JPH08300126A - Casting equipment for thixocasting - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a casting apparatus for thixocasting capable of expanding the solid fraction of a semi-molten casting material. The casting apparatus comprises a mold 2, a heating carrier 3 for preparing and carrying a semi-molten casting material H in which a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist from a solid casting material G, and a semi-molten casting material H for the mold 2. And a pressure plunger 4 filling the cavity 9.
The heating / transporting machine 3 includes a rotator body 16 having a plurality of casting material carrying holes C ₁ and C ₇ around the rotation axis a, and a plurality of induction heating coils 22 located around the carrying holes C ₁ and C _7.
And the closing plate 2 arranged on the opening side of the transport holes C ₁ and C _7.
6 and 33. The transport holes C ₁ and C ₇ and the closing plate 26,
Since the semi-molten casting material H is prepared and transported in the space substantially sealed by 33, even if the solid fraction is low, the outflow to the outside of the transport holes C ₁ , C ₇ is prevented. Semi-molten casting material H
At the carry-out position E and the carry-in position of the solid casting material 5, the closing plates 26 and 33 open the openings of the carrying holes C ₁ and C ₇ .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a thixocasting casting apparatus, that is, a casting apparatus using a semi-molten casting material in which a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a casting apparatus of this kind, a heating section is provided in the vicinity of a mold, and a self-standing solid casting material is heated by the heating section to prepare a semi-molten casting material. There is known one in which a semi-molten casting material is gripped by a gripping member arranged and conveyed to a mold (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-7748).

[0003]

However, the conventional device has the following problems. That is, since the semi-molten casting material is gripped and conveyed, the solid fraction of the semi-molten casting material must be controlled quite strictly, and mass productivity is poor. Further, when the solid phase ratio is low, a part of the semi-molten casting material flows out, leading to a decrease in yield, and if the upper semi-molten casting material may fall down without standing, it becomes impossible to convey. . Further, during transportation, the semi-molten casting material is liable to be broken such that the semi-molten cast material is torn in two from the portion gripped by the gripping member. Furthermore, since the heating of the solid casting material is performed in an open state to the atmosphere, the surface of the semi-molten casting material is easily oxidized. Further, the temperature of the semi-molten casting material is likely to drop during transportation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the casting apparatus which can solve all the problems of the conventional apparatus.

[0005]

A casting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a mold, a heating carrier for preparing and transporting a semi-molten casting material in which a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist from a solid casting material, and the heating transportation thereof. And a filling means for filling the cavity of the mold with the semi-molten casting material conveyed by a machine, wherein the heating and conveying machine has a rotator body having a plurality of casting material conveying holes around a rotation axis and each conveying means. A plurality of heating means provided in the rotator body so as to be positioned around the hole, and a closing plate arranged on the opening side of the transport hole, the closing plate,
Open the opening when the transfer hole is at the carry-in position of the solid casting material and at the carry-out position of the semi-molten casting material, and the opening is kept until the carry hole leaves the carry-in position and reaches the carry-out position. Characterized by closing.

[0006]

The solid casting material carried into the carrying hole at the carry-in position is heated until it is carried to the carry-out position to become a semi-molten cast material.

In this case, since the semi-molten casting material exists in the space which is substantially sealed by the transport hole and the closing plate, the semi-molten cast material is prevented from flowing out of the transport hole even if its solid fraction is low, and the surface is oxidized. Is greatly suppressed, and moreover, the transport is performed reliably.

At the carry-out position, the semi-molten casting material can be carried out from the carrying hole and immediately filled in the cavity, so that the temperature drop thereof is greatly suppressed.

[0009]

1 to 5 show an embodiment. In FIG.
A mold 2 is arranged on one side surface side of a substrate 1 standing upright on a base A, and a heating carrier 3 and a pressure plunger 4 as a filling means are arranged on the other end surface side.

The mold 2 is a fixed mold 5 fixed to the substrate 1.
And a movable mold 6 facing the fixed mold 5,
Cavity 9 for casting molding between mating surfaces 7 and 8 of both molds 5 and 6.
Is formed. The movable mold 6 is slidably supported by a plurality of guide rods 10 which are provided on the substrate 1 and penetrate the fixed mold 5. The piston rod 12 of the operating cylinder 11 is fixed to the back surface of the movable mold 6, and the operating cylinder 11 causes the movable mold 6 to contact with or separate from the fixed mold 5.

A gate 13 communicating with the cavity 9 is formed in the fixed mold 5, and a hollow cylindrical body 15 having a runner 14 communicating with the gate 13 is attached to the substrate 1. A part of the hollow cylindrical body 15 on the pressure plunger 4 side protrudes from the substrate 1.

The heating / transporting machine 3 has a function of preparing and transporting a semi-molten casting material in which a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist from a solid casting material. In the heating and conveying machine 3, the drum-shaped rotator body 16 is made of a non-magnetic material (eg, austenitic stainless steel, ceramic material, etc.). A horizontal rotating shaft 17 penetrating the center portion of the rotating body 16 is coupled via a key 18 (see FIG. 2), and a horizontal rotating axis a of the rotating body 16 is aligned with the axis of the rotating shaft 17. I am doing it. One end of the rotary shaft 17 is rotatably supported by the substrate 1 above the runner 14, and the other end is connected to an output shaft (not shown) of the motor 19. As a result, the rotator body 16 intermittently rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, and the outer peripheral portion of the one circular end surface 20 of the rotator body 16 on the substrate 1 side is brought into sliding contact with the one open end surface 21 of the hollow cylindrical body 15. , Its rotation axis a and the center line b of the runner 14
And are parallel to each other.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, in the outer peripheral portion of the rotator body 16, a plurality of, in the embodiment, 12 casting material carrying holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ are provided around the rotation axis a on the circumference thereof. The transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ are formed at intervals and penetrate the outer peripheral portion, and each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ has a center line d parallel to the rotation axis a.
The inner diameter of each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the runner 14. The rotator body 16 is intermittently rotated by 30 degrees, and when the rotation is stopped, the transport hole C ₁ located at the lowest position is arranged coaxially with the runner 14.

Each of the transport holes C is provided in the rotator body 16.₁~ C₁₂Around
Which is located at the transport hole C in the illustrated example. ₁~ C₁₂Surround
A plurality of induction heating coils (heating means) 22 are embedded so that
Have been.

Further, the rotator body 16 includes a pair of half bodies 23,
It is covered with a cover member 25 made of 24. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one half 23 on the substrate 1 side
Is an annular closing plate 26 arranged on one opening side of each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ such that one circular end surface 20 of the rotator body 16 is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral edge of the closing plate 26. A short tubular body 27 that is provided and is in sliding contact with substantially half of the outer peripheral surface of the rotator body 16;
A plurality of connecting tabs 2 provided at the opening edge of the short tubular body 27 at equal intervals on the circumference and projecting outward in the radial direction.
8 and a mounting tube 29 projecting from the lowermost outer surface of the closing plate 26
Have and. A series of fitting holes 30 are formed in the mounting cylinder 29 and the closing plate 26, and the mounting cylinder 29 is fitted into the protruding portion of the hollow cylindrical body 15 through the fitting holes 30, and the plurality of bolts 31 are used. It is fixed to the hollow cylindrical body 15.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the other half 2
4 is an annular closing plate 33 arranged on the other opening side of each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ so that the other circular end surface 32 of the rotator body 16 is in sliding contact, and an outer peripheral edge of the closing plate 33. A short cylindrical body 34 that is continuously provided and has substantially half of the outer peripheral surface of the rotator body 16 in sliding contact
And provided at the opening edge of the short tubular body 34 at equal intervals on the circumference so as to face the plurality of connecting tabs 28 of the one half body 23 and to project outward in the radial direction. And a plurality of connecting tabs 35.

Both connecting tabs 28, 35 of the two halves 23, 24 facing each other are overlapped with each other to form a U-shaped mounting bracket 3.
6, the tabs 28 and 35 and the mounting bracket 36 are integrally fixed by bolts 37 and nuts 38.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, when the rotation of the rotator body 16 is stopped, one opening of the lowest carrying hole C ₁ is opened by the fitting hole 30 and communicates with the runner 14.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the other half 2
A first through hole 39 is formed in the lowermost portion of the closing plate 33 in FIG. When the rotation of the rotator body 16 is stopped, the lowest transport hole C
₁ is always arranged coaxially with the first through hole 39, and the other opening communicates with the first through hole 39.

The pressurizing plunger 4 is slidably supported by the guide tube 40 so as to always be positioned coaxially with the lowest carrying hole C ₁ when the rotation of the rotator body 16 is stopped. The semi-molten casting material carried by the rotator body 16 is carried out from the lowest carrying hole C ₁ and the cavity 9
And press fill. The tip portion 41 of the pressure plunger 4 is the first
The outer diameter of the tip end portion 41 loosely inserted in the through hole 39 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ .

Therefore, the position of the first through hole 39 is the carry-out position E of the semi-molten casting material.

Further, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a second through hole 42 having a diameter larger than that of each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ is formed in the closing plate 33 of the other half body 24. Is formed so as to be staggered by 30 degrees about the rotation axis a. During rotation stop of the rotator member 16, than the lowest transport holes C ₁ of located in the rotation direction front side of the rotator body 16, the conveyance holes C ₂ of next order of and adjacent to the conveying hole C ₁ second It is always arranged coaxially with the through hole 42, and one opening thereof communicates with the second through hole 42. The other opening on the substrate 1 side in the next-stage transport hole C ₂ is closed by a closing plate 26.

Therefore, the position of the second through hole 42 is the loading position F of the solid casting material.

Until the transfer holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ leave the carry-in position F and reach the carry-out position E, both openings thereof are closed by both closing plates 26, 33.

In the casting operation, the rotator body 16 is stopped and the short columnar solid casting material G made of, for example, an Al alloy is loaded into the carrying hole C ₂ at the carry-in position F through the second through hole 42. In this case, since the opening of the transfer hole C _{2 on} the substrate 1 side is closed by the closing plate 26, the solid casting material G is accommodated in the transfer hole C ₂ without protruding to the substrate 1 side.

Next, the rotator body 16 is rotated by 30 degrees, and then the induction heating coil 22 around the transport hole C ₂ loaded with the solid casting material G is energized to start heating the solid casting material G. At that time, an electromagnetic force that moves the solid casting material G in the direction of the center line d of the transport hole C ₂ acts,
Since both openings of the carrying hole C ₂ are closed by the both closing plates 26, 33, the solid casting material G is prevented from protruding from the carrying hole C ₂ . Further, the next carrying hole C at the carry-in position F
₁ is charged with the solid casting material G through the second through hole 42, and the above operation is repeated.

The solid casting material G carried into the carrying holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ at the carry-in position F is heated to the semi-molten cast material H before being carried to the carry-out position E.

In this case, the semi-molten casting material H has a transport hole C.
_{1 to} C ₁₂ and both of the closing plates 26 and 33 exist in a substantially sealed space, so that even if the solid fraction is low, the transport holes C ₁ to
Outflow to the outside of C ₁₂ is prevented, surface oxidation is also greatly suppressed, and transport is also performed reliably.

Then, the transport containing the semi-molten casting material H
Hole C₁(In the description, the transport hole C₂Is the same C ₁Ahead of
However, for convenience, the same C₁Before) reaches the carry-out position E
And its transport hole C₁To the induction heating coil 22 corresponding to
Stop energizing. Thereby, the transport hole C₁And runner 14
Before and are completely matched, the semi-molten casting material H
For example, move to the runner 14 side, part of which is the runner
Entry to 14 is prevented. That is, semi-molten cast material
The deformation of the material H is prevented.

When the carrying hole C ₁ reaches the carry-out position E, the pressure plunger 4 is immediately advanced to carry out the semi-molten casting material H from the carry hole C ₁ and add it into the cavity 9 through the runner 14 and the gate 13. It is pressure filled to form a casting.

As described above, at the carry-out position E, the semi-molten casting material H can be carried out from the carrying hole C ₁ and immediately filled in the cavity 9, so that the temperature drop can be greatly suppressed.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, each of the carrying holes C _1- .
When C ₁₂ is in the carry-in position F, those transport holes C ₁ -C ₁₂
Both ends may be open. Further, at the carry-in position F and the carry-out position E, an electric current may be applied to the induction heating coil 22 corresponding to each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ to such an extent that the solid casting material G and the semi-molten casting material H are not moved ( This also applies to other embodiments described below.) FIGS. 6 to 10 show other embodiments. In these drawings, the same components as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, one end of a horizontal sleeve 48 slidably supporting the pressure plunger 4 is provided with a cavity 9 via a runner 14 and a gate 13.
The lower end of the inclined sleeve 45 arranged above the horizontal sleeve 48 communicates with the horizontal sleeve 48 on the front side of the runner 14. On the upper end side of the inclined sleeve 44, the rotating body 16 of the heating and conveying machine 3 has its rotation axis a aligned with the inclined sleeve 4.
4 is inclined and arranged so as to be parallel to the center line k of 4.
The rotator body 16 intermittently rotates clockwise by 30 degrees in FIGS.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the rotator body 16
When the rotation is stopped, one opening on the inclined sleeve 44 side in the uppermost transport hole C ₁ is always connected to the first through hole 43 of the one closing plate 26 into which the upper end portion of the inclined sleeve 44 is fitted. It is coaxially arranged and opened by the first through hole 43, and communicates with the cavity 9 through the inclined sleeve 44, the horizontal sleeve 48, the runner 14 and the gate 13. The other opening of the transport hole C ₁ is closed by the other closing plate 33.

The semi-molten casting material H located in the transport holes C ₁ is a top level is unloaded from the conveying hole C ₁ by an electromagnetic force of the induction heating coil 22, moved in a horizontal sleeve 48 to slide in the inclined sleeve 44 To do. After that, the semi-molten casting material H is pressure-filled into the cavity 9 by the pressure plunger 4 through the runner 14 and the gate 13.

Therefore, the position of the first through hole 45 becomes the carry-out position E of the semi-molten casting material H.

Further, as clearly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a second through hole 46 having a diameter larger than that of each of the transport holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ is formed in the closing plate 33 in the other half body 24, and the first through hole 45. And the axis of rotation a
It is formed so as to stagger 30 degrees around. During rotation stop of the rotator member 16, than the transport holes C ₁ of the uppermost located in the rotation direction front side of the rotator member 16, and transport holes C ₂ of next order adjacent to the conveying hole C ₁ and the second It is always arranged coaxially with the through hole 46, and one opening thereof communicates with the second through hole 46. The other opening on the substrate 1 side in the next-stage transport hole C ₂ is closed by a closing plate 26.

Therefore, the position of the second through hole 46 is the loading position F of the solid casting material G.

Until the transfer holes C _{1 to} C ₁₂ have left the carry-in position F and have reached the carry-out position E, both openings thereof are closed by both closing plates 26, 33.

It is also possible to employ an electromagnetic mechanism instead of the pressure plunger 4 and fill the cavity 9 with the semi-molten casting material H by the electromagnetic force.

[0041]

According to the present invention, a semi-molten casting material is prepared in a space which is substantially closed by the conveying hole and the closing plate of the rotator body, and the semi-molten casting material is conveyed by the rotator body. Since the adoption of the gripping and conveying means was stopped in this way, the allowable range of the solid fraction in the semi-molten casting material was expanded, and the yield was hardly reduced. It can be surely performed without damage, and the surface oxidation of the semi-molten casting material and the temperature drop before the start of filling can be greatly suppressed. Therefore, the present invention can be used to carry out the thixocasting method,
It is extremely effective in improving the mass productivity of castings.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view showing an embodiment of a casting apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front view showing another embodiment of the casting apparatus.

7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.

8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.

9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG.

10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Mold 3 Heating Transport Machine 4 Pressurizing Plunger (Filling Means) 9 Cavity 16 Rotating Body 22 Induction Heating Coil (Heating Means) 26, 33 Closing Plate a Rotation Axis C _{1 to} C ₁₂ Conveying Hole E Carrying Out Position F Carrying In Position G Solid casting material H Semi-molten casting material

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heating carrier (3) for preparing and transferring a mold (2), a semi-molten casting material (H) in which a solid phase and a liquid phase coexist from a solid casting material (G), and its heating transfer. A heating means (3) for filling the cavity (9) of the mold (2) with the semi-molten casting material (H) conveyed by the machine (3), (A) A rotator body (16) having a plurality of casting material conveying holes (C _{1 to} C ₁₂ ) and the rotator body (16) located around each conveying hole (C _{1 to} C ₁₂ ). 16) a plurality of heating means (22) provided and the transfer holes (C _{1 to} C ₁₂ ).
A closing plate (26, 33) arranged on the opening side of
The closing plates (26, 33) are connected to the transfer holes (C ₁ ~).
When C ₁₂ ) is at the carry-in position (F) of the solid casting material (G) and the carry-out position (E) of the semi-molten casting material (H), the opening is opened, and the carrying holes (C ₁ to C _{1 The} casting apparatus for thixocasting characterized in that the opening is closed until ₁₂ ) leaves the carry-in position (F) and reaches the carry-out position (E).