Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
339 words
The method of sand casting a part having a smooth flat surface positioned within a predetermined tolerance, said method comprising the steps of: (1) making a pattern incorporating a shrink factor, said pattern being dimensioned to a lesser tolerance than said predetermined tolerance; (2) making a core box, said core box incorporating a shrink factor, said core box being dimensioned to a lesser tolerance than said predetermined tolerance; (3) making a sample core using said core box, said core being made of sand of predetermined characteristics and being made under regulated time and temperature conditions; (4) making a sample mold using said pattern, said mold being made of sand of predetermined characteristics and being made under regulated time and pressure conditions; (5) assembling said sample core within said sand mold and accurately positioning said core, gauging said core to determine that it is properly positioned within said mold; (6) pouring metal into said mold at a predetermined temperature to cast a prototype part and allowing said metal to cool for at least a predetermined time; (7) comparing the dimensions of said prototype part with the desired dimensions thereof; (8) modifying said core box and said pattern in any areas where the dimensions of said prototype part differ from the desired dimensions thereof; (9) producing production sand cores from said modified core box using sand having substantially the same characteristics utilized to produce the sample core and utilizing the same time and temperature conditions; (10) producing production sand molds using said modified pattern, said molds being made from sand having the same characteristics utilized in producing the sample mold and utilizing the same time and pressure conditions; (11) assembling said production cores within said production molds and accurately positioning said cores within said molds, gauging said cores to determine that they are properly positioned to cast a production part; (12) pouring metal into said mold at substantially the same temperature as used to cast the sample part and removing said production part from said mold after said predetermined cooling time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
339 words
The method of sand casting a part having a smooth flat surface positioned within a predetermined tolerance, said method comprising the steps of: (1) making a pattern incorporating a shrink factor, said pattern being dimensioned to a lesser tolerance than said predetermined tolerance; (2) making a core box, said core box incorporating a shrink factor, said core box being dimensioned to a lesser tolerance than said predetermined tolerance; (3) making a sample core using said core box, said core being made of sand of predetermined characteristics and being made under regulated time and temperature conditions; (4) making a sample mold using said pattern, said mold being made of sand of predetermined characteristics and being made under regulated time and pressure conditions; (5) assembling said sample core within said sand mold and accurately positioning said core, gauging said core to determine that it is properly positioned within said mold; (6) pouring metal into said mold at a predetermined temperature to cast a prototype part and allowing said metal to cool for at least a predetermined time; (7) comparing the dimensions of said prototype part with the desired dimensions thereof; (8) modifying said core box and said pattern in any areas where the dimensions of said prototype part differ from the desired dimensions thereof; (9) producing production sand cores from said modified core box using sand having substantially the same characteristics utilized to produce the sample core and utilizing the same time and temperature conditions; (10) producing production sand molds using said modified pattern, said molds being made from sand having the same characteristics utilized in producing the sample mold and utilizing the same time and pressure conditions; (11) assembling said production cores within said production molds and accurately positioning said cores within said molds, gauging said cores to determine that they are properly positioned to cast a production part; (12) pouring metal into said mold at substantially the same temperature as used to cast the sample part and removing said production part from said mold after said predetermined cooling time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 in which the predetermined tolerances are of the order of 0.010" .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 including the further steps of grinding any portions of the production part requiring touchup and machining one or more surfaces of the said part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which said production parts each include a wall thickness, the thickness of said wall being held within a tolerance of 1/16" .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 in which the part is the body of a breech-lock valve and in which there are a plurality of smooth flat surfaces defining inwardly-extending lugs adapted to mate with cooperating lugs on the bonnet of said valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which said core is a shell core.