US2019727A - Method of converting rough metal into molded parts - Google Patents

Description

5, 1935- v I J. QUINN ETAL ,019, 2

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug.- 8, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 3 avwewcoza, d- Gm H N E-IZNaK-nH .No v. 5, 1935. J QUINN r AL 2,019,727

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS J-QU\NN EVrMAR-HN Nov. 5, 1935. J. QUINN ET! AL 2,019,727

METHOD OF CQNVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 193l 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 snow wow d- QLMHH E-VMaK-n H Nov. 5, 1935. .1. QUINN ET AL I 2,019,727

I METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO. MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 f 'fmmmw Nov, 5, 1935 J. QUINN El AL 2,019,727

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Au 8, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 awocml oza -Q INN E7 R'TIH Q1 for/1401 Nevis, T935.

J. QUINN El L METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fae-1J5 a'vwembow' \J QUINH a E12 N FIKTIH OT/VLQ idr v Nov. 5, 1935. J. QUINN r-:r AI. 2,019,727

METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED 'FARTS Filed Aug. .8, .1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fieua awumtom 'J-QUIHH E-VMGIRT '1 1935. J. QUINN ET AL 2,019,727 H METHOD OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug 8, 1951 S ShQetS-Sheet 8 lie-.20

zafw

NOV. 5, 1935. J, QUINN ET L 2,019,727

maon OF CONVERTING ROUGH METAL- INTO MOLDED PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Yea awumto'w d-QUIHN E 7MeR-ru-| 6141mm Q bizw Patented Nov. 5, 1%35 FKETHOD (19F CONVERTING ROUGH rm'ran llN'JlO MOLDED PARTS .lianies Quinn, East Orange, and Edwin D. Martin,

West Orange, N. 3., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, West Grange, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 8, 1931, Serial No. 555,916

' 26 Claims. (Cl. 22-73) This invention relates to means for automatically conveying pig and/or scrap metaL-and for the purpose of this application it is to be understood that lead is the metal that is being con- 5 sidered-to a break-down'or melting pot or pots,

automatically holding the metal in the system to a constant level, and conveying this molten metal to casting machine pots closely adjacent to the casting machines, from which casting. pots the metalis automatically conveyed to the casting machines, which in turn function automatically but under the control or observation of an operator; the amount of pig metal automatically fed to the melting pots being only that necessary for a given rate of production over and .above the amount of scrap automatically returned from the trimming operation. Furthermore, the pouring head for the casting machine is specially constructed whereby an extremely small surface of the molten metal is exposed to the air, thereby reducing the oxidation of the molten lead to a minimum. This is a decided advantage in the manufacturing process to be herein described.

After the piece has been cast; for example, a storage battery grid, the same is automatically ejected from the machine and conveyed to a trimming apparatus where it is automatically taken'irom the conveyor and passed through the trimming apparatus, at which place it is relieved of its gates, fins, or excess material, and the grid is then automatically conveyed to and piled in a storage magazine, while the scrap is conveyed to the melting pot or pots. Means are provided at the exit of the trimming press, whereby an inspecter can cause a rejected grid to be automatically ejected from the line and returned to a conveyor leading to a melting pot.

It is therefore the principal object of our invention to provide an apparatus for automatically doing all the various operations previously referred to, by which the raw material, whether in pig or scrap form, is carried through the different steps and finally delivered as a complete part, thus reducing the cost of manufacturing such an article, as the grid for a storage battery plate. 1

While attaining the principal object of our inventionin the manner which will be hereinafter set forth in detail, other and ancillary objects will be clear to one skilled in this art, from a reading of the specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure l is a general plan of the arrangement of the principal apparatus, showing the melting pots, the casting machines, conveyors from the casting machines, automatic trimming presses, scrap conveyor from the trimming press to the melting pots, the vacuum producer and air compressor, also the pig feeding devices for feeding in all the pig required over and above that supb plied by the scrap.

Figure 2 illustrates a fragmentary view showing one of the lead feeder lines and the manner of keeping it at the proper temperature, as by the use of gas burners. Ed

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates in a diagrammatical manner, the first steps in the process of making the molded article. it

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical arrangement oi the parts as illustrated in Figure 4, and wherein the break-down or melting pots and the casting pots are all on the same level.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but in 20 which the casting pots are on a lower level than the melting pots.

Figure 7 is a view of an operating valve used for controlling the level of the molten metal in the pots. 25

Figure 8 is a part-sectional and part-elevational view of that part of the apparatus which automatically feeds the pig lead to the melting pot.

Figure 9 is a view of a part of the control apparatus shown in Figure 8. to

Figure 10 is an end view of the operating valve forming part of the control mechanism shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 is a view of the valve-operating mechanism which is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a section on the line li--lil of Figure ll.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the poufing head, showing its relation to the mold carried in the molding machine' at Figure 14 is a sectional view on a reduced scale on the line i|8 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a part-elevational and part-see tional view of the molding machine.

Figure 16 is a view on the line lit-l6 of Figdd ure l5.

Figure 17 is a plan and part-sectional view of the molding machine shown in Figure 15.

Figure 18 is a view of the control valve used in connection with the pouring head shown in Figso ure 13. This view also shows a driving mechanism including the cam for automatically operating this valve.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary view showing how it is possible to disconnect any one of the casting a machines from the system without disturbing the operation of the others.

' Figure 20 is a side-elevation showing a modified form of valve-operating mechanism, with safety device and its relation to the die-block and molds for use with the mechanism shown in Figures 15 and 1'7.

Figure 21 is a plan view of 'the valve-operating mechanism and safety device shown in Figure 20. Figure 22 is a side-elevation of the cam-follower mechanism shown in Figures 20 and 21.

Figure 23 is a plan view of the cam-follower mechanism shown in Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view of the cam follower mechanism on line 24-24 in Figure 22.

Figure 25 shows ,a special arrangement for disconnecting the operating parts of the machine shown in Figure 15, from the main driving shaft.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views, and referring to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive; I, 2, and 3 illustrate melting pots, the sizes of which are so chosen. that any two of them will have sufficient capacity for melting down the requirements of the casting machines, thereby giving a reserve of one pot in case one should becom inoperative.

Between the melting pots I, 2, and 3, is connected a lead feeder line 4 which acts to keep the pots l, 2, and 3 at substantially the same level after they have been filled. This is brought about due to the vacuum applied to the pipe 5 by way 'of the pipe 6 connected to a vacuum pumping apparatus generally referred to as 1. The vacuum maintained on these pipes by the vacuum pump apparatus 1, raises the molten metal to some point 3 in the pipe 5 (see Fig. 4). If the .level in the pot 2 is lowerthan the level in the pot the effective head of pot is therefore greater than the eflective head of pot 2, the difference in the head being the pressure'whichmaintains a flow from pot to the pot 2. The

effective head of pot I gradually decreases with respect to the efiective head of pot 2 as the level of pot 2 approaches the level of pot I, and the flow stops when the friction head in the piping between the two pots is equal to the diflerence of the effective heads of pots and 2. When this point is reached, the lead is raised in the piping up to the previously mentioned point 9 and the system is in static equilibrium. What has been said with respect to pot 2, also applies to pot 3.

The regulation ofthe level of the lead in pot which in turn regulates "the level in pots 2 and 3 as described, is brought about through the medium of a valve 9 controlled by the float l0 (see Figs. 1 and 8). When the float Ill drops sufliciently to open the valve 9, compressed air through the pipes H and I2 from the compressor '60 3 (see Fig; l), is brought to the valve |4, which valve is normally open when the feeding mechanism to be described is in idle position. The valve H (see Fig. 8) is open toeither one side or the other of a piston in the cylinder 5, and

immediately pressure is applied to the piston, it starts the same in action and operates the piston rod it (see Fig. 9) to which is attached a pusher |1 preferably made up of a plurality of fingers or prongs, so that the pusher |1 engages a pig H! which is at that moment in the position shown in Figure 8. This pushes the pig l8 off the table l9, where it has been deposited by a conveyor 20, on to a swinging plate 2| which is pivoted at I 22. As soon as the pig hits 'the plate 2|, it is very 18 gently deposited into the pot without any splash, because the action of the plate 2| acts as a splash-preventing device. After the pig 3 has been deposited into the molten metal in the pot the weight 23 acts to return the splash plate 2| to its normal position as shown in Figure 8. 5

The forward motion of the piston rod I6 as described, carries with it an auxiliary rod 24 which is fastened to the pusher l1 (see Fig. 9). 0n the rod 24 are carried a pair of collars 25 between which is positioned the end of a lever 10 2G pivoted at 21 on a stationary part of the apparatus. Attached to the same pivotal point 21 by means of lugs 28, is a tripping mechanism comprising a. trough-shaped device 29 which carries a roller 30 free to roll from one end of the 15 trough to the other for the purpose to be described.

.On one side wall of the trough are four pins 3|, 32, 33, and 34, the length of which is more clearly illustrated in Figure 11. As the end of the 20 lever 26 is moved by the collars 25, the other end 35 of the lever engages the pin 33, moving the trough about the axis 21 until the trough 29 gets to a position slightly above the horizontal, when the weighted roll 30 will roll to the opposite end 25 of the trough (shown in full lines in Fig. 8). The weight of the roller 30 therefore changes the 'center of gravity of the trough-shaped device 29, hence imparting a further movement to-;the trough 29, which then takes approximatelyjthe 30 position shown in dotted lines. During this movement of the trough, the pin 3| engages the end of the control lever 36 which controls the valve 14, moving the lever 36 to the dotted position to the right for allowing the air to be 35 transferred to the opposite side of the piston in be noted in passing, that in Figure 10, the pipes from the valve 'i4 are as indicated, 31 and 38, -"passing to opposite ends of the cylinder l5.

Referring to Figure 4, in the normal operation of the system; the valve 39 is normally open, apso plying a vacuum as has been described through. the pipe 6 to pipe 5, and also to the pipes 40, 4|, 42, and tap-off pipes 43, from the pipe 4|. Due to the vacuum applied to the pipes as stated, the level in the casting pots 44 and 45 is maintained 55 in the same manner as described for the pots 2, and 3. Due to the vacuum acting through the pipe 42 on the lead feeder lines 49 and 41 from the melting pots to the casting pots, the level in pots 44 and 45 is brought to the same 60 level as that in pots I, 2, and 3, for the same reasons as previously described.

In the diagrammatic view of Figure 5, we have shown an extra casting'pot 48, and it is to be understood that any number of break-down and 5 casting pots may be used.

As shown in Figure 6, the three casting pots 44, 48, and 45 may be placed on a..lower level by use of a valve 49 (see Fig. '1) on one of the pots; for example, pot 44, and this valve, con- 7 trolled by the float 50, acts to keep the casting pots at uniform level by reason of the vacuum applied to the pipes as described. When the level of the lead in the pots 44, 48, and 45 comes up to the desired height, the float valve 50 causes aoiavar the two systems of pots on different levels to the pressure of atmosphere, thus stopping the flow of lead. When the level of the lead in pots 46, GB, and 35 has dropped sufficiently-to, again cause float valve 50 to operate valve 59, the vacuum is applied to the feeder line 46, causing the lead to syphon over as before.

If for any reason the valve, 9 should stick in open position and cause the pigs to feed into the pet I to the overflowing point, the valve 38 (Fig. will shut off the vacuum and prevent the feed of lead to the other parts of the system so that the overflow will be confined to the one pot to which the valve 9 is attached. It is to be understood that all the pots are supplied with a source of heat to maintain them at the proper temperature, and in particular, the casting machine pots it and 65 are preferably kept at the proper temperature, this heat being automatically controlled to maintain them at this temperature. Furthermore, all pipe lines carrying lead are also heated as illustrated in Figure 2; for example, All (see also Fig. 4) is heated, by gas jets 5i supplied from the gas feed line 52. The parts of the mold may be supplied by an auxiliary source of heat so as tomaintain the mold atthe right temperature for the incoming molten metal. This auxiliary source of heat may be in the nature of electrical resistors set into the mold parts at the desired point or points. These resistors may be thermostatically controlled.

. Having now brought the molten lead or other metal to the casting pots, the operation of the casting apparatus will be described:

For the purpose of illustration, ten casting machines 53 are shown in Figure 1, but any number of machines may be used. Each casting machine has its individual drive such as illustrated in Figure 18 by sprocket wheel as, but these drives, which are takenfrom a main driving shaft, are timed so that the machine delivers its finished product at the proper time for the reasons which will be later pointed out.

Each casting machine 53 is provided with a head 55 which is shown in perspective in Figure 13. A feed pipe 55 is brought to the pouring head 55 from the main feeder pipe 31 (see Fig. 1). Connected to the top part of the pouring head, is a vacuum pipe Ell leading to the vacuum pump. In the pipe line 5'6, is a valve 58 (see Fig. 18) operated by a cam 59 which is driven by the mechanism of the machine. When the cam 59 operates the valve 58 through the lever 50, vacuurn is supplied to the pouring head through the pipe 51 and the lead is drawn through the pipe 56 upwardly in the 'pipe 51, filling the space 5| (Fig. 14) up to a level such as indicated by the broken line 64. When the vacuum in the pipe 5'! is broken by the cam 59 acting on the valve 58, the molten metal in the pipe 51 drops back into the space 6|, which forces the requisite amount over the pouring lip 63 into the mold, the metal finally reaching the level indicated by the broken line 62, which is the normal level of the molten metal in the pots, but which, however, is slightly below the pouring lip 63. When vacuum is applied to the pipe 51, the molten metal is drawn upwardly'in this pipe to some point indicated by the dotted line 64 as just mentioned, and this point -may be varied so as to get the proper amount of material in the spacelil and the pipes 51 of each machine. 1

Figure 18 shows one method of controlling the valve 58. An alternative method is shown in Figures 20 and 21, wherein the valve 58 is oper- I ated by lever llll the movement of which is con-. trolled by cam I02. Spring )3 acts, through lever till, to hold the cam roller HM (Fig. 23) in con- 5 tact with the cam I02. When the depression H0 in cam 12 comes under the roller 504, the arm till is moved, thereby operating valve 58 and causing the vacuum in the pouring head to be broken, thus dropping the correct amount of lead into the mold as previously described. However, when the two parts 68 and Bi (Fig. of the mold are held' open, as shown at 15, for any reason, such as a grid refusing to be ejected at one corner, the end N8 of rod I06, fastened to 15 die-block 80 by means of bracket I01, does not clear stop I09 which is fastened to lever illl, thus preventing the movement of lever llll, when the depression Hill of cam I02 comesunder roller IN.

It is to be noted (see Figs. 22 to 25 inc.) that 20 the roller l M is carried on a spindle H6 supported by block ill, positioned in a guide-way H8 formed between the guide members H9 and 128, the lower end of the guide-way H8 being closed by the bar l2! which is held to the parts H9 and I20 by screws W2. Positioned in the arm ml, is a spring M3, the tension of which may be regulated by adjustment screw 524 carried by the block 5 H and extending into a recess in the arm ma, carrying the spring (123. The block it! also carries through the medium of a suitable insulator 82?, a contact H2 which norinally is in engagement with the contact ill resiliently mounted by means of the spring H5 in the arm lfll but insulated therefrom by a suit- 5 able insulator H28. When the movement of the lever ml is prevented as' above described, the roller N14, with its support block, is moved downward by the spring I23, as the roller llltl drops into the depression H0, thereby separating the contacts ill and M2 which control an electrical circuit through a suitable relay, thus operating the device M3, which preferably is a G. E. Thrustor, a device that will actuate the bellcrank lever Me, which in turn throws out the clutch member l l5, thereby disengaging the molding machine from its main drive shaft, and stopping the molding mechanism, and preventing injury to the mold, as well as preventing the filling of the vent holes in the. mold, and the slapping of the molten metal over the machine.

Referring to Figures 13 to 18 inclusive, after the metal has been drawn up in the pipe 51 by the applied vacuum, to the point M, the vacuum is broken in pipe 5'Iby means of the same cam 59 and the valve 58,,allowing the lead in the vertical pipe 51 to drop by gravity into the space cl, thereby causing the molten metal to pass under the edge 66 and upwardly through the space 65, and over the pouring lip 63, into the opening 67 so of the die 68. At the same time, part of the lead which is dropped from the pipe 5'! into the space 6|, may run back into the pipe 56, the relative amount being determined by the resistance to the flow of the lead in the system. However, a check 5 valve, which preferably allows some leakage past it, may be used in the pipe 56, that further introduces resistance to the return surge, which condition may also be taken care of by making the pipe 56 of a smaller size or by otherwise increasing 70 the resistance to the flow of lead, the main point being that these surges shall be dampened out to the point where they are not objectionable. By regulating the space 65 and the amount of opening 66 in the die-head, as well as the volume of the :pipe 51 and the space 5| and the vacuum used, the amount of molten metal that is passed to the die, and the time of pouring the metal is very accurately controlled and little or no metal is wasted.

The above description covers one manner in which the lead may be passed to the die-head, this use being based on allowing the lead in the head to be dropped to the level of the lead in the pot, the normal level of the lead in the pots being at a point just below the top edge of the pouring lip 53.

- Another manner in which the system may be used to pass lead into the die 58, is by dropping .the level of the lead in the pipe 51 a given distance and catching it, when the proper amount has passed over the lip 53 into the die opening 51, by

re-applying the vacuum to the line 57 through.

the valve 58, which in turn is controlled by the proper design of the cam 59. This latter method of operation reduces to a minimum, the reflex action of the lead in the pipe 56, which under some conditions of operation, might cause a second rebound fiow of a small quantity of lead over the lip 63 which, should it happen, is a waste of material that naturally interferes with the proper operation .of the system. As will be appreciated, this is a rather important detail of our invention.

After a short interval allowed for cooling, which is assisted by cooling chambers around the. die itself, the cam 69 (see Fig. 15) acts on the roller attached to a lever H which in turn actuates the valve 12 to allow compressed air, coming from the compressor I 3 by the pipe 13, to pass alternately through the pipes I4 and to the cylinder 16 within whicha piston is positioned and attached to a piston rod 11 connected to toggle links 18 and I9, thereby actuating these to move .the die block 89, withdrawing a portion of the die -8l whereby the grid or piece is allowed to be removed from the die through the medium of the knock-out pins 82. These pins are actuated by .reason of the cam-nose 83 engaging rolls on the rods 85 fastened to a plate 86. The plate 86 is pivotally mounted at 81 andhas rolling connections 88 with rods 89 fitted with compression springs 90 that are compressed when the cam 83 moves the plate 86 backwardly.

As soon-as the cam 83 drops from the rolls 84,

the springs 98 give a quick snap action through the rods 89 to a plate 9| that carries a plurality of the pins 82, and these pins give the grid or the -part that has been molded; a quick tap, forcing it out of the mold and causing it to come down on the guide member or chute '92 on to the conveyor 93. I

Previously, reference was made to the timing of the casting machines, and it will now be evident that this is necessary because as the gridsor parts are ejected on to the conveyor 93 by each of the -molding machines, they mustbe put on the conveyor in proper order; that is, one should not be piled above the other, and we preferably synchronize this operation so that the plates are transferred from the casting machines-to the conveyor substantially a uniform distance apart;

This synchronizing may, and preferably is done, through the medium of the clutch Ii 5 (Fig;

It is to be understood that the parts of the clutch mechanism H5 are provided with arcuately spaced interlocking devices so that each of the casting machines 53 is interconnected with its main drive at different arcuate portions of said.

shaft.

v After the grids or molded devices have been 94 and 95. Preferably, the trimming machines 5 94 and 95 are so arranged that either one may beused with either conveyor. The trimmers cut off the gates, fins, or any other excess material projecting from the cast pieces.

After the grids or cast pieces are delivered by 10 the trimmers 94 and 95, they are automatically counted into a grid magazine which receives a definite quantity of grids and are then automatically moved along another conveyor leading to storage, and its place taken by another empty 15 magazine automatically pushed into grid-receiving position. Also, passing from the trimming machines 94 and 95. is a conveyor system indi cated by 98 which returns the scrap or rejects it from the trimming machines toa receiver 91, 20

commission whereby they cannot be operated.

In order to overcome this difficulty, we have provided an arrangement such as indicated in Figure 19, wherein an auxiliary pot 99 is inserted in the feed line-56 between it and the pouring head 55. The line 56 between the main feeder and the auxiliary 99, is connected to the vacuum system through pipe )0. This maintains the level of the lead in the pct 99 at the point I26, which is the level of the lead in the storage , pots 44 and 45. The valve 58 in line 51 (Fig. 18), is connected to line 55 through pouring head 55, and the operation of the valve 58 is as previously described. It is to be understood that the level I26 of the lead in pot as, is always higher than the line .41, thus preventing the overflow of the pot 99. By this-arrangement, it will be obvious that any one of the individual pipes 55 may be quickly withdrawn from the pot 99, thereby cut-.

ting out' its associated castingmachine, and leaving the rest of the system in working order- While we have shown and described a complete operative system for molding metal parts, it is apparent that the details may be varied over wide limits without departing from the spirit of our invention or thescope of the appended claims. Y For example, when'the valve 58 (Fig. 18). in pipe 51 is operated, as has been described, to drop the moltenmetal back into the space 6| v(Fig. 14), the valve may let into the pipe 51, instead of .air, the hot. gasesv or products of combustion 'spaceli5 in the pouring head is relatively narrow,- thereby exposing a very small area of the molten metal within the chambered space 6| to the air. Thus we have provided a pouring head which reduces the oxidation of the molten metal to a minimum, and consequently the cast product is much more homogeneous and better by reason ill) abreast of the minimum amount of oxidized metal carried over from the pouring head into the mold.

The pouring head herein described, while specially designed for use in connection with a system as described, may be used with a gravity system whereby a valve corresponding to the valve 58 may pass a predetermined quantity of molten metal into the chamber M, as by means of a single pipe 51. It is our intention to claim this type of pouring head for a molding system in a broad manner.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. The method of converting metal in the rough into molded parts, which consistsin automatically passing, according to the rate of production desired, the rough metal into a melting pot or pots, automatically conveying by a vacuum system the molten metal to separate casting machine pots located apart from said melting pot or pots and maintaining a substantially constant level therein, and then transferring, by the same vacuum system the molten metal to molds in the casting machines; automatically actuating said casting machines so only substantially the right amount of molten metal is passed to the mold, and then automatically ejecting the molded piece after a proper interval of time, and providing means for maintaining the molten metal at the proper temperature throughout the various steps specified.

2. The method of converting metal in the rough into molded parts, which consists in automatically passing, according to the rate of production desired, the rough metal into a melting pot or pots, automatically holding by a vacuum system the molten metal in the several pots to substantially a constant level while maintaining the temperature, conveying by the same vacuum system the molten metal to separate casting machine pots located apart from said melting pot or pots and automatically maintaining by the same vacuum system substantially a constant level therein, while also maintaining the proper temperature, automatically passing a predetermined quantity of the molten metal from said casting machine pots to a casting machine mold, and actuating said machine to eject themolded piece after a proper interval of time.

3. The method of making molded parts as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that after the piece has been ejected from the casting machine, it is conveyed to a trimming apparatus and then automatically taken from the conveyor and passed through said trimming apparatus, the finished piece then going to a storage magazine and the scrap going, via another conveyor,to said melting-down pots.

4. The method of making molded parts as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that means are provided for automatically stopping the casting machine should a molded piece fail to be completely ejected from the mold, whereby the parts of the mold do not close during the cycle of operation.

'5. The method of making molded parts as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that an auxiliary pot is provided in the supply line to each casting machine head, whereby the casting machine may be shut down without disturbing the rest of the system.

ing a pump, piping and valves acting to maintain substantially a constant level of molten metal in all the pots, casting machines provided with molds, and automatic means for continually operating said casting machines, each of said 5 machines having a pouring head associated with its respective mold and connected to said vacuum system, and means including parts of said vacuum system for automatically loading said pouring head with a predetermined and regulated quantity of molten metal and then passing it from the head to the mold.

7. For use with a metal casting machine in a molding system as set forth in claim 6, a pouring head having a chamber therein terminating in 15 a pouring lip leading to the mold, said chamber being continuously filled with molten metal to a point just below the pouring lip, a supply pipe, and a vacuum pipe communicating with said chamber, a valve in said vacuum pipe automatig0 cally operated for applying a suction to said chamber, and means for operating said valve in a predetermined manner for the purpose described.

8. For use with a metal casting machine in a m molding system as set forth in claim 6, a pouring head having a chamber therein terminating in a. pouring lip leading to the mold, a supply pipe, and a vacuum pipe communicating with said chamber, a valve in said vacuum pipe auto- 30 matically operated for applying a suction to said chamber, means for operating 'said valve'in a predetermined manner to pass a proper amount of molten metal to the mold, said machine further having means for opening the mold and an ejecting the molded piece from the machine, and means acting automatically, should the mold fail to close in its cycle of operation, to prevent said valve from operating.

9. For use with a metal casting machine a w molding system as set forth in claim 6, a pouring head having a chamber therein terminating in a pouring lip leading to the mold, a supply pipe, and a vacuum pipe communicating with said chamber, a valve in said vacuum pipe automatically'operated for applying a suction to said chamber, means for operating said valve in a predetermined manner to pass a proper amount of molten metal to the mold, said machine further having means for opening the mold and ejecting the molded piece from the machine, and means acting automatically, should the mold fail to close in its cycle of operation, to prevent said valve from operating, and further automatic means for stopping the entire machine.

10. A metal vmolding system as set forth in claim 6, further characterized in that means are provided for dampening out'the surges of the molten metal as it is periodically passed through said pouring head.

11. In a vacuum-controlled metal molding system, of the character described including, a plurality of casting machines provided with molds; automatic means for operating said casting machines, each of said casting machines having a 5 pouring .head for passing the molten metal to the mold connected to said casting machine pots, said head containing at all times a quantity of molten metal positioned therein so a suction can be effectively applied to the head, a valve, said 7 chamber also being connected through said valve with a source of suction, automatic means for operating said valve, said head being designed in association with the strength and length of application of the suction to said head so the y mold.

12. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system of the character described and including casting machines as set forth in claim 11, further characterized in that said casting machine automatically ejects the molded piece to a conveyor, said conveyor carrying said piece to a trimming mechanism, where the piece is trimmed and the scrap returned to said melting pots, and the finished molded piece to a storage magazine.

13. A vacuum-controlled metal molding sys tem of the character described and including casting machines as set forth in claim 11, further characterized in that said casting machine automatically ejects the molded piece to a conveyor, said conveyor carrying, said piece to a trimming mechanism, where the piece is trimmed and the scrap returned to said melting pots, and the finished molded piece to a storage magazine, further means; comprising an auxiliary pot for each casting machine and connecting into the feed line to each machine; being provided for stopping any one of the casting machines without affecting the operation of the others.

14. In a vacuum-controlled metal molding system, a plurality of melting pots, automatic means for feeding metal to at least one of said pots, a

plurality of casting machine pots separate and spaced apart from said melting pots, automatic means controlled by a vacuum system acting to distribute and maintain substantially a constant level of molten metal in all of'said pots, a plurality of casting machines provided with molds, and automatic means for operating said casting machines including means under the control of said vacuum system for passing metal to said molds, and control means whereby each machine delivers to a conveyor a molded-piece in tim'ed relation to all the other machines in the system.

15. A vacuum-controlled metal moldingsystem as set forth in claim 14, further characterized in that the pieces are carried on said conveyor to a trimming mechanism which trims said pieces anddelivers the scrap to a conveyor which returns the scrap to one of said melting pots, and the finished pieces to another conveyor for storage. 7 g

16. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as set forth in claim 11, further characterized in that automatically acting means are provided at the melting pot, receiving the rough metal, for preventing splashing of the molten metal as the rough metal is added.

17. A vacuum controlled metal molding system including; a plurality of casting machines having molds, a plurality of casting machine pots associated with said casting machines, a plurality of melting pots, pipes inter-connecting said pots, vacuum means acting through certain of said pipes for automatically equalizing the level of the molten metal in all of said pots and for passing the molten metal to said molds, means forheating said pots and pipes carrying molten metal, means for automatically. operating said casting machine, and automatic means for passing rough metal to at least one of said melting pots, according to the demand of the casting machines.

18. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as set forth in claim 17, further characterized in that the casting machines are provided with a synchronized so as to deposit the molded pieces in spaced relation on said conveyor.

19. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as set forthin claim 17, further characterized in that the casting machines are provided with a conveyor to carry away the molded pieces asthey are ejected by the machines, said machines being synchronized so as to deposit the molded pieces in spaced relation on saidconveyor, and further characterized in that said conveyor carries said 10 molded pieces to a trimming mechanism, where they are trimmed and then passed to a storage magazine, while the scrap is automatically returned to one of said melting pots.

20. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system e as described including supply pots and casting machines, each machine being provided with a pouring head through which the molten metal is automatically passed to the mold, said head having a chamber designed to cooperate with the 10 strength of vacuum and time of applying same to said chamber and carrying molten metal therein at about the normal level of the metal in the supply pots, whereby the proper quantity of molten metal may be transferred from thepots and passed to said mold.

21. A vacuum-controlled metal molding system as described including casting machines, each machine being provided with a pouring head through which the molten metal is automatically :0 passed to the mold, said head having a chamber designed to cooperate with the strength of vacuum and time of applying same to said chamber, whereby the proper quantity of molten metal is passed to said mold, and further characterized in" 85 that means are provided for minimizing surges of the molten metal through said pouring head chamber, and further characterized in that each machine is provided with means for automatically stopping the flow of molten metal through said pouring head if the mold parts are not closed during the cycle of operation thereof.

22. In a metal molding system including a molding machine having a mold, a pouring head for the machine having a chamber and a lip and a narrow passageway between a side of the chamber and a wall of the lip, a supply pipe entering said chamber, a pipe leading out of said chamber, means for applying suction at will to the last mentioned pipe to raise the molten metal therein to a predetermined height, and then dropping it, thereby causing a definite quantity of molten metal to pass over said lip into the mold.

23. In a metal molding system as set forth in claim 22, in which said means includesa valve having a connection to a source of gas containing less oxygen than air, said gas being introduced into the suction pipe by said valve when the valve is operated to break the vacuum.

24. For a metal molding machine, a pouring head having a chamber and a lip and a narrow passageway from the chamber to the lip, a supply pipe leading into said chamber, and a suction pipe leading out of the top of the chamber as and for the purposes described.

' 25. For a metal molding machine having a mold; a fixed pouring head having a chamber and a. lip and a passageway between a side of the chamber and a wall of the lip, and a suction supply pipe leading into said chamber for passing a predetermined quantity of molten metal over said lip into the mold.

26. The method of converting metal in the rough into molded parts, which consists in automatically passing, according to the rate of production desired, the rough metal into a melting pot or pots, automatically holding by a vacuum system the molten metal in the several pots to substantially a constant level while maintaining the temperature, conveying by the same vacuum system the molten metal to separate casting machine pots located apart from said melting pot or pots and automatically maintaining by the same vacuum system substantially a constant level therein, while also maintaining the proper temperature, and automatically passing a predetermined quantity of the molten metal from said casting machine pots to a casting machine mold.

JAMES QUINN. EDWIN D. MARTIN.

Images