US3544355A

US3544355A - Shot cylinder lubricating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3544355A
Application number: US664847A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard J Ott
Original assignee: Respond Inc
Current assignee: Respond Inc
Priority date: 1967-08-31
Filing date: 1967-08-31
Publication date: 1970-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-01

Description

Dec. l, 1970 R. J. or'r SHOT CYLINDER LUBRICATING APPARVJYI'US Filed Aug. 3l, 1987 United States Patent O 3,544,355 SHOT CYLINDER LUBRICATING APPARATUS Richard J. Ott, New Buffalo, Mich., assignor to Respond Inc., Baroda, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 664,847 Int. Cl. B22d 7/04 U.S. Cl. 117-96 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a method and apparatus for lubricating a shot cylinder in a die casting machine. Spray head means is adapted to be moved into position for spraying the lubricant directly into the interior of the shot cylinder.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for lubricating a shot cylinder in a die casting machine.

Many die casting machines presently in use introduce the metal being cast into the dies through a cylinder or sleeve. A piston is actuated within the cylinder or sleeve for forcing the metal into the die. In order lto assure proper operation and minimize wear, it is necessary to lubricate the piston and cylinder between each shot.

Heretofore, lubrication of a shot cylinder or sleeve has usually been accomplished by manually brushing a viscous, heavy lubricant onto an exposed portion of the piston when the piston is withdrawn to a retracted position. Some automatic lubricating apparatus have been provided, but, in general, such apparatus have heretofore been similar to the manual method in that lubricant is applied to an exposed portion of the piston. Such methods and apparatus have generally not assured uniform and proper lubrication entirely around the circumference of the piston. Furthermore, when lubricant is applied to an exposed part, surrounding parts of the machine become coated with the lubricant and dirt and grime accumulate. Furthermore, prior methods of lubricating the shot cylinder have been relatively slow and have been one factor in limiting the production rate of a die casting machine.

It is an important `object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for lubricating a shot cylinder or sleeve by applying the lubricant to the interior surfaces of the cylinder.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for lubricating a shot cylinder or sleeve substantially uniformly around the interior surfaces of the cylinder by spraying the lubricant material directly into the cylinder.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for lubricating a shot cylinder automatically and quickly and in a manner so as to prevent the buildup or collection of lubricant material on the exterior surfaces of surrounding parts of the die casting machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for lubricating a shot cylinder or sleeve which is adapted to be incorporated into a method and apparatus for applying a lubricant or release agent to the dies in a die casting machine.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an apparatus incorporating features of the present invention associated with a die casting machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which lubricant is applied to the interior of a shot cylinder or sleeve in greater detail.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a lubricating apparatus 10 incorporating features of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 in association with a die casting machine 12. The die casting machine may be of various known constructions and need not be described in detail. In the embodiment shown, the machine comprises a fixed platen 14 and a movable platen 16 on which

complementary dies

18 and 20 are respectively mounted. A toggle mechanism 22 actuated by a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly 24 is provided for moving the platen 16 from the retracted or open position shown in FIG. 1 toward the right so as to bring the

dies

18 and 20 into cooperative engagement.

In order to introduce molten metal being cast into the dies, the machine 12 has a shot cylinder or sleeve 26 fixed to and extending through the platen 14 and communicating with the die 18. Molten metal is delivered into the cylinder 26 in a known manner, and a piston 28 is operable within the cylinder and is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 30 for ejec-ting the molten metal from the cylinder 26 and into the dies during a casting operation.

As indicated hereinabove, it is usually necessary to lubricate the cylinder 26 between each casting operation and, in the past, this has usually been accomplished by applying the lubricant to the exposed portion ofthe piston 28 when the piston is in the retracted position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. ln accordance with the present invention, the lubrication is accomplished by deliverying a spray 32 of the desired lubricating material through the open end of the cylinder 26 so as to coat the interior surface 34 of the cylinder 26 substantially uniformly around its circumference and substantially throughout the length of the stroke of the piston 28. The manner in which the spray 32 is directed into the cylinder from a spray head 36 is shown in the drawings. While only a single spray head 36 is shown, it is to be understood that two or more spray heads may be provided and positioned so as to constitute the spraying means capable of coating the interior surface ofthe cylinder 26 in the desired manner.

The details of construction of the spray head 36 form no part of the present invention. It suffices to state herein that the spray head comprises a main body means 38 having a rst inlet port 40 connectable by a liexible hose or suitable conduit 42 with a source of lubricant in the manner described below. A second inlet port 44 is connectable by a tting 46 with a source of air under pressure which serves to eject the lubricant from a discharge orifice 48 to provide the aforementioned spray 32. For a complete disclosure of the construction of the spray head 36 reference is made to copending application Ser. No. 621,241 led Mar. 7, 1967, now Patent 3,394,888.

The lubricating apparatus 10 comprises means for positioning the spray head 36 in alignment with the open end of the cylinder 26 when the dies are opened as shown in FIG. 1 and for subsequently moving the spray head to a retracted position. While special means may be constructed for shiftably supporting the spray head 36, it is contemplated that the shot cylinder lubricating apparatus may be conveniently and economically incorporated in an apparatus for applying a lubricant or release agent to the

dies

18 and 20. Thus, the apparatus 10 shown herein is constructed for lubricating not only the shot cylinder but also the dies. Many details of the die lubricating apparatus construction form no part of the present invention and will be only briey described herein. For

a more complete description of the die lubricating apparatus, reference is made to my copending application Ser. No. 545,036, tiled Apr. 25, 1966, now Patent. 3,338,- 213 and my application Ser. No. 648,615 led lune 26, 1967, now Patent 3,463,399.

The lubricating apparatus comprises'frame' means 48 suitably supported adjacent the die casting machine 12. A movable head 50 which comprises a liquid lubricant manifold is disposed at one end of the frame and is supported and actuated by means including a piston rod 52 extending into a double acting cylinder 54 mounted in the frame means 48 and connected to a piston 56 slidable within the cylinder. An air manifold structure 58 is secured to and movable with the head or manifold block 50. The air manifold structure comprises hollow

interconnected elements

60, 62, 64 and 66. Spray heads 68 are mounted on the air manifold structure so that some are positioned for spraying the die 18 and others are positioned for spraying the die 20. These spray heads may be identical to the shot cylinder lubricating spray head 36.

Air under pressure is delivered through a conduit 70 extending through the block 50 and connected with the air manifold structure 58. The lubricant or coating material for the dies is delivered to the manifold block through a conduit 72 connected with a pressurized tank 74 through conduit means 76. As disclosed fully in my aforementioned copending applications, Valve and electrical circuit means are provided for controlling the ow of air through the conduit 70 and the llow of lubricant through the conduit 72. While the description of the valve and control means need not be repeated herein, it is noted that a switch 7,5 is provided adjacent the forward end of the frame structure 48, which switch is adapted to be actuated when the movable head has been shifted from a retracted position to thel advanced position shown in FIG. 1 so as to open the valve controlling the air and lubricant ow to initiate the spraying operation.

The lubricantl required for the shot cylinder 26 is a 'different material from that used as a release agent on the

dies

18 and 20. Thus, a separate lubricant supply system is provided for the ,cylinder lubricating spray head 36. This system comprises a supply conduit 78 connected with the movable head 50 and, communicating with a passageway 80 therein. The conduit 78 is connected by means including a flexible conduit .82 and a valve 84 with a pressurized supply tank 86. The manifold passageway 80 is connected to the spray head 36 by the aforementioned flexible conduit or tube 42.

A switch 88 ismounted on the frame structure 48 and isadapted to be actuated by a cam 90 fixed on the conduit 78. The switch 88 is connected by an electrical cable 92 with the solenoid of the lubricant control valve 84. The arrangement is such that when the switch 88 is actuated by the cam 90, the solenoid valve 84 is energized and opened to permit the flow of lubricant to the spray head 36. The electrical cable 92 may also be connected with a solenoid actuated valve controlling the ow of compressed air to the conduit 70 so that the valve will be opened to admit air to the spray head simultaneously with the lubricant. Alternatively, the switch 88 could be located so as to be actuatedafter the switch 75 is operated to open the air valve. In any event, the arrangement is such that `the control means functions to admit air to the manifold structure 58 and thus to all of the spray heads, either simultaneously with or prior to the opening of the valves permitting ow of lubricant to-the spray heads. Furthermore, the cam is positioned for actuating the switch 88 and thus opening the shot cylinder lubricant valve substantially only while the spray head 36 is in alignment with the open end of the shot cylinder 26, so that the lubricant spray 32 is directed entirely within the cylinder.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for lubricating a shot cylinder in a die casting machine, comprising an air actuated spray head, means movably supporting said spray head for movement from a retracted position to an advanced position substantially in alignment with an open end of a shot cylinder in the die casting machinemeans for supplying lubricant to the spray head when said head is substantially in alignment with the cylinder, means for supplying air under pressure to the spray head when the head is substantially aligned with the cylinder for spraying lubricant directly into said cylinder, means for applying a coating material to dies in said die casting machine, said last named means including additional spray heads mounted on said means movably supporting said rst mentioned spray head, said additional spray heads being connected with said means for supplying air under pressure, and means separate from said lubricant supply means for supplying coating material to said additional spray head.

2. A method of lubricating a shot cylinder in a die casting machine while simultaneously therewith coating dies within the die casting machine, the method comprising the steps of exposing the dies and an open end of the shot cylinder within the die casting machine, mechanically moving a lubricant spray means and a coating spray means from retracted positions outside the die casting machine to advanced positions within the die casting machine substantially in alignment with the open end of the cylinder and said dies respectively, automatically spraying lubricant directly into the Cylinder when said lubricant spray means reaches its advanced position and thereby coating an interior surface of the cylinder, and simultaneously therewith automatically spraying a coating material on said dies and thereby coating exposed surfaces of the dies.

3. The method, as defined in claim 2, comprising substantially uniformly spraying the lubricant entirely around the interior surface of the cylinder.

4. The method, as defined in claim 2, comprising spraying a lubricant substantially uniformly throughout a length of said cylinder corresponding to the stroke of a shot piston operable within said cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,372 12/1926 Gussman 184-18 XR 2,344,905 3/ 1944 Short 118-317 XR 3,011,213 12/1961 Brandon et al. 118-317 X 3,110,931 11/1963 Kadel 184-18 X 3,254,377 6/1966 Morton 184-18 X RALPH S. KENDALL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.