäß wird diese Aufgabe durch eine Vakuumdruckgussanlage gelöst, umfassend eine Gießkammer mit Einfüllöffnung, einen in der Gießkammer bewegbaren Gießkolben und eine Kolbenstange, welche den Gießkolben mit einem Gießantrieb verbindet, wobei zwischen dem Außenmantel des Gießkolbens und der Innenwandung der Gießkammer ein Ringspalt ausgebildet ist, wobei der Gießkolben wenigstens eine mit dem Ringspalt in Strömungsverbindung stehende, evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung aufweist und wenigstens eine, vorzugsweise zwei oder mehrere Absaugleitungen vorgesehen sind, die jeweils mit ihrem einen Ende strömungstechnisch mit der evakuierbaren Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung und mit ihrem anderen Ende strömungstechnisch mit einer Vakuumanlage verbunden sind und über die die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung evakuierbar ist, wobei die Vakuumdruckgussanlage dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass wenigstens eine nicht mit einer Absaugleitung verbundene Sammelvertiefung vorgesehen ist, welche vor der wenigstens einen evakuierbaren Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung angeordnet ist und mit dem Ringspalt in Strömungsverbindung steht.According to the invention, this object is achieved by a vacuum pressure casting system, comprising a casting chamber with a filling opening, a casting piston movable in the casting chamber and a piston rod which connects the casting piston to a casting drive, an annular gap being formed between the outer jacket of the casting piston and the inner wall of the casting chamber, with the casting piston has at least one evacuable depression or cavity in flow connection with the annular gap and at least one, preferably two or more suction lines are provided, each of which has one end fluidically connected to the evacuable depression or cavity and the other end fluidically connected to a vacuum system are connected and via which the depression or cavity can be evacuated, the vacuum pressure casting system being characterized in that at least one collecting depression is provided which is not connected to a suction line and which is located in front of the we At least one evacuable depression or cavity is arranged and is in flow connection with the annular gap.

Dadurch, dass wenigstens eine nicht mit einer Absaugleitung verbundene Sammelvertiefung vorgesehen ist, welche vor der wenigstens einen evakuierbaren Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung angeordnet ist und mit dem Ringspalt in Strömungsverbindung steht, wird verhindert, dass beim Vakuumdruckgießen unerwünschte Stoffe, beispielsweise Flitter oder Schmiermittel, durch den Ringspalt in die wenigstens eine evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung gelangen. Die wenigstens eine Sammelvertiefung dient dann quasi als Schmutzfalle und verhindert insbesondere auch, dass die unerwünschten Stoffe in die Vakuumanlage gelangen bzw. die von der wenigstens einen evakuierbaren Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung ausgehenden Vakuumabsaugleitungen verstopfen.The fact that at least one collecting depression is not connected to a suction line is provided, which is arranged in front of the at least one evacuable depression or cavity and is in flow connection with the annular gap, prevents undesired substances, for example flakes or lubricants, from passing through the annular gap during vacuum pressure casting get into the at least one evacuable depression or cavity. The at least one collecting depression then serves, as it were, as a dirt trap and in particular also prevents the undesired substances from entering the vacuum system or from clogging the vacuum suction lines emanating from the at least one evacuable depression or cavity.

Der Begriff Kolbenstange ist erfindungsgemäß weit gefasst. Er umfasst neben einer Kolbenstange im engeren Sinne, die vorzugsweise für den Großteil von Anwendungsfällen vorteilhaft ist, auch andere Betätigungsmittel, die den Gießkolben linear innerhalb der Gießkammer bewegen. Für gewisse Anwendungsfälle kann es von Vorteil sein, wenn die Kolbenstange eine Pleuelstange ist. Für bestimmte Einsatzfälle kann es wiederum zweckmäßig sein, wenn die den Gießkolben antreibende Stange Teil eines Exzenters ist.According to the invention, the term piston rod is broadly defined. In addition to a piston rod in the narrower sense, which is preferably advantageous for the majority of applications, it also includes other actuating means that move the casting piston linearly within the casting chamber. For certain applications it can be advantageous if the piston rod is a connecting rod. For certain applications it can again be useful if the rod driving the casting piston is part of an eccentric.

Es hat sich gezeigt, dass die entscheidenden Parameter für die Strömungsgeschwindigkeit der Gase innerhalb der Leckstelle zwischen der Innenwand der Gießkammer und dem Außenmantel des Gießkolbens die Spaltstärke zwischen Gießkolben und Gießkammer und die Druckdifferenz über den Spalt sind.It has been shown that the decisive parameters for the flow rate of the gases within the leakage point between the inner wall of the casting chamber and the outer jacket of the casting piston are the thickness of the gap between the casting piston and the casting chamber and the pressure difference across the gap.

Da es aufgrund großer Wärmeunterschiede im Gießkammerbereich nicht gelingt, spaltfrei zu arbeiten, wird durch die erfindungsgemäß vorgesehene Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung erreicht, dass - wenn diese evakuiert wird - weniger bis vorzugsweise keine Gase bzw. Luft durch den Spalt in die, die Gießschmelze enthaltende Gießkammer strömen, wenn im Gießformhohlraum bzw. in der mit diesem strömungstechnisch verbundenen Gießkammer ein Unterdruck erzeugt wird.Since it is not possible to work without gaps due to large differences in heat in the casting chamber area, the indentation or cavity provided according to the invention ensures that - when this is evacuated - less or preferably no gases or air flow through the gap into the casting chamber containing the casting melt when a negative pressure is generated in the casting mold cavity or in the casting chamber fluidically connected to it.

Es wird quasi ein vorzugsweise im Wesentlichen druckdifferenzfreier Bereich geschaffen, so dass gegenüber dem Stand der Technik weniger, vorzugsweise nur minimal bis keine Gase bzw. Luft durch den Spalt in die mit Gießschmelze befüllte Gießkammer strömen.Quasi a preferably essentially pressure difference-free area is created, so that compared to the prior art less, preferably only minimally to no gases or air flow through the gap into the casting chamber filled with casting melt.

Erfindungsgemäß besonders bevorzugt kann der Unterdruck in der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung sogar größer sein als in der mit Gießschmelze befüllten Gießkammer, so dass sich die Strömungsrichtung quasi gegenüber dem Stand der Technik umkehrt und Gase und Luft aus der mit Gießschmelze befüllten Gießkammer in die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung strömen. Im letzten Fall ist dann natürlich wieder eine gewünschte Druckdifferenz über den Ringsspalt vorhanden.According to the invention, the negative pressure in the depression or cavity can even be greater than in the casting chamber filled with casting melt, so that the flow direction is reversed compared to the prior art and gases and air flow from the casting chamber filled with casting melt into the depression or cavity . In the latter case, of course, there is again a desired pressure difference across the annular gap.

Dadurch wird eine effektive Abdichtung des Ringspaltes zwischen dem Außenmantel des Gießkolbens und der Innenwandung der Gießkammer beim Vakuumdruckguss erreicht, derart, dass keine Gase oder Luft durch den Ringspalt in die mit Gießschmelze gefüllte Gießkammer einströmen. Zudem wird ein unerwünschtes, so genanntes Vorziehen der Schmelze aus der Gießkammer in den Formhohlraum verhindert.This achieves an effective sealing of the annular gap between the outer jacket of the casting piston and the inner wall of the casting chamber during vacuum pressure casting, in such a way that no gases or air flow through the annular gap into the casting chamber, which is filled with casting melt. In addition, an undesired, so-called pulling of the melt out of the casting chamber into the mold cavity is prevented.

Die mit der erfindungsgemäßen Vakuumdruckgussanlage hergestellten Gussteile zeichnen sich durch eine verbesserte Dichtheit, Bruchdehnung, Festigkeit, Wärmebehandelbarkeit und Schweißbarkeit aus.The cast parts produced with the vacuum pressure casting system according to the invention are characterized by improved tightness, elongation at break, strength, heat treatability and weldability.

Gegenüber dem Stand der Technik zeichnet sich die Erfindung insbesondere dadurch aus, dass die Funktionstüchtigkeit der Vakuumdruckgussanlage leicht zu überprüfen ist und die Vakuumdruckgussanlage keine für die Abdichtung des Ringspaltes zwischen Gießkolben und Gießkammer zusätzlichen beweglichen Bauteile benötigt, welche nachteilig sehr verschleißanfällig und wartungsintensiv wären.Compared to the state of the art, the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the functionality of the vacuum pressure casting system is easy to check and the vacuum pressure casting system does not require any additional moving components to seal the annular gap between the casting piston and the casting chamber, which would be disadvantageously susceptible to wear and maintenance-intensive.

Vorteilhaft sind alle Bauteile der erfindungsgemäßen Vakuumdruckgussanlage für Wartungsarbeiten an der Vakuumdruckgussanlage sehr gut zugänglich und leicht austauschbar.All components of the vacuum pressure casting system according to the invention are advantageously very easily accessible and easily exchangeable for maintenance work on the vacuum pressure casting system.

Insgesamt ist die erfindungsgemäße Weiterentwicklung auch für bereits in Einsatz befindliche Vakuumdruckgussanlagen kostengünstig herstellbar.Overall, the further development according to the invention can also be produced cost-effectively for vacuum pressure casting systems that are already in use.

Der Steuerungsaufwand zur Evakuierung der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung ist minimal und erfolgt vorzugsweise über eine Weg- und/oder Zeitsteuerung.The control effort for evacuating the depression or cavity is minimal and is preferably carried out via a path and / or time control.

Die erfindungsgemäße Weiterentwicklung bekannter Vakuumdruckgussanlagen führt vorteilhaft zu keiner Verlängerung der Taktzeit. Vielmehr kann eine Verkürzung bzw. Beschleunigung der Taktzeit, also des Zeitraums zwischen Fertigstellung zweier Gussteile, erreicht werden. Dies ist neben der Minimierung bis Beseitigung der unerwünschten Leckage durch den Ringspalt auch auf eine wenig aufwendige Prozessführung der erfindungsgemäßen Vakuumdruckgussanlage zurückzuführen, die zu wenig Anlagenausfällen und Wartungsarbeiten neigt.The further development according to the invention of known vacuum pressure casting systems advantageously does not lead to any extension of the cycle time. Rather, a shortening or acceleration of the cycle time, that is to say the period between completion of two Castings. In addition to minimizing or eliminating the undesired leakage through the annular gap, this is also due to the low-cost process management of the vacuum pressure casting system according to the invention, which tends to have few system failures and maintenance work.

Zudem kann die erfindungsgemäße Weiterentwicklung ohne Umbauarbeiten an der Gießform selbst umgesetzt werden und lässt sich auf verschiedene dimensionierte Vakuumdruckgussanlagen anwenden.In addition, the further development according to the invention can be implemented without modification work on the casting mold itself and can be applied to various sized vacuum pressure casting systems.

Ein weiterer Vorteil der Erfindung besteht darin, dass ein höheres Vakuum im Gießformhohlraum erreicht werden kann, wodurch die Qualität der Gussstücke weiter verbessert wird.Another advantage of the invention is that a higher vacuum can be achieved in the casting mold cavity, as a result of which the quality of the cast pieces is further improved.

Für bestimmte Anwendungsfälle kann es vorteilhaft sein, wenn die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung im Gießkolben selbst ausgebildet ist. Dies kann vorteilhaft durch Urformen eines solchen Gießkolbens geschehen oder vorzugsweise später durch eine spanabhebende Bearbeitung des Gießkolbens, insbesondere durch Fräsen oder Schleifen.For certain applications, it can be advantageous if the recess or cavity is formed in the casting piston itself. This can advantageously be done by shaping such a casting piston or preferably later by machining the casting piston, in particular by milling or grinding.

Für andere Anwendungsfälle kann es von Vorteil sein, wenn die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung unmittelbar oder mittelbar hinter dem Gießkolben durch Anordnen wenigstens eines Werkstücks hinter dem Gießkolben ausgebildet ist, wobei die Anordnung der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung hinter dem Gießkolben derart ist, dass die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung vor ihrer Evakuierung in den nicht mit Gießschmelze befüllten Bereich der Gießkammer durch Hineinbewegen des Gießkolbens in die Gießkammer bringbar ist.For other applications it can be advantageous if the recess or cavity is formed directly or indirectly behind the casting piston by arranging at least one workpiece behind the casting piston, the arrangement of the recess or cavity behind the casting piston being such that the recess or cavity is in front their evacuation can be brought into the area of the casting chamber that is not filled with casting melt by moving the casting piston into the casting chamber.

Für bestimmte Einsatzzwecke kann die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung im Werkstück selbst ausgebildet sein. Für andere Einsatzzwecke kann es von Vorteil sein, wenn das Werkstück derart vom Gießkolben beabstandet ist, dass sich zwischen Gießkolben oder wenigstens einem weiteren hinter dem Gießkolben angeordneten Werkstück und dem erstgenannten Werkstück die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung ausbildet. Für wieder andere Einsatzzwecke kann es auch vorteilhaft sein, wenn die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung im Werkstück selbst in Kombination mit der vorgenannten beabstandeten Anordnung ausgebildet ist.For certain purposes, the recess or cavity can be formed in the workpiece itself. For other purposes, it can be advantageous if the workpiece is spaced from the casting piston in such a way that between the casting piston or at least one further workpiece arranged behind the casting piston and the first-mentioned workpiece forms the recess or cavity. For other purposes, it can also be advantageous if the depression or cavity in the workpiece itself is formed in combination with the aforementioned spaced arrangement.

Insbesondere zum Nachrüsten bestehender Druckgussanlagen kann es von Vorteil sein, wenn das Werkstück ringartig ausgebildet ist und vorzugsweise auf die Kolbenstange aufschiebbar und fixierbar ist. Insbesondere durch eine konische Ausbildung der Ringöffnung und/oder der Kolbenstange lässt sich ein solches Werkstück auf einfache Weise durch Klemmen auf der Kolbenstange fixieren. Selbstverständlich kann das Werkstück auch durch andere, zwar weniger bevorzugte, aber dennoch für bestimmte Anwendungsfälle vorteilhafte Befestigungsarten, insbesondere durch Verschrauben, Einpressen oder Verschweißen, hinter dem Gießkolben angeordnet werden.In particular, for retrofitting existing die-casting systems, it can be advantageous if the workpiece is designed in the form of a ring and can preferably be pushed onto and fixed on the piston rod. In particular, a conical design of the ring opening and / or the piston rod allows such a workpiece to be fixed in a simple manner by clamping on the piston rod. Of course, the workpiece can also be arranged behind the casting piston by other types of fastening, although less preferred but nevertheless advantageous for certain applications, in particular by screwing, pressing in or welding.

Für bestimmte Einsatzfälle kann es zweckmäßig sein, wenn der Gießkolben mehrteilig ausgebildet ist. Vorzugsweise ist der Gießkolben jedoch einteilig bzw. einstückig ausgebildet.For certain applications it can be useful if the casting piston is constructed in several parts. However, the casting piston is preferably designed in one piece or in one piece.

Zudem kann es von Vorteil sein, wenn der Gießkolben massiv ausgebildet ist.In addition, it can be advantageous if the casting piston is solid.

Es kann vorteilhaft sein, wenn die Sammelvertiefung und/oder evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung als eine den Außenmantel des Gießkolbens, der Kolbenstange und/oder des Werkstücks umlaufende Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung, vorzugsweise in Form einer Ringnut, ausgebildet ist.It can be advantageous if the collecting recess and / or evacuable recess or cavity is designed as a recess or cavity, preferably in the form of an annular groove, surrounding the outer jacket of the casting piston, the piston rod and / or the workpiece.

Eine umlaufende evakuierbare Vertiefung ist vorteilhaft komplett innerhalb des Strömungsweges der Gase oder der Luft angeordnet, so dass wenig bis vorzugsweise keine Gase oder Luft durch den Spalt zwischen Gießkammer und Gießkolben in die Gießkammer gelangen. Eine nach dem Stand der Technik bekannte unerwünschte Druckdifferenz, die beim Evakuieren des Gießformhohlraums bzw. der Gießkammer entsteht und zum Einströmen von Gasen oder Luft durch den Ringspalt in die Gießkammer führt, wird deutlich verringert bis vorzugsweise eliminiert. Besonders bevorzugt wird die unerwünschte Druckdifferenz sogar umgekehrt, indem der Unterdruck innerhalb der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung größer gewählt wird als in der mit Gießschmelze befüllten Gießkammer bzw. als in dem mit der Gießkammer strömungstechnisch verbundenen Formhohlraum der Gießform. Es entsteht mithin eine erwünschte Druckdifferenz, die eine Umkehr der Strömungsrichtung bewirkt.A circumferential evacuable depression is advantageously arranged completely within the flow path of the gases or air, so that little or preferably no gases or air pass through the gap between the casting chamber and the casting piston into the casting chamber. An undesirable pressure difference known from the prior art that occurs when the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber is evacuated arises and leads to the inflow of gases or air through the annular gap into the casting chamber, is significantly reduced or preferably eliminated. Particularly preferably, the undesired pressure difference is even reversed in that the negative pressure within the depression or cavity is selected to be greater than in the casting chamber filled with casting melt or in the mold cavity of the casting mold that is fluidically connected to the casting chamber. This creates a desired pressure difference that reverses the direction of flow.

Eine umlaufende Sammelvertiefung kann besonders zweckmäßig sein, um eine möglichst umfassende Grenze für unerwünschte Stoffe zu schaffen und das Eindringen solcher Stoffe in die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung weitestgehend zu verhindern.A circumferential collecting recess can be particularly useful in order to create the most comprehensive limit possible for undesirable substances and to prevent such substances from penetrating into the recess or cavity as far as possible.

Für gewisse Anwendungsfälle kann es aber auch vorteilhaft sein, wenn die Sammelvertiefung und/oder die evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung nur im oberen Außenmantelbereich des Gießkolbens, der Kolbenstange und/oder des Werkstücks vorgesehen ist. Es hat sich nämlich gezeigt, dass in Abhängigkeit von der verwendeten Vakuumdruckgussanlage bzw. der Dimension und des Gewichts des in der Gießkammer bewegbaren Gießkolbens der Ringspalt zwischen dem Außenmantel des Gießkolbens und der Innenwandung der Gießkammer nicht gleichmäßig ist, sondern oben größer als unten ist.For certain applications, however, it can also be advantageous if the collecting recess and / or the evacuable recess or cavity is only provided in the upper outer jacket area of the casting piston, the piston rod and / or the workpiece. It has been shown that, depending on the vacuum pressure casting system used or the dimension and weight of the casting piston movable in the casting chamber, the annular gap between the outer casing of the casting piston and the inner wall of the casting chamber is not uniform, but is larger at the top than at the bottom.

Des Weiteren kann es zweckmäßig sein, wenn mehrere, in Umfangsrichtung des Gießkolbens, der Kolbenstange und/oder des Werkstücks voneinander beabstandete Vertiefungen oder Aushöhlungen vorgesehen sind.Furthermore, it can be expedient if a plurality of depressions or cavities spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the casting piston, the piston rod and / or the workpiece are provided.

So kann es vorteilhaft sein, wenn diese Vertiefungen über den Umfang eines als Ring ausgebildeten Werkstücks verteilt angeordnet sind. Bei diesen Vertiefungen kann es sich um zur Innenseite des Rings durchgehende Bohrungen handeln. Das Werkstück kann unmittelbar hinter dem Gießkolben angeordnet werden, wobei zur Evakuierung dieser Vertiefungen lediglich ein Vakuum an der Innenseite des Rings angelegt werden braucht. Eine umlaufende Vertiefung kann hierbei vorteilhaft geschaffen werden, wenn der genannte Ring einen geringeren Außendurchmesser aufweist als der Gießkolben, wobei dann zur Herstellung der umlaufenden Vertiefung hinter dem Ring ein weiteres Werkstück, vorzugsweise ebenfalls ein Ring, angeordnet ist, der den gleichen Außendurchmesser aufweist wie der Gießkolben. In diesem Fall bilden die einzelnen Vertiefungen bzw. Bohrung dann eine Art Düsenfeld, durch die einzige umlaufende Vertiefung gleichmäßig evakuiert werden kann.It can be advantageous if these depressions are arranged distributed over the circumference of a workpiece designed as a ring. These recesses can be bores through to the inside of the ring. The workpiece can be arranged directly behind the casting piston, only a vacuum being required on the inside of the ring to evacuate these depressions. A circumferential recess can advantageously be created here, when said ring has a smaller outer diameter than the casting piston, in which case another workpiece, preferably also a ring, is arranged behind the ring to produce the circumferential recess, which has the same external diameter as the casting piston. In this case, the individual depressions or bores then form a type of nozzle field through which the single circumferential depression can be evacuated evenly.

Außerdem kann es zweckmäßig sein, wenn mehrere, in Umfangsrichtung des Gießkolbens, der Kolbenstange und/oder des Werkstücks voneinander beabstandete Sammelvertiefungen vorgesehen sind.In addition, it can be expedient if a plurality of collecting depressions spaced from one another in the circumferential direction of the casting piston, the piston rod and / or the workpiece are provided.

Es kann zweckmäßig sein, wenn die evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung derart dimensioniert und evakuierbar ist, dass beim Evakuieren des Gießformhohlraums bzw. der Gießkammer weniger bis vorzugsweise keine Gase oder Luft durch den Ringspalt in die Gießkammer einströmen sowie besonders bevorzugt sich die Strömungsrichtung im Ringspalt umkehrt und die Gase oder Luft in Richtung evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung strömen. Eine nach dem Stand der Technik beim Evakuieren des Gießformhohlraums bzw. der Gießkammer herrschende Druckdifferenz, die zum Einströmen von Gasen oder Luft durch den Spalt in die Gießkammer führt, d.h. quasi eine Druckdifferenz zwischen der mit Gießschmelze gefüllten Kammer vor dem Gießkolben und der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung, wird durch das erfindungsgemäße Evakuieren der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung minimiert, vorzugsweise eliminiert, besonders bevorzugt umgekehrt.It can be useful if the evacuable depression or cavity is dimensioned and evacuated in such a way that when the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber is evacuated, less or preferably no gases or air flow through the annular gap into the casting chamber and, particularly preferably, the direction of flow in the annular gap is reversed and the gases or air flow in the direction of the evacuable recess or cavity. A pressure difference prevailing according to the prior art when the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber is evacuated, which leads to the inflow of gases or air through the gap into the casting chamber, that is to say a pressure difference between the chamber filled with casting melt in front of the casting piston and the recess or hollow , is minimized, preferably eliminated, particularly preferably vice versa, by evacuating the depression or cavity according to the invention.

Es kann von Vorteil sein, wenn die evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung derart mit einem Vakuum beaufschlagt wird, dass beim Evakuieren des Gießformhohlraums bzw. der Gießkammer weniger bis vorzugsweise keine Gase oder Luft durch den genannten Spalt in die Gießkammer einströmen sowie besonders bevorzugt sich die Strömungsrichtung im Spalt umkehrt und die Gase oder Luft in Richtung evakuierbare Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung strömen.It can be advantageous if the evacuable depression or cavity is subjected to a vacuum in such a way that when the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber is evacuated, less or preferably no gases or air flow through the mentioned gap into the casting chamber and, particularly preferably, the flow direction is in the The gap reverses and the gases or air flow in the direction of the evacuable recess or cavity.

Es kann von Vorteil sein, wenn die Mittel zum Evakuieren der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung wenigstens eine Ausnehmung, insbesondere Längsausnehmung, innerhalb der Kolbenstange aufweisen, welche mit ihrem einen Ende strömungstechnisch mit der evakuierbaren Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung und mit ihrem anderen Ende strömungstechnisch mit einer Vakuumanlage verbunden sind.It can be advantageous if the means for evacuating the recess or cavity have at least one recess, in particular a longitudinal recess, within the piston rod, which is fluidically connected at one end to the evacuable recess or cavity and at its other end is fluidically connected to a vacuum system .

Es kann von besonderem Vorteil sein, wenn die wenigstens eine evakuierbare Vertiefung dann, wenn sie gerade nicht evakuiert wird, zum Einbringen eines Schmiermittels oder eines anderen funktionelle Stoffes in die Gießkammer verwendbar ist, wobei das Schmiermittel oder der andere funktionelle Stoff dann über die wenigstens eine mit der Vertiefung verbundene Vakuumabsaugleitung oder eine andere für diesen Zweck vorgesehene Leitung in die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung und mithin in die Gießkammer einbringbar ist.It can be of particular advantage if the at least one evacuable recess can be used to introduce a lubricant or another functional substance into the casting chamber when it is not being evacuated, the lubricant or the other functional substance then via the at least one Vacuum suction line connected to the recess or another line provided for this purpose can be introduced into the recess or cavity and thus into the casting chamber.

Besonders vorteilhaft kann es sein, wenn die Mittel zum Evakuieren der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung wenigstens eine in der Kolbenstange enthaltene Leitung oder Bohrung, insbesondere eine Kuhlmittelleitung bzw. -bohrung, umfassen.It can be particularly advantageous if the means for evacuating the depression or cavity include at least one line or bore contained in the piston rod, in particular a coolant line or bore.

Zweckmäßigerweise umfassen die Mittel wenigstens ein, vorzugsweise zwei oder mehrere Absaugleitungen, insbesondere Absaugrohre, die jeweils mit ihrem einen Ende strömungstechnisch mit der evakuierbaren Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung und mit ihrem anderen Ende strömungstechnisch mit einer Vakuumanlage verbunden sind.The means expediently comprise at least one, preferably two or more suction lines, in particular suction pipes, each of which is fluidically connected at one end to the evacuable depression or cavity and at its other end is fluidically connected to a vacuum system.

Es kann von Vorteil sein, wenn die Absaugleitung, insbesondere das Absaugrohr, entlang der Kolbenstange, vorzugsweise in einer auf der Außenseite der Kolbenstange eingebrachten Nut, verläuft und mit seinem einen Ende durch den der Kolbenstange zugewandten Kolben- oder Werkstückbereich in die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung übergeht und mit dieser strömungstechnisch verbunden ist.It can be advantageous if the suction line, in particular the suction pipe, runs along the piston rod, preferably in a groove made on the outside of the piston rod, and merges with one end through the piston or workpiece area facing the piston rod into the recess or cavity and is fluidically connected to it.

Es kann vorteilhaft sein, wenn der Querschnitt der Ausnehmung oder der Absaugausnehmung, insbesondere des Absaugrohrs, derart groß gewählt ist, dass das in der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung einstellbare Vakuum trotz vorhandener Leckage zwischen Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung und dem Bereich, der hinter der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung angeordnet und über den von der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung ausgehenden und zur Kolbenstange führenden Ringspalt mit der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung verbunden ist, über eine vorgegebene Zeit aufrechterhalten wird, insbesondere über die Zeit, in der die Gießkammer und der Gießformhohlraum evakuiert werden und ein Unterdruck im Gießformhohlraum beibehalten wird.It can be advantageous if the cross section of the recess or the suction recess, in particular the suction tube, is selected to be so large that the in the Depression or cavity adjustable vacuum despite existing leakage between the depression or cavity and the area which is arranged behind the depression or cavity and is connected to the depression or cavity via the annular gap starting from the depression or cavity and leading to the piston rod, is maintained over a predetermined time, in particular over the time in which the casting chamber and the casting mold cavity are evacuated and a negative pressure is maintained in the casting mold cavity.

Es kann zweckmäßig sein, wenn innerhalb der Kolbenstange wenigstens ein Absaugrohr vorgesehen ist, dass mit seinem einen Ende in die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung übergeht und mit dieser strömungstechnisch verbunden ist.It can be useful if at least one suction tube is provided within the piston rod, one end of which merges into the depression or cavity and is fluidically connected to it.

Es kann vorteilhaft sein, wenn die Vakuumdruckgussanlage eine Kaltkammer-Vakuumdruckgussanlage ist.It can be advantageous if the vacuum pressure casting system is a cold chamber vacuum pressure casting system.

Es kann von Vorteil sein, wenn eine Steuerung für die Vakuumdruckgussanlage vorgesehen ist, welche mit einer Steuerung für die Vakuumanlage verbunden ist und über diese Verbindung ein Startsignal an die Vakuumanlage zur Evakuierung der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung übermittelt wird.It can be advantageous if a control for the vacuum pressure casting system is provided, which is connected to a control for the vacuum system and a start signal is transmitted via this connection to the vacuum system for evacuating the depression or cavity.

Eine Weiterbildung der Erfindung sieht vor, dass die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung möglichst nah an den zur mit Schmelze befüllten Gießkammer weisenden Bereich des Gießkolbens angeordnet ist. Dadurch wird erreicht, dass die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung frühzeitig evakuierbar wird, so dass sich die Schaltzeit bzw. Nutzungszeit des Vakuums erhöht und die Qualität der Gusserzeugnisse durch ein entsprechend verbessertes Vakuum noch weiter verbessert wird.A further development of the invention provides that the depression or cavity is arranged as close as possible to the region of the casting piston facing the casting chamber filled with melt. It is thereby achieved that the depression or hollow can be evacuated at an early stage, so that the switching time or usage time of the vacuum increases and the quality of the cast products is further improved by a correspondingly improved vacuum.

Die Erfindung betrifft schließlich auch ein Verfahren zum Betrieb einer Vakuumdruckgussanlage, nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, umfassend folgende Verfahrenschritte:

  1. a) Einbringen einer Gießschmelze durch die Einfüllöffnung in die Gießkammer
  2. b) Bewegen des Gießkolbens, bis die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung die Einfüllöffnung passiert hat, oder dichtes Verschließen der Einfüllöffnung und gegebenenfalls Bewegen des Gießkolbens, bis die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung in der Gießkammer positioniert ist, und Evakuieren des Gießformhohlraums bzw. der mit diesem strömungstechnisch verbundenen Gießkammer
  3. c) Evakuieren der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung, derart, dass ein im Wesentlichen druckdifferenzfreier Bereich über den Ringspalt geschaffen wird und weniger bis keine Gase oder Luft durch den Ringspalt zwischen Gießkolben und Gießkammer in die Gießkammer einströmen.
Finally, the invention also relates to a method for operating a vacuum pressure casting system, according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising the following method steps:
  1. a) Introducing a casting melt through the filling opening into the casting chamber
  2. b) Moving the casting piston until the recess or cavity has passed the filling opening, or sealing the filling opening tightly and, if necessary, moving the casting piston until the recess or cavity is positioned in the casting chamber, and evacuating the casting mold cavity or the casting chamber fluidically connected to it
  3. c) Evacuating the depression or cavity in such a way that a substantially pressure differential-free area is created over the annular gap and less or no gases or air flow into the casting chamber through the annular gap between the casting piston and the casting chamber.

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren führt zu einer deutlichen qualitativen Verbesserung der Gussteile.The method according to the invention leads to a significant improvement in the quality of the cast parts.

Es kann vorteilhaft sein, wenn die Evakuierung der Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung für einige Anwendungsfälle über eine Wegsteuerung und für andere Anwendungsfälle über eine Zeitsteuerung gestartet wird. Für gewisse Anwendungsfälle kann auch eine Kombination aus Weg- und Zeitsteuerung vorteilhaft sein.It can be advantageous if the evacuation of the depression or hollow is started for some applications via a path control and for other applications via a time control. A combination of path and time control can also be advantageous for certain applications.

Es kann von Vorteil sein, wenn das in der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung einstellbare Vakuum trotz vorhandener Leckage zwischen Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung und dem Bereich, der hinter der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung angeordnet und über den von der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung ausgehenden und zur Kolbenstange führenden Ringspalt mit der Vertiefung bzw. Aushöhlung verbunden ist, über eine vorgegebene Zeit aufrechterhalten wird, insbesondere über die Zeit, in der die Gießkammer und der Gießformhohlraum evakuiert werden und ein Unterdruck im Gießformhohlraum beibehalten wird.It can be advantageous if the adjustable vacuum in the recess or cavity, in spite of the presence of leakage, between the recess or cavity and the area located behind the recess or cavity and over the one that emanates from the recess or cavity and leads to the piston rod Annular gap is connected to the recess or cavity, is maintained over a predetermined time, in particular over the time in which the casting chamber and the casting mold cavity are evacuated and a negative pressure is maintained in the casting mold cavity.

Weitere Einzelheiten und vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus der nachfolgenden Beschreibung in Verbindung mit der Zeichnung. In dieser zeigen:

Fig. 1
in a) einen Schnitt durch eine nicht erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Kolbenstange und in b) eine Ansicht (mit Teilschnitten) von oben auf den Gießkolben samt Kolbenstange und umlaufender Vertiefung,
Fig. 2
einen Ausschnitt der Gießkammer mit nicht erfindungsgemäß ausgebildetem Gießkolben mit einer Teilansicht der Kolbenstange,
Fig. 3
in a) einen Schnitt durch eine nicht erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Kolbenstange, wie in Fig. 1 a), und in b) eine Ansicht (mit Teilschnitten) von oben auf den Gießkolben samt Kolbenstange und umlaufender Vertiefung mit Düsenfeld und
Fig. 4
in a) einen Schnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäß ausgebildete Kolbenstange, wie in Fig. 1 a), und in b) eine Ansicht (mit Teilschnitten) von oben auf den Gießkolben samt Kolbenstange und umlaufender Vertiefung sowie vorgeschalteter Sammelvertiefung.
Further details and advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the following description in conjunction with the drawing. In this show:
Fig. 1
in a) a section through a piston rod not designed according to the invention and in b) a view (with partial sections) from above of the casting piston including the piston rod and circumferential recess,
Fig. 2
a section of the casting chamber with a casting piston not designed according to the invention with a partial view of the piston rod,
Fig. 3
in a) a section through a piston rod not designed according to the invention, as in Fig. 1 a) , and in b) a view (with partial sections) from above of the casting piston including piston rod and circumferential recess with nozzle field and
Fig. 4
in a) a section through a piston rod designed according to the invention, as in Fig. 1 a) , and in b) a view (with partial sections) from above of the casting piston including piston rod and circumferential recess as well as upstream collecting recess.

Werden in den Fig. 1 bis 4 gleiche Bezugsziffern verwendet, so bezeichnen diese auch gleiche Teile oder Bereiche.Will be in the Figs. 1 to 4 If the same reference numbers are used, they also designate the same parts or areas.

Die erfindungsgemäße Vakuumdruckgussanlage weist eine hier nicht dargestellte Gießform auf, die aus beispielsweise zwei Formhälften aufgebaut ist. Das Innere der Gießform, also die Kavität bzw. der Formhohlraum, ist mit der Gießkammer 10 verbunden, die für den Gießvorgang mit Schmelze befüllt wird. Diese wird durch die Einfüllöffnung 12 eingefüllt und mittels des Gießkolbens 14 in den Formhohlraum gedrückt. Das im Formhohlraum vorhandene Gas wird über ein hier nicht dargestelltes Entlüftungsventil, beispielsweise ein so genanntes Waschbrett, abgesaugt. Während des Gießvorgangs steigt das erstarrende Metall bis zu diesem Entlüftungsventil auf. Der Gießkolben 14 wird von einem hier nicht dargestellten Gießantrieb über eine Gießkolbenstange 16 bewegt, also in der Gießkammer 10 verschoben. Die Ansteuerung erfolgt durch die Gießanlagensteuerung.The vacuum pressure casting system according to the invention has a casting mold, not shown here, which is made up of, for example, two mold halves. The interior of the casting mold, that is to say the cavity or the mold cavity, is connected to the casting chamber 10, which is filled with melt for the casting process. This is filled through the filling opening 12 and pressed into the mold cavity by means of the casting piston 14. The gas present in the mold cavity is sucked off via a vent valve (not shown here), for example a so-called washboard. During the casting process, the solidifying metal rises up to this vent valve. The casting piston 14 is from a casting drive, not shown here, via a The casting piston rod 16 is moved, that is to say displaced in the casting chamber 10. The control is carried out by the casting system control.

Die Vakuumdruckgussanlage weist zudem eine hier nicht dargestellte Vakuumanlage auf, welche über entsprechende Vakuumleitungen mit der Gießkammer 10 und/oder dem Formhohlraum verbunden sind und den Formhohlraum samt dem vor dem Gießkolben befindlichen Raum 32 der Gießkammer 10, beispielsweise zu einem vorgegebenen Zeitpunkt während des Gießvorgangs, nach einer vorgegebenen Wegstrecke des Gießkolbens 14 oder nach anderen Kriterien evakuiert.The vacuum pressure casting system also has a vacuum system, not shown here, which are connected to the casting chamber 10 and / or the mold cavity via corresponding vacuum lines and the mold cavity together with the space 32 of the casting chamber 10 located in front of the casting piston, for example at a predetermined time during the casting process, evacuated after a predetermined distance of the casting piston 14 or according to other criteria.

Da hierbei zwischen der Innenwandung der Gießkammer 10 und dem Außenmantel des Gießkolbens 14 ein Ringspalt 18 vorhanden ist, durch den Luft oder Gase von der Hinterseite des Gießkolbens 14 aus in die Gießkammer 10 bzw. in die darin eingefüllte Schmelze gezogen werden, wobei die eindringende Gase die Schmelze in der unter Vakuum stehenden Gießkammer regelrecht aufschäumen und im produzierten Gussteil eine Gasporosität erzeugen, die u.a. eine Wärmebehandlung und die Schweißeignung minimieren oder ausschließen, ist nun vorgesehen, dass der Gießkolben 14 wenigstens eine mit dem Ringspalt 18 strömungstechnisch verbundene, evakuierbare Vertiefung 20 aufweist und Mittel vorgesehen sind, über die die Vertiefung oder Aushöhlung evakuiert wird.Since there is an annular gap 18 between the inner wall of the casting chamber 10 and the outer jacket of the casting piston 14, through which air or gases are drawn from the rear of the casting piston 14 into the casting chamber 10 or into the melt filled therein, whereby the penetrating gases The melt in the casting chamber, which is under vacuum, will actually foam up and produce a gas porosity in the cast part produced, which among other things will minimize or exclude heat treatment and weldability, it is now provided that the casting piston 14 has at least one evacuable depression 20 fluidically connected to the annular gap 18 and means are provided through which the depression or cavity is evacuated.

Dadurch wird quasi eine aus dem Stand der Technik bekannte, beim Evakuieren der Gießkammer und/oder des Formhohlraums der Gießform sich einstellende Druckdifferenz, welche zum Einströmen von Gasen oder Luft in die Gießkammer führt, minimiert bis vorzugsweise eliminiert, besonders bevorzugt sogar so umgekehrt, dass sich die Strömungsrichtung ändert und Gase oder Luft aus dem Raum 32 der Gießkammer 10, welcher sich vor dem Gießkolben 14 befindet, durch den Ringspalt 18 in die Vertiefung 20 strömen.As a result, a pressure difference known from the prior art, which occurs when the casting chamber and / or the mold cavity of the casting mold is evacuated, which leads to the inflow of gases or air into the casting chamber, is minimized or preferably eliminated, particularly preferably even in such a way that the direction of flow changes and gases or air from the space 32 of the casting chamber 10, which is located in front of the casting piston 14, flow through the annular gap 18 into the recess 20.

Die evakuierbare Vertiefung 20 ist hierbei - wie in den Fig. 1 bis 4 dargestellt - als eine den Gießkolben 14 umlaufende Ringnut 24 ausgebildet und befindet sich damit vorteilhaft komplett im Strömungsweg der nach dem Stand der Technik eigentlich durch den Ringspalt 18 in den Raum 32 der Gießkammer 10 strömenden Gase oder Luft.The evacuable recess 20 is here - as in Figs. 1 to 4 shown - designed as an annular groove 24 encircling the casting piston 14 and is therefore advantageously located completely in the flow path of the gases or air actually flowing through the annular gap 18 into the space 32 of the casting chamber 10 according to the prior art.

Die Mittel zum Evakuieren der Vertiefung 20 umfassen zwei Absaugrohre 22, die jeweils mit ihrem einen Ende 24 strömungstechnisch mit der evakuierbaren Ringnut 20 und mit ihrem anderen Ende strömungstechnisch mit der vorgenannten oder einer weiteren Vakuumanlage verbunden sind. Die Absaugrohre 22 sind hierbei einander gegenüberliegend entlang der Kolbenstange 16 in einer auf der Außenseite der Kolbenstange 16 jeweils eingebrachten Nut 26 angeordnet, wobei die Enden 24 durch den der Kolbenstange 16 zugewandten Kolbenbereich 28, in die Ringnut 20 übergeht und mit dieser strömungstechnisch verbunden ist. Die Kolbenstange 16 selbst ist hohl ausgebildet und weist eine Kolbenkühlung 30 auf.The means for evacuating the recess 20 comprise two suction pipes 22, each of which is connected with its one end 24 in terms of flow to the evacuable annular groove 20 and with its other end in terms of flow to the aforementioned or another vacuum system. The suction pipes 22 are arranged opposite one another along the piston rod 16 in a groove 26 made on the outside of the piston rod 16, the ends 24 passing through the piston area 28 facing the piston rod 16 into the annular groove 20 and being fluidically connected to it. The piston rod 16 itself is hollow and has piston cooling 30.

Der Gießkolben 14 kann einstückig ausgebildet sein, wobei der Kolbenbereich 28 dann Teil des einstückigen Gießkolbens 14 ist und die Vertiefung 20 in Form einer Ringnut bispielsweise durch spanabhebendes Fräsen in den Gießkolben 14 eingebracht ist.The casting piston 14 can be formed in one piece, the piston region 28 then being part of the one-piece casting piston 14 and the recess 20 being made in the casting piston 14 in the form of an annular groove, for example by machining.

Eine weitere der zahlreichen Möglichkeiten zur Herstellung der Vertiefung 20 besteht darin, dass der Kolbenbereich 28 ein separates Werkstück beispielsweise in Form eines Anschlussringes ist, welches beabstandet vom Gießkolben 14 angeordnet, insbesondere auf der Kolbenstange 16 festgeklemmt wird. Dadurch wird, wie beispielsweise in Fig. 1 zu erkennen ist, eine Vertiefung 20 in Form einer Ringnut ausgebildet.Another of the numerous possibilities for producing the recess 20 is that the piston area 28 is a separate workpiece, for example in the form of a connecting ring, which is arranged at a distance from the casting piston 14, in particular clamped on the piston rod 16. This, as for example in Fig. 1 can be seen, a recess 20 in the form of an annular groove.

In Fig. 3 ist eine weitere der zahlreichen Möglichkeiten zur Herstellung der Vertiefung 20 dargestellt. Dort ist ein erstes Werkstück in Form eines Ring 34 hinter dem Gießkolben 14 angeordnet, wobei der Ring 34 einen geringeren Außendurchmesser als der Gießkolben 14 aufweist. Der Ring 34 weist über den Umfang verteilt zahlreiche Vertiefungen in Form von Bohrungen 36, die auf der Ringinnenseite strömungstechnisch verbunden sind. Vorteilhaft ist hier, dass eine Evakuierung auf der Ringinnenseite zu einer gleichmäßigen Evakuierung der umlaufenden Vertiefung 20 führt. Dies zahlreichen Vertiefungen in Form von Bohrungen 26 bilden hierbei eine Art Düsenfeld. An den Ring 24 schließt ein weiteres Werkstück in Form eines Anschlussringes an. Dieser Anschlussring bildet dann den vorgenannten Kolbenbereich 28 und entspricht im Außendurchmesser dem des Gießkolbens 14.In Fig. 3 Another of the numerous possibilities for producing the recess 20 is shown. A first workpiece in the form of a ring 34 is arranged there behind the casting piston 14, the ring 34 having a smaller outer diameter than the casting piston 14. The ring 34 has numerous depressions distributed over the circumference in the form of bores 36 which are fluidically connected on the inside of the ring. It is advantageous here that an evacuation on the inside of the ring leads to a uniform evacuation of the circumferential recess 20. This numerous depressions in the form of bores 26 form a type of nozzle field. A further workpiece in the form of a connecting ring connects to the ring 24. This connecting ring then forms the aforementioned piston area 28 and corresponds in terms of its outer diameter to that of the casting piston 14.

Fig. 4 zeigt schließlich die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, weist jedoch eine zusätzliche, erfindungsgemäße Sammelvertiefung 38 in Form einer Ringnut auf, welche zum Abfangen unerwünschter Stoffe, wie Flitter oder Schmiermittel, dient und der evakuierbaren Vertiefung vorgeschaltet ist. Fig. 4 finally shows the device according to Fig. 1 , however, has an additional collecting recess 38 according to the invention in the form of an annular groove, which serves to intercept undesirable substances such as flakes or lubricants and is connected upstream of the evacuable recess.

Die Steuerung für die Vakuumdruckgussanlage ist vorteilhaft mit einer Steuerung der Vakuumanlage zur Evakuierung der Ringnut 20 verbunden, wobei ein einfaches, an die Vakuumanlage übermitteltes weg- oder zeitgesteuertes Startsignal zur Evakuierung der Ringnut 20 ausreichend ist.The control for the vacuum pressure casting system is advantageously connected to a control of the vacuum system for evacuating the annular groove 20, a simple path or time-controlled start signal transmitted to the vacuum system being sufficient for evacuating the annular groove 20.

Bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren zum Betrieb einer Vakuumdruckgussanlage, insbesondere nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, ist es vorteilhaft, dass nach dem Einbringen der Gießschmelze durch die Einfüllöffnung 12 in die Gießkammer 10, der Gießkolben 14 zunächst soweit bewegt wird, das die Ringnut 20 die Einfüllöffnung 12 passiert hat. Anschließend, vorzugsweise im Wesentlichen gleichzeitig mit der Evakuierung des Formhohlraums und der Gießkammer 10, wird die Ringnut 20 evakuiert, derart, dass keine Gase oder Luft durch den genannten Spalt 18 in die Gießkammer 10 strömen.In the method according to the invention for operating a vacuum pressure casting system, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, it is advantageous that, after the casting melt has been introduced through the filling opening 12 into the casting chamber 10, the casting piston 14 is first moved so far that the annular groove 20 the Filling opening 12 has passed. Subsequently, preferably essentially simultaneously with the evacuation of the mold cavity and the casting chamber 10, the annular groove 20 is evacuated in such a way that no gases or air flow through the mentioned gap 18 into the casting chamber 10.

BezugszeichenlisteList of reference symbols (ist nicht Teil der Beschreibung)(is not part of the description)

1010
GießkammerCasting chamber
1212
EinfüllöffnungFilling opening
1414th
GießkolbenPouring piston
1616
KolbenstangePiston rod
1818th
Spaltgap
2020th
RingnutRing groove
2222nd
AbsaugrohrSuction tube
2424
EndeThe End
2626th
NutGroove
2828
KolbenbereichPiston area
3030th
KolbenkühlungPiston cooling
3232
Raum der Gießkammer vor dem GießkolbenSpace of the casting chamber in front of the casting piston
3434
Ringring
3636
Vertiefung/BohrungRecess / hole
3838
SammelvertiefungGeneral consolidation

Claims (15)

  1. Vacuum diecasting system comprising a casting chamber (10) with a filling opening (12), a casting piston (14), which can be moved in the casting chamber (10), and a piston rod (16), which connects the casting piston (14) to a casting drive, wherein an annular gap (18) is formed between the outer casing of the casting piston (14) and the inner wall of the casting chamber (10), wherein the casting piston (14) has at least one depression or hollow (20, 36), which is in flow connection with the annular gap (18) and can be evacuated, and at least one, preferably two or more suction lines (22) are provided, respectively connected in terms of flow technology by their one end to the depression or hollow (20, 36) that can be evacuated and connected in terms of flow technology by their other end to a vacuum system and allowing the depression or hollow (20, 36) to be evacuated, characterized in that at least one collecting depression (38), which is not connected to a suction line (22), is provided, arranged upstream of the at least one depression or hollow (20, 36) that can be evacuated and in flow connection with the annular gap (18).
  2. Vacuum diecasting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the depression or hollow (20, 36) is formed in the casting piston (14) itself.
  3. Vacuum diecasting system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the depression or hollow (20, 36) is formed directly or indirectly behind the casting piston (14) by arranging at least one workpiece behind the casting piston (14), wherein the arrangement of the depression or hollow (20, 36) behind the casting piston (14) is such that, before it is evacuated, the depression or hollow (20, 36) can be brought into the region of the casting chamber (10) that is not filled with casting melt by moving the casting piston (14) into the casting chamber (10).
  4. Vacuum diecasting system according to Claim 3, characterized in that the depression or hollow (20, 36) is formed in the workpiece itself and/or in that the workpiece is spaced apart from the casting piston (14) in such a manner that the depression or hollow (20, 36) forms between the casting piston (14), or at least a further workpiece arranged behind the casting piston (14), and the first-mentioned workpiece.
  5. Vacuum diecasting system according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the workpiece is a ring, which is preferably able to be pushed onto the piston rod (16) and fixed.
  6. Vacuum diecasting system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the collecting depression (38) and/or the depression or hollow (20, 36) that can be evacuated is formed as a depression or hollow (20, 36) which, preferably in the form of an annular groove, runs around the outer casing of the casting piston (14), the piston rod (16) and/or the workpiece.
  7. Vacuum diecasting system according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the depression or hollow (20, 36) is only provided in the upper outer casing region of the casting piston (14), the piston rod (16) and/or the workpiece.
  8. Vacuum diecasting system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that multiple depressions or hollows (20, 36) are provided, spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the casting piston (14), the piston rod (16) and/or the workpiece.
  9. Vacuum diecasting system according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the depression or hollow (20, 36) that can be evacuated can have a vacuum applied to it in such a way that, when the casting mould cavity or the casting chamber (10) is evacuated, less to preferably no gases or air flow(s) into the casting chamber (10) through the annular gap (18) between the casting piston (14) and the casting chamber (10) and, particularly preferably, the direction of flow in the gap (18) reverses and the gases or air flow(s) in the direction of the depression or hollow (20, 36) that can be evacuated.
  10. Vacuum diecasting system according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one suction line (22) for evacuating the depression or hollow (20, 36) comprises at least one recess, in particular longitudinal recess, within the piston rod (16), which recesses are connected in terms of flow technology by their one end to the depression or hollow that can be evacuated and connected in terms of flow technology by their other end to a vacuum system.
  11. Vacuum diecasting system according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one suction line (22) for evacuating the depression or hollow (20, 36) comprises at least one line or bore, in particular coolant line (30) or bore, contained in the piston rod (16).
  12. Vacuum diecasting system according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one, preferably two or more suction lines (22) comprise suction pipes, which are respectively connected in terms of flow technology by their one end to the depression or hollow (20, 36) that can be evacuated and connected in terms of flow technology by their other end to a vacuum system.
  13. Vacuum diecasting system according to Claim 12, characterized in that the suction line (22), in particular the suction pipe, runs along the piston rod (16), preferably in a groove (26) made on the outer side of the piston rod (16), and with its one end passes through the piston or workpiece region (28) facing the piston rod (16) into the depression or hollow (20, 36) and is connected to the latter in terms of flow technology.
  14. Method for operating a vacuum diecasting system according to one of Claims 1 to 13, comprising the following method steps:
    a) introducing a casting melt into the casting chamber (10) through the filling opening (12),
    b) moving the casting piston (14) until the depression or hollow (20, 36) has gone past the filling opening (12), or tightly closing the filling opening (12) and, if necessary, moving the casting piston (14) until the depression or hollow (20, 36) is positioned in the casting chamber (10), and evacuating the casting mould cavity or the casting chamber (10) connected to the latter in terms of flow technology,
    c) evacuating the depression or hollow (20, 36) in such a way that a region that is substantially free of any pressure difference is created by way of the annular gap (18) and less to preferably no gases or air flow(s) into the casting chamber (10) through the annular gap (18) between the casting piston (14) and the casting chamber (10).
  15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that, in spite of the leakage that exists between the depression or hollow (20, 36) and the region (28) that is arranged behind the depression or hollow (20, 36) and is connected to the depression or hollow (20, 36) by way of the annular gap (18) extending from the depression or hollow (20, 36) and leading to the piston rod (16), the vacuum that can be set in the depression or hollow (20, 36) is maintained over a predetermined time, in particular over the time in which the casting chamber (10) and the casting mould cavity are evacuated and a negative pressure is retained in the casting mould cavity.
EP15156875.5A 2009-09-22 2010-09-22 Vacuum pressure casting system, and method for operating a vacuum pressure casting system Active EP2946852B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102009042253 2009-09-22
DE102009054174 2009-11-23
PCT/DE2010/001104 WO2011035765A1 (en) 2009-09-22 2010-09-22 Vacuum die-casting system, and method for operating a vacuum die-cast system
EP10773549.0A EP2480357B1 (en) 2009-09-22 2010-09-22 Vacuum die casting device and method for oprating a vacuum die casting device

Related Parent Applications (3)

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EP10773549.0A Division EP2480357B1 (en) 2009-09-22 2010-09-22 Vacuum die casting device and method for oprating a vacuum die casting device
EP10773549.0A Division-Into EP2480357B1 (en) 2009-09-22 2010-09-22 Vacuum die casting device and method for oprating a vacuum die casting device
DEPCT/DE2010/773549 Previously-Filed-Application 2010-09-22

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EP (2) EP2480357B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5709873B2 (en)
CN (1) CN102548686B (en)
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US20140290893A1 (en) 2014-10-02
US8813815B2 (en) 2014-08-26
EP2946852A1 (en) 2015-11-25
WO2011035765A9 (en) 2011-08-11
EP2480357B1 (en) 2020-04-15
CN102548686B (en) 2016-08-03
DE112010003048A5 (en) 2012-06-14
EP2480357A1 (en) 2012-08-01
US20120180973A1 (en) 2012-07-19
JP2013505138A (en) 2013-02-14
WO2011035765A1 (en) 2011-03-31
DE102010046041A1 (en) 2011-04-21
CN102548686A (en) 2012-07-04
US8967232B2 (en) 2015-03-03
JP5709873B2 (en) 2015-04-30

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