Molten metal dosing system

Claim 2

In a casting device, a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a preselected quantity of molten metal from a supply thereof, the combination comprising: an outlet tube connected to said supply and having an open end through which said molten metal may flow, said tube having a substantially cylindrical interior wall extending from said open end and defining therewith an inner edge; a valve element having an elongate cylindrical midportion in and moveable along said tube and shorter interior and exterior end portions, said elongate cylindrical midportion being radially spaced from said cylindrical interior tube wall by an elongate annular molten metal flow path therebetween, the crosssectional size of such annular flow path remaining substantially constant over the range of valve element travel or allowing a substantially constant molten metal flow rate therethrough and for flushing the opposed tube wall and valve element midportion during dispensing, said exterior portion tapering outwardly from said midportion radially beyond said tube inner edge and being engageable with said tube inner edge to seal said tube open end; support means axially slideably carried on said tube and supporting said valve element for movement substantially coaxially of said tube to open and close the tube open end; actuating means for reciprocating said support means axially on said tube and means limiting such reciprocation to retain said midportion at least partially in said tube; means proximate to said end of said tube for receiving a measured amount of molten metal therefrom in response to opening and subsequent closing of said tube by said valve element.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said receptacle means comprises a pivoted pan moveable between a substantially horizontal, upwardly opening location and a tilted location whereat molten metal contained in said pan will flow outwardly therefrom, said tube and valve element and a portion of said supporting means normally lying within and below the top of said pan in spaced relation to the bottom thereof and side walls thereof when said pan is in said substantially horizontal position, said tube extending substantially upwardly from said pan whereby movement of said valve element from said open end of said tube allows flow of molten metal from the tube into said pan preparatory to tipping of said pan and passing of said molten metal therefrom.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, in which said support means includes a slider telescoped on and slideable on said tube and pendantly supports said valve element adjacent the lower end of said slider, said slider being circumferentially grooved, said actuating means including a ring disposed loosely around said slider and having diametral pins disposed in and normally spaced from the radially inner wall of said slider groove for permitting limited transverse movement between said ring and slider, yoke means pivotally engaging said ring on an axis transverse to said diametral pins and means remote from said slider for pivotally supporting and driving said yoke means for arcurate movement substantially tangential to the axis of said tube.

Claim 5

In a casting device, a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a preselected quantity of molten metal from a supply thereof, the combination comprising: an outlet tube connected to said supply and having an open end through which said molten metal may flow; a substantially cylindrical valve element slideable in said oepn end of said tube and including an elongate cylindrical mid-portion radially spaced from the inside of the tube for providing a washing action due to molten metal flow therepast, said valve element also including an inner end within said tube, said valve element further including an outwardly extending seal portion remote from said inner end and arranged for contacting the open end of said tube for preventing flow of molten metal in said tube outWardly therepast; support means supporting said valve element for movement substantially coaxially of said tube into and out of the open end thereof, said support means comprising a hollow, substantially cylindrical slider snugly but slideably telescoped over said tube, a support plate fixed to said enlarged end of said valve element in spaced substantially perpendicular relationship to said tube, said support plate extending radially beyond said tube, and connection means extending axially between and interconnecting said support plate and said slider, said connection means defining at least one opening extending radially outwardly therepast for permitting molten metal flow radially of said support plate when said valve element is positioned to allow molten metal flow from the open end of said tube; actuating means for reciprocating said support means axially with respect to said tube; receptacle means proximate to said end of said tube for receiving a measured amount of molten metal therefrom in response to opening and subsequent closing of said tube by said valve element.

Claim 6

In a casting device, a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a preselected quantity of molten metal from a supply thereof, the combination comprising: an outlet tube connected to said supply and having an open end through which said molten metal may flow; a substantially cylindrical valve element slideable in said oepn end of said tube and including an elongate cylindrical mid-portion radially spaced from the inside of the tube for providing a washing action due to molten metal flow therepast, said valve element also including an inner end within said tube, said valve element further including an outwardly extending seal portion remote from said inner end and arranged for contacting the open end of said tube for preventing flow of molten metal in said tube outWardly therepast; support means supporting said valve element for movement substantially coaxially of said tube into and out of the open end thereof, said support means comprising a hollow, substantially cylindrical slider snugly but slideably telescoped over said tube, a support plate fixed to said enlarged end of said valve element in spaced substantially perpendicular relationship to said tube, said support plate extending radially beyond said tube, and connection means extending axially between and interconnecting said support plate and said slider, said connection means defining at least one opening extending radially outwardly therepast for permitting molten metal flow radially of said support plate when said valve element is positioned to allow molten metal flow from the open end of said tube; actuating means for reciprocating said support means axially with respect to said tube; receptacle means proximate to said end of said tube for receiving a measured amount of molten metal therefrom in response to opening and subsequent closing of said tube by said valve element.

Claim 7

In a casting device, a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a preselected quantity of molten metal from a supply thereof the combination comprising: an outlet tube connected to said supply and having an open end through which said molten metal may flow; a substantially cylindrical valve element slideable in said open end of said tube and including an elongate cylindrical mid-portion radially spaced from the inside of the tube for providing a washing action due to molten metal flow therepast, said valve element also including an inner end within said tube, said valve element further including an outwardly extending seal portion remote from said inner end and arranged for contacting the open end of said tube for preventing flow of molten metal in said tube outwardly therepast; support means supporting said valve element for movement substantially coaxially of said tube into and out of the open end thereof; actuating means for reciprocating said support means axially with respect to said tube, said support means including a slider telescoped over said tube and rigidly connected with respect to said valve element for mutual coaxial movement with respect to said tube and in which said actuating means includes linear motor means having a moveable output element, a pivoted linkage system having a fixed pivot point and a connection to said output element at a point remote from said fixed pivot point and gimbal means interconnecting a further point of said linkage system spaced from said fixed pivot point and said output element to said slider whereby arcuate movement of portions of the linkage system resulting from linear movement of said motor means results in linear motion of said slider and said valve element substantially coaxially of said tube for opening and closing said open end of said tube; receptacle means proximate to said end of said tube for receiving a measured amount of molten metal therefrom in response to opening and subsequent closing of said tube by said valve element.

Claim 8

In a casting device, a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a preselected quantity of molten metal from a supply thereof the combination comprising: an outlet tube connected to said supply and having an open end through which said molten metal may flow; a substantially cylindrical valve element slideable in said open end of said tube and including an elongate cylindrical mid-portion radially spaced from the inside of the tube for providing a washing action due to molten metal flow therepast, said valve element also including an inner end within said tube, said valve element further including an outwardly extending seal portion remote from said inner end and arranged for contacting the open end of said tube for preventing flow of molten metal in said tube outwardly therepast; support means supporting said valve element for movement substantially coaxially of said tube into and out of the open end thereof; actuating means for reciprocating said support means axially with respect to said tube, said support means including a slider telescoped over said tube and rigidly connected with respect to said valve element for mutual coaxial movement with respect to said tube and in which said actuating means includes linear motor means having a moveable output element, a pivoted linkage system having a fixed pivot point and a connection to said output element at a point remote from said fixed pivot point and gimbal means interconnecting a further point of said linkage system spaced from said fixed pivot point and said output element to said slider whereby arcuate movement of portions of the linkage system resulting from linear movement of said motor means results in linear motion of said slider and said valve element substantially coaxially of said tube for opening and closing said open end of said tube; receptacle means proximate to said end of said tube for receiving a measured amount of molten metal therefrom in response to opening and subsequent closing of said tube by said valve element.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 in which said gimbal means comprises a yoke connected to said linkage system and having a pair of spaced arms disposed on opposite sides of the axis of said tube, a ring substantially coaxially surrounding said slider, a first set of diametral pins extending transversely of said tube on opposite sides thereof and supported by the opposed arms of said yoke and diametrally supporting said ring for pivotal movement with respect to said yoke, a second set of diametral pins extending radially inwardly from said ring and substantially evenly circumferentially spaced from said first set of pins, said slider having an annular groove for receiving therewithin the inner ends of said second set of pins for supporting said slider on said ring, said slider being rotatable with respect to said ring about the axis of said tube, whereby said slider moves linearly along said tube in response to arcuate movement of said yoke.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 in which said linkage system comprises a lever, said output element being connected adjacent one end of said lever and said support means being connected adjacent the other end of said lever, said pivot point being located intermediate the ends of said lever and closer to said support means than to said output element.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5 in which said linkage system comprises a lever pivotally secured at one end to said support means and mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the other end thereof at said pivot point, said output means being connected to said lever intermediate said ends thereof at a location closer to said support means than to said pivot point, said linear motor means comprising a pivotally mounted fluid cylinder having a reciprocable piston rod, crank means pivotally mounted at fixed point near said lever and remote from said pivot point thereof, said crank means including a first elongate crank arm connected to said output rod and means defining a second crank arm substantially shorter than said first crank arm and pivotally movable therewith, said means defining said second crank arm being connected to said lever for moving said support means through a relatively short distance sufficient to open and close said valve in response to a substantially longer travel of said output rod.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 in which said second crank arm comprises a first sprocket and including a second sprocket mounted for rotation at a fixed point spaced from said first mentioned sprocket and on the opposite side of said lever therefrom, an endless chain carried by said first and second sprockets and having a reach passing adjacent to said lever for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of pivotal movement of said lever and further including means fixedly engaging said lever to a portion of said reach of said chain intermediate said sprockets whereby rotation of said first mentioned sprocket results in pivotal movement of said lever and of said valve element for opening and closing said open end of said tube.