US2723428A

US2723428A - Mechanical safety hood for molds

Info

Publication number: US2723428A
Application number: US306540A
Authority: US
Inventors: Caswell G Chambers
Original assignee: RALPH V REED
Current assignee: RALPH V REED
Priority date: 1952-08-27
Filing date: 1952-08-27
Publication date: 1955-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1972-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1955 c. G. CHAMBERS 8 MECHANICAL SAFETY HOOD FOR MOLDS I Filed Aug. 2'7, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Caswel/ 6. Chambers INVENTOR.

N 1955 c. G. CHAMBERS MECHANICAL SAFETY HOOD FOR MOLDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1952 603 we 6. Chambers Fig. 2

INVENTOR.

Nov. 15, 1955 c. e. CHAMBERS MECHANICAL SAFETY noon FOR MOLDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3v Filed Aug. 27, 1952 Casual! 6. Chambers INVENTOR.

only w United States Patent MECHANICAL SAFETY HOOD FOR MOLDS Caswell G. Chambers, Maryville, Tenn., assignor of twenty-five per cent to Ralph V. Reed, Maryviile, Tenn.

Application August 27, 1952, Serial No. 306,540

Claims. (Cl. 22-1) This invention relates to a safety hood and particularly to a hood for covering molds during the casting of aluminum blocks to prevent molten metal from being thrown onto the person of the operator of the equip ment therearound.

In casting operations, particularly in the casting of aluminum ingots, considerable diflicult y has been encountered because the hot metal when flowing into the molts frequently finds moisture therein produces steam which expands with explosive force to shoot droplets of metal into the vicinity of the mold and is particularly liable to injure the person of an operator or to cause damage in machinery adjacent to the casting operation. The present invention provides a mechanical shield for reducing the probabilities of shots and also for shielding the operator from the effects of said shots when they occur. v

The invention is preferably carried out by constructing a lightweight metal shield of sufficient size to cover a plurality of mold devices and have a top arranged to protect the operator including a window through which the operator may look to observe the operation. It is also provided with a plurality of blow pipes which may be utilized to blow the moisture out of the molds immediately before the melted metal is poured therein to eliminate the probability of shots therein. The rear side of the hood is substantially open and is directed to the usual casters pit immediately back of the mold platform. The top of the hood is provided in a curved formation and a curved guide is provided between the ends of the hood at the back portion of the open side so that the moisture discharged by the blow pipes is dc posited in the casters pit. An operators pit is usually provided at the front of the hood and the actual height of various portions of the hood will be determined by the depth of the operators pit.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved mechanical hood.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood for preventing shots from injuring the operator in a casting operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood having means for blowing the moisture out of the ingot molds.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood which is mechanically controlled for movement into and out of position over the ingots.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hood which can be controlled by means of valves available in the operators pit.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the mechanical safety hood; I

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the safety hood; v Figure 3 is a cross section through the hood taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the protective seal about the blower pipe; and

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic system for the hood.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a plurality of ingot molds 10 are provided in a casting platform 12 which is backed up by a casters pit 14 and controlled from an operators pit 16. Molten metal is conducted into the molds 10 by means of a suitable pouring trough 18. The safety hood proper comprises a pair of

frame members

20 and 22 preferably constructed of structural metal shapes such as channels. Ends 24, preferably constructed of sheet metal, are mounted on the

frames

20 and 22 and are preferably provided with

suitable apertures

26 and 28 through which the pouring trough 18 may be extended for contact with or positioning with respect to the molds.

A top 30 preferably constructed of sheet metal or other suitable light material is mounted between the

end frames

20 and 22 with the front portion sloping downwardly to provide a upper front face 32. The rear portion of the top 30 is preferably curved downward as at 34 to provide a guide surface for directing moisture into the pit 14. An arcuate guide member 36 is provided between the

frames

20 and 22 and across a portion of the back wall of the device to provide a guide surface for facilitating the drawing of moisture from the molds 10 into the pit 14.

A front wall 38 of any suitable height is provided between the lower edge of the sloping face 32 and the top of the platform 12.

The sloping face 32 is provided with a window 42 held in place by means of angular frames 44. The window 42 may be constructed of any suitable transparent material such as mica, glass, plastic or any other suitable transparent material. An elongated opening 46 is provided in the surface 32 either above or below the window 42 as may be desired. The elongated opening 46 is covered by a plurality of plates 48, 5t} and 52 which are retained in

suitable guide tracks

54 and 56. Preferably the

guide tracks

54 and 56 are so dimensioned that the

plates

48 and 50 may readily slide over the top of the plate 52 or vice versa so that any portion of the elongated aperture 46 may be opened and the remainder of the aperture covered by suitable protective plates. Control handles 58 may be applied on any

plates

48, 50 and 52 as may be desired.

For simplicity of illustration a single opening of the type 46 has been shown but it is obvious that any suitable number of such apertures may be provided either above or below the window 42 as may be desired or in the end walls or other locations where it is desirable to introduce a tool into the hood. Apertures are particularly useful for introducing a shaking bar into the hood to tap the screens or grates in the pouring trough 18.

In order to reduce the probability of shots during the casting operation a plurality of blow pipes 60 are extended through apertures such as 62 in the curved portion 34-of the top 30. Shield members 64 are'mounted on the blow pipes 60 and are of suflicient size to cover the apertures 62 while the pipes 60 may be adjusted anywhere in the aperture 62. Preferably the apertures 62 for the blow pipes are arranged in aligned relation and

guide members

66 and 68 preferably of angular formation are secured on the surface of the curved portion 34 and overlie the edges of the shield plate 64 so that the shield plate 64 may be individually adjusted under the

track members

66 and 68 and protect the edges of the apertures so that no metal can be shot through the openings. An angulated supporting bar 70 is mounted on the end frames and 22, in

spaced relation to the curved surface 34 and a clamping bar 72 is secured thereby by means of bolts and wing nuts 74.so.th1a :the blow; pipes ;.6.0.;may. beradjusted and secured.

in adjusted fixed relation with respect to the shield men bers; so that; they:- will: constantly, maintain their. adjustment therein. throughtheblowpipes by.meansofia.manifold fidhavmg branch conduits 88 to the various blOW. pipes60; Substantially similar; blow-pipes 90amay be arranged: in the 'forwardportion of the hoodlprcferably. in the front wall 38 althoughobviously it could-be in the sloping su.r-

face-32. Air is supplied: by. meanstof armanifoldi 92" and.

flexible connections 94. Manifolds,86.and. 92 arepref-1 erablyconnected: together; bya fluid conduit; 96..which' is; supplied froma; main fluid line: 98;thro'ugh' a controlivaive- 1,00,:and a supply; conduit; 102;. The control valve 10.0 is preferably of the;foot;operator; type so that theoper-aton may, compres s- ,the; control valve 100.- and: admit fluidinto the molds 10; immediately before the metal.- is cast therein sothat any water; may be blown out of the molds and reduce the likelihoodoi shots resulting frorn the casting of-themetal. The lower-ends of the blow pipes 60j,and- 90 are preferably V-shaped; to causethe proper jet action of the compressed fluid. flowinginto the ingots to secure the maximum cleaning action therein.

To properly operate the; hood; member; and lift: it on and'oifof the; casting platform 12to cover or-uncover-theingot molds 10 as may be desired; a stub post 110 is-fi'rmly fixed 1n, the floor in proximity tooneend of the hood members herein shown as, the. end 24. and astandard .112 is placed onthe; stub post'in pivoted. or oscillating moving relation thereto so that the standard 112: isrigidly. held in an upright position butmay. readily turn or pivot. on the post 110. A laterally extending boom 114iiS secured adjacent the top of the standard 112.and extends-laterally over the hood. A vertically positioned fluid cylinder 116 is rigidly positioned on the boom 114.andhas a piston (not shown) which is reciprocably, controlled in the cylinder 114by-rneans of opposed air. inlets l'lfiand 120; A piston rod 122.extends from the lower end of the cylinder 116 and is rigidly attached; to a plate 124: which isin turncontrolled but non-rotatably mounted on the pistonrod' 122.. Lateral movement of the hood is controlled by means of an arm 14tl rigidly. attachedto the colurnn;112'

and extending laterally therefrom. A.cyli nder 142 is disposed in horizontal relation adjacent to the standard 112 andpivotally connectedby suitable element such ashinge 144: Piston rod 146.,extends from the piston 142 and is pivotally connected to the-arm-140. The piston od-146 may be extended-or withdrawn from the cylinder 142 by means of the fluid connections148 andlSO. which receive their energy from the fluid line 98 through a suitable control valve 152, the upper and lower conduits 120; and- 118 being controlled by the valve 154;

In the operation of the hood according to the invention the operator-will operate the valve 152. to swing the hood overthe casting platform 12. after which the valve 154 will be manipulated to lower the hood into contact with the platform andcovering the mold cavities 10. The pouring spout 18 will then be positioned with respect to the mold cavities lttandthe operator will depress the valve to blow moisture out of the mold cavities into the casters pit 14. An operator can observe the operation of the casting operation under the hood through the window 42 and if necessary he may open the aperture 46 to. insert a tapping rod or other tool to control the flow of molten metal in the trough 18 or to perform any other Fluid; such. as, compressedvv airis supplied:

operation inthe hood which may be performed by an extension tool. As soon as the ingots have been cast in the molds 10 the hood then may be removed from the platform 12 by actuating the valve 154 to lift the hood out of contact with the platform then by operating the valve 152 to energize the cylinder 142 to oscillate the standard about the post so that the hood will be deposited in a position removed from the platform asshown in phantom position in Figure 1. Obviously, any desired numoer of-blow pipes-90 and 60 may be utilized in any desired arrangement to secure the best scavaging of the moisture from the mold cavities 10. Alsoit is apparent, that the nozzles at the end ofthe

blow pipes

60 and 90 may be shaped alike or ditferently as may be convenient or as is found most suitable in expelling the moisture from the molds.

It will thus be apparent that the present invention providesga mechanical safety ho,od:which mayi'bgreadily mounted, on; or,- removed; from. over mold;- cavities and; which may beutilizedz bstan al yuc he-numb r.- of shots. .which' occur when molten .metaLis cast into mold:

forms and in the event that shots occur prevent theircontact; with. the ;operator: or; adjacent; machinery.

For, purpose of;illu s tratio na;particular embodirnent of the inventionhasbeen shown, anddescribedjaccording to the best; presentunderstanding thereof. It; will be apparent to; those skilled in the, art that. changes and.

modificationsrcan be 'made-thereinwithout departingfrom the truespirit of the. invention,

Having described, the; invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A- safety hood cflmprisinga top including asloping front; portion; 'dlld figCUPVCd Ififll portion, end walls rigidly connected to said top portion, an arcuate guidepositioned at the lower; rear portions of} said end'walls, said guide being: mounted, onqsaidendj-walls, a,front; Wall extending below. said. sloping front portion, a standard pivotally mountedadjacennone'end of said hood, a fluid,operated device supporting said hood from, said standard, a fluid actuatedmca-ns; operative to oscillate said; standard, a transparent section insaid sloping; top: portion, an elongated.- aperture adjacent, said; transparent: section, a plurality of sliding, doorsassociated'withsaid apertures, a plurality. ofwalignediopenings in; said top, ablow pipeextendingthrough each" of said; openings, shield; plates mounted-on each of'saidzpipes, glide. track means. adjacent each side of= saidaligned: openings, said-shield plates. being received in said guide-trackmeans, a support barmounted in:spacedirelation.totheopenings, clamp means securing said pipes-.tosaid-har.

2;. In. a safety hood; adapted to. overlie. fixed metal molds, a pivotedzvertical standard, a boom fixed.- on an. upper end portion of said standard and-extending; radially therefrom, a vertically and pivotally adjustable hood member supported from saidfboom and including a.closed sloping frontandaanopenrear back. portion, a fluid motor mounted on said boom, a piston vertically reciprocable in said fluid motor, a piston rod connecting said hood to said,piston,. a guide; operatively connected between said boomandsaid hood for preventing rotation of said hood. with respect to said fluid motor, means operatively connected to thepivotedstandard for rotating-.- said hood into and out of anoverlying relationship relative to the fixed: molds, and means carried by-said hood for'removing ex.- cessrmoisturein said molds.

3. Ina safety hood adapted tooverlie fixed metal molds, a pivoted vertical standard, a boom fixed on an upper end portionofi; said standardand extending radially therefrom, a vertically and: pivotally adjustable: hood member including=aclosedsloping front-and having an:

hood with respect to said fluid motor, a pivot arm fixed on the lower end portion of said standard, a fluid motor pivotally mounted in proximity to said standard, a piston reciprocable in said pivoted fluid motor, a connection between said piston and said arm, fluid supply conduits connected to said cylinders, control means associated with said connections for determining the relative position of said hood for positioning the same relative to the fixed metal molds, a plurality of fluid pressure blow pipes mounted on said hood and extending therein, and supply conduits fixed to said fluid pressure blow pipes for expressing moisture from molds within said hood whereby said moisture is directed out of the opening in the back of said hood.

4. In a safety hood as set forth in claim 3, wherein a plurality of spaced fluid pressure blow pipes are supported on said hood and extend downwardly therein, an arcuate guide plate extending transversely of the open back portion of said hood and having a curved upper surface extending into spaced parallel relation to said blow pipes, said arcuate guide plate in excluding moisture blown from the molds in said hood.

5. In a safety hood comprising a top including a sloping front portion and a curved rear portion, end walls rigidly connected to said top portion, an arcuate guide positioned between the lower rear portions of said end walls and extending in spaced relation to said curved top portion pro- 6 vide a rearwardly open guide, said guide being mounted and extending between said end walls, a front wall extending below the sloping front portion of said hood, 2. vertically extending standard pivotally mounted adjacent one end of said hood, a fluid operated motor supporting said hood on said standard, a second fluid motor for rotating said standard, an elongated aperture in said hood, a fluid pressure blow pipe extending through said aperture, and an elongated shield mounted on said fluid pressure blow pipe, guide members including overlying edges extending transversely of said hood, said shield being reciprocably supported within the overlying edges of said guide members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS