GB2046149A

GB2046149A - Improvements In Or Relating to Low-pressure Diecasting Machines for Non-Ferrous Metals

Info

Publication number: GB2046149A
Application number: GB8009459A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: KWC AG
Current assignee: Franke Technology and Trademark Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-29
Filing date: 1980-03-20
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: IT1130328B; DE3006785A1; FR2452342A1; IT8020921A0; DE3006785C2; CH637856A5; GB2046149B

Abstract

A casting machine comprises a melting furnace and a separately supported carrying column 4. The column 4 is axially fixed but capable of rotation. A supporting frame 5 secured on the column 4 comprises a guiding device 5c parallel to the axis a of the column, on which guiding device a head bearing 6 is displaceable in a vertical direction. A carrying support 7 comprising a cross- member 7a is mounted on the head bearing 6 so as to be pivotable around a horizontal axis c of said head bearing. Two bearers 8 which may be displaced towards and away from each other along the cross-member 7a, which are pivotable moreover around the axis d of the cross- member, are located in the cross- member. Each of the two bearers 8 carries a die carrier 9, these being rotatable around their axes e on the one hand, and on the other hand being pivotable around an axis f at right angles thereto, from an aligned position of their axes e into a parallel position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Low-Pressure Diecasting Machines for Non-Ferrous Metals The present invention relates to low-pressure diecasting machines for non-ferrous metals, of the kind comprising at least one furnace and at least one die carrier device which is displaceable in a vertical direction with respect to the furnace, and is swivellable horizontally into and out of vertical alignment with the furnace.

In known casting machines of this kind, the die carrier device which, as a whole, may be moved up and down on a column and may be pivoted around the axis of the column, comprises two horizontal plates displaceable vertically with respect to each other, for carrying the die halves positioned with the parting plane horizontal. The casting feed in this case occurs from below through the bottom carrying plate, at right angles to the die parting plane. After completion of the casting operation, or upon upwardly displacing the die from the furnace, the feedback must be ripped off the casting; this presupposes that the casting metal is one which cools down comparatively slowly, or still remains sufficently "viscous" after the casting operation; this applies in respect of aluminium but, for example not in respect of other non-ferrous metals.The known machines consequently cannot be applied for low-pressure casting of non-ferrous metals.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of the kind hereinabove set forth, which is appropriate for low-pressure casting of aluminium alloys as well as of other non-ferrous metal alloys.

Accordingly, the invention consists in a lowpressure diecasting machine for non-ferrous metals having at least one furnace and at least one die carrier device which is displaceable in a vertical direction with respect to the furnace and is swivellable horizontally into and out of vertical alignment with the furnace, wherein a supporting frame comprising a guiding spindle is secured on a column to be parallel therewith, said column being rotatable but axially fixed and being located to the side of the furnace, a head bearing being vertically displaceably located on said spindle, said head bearing being constructed as a pivot bearing for a carrying support which is pivotable in a vertical plane and forms a mounting means for two bearers which are mutually displaceable and to the carrying support and are intended for die carriers which are rotatable and pivotable in said bearers.

An important advantage of this construction is thus, on the one hand, that it is not the column together with its supporting frame serving the purpose of supporting the actual die carrier device which need be displaced vertically, but merely the considerably smaller weight of this carrier device, and that on the other hand and thanks to the numerous degrees of freedom of the die carriers, the die halves, whilst in the open as well as closed position of the die, and depending on the operation which is to be performed, may be placed in a plurality of working positions precisely matching these operations in each case. It is thereby possible for the first time moreover, to position the die with the parting plane vertical during the casting operation, i.e. to cast into the parting plane.It is also possible for the first time, to cast not only light metals but also non-ferrous metals, with a machine of this nature.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment thereof by way of example and in which: Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows the construction of a casting machine in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 graphically depicts the supporting and carrying device of the die, showing the possibilities of displacement of the different elements of this device, Fig. 3 shows the casting machine in plan view, and Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 each show a view of the machine in different operating positions.

Referring now to the drawings, the lowpressure non-ferrous metal casting machnine diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 on the one hand includes a melting furnace 1 comprising an up-flow pipe 2 and, on the other hand, a finishing bath vessel 3. Between the furnace 1 and the finishing bath vessel 3 is located a supporting column 4 which is rotatable around its vertical axis a. A supporting frame 5 is secured on this supporting column 4 by means of a sleeve 5a which frame, between bearing plates 5b positioned vertically one above the other with mutual spacing, comprises a guiding means Sc having an axis b parallel to the axis a of the column 4. On this guiding means Sc is vertically displaceably located a head bearing 6.A Tshaped carrying support 7 which is pivotable around a horizontal axis c which is radial with respect to the column 4, is mounted in the head bearing 6. Two bearers 8 are fitted on the crossmember 7a of this carrying support 7 and are displaceable in the longitudinal axis d of the cross-member 7a on the one hand, and are pivotable around this longitudinal axis don the other hand. A carrier arm 9 to which one half of the die 10 is fastened in each case, is mounted in each of the two mutually parallel bearers 8. These carrier arms 9 are rotatable on the one hand around their own longitudinal axis e, and on the other hand are pivotable around axes fat right angles to their axis of rotation and to the longitudinal axis of the bearers 8.

The nature, purpose and sequence of these displacements are hereinafter described in particular by way of example and with reference to Figs. 3-8, similar machine components having identical symbols allocated to them.

To insert the cores into the open die 10, it is appropriate to hold the die halves, which are displaced towards each other and are parallel to each other, horizontally (or else at a slight inclination). To this end, the carrying support 7 of the die carrier device situated at its upper displacement position in the guiding means 5c, is pivoted as shown by the arrow x in Fig. 4 into a vertical (or oblique) position, and is pivoted back again into the horizontal position (Fig 4) after closing the die 10 by moving the two die halves towards each other along the axis d by means of their bearers 8. The column 4 and thereby the entire carrying device supported on it are so pivoted in the direction of the arrow y (Fig. 3) around its axis a that the die 10 is positioned above the furnace 1 (Fig. 5).The head bearing 6, together with the carrying support 7 and the die, is then lowered along the axis b along the guiding means Sc of the supporting frame 5, the feed point situated in the now vertical parting plane of the die 10 thereby being placed in communication with the casting orifice of the upflow pipe 2 (Fig. 6). The casting operation then takes place while the pressure rises continuously, and after completion of casting, the entire die carrier device carried by the head bearing 6 is raised to its upper displacement position again, as shown in Fig. 5. The turning of the die 10 is then performed by a 90 rotation of the die carriers 9 around their axes e, to place the die in the position for removal of the casting. The die 10 is then opened (pushing the bearers 8 apart along the axis d), and the casting is extracted.The column 4 and thus all the parts carried thereby, are subsequently turned back around the axis a into the initial position, i.e. above the finishing bath vessel 3. The cooling and finishing of the die halves is then performed by pivoting the bearers 8 around the axis dthrough 900 and downwards into the position shown in Fig. 7, whereupon immersion into the finishing bath is performed by downward pivoting of the die carriers 9 (Fig. 8).

Another operation may then be initiated.

A so-called single machine has been described in the foregoing, i.e. a machine comprising no more than one carrier device installed on the supporting frame of the column 4. It is however also possible to incorporate two such carrier devices, e.g. in such manner that the one is present above the melting furnace and the other above the finishing bath, in each case, whereby the capacity of the plant may be increased substantially. It is understood that the finishing bath is not required upon utilising the machine for casting light metal; the other functions of the machine remain identical however. ~~~~~~

Claims

1. A low-pressure diecasting machine for nonferrous metal having at least one furnace and at least one die carrier device which is displaceable in a vertical direction with respect to the furnace and is swivellable horizontally into and out of vertical alignment with the furnace, wherein a supporting frame comprising a guiding spindle is secured on a column to be parallel therewith, said column being.rotatable but axially fixed and being located to the side of the furnace, a head bearing being vertically displaceably located on said spindle, said head bearing being constructed as a pivot bearing for a carrying support which is pivotable in a vertical plane and forms a mounting means for two bearers which are mutually displaceable and to the carrying support and are intended for die carriers which are rotatable and pivotable in said bearers.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying support comprises a cross-member pivotable around a horizontal bearing spindle for the head bearing which carries the bearers so as to be displaceable with respect to its longitudinal axis for the purpose of opening and closing the die on which bearers are mounted the die carriers which are rotatable around their axis which is at right angles to the parting plane of the die and coaxial with the central axis of the die for the purpose of turning the die, and are pivotable from a mutually aligned position of the carriers into a parallel position of these carriers with respect to each other.for the purpose of pivoting the halves of the open die.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrying support cross-member is turnable into an oblique or vertical position to pivot the die into a core insertion position with a correspondingly oblique or horizontal parting plane, and wherein the die is pivotable into a casting position with a vertical parting plane by appropriately turning said cross-member into a horizontal position.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the die carrier device is pivotable by means of the column from a casting position above the furnace into a cooling and finishing position above a finishing bath vessel.

5. A low-pressure diecasting machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.