US2573857A

US2573857A - Metal casting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2573857A
Application number: US56011A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sam J Mccain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-10-22
Filing date: 1948-10-22
Publication date: 1951-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1968-11-06

Description

I S. J. M CAIN Nov. 6, 1951 METAL CASTING I APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1948 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS s. J. MCCAIN Nov. 6, 1951 METAL CASTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 22, 1948 mm 6 IK INVENTOR. 6AM J.' Me (A/N A TTOlP/YEVS Nov. 6, 1951 5. J. MCCAIN v 2,573,857

. M ETAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Ocjz. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. J. M 04 //V 7fimdmrmuhman ATTORNEYS S. J. M CAIN Nov. 6, 1951 METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 67 FIG. 7

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INVENTOR. 5/1/14 1' Ma 0.4m

ATTORNEYS NOV. 6, 1951 A 5 J MCCAIN I 2,573,857

METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 19 48 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 64M .1 Mo 09/ Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STAT- r parlor:

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating the casting from the sand and the mold.

An object of the invention is the provision of a shake-out apparatus in which a pair of tracks guide carriages for supporting a shake-out device around an annular path where stations are indicated for performing a number of operations, one of the tracks having a short movable section adapted to be raised at the shake-out station when arms are elevated for tilting the usual mold board for separating the sand mold and casting from each other and from the mold board, the flask and mold board being held against displacement from the carriage during the dumping action.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a shake-out device for a molding apparatus in which the device is carried along an annular path when molding, pouring, cooling and shake out stations are established, the shake-out device including a post suspended from a' carriage guided by a track outlining the path for supporting a hollow mold seat upon which is mounted a tiltable mold board, an elevated beam mounted on the post having springs depending therefrom for controlling oscillation of a frame rockable on the post and retained against movement by a latch which is released during thelifting of a means for tilting the mold board to dump the sand and casting therefrom while the flask is retained in position by chains depending from the frame.

The invention is best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings,

nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure but is susceptible of such changes and modifications as shall define no departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view in elevation nal vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the mechanism for moving the shaker along a track,

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the shaker mechanism in an operative position for dumping the castin from each. other.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section through the hollow mold seat and showing the mold board in a dumping position,

Figure 7 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 6 but disclosing the mold board in an inoperative position on the mold seat,

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the board,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the lifting means for a section of the track and the operating means for tilting the mold board.

Figure 10 is a side view in elevation of the lifting means in lowered position, 7

Figure 11 is the same side view of the lifting ,means in an elevated position, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of the lifting means taken along the line |2-I2 of Figure 11. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l5 designates a plurality of main posts arranged in a vertical plane running centrally of the mold shake-out apparatus. The posts are secured to the floor of a building or other support by angle irons l6 and are connected at the upper end thereof to spaced auxiliary posts I! by metal brace bars l8 adjacent the ends of the apparatus. Brackets (Fig. 1) project upwardly from the posts ll for rigidly supporting anupper track 2|. The sides of the track are parallel and are connected together by horizontal bars 22 braced by strap irons 23 and 24 (Fig; 3) bolted to other auxiliary posts Ila' located between the posts I 'I which aid in carrying the curved ends of the track.

Thetrack 2| is in the form of an inverted channel member which includes straight parallel portion and 3| and-curved end portions 32 and 33 (Fig. 2). Flanges 34 are turned inwardly from the lower edges of the side walls of the channel with the free edges of said flanges being spaced Said flanges form a track for carriages 35 and 35a forsuspending a support 36 carrying a hollowv mold seat 37. The carriagei's attached to an endless chain 38 received within the annular track 2|. A sprocket 39 .driven by 'a shaft 4|] projects-through a slot 41 formed in the upper face of the track and operates the chain 38. A,m0tor 42 revolves the shaft. The track 2| and the carriages 35 form, in effect, an overhead trolley.

The support 36 is suspended from thecarriage 35 as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. Each carriage includes a pair of'parallel axles 45, a pair of rollers 46 for each axle with the axles being j connected together by a rod 41. A metal strap 50 has a hook or eye at the upper end to receive the rod 41 and which eye is located midway between the pair of axles of each carriage. The lower ends of the straps are connected by bolts 5| to semi circular plates 52 which are bolted to opposite faces of the upper end of the support 36. The upper straight edges 53 of said plates ride in close association with the flanges 34 of the track 2|. A series of rollers 54 are carried by shafts 55 to support the chain 38 beneath the sprocket 39 (Fig. 4). Such rollers may be spaced at intervals beneath the chain.

A beam 56 is secured rigidly intermediate its ends thereof at 51 on the vertical support 36 (Figs. 1 and 5). A bar 58 is rigidly secured intermediate its ends to the outer end of the beam. Expansion springs 59 are connected between the bar and a bar 60 forming the outer end of a frame 6| which includes side arms 62 joined at the inner free ends by a rod 63 received by a journal 64 in the support 36 for pivotally mounting said frame. Chains 65 are suspended in pairs from the ends of the bar 60 and are provided with hooks 66 for engagement with a mold board 61 or with a flask (not shown) for a purpose which will be explained presently. The frame 6| in effect is a lever.

A latching device generally designated by the numeral I includes an arm II pivoted at I2 on the bar 69 and is held in place against the support 36 by a guide I3. A bell-crank I4 is pivoted at I on the lower free end of the arm 'II and is provided with a latch 16 engaging a catch I! on the support 36. An arm I8 of the bell-crank is connected by a spring I9 to a finger 80 having an angular extension 8| pivoted at 82 on the latch I6. A spring 83 connects said finger with the support 36 and tends to pull the free end of the finger downwardly against a lug or tripping 'device 85 on a cylindrical strut 86 for a purpose which will be described presently. However, it may be stated here that the springs I9 and 03 cause the latch I6 to be released readily to avoid friction during the dumping action.

In Figures 9 to 12 inclusive is illustrated a hydraulic jack for not only raising the cylinder 96 and the associated elements but for raising a section 99 of a track 9| which is located in a horizontal plane lower than the plane of the track 2| and which forms a guiding support for said cylinder. A piston rod 92 projecting vertically from a jack cylinder 93 has its upper end in engagement with the movable track section 90 which is connected at its ends to rods 94 movably mounted in vertically disposed guides 95 fastened to the floor of a building. The cylinder 93 is also mounted on the floor of the building and is connected to the guides by straps 96 braced by rods 91. A piston not shown is rigid with the lower end of the rod 92. The hydraulic jack is quick-acting and is supplied with fluid under pressure above and below the piston. The usual valves (not shown) for controlling the flow of the fluid are actuated by the operator.

The lower end of the cylinder 86 is closed and a compression spring I00 has its lower end seated on the bottom of said cylinder while the upper end is secured rigidly to the lower end of a rod 1 IOI passing through the upper closed end I02 of the cylinder. The upper end of said rod (Figs. 1 and 5) is bolted to the inner end of the beam 56. Arms I03 extend laterally from said end of the beam to which are secured guide rods I04. A cross head I05 extends rigidly in opposite directions from the closed end I02 of the vertical cylinder 86 and is provided with passages at the free ends thereof to receive the lower ends of the rods I04. Nuts I06 threaded onto the lower ends of the rods provide limit stops for downward movement of the strut 86 away from the beam 56. The arms I03 and I05 are in the same vertical plane.

Figures 5 to 8 inclusive illustrate in more detail the construction of the hollow mold seat 31 and the mold board 61. The mold seat has a rectangular bottom IIO, parallel side walls III and II2 and parallel end walls H3. The lower end of the support 36 is secured to the side wall III by a U-shaped member II4 which is riveted or bolted to the support and to said side wall. The side wall has a pair of notches II5 deep enough to receive neatly intermediate portions of a pair of arms III; which have the inner ends thereof rigid with the lower end of the cylinder 86. Each of the end walls II3 are also provided with notches II! and M8 to receive respectively the free ends of a pair of rods II9 and I20 carried by the mold board 61.

The mold board consists of a pair of metal plates which are connected together adjacent the ends thereof by angle irons I2I. A reinforcing member I22 is riveted to the intermediate portions of said plates. The depending vertical flanges I23 of the angle irons are bored to receive neatly the rods II9 and I20. A cleat I24 is secured to the under face of the board 61 for engagement with the upper edge of the side wall I I2.

The inner free ends of the arms I I6 are in engagement with the under face of the mold board 61. Bearings I25 are disposed inwardly of the free ends of said arms and project downwardly therefrom. These bearings carry a rod I26 which runs longitudinally in the seat 31. A pair of tongs each having arms I30 and I3| have bearings on the opposite ends of the rod I26 so that the respective jaws I32 and I33 on the upper ends of the legs will clamp over the rod II9. The leg I30 of each pair of tongs is connected by a spring I35 to a pin I36 on the adjacent end wall I I3 while a spring I3'I connects the corresponding end of leg I3I to this pin.

A carriage I40 (Figures 1, 5 and 12) is secured to the bottom of the cylinder 86 below the connection between the radial arms I I6 and said bottom. This carriage includes an inverted U- shaped member having inturned flanges I4I on the lower edges of the side walls of said U -shaped member. The inner edges of said flanges are spaced apart to clear the piston rod 92. Grooved rollers I42, Figure 12, mounted on vertical axles I43 carried by the top of the U-shaped member and the flanges I4I receive the flanged portions I44 of the movable section and the track 9| as the cylinder 86 and the attached elements are carried around the annular track. While the section 90 of the track is raised and lowered each time the cylinder 86 reaches said section nevertheless, the flanges I44 of the section must aline with the corresponding flanges of the track 9| when the carriage I40 continues its travel away from the hydraulic jack 93. Brackets I45 (Fig. 1) connected between the posts I1 and the lower track 9| support said track at spaced points.

In Figure 5, a special construction of reinforcement for the curved endportions of the upper track 2| is illustrated. In this arrangement a U-shaped member I48 has the free ends of its legs riveted or welded to intermediate portions of the bar 22 and suspended therefrom. The bridging portion I49 of the U-shaped member rests uponthe beam assess? 56 when the support 36 and associated mechanism is brought to the unloading station.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, it will be seen that there are three stations at various points along the tracks I. A pouring station 55% is located at one parallel side portion ofthe track. A pourers platform tilt is at the pouring station which carries the operator at the same speed as the moving mold board 6'1. A'cooling station IE2 is disposed at a curved end of the track and the casting is cooled further when said casting travels from the cooling station along theother parallel side portionof the track to the dumping station E53. A molding station 5 1 is located between stations we and I53.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The chain 38 and likewise the carriage 35 and the elements supported thereby are driven at a predetermined speed by the sprocket '39. The pourers platform i5! is driven at the same speed permitting the operator to pour the materials without requiring him to follow the moving mold board which carries the flask.

After the pouring operation, the carriage passes to the cooling station I 52 when the usual weights are removed and the latching device it is connected with the catch '57 on the support 35. The hooks 55 are then attached to the flask. The carriage then moves to the shake-out station E53.

During the third step, the operator opens the controlling valve for the hydraulic jack 93, causing the movable section fill of the track to be raised together with the carriage Mil, cylinder 52% and the radial arms Hi3. As soon as the lug 85 on the cylinder trips the latch "it from the catch 1'! on the support 36 the springs 59 are released and lift the flask from the casting on mold board (ii. The mold board 6'! is tilted by the free ends of the arms as shown in Figure 5 whereby the casting and sand are discharged from the mold board. This operation separates the sand and casting from the flask and board. When the board Bl is tilted by the elevation of the arms i It, the springs i 55 and i3? (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) pull the legs 83!] and l's'l towards each other causing the respective jaws M2 and 33 to close over the ends of the rod i l 9 and limit the upward movement of the inner edge of the board. These tong arms H38 and HI cooperate with the cleat to prevent the unseating of the board from the hollow seat lowered as shown in Figure the springs 535 and I31 are relieved of the tension to spread the respective legs i355 and 13E for releasing the pairs of jaws I32 and H53 from the ends of the rod I I9.

What I claim:

1. Metal casting apparatus comprising an upper annular track, an annular lower track, means supporting said tracks in vertically spaced substantially parallel relationship, a trolley suspended from and movable around said upper track, a support suspended from said trolley, a hollow mold seat carried by said support, a tiltable mold board supported on said mold seat, a beam secured to said support above said mold seat and extending to opposite sides of said support substantially perpendicular thereto, springs suspended from said beam above said mold seat, chains suspended from said springs and connectible at their lower ends to a mold flask, said springs having a strength suflicient to lift a flask from said mold board, a link connected at one end to said chains, latch means releasably connecting the other end of said link to said support for holding said chains in lowered position with said When the free ends of the arms H5 are springs expanded, an upright member disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to said support, means slidably supporting the lower end of said upright member on said lower track for movement therearound, means slidably connecting said member at its upper end to said beam, a movable section in said lower track, a jack disposed below said movable section for elevating said movable track section and said upright mem-- her when said member is positioned over said movable section, means on said upright member engageable with said latch means to release said link from said support and free said springs to contract and lift a flask from a casting on said mold board when said upright member is elevated by said jack, and arms extending from said upright member under the adjacent side of said mold board for tilting said mold board when said upright member is elevated to thereby discharge a casting from the mold board.

2. Metal casting apparatus comprising a lower annular, track, an upper annular track, means supporting said upper track above said lower track, a trolley suspended from said upper track and movable therearound, casting supporting and discharging means comprising a support suspended from the trolley, a mold seat carried by said support, a mold board tiltably mounted on said mold seat, springs suspended from said support above said mold seat, means suspended from the lower ends of said springs for connecting said springs to a flask supported on said mold board, latch means connected to said springs at the lower ends thereof and connectible to said support for releasably latching said springs in extended condition, an upright member positioned adjacent said support, means supporting the lower end of said upright member on said lower track for movement therearound, means slidably connecting the upper end of said upright member to said trolley means connected to said lower track for elevating said member to release said latch means from said support to thereby free said springs to contract and lift a flask from said mold board, and means extending from said member under the adjacent edge of said mold board for simultaneously tilting the latter to discharge a casting therefrom.

3. In continuous casting apparatus including a lower annular track, an upper annular track, means supporting said upper track above said lower track, and a trolley suspended from said upper track and movable therearound, casting supporting and discharging means comprising a 5 support suspended from the trolley, a mold seat carried by said support, a mold board tiltably mounted on said mold seat, springs suspended from said support above said mold seat, means suspended from the lower ends of said springs for connecting said springs to a flask supported on said mold board, latch means connected to said sprihgs at the lower ends thereof and connectible to said support for releasably latching said springs in extended condition, an upright member positioned adjacent said support, means supporting the lower end of said upright member on said lower track for movement therearound, said lower track having a vertically movable section therein, means connected to said movable section of the lower track for elevating said movable track section and said upright member, means on said upright member engageable with said latch means to release said latch means from said support to thereby free said springs to contract and lift a flask from said mold board, means I extending from said member under the adjacent edge of said mold board for simultaneously tilting the latter to discharge a casting therefrom, and means carried by said seat and engageable with said mold board to limit tilting movement of the latter.

4. Metal casting apparatus comprising an annular lower track having a vertically movable section therein, a jack disposed below said movable section for raising the latter, an annular upper track disposed above and substantially parallel to said lower track, a carriage supported on and movable around said lower track, a trolley suspended from and movable around said upper track, an elongated support secured at one end to said trolley and depending therefrom, a mold seat rigidly secured to said support near the lower end of the latter, a mold board pivotally mounted on said mold seat for tilting movement relative to said seat, a strut secured at one end to said carriage and upstanding therefrom, a beam secured to said support adjacent said trolley and extending substantially perpendicular to said support above said strut, means slidably connecting the upper end of said strut to said beam and providing a limit stop for downward movement of said strut away from said beam, a compression spring acting between said beam and said carriage resiliently urging said carriage downwardly away from said beam, tension springs suspended from said beam, strands suspended from the lower ends of said tension springs and engageable at their lower ends with a flask supported on said mold board for lifting such flask when said springs are free to contract, a link connected at one end to the lower end of said tension springs, a latch engageable between said link and said support for releasably holding said link in position to maintain said tension springs under tension, an abutment carried by said strut and engageable with said latch to release said link and free said tension springs for contraction when said carriage is on said movable lower track section and said strut is raised by operation of said jack, and an arm projecting from said strut and engaging said mold board to tilt the latter upon upward movement of said strut for dumping a casting from said mold board when said tension springs are freed to contract and lift a casting enclosing flask from the mold board, said compression spring being effective to restore said strut and said movable track section to their original position after said jack has been operated.

SAM J. McCAIN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 501,331 Doolittle July 11, 1893 769,322 Packer Sept. 6, 1904 1,159,707 Peterson Nov. 9, 1915 1,734,174 McCabe Nov. 5, 1929 1,873,096 Woody et a1 Aug. 23, 1932 2,431,174 Henry Nov. 18, 1947 2,466,650 Walker et al Apr. 5, 1949