US2023562A

US2023562A - Casting of metals

Info

Publication number: US2023562A
Application number: US729166A
Authority: US
Inventors: Williams Gwilym
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-06-09
Filing date: 1934-06-06
Publication date: 1935-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1952-12-10

Description

Dec. 10, 1935. G. WILLIAMS CASTING OF METALS Filed June 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec.i10, 1935. l wlLLlAMS v 2,023,562 l CASTING 0F METALS FiledJune'G, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Eng land

Application June 6, 1934, Serial No. 729,166 In Great Britain June 9, 1933 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the casting of metals and refers particularly to the centrifugal casting of articles such as cylinder liner castings, piston-ring pots or any similar articles.

In casting such articles some form of end plate or ring must be secured against the end of the mould during the casting operation to retain the molten metal and must be subsequently removed to allow the casting to be withdrawn. The effective mounting of this end ring is one of the problems in centrifugal casting, and the object of my invention is to provide an improved method of and means for centrifugal casting whereby the usual difiiculties associated with the end ring are eliminated'and a high rate of output can be obtained with a minimum of labour.

According to my invention in a centrifugal casting machine the front end of the mould dur-v ing the casting operation is adapted to be partially closed by an end ring capable of moving axially relative to the mould and of swinging out of alignment with the end of the mould. During the casting operation the end ring is drawn tightly against the end ofthe mould to confine the molten metal and immediately the casting operation is completed the end ring is moved axially out of engagement with the mould and swung up or down or to one side so that it does not interfere in any way with the re'moval of the casting.

Resilient means are introduced between the end ring and its operating mechanism to allow `for axial expansion of the mould.

The axial movement of the end ring is conveniently effected by an axially movablemember which is in alignment with the axis of the mould and to which the end ring is coupled by pivotedlinks, means being provided for bringing the ring into axial alignment with the end of the mould as the ring is drawn against it and for releasing the ring to allow it to swing after it has-been moved away from the end of the mould.

My invention isA applicable either -to a solid mould or to a mould which is divided into parts capable of being forced or held together or separated.

Where my invention is appliedto a divided mould the end ring may be controlled by the same mechanism which opensY and closes the mould parts, the mechanism, after a casting has been made, first displacing the end ring and then opening the mould parts, and subsequently closing the mould parts 'and replacing the end ring.

One practical Vform of my invention as applied to a solid mould is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mould and its mounting with the end ring in place.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan.

Figure 3 is a front elevation and half-section.

Figure 4 is a side elevation in part section of the mounting and operating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional' elevation on a larger scale of the left hand end of the mechanism 10 shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of one form of means for raising the end ring into alignment with the end of the mould.

.In the drawings I is a mould suitable for the l5 centrifugal casting of cylinder liner castings. Thel mould is detachably secured by bolts 2 to carrier arms or brackets 3 projecting forwardly from a face-plate 4 mounted on a rotatable horizontal shaft I5. The carrier arms are provided 20 with substantial radial iianges 5 which not only stifien the arms but create a considerable wind-` age as they rotate and assist in cooling the mould. The housing 6 in which the end ring 53 is held against the outer end of the mould during the casting operation is carried at each side of the mould by a rod 'I of which the rear end enters a bore in a bracket 8 and is keyed therein by a stud or pin. This mounting permits longer or shorter rods 1 to be substituted for use with 30 moulds of greater or less axial length.

The housing 6 may be xed to the rods 1 as shown, or may be pivotally mounted on the ends of the rods 'l.

Each bracket 8 is carried at the forward ends 35 of a pair of parallel rods 9 oi.' which the rear ends are secured in a bracket `Ill pivoted on a. horizontal radially extending pivot-pin II. The pin II in turn is carried in a boss I2 secured between the ends of spaced transverse blade, leaf, or plate springs I3 carried by a collar I4 which is axially movable relative to the hollow shaft l5 of the face-plate as best shown in Figure 2. The springs I3 allow for slight axial move-- ment of the end ring 53 as the mould expands.

A yoke 54 which presses against the frontleaf spring prevents the resilience of the springs from operating during the forward movement of the end ring when it is being pushed away from the 50 end of the mould.

Positive location. of the end ring 53 in axial alignment with the end of the mould isensured by sloping grooves or keyways I6 inthebrackets 8 which engage with the edges of complementary 55 guiding plates I1 adjustably mounted on the carrier arms. f.

During the making of a casting the parts are in the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, the end ring 53 being held tightly against the end of the mould while the whole is revolved, and the metal is poured into the mould through the opening in the end ring 53.

mechanism described below and the end ring 53 is thereby moved axially away from the end of the y mould until the brackets 8 clear the guide plates I1 whereupon the end ring swings down under gravity about the pins II as pivots, away from the end of the mould, so that the casting can be readily ejected. The ring is then raised again into approximate alignment with the end` of the mould and the collar I4 is retracted to draw the ring against the end of the mould, the ring being accurately centered by the `guides` I1 as it approaches its final position. n

The weight of the pivotedassembly carrying the ring 53 may be counterbalanced by springs I8 connected between the rods 8 and the flanges 5 on the carrier arms.V

For ejecting the nished casting a plunger or piston I3 is locatedin the rear end of the mould and is mounted on the Vf ront end of a centralv the collar I4 is secured as shown in Figure 2.

Keyed on the shaft 24 at the rear beyond the end of the shaft I5 is a screw member 25 co-operating with an internal thread in a sleeve 26 to which is bolted a hand-wheel 21 mounted on a. bush 28 which is rotatable on the shaft I5. Thrust co1- lars 29 take the end thrust'between the bush and the shaft I5 and prevent axial movement of the sleeve 26 and hand-whee121 so that rotation of the hand-wheel 21 causes axial movement of the screw member 25 with the intermediate shaft 24 and hence of the collar I4 and the end ring 53.

The hand of the thread of the screw member 25 and of the thread in the sleeve 26 is preferably such that as the rotating members are brought' tor rest by the brake the inertia of the parts tends to cause axial movement of the shaft 24 to release the end ring and as the machine is started again through the shaft 24, and its rear end is rotatably 3| mounted in a bracket 32.

anchored in an externally screw-threaded sleeve 3U which is axially movable in a stationary sleeve A hand-wheel or capstan 33 is bolted to a further sleeve 34 which is rotatable on the sleeve 3I but is held against axial movement by thrust collars35. The rear end of the sleeve 34 is keyedtoa nut member 36 engaging with the screw-threaded sleeve 30 so that rotation of the hand-wheel or capstan 33 and sleeve `34 causes axial movement of the sleeve 30 and hence of the rod 20 and ejector I9. rotatable coupling between the rod 20 andthe s1e'evef30 is formed by a ball thrust bearing 31 and a spring 38 interposed between an internal When the casting has solidified the collar I4 is moved forwardly by the effected by the same mechanism which operates Zthe end ring, the sequence of operations being so arrangedr that aftera casting has been made the TheV shoulder 39 in the sleeve and a washer 40 secured on a reduced end of the spindle by lock-nuts 4I. The spring 38 allows for expansion of the mould and its mounting. The rear end of the sleeve 30 is closed by a cap 42 which4 presses against the 6 Washer 40 during the ejection of the casting.

It will be understood that the mechanism illustrated and described above for operating the end ring and ejector is representative only, and that rack and pinion or other mechanism may equally l0 well be employed.

' Where an end ring in accordance with my invention is `applied to a divided mould the opening and closing of the parts ofthe mould may be end ring is first moved away from the mould which is then opened, and after the casting has been removed the' mould is closed and the end ring is re- 20 placed.

Any convenient mechanism may be employed for raising the end ring again into approximate alignment with the end of the mould after a casting has been removed. One convenient form 25 of mechanism is illustrated in Figure 6. In this casetheend ring is adapted to be raised by an arm k43 projecting forwardly from the lower end of al yoke or U-piece 44 pivoted at45 on fixed supports. The upper end of one arm of the yoke 30 is connected by a link 46 to an arm 41 keyed on a shaft 48 on which is mounted a pedal 48 so that depressionA of the pedal throws up the arm 43 and raises the end ring into 'alignment with the end of the mould. The location of the pedal 48 35 l is such that it can be operated by a workman at the same time as the hand-wheel by which the axial'movement of the end ring is controlled.

Instead of allowing the en'd ring to fall by gravity 'at the end of its axial 'movement away 40 from the mould, almechanism may be employed to swing it upwards or sideways, and tobring it y back into position preparatory to drawing it back axially against the end of the mould.

If desired any convenient form of guard may 45 be arranged to surround or partially surround the open end of the mould during casting. A suitable form of guard is made of lsheet metal and is of horseshoe outline and of channell section with the open face of the channel directed inwardly, 50

thel guard ybeing supported by longitudinally extendingbars running on rollers at each side of the mould so that it can be readily moved into its operative position during casting and moved out of the way when necessary. 55

1. A machine for 'the centrifugal casting lof metals comprising a mould, acarrier for supporting said mould on a face plate mounted on a rotatable shaft having its axis iny alignment with 00 that of the mould, a member movable axially on said shaft, laterally projecting resilient strips mounted on said member. links extending along opposite sides ofthe mould and pivoted at'their rear ends on said`resilient strips, an end ring 65 carried at the front end of said links, and means for moving said axially movable member to draw said end ring against` the front endof the mould and Vto move said end Dring away from the mould and'permit it to swing on the links out of align- 70 l that of the mould, a member movable axially on said shaft, laterally projecting resilient strips mounted on said member, links extending along opposite sides of the mould and plvoted at their rear ends on said resilient strips, an end ring carried at the front end of said links, means for moving said axially movable member to draw said end ring against the front end of the mould and to move said end ring away from the mould and permit it to swing on the links out of alignment with the mould, and co-operating guiding means on the links and mould carrier for guiding said end ring as it approaches the mould, said guiding means being disengaged as the end ring is moved away from the mould.

3. A machine for the centrifugal casting of metals comprising a mould, a carrier for supporting said mould on a face plate mounted on a rotatable main shaft having its axis in alignment with that of the mould, an end ring for partially closing the front end of the mould during a casting operation, an intermediate shaft fitting within and axially movable in the main shaft, screw and nut mechanism for moving said intermediate shaft axially, a collar on the front end of said intermediate shaft, and resilient and pivoted means connecting said collar to the end ring which is drawn against the front end of the mould when the intermediate shaft is moved in one direction and is moved away from the mould and permitted to swing out of alignment with the mould when the intermediate lshaft is moved in the other direction.

4. A machine for the centrifugal casting of metals comprising a mold, a carrier for supporting said mould on a face-plate mounted on a rotatable main shaft having its axis-in alignment with the mould, an end ring for partially closing the front end of the mould during a casting operation, an intermediate shaft axially slidable in the main shaft, a resilient and pivotal connection between said end ring and said intermediate shaft, a central rod axially movable within said intermediate shaft, an ejector arranged within the mould and mounted on the front end of said rod, and means for moving said intermediate shaft and said rod axially within said main shaft to move said end ring and ejector axially with respect to said mould.

5. A machine for the centrifugal casting of metals comprising a mould, a carrier for supporting said mould on a face-plate mounted on a rotatable main shaft having its axis in alignment with the mould, an end ring for partially closing the front end of the mould during a casting operation, an intermediate shaft axially slidable in the main shaft, a resilient and pivotal connection between said end ring and said intermediate shaft, a central rod axially movable within said intermediate shaft, an ejector arranged within the mould and mounted on the front end of said rod, and screw and nut mechanism for moving said intermediate shaft and said rod axially within said main shaft to move said end ring and ejector in one direction to move the end ring away from the mould and eject a casting and to move them in the other direction to retract the ejector and draw the end ring against the end of the mould.

6. A machine for the centrifugal 'casting of metals comprising a mould, a carrier for supporting said mould on a rotatable shaft having its axis in alignment with that of the mould, a member movable axially on said shaft, an end ring for partially closing the front end of the mould during a. casting operation, means connecting said axially movable member to the ring for moving the ring towards and away from the end of the mould, a joint in said connecting means about which the ring can swing out of alignment with the mould when it is moved away from the end of the mould, and positive means for returning the end ring into approximate alignment with the end of the mould after a casting has been with drawn from the mould.

7. A machine for the centrifugal casting of metals comprisingv a mould, a carrierfor supporting said mould on a face-plate mounted on a rotatable shaft having its axis in alignment with that of the mould, said carrier consisting of arms projecting from the face-plate and having radial flanges which create windage as the mould rotates and assist in cooling the mould, an end ring for partially closing the front end of the mould during a casting' operation, a member movable axially on the rotatable shaft, a connection between the end ring and the axially movable member for moving the end ring towards and away from the mould, and a joint in the connection about which the end ring can swing out of alignment with the mould when it is moved away from the end of the mould.

GWILYM WILLIAMS.