[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2003073795A1 - Appareil de reglage d'element de chauffage pour moulage de metal par injection - Google Patents

Appareil de reglage d'element de chauffage pour moulage de metal par injection Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003073795A1
WO2003073795A1 PCT/US2002/006099 US0206099W WO03073795A1 WO 2003073795 A1 WO2003073795 A1 WO 2003073795A1 US 0206099 W US0206099 W US 0206099W WO 03073795 A1 WO03073795 A1 WO 03073795A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
heating element
heating elements
rack
pinion gear
furnace
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2002/006099
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth D. Clark
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US10/505,301 priority Critical patent/US20050127580A1/en
Priority to AU2002303107A priority patent/AU2002303107A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2002/006099 priority patent/WO2003073795A1/fr
Publication of WO2003073795A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003073795A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D17/00—Pressure die casting or injection die casting, i.e. casting in which the metal is forced into a mould under high pressure
    • B22D17/20—Accessories: Details
    • B22D17/28—Melting pots

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to metallurgical furnaces, and more particularly to an adjustment mechanism for selectively positioning resistance heating elements in an electric metal injection-molding holding furnace which uses electrical resistance elements to radiate thermal energy to aluminum in a heating chamber.
  • Silicon carbide heating elements have been found to be especially well suited to melting aluminum, both indirectly through the heating of the furnace atmosphere and directly by contact with the elements. Silicon carbide glow bars are the preferred instrument for providing heat to the molten metal reservoir of a pressurized injection molding holding furnace.
  • glow bars which are cylindrical to maximize surface area for transferring heat to the gaseous or metallic medium, are generally stationary because they are cradled in a fixed rack within the furnace. While this provides a measure of stability it also necessitates that the heating elements be cooled, removed, and repositioned for any changeovers to a new mold or when feed tubes (riser tubes) for injecting molds must be repositioned.
  • the heating element adjustment device of the present invention provides an adjustment mechanism for rapid selective positioning of electrical resistance heating elements in electric pressurized metal injection molding furnaces, such as are employed in metal injection mold casting processes involving upward filling.
  • a suitable furnace for employing the present invention is preferably cuboid and includes a steel case and a lined reservoir for molten metal. Molten metal, which is typically of a non-ferrous nature, is pumped upwardly through feed tubes under gas pressure. When operating, the furnace is hermetically sealed, the seal being maintained in part by a top-side pressure tight lid.
  • a sealed panel integral with the lid includes one or more apertures through which feed tubes pass into the furnace reservoir.
  • Resistance heating elements are inserted through a side heating element door or doors and are disposed horizontally in either a heating element box or a set of paired boxes positioned on opposite sides of the furnace. A portion of each element is left uninsulated or unshielded so that heat can be radiated into the reservoir.
  • the number of heating elements is a function of both the power supply system and the demands of the molds employed in the casting process.
  • the express purpose of the present invention is to facilitate the rapid, safe, and easy repositioning of silicon carbide (or other) resistance heating elements so that production is not slowed or impeded during mold changeovers and feed tube position changes when dies are changed or when shifting to a succeeding stage in the molding process.
  • the heating element adjustment device of the present invention enables operators to carefully control the flow and solidification of molten metal as it is delivered via feed tubes to an injection die by precisely positioning the heating elements in optimal locations relative to the feed tubes and to one another.
  • the resistance heating element adjustment device of the present invention comprises means for selectively and independently positioning each one of a plurality of heating elements relative to one another and to the feed tubes employed in a casting process in any of an almost unlimited number of configurations.
  • the heating elements are moved and positioned in a rack and pinion system, each element having a dedicated rack and pinion gear assembly.
  • the heating elements are moved and positioned by a timing chain drive assembly which includes one timing chain or a parallel set of timing chains for each heating element, each chain in mesh communication with a pinion gear.
  • a screw drive assembly is employed to move and position the heating elements.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a pressurized metal injection molding holding furnace showing a first preferred embodiment of the electrical resistance heating element adjustment device of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic side view in elevation of the heating element adjustment device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic end view in elevation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a holding furnace showing a second preferred embodiment of the heating element adjustment device of the present invention;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic side view in elevation of the heating element adjustment device of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic end view in elevation of the device of FIGS. 4 and 5; and
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic side view in elevation of a third preferred embodiment of the heating element adjustment device of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a first preferred embodiment of the metal injection molding holding furnace heating element adjustment device of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic side view in elevation of the heating element adjustment device of FIG. 1
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic end view in elevation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the furnace includes steel case 12 having a liner 14 encasing a reservoir 16 for holding molten metal 18.
  • the molten metal is pumped upwardly through feed tubes 20 under the pressure of an inert gas (pressure system not depicted), as is well known in the art.
  • the entire furnace is hermetically sealed and includes a pressure tight lid 22 at its top.
  • a sealed panel 24 is affixed to or integral with the lid.
  • the panel 24 has one or more apertures 26 for the insertion of feed tubes through the lid and into the furnace reservoir 16. The positioning of the feed tubes in the panel is specific to the mold employed in the molding process.
  • Resistance heating elements 28a, 28b, and 28c are generally installed through one or more side heating element doors 30a, 30b, of the furnace. All of the heating elements are generally elongate and are disposed horizontally in a heating element box, 32a, 32b, 32c, leaving a portion 34 of the respective heating elements unshielded for the introduction of heat into the reservoir. As a general rule, the number of heating elements corresponds to the power supply system connected to the elements, thus multiples of three are most common for use with three-phase electric supply systems (not shown).
  • the heating element door 30 includes a gasket 36 as part of the hermetically sealed, pressurized system.
  • the inventive system comprises a rack and pinion assembly, one set of rack and pinion gear assemblies for each heating element.
  • each one of the electrical resistance heating elements, each heating element cradled in a heating element box at each of its ends, are operatively connected to one rack and pinion assembly.
  • each end of a heating element is operatively connected to a gear assembly.
  • FIG. 2 shows that the entire rack and pinion assembly comprises an assembly housing 40 enclosing a plurality of vertically stacked pinions gear sets 42a, 42b, and 42c, in mesh and with corresponding rack sets 44a (FIG.
  • FIG. 1 shows that the vertically stacked parallel sets of rack and pinion gears, collectively denominated 45a-b, are positioned on opposite sides of the furnace, and each rack and pinion set (or combination) is coupled to one end of a heating element via a heating element box, such that each member of a rack and pinion gear set is operatively coupled to an end of a heating element.
  • the heating element boxes 32a most proximate the assembly housing are connected to the middle rack set 44a, and the two more distal heating element boxes, 32b and
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a holding furnace showing a second preferred embodiment of the heating element adjustment device of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic side view in elevation of the heating element adjustment device of FIG. 4
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic end view in elevation of the device of F IGS. 4 and 5.
  • the second preferred embodiment of the heating element adjustment device of the present invention comprises a timing chain drive assembly which includes parallel timing chains 60, 62, and 64, each connected to a heating element box one each dedicated to actuating the movement of a respective heating element 28a, 28b, 28c, each chain in mesh communication with a corresponding pinion gear, 68, 70, 66, respectively.
  • timing chains 60, 62, and 64 and pinion gears, 66, 68, and 70 function similarly to the rack and pinion assembly of the first preferred embodiment, described above.
  • Pinions 66, 68, and 70 are connected to pinions 72, 74, and 76 via drive chain timing shafts 78a, 78b, and 78c.
  • the timing chain system is enclosed in a protective housing 80, and, again, the assembly may be adjusted via a chain drive adjustment shaft 82 (FIG. 6).
  • a chain drive adjustment shaft 82 FIG. 6
  • each heating element comprises a dedicated screw drive, enclosed by an airtight housing 92, each screw drive comprising an acme screw 94a, 94b, and 94c, and a corresponding worm gear 96a, 96b and 96c, such devices being well known in the art.
  • This view also shows exhaust ports 98 through which pressurized gas is released before doors are open or feed tubes removed.
  • the present invention may be characterized as an improved metal injection-molding holding furnace, wherein the improvement comprises the inclusion of the above-described adjustment mechanism for selectively positioning resistance heating elements that radiate thermal energy to aluminum in the furnace heating chamber.
  • the present invention may be characterized as a method of independently and selectively moving and positioning a plurality of electric furnace resistance heating elements by providing and employing the above-described adjustment mechanism

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de réglage permettant de positionner, de manière indépendante et sélective, des éléments de chauffage (28) par résistance dans un four de moulage de métal par injection (10) sous pression doté d'un réservoir (16) destiné à contenir le métal fondu et de tubes d'alimentation (20) destinés à distribuer le métal fondu aux moules d'injection. Ledit appareil comprend une pluralité d'éléments de chauffage (28) par résistance électrique mobiles, allongés et disposés horizontalement au-dessus du réservoir (16), chacun des éléments de chauffage (28) étant supporté au niveau de chaque extrémité dans un boîtier d'éléments de chauffage mobile (32). Chacun desdits éléments de chauffage (28) comprend une partie non blindée (34) permettant l'entrée de la chaleur dans le réservoir (16). Des moyens de réglage (40) déplacent sélectivement et indépendamment chacun des éléments de chauffage (28) par rapport à un autre. Ces moyens de chauffage (40) peuvent peuvent se présenter sous un certain nombre de formes, notamment sous forme d'ensembles de crémaillères et de pignons, d'ensembles de chaîne de synchronisation et de pignon moteur et d'ensembles de commande de vis, fonctionnellement connectés aux boîtiers (32) d'élément de chauffage.
PCT/US2002/006099 2002-02-26 2002-02-26 Appareil de reglage d'element de chauffage pour moulage de metal par injection Ceased WO2003073795A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/505,301 US20050127580A1 (en) 2002-02-26 2002-02-26 Metal injection molding furnace heating element adjustment apparatus
AU2002303107A AU2002303107A1 (en) 2002-02-26 2002-02-26 Metal injection molding furnace heating element adjustment apparatus
PCT/US2002/006099 WO2003073795A1 (fr) 2002-02-26 2002-02-26 Appareil de reglage d'element de chauffage pour moulage de metal par injection

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2002/006099 WO2003073795A1 (fr) 2002-02-26 2002-02-26 Appareil de reglage d'element de chauffage pour moulage de metal par injection

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003073795A1 true WO2003073795A1 (fr) 2003-09-04

Family

ID=27765163

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2002/006099 Ceased WO2003073795A1 (fr) 2002-02-26 2002-02-26 Appareil de reglage d'element de chauffage pour moulage de metal par injection

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20050127580A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2002303107A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003073795A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3996412A (en) * 1975-01-17 1976-12-07 Frank W. Schaefer, Inc. Aluminum melting furnace
GB2165628A (en) * 1984-08-14 1986-04-16 Morganite Crucible Ltd Metal-holding furnace
US4596020A (en) * 1982-10-18 1986-06-17 Asea Ab Metal melting and melt heat retaining furnace

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027862A (en) * 1975-12-19 1977-06-07 Frank W. Schaefer Inc. Metal melting furnace with alternate heating systems
US4367866A (en) * 1981-04-10 1983-01-11 Sunbeam Equipment Corporation Furnace adapted to contain molten metal

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3996412A (en) * 1975-01-17 1976-12-07 Frank W. Schaefer, Inc. Aluminum melting furnace
US4596020A (en) * 1982-10-18 1986-06-17 Asea Ab Metal melting and melt heat retaining furnace
GB2165628A (en) * 1984-08-14 1986-04-16 Morganite Crucible Ltd Metal-holding furnace

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2002303107A1 (en) 2003-09-09
US20050127580A1 (en) 2005-06-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5335711A (en) Process and apparatus for metal casting
US5042561A (en) Apparatus and process for countergravity casting of metal with air exclusion
EP3395481A1 (fr) Appareil et procédés de fusion à lit de poudre
EP2851447A1 (fr) Appareil de fusion induite par vide et de durcissement rapide d'alliage magnétique permanent aux terres rares
US2625719A (en) Vacuum casting apparatus
CN108788094A (zh) 一种用于大型铝合金铸件的多位并联加压铸造装置及方法
US4819709A (en) Heat shield for a casting furnace
JPH0459990B2 (fr)
US3845808A (en) Apparatus for casting directionally solidified articles
CN111372705B (zh) 用于特别是金属玻璃的模制方法和装置
CN102422367B (zh) 烧结磁铁制造装置
US20050127580A1 (en) Metal injection molding furnace heating element adjustment apparatus
EP1162290B1 (fr) Procédé et appareillage pour la fusion et la solidification des métaux et sémi-métaux dans un creuset
CN209830260U (zh) 大型高温高强度材料真空精密铸造设备
EP0083205A2 (fr) Dispositif pour la fabrication de pièces coulées sous vide
US3381742A (en) Metal casting and solidification
US11123791B2 (en) Method for casting a mold
GB2206512A (en) Production of cast components having reduced porosity
US6210628B1 (en) Melt delivery system
US4658881A (en) Casting apparatus for providing controlled ambient during production casting
CN215365882U (zh) 一种便于取出放入回火炉的回火炉支架
KR101688843B1 (ko) 직접 가열식 금형 제작 장치
EP0699770B1 (fr) Four sous vide à zone chaude mobile
CN104493145B (zh) 新型感应炉及新型感应炉用铸造模具
JP7110763B2 (ja) 鋳造装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 10505301

Country of ref document: US

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP