KR20070007035A - Casting of metal artefacts - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a process and apparatus (50) for casting an artefact by forming a molten charge of metal, charging a mould with the charge to fill it sufficiently to form a single artefact, the charge solidifying in the mould. The size of the charge is selected to match the capacity of the mould so that charging the mould consumes substantially the whole charge. The apparatus (50) has a container (12) in which a molten charge of metal is held and a mould (54) into which the charge is transferred. The container and mould have matched capacities so that filling the mould with sufficient metal to form a single artefact consumes substantially the whole charge and leaves the container empty. ® KIPO & WIPO 2007

Description

Casting of metal workpieces {CASTING OF METAL ARTEFACTS}

The present invention relates to the casting of metal workpieces. More particularly, the present invention relates to a casting apparatus or installation for a metal workpiece casting process and a casting of a metal workpiece, which casting apparatus or installation is particularly suitable for casting a light metal workpiece.

As used herein, the term light metals encompasses light metals having a density of less than 2.7 g / cm 3 and alloys in which one or more light metals make up at least 50% of the main component by mass. Light metals typically have a low melting point of 660 ° C. or lower.

According to the first teaching of the present invention, a metal melt charge is formed from a metal precursor, the melt charge is charged into the die or mold to fill the die or mold in an amount sufficient to form one metal workpiece. And solidifying the metal in the die or mold to form a workpiece to cast a metal workpiece, the process comprising selecting an amount of molten charge to match the capacity of the die or mold. Charging of the die or mold will consume substantially all of the melt charge.

The process may comprise forming a molten charge from a precursor that is a mixture of one or more ores, fluxes, alloying elements and other, but the molten charge is preferably , Metal billets or ingots or shavings, granules or similar compacts of metal particles. Thus, the process may include preforming a metal billet or ingot or preforming a shaped body of particles, such as scraped metal or metal granules of metal.

The process may include heating the metal of the melt charge to increase the temperature of the melt charge after forming the melt charge and before filling the die or mold into the die or mold at high temperature. Filling the melt or charge with the die or mold may be done at a predetermined rate. Preferably, charging of the molten charge into a die or mold is carried out under pressure by injection molding, for example. In particular, and preferably, the filling of the molten charge into the die or mold is carried out under its intermediate pressure which is neither pressure at known low pressure injection molding nor pressure at known high pressure injection molding. More particularly, charging may be performed by injection molding under pressure in the region of 50 kPa-30 MPa. It should be understood that routine experimentation may be employed to determine the optimum intermediate pressure or desired pressure for filling the melt charge into the die or mold.

The process may include purifying the environment in which the molten charge is formed with a purging gas before forming the molten charge. Alternatively or additionally, purge may be performed during the formation of the melt charge. Preferably, the clarification can be carried out both before and during the formation of the molten charge. The purge gas may be a passive or inert purge gas, or may be a noble gas selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, neon and mixtures thereof. Instead, the purge gas may be an active purge gas and may be selected from the group consisting of SF ₆ , CO ₂ and mixtures thereof. In particular, the process includes SF ₆ , CO ₂ and SF ₆ / CO ₂ around the molten charge formation, before and during the formation of the molten charge. Purifying with an active purge gas selected from the group consisting of mixtures, preferably mixtures containing from 0.1 to 0.3 vol% SF ₆ . In addition, the process includes, from the group consisting of argon, helium, neon and mixtures thereof, preferably argon, to provide a light metal seal solidified from a portion of the molten charge at the time of forming the molten charge. Passing the selected inert or inert gas through the molten charge to seal the molten metal.

The process includes using as a metal a metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Li, Zn and their alloys. Preferably, the process comprises using as a metal a light metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al and their alloys. As described above, the light metal alloy means that one or more light metals form 50% or more of the main constituent elements by mass%.

In particular, the process includes wheel rims such as aluminum or magnesium alloy wheel rims, automotive gearbox casings, steering wheels, steering column housings, brake auxiliary parts or parts, and automotive engines, aircraft and It is expected to be useful for the casting of light metals or light metal alloys selected from the group comprising aircraft parts or parts. Typically, the process will be used for casting aluminum or magnesium alloy wheel rims. Thus, the casting will be a light metal workpiece in the form of an automobile wheel rim.

In particular, the process is expected to be useful for the casting of workpieces having a cross-sectional thickness of 1.5 to 30 mm, usually 2 to 27 mm, each having a weight of 0.25 to 30 kg and usually 0.5 to 20 kg. Thus, in particular, the cast product may be a metal workpiece having a weight of 0.5 to 20 kg and all parts of the solidified workpiece are arranged at an interval of 0.75 to 15 mm from the nearest portion to the surface of the workpiece.

Any form of die or mold may be used in the process, for example disposable dies or molds such as sand casting dies or molds or reusable dies such as metal dies or molds or It may be a mold. In particular, the process according to the invention is particularly suitable for using metal dies or molds to form reusable dies or molds. Preferably, the metal die or mold is a die or mold of steel.

The process may include induction heating now to form a melt charge, wherein the induction heating may be followed by a temperature profile, e.g., the temperature of the initial melt charge charged into the die or mold. To provide a temperature profile that ensures that it is higher than the temperature charged into the mold or die. In theory, however, any desired profile can be achieved.

According to another teaching of the present invention, there is provided a casting apparatus or installation for casting a metal workpiece in a die or mold. The casting device or apparatus includes a container for holding a die or mold and a metal melt charge now, and a heating arrangement for heating the now to form a metal melt charge in the container. And a melting apparatus including a molten metal transfer assembly for transporting a metal molten charge from the vessel to the die or mold, wherein the vessel and the die or mold contain the die or mold. Has a capacity to consume all of the molten metal charge filled from the container to fill the die or mold from the container to form a single metal workpiece so that the container becomes empty .

The heating device can be mounted on the molten metal transport assembly. The dissolving device may reciprocate relative to the die or mold between a charging position at which charging into the dissolving device is made and a filling position at which transport of the molten charge from the dissolving device to the die or mold is made.

The apparatus or facility may comprise an inert gas supply for supplying an inert gas into the vessel so that the formation of the molten charge can be made under an inert atmosphere.

The vessel may have a hollow cylindrical shape, for example a hollow cylinder or an interior in the form of a sleeve. The container may be reusable. Instead of and preferably for use, the container may be a disposable container that is used only once and then discarded. If the container is disposable, cross contamination from one metal or alloy charge to another charge, in particular where the device or equipment is used to cast workpieces containing different metals or alloys in series, is reduced Will be understood.

In a particular configuration, the container may be a hollow cylinder or sleeve and the transport assembly raises the cylinder or sleeve to engage the die or mold and also charges in the die or mold. It may be a telescopic piston device to communicate with the opening. More particularly, the transport assembly is a telescopic multiscopic piston device for use in raising the vessel to securely engage the die or mold prior to filling the melt or die from the vessel. -stage piston arrangement. In a particular embodiment according to the invention, said transport assembly comprises said telescopic multistage piston device, said container being said hollow cylinder, said cylinder being more or less upright in its hollow interior. Supported on the transport assembly, the central piston of the multi-stage device slides upwardly in the cylinder, sliding and sliding to some extent with the cylinder, pushing the molten charge in the cylinder upwards and upwardly moving the central piston. May be applied to the outside of the cylinder to transport the molten charge to a die or mold, the peripheral piston enclosing a central piston and moving upward to press the cylinder to lift the top surface of the cylinder. The bottom of the die or mold around the insert of the die or mold To be sealed against. Thus, in other words, the piston device can have a central piston that can slide into the cylinder or sleeve and slide upwards while sealingly engaging the cylinder or sleeve in the cylinder or sleeve, the piston device surrounding the central piston. And a peripheral piston which presses the cylinder or sleeve upwards to seal seal with the die or mold around the die or mold insert.

In particular, the central piston is preferably a piston head provided with a sealing surface for sealingly engaging with the periphery of the charging opening of the die or mold when all the molten contents in the cylinder are transferred from the cylinder to the die or mold. It may be provided. Thus, in practical use, the step of solidifying the molten charge in the die or mold to form the workpiece will typically occur while the piston head is in sealing engagement with the periphery of the charge.

The casting device or installation may be a fixed configuration formed essentially in place of a production facility for casting light metal workpieces, in which case the casting device or installation is an installation. Can be considered. Instead of a fixed configuration, and sometimes, the casting device or equipment is expected to be not of a fixed configuration, which can be moved from one production facility to another, in which case it is considered an apparatus. Can be.

The dissolving device may have a wheel for moving on a rail that forms part of a casting device or plant, the wheel having a charging position for charging the now of the molten charge used in the dissolving device into a container. And the container is moved up to interact with the die or mold to seal contact the container with the die or mold, and further, a melt charge formed by the present dissolution within the container is transported from the container to the die or mold there In order to fill the molten charge in the die or mold at the dispensing device, the dissolution device can reciprocate between filling positions aligned with the charges in the die or mold.

Regardless of whether the vessel and die or mold have a harmonized capacity as defined and disclosed above, the present invention is a casting apparatus or facility for casting a metal workpiece in a die or mold, the casting device or facility comprising: Equipped with a vessel for holding a die or mold and now of a metal melt charge, a heating device for heating the now in said container to form a metal melt charge, wherein said heating device is equipped with a metal melt charge from said container. It will be appreciated that a casting device or facility may be devised that includes a melting device that includes a molten metal transport assembly for delivery to the die or mold.

An important sub-assembly of this combination includes a vessel holding the now molten metal charge, a heating device for heating the now in the vessel to form a metal molten charge, and the molten charge A dissolution apparatus for transporting from a vessel to a die or a mold comprising a molten metal transport assembly on which both the vessel and the heating device are mounted.

Similarly, regardless of whether the container and die or mold have a harmonized capacity as defined and disclosed above, the present invention is a casting device or facility for casting a metal workpiece within a die or mold, the casting device Or the equipment is equipped with a container for holding a die or mold and a metal melt charge, a heating device for heating the now in the container to form a metal melt charge, and the heating device, And a dissolution device comprising a molten metal transport assembly for transporting from the vessel to the die or mold, wherein the dissolution device comprises a charging position at which charging of the dissolution device is made relative to the die or mold. From melt dissolution apparatus to the die or mold It will be appreciated that the casting device or equipment is designed to reciprocate between the filling positions at which transportation takes place.

Eventually, an important bottom component of this combination is a vessel holding the now molten metal charge, a heating device for heating the now in the vessel to form the metal molten charge, and the molten charge die from the vessel. Or a molten metal transport assembly for transporting into a mold, wherein the dissolution device is a charging position at which charging of the dissolution device is made relative to the die or mold and a filling in which transport of the molten charge from the dissolution device to the die or mold is performed. Reciprocate between locations.

As pointed out above, an important teaching of the present invention is that the capacity of the vessel is not greater than the amount of melt charge required to fill the die or mold to produce one workpiece, and is at least approximately in line with its size, This should be emphasized. This means that each time the molten charge is charged from the dissolution apparatus into the die or mold to a degree sufficient to form one workpiece, the vessel of the dissolution apparatus or equipment is emptied.

The die or mold device may comprise a reusable die or mold. In particular, the reusable die or mold may be a metal die or mold, preferably a die or mold of steel. In particular, the die or mold may be a reusable multi-core split metal die or mold.

The die or mold device may comprise a heating device for heating the die or mold device to a casting temperature. The heating device may be an induction heating device including one or more heating coils.

On the one hand in the case of the die or mold and on the other hand the melting device comprises one or more induction heating coils, which heating coils may be electrically connected to the power supply. In particular, the die or mold may comprise a heating device comprising a plurality of at least two induction coils each operating independently to impart a predetermined temperature profile to the inner surface of the die or mold.

The present invention enables the case of a casting plant comprising two or more casting devices or installations, the plant being for dissolving metal charges and comprising two or more melting devices as defined above. The foundry also includes a die or mold apparatus of the same quantity in which the casting of the workpiece is carried out, the heating of the cavity not greater than the power supply required for the operation of one melting apparatus or one casting apparatus or equipment, respectively. If the power supply permits the use and the casting of the workpiece in each casting cycle is out of phase enough to typically allow sharing of the power supply, the melting device will share a common heating power supply and The die or mold apparatus shares a common heating power supply.

The factory arrangement is particularly suitable where the heating power is supplied by the power supply and each heating device is an induction heating device.

During the operation of the foundry described above, the process according to the invention is carried out in a casting process which is out of phase with the use of one shared power supply to continuously form a molten charge in each vessel of the melting device, It may include using another shared power supply to heat each die or mold device continuously.

1 shows a side elevation exploded perspective view of various components of a dissolution apparatus according to the invention for forming a light metal melt charge according to the process of the invention.

2 is a three-dimensional view of a casting device or casting facility according to the present invention for casting a light metal workpiece in accordance with the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view of a casting facility in accordance with the present invention for casting a light metal workpiece in accordance with the method of the present invention, comprising a casting device or two casting facilities of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view for describing a method of casting a light metal workpiece in the form of a magnesium alloy wheel rim using the casting apparatus or the casting equipment of FIG. 2 according to the present invention. Represents a simplified side elevation perspective view of

FIG. 5 is a further series of simplified side elevational perspective views of the casting apparatus or casting facility of FIG. 2 for further describing a method of casting a light metal workpiece in the form of a magnesium alloy wheel rim described by FIG. 4.

The invention is described by way of example and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally denotes a dissolution apparatus for forming a light metal melt charge in accordance with the present invention.

The dissolution device 10 comprises a container 12 which holds the light metal melt charge in the form of a hollow cylinder or sleeve 14 of circular cross section and also facilitates heating of the precursor of the light metal charge, An induction heating device 16 comprising an induction coil 18 for heating the contents of the cylinder or sleeve 14 to form a melt charge, and a light metal melt charge from the cylinder or sleeve 14 It includes a molten metal transport assembly 20 for transport to a die or mold cast therein (not shown in FIG. 1, shown in FIGS. 3 to 5).

The dissolution apparatus 10 supplies the argon gas to the inside of the cylinder or sleeve 14 to allow light metal dissolution to occur in a substantially inert atmosphere, and also to form the secondary seal, which will be described below. Also included is an inert gas supply 22 for cooling the bottom or base of the sleeve 14.

The cylinder or sleeve 14 is reusable. The cylinder or sleeve 14 may be made of mild carbon steel or low carbon steel. In other embodiments, the cylinder or sleeve 14 may optionally be made of cast iron or stainless steel.

In practical use, the induction coil 16 is mounted on a metal transport assembly 20, the coil 16 connected to a cylindrical portion 62 and the cylinder or sleeve 14 for processing the contents thereof. Encircling).

The transport assembly 20 is adapted to engage the cylinder or sleeve 14 with the periphery of the die or mold's charge prior to filling the die or mold with the melt charge from the cylinder or sleeve 14. Or a multi-stage piston device 24 that is telescopically moved for use in raising the sleeve 14. The multistage piston device 24 comprises a central piston comprising three telescopic piston rods 26, 27, 28, and the entire molten charge in the cylinder or sleeve 14 dies from the cylinder or sleeve 14. Or incorporates the central rod 28 with a piston head 30 equipped with a conical sealing surface 31 for sealingly fastening with the periphery of the die or the inlet of the mold when transported into the mold. The multi-stage piston device 24 controls the rate of movement of the piston head and also when in the cylinder or sleeve 14 when the piston head 30 is engaged with the circumference of the insert of the die or mold to be sealed. And a variable force and speed controller (not shown) for adjusting the force exerted upward by the piston head 30 on the melt charge in the die or mold.

Thus, in practical use, the multi-stage piston device 24 can move in a sliding manner inside the cylinder or sleeve 14, and is sufficiently sealed to secure the molten charge in the cylinder or sleeve 14. The cylinder or sleeve 14 is pushed upward and the piston rods 26, 27, 28 move upwards out of the cylinder or sleeve 14 to transport and inject molten charges into the die or mold. It is supported on the transport assembly 20.

The transport assembly 20 also includes a plurality of concentric cylindrical portions 32, 34, 35, 36, 37 of different diameters. The cylindrical portions 32, 34, 35, 36, 37 move telescopically in a vertical direction relative to each other and are seated between each other.

The cylindrical portion 32 is a lower cylindrical portion, the charging position at which the melting device 10 is charged into the cylinder or sleeve 14 as of the molten charge and the present melt in the cylinder or sleeve 14. The charging device and the melting device 10 of the die or mold of the casting device or plant to be transported from the cylinder or sleeve 14 into the die or mold, which is typically filled with the molten charge to form a melt charge by means of Wheels 38 for moving on the rails 39 which form part of the casting installation of FIGS. 3-5. The cylindrical portion 37 is an upper cylindrical portion and has a circumferentially upwardly upwardly supported ring having grooves for sealingly fastening with the lower end of the cylinder or sleeve 14 in the cylinder or sleeve. to provide. As a result, the cylindrical portion 35 provides an upwardly supporting ring extending in the circumferential direction on which the induction coil 18 is supported when the cylinder or sleeve 14 surrounding it is located.

In addition to the seal provided by the groove on the cylinder 37, the argon gas provided through the gas supply 22 cools the lower end of the cylinder or sleeve 14 during melting of the molten charge now, so that the piston Solidifying a portion of the molten charge in the region between the device 24 and the upper cylindrical portion 37 and the lower end of the cylinder or sleeve 14 to provide a second seal formed by solidifying the hard metal from the molten charge do.

Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 50 generally denotes a casting device or facility for casting a light metal workpiece in accordance with the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the same parts in FIG. 1 are referred to by the same reference numerals.

The casting device or fixture 50 includes a die or mold device 52 comprising a melting device 10 and a die or mold 54 and a heating device 56 as described above.

The die or mold 54 is a multi-core or segmented reusable steel die or mold, with the upper core 58 removably attached to the workpiece solidified at the end of the casting process. A lower or face core 60 with a charge or charge passage 62 installed at its center to charge or fill the die or mold 54 from below through the charge or charge passage 62, and the piston 66. And a split ring of four side cores 64, each associated with the side core 64, which gives the die or mold 54 its split characteristics. The die or mold 54 is retained in relation to the piston 66 of the side core 64 and by lifting up a light metal casting (not shown) attached to the upper core 58 and any upper core. In connection with the separation from the core, it is operated hydraulically. The casting apparatus or fixture 50 also includes a die or mold hydraulic regulator 67 and a melting apparatus or fixture 10 hydraulic regulator 69.

The upper core 58 is associated with release means (not shown) for separating the workpiece from the upper core at the end of the casting process.

The heating device 56 includes six separate induction windings that make up the induction coil, each of which is operated independently to achieve a predetermined temperature profile in the die or mold 54. Thus, the casting device or plant 50 also monitors the heating of the heating device 56 to achieve the desired temperature profile, and also feeds back each power supply 82, 84 (FIG. 3) Y. And a central processing unit (CPU) 70 for controlling.

The casting device or fixture 50 also includes a rail (not shown) through which the wheel 38 of the metal transport assembly 20, which forms part of the melting apparatus or fixture 10, can move thereon. Therefore, the said melting apparatus 10 melt | dissolves the charging position (shown in FIG. 2) by which the charging of the melt charge into the present melting apparatus 10 with respect to the said die apparatus 52, and the melt charge apparatus ( It is possible to reciprocate between the filling position (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) from which the transport from 10 to the die 54 of the die or mold apparatus 52 takes place.

Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 80 generally represents a casting facility according to the present invention. The casting facility 80 comprises two casting devices or fixtures 50, each of which is carried out by casting of a melting device 10 and a work piece for induction melting of a light metal charge. Die or mold device 52 to be included. The casting plant 80 also has a melt induction heating power supply 82 for supplying power to the two melting apparatuses 10 individually, for example 100 kW, respectively. Die induction heating power supply 84 for separately, for example, 100 kW of power or a cooling tower for providing cooling fluid Not shown), and a gas supply control unit 86 for supplying a purge gas to the dissolution device 10 and the die or mold device 52.

The melting apparatus 10 shares a common induction heating power supply 82, and the die or mold apparatus 52 shares a common induction heating power supply 84, while varying in phase casting cycles. It is to be understood that by using, the casting facility 80 allows two workpieces to be cast simultaneously. Then, the casting of the workpiece is performed in each casting cycle sufficiently out of phase so that the above sharing is possible. Thus, when the melting apparatus 10 of either casting apparatus or fixture 50 is in the filling position for use for casting, the melting apparatus 10 of the other casting apparatus or fixture 50 is in the charging position. The casting devices or installations 50 can be used alternately as they are positioned and light metal are now loaded and ready to move to their filling position as soon as the casting process at the other casting device or installation 50 is finished. In that respect, the casting facility 80 is to be understood to operate in a quasi-continuous manner.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, casting a light metal workpiece in the form of a magnesium alloy wheel rim 90, using now known in the form of known AZ91, Mg-Al-Zn alloy preform billets or ingots 92 The use of the above-mentioned casting apparatus or facility 50 is demonstrated with reference to the case. The billet or ingot 92 is placed in a piston device 24 associated with the dissolution device 10 in the charging position. A cylinder or sleeve 14 is positioned around the billet or ingot 92 so that the lower end of the cylinder or sleeve 14 is sealed to the groove on the upper cylindrical portion 37 of the metal transport assembly 20. do. The induction coil 18 is connected to the cylindrical portion 35 of the metal transport assembly 20 such that the cylinder or sleeve 14 and the billet or ingot 92 located in the piston are enclosed by the coil 18. Will be.

The upper core 58 is lowered down to engage the lower or face core 60, so that the die device 52 is ready for casting. The ring 64 of side core pieces is placed in a position to seal the die using each piston 66. Flowing a gas mixture of SF ₆ / CO ₂ purging gas of the type which comprises a SF ₆ 0.2vol% will die or be injected into the mold 54, the die or mold 54 is fed from the induction heating power supply (84) The induction coil 64 is heated to the required operating temperature by means of a power source of a predetermined frequency, which has a predetermined temperature profile. The heating rate can be adjusted by changing the power input from the power supply 84 and / or changing its frequency. The higher the frequency, the higher the heating rate. The loops 64 of the coil can be selectively operated with different power supplies to achieve the above temperature profile.

The melting apparatus 10 is charged by a wheel 38 on a rail (not shown) of a casting apparatus or plant 50, in which a molten charge billet or ingot 92 of AZ91 alloy is charged into a cylinder or sleeve 14. From the position it is possible to reciprocate to the filling position in which the dissolution device 10 is aligned with the charging inlet 62 through the lower or face core 60 of the die or mold 54. The cylindrical portion 37 is raised by hydraulic pressure so that the cylinder or sleeve 14 is fastened to be sealed with the lower surface of the lower or face core 60 which seals the cylindrical portion 37 and the cylinder or sleeve 14. . The cylinder or sleeve 14 is SF ₆ / CO ₂ Purified by purge gas. The billet or ingot 92 is dissolved under an atmosphere provided by the purge gas introduced into the cylinder or sleeve 14 by the gas supply 22 to form a molten charge of the AZ91 alloy. Then, at the bottom of the cylinder or sleeve 14, for cooling the molten charge to form a secondary seal in the form of a hard metal spout (not shown) or a solidification portion or more or less reaction solidification. Argon is used to provide a cooling atmosphere.

Once the desired operating temperature and temperature profile within the die or mold 54 is achieved, the die or mold 54 is pressure sealed using a piston 66 by the hydraulic controller 67. Then, the gas supply to the cylinder or the sleeve 14 is stopped and the melt charge is transported from the cylinder or the sleeve 14 to the die or the mold 54 by the piston device 24 under pressure, so that the die or the mold 54 is filled with a molten charge. The die or mold 54 is purified by the gas supply control unit 86 by the aforementioned SF ₆ / CO ₂ purge / flow gas before and during injection of the molten charge into the die or mold 54. The gas protects the surface of the melt charge as the sleeve 14 and the melt charge enter the die or mold 54. The piston head 30 is hermetically sealed about the inlet 62 and partially enters the inlet 62 to increase the pressure applied to the melt charge in the die or mold 54. The die or mold 54 is cooled and the dissolution apparatus 10 is separated from the die or mold 54. The dissolution apparatus 10 returns to the charging position again.

The die or mold 54 is then opened by hydraulic pressure to separate the ring of sight core pieces 64 that were held together by the piston 66. And, the upper core 58 to which the solidified wheel rim 90 is attached is lifted up by the controller 67. The wheel rim 9 is separated or separated from the upper core 58 by a downward pin which forms part of a separating means (not shown) that pushes the wheel rim 90 downward while the upper core 58 is raised. do.

The piston device 24 is lowered down, and the cylindrical portions of the assembly 20 retreat, forming the molten charges of the molten charge which formed the second seal for the cylinder or the sleeve 14 and the cylinder or the sleeve 14. Not shown) or the solidified portion. The used cylinder or sleeve 14 is discarded and a new cylinder or sleeve 14 is used for casting the new wheel rim 90. The used cylinder or sleeve 14 is discarded and the use of a new cylinder or sleeve 14 for casting of the new wheel rim 90 takes less time than casting from the same alloy component, and is essentially suitable temperature and temperature. It should be understood that using the same casting cycles with different profiles enables substantially continuous casting of the workpieces one by one using billets or ingots with different alloy compositions. In one embodiment of the present invention, the dissolution apparatus or installation 10 can cast alloy wheel rims in order, including the following alloys, without fear of contamination from each other: AM60B (Al-Mg-Mn alloy), Galsi12dv (Al-Si alloy), AZ91 (Mg-Al-Mn-Zn alloy) and Galsi7 (Al-Si alloy).

An advantage of the present invention is that now the amount of melt charge, for example billet or ingot 92, is charged or filled with the die or mold 54 to produce one workpiece, for example one wheel rim 90. Is to match the volume of molten metal needed to do so. Accordingly, metal consumption is reduced if not removed, as compared to light metal workpiece or wheel rim 90 casting according to a generally known casting process in which substantially more light metal than the amount required for one wheel rim is to be dissolved.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the dissolution apparatus 10 and the casting apparatus or plant 50 do not necessarily have to be a permanent structure and can be easily changed from one production plant to another. Thus, by reducing transportation costs and other costs, the casting device or facility 50 can be set up at low cost to the end consumer of the workpiece to be cast.

Another additional advantage of the present invention is that the casting device or plant 50 does not require much space for it to dry. For example, as described above, the casting apparatus or facility 50 only needs about a floor area of about 23 m 2. The process also provides an advantage in terms of cost as it can be switched off immediately after the casting device or plant 50 is powered and immediately after casting a single piece of work without adversely affecting the process or efficiency. The loss in the case of a power interruption during the casting process using the casting apparatus or the apparatus 50 and the method according to the present invention is a case in which the process is continuous and a large amount of metal is melted at a moment and the power is interrupted. It can be appreciated that, compared to typical casting processes in which all molten metal can solidify, it is no larger than the molten charge in the cylinder or sleeve 14 that includes a single billet or ingot 92. In fact, when the power supply is resumed, in principle damages can be avoided by simply re-dissolving the contents in the cylinder or sleeve 14.

Another additional advantage according to the invention is that no run-in is necessary to achieve optimum process conditions. Light metals such as billets or ingots 92 can now be made of the desired components and tissues. Thus, a precursor such as the billet or ingot 92 may be a stock item. It is to be understood that the wheel rim 90 produced from the billet or ingot 92 stock exhibits similar tissue and therefore similar properties, thus improving quality control. The fact that no commissioning cycles or commissioning cycles are required for this process means that any number of billets or ingots 92 can produce the same number of wheel rims 90 without any power supply problems.

Claims (18)

Form the metal melt charge from now on, and charge the melt charge into the die or mold to fill the die or mold to be sufficient to form one metal workpiece, and within the die or mold In a metal workpiece casting process in which a metal workpiece is cast by solidifying the charge to form a workpiece, the loading of the die or mold is substantially matched with the capacity of the die or mold to consume substantially all of the molten charge. And selecting the amount of melt charge. The method of claim 1, The molten charge is formed from a metal billet or metal ingot or a precursor which is a molded body of metal particles. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Forming the molten charge, and then heating the molten charge metal to raise the molten charge to a filling temperature before charging the molten charge to the die or mold at a high temperature. fair. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Wherein said charging is carried out by injection molding at a pressure in the range of 50 kPa to 30 MPa. The method according to any of the preceding claims, Before and during the formation of the molten charge, purifying the environment in which the molten charge is formed with a purging gas. The method according to any of the preceding claims, Wherein said metal comprises the use of a metal selected from the group comprising Al, Mg, Li, Zn and their alloys. The method of claim 6, Wherein said metal comprises the use of a light metal selected from the group comprising Mg, Al and alloys thereof. The method of claim 7, wherein The casting of the light metal workpiece is a metal workpiece casting process, characterized in that the wheel rim for automobiles. The method according to any of the preceding claims, All parts of the workpiece solidified in the metal workpiece are spaced 0.75 ~ 15 mm from the nearest portion of the surface of the workpiece, the mass of the workpiece is a cast product of 0.25 to 30 kg. Die or mold 54, A vessel 12 for holding a now metal melt charge, a heating device 16 that heats to form a metal melt charge within the vessel, and transporting the metal melt charge from the vessel to the die or mold A casting device or installation 50 for casting a metal workpiece in a die or mold, comprising a melting device 10 having a molten metal transport assembly 20 for the Charging of the die or mold to fill the die or mold from the vessel with sufficient charge to form one metal workpiece that substantially consumes all of the molten metal charged from the vessel and makes the vessel empty. In order to ensure that the vessel and the die or the mold is characterized in that the casting device or equipment having a capacity that is harmonized with each other. The method of claim 10, The heating device is mounted on the molten metal transport assembly. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein The heating device is characterized in that the casting device is reciprocated relative to the die or mold between the charging position at which charging is made to the melting device and the filling position at which the molten charge is transported from the melting device to the die or mold. equipment. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, And an inert gas supply (22) for supplying an inert gas to the vessel so that the formation of the molten charge can take place in an inert atmosphere. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, Casting device or facility characterized in that the interior of the container is in the form of a hollow cylinder. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, The container is a hollow cylinder or sleeve 14, and the transport assembly raises the cylinder or sleeve to engage the cylinder or sleeve with the die or mold and to communicate with the inlet 62 in the die or mold. Casting device or plant, characterized in that for telescopic piston device (24). The method of claim 15, The piston device has a central piston 28, 30 which slides upwards in the cylinder or sleeve to enter the cylinder or sleeve and seal with the cylinder or sleeve, and the piston device surrounds the central piston. And, a peripheral piston (37) which presses up the cylinder or sleeve to seal the die or mold around the die or mold with the die. The method of claim 16, And the central piston has a piston head (30) having a sealing surface (31) for sealingly fastening with the circumference of the insert of the die or mold. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, And the heating device comprises at least one induction coil surrounding the container.

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