JP2004243355A - Casting equipment for casting - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a casting equipment with which a high quality cast product having a uniform strength over the entirety is formed by solidifying at a uniform speed the whole molten metal cast in a mold while keeping a balance between radiant heat discharged from a mold on the inner space side surrounded by a number of molds and the radient heat discharged from a mold on the outer space side. <P>SOLUTION: Eight runners 63a-h communicating with each other are provided on one gate 61. Eight casting molds 64a-h each communicating with the runners 63a-h respectively are fixed on a water cooled plate 21 with a circular cavity in the center so as to form a cylinder. The water cooled plate 21 is held by a cylindrical and vertically movable elevation shaft 22 having a cavity with the same diameter as that of the cavity of the water cooled plate 21. Then, a cooling pipe 11 is arranged which is inserted through each cavity of the water cooled plate 21 and the elevation shaft 22 and which is designed to circulate cooling water inside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a casting pouring device. Specifically, it is suitable for producing a large number of castings of the same shape and irregular shape at the same time by using a large number of molds having the same or irregular shape in the target shape. It is an object of the present invention to provide a casting pouring device capable of producing a high-quality casting having uniform strength over the entire casting by eliminating a difference in solidification speed that occurs.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the case of a jet engine or a gas turbine for power generation, for example, a large number of turbine blades having the same shape are used, and their production is performed by casting. In such a case, a casting apparatus has been conventionally used in which, after arranging a large number of molds having the same target shape, a molten metal, which is a molten metal, is cast from a single gate to be distributed to each mold. The structure is shown in FIG.
[0003]
In FIG. 6 (perspective view), the pouring device 60 shown here is used when producing a casting made of a unidirectionally solidified alloy, and eight molds 64a to 64h with open bottoms are made of copper. Are fixed at equal intervals on the disc-shaped water cooling plate 65 so as to form a cylinder. As shown in FIG. 7 (longitudinal sectional view), the upper openings of the molds 64a to 64h are provided with eight runners 63a to 63h formed in the umbrella-shaped runner disposition portion 62 and through which the molten metal passes. Each is in communication. A cup-shaped gate 61 for injecting the molten metal into each of the molds 64a to 64h is formed integrally with an upper portion of the runner disposition portion 62 here. And each communicates with the bottom.
[0004]
On the other hand, the water cooling plate 65 to which the molds 64 a to 64 h are fixed is supported by a column-shaped elevating shaft 66, and the entire casting device 60 moves up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the elevating shaft 66. Has become.
[0005]
The casting device 60 configured as described above is disposed in a cylindrical sleeve (not shown), and an induction coil for flowing a high-frequency current is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the sleeve so as to cover the entire surface thereof. Are arranged. The sleeve in which the induction coil is provided is placed in a closed chamber together with a melting furnace for melting the metal to be melted.
[0006]
FIG. 8 shows a state in which a casting made of a directionally solidified alloy is produced using the casting apparatus 60 shown in FIG. In the case of the casting apparatus 60, first, a high-frequency current is applied to an induction coil disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the sleeve to heat each of the molds 64a to 64h to a high temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the metal to be melted.
[0007]
Then, if the melting target metal is melted by the melting furnace provided in the chamber to obtain the molten metal, as shown in FIG. The molten metal M is cast into each of the molds 64a to 64h. Each of the molds 64a to 64h into which the molten metal M has been cast is maintained at a high temperature (for example, 1600 ° C.) higher than the melting point of the metal to be melted for a certain period of time.
[0008]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8B, the vertical movement mechanism is driven to lower the elevating shaft 66 at a very low speed, so that the casting device 60 is gradually moved downward so as to be disengaged from the sleeve 70. Pull down. Along with this, the heat of each of the molds 64a to 64h is deprived, and the molten metal M cast therein is solidified.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, there are the following problems to be solved. That is, as described above, after holding each of the molds 64a to 64h in which the molten metal M has been cast at a high temperature for a certain period of time, when the casting apparatus 60 is pulled out of the sleeve 70, the heat of each of the molds 64a to 64h is deprived. As a result, the cast molten metal M solidifies. At that time, the solidification starts from the lower part of the molten metal M, but after a while, the release of the radiant heat from each of the molds 64a to 64h becomes a main cause of the solidification.
[0010]
The emission of the radiant heat is small on the side facing the inner space S (FIG. 7) surrounded by the molds 64a-h, and is large on the side facing the outer space on the opposite side. For this reason, the molten metal M does not solidify at a uniform speed over the entirety, and a difference occurs in the solidification speed between the inner space S side and the outer space side.
[0011]
If a difference in solidification rate occurs in the molten metal M, crystals having a large grain size are generated at a portion facing the inner space S, and crystals having a small grain size are generated at a portion facing the outer space S. Would. As a result, a difference in strength occurs between portions of the casting, and a high-quality casting having uniform strength cannot be realized over the entire casting. In particular, recently, alloys with excellent high-temperature strength have been required as materials for turbine blades of jet engines and gas turbines for power generation, and in order to achieve this, there is a difference in strength between cast parts. That is an obstacle. The problems to be solved as described above exist in the conventional example shown in FIG.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. For this purpose, in the present invention, at least one sprue, a plurality of runners respectively communicating with the sprue, a plurality of molds respectively communicating with the sprue, a water cooling plate to which these molds are fixed, In a casting apparatus for casting including an elevating shaft supporting a water cooling plate, a hollow portion is provided in each of the water cooling plate and the elevating shaft, and the hollow portions of the water cooling plate and the elevating shaft are inserted as the casting device descends. Thus, a cooling means (for example, a cooling pipe) that projects into a space surrounded by the plurality of molds and through which a cooling fluid (for example, cooling water) flows is provided.
[0013]
Further, as the cooling means, a means for jetting a gas (for example, argon gas) cooled by a cooling fluid flowing inside is used.
[0014]
Further, a heat exchange member made of a heat insulating material for exchanging heat with the radiant heat emitted from the plurality of heated molds is attached to a cooling means through which a cooling fluid flows.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
One embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a casting apparatus for casting in the present embodiment, and the same components as those in FIGS. 6 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals. I have.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, points different from the configuration of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 will be described. In the casting apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the water cooling plate 21 to which each of the molds 64a to 64h is fixed has a hollow portion with a circular hole in the center portion, and has a planar annular shape. The elevating shaft 22 supporting the water cooling plate 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a hollow portion having the same diameter as the hollow portion of the water cooling plate 21.
[0017]
A cooling pipe 11 having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of each hollow portion and through which cooling water flows is provided so as to pass through each hollow portion of the water cooling plate 21 and the elevating shaft 22. This cooling pipe 11 is for cooling the inner space S (FIG. 7) surrounded by the molds 64a to 64h, and details of its configuration are shown in FIG. Components other than the above components are the same as those in the conventional example shown in FIG.
[0018]
In FIG. 2 (longitudinal sectional view in which an intermediate portion is omitted), a cooling pipe 11 has a copper outer cylinder 12 having an upper end closed and a lower end opened, and a copper outer cylinder 12 disposed inside the outer cylinder 12 and having both upper and lower ends opened. It has a double structure with the inner cylinder 13. A joint 18 having a flowing water inlet 19 for injecting cooling water is attached to a lower end of the inner cylinder 13, and a joint 16 having a flowing water outlet 17 for discharging flowing water is mounted at a lower end of the outer cylinder 12. It is installed.
[0019]
That is, the hollow portion of the inner cylinder 13 is a flowing water outward path 14 in which the injected cooling water proceeds toward the upper end of the inner cylinder 13 as indicated by an arrow. On the other hand, a gap between the outer cylinder 12 and the inner cylinder 13 is a flowing water return path 15 in which the cooling water overflowing from the upper end of the inner cylinder 13 returns toward the lower end of the outer cylinder 12.
[0020]
The position of the cooling pipe 11 thus configured can be adjusted in the vertical direction by driving a vertical movement mechanism (not shown).
[0021]
Next, a state in which a casting is manufactured using the casting apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same components as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0022]
FIG. 3A shows that the molten metal M is cast into each of the molds 64 a to 64 h of the casting apparatus 10 in the sleeve 70 in which the induction coil 80 is disposed on the outer peripheral wall, and each of the molds 64 a to 64 h is melted. This shows a state in which the metal is kept at a high temperature higher than the melting point of the metal. At this time, the upper end of the cooling pipe 11 is located near the lower end of the sleeve 70 so as not to be heated.
[0023]
Then, after a certain period of time has passed in this state, the casting apparatus 10 is gradually pulled out of the sleeve 70 by lowering the elevating shaft 22 at a slow speed. Then, as the pouring device 10 is lowered, the cooling pipe 11 protrudes so as to stand in the center of the inner space S surrounded by the molds 64a to 64h as shown in FIG. When the cooling pipe 11 protrudes into the inner space S, the absorption of radiant heat from the molds 64a to 64h increases, and a large thermal gradient can be obtained.
[0024]
As a result, in the molten metal M, the solidification rates on both the inner space S side and the outer space side can be balanced. Therefore, a high quality casting with uniform strength is obtained over the entire casting. The diameter of the cooling pipe 11 used here, the flow rate and the flow rate of the cooling water flowing inside the cooling pipe 11, or the length of the cooling pipe 11 protruding into the inner space S depends on the ambient temperature, the size of the casting, and the like. To be set appropriately.
[0025]
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a main part according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an intermediate portion is omitted, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Will be explained. Here, FIG. 4 shows another configuration of the cooling pipe protruding into the inner space S surrounded by each of the molds 64a to 64h. In the following, different points from the configuration of the cooling pipe 11 shown in FIG. explain.
[0026]
In FIG. 4, a gas flow path 33 through which gas flows is provided in the outer cylinder 32 of the cooling pipe 31 from the lower end to the upper end of the outer cylinder 32, and a large number of gas ejection A hole 34 is drilled. In addition, a joint 41 having a gas inlet 42 for injecting gas is attached to the lower end of the outer cylinder 32 in addition to the flowing water outlet 17 for discharging running water. The other configuration is substantially the same as the configuration of the cooling pipe 11 shown in FIG.
[0027]
If the cooling pipe 31 having such a configuration is used, the gas cooled by the flowing cooling water is injected toward each of the molds 64a to 64h, which is effective particularly when the ambient temperature is high. The gas pressure, the gas ejection amount, and the length of the cooling pipe 31 protruding into the inner space S are appropriately set according to the ambient temperature, the size of the casting, and the like. The gas used here is preferably an inert gas such as an argon gas in order to prevent oxidation and nitridation of the dissolved metal.
[0028]
The components other than the cooling pipe 31 in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the diameters of the hollow portions of the circular holes of the water cooling plate 21 (FIG. 1) and the elevating shaft 22 are slightly increased. The state in the case of producing a casting is the same as that described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 will be described with the same reference numerals.
[0030]
5 is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that a disc-shaped heat exchange plate 51 using a heat insulating material such as a heat-resistant alloy, a fire-resistant brick, or carbon felt is provided at the upper end of a cooling pipe 11B. Is fixedly attached to the upper end of the cooling pipe 11B. The configuration of the cooling pipe 11B is the same as the configuration of the cooling pipe 11 shown in FIG. 2 except that the upper end is not formed in a hemispherical shape.
[0031]
Thus, if the heat exchange plate 51 is attached to the cooling pipe 11B, it becomes possible to absorb more radiant heat from the molds 64a to 64h. Therefore, similarly to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it is particularly effective when the ambient temperature is high. The size of the heat exchange plate 51 is appropriately set according to the ambient temperature, the size of the casting, and the like. The situation in which a casting is produced by the casting apparatus 50 in the present embodiment is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 3 for the first embodiment.
[0032]
Note that such a heat exchange plate 51 may be attached to the cooling pipe 31 that ejects the gas shown in FIG. Further, in FIG. 5, a disk-shaped member has been described as an example of a member for heat exchange, but the shape is not limited to this. The member may have any shape.
[0033]
In the above, the case where eight casting molds 64a to 64h are used in the casting apparatus 10, 50 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied when a plurality of molds are arranged and a space surrounded by these is formed.
[0034]
Therefore, in the above description, the pouring device for producing a casting made of the directionally solidified alloy has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For producing a casting made of a single crystal alloy, a thin tubular selector portion formed in a shape such as spiral or zigzag, a casting device using a mold provided in the lower portion thereof, and furthermore, The present invention can also be applied to a casting apparatus that uses a large number of molds to produce a large number of castings at the same time.
[0035]
Further, the case where copper is used as the material of the water cooling plate 21 (FIG. 1) and the cooling pipes 11 (FIG. 1) and 31 (FIG. 4) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other materials.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, in a casting casting apparatus for simultaneously producing a large number of castings using a large number of molds, after the molten metal is cast into the mold, the casting apparatus is surrounded by a large number of molds. To cool the inner space. As a result, in the molten metal cast into the mold, the solidification rate is balanced on both the inner space side and the outer space side.
[0037]
That is, since the molten metal is solidified at a uniform rate throughout the entire body, the difference in crystal grain size between the part facing the inner space and the part facing the outer space can be eliminated, and the molten metal is uniformly formed throughout the casting. It is possible to realize a high quality casting with high strength. This is particularly useful for casting a jet engine or a turbine blade of a gas turbine for power generation, which requires an alloy having excellent high-temperature strength. Therefore, the effect of the present invention is extremely large in practical use.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the configuration of the cooling pipe shown in FIG. 1 with an intermediate portion omitted.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state in which a casting is produced by the casting apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a main part according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an intermediate portion is omitted.
FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional example.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional example shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state in which a casting is produced by the casting apparatus shown in FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Casting apparatus 11 and 11B Cooling pipe 12 Outer cylinder 13 Inner cylinder 14 Flowing water outgoing path 15 Flowing water return path 16 Joint 17 Flowing water discharge port 18 Joint 19 Flowing water injection port 21 Water cooling plate 22 Elevating shaft 31 Cooling pipe 32 Outer cylinder 33 Gas passage 34 Gas ejection hole 41 Joint 42 Gas injection port 50 Casting device 51 Heat exchange plate 60 Casting device 61 Spout 62 Runner disposition portion 63a-63h Runner 64a-64h Mold 65 Water cooling plate 66 Elevating shaft 70 Sleeve 80 Induction coil M Molten S Inside Space

Claims (3)

At least one gate (61) for injecting the molten metal (M);
A plurality of runners (63a-h) through which the molten metal passes, each communicating with the at least one gate;
A plurality of molds (64a-h) each communicating with the plurality of runners;
A water cooling plate (21) having a first hollow portion to which the plurality of molds are fixed;
An elevating shaft (22) having a second hollow portion, which can move up and down while supporting the water-cooled plate, comprising:
Cooling means (11) through which the cooling fluid flows through the first and second hollow portions and projects into the space (S) surrounded by the plurality of molds as the casting device descends. ). The casting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means (31) blows out a gas cooled by a cooling fluid flowing through the inside. The casting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooling means (11B) is provided with a heat exchange member (51) made of a heat insulating material for exchanging heat with radiant heat emitted from the plurality of molds. Casting equipment.

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