Centrifugal casting machine

Claim 1

A casting machine comprising: a base, generally vertically extending shaft means mounted on said bare for rotation about a generally vertical axis, a casting arm fixedly attached on said shaft means and extending in a generally horizontal plane for rotation about such vertical axis and in such horizontal plane, a pair of crucibles mounted on said casting arm for rotation in generally a horizontal plane, one crucible being on each opposite side of said vertical shaft means and acting as a centrifuge counterweight to the other upon rotation of said shaft means about said axis, a pair of mold means on said casting arm each being outwardly of a respective crucible and in fluid communication therewith, said casting arm including a frame having a pair of longitudinally extending support arms and a center crossarm connecting with said support arms and with said shaft means, one crucible and one mold means being on each opposite side of said crossarm, electrical means for melting material within one of said crucibles during the melt cycle of the casting machine and including a pair of vertically movable base mounted electrical contact arms on one side of said shaft means and adapted for electrical engagement with one of said crucibles for supplying heat thereto for melting, each contact arm being disposed adjacent a respective support arm of the casting arm, electrical motor means for rotating said shaft means about said vertical axis during the spin cycle of the casting arm for transfer of the molten material from the crucible to the mold means, selective means for alternate operation of said electrical means for melting in said crucible and said electrical motor means for rotating said casting arm, a pair of crucible support means one on each side of the crossarm carrying a respective crucible between the support arms of the casting arm, each crucible support means including a pair of electric current conducting elements each mounted on a respective support arm and engageable with a respective contact arm in preventing rotation of the appropriately positioned crucible during the melt cycle and each conducting element of a pair of conducting elements electrically connectible with a respective of the electrical contact arms and with a crucible associated therewith, each crucible including a pair of crucible parts and electrical insulation means between each crucible part, each crucible part being supported by and in electrical contact with a respective conducting element of an associated pair of conducting elements whereby each contact arm has electrical connection with a respective crucible part and the material to be melted extending into each part of the crucible is melted by electrical resistance, said electrical means for melting further including a solenoid means connecting with the contact arms and in the energized position placing each contact arm in electrical engagement with the apropriate conducting element for melting the material in the crucible, and spin melt switch means having electrical connection with said electrical motor means for rotating and with said means for melting and having closed circuit position for melting of the material in the crucible and a closed circuit position for spinning the casting arm about said vertical axis.