US1693654A - Centrifugal casting machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4,1928. I 31,693,654!

I W. D. MOQRE ETAL CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE (WEIGHING MECHANISM) Filed Oct. 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l mvamons Mill/1M0 000a WALTER .4 TTORNEY 1 k W.- D; MOORE ETAL,

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE (WEIGHING MECHANISM) Filed 001;. '7, 1927 ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1928.

W. D. MOORE ET. AL CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE (WEIGHING MECHANISM) Filed Oct. '7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet quantities of molten metal to be charged,

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

unrrso sT'A'rss ater WILLIAM D. MOORE AND WALTER MORGAN, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA,-ASSIGNORS TO SAND SPUN PATENTS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GENTBIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE (WEIGHING MECHANISM).

Application filed October 7, 1927. Serial No. 224,636.

This invention is an improvement incentrifugal casting machines, and more particularly in mechanism enabling the charging into a mold of a selected weight of metal.

In the usual practice in centrifugal casting, by the method set forth in Patent No. 1,471,052, granted on October 16, 1923, a battery of machines is provided, each including a ladle for a charge of molten'metal, so connected with the machine, that it is operated to automatically discharge the metal into the mold at a selected period in the operation of the machine.

A bull ladle is provided for charging the respective ladles ofthe several machines, and the amount discharged at each machine is arbitrary, depending upon the judgment of the operator. Because ofthis -method of metal distribution, there is liable to be irregularities in the weights of the finished castings.

One of the primary objects of thepresent invention is the provision in connection with a tilting ladle of the character shown and described in Patent No. 1,620,831, granted on March 15, 1927, of mechanism for indicat-- ing to the operator when a selected quantity of molten metal has been discharged from the bull ladle into the charging'ladle.

Another object is the provision insuch mechanism, of means enabling variable and the proper quantity to be indicated.

Another object is the provision of a construction applicable to machines of the type shown and described in the last mentioned patent, without material changes in such machines,

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully describedhereinafter, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a side view of a centrifugal casting machine provided with the improvement.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the inlet end of the machine, showing the ladle mounting.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the tilting ladle 1, which is of the character shown and described in the last mentioned aten't, is arranged in a frame 2, which has oppositely extending pairs of pins 3 and 4. A tilting support indicated generally at 5 is pivoted to a bracket 6, which is hinged to the end of a support 6 rising from the tilting frame or carriage 8,

at the end of the hood 7. The hood cooperateswith the tilting carriage to rotatably,

support the mold thereon.

The hinged connection of the bracket 6 with the support 6 is indicated at 9, and is of a character such that the bracket 6, the

of the machine, and at the other sidereleasable means 9 may be provided to hold the bracket in place.

The bracket is provided with oppositely extending journal pins 10, and the support 7 5 which is of substantial rectangular formation as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, has notches or recesses 11 in which the pins is mounted for rocking movement on the bracket, the extent of movement being limited by stops 12 and 13 at the outer and inner ends of the bracket respectively.

The journal pins 4 of the ladle frame 2 rest in rounded notches 14 in the ,support 5, and slightly beyond the journal pins 10 toward the machine. The journal ins 3 rest upon the support 5, the sides of t e support being cut away as shown at 15 to provide engaging surfaces for the pins. A An arm 16 dependsfrom the frame 2, and this arm' is connected with mechanism oper ated by the tilting of the machine and mold, or otherwise, for tilting the "ladle to dis charge. the contents into the mold on the machine, through a spout 17 supported by engage.- Thus the support with the ladle the bracket 6. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noticed that the pins 10 are journaled in bearing blocks 18 on the top of the bracket 6, and that ball bearings 19 are interposed between each pin and the adjacent block. A key 20 is arranged transversely of the outermost notch 11, to prevent accidental displacement of the pin.

It will be apparent that the support 6 is substantially yoke shaped, with the body toward the mold, and with the frame 2 between the arms of the yoke. At that end of the support 5 adjacent'to the mold a cross bar 21 is supported upon a counterweight 22-ex- 1 tending transversely of the support and connected thereto. The bar 21- is designed to support weights 23, which are of the usual construction, being disks having substantially radial notches which fit over the bar. In the present construction the frame 8 is hinged or pivoted at 25, and a motor 26 is mounted on the frame for rotating the mold. The ladle is tilted when the mold moves downward from the dotted line poistion of Fi 1 tothe full line position.

in elbow lever 27 is pivoted intermediate its ends as indicated at 28 to a fixed support 29, and one arm of the lever is in position to be engaged by the tilting frame as it'moves toward the horizontal or level position. The other arm is adapted to be con- .nected to the arm 16 above mentioned, by

means of a strut 30, consisting of two parts, connected by a turn buckle 31. The strut is adapted to be interposed between the lever 27 and the arm 16as shown in Fig. 1, and the lower end thereof is forked as shown at 32 to engage a cross pin in the end of a connecting link 33 pivoted to the frame or carriage. The cross pinis s'lidable in a slot 34 in a cam plate 35 secured to the lever 27.

When the frame or carriage is lowered in the leveling of the mold, the lever 27 will be swung, and through the strut, movement will be imparted to the ladle support, the ladle bein tilted on the journal ins, to discharge t e contents thereof into t e pouring spout. The cam slot consists of two portions ofi'set laterally from each other and connected by an inclined portion as shown, and as described in .Patent No. 1,620,831, above mentioned. The arrangement is such that during the last part of the tilting movement the speed of tilting is increased so that the flow-of the metal at the beginning of the tiltin is relatively slow and at the and relative y fast. Because of the flaring construction of the ladle, a relatively large amount of metal flows at the start, and this amount decreases toward the end of the t1tling movement. The .cam slot arrangement enables the discharge from the ladle f to be substantially uniform. In practice the mold is rotated at a relato hold the metal on the mold wall. -At or near the moment when the mold attains a level position, the speed of movement is abruptly increased to throw the metal on the mold wall and retain it there.

The operation of the-weighing mechanism is as follows: The'cbunterweight 22 is designed to balance the ladle with slightly less than the minimum load which it is contemplated to place in the ladle. The balance weights 23 are then added to give the final adjustment for the desired weight of molten metal. In pouring the metal from the bull ladle, no attempt to neatly balance, suflicient metal being poured into the ladle to cause the frame to tilt to a rest onstop 12. Once the proper weight 23 is placed, no change is necessary, except to correct out of baltnce because of sculls in the ladle. When the ladle is empty the support '5 will rest upon the stops 13.

From the bull ladle 'a suflicient quantity of metal is descharged into the charging ladle to bring the parts tothe position-"co rest on stop 12. The casting machine is then operated in the usual manner, and at the proper time theladle is tilted to discharge the molten metal through the spout 17 into'the mold to be cast.

What is claimed as new is i 1. In a casting'machine, the-combination with the ladle of means connected with the machine for supporting the ladle, a support for the ladle on the connecting means, and mechanism for balancing the support on said means, said mechanism including means to support additional weights to balance a selected Weight of metal in the ladle. 2. In a casting machine, in combination, a ladle, a support for the ladle, a bracket for connecting the ladle to the machine, means for pivoting the support to thebracket for limited rocking movement thereon, and means to balance the parts including interchangeable weights to balance a desired amount ofmetal in the ladle.

3. In a centrifugal casting machine, in'

combination, a ladle, a support upon which the ladle is mounted to tilt, a bracket for connecting the support to the machine, means for pivoting the support to the bracket for limited rocln'ng movement thereon, a counterweight for balancing the parts, and de-i iaaglliable weights to balance the metal in the a e. v

4. In a centrifugal casting machine, .in combination, a ladle, a support upon which the ladle is mounted to tilt, a bracket for connecting the support or pivotmg the support to the bracket for to the machine, means limited rocking movement thereon, a counterweight for balancing the parts, a bar ex tending transversely of the support, and notched wei ht-s for engaging the bar to balance a selected weight of metal in the ladle.

5. In a centrifugal casting machine including a hood, a bracket hinged thereto at he charging end of the machine, said bracket carryin a directing spout, a ladle support balance( on the bracket and having means for supporting a ladle for tilting movement whereby to discharge the contents thereof into the spout, said support having a limited rocking movement on the bracket, and mechanism for counterbalancing the support and a, ladle, including detachable weights to balance a. selected amount of metal in the ladle.

6. In a casting machine, a bracket for supporting a ladle at the charging end of the machine, a ladle support mounted to rock on the bracket and having means to receive and support a ladle, means for limiting the rocking movement of the support in each direction, and 'counterweighting mechanism for the supportand a ladle of known dimensions, including interchangeable weights for balancing a selected amount of molten metal in the ladle.

7. In a centrifugal casting machine, in-- eluding a tilting frame or carriage pivoted near one end,.and provided at the other with a bracket for supporting a ladle, a ladle support having a limited rocking movement on thebracket, and provided with means to support a ladle for tilting movement thereon to discharge the contents of the ladle, a counterweight to normally hold the support and the empty ladle in balanced position, and interchangeable weights for connection with the frame to balance a selected weight of metal in the ladle.

8. In a centrifugal casting machine, including a tilting frame or carriage pivoted near one end, and provided at the other with a bracket for supporting a ladle, a ladle support having a limited rocking movement on the bracket, and provided with means to support a ladle for tilting move ment thereon to discharge the contents of the ladle, a counterweight to normally hold the support and the empty ladle in balanced position, means operated by the levelin r movement of the carriage to tilt the ladle, an interchangeable weights for connection with the frame to balance a selected weight of metal in the ladle.

9. In 'acentrifugal casting machine, including a tilting frame or carriage pivoted near one end, and provided at the other with a bracket for supporting a ladle, said bracket mounted to swing into and out of position at the end of the carriage, a ladle support having a limited rocking movement on the bracket, and provided with means to sup- .port a ladle for tilting movement thereon to discharge the contents of the ladle, the bracket having a pouring spout into which the ladle discharges, a counterweight to normally hold the support and the empty ladle in balanced position, and. interchangeable weights for connection with the frame to balance a selected weight of metal in the ladle.

Signed at Birmingham in the county of J efl'erson andState of Alabama this 29th day of' Sept. A. D. 1927. V

WILLIAM D. MOORE. WALTER MORGAN.

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