US4609033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for compacting foundry mold making materials
Assignee: BMD Badische Maschinenfabrik Durlach GmbH
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Filing: 1985-05-21
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Granted: 1986-09-02
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Expires: 2005-05-21
Abstract
Abstract In a process for compacting foundry mold making material, that is loosely heaped in a closed mold space over a pattern, the surface of the material is acted on by a compressed gas with a pressure of at the most 8 bar. This gas is caused to undergo expansion out of an inlet space through a valve in an opening at a gas flow rate of over 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate of over 300 bar/sec, into the mold space. The maximum pressure in the inlet space or antichamber is 20 bar. An apparatus for use in the method is made up of a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder having a filling frame and a pattern plate. The opening cross section of the valve is 50 to 150% of the horizontal cross section of the mold flask and is opened in a short time of the order of milliseconds.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfons Kobel
- 👤 Norbert Damm
- 👤 Werner Geiger
- 👤 Gunter Muller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:03
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22C; B22C15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, and wherein said valve has an elastically deforming closing member designed to be moved clear of the desired opening cross section mostly by the effect of pressure in the said pressure vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, and wherein said valve has an elastically deforming closing member designed to be moved clear of the desired opening cross section mostly by the effect of pressure in the said pressure vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elastic valve closing member is a diaphragm designed in a shut position thereof to be rested against the edge of the said opening in the pressure vessel so as to make a sealing joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said diaphragm is gripped at its edge by part of said apparatus to be in a position over the said opening with said pressure vessel so that a ring-like pressure flow cross section is formed, said diaphragm being designed to be bulged outwards in a shut position thereof by driving air acting on an inner side of the diaphragm, said outwardly bulged diaphragm then resting against the edge of the opening of the pressure vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein a space is shut in on the said inner side of diaphragm, said apparatus further having a driving air line joined with said inner side space, and a valve for shutting off said air line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closing member is made up of a a number of elastic diaphragm panels placed parallel to each other and to an axis of said opening, two of said panels in each case limiting a part of the cross section of the opening and able to be moved by compressed air into positions shutting off said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 having in said opening a number of parallel upper narrow bars are placed and spaced therefrom a further group of spaced bars, the diaphragms being placed in pairs back to back with top ends thereof joined to one of the said upper bars and with lower ends thereof joined to one of the bars in said further group walling off a space between each such pair into which said compressed air for causing outward bulging of said diaphragms in said pair may be run.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spaces between such pairs of diaphragms are joined together and to a common compressed air line for ganged operation of said panels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said diaphragm is designed to be parted and is fixed in position between the mold flask and the pressure vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the said diaphragm has lines of weakness for the purpose of uncovering the opening, said lines of weakness being placed at defined positions so that on rupturing of said lines of weakness under the effect of the compressed gas the diaphragm is kept in one piece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 having a grating with widely spaced grating bars under the opening of the diaphragm for supporting it in the opening of the pressure vessel and before rupturing of the diaphragm and uncovering of the opening the same is only weakened along three sides of each opening of the grating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein over the diaphragm that is designed to be ruptured there is a cutting tool, whose cutting edges are so placed in line with the openings of the grating that it is only at three sides of each grating opening that there are cutting edges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cutting tool is placed on a grating frame that is guided for sliding motion in the pressure vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the bars of the grating have conductors at top sides thereof that are able to be electrically heated, such conductors only being placed round three sides of each grating opening and being able to be turned on for uncovering said opening by melting said diaphragm material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein wires, that are able to be electrically heated are embedded in the diaphragm and may be turned on for uncovering the opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the diaphragm that is designed to be ruptured is a part of a running length of elastic web, that is taken from a supply roll on one side of the mold flask in step with operation of the apparatus and may be pulling taken up on an opposite side of the apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure member has a flexible pipe whose axis is parallel to the axis of the opening and whose cross section is designed to be in line with the cross section of the opening of the pressure vessel, one end of the flexible pipe being fixed spacedly over and within the opening of the pressure vessel whereas an opposite end of the said flexible pipe is placed running into the opening and having a system for pressing it against an edge of the opening for functioning as the valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 having a sealing seat, becoming wider towards the mold flask, on the said edge of the opening, said pressing system having a gripping ring that may be moved upwards for gripping the end of the flexible pipe against the sealing seat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the gripping ring has an actuator for moving it upwards and downwards, said actuator being placed in said pressure vessel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 having a stripping ring placed over and within the flexible pipe and that is able to be lowered to a position near the sealing set after the opening has been uncovered.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve closing member is in the form of a folding bellows having its axis lined up with the axis of the opening and having one end thereof fixed in the pressure vessel whereas a further end thereof is locked in the shut position of the valve over the edge of the opening and is shut off.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said bellows has a flange at its end nearest to the opening and has a locking system for acting against the outside of the flange, the said end of the bellows furthermore having a diaphragm shutting it.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 having an actuator for moving the bellows into its shut position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the inside of the bellows is joined up with the outside atmosphere.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 having support tubes within the bellows, one of such tubes being joined up with that end of the bellows that is nearest to the opening.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the place of the bellows is taken by a flexible tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the bellows is pre-stressed into the shut position of the valve.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the driving air for the diaphragm for starting is opening motion undergoes expansion into the pressure vessel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the valve and parts supporting it are in the form of a single assembly that may be taken from the pressure vessel and a new one put in its place.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, wherein said valve closing member has a weight of less than 100-0 kg/sq meter of the valve area, and wherein the apparatus has a middle filling passage for mold making material, a slide for shutting the passage off from the mold flask that is placed thereunder, the valve having a ring-like opening round the passage and producing the connection between the pressure vessel and a space between the slide and the mold flask, and a ring-like seat means on an inner wall face of the ring-like opening, and a ring-like bellows able to be pressed against the outer wall of the ring-like opening at the seat means.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, wherein said valve closing member has a weight of less than 100-0 kg/sq meter of the valve area, and wherein the apparatus has a middle filling passage for mold making material, a slide for shutting the passage off from the mold flask that is placed thereunder, the valve having a ring-like opening round the passage and producing the connection between the pressure vessel and a space between the slide and the mold flask, and a ring-like seat means on an inner wall face of the ring-like opening, and a ring-like bellows able to be pressed against the outer wall of the ring-like opening at the seat means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the pressure vessel is placed like a ring round the filling passage, it opening by way of a ring-opening into the said ring-like opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the ring-like bellows is kept in the shut position by driving air.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the driving air for the ring-like bellows for starting its opening motion undergoes expansion into the pressure vessel.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, wherein the pressure vessel has an opening that is generally the same in form and size as the outline of the mold flask, the flask and a filling frame being able to be pressed against an edge of said opening to make a sealing joint, said edge of said opening having the valve closing member seated against it, and wherein said valve has two flaps that are placed at an equal slope in relation to the plane of the opening, said flaps being kept in shut positions thereof at lower edges thereof by a common lock that may be unlocked, whereas top edges of the flap are hinged in position.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, wherein the pressure vessel has an opening that is generally the same in form and size as the outline of the mold flask, the flask and a filling frame being able to be pressed against an edge of said opening to make a sealing joint, said edge of said opening having the valve closing member seated against it, and wherein said valve has two flaps that are placed at an equal slope in relation to the plane of the opening, said flaps being kept in shut positions thereof at lower edges thereof by a common lock that may be unlocked, whereas top edges of the flap are hinged in position.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 33 having a beam able to be lifted and lowered for locking the lower edges of the flaps in shut positions thereof.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, wherein the pressure vessel has an opening that is generally the same in form and size as the outline of the mold flask, the flask and a filling frame being able to be pressed against an edge of said opening to make a sealing joint, said edge of said opening having the valve closing member seated against it, and wherein the apparatus has a fixed grating in the opening, a further sliding grating placed thereover, a spring loading the same in its plane, and a locking system for keeping the sliding grating in a shut position thereof so that after being unlocked it may be moved by spring force into the opening position thereof.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, wherein the pressure vessel has an opening that is generally the same in form and size as the outline of the mold flask, the flask and a filling frame being able to be pressed against an edge of said opening to make a sealing joint, said edge of said opening having the valve closing member seated against it, and wherein the apparatus has a fixed grating in the opening, a further sliding grating placed thereover, a spring loading the same in its plane, and a locking system for keeping the sliding grating in a shut position thereof so that after being unlocked it may be moved by spring force into the opening position thereof.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 35 wherein said sliding grating has a sealing, wear-resistant material on the side thereof facing the fixed grating, such material being in the form of bars.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, and wherein said valve has a closing member designed to be moved clear of the desired opening cross section mostly by the effect of pressure in the said pressure vessel.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, and wherein said valve has a closing member designed to be moved clear of the desired opening cross section mostly by the effect of pressure in the said pressure vessel.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, and wherein the pressure vessel has an opening that is generally the same in form and size as the outline of the mold flask, the flask and a filling frame being able to be pressed against an edge of said opening to make a sealing joint, said edge of said opening having the valve closing member seated against it, and wherein the valve has a valve plate forming the secondary coil of a surge discharge circuit, whose primary coil is placed round the opening of the pressure vessel and is formed with a sealing seat for the valve plate.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for compacting foundry mold making material, comprising a pressure vessel, a mold flask placed thereunder with a filling space therein, a pattern support plate forming a floor of said space, and a valve placed between the pressure vessel and the mold space, said apparatus being designed for causing expansion of said compressed gas out of said pressure vessel into said mold space as far as a pressure of 8 bar at the most with a gas throughput rate of more than 50 kg/sec and with a pressure increase rate in the said mold space of more than 300 bar/sec, the opening cross section of said valve being between 50% and 150% of the horizontal cross section of the inside of the flask, and wherein the pressure vessel has an opening that is generally the same in form and size as the outline of the mold flask, the flask and a filling frame being able to be pressed against an edge of said opening to make a sealing joint, said edge of said opening having the valve closing member seated against it, and wherein the valve has a valve plate forming the secondary coil of a surge discharge circuit, whose primary coil is placed round the opening of the pressure vessel and is formed with a sealing seat for the valve plate.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 38 wherein the valve plate has a coaxial flexible pipe-like structure elastically supporting it hangingly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-01 | 1990-03-03 | 1990-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-01 | 1994-03-03 | 1994-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-01 | 1998-03-03 | 1998-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |