Apparatus for lubricating a die structure employed in die casting operations

Claim 1

In a die casting apparatus, having a stationary platen and a movable platen constructed to receive and support die members cooperable to form a die cavity for the receipt of molten metal, an elongated hollow shot sleeve adapted to connect with said die members for supplying molten metal thereto, said longitudinal shot sleeve having a transverse pour opening therein for the receipt of molten metal into said sleeve, a ram plunger having a chamber therein, said plunger being slidably movable in said shot sleeve, a lubricant supply, means arranged to communicate with said supply and said chamber for controlling the supply of a predetermined amount of lubricant thereto, a gas supply under pressure, a valve having an inlet connected to said gas supply and an outlet connected to said chamber, means responsive to relative movement of said plunger ram for actuating said lubricant controlling means to effect an injection of lubricant into said chamber prior to said plunger uncovering the pore opening in said shot sleeve, and means responsive to relative movement between said stationary and movable platens for controlling said gas valve to effect discharge of gas under pressure into said chamber following injection of lubricant therein, after said die members have reached closed position and while said pore opening is operatively closed by said plunger, operative to discharge and substantially uniformly distribute lubricant throughout the die cavity.