US2028790A - Casting machine - Google Patents

Description

7 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. D. LUND CASTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 9, 1932 Jan. 28, 1936-.

Jan. 2s, 1936. A.' D. LUND CASTING MACHINE Filedwovfs, 1952 7 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORN EY A. D. LUND CASTING MACHINE Jan. 28, 1936.

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. `9, 1932 'www jan. 28, 1936.

A. D. LU'ND CASTING MACHINE v Filed Nov. 9. 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 MTORNY Jan. 28, 1936. v i A D, UND 2,028,790

CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 v BWM@ ATTORNEY A. D. LUND CASTING MACHINE `Yan. 28, 1936.

Filed Nov. 9, 1932 '7 Sheets-Shes?I 6 INVENTOR ARTHUR Q LUND ATTORNEY A. D. LUND CASTING MACHINE Jan. 2s, 1936.

Filed NOV. 9, 1952 m N mwN www fv Fi INVENTOR Patented Jaa'. 2s, 1936 UNITED STATES I PATENT oFFIcE' @rt-283m Arum n. Lunamnneamur, man.

Applinn Novembet, 1932, Suid N0. 841,825 7 l(el. 21E-57) l 'Ihis invention relates to metal casting machin' ery and the primary object is to provide a comparatively simple yet highly novel -and efflcient -machine that is particularly designed for the purpose of casting primary battery grid plates, and is so constructed as to be capable of producing auch plates at a high rate of speed. Further objects are to provide, insuch a machine, improved metal feeding mechanisms, improved mold units and cooling system therefore, improved means for supporting" and manipulating 4me molds, im# proved power transmitting devices. improved cnnveyor system for removing the completed grid lustration.

w Fig. 6 is a transverse ptes, improved adjusting means for the varivo machine mechanisms and devices, and still other parts and `features, all of which will be set forth indetail in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw# ings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine as seen from the right, the furnace or right end of the machine ,beingv considered, for purpose of convenience, by reference, the front or forward end of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view' of the machine with frac-v tional portions broken away for purpose of il- Fig. 2a is an enlarged sectional detail view through one of theA movable ymold mounting devices.

Fig. 3 is asectional detail view on the line 3 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation as seen in part on the irregular line 4 1 in-Fig.-2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse-sectional elevation as seenv on the irregular line M in Fig. l.

' seen substantially on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1.a

. Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional elevation as seen on the'llne l-l in Fig. 2, but with the bed 26 and rams 28A in their rearmost positions.

Fig.- 8 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation V Fig.9isasectionontheline$-9inFig.8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are side elevations of the-ladle operating mechanism, the same being shown in operative positions which differ from each other and alsol differ from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation as seen from the right, 0r as on the e lz-lz m mg. 11.

I Fig. 13 is an elevation of the matrix face of the movable mold, with fractional portions broken away.

rug. 14 isrfa sectional emanen' through bom i u .the

sectional elevation as the movable and stationary the line Il-M in Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings more particularly molds, as seen on l and by reference characters, I5 and I6 designate a pair of heavy channel iron side beams, connected the escape of gases resulting from combustion therewithin. Supported ,by an annular flange upon the top 'of the housing 20, and so-as to rest therewithin, is a metal chamber or pot 22 inwhich 'the metal'to be used is melted to a liquid state. The metal inthis pot must be kept at a fairly constant operating level and to this end an zo operator supplies the pot. at suitable intervals, with material which may be conveniently kept on a shelf 23. l 'I'he operating mechanismsv proper, including olds, supports and actuators therefore, and u fee g mechanisms, are carried on or disposed within a large cast housing 24, which like the base I9, is also secured and rigidly bolted on the frame i 5| 8.

Mounted on the forward end o f the housing 2| ,o is a hollow cast standard 25 which rigidly supports a pair of stationary molds A. This standard 2l is circuitously' connected, as by pipe 2l. to a chamber 21, formed in the upper front section of the housing, so that water can be circulated 35 through both the chamber and thestandard (from suitable inlets and outlets) the purpose being to provide'cooling means to prevent heat emanating from the furnace 20 to have' any destructive or deteriorating effect on any of the -ends of a pair of heavy shafts or cylindrical rams 28. To effect a proper supporting connection as between the molds B and rams 2l, the latterv are 50v provided at their forward ends Iwithrigidly ge. cured plates or casting brackets '29 which are disposed against the back faces ofthe molds and are secured at spaced points thereto by bolts Il having nuts 3|. These bolts are iixedin' the u operating 0 mechanism carried by the housing 24. 'I'his coolthe plates, with abutting contact at theiry inner, i ends'to engage thel mold, while at their outer or rear ends they are formed to ,receive la wrench and also have lock nuts 33 by which they may be secured against rotation after oncebeing set.

' To properlyobtain this adjustment it is desirable te mst loosen the members sl end 32, to give f the mold slight freedom or play, advance the rams 28 until the molds are pressed together, to effect uniform face contacts, then advance the plugs 32 until they all abut the adjacent mold surfaces, and, lastly, draw, up the bolts by the nuts 3|,` until the moldsl are rmly held against the several plugs 32. Lock nuts may be employed to lock the members l'32 and' 30 in rigid position. When the movable molds are nowtre v ciprocated they will of course always properly l contact with the stationary. molds..`

The rams' 28 are slidably secured in longi' tudinally disposed bearings 34 and 35 (including removable cap sections) constituting rigid portions of a large blade or bed BIDThis bed has a of lateral integral runners 31 operating in raceways 38 i`n vthe top surface of the housing 24, the bed being slidablysecured, ing, strips 33. u

For each ram ,28, and intermediate the bearings 34 and 35, the bed ,3G is provided with a.

bearing 40, which does not necessarily have direct` bearing contact with the surface of the ram, but surrounds the same, and is splined to slidably receive opposite key projections 4| ofthe ram. Thpurpose of this construction is to prevent any possible rotation or'4 oscillation of the rams y of the molds upon meeting.

/in the bearings l34l and 35, which movement, if it exlsted,1 would prevent an accurate registration At their rear ends the rams 28 with integm reduced extensions 42 having slidable' bearing engagement with upstandlng in. 1

'tegrallugs 43 of bed 36. Collars 44, on these extensions, engage the'lugs 43 to limit forward movement of the rams 28 inthe bearings 34 and 35, while similar collars 45and springs I6 serve to yieldably hold the rams forward, or'wlth the stop collars 44 in contact with the lugs 43. ".lhe

Y ysprings 43 are of relatively heavy or stiff material so as to yield only under a considerable degree of pressure. In fact they are 'not intended tonermally allow for a relative ram movement of more than-an extremely small fraction of an inch, such tions of as may be necessary., to compensate for slightvariances that' may occur fin the relative posi-'- two movable molds. As an emergency measure, however, the springs ,48 serve tolpreventa full closing of the molds should one of the grid lplatesonly be partially discharged bertf fore the/molds are closed for a succeeding operation, asa positive closing action under such circumstances might-easily damage the relatively delicate matrix `i'aces oi the molds.

As will prsently be described the 'molds B are moved forth and' baci: by reciprocating vacas by retainare providedl tiens imparted to the bed as. As this action taxes place, however, the mold units are not only opened and closed, to form and discharge the cast plates, but there is a cooperating mechanism for eiecting a positive release of the plates from the movable molds,'and this Jmay now be set forth as follows: Y

When molten metal is filled into the mold cavity, C, it embraces the inner tapered ends of a series of cores 41, projecting intothe cavity from the core B (Fig. 14), and the frictional contact between the-core and the cooled casting tends to cause the latter to adhere to the mold B when l the latter is moved to open position. This vtendency is augmented or supplemented by headed push pins 48 having limited slidingmovement in the mold A and which are arranged to engage the face of the casting adjacent the mold A. The pins 48 are subject to limited ejecting movements under the action of springs 49, the tension of which maybe adjusted by turning threaded plugs It will thus be seen by springs 53 which act on collars 54 and thereby hold the pins with their outer or larger ends projected. The springs also abut and are removA able as units with the cages 52 and pins 5|.

The upper tier pf knock-out pins 5| are so disposed that when the movable molds are fully opened such pins will colita@ adjustable stops 55 carried `by a bridge member 56, in turn anchored at its ends on tbehousing 2'4. A lower tier or series'of eiectors. 5| similarly contact with stops 51 secured in an inner, integral partition'wall 58 of the housing 24. An int termediateseries of ejectors are actuated 4by a transversely disposed -yoke bar 59 which. is slidably supported onk the rainsl 28 betweenthe plates 429 and bearings 34.. This yoke bar is so arranged that it will contact, at its ends, with adjustable steps to elim of the bridge 58. Th as the bed 38 reaches its rearmost limit .of mo ment, the stops 80, acting through the yoke 59, and the stops 55 and 51, will al1 function to simultaneously actuate. all the -e'ectorsand thus effectively discharge the cast plates from the molds -B. The required intermittent reciprocating move ment tothe bed 36 is imparted from a motor, M,

in the iollciwing manner: the inotoroperates through a coupling 62' to turn a shaft 53.1ournaled in opposite walls of a cast case 64. Within this case'tbe. shaft has a worm 65emeshing with a `worm gear 66 on a shaft 61 disposedabove and at right angles to shaft` 83.l At its outer end the shaft 61 has a. sprocket pinion 68 for driving a conveyor mechanism (later to-be described), and at the' opposite vor machine side of the case 84 the shaft 51 has a-spur pinion 59 meshing with a similapinion 10 on ajack shaft 1| journaled in the ho sing 24. At itsinner end the shaft 1| has a pinion 12 for driving'a. spur gear 13'which is fixed on an arbor. shaft 14. The arbor has-its t with a series ofl ed by lug extensions at the ends ends supported in vanti-friction bearings 15 and I `in addition to the gear of cams D, E, and'F.

in bearing blocks 'I'he cam D has a circular .periphery except for a large angular notch 18, and the Jcam E has'a circular periphery interrupted only by a triangular lug projection 11 having cooperating relationship with the notch 18 as will presently be explained.

A shaft 1s is joumlea'at its ends r11-bearing lugs 19, formed integral with side wallsy o'f the housing 24 and the tinues in an direction to form a cross partition 58, which conar rearward and upward more complete enclosure for the operating mechanism. It ls here convenient free to reciprocate to note that this enclosure is preferably of such a nature as to completely exclude dust and dirt, and to obtain access for oiling, repairs, etc., I have provided removable side plates' 80, yand an openable rear door`8| releasab'ly secured las by devices 82. L A sleeve member '83 is trunnioned on the shaft 18, and has an upstafnding integral lever arm 84, which at its upper endhas a power transmitting link connection 85 with an integral depending lug extension 88 of the h in a slotted opening 81 in the top section of the housing 24. J'I'he lever 84 is further provided, intermediate its ends, with-a roller 88 for engagement with the periphery of the cam D and in the notch 18. l

laterally offset with respect to the lever arm 84 the sleeve 8 3 has another integral lever 89, in this instance being directed rearwardly and having a, roller 90 for engagement with the under side of L the peripheral surface of cam E and lug 11..` The lug 11 is so spaced with respect to the notch 18 that as the former starts to engage the roller 90 the latter begins' to receive the roller 88, and as the cams D and E continue to rotate the roller 90 passes completely over the lug while the roller 88 completes a. reverse or inward movement through the notch. Thus during the major part of each cam rotation the lever arm 84 will be held in locked stationary position and during a short interval only will it be positively moved rearwardly, and it is this movement that is transmitted through the link 88 back to open the molds.

As the molds are opened, and the plates ejected therefrom, bythe kick-out mechanism already described, such plates drop down upon an endless conveyor apron 9|, having a generally arcuate shape, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, so that the plates by falling upon a downwardly sloped,`mov ing, and flexible surface will not be injured. VThe apron is preferably provided with and has side chains 93 for on shafts 98 and 91. the generally arcuate position, referred to, by a series of flanged -lateral rollers 98,'arranged to engage the upper and lower runs, as shown. Two opposite of these rollers, namely 98a, are carried by depending levers having take-up devices by which the rollers 98a may be adjusted to take upj slack in or tighten the conveyor; The lower shaft, 91, of the conveyor, is extended, at one end, through a. bearing |8| (see Figs. 5 and 7), and at said end has a sprocket pinion |02y connected by sprocket chain v|03 to the pinion 88 on shaft 81,' bperating power for the conveyor.

supplementing j the conveyor 9| is a second endless conveyor apron |04 passing over rollers |05 and |08 mounted, respectively, on shafts |01 and |88. 'Ihe shaft |01. is driven from shaft 91 by a beltor chain |89. The shaft |88 is Journaled bed 36. This lug extension is and lug 88 to slide thebed 38 iluenced only by the general 'Ihe conveyor is retained in as vpivoted on shaft as and thus providing ||0, slidable in races' and are adjusted by devices ||2 to thus regulate the ta'utness of theapron |04. The purpose of .the apiornA |84 is to receive grid plates from the conveyor 9| and carry them uptoa shelf H3, at the rear end of the machine, and fromwhich shelf the plates are carried away for further treatment.

The mechanism for feeding predetermined charges of molten metal from the pot 22 to 'mouth extensions ||4 of the molds A and B, may be described as follows: rigidly secured to the for,- ward edge of the pot 22 are a pair of stationary angularly disposed tunnels which are arranged directly over the receiving mouths, while their larger ends are' adapted to receive metal from a pair of ladles H8. 'Ihese ladles are xed on a shaft I1 having a crank portion ||8 adjustably secured by set screws I|9 in a bell crank |20|2| journaled in the upper e'nd of a vertical rod |22 slidably secured in bearings |23,

The arm. |2| is rendered adjustable, by a device |24, with respect to a parallel arm |25, swingable on the bell crank, and having a link connection |28 with a vertical rod |21 slidable in bearings |28.

,The rod |22 is connected at its lower end, by a link- |29, to a bell crank lever |30 fulcrumed as at |3|, `in turn attached to and actuated by a telescopic connecting rod |32 which is normally held in an extended condition by a spring |33. At its rear en d the rod |32 ispivotedfto the arm |34 of a sleeve |35 which is journaied in a housing (24) bearing, and at its inner end has an arm I 38 with a roller |31 for engagement with the periphery of the cam F. Within the sleeve |35 is rotatably mounted a shaft |38 having an arm |39 at its outer end similar to |39, is connected by a rod |40 (similar toA 32) to a bell crank lever |41, and has a spring |42 tending to at all times keep it in extended position. The lever 4| link connection |44 vwith the vertically'slidable rod |21.

At its inner end the shaft |38 is provided with a crank arm |45 having a roller |48 for engagement with the cam F. 'I'hus both rollers |31 and .|48 travel on`the. peripheral surface of the cam and maintain this contact by virtue of the weight of the mechanism on the links |29 and |44. y There is a difference in the movements of the rollers, at a certain point in the revolution of the cam, however, and this may be noted as follows: Ihe roller. |48 follows a path at the right, as shown in Fig. 5 (left, in Fig. 9) and consequently is inheart shaped contour of the cam F, as it appearsdn Figa 4, 8, and ll. This movement results in a uniform reciprocating action of the vertical rod |22,.which in turn lifts the ladies from a submerged position in the molten metal in the pot 22 (Fig. 1'1) to the elevated position of the ladle as shown in Fig. 10, and, after a predetermined dwell of the ladle atY this height,

returns it to its lowermost positiorrfor refilling.-

'I'he roller |31, on' the other hanlfalso follows the general cam contour, but travels ampath at the left of the cam as shown in Fig. 5 (right, in

. Fig. 9), and, at a predetermined point contacts H5, the small ends 0f arm |34. This arm,

is fulcrumed, as at |43, and has a contour, has an arcuate inner edge whichcontacts with the curved'bottom of a pocket |48 in the cam and is held in guiding contact therewith.`-

by a set screw |49 extending from a bracket |50 (on the cam) and into an arcuate groove i5| in the cam. To positively secure the insert the desired adjusted position I provide clamping bolts;

|52 which slidably engage in slots |53 in tne in-iI sert and are threaded in the cam body adjacent thereto. Ey adjusting the insert,.as indicated by dotted vlines in Fig. 8, thc auxiliary roller movement thereover will be advanced or retarded with `the vresult already noted.

When the machineis` not in active use it .often desirable to run it very slowiy or to change operative parts from one positionto another, in

order that repairs, adjustments, and observation may be properly made. To accomplishizhis I profvide a mechanism, as shown iii/gigs. 2 and 7. 'I'his mechanism includes a-transverse shaft |54- journaled in the housing 24 and has hand wheels |55 at the opposite sides thereof. The shaft |54 .is arrangedy to operate through bevel pinions |56 to rotate a vertical shaft l|51 journaled in a housing |58 secured to housing 2 4. Slidably keyed on the shaft |51 is abevel pinion |59 adapted to mesh with a bevel pinion |60 on an extension |6i| of the shaft 63. The pinionA |59 is. vertically reciprocated by a' shipper arm |62 of a rod |63, also slidableim the housing |58. 'Ihis rod |63 is yield-- ably supported in raised position by a spring |64, thus normally keeping the pinions |59 and |60 out of mesh. The lower en tof the rod |63is connected by a link |65 to a'bell crank lever |6I6 ulcrumed as at |61 and having a pedai extension |68. A second pedal lever |69, at Ythe opposite side of the machine, is fulcrumed as at |10 'and operates the lever |66- through'connecting rody |1|. It will thus be obseryecl that by depressing either of the foot pedis |68 or |69 the bevel pinio'ns |59 and |60 are brought into mesh, and a subsequent vturning of one .of the hand wheels |55 will operate to rotate the shafts |6| and 63, thus revolving the arb-or 14 and conveyors at any relatively low rate of speed that may be desired. Of course as soon as the foot pedal is released the spring |64 will'immediately disconnect the manual control mechanism'.v

The molds havematrix faces, as shown in Fig. 13, adapted te form a two-grid plate, which, after being completed in the mold is cut apart, trimmed, and otherwise' prepared for use. As thel metal is poured into the downspout I4 'it imside ofthe mold opposite theinlet column |12 a second risercolumn |15 for forming the margif nal and terminal parts' of the plate. Thisrecess communicates with the grid sections-proper througna vertical series of perforations |16, and. these 4perforations cooperate with pe'i'orations may be used for the stationary molds, while ilexilow temperature.

|13, and with 'the matrix interstices, to eect uniform yet sumciently 'fast flow of metal throughout the mold opening and lbefore any appreciable hardening of the metal can take place.

The respective mold units A and B are pro- 5 vided with passageways f or the circulation of a liquid mediumto vcool the mold and thereby not4 only prevent distortion of the mold but also eliminate damage thereto and faulty castings such as would otherwise result from high temperatures. To this end I construct the respective, mold units with a series of vertical conduits Idrilled into the mold body proper and connected at their upper ends by lcertain cross conduits, while at their lower ends the vertical conduits open into manifolds i11, secured in sealing contact with the` lower end edges of the molds by bolts 18. At the outer end of each gasket it is provided with. an inlet |18 to which the suppiy conduit is attached. The inlet |19 supplies a'fsingle conduit through which\the cooling medium iiows to a the'manifold. While supply and discharge con.l duits for the connections |19 and |86 are not shown, it will be understood that ordinary pipes 30 ble tubingor other movable conduits will be revquired to supply circulating viluidto the movable Y The particular fluid circulating arrangement, as disclosed, has been designed with a view to emciently and effectively cooling molds of the par=V ticular design in question. Thus'it will be seen that the cooling iluid initially passing up through the passage |80 will first cool the mold area adje? cent the relatively heavy mass o'f metalin the riser |15. As the uid is then separated into three streams to pass down through the.` conduits |82 its cooling effect is somewhat diiused but still suiliciently effective because of the fact that the matrix face adjacent this area or zone oi.' the' 45 mold is 'in contact with only a very small amount of distributed metal under which circumstances there is little natural tendency to materially raise the'temperature of this part of the mold block. The mold area adjacent the-riser chamber |12, like that adjacent the riserchamber 115, is subjected to relatively lrigh degree of temperature because of the comparatively greater m'ass of molten metal therein, and to odset this condition I again restrict the fluid ow to a single stream, 55

" passing it up through conduit |84 and do'wn through conduit |85. The restriction noted so greatly accelerates the fluid-now speed that the fluid will obviously function the more eiciently to keep the adjacent mold parts at the desired so It is understood that suitable modications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, whatI 'claim to be new and desire tcprotect'by Letters Patent is; Y. 1

1. In a casting machine, thecombination in cluding a mold, `a .chamberadjacent the'mold for containing molten metal, a movaby mounted ladle for conveying molten metal from the chamv ber and to a point for delivery of the metal to the mold, a rotatable cam, aladle reciprocating mechanism having means o ti a 2s through a tube |85 to the discharge outlet I8@ of e1! associated uf with the cam so as to receive movement therefrom, and a ladle tilting mechanism having a member actuated by the cam, said cam having a projection for imparting a supplemental action to said tilting mechanism member.

2. In a casting machine having a motor driven power shaft, a manually operative mechanism having hand members at opposite sides of the machine, said mechanism including a normally disengaged connection with the 'power shaft, and a pair of foot pedals, one at each side of the machine, for releasably engaging said connection, whereby either or both of said hand members may be operated to turn the power shaft.

3. An ejector mechanism for a mold of a casting machine comprising, a cage secured in the back of the mold adjacent a perforation through the latter, an ejector pin extending through both ends of the cage and at one end into said perforation, a spring within the cage for action at one end upon the pin, said cage having an integral inwardly formed flange forming a substantially closed end for the cage to abut the other end of the spring, thereby securing the cage, pin, and spring in one compact removable unit.

4. A grid casting mold block having a metal re ceiving throat at one side thereof,a pair of spaced riser chambers, one of which is adjacent to said throat, and a matrix face connecting said risers, an initial fluid circulating passage extending through the mold body adjacent the riser chamber remote from the metal receiving throat, a series of spaced passages extending through the mold adjacent the matrix face and adapted to divide and circulate uid received from the rst mentioned passage, and a third passage in the mold arranged to receive, in a reunited flow,.uid

from the second mentioned passages and circulate it at increased speed through themold part having the riser chamber which is adjacent the metal receiving throat.

5. In a casting machine, the combination including a mold, a chamber adjacent the mold for containing molten metal, a ladle for conveying molten metal from the chamber and to a point for delivery of the metal to ther mold, cam actuated means for mounting, raising, and lowering the ladle, means associated with the cam for tilting the ladle When in its raised position, and means for adjusting the tilting means to thereby adjust the timing of the tilting action.

6. In a casting machine, the combination including a mold, a chamber adjacent the mold for containing molten metal, a ladle for conveying molten metal from the chamber and to a point for delivery of the metal to the mold, cam actuated means for mounting, raising and lowering the ladle, means associated with the cam and operative therewith for tilting the ladle when in its raised position, and means for adjusting the speed of the ladle tilting movement.

7. In a casting machine, the combination including a mold, a chamber adjacent the mold for containing molten metal, a funnel iixed with respect to-and above the mold, a ladle for conveying molten metal from the chamber to the funnel,

means for mounting the ladle and for moving it from the metal receiving position in the chamber to a discharge position with respect to the receiving end of the funnel, and means for angularly adjusting the ladle when in its metal receiving position in the chamber to thereby control the volume of metal passing from the chamber into the ladle.

ARTHUR D. LUND.

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