Apparatus for forming ceramic shell molds

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in coating a pattern setup with refractory slurry comprising a tank for holding the slurry, a pair of spaced support arms, pivot means mounting common end portions of said arms adjacent said tank for swinging movement of said arms about a horizontal pivot axis, means carried by said support arms for holding a pattern seTup extending therebetween at a location spaced from said pivot axis and for rotating the setup, and means operatively connected to said arms for swinging them about said pivot axis to raise and lower the setup between a first position in which it is at least partially immersed in slurry within said tank and a second position in which it is withdrawn from the slurry.

Claim 3

Apparatus for use in coating a pattern setup with refractory slurry comprising a tank, support means, means mounting said support means for swinging movement about a pivot axis adjacent said tank, holding means carried by said support means for holding a pattern setup for rotation about an axis of rotation which is spaced from said pivot axis along the length of said support means so that said axis of rotation is rotatable about said pivot axis during swinging movement of said support means to raise and lower a setup, said holding means being carried by said support means for movement in an arc about said pivot axis with said rotation axis transverse to the plane containing said arc, and means operatively connected to said support means for swinging it about said pivot axis to raise and lower the setup.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use in coating a pattern setup with refractory slurry comprising a tank, support means, means mounting said support means for swinging movement about a pivot axis adjacent said tank, holding means carried by said support means for holding a pattern setup for rotation about an axis of rotation which is spaced from said pivot axis along the length of said support means so that said axis of rotation is rotatable about said pivot axis during swinging movement of said support means to raise and lower a setup, said holding means being carried by said support means for movement in an arc about said pivot axis with said rotation axis transverse to the plane containing said arc, and means operatively connected to said support means for swinging it about said pivot axis to raise and lower the setup.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an agitator assembly within said tank, actuation means for said agitator assembly mounted externally of said tank, and means extending above the walls of said tank for connecting said actuation means to said agitator assembly.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an agitator within said tank, and actuating means for said agitator mounted externally of said tank, and means connecting said actuating means and said agitator above the walls of said tank.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means operatively connected to said arms comprises a hingedly mounted cover for said tank.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a cover for said tank, and means operatively connecting said cover to said support means for causing said support means to be moved between a first position in which the setup is at least partially immersed in slurry in said tank when the cover is closed and a second position in which the setup is withdrawn from the slurry in said tank when the cover is open.

Claim 9

Apparatus for use in coating a pattern setup with refractory slurry comprising structure including a tank for refractory slurry, a pair of support arms, means mounting said support arms for swinging movement about a pivot axis adjacent said tank, said arms being spaced from each other along said pivot axis, means carried by each of said arms between its ends for engaging axially spaced portions of a pattern setup for rotation about a rotation axis extending between said arms so that swinging movement of said arms causes said rotation axis to rotate about said pivot axis, said arms being pivotal between a first position in which a setup supported thereby is at least partially immersed in slurry in said tank and a second position in which the setup is withdrawn from the slurry, an agitator assembly within said tank, and power-actuating means connected to said agitator assembly.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use in coating a pattern setup with refractory slurry comprising structure including a tank for refractory slurry, a pair of support arms, means mounting said support arms for swinging movement about a pivot axis adjacent said tank, said arms being spaced from each other along said pivot axis, means carried by each of said arms between its ends for engaging axially spaced portions of a pattern setup for rotation about a rotation axis extending between said arms so that swinging movement of said arms causes said rotation axis to rotate about said pivot axis, said arms being pivotal between a first position in which a setup supported thereby is at least partially immersed in slurry in said tank and a second position in which the setup is withdrawn from the slurry, an agitator assembly within said tank, and power-actuating means connected to said agitator assembly.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including a cover for said tank hinged to said structure, said cover being movable between open and closed positions, and means for effecting an airtight seal between said cover and said structure in said closed position.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including means operatively connecting said cover to said support arms for causing said arms to be pivoted when said cover is moved between said open and closed positions.

Claim 13

apparatus for use in coating a pattern setup with refractory slurry comprising a tank, support means, pivot means mounting said support means adjacent said tank for movement about a horizontal pivot axis, means carried by said support means for holding and rotating a pattern setup about an axis of rotation spaced from said pivot axis and lying in a common plane therewith, and means operatively connected to said support means for swinging it about said pivot axis to raise and lower the setup.

Claim 14

apparatus for use in coating a pattern setup with refractory slurry comprising a tank, support means, pivot means mounting said support means adjacent said tank for movement about a horizontal pivot axis, means carried by said support means for holding and rotating a pattern setup about an axis of rotation spaced from said pivot axis and lying in a common plane therewith, and means operatively connected to said support means for swinging it about said pivot axis to raise and lower the setup.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means operatively connected to said support means comprises a hingedly mounted cover for closing said tank when said support means has been pivoted to lower the setup.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for engaging axially spaced portions of a pattern setup comprises cup means carried by each of said arms between its ends, and motor means carried by one of said arms in driving connection with the cup means thereof.