Molten metal metering and transfer device with displacement piston

Claim 2

A molten metal metering and transfer device for use with a molding machine and a bath for holding and heating a molten metal, including in combination, a wall means forming a chamber supported in said bath with a first end of said chamber extending out of said molten metal and with the axis of said chamber extending substantially perpendicular to the surface of said molten metal, entry means for allowing entry of said molten metal into said chamber, exit means adjacent said chamber first end and above said molten metal surface for allowing exit of said molten metal from said chamber, a plunger seated in said chamber and adapted to move in a first direction into said bath and in a second direction out of said bath along the axis of said chamber said plunger when seated in said chamber having a plunger top surface extending at an angle with respect to said molten metal surface and said chamber axis, said plunger when moved in said second direction trapping a predetermined amount of molten metal above said plunger top surface and raising said trapped metal above the molten metal surface to said exit means, said plunger top surface, at the effective end point of travel in the second direction, including a lowest point positioned in said chamber adjacent said exit means and a highest point positioned above and substantially opposite said exit means for facilitating said flow of trapped molten metal through said exit means, said plunger top surface, at the effective end point of travel in the first direction, having said highest point of the plunger top surface positioned below the entry means.

Claim 3

The metering and transfer device of claim 1 wherein said entry means is formed in said wall means and extends partially into and partially out of said molten metal.

Claim 4

The metering and transfer device of claim 1 wherein said entry means is an aperture formed through said wall means for allowing entry of said molten metal into said chamber, said aperture extending partially into and out of said molten metal.

Claim 5

The metering and transfer device of claim 3 wherein, at the effective end point of travel of said plunger in said first direction, said plunger top surface is below said molten metal surface.

Claim 6

The metering and transfer device of claim 4 wherein said plunger top moves in said second direction from below the molten metal surface and expels a portion of said molten metal from said chamber through said entry means, said plunger passing said entry means during movement in said second direction and trapping said predetermined amount of molten metal.

Claim 7

The metering and transfer device of claim 1 wherein the length of travel of said plunger in said second direction determines the amount of said predetermined trapped molten metal discharged through said exit means.

Claim 8

The metering and transfer device of claim 1 wherein said wall means is a cylindrical wall, said chamber is a cylindrical chamber, and said plunger is a truncated cylinder.

Claim 9

The metering and transfer device of claim 1 further including a plunger stem secured to said plunger for reciprocating said plunger in said first and second direction.

Claim 10

The metering and transfer device of claim 8 further including hydraulic means secured to said plunger stem and selectively operative to reciprocate said plunger stem and plunger in said first and second directions.

Claim 11

The metering and transfer device of claim 1 wherein said exit means is formed through said wall means adjacent said chamber first end, said exit means including a portion extending at substantially the angle of the plunger top surface with respect to said molten metal surface and said chamber axis for facilitating a flow of said trapped molten metal from said plunger top surface through said exit means.

Claim 12

The metering and transfer device of claim 10 wherein said exit means is a conduit formed through said wall means, said conduit including a portion extending substantially at the angle of the plunger top surface.

Claim 13

The metering and transfer device of claim 11 wherein said conduit is a trough.

Claim 14

A molten metal metering and transfer device for use with a molding machine and a bath for holding and heating molten metal including in combination; a hollow elongate container forming a chamber therein and having a top end and a bottom end and an axis in the elongate direction, means for supporting said container in said bath with said top end extending above the normal upper surface level of the molten metal, and the bottom end extending below the normal upper surface level of the molten metal with said elongate axis extending substantially perpendicular to the molten metal surface, an entry port formed in said container between the top end and bottom end, said entry port being positioned to extend partially above and partially below the normal upper surface level of the molten metal when said container is mounted in the bath, an exit port formed in said container adjacent said top end, said exit port including a portion extending at an angle with respect to said axis for allowing free flow of said molten metal from said chamber through said exit port, a plunger seated in said chamber and adapted to move in a first direction into said bath and in a second direction out of said bath along the axis, said plunger when seated in said chamber having a plunger top surface extending at substantially an inclined angle with respect to said axis, said plunger when moved in said second direction being adapted to trap a predetermined amount of molten metal above said plunger top surface and raise said trapped metal out of said bath to said exit port, said top surface angle facilitating a flow of said trapped molten metal through said exit means, said plunger top surface, at an end point of travel in the second direction, including a lower point positioned in said chamber adjacent said exit port and a higher point positioned substantially opposite said exit port for facilitating said flow of trapped molten metal through said exit port, said plunger top surface, at an end point of travel in the first direction, having said higher point of the plunger top surface positioned below the entry port.

Claim 15

A molten metal metering and transfer device for use with a molding machine and a bath for holding and heating molten metal including in combination; a hollow elongate container forming a chamber therein and having a top end and a bottom end and an axis in the elongate direction, means for supporting said container in said bath with said top end extending above the normal upper surface level of the molten metal, and the bottom end extending below the normal upper surface level of the molten metal with said elongate axis extending substantially perpendicular to the molten metal surface, an entry port formed in said container between the top end and bottom end, said entry port being positioned to extend partially above and partially below the normal upper surface level of the molten metal when said container is mounted in the bath, an exit port formed in said container adjacent said top end, said exit port including a portion extending at an angle with respect to said axis for allowing free flow of said molten metal from said chamber through said exit port, a plunger seated in said chamber and adapted to move in a first direction into said bath and in a second direction out of said bath along the axis, said plunger when seated in said chamber having a plunger top surface extending at substantially an inclined angle with respect to said axis, said plunger when moved in said second direction being adapted to trap a predetermined amount of molten metal above said plunger top surface and raise said trapped metal out of said bath to said exit port, said top surface angle facilitating a flow of said trapped molten metal through said exit means, said plunger top surface, at an end point of travel in the second direction, including a lower point positioned in said chamber adjacent said exit port and a higher point positioned substantially opposite said exit port for facilitating said flow of trapped molten metal through said exit port, said plunger top surface, at an end point of travel in the first direction, having said higher point of the plunger top surface positioned below the entry port.

Claim 16

The molten metal metering and transfer device of claim 13 wherein said plunger reciprocates in said second direction to a particular height, said particular height determining the amount of said predetermined trapped molten metal discharged through said exit port.

Claim 17

The metering and transfer device of claim 13 further including hydraulic means coupled to said plunger and selectively operative to move said plunger in said first and second directions.

Claim 18

The molten metal metering and transfer device of claim 13 wherein said extending portion of the exit port extends at substantially the inclined angle of the plunger top.