US1756812A - Method and apparatus for extracting castings from molds - Google Patents

Description

p 1930- L. A. CAMEROTA 1,756,812

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GASTINGS FROM MOLDS Filed June 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E Ea F 'INVENTOR: .L 1 Louis xiflamaro'za,

- Y A W R 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS. A. CAMEROTA, OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOR TO WALTER WOOD,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CASTINGS FROM MOLDS Application filed June 5,

My invention relates to the art of freeing a casting from a closed cylindircal flask lined with a refractory mold, and has particular reference to a method and apparatus for extracting-hollow metal bodies, such as cast iron pipes, from sand lined molds.

To explain the advantages of my invention, I shall refer briefly to. the operation of well-known devices for freeing castings from molds. For convenience, castings which have been made in a centrifugal casting machine are herein referred to as sandspun products, whereas castings made in a stationary mold are referred to as sandcast products, these terms being so used in the trade. With a comparatively large pipe casting having a bell-shaped flange at one end and a bead at the other end, it is virtually impossible to free the casting from the mold by pressure appliances exerting a straight pull or push on the casting without damaging the flask or casting, because, as the bell end of the pipe comes out oftheflask, the bead on the other end compresses the mold ahead of it and the pipe finally jams in the flask. With sand-spun pipe, which is necessarily cast in a closed mold, it has been common practice to shake out the sand mold by subjecting the flask to a succession of violent jars on a vibrating machine. While it is possible in this manner to free the casting from the mold, the time expended in the operation, the laborin handling the flasks, and the danger of damaging the flasks are such that a quicker, more eflicient, and more economical method is desirable. Means have also been devisedfor cutting out the sand mold by mechanical cutters, and while apparatus of this type possesses advantages over the jarring process, it is not as positive in its operation as the device which is the subject of my invention. For example, where there are scabs projecting from the casting into the sand mold, these scabs prevent the proper operation of mechanical cutters and make it extremely difficult to remove the casting.

To this end I have invented an apparatus for freeing the casting from the mold by an air. blast which disintegrates the mold while the casting is drawn out by mechanical 1928. Serial N6. 282,909.

means. My invention is characterized by its positive action, even when the casting is defective, and by its safety in that the casting may be removed without danger of injury to. either the casting or the flask.

With sand-cast pipe, the present practice is to use a hinged flask or a spring-back flask which when opened automatically releases the casting. With flasks of this type, which are roughly handled in the foundry, there are numerous disadvantages. The hinges are distorted by handling, the clamps which hold the flask together are frequently broken, and the joints do not possess the requisite tightness of fit.

My invention enables the casting to be drawn from the mold in such a short. space of time that it is particularly desirable for use in connection with sand-spun products and may also be used to advantage with sand-cast products, .as it justifies a change from the use of open flasks to the use of closed flasks. Supplementing the advantages already described, are those derived from the automatic dumping of the sand as the mold is disintegratedinto a storage bin and from the use of a device which draws the casting out, disintegrates the mold, and removes the sand in one operation. A further object of my invention is to clear the perforations in the flask of molding sand, so that, immediately upon the extraction of the pipe casting, the flask is ready to be used again. With other types of apparatus, no provision is made for clearing these perforations, with the result that periodically the perforations are manually reamed, or defects in the castings are caused by the closure of the outlet passages preventing the escape of gases while the mold is being charged. For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and specific objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

- a Fig. I represents a front section of an apparatus for freeingthe casting Where the flask is held in vertical position.

Fig. II represents a modification of the turned on, and the manifold 5 is drawn up apparatus adapted to draw the casting from a mold which is handled, in a horizontal ing 1.

With flasks for sand-cast pipe, such flasks -being customarily poured and handled in a position.

Fig. III represents an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. II, showing in addition a control valve for operating the hydraulic cylinder; and,- 1

Fig. I'V represents a cross-section taken along the lines IVIV, ofFig. II.

With reference to Fig. I, the apparatus shown in the drawings includes a pipe cast-- ing 1, which is embedded in the sand mold 3 of the closed cylindrical flask 2. The flask. is secured in vertical osition on a platform 7, which is supported by vertical columns 10, by means of suitable clamps 6. At the lower end of the flask 2, there is shown a compressed air manifold 5 which has a series of projecting nozzles 4 circumferentially disposed and adapted to move within the annular space between the casting l and the flask 2. A flexible air 'hose 12 leads down through the casting 1 to the manifold 5. The nozzles or air cutters 4 are positioned at the bottom of the casting and are drawn upwards with the casting by means of a chain or cable 11 which is operated by the drum .13.

The flask '2, according to the common practice, is perforated throughout its length with holes 34 to allow for the escape of gas during the casting operation. By means of the air pressure from the nozzles 4, these perforations are cleared of sand, and a certain amount of dust and fine sand from the mold is blown through the holes 34; and, for this reason, I preferably encase the entire apparatus within a hood 4, which may be provided with a door to admit the flask. I also employ an exhaust trunk 32 leading from the, hood 4 to a fan or blower 33, so, that the dust and fine sand may be carried ofl.

Beneath the platform 7 there is shown a sand bin 9. As the mold 3 disintegrates, most of the sand 8 falls to the bin 9 from whence it may be deposited on sand conveying apparatus by; opening the gate 15. The sand 8 in the bin 9 is partially freed of impurities by the action of the blower 33, and, accordingly, is in better condition to be used again than it would otherwise be.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The flask is placed on the platform 7 in ver-' 'tical position, and the chain orcable 11 is attached to the air manifold 5 which is drawn upward until the nozzles 4 are directed into the sand mold 3. The air pressure is then into the flask as the mold 3 disintegrates until the manifold 5 strikes the head 16 on the lower end of the casting 1. With the air pressure on, the manifold 5 and the casting 1 are drawn-upward together, the nozzles 4 serving, to clear the mold for an appreciabledistance ahead of the head 16, so that there no interruption in the movement of the castvertical position, the apparatus shown in Fig. I is preferred. However, with flasks for sand spun castings, when the operations of casting and handlingaare carried on with the flasks in horizontal position, the apparatus shown in Fig. II is the more desirable. The latter device comprises a hydraulic cylinder 17 with a rain or plunger 18, onrthe end of which is mounted the cnmpressed air manifold 5 which carries the nozzles 4, there being a flexible hose connection 19 leading from the cylinder 17 to the air manifold 5. The valve 20, operated by a lever 21, controls the admission of the hydraulic medium tothe'plunger-18.

The flask 2 is supported on skids 22,its flared endabutting the face plate 23 to prevent longitudinal motion. A supporting frame 24 takes the thrust of the cylinder 17 and has a suitable opening 25 through which the pipe casting 1 is forced out. The frame 24 and The operation of this apparatus is similar to the previously described one, the plunger 18 serving to push the air manifold 5 and nozzles 4 through the annular space between the pipe casting 1 and the flask 2 while concurrently forcing the casting through the flask. The disintegrated sand is deposited in the bin 30, and flying dust caused by the air blast is confined by the hood 31.

WhileI have illustrated and described two formsof my invention showing its embodiment in apparatus for handling flasks in horizontal and vertical position, it will be apparent that changes may be made in the form of apparatus disclosed without departing ,from' the spirit of my invention; that my invention contem lates the handling of flasks in inclined position and the removal of'the castings by various mechanical means; and that any gaseous or liquid medium under pressure may be used as a substitute for the air jet shown.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A method of extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flask lined with a' refractory mold, which consists in disintegrating portions of the mold by a jet of fluid under pressure, while concurrently progressing the casting through the flask.

2. method of extracting a pipe casting,

having a bead atone end and a bell at the ing said manifold and nozzles, together with other end, from a closed flask lined with a resaid casting, through the flask aforesaid.

fractory mold, which consists in disintegrating portions of the mold from the bead end toward the bell end by a jet of fluid under pressure, while progressing the casting through the flask.

3. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flask lined-with a mold, comprising mechanical means for moving the casting through the flask, said means carrying nozzles for directing a fluid jet into the mold.

4. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flask lined with a refractory mold, comprising means for moving the casting through the flask, said means including a member adapted to abut one end of the casting and carrying nozzles for directing an air blast into the mold for disintegrating the same.

5. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flask lined with a refractory mold, comprising a series of annularly disposed air nozzles adapted to disintegrate the mold and to enter the space between said flask and casting, and mechanical means for progressing said nozzles through said space while moving the casting through the flask.

6. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closed cylindrical flask lined With a refractory mold, comprising means adapted to abut one endof the casting and to progress it through the flask, and a series of nozzles on said means adapted to move within the annular space between the casting and flask and to disintegrate the mold as the casting is progressed through the flask. i

7. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a perforated cylindrical flask lined with a sand mold, comprising nozzles for dlrectlng a fluid jet under pressure into the mold to disintegrate the same and to clear the flask perforations of sand, and means for progress ng said nozzles together with said casting through the flask.

8. An apparatus for extracting a casting I from a closed cylindrical flask lined with a mold, vcomprising a frame having interchangeable face plates pivoted thereon and adapted to abut one end of the flask, a manifold abutting the casting at the opposite end of the flask and having thereon nozzles for directing a fluid jet into the mold, and means for forcing said manifold with the casting through the flask.

9. An apparatus for extracting a casting from a closedcylindrical flask lined with a mold, comprising a manifold adapted to abut one end of the casting and to be accommodated within the flask, nozzles annularly disposed rect jets of fluid under pressure into said mold,

to disintegrate the same, and means for mov- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Florence, New Jersey, this 31st day of May, 1928.

LOUIS A. GAMEROTA.

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