GB2308559A

GB2308559A - Removing aluminium films from a ladle of a gravity die casting machine using high pressure air

Info

Publication number: GB2308559A
Application number: GB9626985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwang-Won Lee; Young-Namjun; Tae-Hee Kim; Chang-Bum Son; Dong-Won Lee; Sang-Duk Na; Tae-Eui Hong
Original assignee: Mando Machinery Corp
Current assignee: Mando Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1995-12-27
Filing date: 1996-12-27
Publication date: 1997-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-27
Also published as: KR0177933B1; JPH09192817A; CN1158773A; CN1064572C; GB2308559B; GB9626985D0; KR970033285A; JP2795840B2

Description

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REMOVING ALUMINUM FILMS FROM A LADLE OF A GRAVITY DIE CASTING MACHINE AND METHOD THEREFOR Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gravity die casting machine; and, more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for automatically removing aluminum films from a ladle thereof.

Background of the Invention There is shown in Fig. 1A a conventional a gravity die casting machine employing an inclined molding.

As shown in Fig. lA, the gravity die casting machine includes a body 10 rotatably mounted to an axis 12 of a support 14 and a ladle assembly 20. The body 10 has a fixed mold 16, a moving mold 18 disposed on top of the fixed mold 16, a cavity 22 defined between the molds 16 and 18, and a runner 24 communicated to the cavity 22.

On the other hand, the ladle assembly 20, as best shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, has a pair of hydraulic cylinders 26 mounted to a lower portion of the fixed mold 16, a ladle 28 disposed adjacent to the runner 24, and a pair of ladle supporting members 30 connected between a bottom of the ladle 28 and a cylinder rod 32 of each of the hydraulic cylinders 30 so as to rotate the ladle 28 about a pivot axis 34.

When the body 10 is clockwise rotated about the axis 12 by an angle of 90 degrees as shown in Fig. 1B, a molten metal in the ladle 28 is poured into the cavity 22. After the pouring, the hydraulic cylinders 26 are actuated in a such way that the rod 32 is retracted, thereby allowing the ladle 28 to be rotated counterclockwise by an angle of 45 degrees as shown in Fig. 1C. Then, the body 10 is rotated counterclockwise about the axis 12 by an angle of 90 degrees as shown in Fig.

1D to allow aluminum films formed on an inner surface of the ladle 28 to be mannually worked.

Summary of the Invention It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for automatically removing aluminum films on an inner surface of a ladle in a gravity die casting machine.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for automatically removing aluminum films formed on an inner surface of a ladle in a gravity die casting machine, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pouring a molten metal in the ladle into a cavity between a fixed mold and a moving mold by rotating clockwise a body of the gravity die casting machine about an axis of a support member by an angle of 90 degrees; (b) rotating counterclockwise the ladle by an angle of 180 degrees; (c) rotating counterclockwise the body by an angle of 90 degrees; and (d) injecting a high pressure air through an air tube of the ladle to thereby remove the aluminum films.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically removing aluminum films in a ladle, the apparatus comprising: a body rotatably mounted to an axis of a support, the body having a fixed mold, a moving mold disposed on top of the fixed mold, a cavity defined between the molds, and a runner communicated to the cavity; a ladle assembly disposed adjacent to the runner and having a ladle and an air tube formed at the ladle for injecting a high pressure air therethrough; and means for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise the ladle assembly by an angle of 180 degrees.

Brief descriPtion of the Drawings The above and other objects, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are schematic views for explaining the process for removing aluminum films from a ladle in a conventional gravity die casting machine; Figs. 2A and 2B are a plan view and a front elevational views of the ladle in Fig. 1, respectively; Figs. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are schematic views for illustrating the process for removing aluminum films from a ladle in an inventive gravity die casting machine; Figs. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a front elevational view of the ladle in Fig. 3, respectively; and Fig. 5 is an detailed sectional view of the ladle in Fig.

3.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is shown in Figs. 3A to 3D an inventive method for removing aluminum films from a ladle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, first of all, when a body 10 is clockwise rotated about an axis 12 of a support 14 by an angle of 90 degrees in Fig. 3A, molten metal in a ladle 50 is poured into a cavity 22 between a fixed mold 16 and a moving mold 18.

Thereafter, the ladle 50 is rotated counterclockwise by an angle of 180 degrees, thereby separating the ladle 50 from the body 10 as shown in Fig. 3B.

When the molten metal in the cavity 22 is solidified, the solidified product is extracted from the body 10 by moving the moving mold 18.(not shown). Then, the body 10, as shown in Fig. 3C, is rotated counterclockwise by an angle of 90 degrees in such a way that the ladle 50 is overturned as shown in Fig.

3D. At this time, the aluminum films formed on an inner surface of the ladle 50 is automaticlly separated from the surface by its weights and a high pressure air injected through an air tube 52(Figs. 4 and 5) formed at the ladle 50 from an air source(not shown).

As described above, as best shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the ladle 50 of a ladle assembly 40 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with an air tube 52 for injecting a high pressure air therethrough.

Further, the ladle assembly 40 includes a rotary actuator 44, a rotation portion 46 having a shaft 42 connected between a bottom of the ladle 50 and the rotation portion 46, and a chain 48 for transmitting the driving force of the rotary actuator 44 to the rotation portion 46 to thereby rotate counterclockwise and clockwise the ladle 50 by an angle of 180 degrees.

As shown in Fig. 5, it is preferred that the ladle 50 is composed of an insulating ceramic layer 62, a metallic layer 64, and an air tube 52, wherein the insulating ceramic layer 62 is the layer coming in contacted with the molten metal.

As described above, according to the present invention, aluminum films on an inner surface of a ladle in a gravity die casting machine employing an inclined molding are automatically removed. Further, an automation of a gravity die casting process is achieved.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for automatically removing aluminum films formed on an inner surface of a ladle in a gravity die casting machine, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pouring a molten metal in the ladle into a cavity between a fixed mold and a moving mold by rotating clockwise a body of the gravity die casting machine about an axis of a support member by an angle of 90 degrees; (b) rotating counterclockwise the ladle by an angle of 180 degrees; (c) rotating counterclockwise the body by an angle of 90 degrees; and (d) injecting a high pressure air through an air tube of the ladle to thereby remove the aluminum films.

2. An apparatus for automatically removing aluminum films in a ladle, the apparatus comprising: a body rotatably mounted to an axis of a support, the body having a fixed mold, a moving mold disposed on top of the fixed mold, a cavity defined between the molds, and a runner communicated to the cavity; a ladle assembly disposed adjacent to the runner and having a ladle and an air tube formed at the ladle for injecting a high pressure air therethrough; and means for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise the ladle assembly by an angle of 180 degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ladle assembly rotating means includes a rotary actuator, a rotation portion having a shaft connected between a bottom of the ladle and the rotation portion, and a chain for transmitting the driving force of the rotary actuator to the rotation portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ladle is composed of an insulating ceramic layer, a metallic layer, and the air tube, the insulating ceramic layer coming in contact with the molten metal.