Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a method of making moulds which comprises the steps of supplying sand, a resin binder and a catalyst to a mixing device to form a free flowing mixture of sand, resin binder and catalyst; supplying said mixture to a mould station without substantial curing of said resin binder; and forming moulds in said mould station; the improvement comprising: feeding sand through a separate conduit to said mixing device; sensing the temperature of said sand in said conduit; introducing a flow of cryogenic liquid into said conduit to contact said sand and reduce the temperature thereof as it is being fed upon sensing said temperature above a predetermined value only a few degrees centigrade below that at which curing of the resin binder takes place in the mixing device; and controlling the flow of said cryogenic liquid in response to said sensed temperature so that the temperature of said sand is reduced to said predetermined value upon being fed into said mixing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a method of making moulds which comprises the steps of supplying sand, a resin binder and a catalyst to a mixing device to form a free flowing mixture of sand, resin binder and catalyst; supplying said mixture to a mould station without substantial curing of said resin binder; and forming moulds in said mould station; the improvement comprising: feeding sand through a separate conduit to said mixing device; sensing the temperature of said sand in said conduit; introducing a flow of cryogenic liquid into said conduit to contact said sand and reduce the temperature thereof as it is being fed upon sensing said temperature above a predetermined value only a few degrees centigrade below that at which curing of the resin binder takes place in the mixing device; and controlling the flow of said cryogenic liquid in response to said sensed temperature so that the temperature of said sand is reduced to said predetermined value upon being fed into said mixing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the step of introducing said cryogenic liquid into said conduit comprises spraying said liquid through a plurality of outlets into said conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the step of controlling said flow of cryogenic liquid comprises interrupting said flow upon sensing the temperature of the sand in said conduit at a value below said predetermined temperature and between 20°-30° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said cryogenic liquid is selected from the group consisting of liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide or liquid argon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the step of forming moulds comprises making moulds by a hot-box process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the step of forming moulds comprises making moulds by a cold-box process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for making moulds comprising a conduit; means for feeding sand through said conduit; a mixing device adapted to receive sand fed through said conduit; means for supplying resin binder and catalyst to said mixing device; means for sensing the temperature of said sand in said conduit; means for introducing a flow of cryogenic liquid into said conduit to contact and reduce the temperature of said sand as it is being fed therethrough upon sensing said sand temperature above a predetermined value only a few degrees centigrade below that at which curing of the resin binder takes place in the mixing device; means for controlling the flow of said cryogenic liquid in response to said sensed temperature such that said sand is received in said mixing device at said predetermined value whereby said mixing device is effective to form a free flowing mixture of said sand, resin binder and catalyst; means for forming moulds and means for supplying said free flowing mixture to said mould forming means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for making moulds comprising a conduit; means for feeding sand through said conduit; a mixing device adapted to receive sand fed through said conduit; means for supplying resin binder and catalyst to said mixing device; means for sensing the temperature of said sand in said conduit; means for introducing a flow of cryogenic liquid into said conduit to contact and reduce the temperature of said sand as it is being fed therethrough upon sensing said sand temperature above a predetermined value only a few degrees centigrade below that at which curing of the resin binder takes place in the mixing device; means for controlling the flow of said cryogenic liquid in response to said sensed temperature such that said sand is received in said mixing device at said predetermined value whereby said mixing device is effective to form a free flowing mixture of said sand, resin binder and catalyst; means for forming moulds and means for supplying said free flowing mixture to said mould forming means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for controlling said flow of cryogenic liquid comprises a valve through which said liquid is passed into said conduit and programmable means coupled to said temperature sensing means for opening said valve only when said sensed temperature is above said predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for introducing cryogenic liquid into said conduit comprises an annular spray pipe disposed in said conduit and having a plurality of outlets through which said cryogenic liquid is sprayed into said conduit.