GB1036617A - Method and apparatus for packing mould sand in mould flasks - Google Patents

Abstract

1,036,617. Sand packing. W. J. HUSTON, and A. E. DeMOTT. Jan. 10, 1964, No. 1219/64. Heading B3F. A method of packing sand in a casting mould flask comprises placing a pattern in the flask, filling the flask with moulding sand and exploding a charge over the flask to pack the sand around the pattern. Apparatus to effect this method comprises a foundry unit 10, Fig. 1, with a hopper 12 disposed over a combustion chamber 14. A conveyer 16 travels under the chamber 14 and a lift table 18 receives the moulding flask 20 from the conveyer and raises it into closing engagement with the combustion chamber 14. The combustion chamber has an open upper end 40 over which the sand hopper is disposed and within the hopper are located measuring and release shuttles 24 and 32 respectively. An injector 46 is positioned within the combustion chamber together with ignitors 48 if the explosive charge is of the type requiring detonation. The required quantity of moulding sand is allowed to fall from the hopper into the flask, which may have reinforcing baffles 58, the shuttle gates are closed and the charge detonated, the resulting shock waves 50 packing the sand around the pattern 60. Other embodiments include guide members which are located on the flask to effect variation in the packing distribution and means for venting the waste gases produced by detonation are provided. The sand packing means described in the Specification may also incorporate the method of removing sand from used moulds described in Patent No. 952,957 so that sand may be packed in a new flask and used sand removed from old flask simultaneously by placing a number of respective flasks in the combustion chamber at the same time.