US2496604A - Molding machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1950 A. sco'rT `1:1- AL 2,496,604

MoLDING MACHINE Filed April 4. 194e 4 sheets-sheet 1 JW will :lH 1 Wl' Uli l' Un W nlm W MH WE- Feb. 7, 1950 A. scolr'T ETAL 2,496,604

.MoLDING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1946 4 SheetS-Shee'c 2 Feb. 7, 1950 A. scoTT ErAL MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 4, 194e 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i mi mmf JWU @were 076: Ljzdreza 5c Feb. 7, 1950 A. scoTT ETAL 2,496,604

MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1946 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Fel?. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES :PTENT OFFICE MOLDNG MACHINE Andrew Scott, Chicago, and .lames B. Amstutm Oak Park, lll.,assignors lto Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois A'ripplica'tion April 4, 1946, Serial No. 659,612

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to molding machines .and has for an objectthe provision of a molding machine which operates automatically through a complete molding cycle tocompress the sand in a ask, actuatea rapper., lower the vpattern plate to strip the mold,fand then lower the stripper `plate to its rst'position to complete the cycle of operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a molding machine lembodyingmeans for applying a predetermined uniorm pressure in compressing the sand to form each mold to insure the formation of molds having a substantially equal density. Itis further contemplated that the molding pressure exerted in compressing the sand may be readily adjusted `to suit the operator in order to obtain the proper vpredetermined density in molds of different sizes, shapes, etc.

Another object of this invention is to reduce to a minimum the manual effort required of the operator in forming molds on a molding machine of this type.

It is another object of this invention to provide adjustable timing means for determining the commencementand duration of :the various steps throughout the complete cycle of automatic molding operation.

rIhis invention further contemplates the provision of a molding machine which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and which will not readily get outoforder due to wear, breakage, or the deleterious action of sand against `bearing surfaces.

Anotherobject of this invention is to `provide an improved meansfor operating the stripper frame to improve the quality of the mold and the products to be formed therein.

This 'invention embodies other novel features, details of construction, and arrangement of parts which arehereinafter set forth in the specification and `claims and illustrated .in the accompanying-drawings, forming part thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view .of a molding machine embodying features of this invention.

' Fig.2 is an enlarged View taken along the line 2-2'of Fig. 1.

f Fig. 3 is a sectional viewta-ken along the line 3-'3 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the air control circuit employed for operating the molding machine.

Fig. 5 `is anv enlarged sectional view of one of the timer valves.

Referring now to the drawings (Fig. 3) for a betterfunderstanding of this invention, the im-.

proved moldingmachine isv shownrcomprisingea base H having a vpistonsupporting member 12 secured thereto by 'means of screws I3. Apiston Ui is securely mounted -xuponthe upper vendof the member l2, and: is provided with suitable sealing rings Il .for leakproof, vsliding engagement with the wall of va lift cylinder l 8. Axguide plate l9is bolted-'to `the lower end ofthe lift cylinder I8 for reciprocable engagement with the piston supporting-member I2,`and isiprovid'ed with a wiping seal 2i to remove vany ldirt or sand from the member l2. and to preventthe infiltration of sand and dirt into the cylinder.y Guide shoes 22 are secured to opposite sides of the cylinder for sliding engagement `with guide'posts23to prevent rotationalmovement of the cylinder.

VA breather -pipe'Z-'leads from .thev cylinder 1:8

to an air filter (not shown). n

A plate pattern yholder 26;.is -securely,..mounted upon the lift :cylinder 1.8andis5formed withf-a suitable recess 2l `to receive 1.a plate pattern' 28. A. stripper .frame 29.y encloses thefupper. endfof the holder 26 and is guided for verticalmovement by means of a pair :of-'.gude pins 3l (seebroken `away portion of Fig. 3)y adiustably 'mounted-,on vdiagonal corners of the holder for engagement yin guide kbearings32 secured to -thevframel The guide pins 3l also engage' hardened stop buttons 33 when the stripper frame is yin its lower'position to insure that the upper surface 34 of the .stripper frame is ush with or. slightly lower than' the upper surface 36 of the. holder. .Hardened wear bushings'l are provided .in the guide bearings 32, and seal washers 38 :are providedl to protect the bearing surfaces vfrom dirt andsand. Arpa-ir of stop pins 39 (Fig. .2) are Jadjustably secured on the other twolcorners `.of the holder to act with the guide pins 31|:to position' the holder in its lower position.

. A pair of cylinders M aresecured to the zunderside of the stripper frame 29zto receive pistons 42 having shaft vportions Ai3 -projecting downwardly through cover/plates 44 for engagement with adjustablestop. buttons #6. The'stop buttons are threadedinto the upper Vends vof the guide posts 23 and locked against displacement =by locknuts 41. Annular. seals 4.8;areprovided inthe cover plates 44 f'or'gizprotection against the entrance of sand in `cylinder l4.|. A: protective guard i0 is provided around the cylinders as indicated.

Four ask aligning pins t9V are provided to l-project Aupwardly from thefupperssurface `36 'of the y holder 26 to engage :in apertures (not shown) provided in alaskragmentarilysreferred .to fat 5I. A rapper 52 is amountedron theholder :below the plate pattern. The plate pattern is heated by means of an electric or gas unit (not shown) mounted inside the holder 26. The usual squeeze plate 50 is supported on upright members 55 secured to the base II.

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the combined valve and piping means employed for controlling the operation of the molding machine. Air under pressure flows through an inlet pipe 56 from a source of pressure to a three-way control valve 5l which is opened to the air inlet pipe 56 by operating the handle 58 and is closed to the air inlet and opened to exhaust to the atmosphere by means of a spring (not shown), and thence from the valve 51 through a conduit 59 to the interior of the lift cylinder I8 above the piston I4, The inlet pipe 56 also leads through a conduit 6l to the inlet ends of a pair of similar Schrader three-way adjustable timer valves 62 and 63.

Each timer valve comprises a body 64 having an inlet passage 66 and an outlet passage 61. A .valve disc 68 having two closure seats 69 and H is reciprocably mounted in the valve body and normally held in its upper position by means of a helical compression spring 'I2 for closing the inlet passage 66 by means of the closure seat 69. A piston I3 having a piston stem 14 is mounted in a cylinder I6 for actuating the valve disc 68. An exhaust passage 'I0 is provided in the lower end of the stem I4 and leads from the outlet passage 6l to the atmosphere under control of the closure seat 1I. The piston is normally held in its upper position by means of a compression spring 11 and with the lower end of the stem 14 out of engagement with the closure seat l I. An air bleeder passage l5 leads from the interior of the cylinder 'I6 to the atmosphere under control of an air control screw 18.

A conduit T9 leads from the conduit 59 to a spring actuated adjustable pressure relief valve 8| to open upon predetermined pressure, and a conduit 82 leads from the valve 8I to the upper ends of the cylinders 'I6 of the timer valves 62 and 63. A conduit 83 leads from the outlet passage 61 of the timer valve 62 to the stripper cylinders 4I, and a conduit 84 leads from the outlet passage of the timer valve 63 to the rapper 52.

In the operation of the molding machine thus described, a flask 5| is positioned on the surface 36 of the pattern plate holder 26 and located by means of the pins 49, as shown in Fig. 3. After filling the flask with sand, the lever 58 of the control valve 51 is actuated by the operator to permit air under pressure to iiow through the conduit 59 to the lift cylinder I8 to cause same to move vertically. As the lift cylinder reaches its upper position, the sand is compressed within the flask by the squeeze plate 50 (Fig. l) until the resultant rise in air pressure causes the pressure relief valve 8I to open and permit the passage of air to the cylinders 'I6 of the timer valves 62 and 63. The pistons 'I3 are then actuated to seat the valve 'i4 on the seat 'II and simultaneously to unseat the closure 68 from the seat '69 to permit air under pressure to pass from the conduit TI, through the inlet passages 66, outlet passages 61, and conduits 83 and 84 to the strippei` cylinders 4I and rapper 52, respectively. Upon the operation of the rapper, the operator releases the handle 58 of the control valve 51 During the downward movement of the cylinder I8, the pattern plate 28 is stripped from the mold by means of the pistons 42 having their shaft portions 43 engage the stop members 46 and thereby stop the downward movement of the stripper frame 29 and the flask supported thereon while the pattern plate holder 26 continues its downward movement to its initial starting position. While the stripper frame is in its stripping position, the ask is removed therefrom by the operator. During the downward travel oi the cylinder I8, the compressed air within the timer valves 62 and 63 is being bled from their cylinders 'I6 through their bleeder passages 'I5 and as regulated by their respective flow control screws I8 to permit the springs 'l2 and 'I'I to act to move the closure seats to close the air inlet passages 66 and to open the exhaust passage 'I0 The timer valve 63 is regulated or timed to stop the operation of the rapper after the pattern plate is stripped from the mold, and the timer valve 62 acts to exhaust the air from the cylinders 4I after the mold has been removed from the stripper frame to permit the latter member to drop to its loading or starting position.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes in details may be made without 1departing from the scope or spirit of the invenion.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is:

1. In combined valve and piping means for a molding machine or the like, fluid supply means and conduit therefor including a lift cylinder in communication with said fluid supply means, stripper cylinders and a rapper to be actuated by said fluid supply means, a multi-way control valve in said iiuid supply conduit, the said control valve upon actuation being closed to the uid supply and opened respectively to exhaust to atmosphere and to communicate with the interior of the said lift cylinder, a plurality of multiway timer valves in communication with the said fluid supply, each of the said timer valves having a pair of closure seats, and having a piston portion for actuating one of the closure seats and an air bleeder passage from the said piston mea-ns, a pressure relief valve in communication with said lift cylinder and adjustable to open upon predetermined pressure, conduit means leading from the said relief valve to the piston portion of the said timer valves, conduit means from the outlet side of one of the timer valves communicating with the said stripper cylinders and conduit means from the outlet side of the other of said timer Valves in communication with the rapper.

2. Valve and piping mechanism for actuating a molding machine or the like, a iluid supply and conduit therefor including a lift cylinder at the base of the machine in communication with said uid supply, stripper cylinders and a rapper superposed above the said lift cylinder and actuated by iiuid within the said supply conduit, a multi-way control valve being in said fluid supply conduit and predeterminedly closed to the fluid supply and opened to exhaust to atmosphere and communicating with the said lift cylinder, a plurality of multi-way timer valves in communication with the said fluid supply, the said timer valves each having a pair of closure seats and piston means for actuating one of the closure seats and an adjustable air bleeder passage from the said piston means, pressure responsive mean in communication with said lift cylinder, the said lift cylinder exhausting through the said control Valve, conduit means from the said pressure responsive means to the said timer valves, conduitl means from one timer valve communicating with each of the stripper cylinders and conduit means from the other timer valve in communication with the rapper.

3. An actuating system comprising valves and fluid conduits for a molding machine or the like, the combination including a lift cylinder in communication with a fluid conduit, stripper cylinders and a rapper actuated by fluid Within said uid conduits, a three-Way Valve in one of said fluid conduits, the said latter valve upon actuation being closed to the fluid conduit and opened to exhaust to atmosphere and being connected with the interior of the said lift cylinder, a plurality of timer valves in communication with the said fluid supply, the said timer valves each having a pair of upper and lower closure seats and resiliently mounted piston means and stem for actuating the closure seats, the said piston means being normally maintained in its upper position and with the stem out of engagement with the lower closure seat, the said timer valves having:V

air bleeder passages from above the said timer piston means, a pressure relief valve adjustable to open upon predetermined pressure in communication with said lift cylinder, conduit means from the said relief Valve to the piston means of the said timer Valves, conduit means from the outlet side of one of the timer valves communi- 6 eating with the said stripper cylinders and conduit means from the other of said timer Valves in communication with the said rapper, one of said timer valves predeterminedly stopping the operation of the rapper, the other of said timer valves predeterminedly exhausting the fluid from the said stripper cylinders to enable the molding machine to return to its mold loading position.

ANDREW SCOTT.

JAMES B. AMSTUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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