US3556354A

US3556354A - Ladle trap chamber and tilting dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3556354A
Application number: US725466A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard J Ott
Original assignee: Respond Inc
Current assignee: Respond Inc
Priority date: 1968-04-30
Filing date: 1968-04-30
Publication date: 1971-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-19
Also published as: DE1920605A1; GB1266063A; DE1920605C3; DE1920605B2; FR2007333A1

Abstract

There is disclosed an automatic ladler for delivering major quantities of molten metal to a die casting machine, which ladler comprises a ladle adapted to be completely filled and then rotated a predetermined amount for pouring out a measured quantity of the molten metal.

Description

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor Richard.].0tt

Baroda, Mich.

" m n m n. a we WXaU OUea HKRL 82300 566 9999 11.1.1 I/// 59200 3952 33 8 ,9 5 78 6 79 3 1 233 81 .h 67cc 9 n 1 1M 9 0 9 a 56mm s nsr zp ea 7AJRB 0 d% N. ma e d .1 P mas AFPA Primary Examiner--Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examine -Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney-Olson, Trexler, Wolters & Bushnell a corporation of Michigan [54] LADLE TRAP CHAMBER AND TILTING DISPENSER 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

222/357, 164/336 lnt. G01f1l/00 ABSTRACT: There is disclosed an automatic ladler for [50] Field ofSearch............ 222/166, delivering major quantities of molten metal to a die casting 167, 172, 174, 353, 357, 358, 457,462,460, 461, machine, which ladler comprises a ladle adapted to be 572; 198/(lnquired); 164/136, 336, 337; 141/364, completely filled and then rotated a predetermined amount 365; 221/262 for pouring out a measured quantity of the molten metal.

PATENTED A QM 35561354 sum 1 [1F 3 LADLE TRAP caAMss t AND rltrtuo msrssssa The present invention relates to a no vel.ladling apparatus. and more specifically to a novel automatic ladling apparatus particularly suitable for liquid or molten materials such as molten metal.

While various uses for ladling apparatus incorporating features of the presentinventionmay suggest themselves, it is 4 contemplated that the apparatus is particularlyisuitable for delivering molten metal to a die casting machine. in die casting a metal such as aluminum. it has been common practice in v the past to-delivefimoltenmetal intoashot cylinder of thedie" castin'g machine by means of a hand ladle. Numerous attempts have been made to provide automatic ladlingequipment, but

the results of suchattempts have had limitations and have not been entirely'satisfactory. l

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel automaticladli ng apparatus which is suitable for use with die castingr'na'chines and the like and withfurnaces for holding molten metal of various designs and presently in existence or being installed. t

Another important object'of the present invention is to provide a novel automatic ladling apparatus which is capable of delivering accurately measured amountsof molten metal and which may be easily and quickly adjusted for delivering different amountsof metal'whenever a die change is made.

A still further object of the pi'esent invention is to provide a novel automatic ladlingapparatus which is of relatively simple and economicalconstruction-andwhich may be easily main-.

tion installed between a die casting machine' and a holding furnace for molten metal: a

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially broken away,showing the installation of FIG; I and farther showing in broken lines the manner in which theladling apparatus may be manipulated; V

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the ladling apparatus as viewed from the right-hand end of FIG. 2;' I

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary 'end elevational view showing the manner in which a ladle member of the apparatus may beinverted during a ladling operation; a t

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the ladle member of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary generally along line 6-6 in FIG. I; a

FlG.7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 in FIG. 6; and t i V i FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various FlGS., an automatic ladling apparatus 10 incorporating features of the present invention is shown in an installation in FIGS. 1 and 2 which also includes a die casting machine 12 and a molten metal holding furnace 14. The machine 12 and holding furnace may be of a'variety of known constructions and need not be described in detail.

it suffices to state that the die casting machine llhas a fixed platen l6 and a movable platen 18 adapted to be shifted between the closed position shown in FIG. I and an open posh tion in a known manner. These platens carry complementary die members 20 and 22. In order to introduce molten metal into the closed die. a shot cylinder or sleeve 24 is connected with the fixed platen which sleeve is adapted to receive molten metal from the ladling apparatus as described below. A piston sectional view taken shot sleeveinto thc.dic.' q

261s slidably disposed within-the sleeve and is actuated by a mechanism, not shown, for forcing the molten metalfrom the The holding furnace I4 is provided with heating ms; and

suitable controls for maintaining a -body of metal in a molten condition. The furnacehas an openupper end 28 so that a ladle member of the apparatusl0 maybe dipped into the body i I of molten metal as will be described below. a in the embodiment shown, the ladlingapparatus has a has 30 with a downwardly extending stem 32 adapted to be received and vertically adjustably held in a floor mounted stand 34. It is to be understood that. in certain instances, the base 30 may be adapted for mounting directlyon a portion of the die casting machine or other equipment in connection with which it is installed. I

I Upright bracket members 36 and 38-are welded orothen. wise fixed to thebase -30 and extend therefrom in spaced apart parallel relationship as shown in F IGS. Z-and 3: A pivot pin 40 extends through upper ends of thc bra cket members and pivotally supports an inverted channel member 42' on which is mounted an elongatedcylindrical sleeve-or bearing housing" 44. A fluid pressure actuated cylinder 46 'and complementary piston 48 are disposed between the base. and channel members and are pivotally connected thereto at 50 andSZ. Upon opera tion of the cylinder in the manner described below.'the channel member 42 and the parts carried thereby are adapted to be pivoted between thefull and broken line positions shown in FIG. 2.

The sleeve or bearing housing 44

bearings

54 and 56 disposed inopposite ends thereof forrotatably'supporting a tubular shaft 58. The shaft is fixed againstaxial displacement relative to the housing 44 by a thrust bearing ring 59 secured to the shaft by set screws 60 and abutting an end. portion of the bearing 54. A similar thrust bearing ring 62 is fixed to anopposite end portion of the hollow shaft. by set screws. 64 for" abutting the bearing 56. a A gear or sprocket 66 is secured to one end portion of the hollow shaft 58 as shown in FIGS. l. 2 and 6. An endless chain .68 extends around the sprocket and also around a second sprocket 7.0-flxed on an output shaft 72 of a motor 74'. The

' motor 74 is mounted on a platform 76 secured by brackets 78 tothe channel member 42. The motor may be of known construction and it may bean electric motor or a pneumatic or hydraulic fluid motor and is adapted to be controlled for rotating the hollow shaft 58 in the manner described below.

A tube 80 extends through the hollow shaft and is supported in spaced relation thereto by means of the previously mentioned

set screws

60 and 64. The resulting air space insulates the shaft 58 from the tube 80 which becomes hot during a ladling operation. One outwardly extending and of the tube has a flange 82 welded or otherwise fixed thereto. A ladle member 84 isremovably and replaceably secured against this flange by a plurality of bolts 86.

An opposite end portion 88 of the tube 80 extends toward the shot cylinder or sleeve 24 of the die casting machine and is adapted to cooperate with a funnel member 90 secured to the shot cylinder and communicating with an inlet opening 92 in the upper side thereof. in the embodiment shown. the funnel member is in the form of an elbow having an internal diameter similar to and greater than the external diameter of the end portion of the ladle tube 80. The funnel member is cut away as indicated at 94 for providing a saddle 96 into which the end portion of the Indie tube is adapted to fit during a molten metal dispensing operation.

The ladle member 84 has a flange portion 98 adapted to mate with the previously mentioned flange 82 and a generally semicylindrical body portion having

opposite end walls

100 and 102, a sidewall I04 and a top wall 106. The top wall traverses only about one-half of the scmicylindrical body and merges with a tapering semicylindrical outlet or f annel section 108 which communicates with a discharge opening "0 through the flange 98. An opposite margin "2 of the section 108 terminates well short of the adjacent edge of the sidewall 104 so as to provide the ladle with a relatively wide mouth 114.

With the structure described above. molten metal is delivered from the furnace 14 to shot cylinder by first pivoting the housing 44 and the ladle tube from the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 in a clockwise direction to the broken line position in which the ladle member is submerged in the liquid or molten metalv The ladle member is them filled as the molten metal flows inwardly through the open mouth 114. Upon reverse operation of the cylinder 46, the ladle assembly is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot pin 40 so as to bring the end portion 88 of the ladle tube into regis tration with the funnel member 90 as shown in the remaining broken line portion of P16. 2.

When the ladle tube engages the funnel member 90, the motor 74 is actuated for rotating the ladle tube and the ladle member from the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 toward the inverted position shown in FIG. 4. As this rotation progresses, the molten metal flows from the body portion of the ladle member into the funnel or outlet section 108 thereof and then through the tube 80 to the shot cylinder. Upon completion of this pouring operation. the motor 74 is reversed for returning the ladle member to its normal upright position.

When the ladle member is dipped into the body of molten material as indicated in H0. 2, it is substantially completely filled. 1n order to control and adjust the amount of molten metal actually delivered to the shot cylinder of the die casting machine, means is provided for controlling the amount which the ladle member is rotated during the dispensing operation. In other words. when it is desired to discharge the full contents of the ladle member. the motor 74 is actuated so as to completely invert the ladle member as shown in FIG. 4. However, when it is desired to dispense a lesser amount of the molten metal. the motor 74 is controlled for stopping rotation of the ladle member at some intermediate position. Further adjustment may be obtained by replacing the ladle member 84 with another of different size and having either a larger or smaller capacity.

In order to control rotation of the ladle and thus the dispensing operation, means is secured for rotation in unison with the shaft 58 and for actuating a limit switch structure 116 shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 which in turn is secured to a suitable bracket 118 fixed to the channel member 42. 1n the embodiment shown, the means rotatable with the shaft 58 comprises ring means 120 preferably formed from electrical insulating material and fixed to the shaft 58 adjacent one end thereof. A first cam element 122 is mounted on the ring means 120 be a screw device 124 extending into a circumferentially extending slot 126 in the ring means whereby the position ofthe cam circumferentially of the ring means may be adjusted. Another cam element 128 is mounted in a fixed position on the circumference of the ring means by a suitable fastener 130. The circumferentially adjustable cam element 120 is adapted to engage a limit switch 132 of the switch structure 116 while the cam element 120 is adapted to engage and actuate a limit switch 134 of the switch structure. These switches are in turn connected with a motor control device 136 which may be in the form of electrical relay means or solenoid actuated valve means depending on whether the motor 74 is an electric motor or a fluid actuated motor. The control device 136 which is shown schematically in FIG. 7 is, of course, suitably connected with sources of electrical power or fluid under pressure and with the motor 74 by known means which need not be shown or described in detail.

The limit switches and control device shown schematically in FIG. 7 form a part of an overall electrical or fluid control system. as the case may be. which is adapted to control not only the motor 74 but also the fluid cylinder 78. Furthermore, this control system may be interconnected with the control system of the die casting machine 12 so that the ladling apparatus operates automatically in timed relationship with the die casting machine. The components of the control system, whether they be electrical or fluid pressure devices, may be of known construction and-need not be shown. The arrangement is such that when the cycle of the die casting machine is initiated by shifting the movable platen 18 toward the closed position. the fluid actuated cylinder 46 is operated to pivot the ladling mechanism so as to dip the ladle into the bath of molten metal as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.

The system has a suitable time delay device which functions to reverse the operation of the cylinder 78 after an interval of time which is sufficient to insure complete filling of the ladle member 84. This reversal-causes the ladling apparatus to be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 so as to shift the end portion 88 of the ladling tube into engagement with the saddle portion'of the funnel 90. As soon as this is accomplished. the motor 74 is energized for rotating the ladle member 84 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. As this rotation progresses, the molten metal in the ladle member flows into the section 108 and then through the tube to the shot cylinder 24. Rotation of the ladle member continues until the cam element 122 closes the limit switch 132 which energizes the control device 136 for reversing the motor 74. if it is desired to discharge the entire contents of the ladle member into the shot cylinder, the cam element 122 is adjusted to a position to permit the ladle member to be rotated to the completely inverted position shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand if it is desired to dispense only a portion of the metal in the ladle member, the cam element 122 is adjusted to close the limit switch when the ladle member is rotated to any desired position between the upright and inverted positions respectively shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. in this manner accurately measured quantities of the molten metal may be discharged into the shot cylinder 24.

When the cam element 122 engages the switch 132 for reversing the rotation of the ladle member, the control circuit also functions to actuate the cylinder 46 for pivoting the ladling mechanism to the solid line position shown in H0. 2. The reverse rotation of the ladle member is terminated upon engagement of the cam element with the limit switch 134 and the apparatus is then ready for the next cycle.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A ladling apparatus comprising a ladle member, means supporting said ladle member for movement between lowered and elevated positions and for rotation around a generally horizontal axis, and means for actuating said ladle member for dipping it into a liquid to be dispensed, for rasing the ladle member to said elevated position and for rotating said ladle member about said axis for dispensing the liquid therein, said means supporting said ladle member including a tube having one end connected with a discharge portion of said ladle.

member and an opposite end for extending to a point at which the liquid is to be dispensed, means rotatably supporting said tube for rotation about said axis, and means pivotally supporting said tube about an axis extending transversely of said first- 2. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means further includes a base member, housing means pivotally and rotatably supporting said tube, said means pivotally supporting the tube including pivot means between said housing means and said base member, and said means for dipping and raising the ladle member comprises actuating means between said housing means and said base member for pivoting the housing means about the second mentioned axis.

3. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for rotating the ladle member comprises motor means carried by and movable with said housing means, and drive means between said motor means and said tube.

4. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 3, which includes motor control means for limiting rotation of the motor, and

. '3 ,556,354 v 6' means movable in response to rotation of the ladle member T a funnel member disposed at the point at which the liquid is to for actuating the control means for reversing the motor during be disp ns a C mp sing a Saddle portion for registering a dispensing operation to thereby control the amount of liquid with 1 opposite end of said tubc'durmg liquid dispensing dispensed. 1 I opcrmlon- I 5. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes 5

Claims

1. A ladling apparatus comprising a ladle member, means supporting said ladle member for movement between lowered and elevated positions and for rotation around a generally horizontal axis, and means for actuating said ladle mEmber for dipping it into a liquid to be dispensed, for rasing the ladle member to said elevated position and for rotating said ladle member about said axis for dispensing the liquid therein, said means supporting said ladle member including a tube having one end connected with a discharge portion of said ladle member and an opposite end for extending to a point at which the liquid is to be dispensed, means rotatably supporting said tube for rotation about said axis, and means pivotally supporting said tube about an axis extending transversely of said first-mentioned axis and spaced from said first-mentioned end so that upon pivotal movement of the tube about said last-mentioned axis, said ladle member may be raised and lowered.

2. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means further includes a base member, housing means pivotally and rotatably supporting said tube, said means pivotally supporting the tube including pivot means between said housing means and said base member, and said means for dipping and raising the ladle member comprises actuating means between said housing means and said base member for pivoting the housing means about the second mentioned axis.

4. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 3, which includes motor control means for limiting rotation of the motor, and means movable in response to rotation of the ladle member for actuating the control means for reversing the motor during a dispensing operation to thereby control the amount of liquid dispensed.

5. A ladling apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes a funnel member disposed at the point at which the liquid is to be dispensed and comprising a saddle portion for registering with the opposite end of said tube during a liquid dispensing operation.