US3121266A - Centrifugal mold closure assembly - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 1l. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Wm/w Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 11, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 11, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. l-:wlNG 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 11, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ma f. WM/ INVENTOR. .Z5/'175. 6.

Feb. 18, 1964 P. E. EWING 3,121,266

CENTRIFUGAL MOLD CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Original Filed April ll. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY yx United States Patent O 3,l2l,266 EENERWUGAL MGLD CLGSRE ASSEMBL Paul E. Ewing, Huntington Park, Calif., assigner to Rich Manufacturing Company 'of California, llos Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California @riginal application Apr. 1l, lQdtl, Ser. No. 2l,l80, new Patent No. 3,972,989, dated dan. l5, 1963. Divided and this application May 8, i951, Ser. No. ll3,982

4 Claims. (Cl. 22-65) This is a divisional application of Serial No. 21,180, flied April 11, 1960, now Patent No. 3,072,980.

This invention relates to centrifugal casting apparatus for the manufacture of pipe and is particularly directed to improvements over the apparatus shown in my prior Patent 2,879,563, granted March 31, 1959. In general terms the apparatus disclosed in that patent includes a rotary transfer member which receives a cylindrical metal flask in horizontal position and then turns it to an upright vertical position. While the flask is held in vertical position a retractable pattern is inserted upward into the interior of the Jrlask and a sand-delivery mechanism is lowered to contact the upper end of the flask and the upper end of the pattern. Sand is then blown into the interior of the flask around the pattern to form a sand lining within the flask. The pattern is then withdrawn in a downward direction and the sand-delivery device is retracted upward away from the flask.

The transfer member then turns and deposits the sandlined flask in horizontal position on rails leading to a spinning station where molten metal is poured into the spinning sand-lined flask, or mold. The molten metal solidifies while the mold is spinning and the mold then moves from the spinning station to a casting-ejection station. The casting, in the form of a length of pipe, is pushed axially out of the flask along with the sand lining. The casting and sand are then discharged laterally while the empty flask is elevated and deposited on rails leading to the transfer member. The cycle then repeats.

The present invention relates to improvements in the apparatus at the spinning station.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel form of closure assembly for use with the mold at the spinning station, which assembly includes means for arresting free spinning movement of parts of the closure after discharge of the mold and casting from the spinning station.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FlGUBE 1 is a side elevation in diagrammatic form of a centrifugal casting apparatus embodying this invention.

FlGURE 2 is an end elevation partly in section and partly broken away showing details of the apparatus at the spinner station.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation partly in section taken substantily on the lines 3 3 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlargement of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2.

FlGURE 5 is a plan view partly in section and partly broken away and taken substantially on the lines S--S as shown in FGURE 3.

lGURE 6 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 5 5 as shown in FGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on the lines '7 7 as shown in FIGURE 5 and illustrating the transfer arms in lower position.

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 7 but with the transfer arms shown in upper position.

FlGURE 9 is a horizontal section view taken along the axis of a mold in spinning position.

Referring to the drawings, the general arrangement includes a rotary transfer member l) which may be sim- Cil Patented Fels., l, i964 ICC ilar to that disclosed in my prior Patent 2,879,563. This rotary transfer member l@ includes a framework 1l fired on a central horizontal shaft 12. The shaft l2 is supported in axially spaced bearings 13 and lli mounted on pedestals l5. The framework ll is positioned between the bearings i3 and 14. Four flask-receiving seats are provided on the front face of the framework ll and each of these seats is adapted to receive and hold a hollow cylindrical llask lo. Power means in the form of a power cylinder 17 acting through crank arm l and a one-way clutch i9 serves to turn the shaft l2 and transfer member l@ through one-quarter turn increments. A retractable pattern 2l is mounted on the upper end of a piston rod 22 extending upward from a power cylinder assembly 23. When the piston rod Z2 is projected upward, the pattern 2l moves longitudinally into the bore of the vertical flask le. A sealing plate 24 resiliently mounted on the piston rod 22 contacts the lower end of the vertical flask 16. The sand-delivery device generally designated 25 has a nozzle 26 at the lower end thereof and when the device 2S is lowered to Contact the upper end of the flask 16 the nozzle acts as a pilot and telescopes into the upper end of the pattern 2l to hold it in central position and thus forms a part of the pattern. (See FIGURE 1.) The apparatus for guiding and raising and lowering the sanddelivery device is described hereinafter.

After the vertical flask lo has 'been lined with sand and after the sand-delivery device Z5 has been retracted in an upward direction and the pattern 2l retracted in a downward direction, the rotary transfer member lil is turned through one-quarter revolution to bring the sandlined flask into horizontal position adjacent the stationary rails 3h'. The sand-lined flask is then released from its seat on a framework il and rolls along the rails 3i? toward the spinning station generally designated 3l. The construction and operation of the mechanism at the spinning station 3l is described below. When the sand-lined flask or mold 32 has received molten metal and after the easting has begun to cool, the casting-containing mold is deposited on rails 33 and feeder device generally designated S4 controls the rate of roll-ing movement of the castingiilled molds 32 to the casting-ejection station generally designated 35. The casting and sand lining are ejected axial-ly from the hollow flask into a tiltable hopper Se and the hopper is then raised by means of the cable 37 and power cylinder 33 to discharge the pipe casting and smd into the oscillating conveyor El?. The empty flask 16 is lifted by power cylinder assembly l to the upper portion of the tower 42 and discharged laterally onto the upper trackway or rails 43. The empty flask rolls on the rails 43' to the feeder assembly generally designated d4, and is again received in horizontal position on one of the seats on the rotary transfer member lil'. The cycle then repeats.

When the sand-lined llask or mold 32 rolls from the lower end of the rotary transfer member onto the rails 36', it rolls down the rails until it encounters another similar sand-lined flask or mold. As shown in FlGUlES 7 and S the tracks 3d are each provided with an abutment 13h which arrests forward rolling movement of the mold 32. These abutments ist? are placed at the lower ends of the rails 3ft at the spinning station generally designated 3l. rllhe apparatus at the spinning station is nest shown in FlGURES 2-9. lt include-s parallel horizontal shafts ll, 132 mounted in axially spaced bearings 133. The beariags ill-3 are mounted on parallel erossbearns i3d supported on subframe Each shaft has a driven pulley 136 mounted thereon and these pulleys are belt-driven from a single driving pulley 1137 powered by an electric motor 13S. Each of the shafts 131 and 132 is provided with axially spaced spinning rolls E39, 14%. Rings l4 O are provided on each of the flasks and are axially spaced for Contact with the spinning rolls 139 and 149'.

Novel means is provided for simultaneously transferring a sand-filled mold 32 into a spinning position on the rolls 139 and 149 while at the same time transferring a castingcontaining mold out of spinning position and onto the tracks 33. A pair of duplicate transfer arms 145 fixed to the rockshaft 1de extends under the molds 32. The rockshatt 146 and transfer arms 145 are omitted in FlGURE 2 for clarity of illustration but are clearly shown in FISURES 5, 7 and 8. The roclcshaft 14.5 is supported in axially-spaced bearings 147 carried on supporting structure 14S. Each transfer arm has a recess 156 formed in its upper surface near the swinging end thereof and also has an abutment 151 at the extreme end thereof. When the arms 145 are raised from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FGURE 8, the upper surface of 152 of the arms engages under the casting-lled mold 32 which is in spinning position on the rolls 139 and 141'?. The recessed portion 15? of the arms engages under the next adjacent sand-illed mold which is to be moved into spinning position. The end surface abutment 151 contacts the next adjacent mold 32 to hold it back and prevent it from being lifted by the arms 14S.

A gravity actuated trigger 153 is pivotally mounted at 154 on each of the arms 14d at a location near the juncture of the recess surface d, and the upper surface 152 of the arms 145. Stop lugs 155 and 15o limit the pivotal movement of the trigger 153 in both directions. `When the arms 14S are in the lower retracted position as shown in FIGURE 7, the triggers 153' pivot by gravity and lie against the limit stops 156. Accordingly, when the arms 145 are raise the upper ends of the triggers 153v engage under the casting-filled mold 32 and cause it to move to the lett as viewed in EEGURES 7 and 8. As the castingilled mold 32 rolls down the inclined surface 152 of the arms lea' in raised position, as shown in FiuURE 8, the upper ends of the triggers 153 are contacted by the sand-filled mold being moved into spinning position. Should the mold tend to roll up and out of the recess 15d the triggers 153 strike the limit stops 155 to present an abutment, thereby preventing overtravel of the sand-filled mold The action of the surfaces 15% on the arms 1115 is to lift the sand-lled molds 32 only to the extent sufficient to clear the abutments 13d and to roll over the surfaces of the rolls 14). The transfer of the sand-filled mold from its position at the end of the tracks 3@ into spinning position is therefore accomplished with the minimum of shock loading, and the sand lining is not disturbed.

The rockshaft 145 is turned by means of crank arm 158 fixed to the rocksha-ft and connected by link 159 to the piston rod 161B of the power cylinder assembly 4generally designated 161. The vcylinder portion of the assembly is pivoted at 1&2 to a `stationary bracket 163. When the cylinder assembly 151 is actuated to retract the piston rod 159, the rockshaft 14e is caused to turn in a counterclockwise direction, thereby raising the transfer arms 145. When the interior of the cylinder assembly 161 is vented, the weight of the arms and crank arm 153 returns the parts to the position shown in GURE 7 with the piston rod 161i in extended position.

-lt will be observed that a single raising movement of the arms is eifective to move a casting-filled mold from spinning position and at the same time move a sandiilled mold into spinning position. Accordingly, a single power stroke of the cylinder assembly 161 effects both of these operations.

When the sand-lined flask 32 is supported on the rolls 139 `and 1e@ in spinning position, end closures are swung into position to prevent escape of molten metal from the ends of the mold as well as to hold in place core pieces which define the interior shape of the ends of the pipe casting. The cores 174? and y171 are of conventional refractory construction and are smooth on their outer surfaces. The large end 172 of each core ts snugly Within the sand lining 173. Replaceable end plates i174 engage the end of the cores 17d and 171 and Contact the end of the sand lining 173. The end plates 174 have a central aperture 175. The end plates 174 are carried on and form a part of the closure l.assemblies generally designated 176 and 4177. These are substantially duplicates.

Each of these closure assemblies 176 and 177 includes a hollow `rotary hub `17? mounted on a nonrotary ring 179 by means of a ball-bearing assembly 13G. Threaded fastenings 181 connect the end plates 174ito the end flange of the hollow hub 178. Another end ilange 132 is fixed to the hub `178 by means of threaded fastenings 1&3 and this end flange turns with the hub 17%. A nonrotary brake disc 184 is annular form and carries friction liring which bears against the face of the flange 12. Arms 13d on the annular plate 184 are connected to parallel pins 187 having enlarged heads 138. These heads 'are guided for movement within spring housing 139 `fastened to a swinging support i190. The heads 133 Y prog'ect through the support 19% and are adapted to contact stationary side plates y191 when the closure assemblies are in closed position. Springs 192 within the spring housings 189 hold a brake lining `18S against the flange 1&2 when the closures are swung to open position, but these springs 192 are compressed when the heads 188 contact the stationary parts 1191, thereby moving the brake lining away from the surface of the flange 418.2.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the swinging support is pivoted at 195 to a stationary upright member 196 and the other end of the support 19? is actuated by means of an actuator member 197 pivoted at 19S to the stationary member. As shown in FIGURE 4 a power cylinder assembly 199 is connected to a stationary bracket 26@ by means of pivot pin 2111 and the piston rod 262 is pivotally connected at 293 .to the actuator member 197.

The swinging support 190 is provided with a horizontal bar 295 near its swinging end and this oar has an enlarged head 2%. A bracket 2417 lixed on the actuator member 1917 contains a slot 29S which loosely receives the bar 295 and defines a pocket for reception of the enlarged head 296. Suicient looseness is provided to allow the actuator member y197 to swing about its pivot 198 thereby moving the swinging support 199` about its pivot 19S. The required range of movement is not great and the angolari-ty of the swinging support `19t) is exaggerated in the upper portion of FIGURE 9 for the purposes of illustration.

In operation, one of `the sand-lined flasks or molds 32 is placed in spinning position `on the rolls 139 and 149 by means of the transfer arms 145, as described above. The power cylinder assemblies 199 are actuated to swing the closure `assemblies `176 and 177 Iinto position fto close the ends of the mold 32. The end plates 174 engage the sand lining i173y and the iianged hubs 178 engage the end faces of the flask. The swinging movement of the closure assemblies 176 'and 177 is Iaccomplished by energizing the power cylinder assemblies .1% in another direction to retract their respective piston rods 2112. The actuator members 197 then apply a closing lforce to the swinging supports 19t? so that endwise pressure is applied to both ends of the mold 3-2. Closing movement of the assemblies 175 and `177 is accompanied by separation of the friction lining 1%5 from the brake flanges 182 as descnibed above. r.This #allows the hollow hubs 173 to spin freely with the mold '32.

When the mold 32 'is spinning on the rollers 139 and 145i under power supplied by the electric motor 138, molten metal previously transferred from the ladle 21@ to the reservoir ladle 211 is poured into the receptacle 212 after the carriage 213 has been moved to place the spout 214 within lthe interior of the rotating mold 32. The receptacle 212 is `tilted to discharge molten metal through the spout 214 by means of the power cylinder assembly 215 mounted on the carriage 213. Movement of the carriage is controlled by means ott the power cylinder assembly 216. The pouring spout extends into the interior of the spinning mold 32 beyond the end of the adjacent core 176 and the molten metal fills lthe spaces 217 and 218 dened between the sand lining .173 and the outer surfaces of the cores 170 and 171. The outline of the pouring spout 214 is shown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 9 and it will be observed that the spout extends thro-ugh the central aperture in the hub 178 and replaceable end plate 175. When the pouring operation is completed, the carriage 21'3 is retracted by means of the power cylinder `216, thus withdrawing the pouring spout 214 to an inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 2.

The power cylinder assemblies 199 are then actuated to project their respective piston rods and thereby swing the closure assemblies '176 and 177 -to open position away from the composed ends of the casting-filled mold 32. The brake linings `185 automatically engage the brake flanges 182 to arrest spinning movement of the hubs 178 and related parts. Accordingly, the hubs will not be spinning when they are re-engaged with the nent sandiilled mold to be positioned on the rolls 139 and 140, and hence wear on the ends of the molds and disturbance of the cores and sand lining is minimized.

Just prior -to moving the closure assemblies 176 and 177 water may be introduced through the spray nozzle 213 to assist in rapid cooling of the casting within the sand lining 173-. The nozzle may be mounted in any convenient manner on one of the swinging supports 190.

Having fully described my invention it is to be understood that am not to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: means adapted to support and spin a horizontal cylindrical mold, a movable closure assembly for at least one end of the mold, said closure assembly including a hub having an element adapted to contact an end face of the cylindrical mold, another element on the hub presenting a friction brake surface, a stationary member, a support member mounted to swing on said stationary member, bearing means on said swinging support member mounting said hub for rotation, a nonrotary brake member carried on said swinging support member, bias means on said swinging support member acting to hold said brake member in contact with said friction surface, and means actuated by swinging movement of the closure assembly toward closed position acting to overcome said bias means to separate the brake member from said friction surface and permit free spinning of the hub as a unit with the cylindrical mold.

2. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: means adapted to support and spin a horizontal cylindrical mold, a movable closure assembly for at least one end of the mold, said closure assembly including a hub having an element adapted to contact an end face of the cylindrical mold, another element on the hub presenting a friction brake surface, a stationary member, a support member mounted to swing on said stationary member about a vertical axis, bearing means on said support member mounting said hub for rotation, a nonrotary brake member carried on said swinging support member, bias means on said swinging support member acting to hold said brake member in contact with said friction surface, and brake release means on said swinging support member and engaging said stationary member upon swinging movement of the closure assembly toward closed position to overcome said bias means, and thereby separate the brake member from said friction surface and permit free spinning of the hollow hub as a unit With the cylindrical mold.

3. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: pairs of power driven rollers adapted to support and spin a horizontal cylindrical mold, a movable closure assembly for at least one end of the mold, said closure assembly including a hollow hub having an element adapted to contact an end face of the cylindrical mold, another element on the hub presenting a friction brake surface, a stationary member, a support member mounted to swing on said stationary member about a vertical axis, bearing means on said support member mounting said hollow hub for rotation, a nonrotary brake member carried on said swinging support member, means including springs on said support member acting to hold said brake member in contact with said friction surface, brake release pins movably mounted on said swinging member and engaging said stationary member upon swinging movement of the closure assembly toward closed position acting to overcome said springs, and thereby separate the brake member from said friction surface and permit free spinning of the hollow hub as a unit with the cylindrical mold.

4. In a centrifugal casting device, the combination of: means adapted to support and spin a horizontal cylindrical mold, a stationary member, a closure assembly for at least one end of the mold, means mounting said closure assembly for swinging movement on said stationary member, said closure assembly including a rotary hub having an element adapted to contact an end face of the cylindrical mold, another element on the hub presenting a friction brake surface, a nonrotary brake member, bias means acting to hold said brake member in contact with said friction surface, and means actuated by movement of the closure assembly relative to said stationary member and toward said mold acting to overcome said bias means to separate the brake member from said friction surface and permit free spinning of said hub as a unit with the cylindrical mold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,030,105 Enrich et al Feb. 11, 1936 2,489,479 Cavallier Nov. 29, 1949 2,948,933 Molloy et al. Aug. 16, 1960

Claims (1)

1. 4. IN A CENTRIFUGAL CASTING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF: MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AND SPIN A HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL MOLD, A STATIONARY MEMBER, A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR A LEAST ONE END OF THE MOLD, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ON SAID STATIONARY MEMBER, SAID CLOSURE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A ROTARY HUB HAVING AN ELEMENT ADAPTED TO CONTACT AN END FACE OF THE CYLINDRICAL MOLD, ANOTHER ELEMENT ON THE HUB PRESENTING A FRICTION BRAKE SURFACE, A NONROTARY BRAKE MEMBER, BIAS MEANS ACTING TO HOLD SAID BRAKE MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH SAID FRICTION SURFACE, AND MEANS ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF THE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO SAID STATIONARY MEMBER AND TOWARD SAID MOLD ACTING TO OVERCOME SAID BIAS MEANS TO SEPARATE THE BRAKE MEMBER FROM SAID FRICTION SURFACE AND PERMIT FREE SPINNING OF SAID HUB AS A UNIT WITH THE CYLINDRICAL MOLD.

Images