Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.

Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Cmi International, Inc.

Seaton Engineering Company

Ford Motor Company Limited

Seaton Engineering, Inc.

Dearborn Fabricating & Engineering Corp.

William W Seaton

Kenneth D McKibben

Daniel D Minor

Mark T Salgat

David Good

Karl D Voss

Thomas E Wuepper

Robert L Macheske

Alan P Gould

Diane M Zekind

Richard A Gillette

Tom Rozich

William J Duca

Dave Good

Khushal Wardak

Miroslav Jaksic

Gregory W Seaton

George C Miller

Dennis L Dunville

Charles H Good

Kenneth D Mc Kibben

A casting apparatus for pouring molten metal into molds comprises a vessel having a molten metal-receiving chamber generally extending between a filling end and a pouring end. The vessel includes a nozzle disposed in a bottom surface of the chamber proximate to the pouring end. A stopper cooperates with the nozzle to control a downward gravity flow of molten metal through the nozzle. A first support pivotably supports the vessel to provide a horizontal tilt axis substantially coincident with the nozzle. A second support is connected to the vessel at a point away from the tilt axis and has a drive for controlling a pivot position of the vessel. A tilt angle controller detects a level of molten metal within the chamber and engages the drive to maintain the level at a predetermined level.

Stopper-poured molten metal casting vessel with constant head height

A casting apparatus for pouring molten metal into molds comprises a vessel having a molten metal-receiving chamber generally extending between a filling end and a pouring end. The vessel includes a nozzle disposed in a bottom surface of the chamber proximate to the pouring end. A stopper cooperates with the nozzle to control a downward gravity flow of molten metal through the nozzle. A first support pivotably supports the vessel to provide a horizontal tilt axis substantially coincident with the nozzle. A second support is connected to the vessel at a point away from the tilt axis and has a drive for controlling a pivot position of the vessel. A tilt angle controller detects a level of molten metal within the chamber and engages the drive to maintain the level at a predetermined level. A horizontal support rail slidably supports the vessel to provide a horizontal movement perpendicular to the tilt axis. A horizontal drive controls the horizontal movement in response to the pivot position so that a trajectory of the flow of molten metal is directed toward a substantially fixed point within the sprue cup.

Trajectory compensation for tiltable stopper-poured molten metal casting vessel

A sensor for measuring the distance between two surfaces injects pressurized fluid (e.g., air) between the surfaces. The pressurized fluid passes through two flow restrictors prior to reaching the surfaces to be measured. The fluid pressures between the flow restrictors and between the downstream flow restrictor and the surfaces are compared to yield the distance between the two surfaces. An accurate distance measurement can be obtained even where the surfaces to be measured are located in a hostile environment which would destroy many other types of sensors.

Determining separation distance of two surfaces in a hostile environment

This invention relates to a casting machine furnace apparatus including a casting machine furnace, a supply furnace in fluid communication with the machine furnace and operative to supply a molten metal to the machine furnace, and a stopper module device disposed in a fluid path between the casting machine furnace and the supply furnace. The stopper module device includes a block housing and a stopper assembly. The block housing includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and is disposed in the fluid path. The stopper assembly is supported for movement relative to the inlet opening of the block housing between a working position, wherein the molten metal flows from the supply furnace to the casting machine furnace, and a non-working position, wherein the flow of molten metal is prevented.

Stopper module device for a casting machine furnace apparatus

This invention relates to a brake system adapted for use with a rotary turntable. The brake system includes a braking member secured to the rotary turntable, at least one brake band, and an actuator operatively connected to the brake band for selectively moving the brake band between a braking position and a non-braking position. The braking member has a generally annular shape and includes a generally annular outer braking surface. The brake band has a generally annular shape and includes a generally annular outer friction surface disposed adjacent the annular outer braking surface of the braking member. The brake band is movable between a first non-braking position, wherein the friction surface of the brake band is spaced apart from the braking surface of the braking member, and a second braking position, wherein the friction surface of the brake band contacts at least a portion of the braking surface of the braking member. The brake band includes a first end and an opposite second end. The first end of the brake band is secured to a stationary anchor member. The actuator is operatively connected to the second end of the brake band for selectively moving the brake band between the braking position and the non-braking position.

Brake for a rotary turntable

A bottom pour casting apparatus (100) includes a vessel (114) having a bottom nozzle (118). A stopper rod (112) is coupled to a programmable controller (250) by linkage mechanism (250) for controlling the movement of the stopper rod (112) according to a pouring schedule. An LDT position sensor (216) is coupled to the stopper rod (112) by a cable (238) and also electronically to the controller (250) for sensing the actual position of the stopper rod during a pouring cycle and conveying this information directly to the controller (250) thereby bypassing any backlash present in the linkage mechanism (116) to enable precise control of the stopper rod movement. A method includes rezeroing the position sensor (116) at the beginning of each pouring cycle to account for slag build-up on the nozzle (118).

Apparatus and method for controlling a stopper rod of a bottom pouring

A pouring ladle (12) includes a horizontal chamber (22) having an inlet (24) at one end thereof for admitting molten metal into the chamber (22) and a bottom-poured nozzle (28) at an opposite end for discharging the metal into an underlying mold (30). A coreless induction heater (56) surrounds the chamber (22) for heating metal as it flows from the inlet (24) to the outlet nozzle (28). The induction heater (56) may be operated simultaneously with the pouring of metal and be used to pour treated ductile iron without plugging the inductor (56).

Induction heated metal pouring apparatus

A metallurgically improved metal casting (10) is made with increased productivity, wherein molten metal is quiescently fed upwards into a molding chamber (14) which is then inverted. An assembly of refractory cores (12) is used that defines the molding chamber (14) with riser channels (16). A metal entrance (18) to the molding chamber (14) through a mold side wall (20) requires feeding molten metal against gravity to fill the molding chamber (14), and quiescently pressure feeding molten metal through a metal launder (26) to fill the molding chamber (14) and the riser channels (16). A mold/nozzle connection between the metal launder (26) and the source of molten metal delivered under pressure is rotationally flexible and axially compliant. The feeding of molten metal is interrupted and the assembly is rotated about an axis passing through the mold/nozzle connection (28) to invert the assembly while maintaining the mold/nozzle connection. The mold/nozzle connection (28) is then severed from the inverted assembly. Molten metal is then allowed to feed under gravity into the molding chamber (14) from the riser channels 16 and the metal launder (26) is drained. Meanwhile, the molding chamber (14) is removed from the mold/nozzle connection (28), and a subsequent mold is filled.

Rollover method for metal casting

A conveyor system having an intermediate roller conveyor section which is shiftable as a unit between an upper operative position and a lower inoperative position. An overhead conveyor extends transversely relative to the intermediate roller conveyor section and includes a plurality of carriers positionable over the intermediate roller conveyor section for receiving a part when the conveyor section is in its lowered or inoperative position.

Conveyor system with part transfer device

Apparatus for aligning the stopper valve (14) with the seat (12) in a bottom pour ladle (10), including a locking arrangement (36) which can be loosened to permit the valve (14) to properly close on the seat (12). The locking arrangement (36) is then locked into position with the stopper valve (14) in true alignment with the seat (12).

Flex rod assembly for a stopper valve in a bottom pour ladle

A stopper valve actuating mechanism for a bottom pour casting container including an adjustable limit motion connection within the lever train which allows for a finer control of the pour of the molten metal. The adjustable limit stop connection comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement.

Stopper throttling system

An air cooled ceramic stopper valve and actuating rod for a bottom pouring ladle. Ceramic parts are assembled onto a metallic stopper rod which contains an enlarged head portion. The metallic stopper rod head is notched, so that refractory cement used to bond the ceramic parts forms a strong mechanical bond between the metal rod and the ceramic point of the valve. The notches provide enough strength in the joint between metal rod to ceramic point to permit shearing loose a frozen stopper valve by rotation (when the valve head [point] bonds to the ceramic orifice).

Stopper valve for a pouring ladle

A pouring ladle for pouring molten metal into molds or other containers, including wall structure forming a chamber for holding the molten metal, a spout having wall structure forming longitudinal passage means therein, the passage having an inlet end in fluid communication with a chamber and an outlet end through which molten metal can be discharged, a drive gear arrangement is provided for rotating the pouring ladle about an axis of rotation, positioned such that the axis of rotation passes through the center of the discharge end of the passage, and the pouring ladle and spout being constructed such that the lower outer surface of the wall structure forming the chamber and the lower outer surface of the wall structure of the spout lie in the same horizontal plane when the ladle is in its full, non-pouring position. Thus, the entire ladle can be positioned above the mold while it is being filled with molten metal, or while the ladle is being moved to the pouring position.

Ladle with axis of rotation through discharge spout

The relative positions between a pair of moving objects and the velocity of one of such objects is controlled so as to synchronize the movements of the objects. Synchronization is achieved through the use of a novel sensor mechanism and a control circuit associated therewith. The sensor mechanism, which may be mounted on a molten metal pouring machine, includes a moving beam which carries a probe which describes the same circular arc regardless of where positioned on the beam. The probe contacts an object on a conveyor, for example a mold to be poured, and a signal generator mechanically coupled to the moving beam will provide an output signal commensurate with the relative position and velocity of the tool and workpiece.

Growing community of inventors

Dexter, MI, United States of America

William W Seaton