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US5558148A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of producing molds

Assignee: Sintokogio Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-05-05
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Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2015-05-05
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Abstract

Abstract Molding sand (5) is fed into a space defined by a pattern plate (2) and a flask (3) mounted on the pattern plate (2), and the space is enclosed at the upper part of the flask (3) by a cover (6). The air in the enclosed space is evacuated to reduce the air pressure between the grains of the molding sand in the enclosed space to 1 Torr to 150 Torr, and then air is introduced into the enclosed space from the upper part of the space so that the pressure in the space can increase at the rate of 15 atm/s to compress the molding sand (5). The method eliminates the need for vent holes and enables the mold to be crack-free since the air flow is not reflected.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nagato Uzaki
  • 👤 Ukichi Oishi
  • 👤 Ryoji Kanayama
  • 👤 Hironobu Amano
  • 👤 Tokiya Terabe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 14:59
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22C; B22C9/00; B22C9/02; B22C15/00; B22C15/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 148 words
In a method of producing a mold that includes the steps of feeding molding sand into a space defined by a pattern plate and a flask mounted on the pattern plate; covering the upper part of the flask by a closing cover; and then pressing the molding sand by using an air flow, wherein the pressing step includes the steps of: evacuating air from the space enclosed by the pattern plate, the flask, and the closing cover, to make the space a vacuum so that the pressure of the air between the grains of the molding sand in the space is between 1 Tort and 150 Torr; and causing an air flow into the space from an upper part of the space such that the pressure in the space increases to the ambient pressure at a pressure gradient of at least 15 arm/s, thereby compressing the molding sand.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 148 words
In a method of producing a mold that includes the steps of feeding molding sand into a space defined by a pattern plate and a flask mounted on the pattern plate; covering the upper part of the flask by a closing cover; and then pressing the molding sand by using an air flow, wherein the pressing step includes the steps of: evacuating air from the space enclosed by the pattern plate, the flask, and the closing cover, to make the space a vacuum so that the pressure of the air between the grains of the molding sand in the space is between 1 Tort and 150 Torr; and causing an air flow into the space from an upper part of the space such that the pressure in the space increases to the ambient pressure at a pressure gradient of at least 15 arm/s, thereby compressing the molding sand.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the air flow is caused by the ambient pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of mechanically pressing the upper surface of the molding sand after compressing the sand by the air flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 113 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the step of mechanically pressing the upper surface of the molding sand includes the steps of: inserting a pressing plate in the space within the closing cover in a sealing relationship therewith and fixedly supporting the pressing plate in the cover; evacuating air from the space enclosed by the pattern plate, the flask, the closing cover, and the pressing plate, to make the space a vacuum; and releasing the pressing plate from the closing cover while maintaining the vacuum in the space, thereby lowering the pressing plate by the pressure difference between the ambient pressure exerted on the plate and the vacuum, to press the molding sand.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the molding sand is pressed by using a split head suspended from the pressing plate through springs such that the head can be retracted.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 120 words
A method of producing a mold comprising the steps of: feeding molding sand into a space defined by a pattern plate and a flask mounted on the pattern plate; covering an upper part of the flask by a closing cover; evacuating air from a space enclosed by the pattern plate, the flask, and the closing cover, to create a vacuum so that the pressure in the space is between 1 and 150 Tort; pressing the molding sand by introducing an air flow into the space from an upper part of the space such that the pressure in the space increases from the vacuum to ambient pressure at a pressure gradient of at least 15 arm/s, thereby compressing the molding sand.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 120 words
A method of producing a mold comprising the steps of: feeding molding sand into a space defined by a pattern plate and a flask mounted on the pattern plate; covering an upper part of the flask by a closing cover; evacuating air from a space enclosed by the pattern plate, the flask, and the closing cover, to create a vacuum so that the pressure in the space is between 1 and 150 Tort; pressing the molding sand by introducing an air flow into the space from an upper part of the space such that the pressure in the space increases from the vacuum to ambient pressure at a pressure gradient of at least 15 arm/s, thereby compressing the molding sand.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4230172A Cited
JPS58107251A Cited
US4620584A Cited
US4921035A Cited
JPS63171246A Cited
JPH01113152A Cited
SU1533820A1 Cited
DE4126962A1 Cited
JPH0576990A Cited
US5348070A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-09-24 2000-03-25 2000-09-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-09-24 2004-03-25 2004-09-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-09-24 2008-03-25 2008-09-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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