High production isostatic molding device

Claim 2

An isostatic molding press of the type wherein high pressure fluid compacts loose material contained within a mold inside a sealed pressure vessel wherein the improvement comprises rotatable support means for sequentially advancing a plurality of molds through at least a first, a second, and a third predetermined radial positions about a common axis, means for filling each mold in turn at the first radial position with the loose material, an upright isostatic pressure vessel located at the second radial position, the pressure vessel including a frame, a hollow pressure cylinder slidably mounted in the frame so as to be movable vertically between a lower position wherein the uppermost part of the cylinder is beneath the rotatable support means and an upper position wherein the cylinder is partially above the rotatable support means, means for lifting the cylinder to surround a select mold at the second radial position, means for sealing both ends of the cylinder after the select mold is surrounded by the cylinder, means for isostatically compacting the material within the sealed cylinder by injecting pressurized fluid into the cylinder, and means located at the third radial position for removing the compacted material from the select mold and from the rotatable support means.

Claim 3

An isostatic molding press as recited in claim 1 further comprising means located at the second radial position for vibrating each mold as it is being filled by the filling Means.

Claim 4

An isostatic molding press as recited in claim 1 wherein the rotatable support means comprises a turntable having a plurality of holes in its surface at regular circumferential intervals, and means for advancing the turntable in discrete, equal fractions of a complete revolution.

Claim 5

An isostatic molding press as recited in claim 3 wherein each mold comprises a perforated metal cannister suspended through a select hole in the turnable to hang beneath it, a bag-shaped diaphragm, the diaphragm being disposed within the metal cannister and a cylindrical tooling of elastomeric material, the tooling being blind at its bottom end and disposed within the diaphragm with its blind end downward.

Claim 6

An isostatic molding press as recited in claim 1 comprising a plurality of molds, each mold including an elastomeric tooling which is open at one end, a support platform slidably mounted in the frame so as to be movable vertically, a drain jacket having an interior diameter greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder and mounted upon the platform co-axially with the cylinder to define a drain gap between the drain jacket and the cylinder, the drain jacket, cylinder and platform being vertically movable together by the lifting means, an upper pressure block mounted in the top of the frame, a lower pressure block mounted in the bottom of the frame, the lower pressure block having an upwardly projecting cylindrical portion co-axial with the cylinder and adapted so that the cylinder may slide up and down the cylindrical portion of the lower pressure block, and means within the pressure vessel for closing the open end of the tooling of the select mold at the second radial position when it is surrounded by the cylinder.

Claim 7

An isostatic molding press as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for removing the compacted material from the select mold comprises a frame which extends over the rotatable support means, a wheeled carriage movably mounted on the frame, a downwardly extending arm mounted on the wheeled carriage, a vacuum pad mounted at the downward end of the arm, and means for moving the wheeled carriage and arm horizontally upon the frame.

Claim 8

A high production isostatic molding device for compacting loose material comprising a plurality of molds, a turntable indexed to advance in fractions of a complete revolution to at least a filling position, a pressing position and an unloading position, the filling, pressing and unloading positions being radially spaced about a common axis, the turntable having a plurality of holes in its surface which are evenly spaced circumferentially about the turntable with each mold being suspended through a separate hole in the turntable, hopper means located at the filling position for filling a select mold with the loose material, means for vibrating the select mold to settle the material, a stationary isostatic press arranged so as to straddle a portion of the turntable at the pressing position, the press including an upright, yoke type frame, an upper pressure block mounted in the top of the frame, a lower pressure block aligned beneath the upper pressure block and mounted in the bottom of the frame, the lower pressure block having an upward cylindrical projection, a hollow pressure cylinder slidably mounted on the projection, a support slidably mounted in the frame, a hollow drain jacket having an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder, the cylinder and drain jacket being mounted co-axially together on the support so as to define an annular drain gap between them, means for lifting the support, together with the cylinder and drain jacket upwardly to surround the select mold with the cylinder and to lift the mold into engagement with the upper pressure block and for lowering the support, the cylinder, the drain jacket, and the select mold to their original positions, means for filling cylinder with fluid as it is being raised by the lifting means, first means for providing a seal between the sElect mold and the upper end of the cylinder, second means for providing a seal between the lower end of the cylinder and the projection so as to seal the lower end of the cylinder, the first and second sealing means together with the cylinder defining a closed, pressure vessel cavity, means for injecting fluid under high pressure into the closed cavity to compact the material within the select mold, a fluid reservoir, means for providing fluid communication between the drain jacket and the reservoir, and means located at the unloading position for extracting the compacted material from the select mold.

Claim 9

A high production isostatic molding device for compacting loose material comprising a plurality of molds, a turntable indexed to advance in fractions of a complete revolution to at least a filling position, a pressing position and an unloading position, the filling, pressing and unloading positions being radially spaced about a common axis, the turntable having a plurality of holes in its surface which are evenly spaced circumferentially about the turntable with each mold being suspended through a separate hole in the turntable, hopper means located at the filling position for filling a select mold with the loose material, means for vibrating the select mold to settle the material, a stationary isostatic press arranged so as to straddle a portion of the turntable at the pressing position, the press including an upright, yoke type frame, an upper pressure block mounted in the top of the frame, a lower pressure block aligned beneath the upper pressure block and mounted in the bottom of the frame, the lower pressure block having an upward cylindrical projection, a hollow pressure cylinder slidably mounted on the projection, a support slidably mounted in the frame, a hollow drain jacket having an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder, the cylinder and drain jacket being mounted co-axially together on the support so as to define an annular drain gap between them, means for lifting the support, together with the cylinder and drain jacket upwardly to surround the select mold with the cylinder and to lift the mold into engagement with the upper pressure block and for lowering the support, the cylinder, the drain jacket, and the select mold to their original positions, means for filling cylinder with fluid as it is being raised by the lifting means, first means for providing a seal between the sElect mold and the upper end of the cylinder, second means for providing a seal between the lower end of the cylinder and the projection so as to seal the lower end of the cylinder, the first and second sealing means together with the cylinder defining a closed, pressure vessel cavity, means for injecting fluid under high pressure into the closed cavity to compact the material within the select mold, a fluid reservoir, means for providing fluid communication between the drain jacket and the reservoir, and means located at the unloading position for extracting the compacted material from the select mold.

Claim 10

A high production isostatic molding device as recited in claim 7 comprising a turntable indexed to advance in substantially equal fractions of a complete revolution to a filling position, a checking position, a pressing position and an unloading position, means located at the checking position for comparing the quantity of material within the select mold with a predetermined standard and for providing an indication if the quantity substantially deviates from the standard.

Claim 11

A high production isostatic molding device for compacting loose material comprising a plurality of molds, each mold including a perforated metal cannister, a bag-shaped diaphragm disposed within the cannister, and a hollow tooling made of elastomeric material disposed within the diaphragm, a turntable indexed to advance in fractions of a complete turn to at least a first, a second and a third radial position about a common axis, the turntable having a plurality of holes in its surface which are evenly spaced circumferentially about the turntable with each mold being suspended through a separate hole in the turntable, hopper means located at the first radial position for filling the tooling of a select mold with the loose material, means for vibrating the select mold to settle the material, an isostatic press arranged so as to straddle a potion of the turntable at the second radial position, the press including an upright, yoke type frame, an upper pressure block mounted in the top of the frame, a lower pressure block aligned beneath the upper pressure block and mounted in the bottom of the frame, the lower pressure block having an upward cylindrical projection, a hollow pressure cylinder slidably mounted on the projection, a support slidably mounted on the projection, a hollow drain jacket having an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder, the cylinder and drain jacket being mounted co-axially together on the support so as to define an annular drain gap between them, means for lifting the support, together with the cylinder and drain jacket upwardly to surround the select mold with the cylinder and to lift the mold into engagement with the upper pressure block and for lowering the support, the cylinder, the drain jacket, and the mold to their original positions, means for filling the cylinder with fluid as it is being raised by the lifting means, first means for providing a seal between the select mold and the upper end of the cylinder, second means for providing a seal between the lower end of the cylinder and the projection, such that the first and second sealing means together with the cylinder define a closed, pressure vessel cavity, means for injecting fluid under high pressure into the closed cavity on the side of the diaphragm opposite the loose material to compact the material within the select mold, a fluid reservoir, means providing for fluid communication between the drain jacket and the reservoir, and means located at the third radial position for extracting the compacted material from the select mold.

Claim 12

A high production isostatic molding device for compacting loose material comprising a plurality of molds, each mold including a perforated metal cannister, a bag-shaped diaphragm disposed within the cannister, and a hollow tooling made of elastomeric material disposed within the diaphragm, a turntable indexed to advance in fractions of a complete turn to at least a first, a second and a third radial position about a common axis, the turntable having a plurality of holes in its surface which are evenly spaced circumferentially about the turntable with each mold being suspended through a separate hole in the turntable, hopper means located at the first radial position for filling the tooling of a select mold with the loose material, means for vibrating the select mold to settle the material, an isostatic press arranged so as to straddle a potion of the turntable at the second radial position, the press including an upright, yoke type frame, an upper pressure block mounted in the top of the frame, a lower pressure block aligned beneath the upper pressure block and mounted in the bottom of the frame, the lower pressure block having an upward cylindrical projection, a hollow pressure cylinder slidably mounted on the projection, a support slidably mounted on the projection, a hollow drain jacket having an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder, the cylinder and drain jacket being mounted co-axially together on the support so as to define an annular drain gap between them, means for lifting the support, together with the cylinder and drain jacket upwardly to surround the select mold with the cylinder and to lift the mold into engagement with the upper pressure block and for lowering the support, the cylinder, the drain jacket, and the mold to their original positions, means for filling the cylinder with fluid as it is being raised by the lifting means, first means for providing a seal between the select mold and the upper end of the cylinder, second means for providing a seal between the lower end of the cylinder and the projection, such that the first and second sealing means together with the cylinder define a closed, pressure vessel cavity, means for injecting fluid under high pressure into the closed cavity on the side of the diaphragm opposite the loose material to compact the material within the select mold, a fluid reservoir, means providing for fluid communication between the drain jacket and the reservoir, and means located at the third radial position for extracting the compacted material from the select mold.