US3938928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple mold rotary casting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-01-24
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Granted: 1976-02-17
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Expires: 1994-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A rotary casting apparatus for molding hollow articles of synthetic plastic is described employing a plurality of hollow molds which are heated and rotated within a fixed oven. The molds and molded articles therein are cooled rapidly while they remain within the oven by injecting cool, moist air into such oven from an external blower fan and a sprayer which sprays water into the air inlet of such fan. Improved rotation and support means are provided for the molds, including a common tubular drive shaft which rotates all of the molds about a common axis and a plurality of rotor means for rotating each of the molds about another axis perpendicular to such common axis. The rotor means are coupled by bevel gears to a second drive shaft extending through the common drive shaft. Each of the molds is rotationally mounted on bearings which are supported on the common drive shaft. The bearings at the inner ends of the molds each include a tubular fixed shaft about which the mold is rotated by the rotor means and which also vents gas from such mold. A scraper ring of low adhesion material is attached to the fixed bearing shaft within each mold and spaced a predetermined distance from its inner surface to provide the molded article with a mounting flange portion of predetermined thickness and inner diameter.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvadore M. Andrews, deceased
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:39
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/04; B29C41/06; B29C41/34; B29C41/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A rotational casting apparatus comprising: mold means including a plurality of hollow molds for molding synthetic plastic material into hollow articles by rotation of said molds when they contain said plastic; an oven enclosing said molds and having heating means for heating said molds, said oven being fixed in position; cooling means separate from said heating means, for cooling said molds and the molded articles therein while they are in said oven by transmitting moist air cooling fluid from an external source into the oven in the space surrounding outside of the molds; and rotation means for rotating said molds within said oven, including a common drive shaft for rotating all of the molds about a common axis, a plurality of rotor means for rotating each of said molds about its mold axis at an angle to said common axis, and support means for supporting each of said molds on said common drive shaft so their mold axes extend radially and are circumferentially spaced about said common axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A rotational casting apparatus comprising: mold means including a plurality of hollow molds for molding synthetic plastic material into hollow articles by rotation of said molds when they contain said plastic; an oven enclosing said molds and having heating means for heating said molds, said oven being fixed in position; cooling means separate from said heating means, for cooling said molds and the molded articles therein while they are in said oven by transmitting moist air cooling fluid from an external source into the oven in the space surrounding outside of the molds; and rotation means for rotating said molds within said oven, including a common drive shaft for rotating all of the molds about a common axis, a plurality of rotor means for rotating each of said molds about its mold axis at an angle to said common axis, and support means for supporting each of said molds on said common drive shaft so their mold axes extend radially and are circumferentially spaced about said common axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the support means include rotational bearing means for supporting the molds at their opposite ends and drive means different from the common drive shaft for rotating the molds on said bearing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the drive means includes a plurality of rotor shafts for rotating the molds and which are coupled to a second drive shaft by bevel gears, said second drive shaft extending coaxial within the common drive shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the rotor means for each mold includes a driven rotor shaft and a rotor rod which is attached to the rotor shaft to extend laterally therefrom so that the rotor rod engages at least one projection on the mold for rotation of said mold on a fixed bearing shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the fixed bearing shaft includes a vent tube portion which extends into the mold for venting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the fixed bearing shafts of all of the rotor means are connected together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which support means each include a first bearing means for supporting the outer end of the mold associated therewith and a second bearing means for supporting the inner end of said mold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which the first bearing means of the molds are supported on a plurality of support arms attached in radially spaced relationship to an intermediate portion of the common drive shaft, while the second bearing means of said molds are supported on a common support plate attached to one end of said common drive shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
152 words
A rotational casting apparatus comprising: mold means including at least one hollow mold for molding synthetic plastic material into hollow articles by rotation of said molds when they contain said plastic; an oven including heating means for heating said mold above the melting temperature of said plastic, said oven being fixed in position; rotational mounting means for mounting said mold for rotation within said oven; and cooling means separate from said heating means for cooling said mold and the molded article therein while they are in said oven to a temperature below said melting temperature, said cooling means including a fan for providing an air stream, external water spray means for spraying water into the air inlet of said fan outside said oven to provide a stream of cool, moist air external to the oven and input means for transmitting said stream of moist air into said oven to cool said mold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
A rotational casting apparatus comprising: mold means including at least one hollow mold for molding synthetic plastic material into hollow articles by rotation of said molds when they contain said plastic; an oven including heating means for heating said mold above the melting temperature of said plastic, said oven being fixed in position; rotational mounting means for mounting said mold for rotation within said oven; and cooling means separate from said heating means for cooling said mold and the molded article therein while they are in said oven to a temperature below said melting temperature, said cooling means including a fan for providing an air stream, external water spray means for spraying water into the air inlet of said fan outside said oven to provide a stream of cool, moist air external to the oven and input means for transmitting said stream of moist air into said oven to cool said mold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the input means includes a conduit connected from the air outlet of said fan to an inlet opening in said oven at a point above said fan and water spray means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the mold means includes a plurality of molds which are all rotated about a common axis and each of which also rotates about another axis at an angle to said common axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the molding surfaces of the molds are made of cold rolled steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the cooling means includes air supply means for providing an air stream, external water spray means for spraying water into the air of said air stream outside said oven to provide a stream of cool, moist air external to the oven and input means for transmitting said stream of moist air into said oven to cool said mold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
182 words
A rotational casting apparatus comprising: mold means including a plurality of hollow molds for molding synthetic plastic material into hollow articles by rotation of said molds when they contain said plastic; heating means including an oven enclosing said molds for heating said molds, said oven being fixed in position; cooling means for cooling said molds and the molded articles therein while they are in said oven; rotation means for rotating said molds within said oven, including a common drive shaft for rotating all of the molds about a common axis, a plurality of rotor means for rotating each of said molds about a fixed bearing shaft extending at an angle to said common axis, and support means for supporting each of said molds on said common drive shaft; and scraper rings of low adhesion material attached to the bearing shafts within such molds so that the scraper rings are each spaced a predetermined distance from the inner surface of a side portion of one end of the mold to provide the molded article with a portion of predetermined thickness and inner diameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
182 words
A rotational casting apparatus comprising: mold means including a plurality of hollow molds for molding synthetic plastic material into hollow articles by rotation of said molds when they contain said plastic; heating means including an oven enclosing said molds for heating said molds, said oven being fixed in position; cooling means for cooling said molds and the molded articles therein while they are in said oven; rotation means for rotating said molds within said oven, including a common drive shaft for rotating all of the molds about a common axis, a plurality of rotor means for rotating each of said molds about a fixed bearing shaft extending at an angle to said common axis, and support means for supporting each of said molds on said common drive shaft; and scraper rings of low adhesion material attached to the bearing shafts within such molds so that the scraper rings are each spaced a predetermined distance from the inner surface of a side portion of one end of the mold to provide the molded article with a portion of predetermined thickness and inner diameter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |