US3688830A

US3688830A - Method of making molds

Info

Publication number: US3688830A
Application number: US853984A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter H Van Deberg; Earl A Thompson
Original assignee: EARL A THOMPSON Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: EARL A THOMPSON Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1969-08-28
Filing date: 1969-08-28
Publication date: 1972-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-05
Also published as: FR2059729A1; DE2042824A1; AU1866970A; GB1326245A

Abstract

A series of expendable shell molds is formed in a permanent pattern having a series of connected mold cavities. A passage extends from outside the pattern into each end of the series. A suspension of parting agent is blown by gas or superheated steam into the cavities through one of the passages while the other is vented through an orifice of controlled size to maintain the desired pressure. To coat evenly the parting agent may then be blown in the opposite direction through the cavities. Thereafter molding sand is blown into the pattern through one or both of the passages. Imperfect closing of the separatable pattern is detected by blowing air into a third passage which ends at the parting plane. The air is supplied from a constant pressure source through an orifice of predetermined size and the pressure is measured on the down-stream side of the orifice. A blow box connected to a sand hopper is pivoted to be swung toward and away from the pattern. A sand valve and a vent valve cooperate to dump sand from the hopper rapidly into the blow box. Gas under pressure is distributed throughout the sand from below to fluidize the sand and simultaneously force is applied above the sand to flow the mass into the pattern.

Description

United States Patent Van Deberg et al.

1451 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] METHOD OF MAKING MOLDS FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventors: Walter H. Van Deberg, Berkley. 513,378 8/1929 Germany ..l64/200 Mich.; Earl A. Thompson, deceased, late of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Primary Examiner.l. Spencer Overholser Elizabeth F. Thompson, executrix, Assistant Examiner-John E. Roethel Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Paul F n- AttorneyTheodore L. Chisholm seth, executor, Grosse Pointe, Mich; Michael M. Wild, executor, Royal ABSTRACT A series of expendable shell molds is formed in a per- 7 Assignee; Earl Thompson M f t i manent pattern having a series of connected mold C0 Femdale Mich cavities. A passage extends from outside the pattern into each end of the series. A suspension of parting [22] Filed: 1969 agent is blown by gas or superheated steam into the 21 A L N 853,984 cavities through one of the passages while the other is l 1 pp 0 vented through an orifice of controlled size to maintain the desired pressure. To coat evenly the parting [52] US. Cl ..l64/22,164/201 agent may then be blown in the opposite direction [51] Int. Cl. ..B22c 15/22 through the cavities. Thereafter molding sand is blown [58] Field of Search..........l64/l4, l5, I9, 20, 21, 22, into the pattern through one or both of the passages. 164/23, 24, 33, 37,40, l65, 200, 20], 202; Imperfect closing of the separatable pattern is de- 222/193, 195; 306/53 tected by blowing air into a third passage which ends at the parting plane. The air is supplied from a con- [56] References Cit d stant pressure source through an orifice of predetermined size and the pressure is measured on the down- UNITED STATES PATENTS stream side of the orifice. A blow box connected to a 3,470,933 10/1969 Miller et a]. ..164/l9 x sand Pivmed be swung and away 3,540,520 10/1970 Abraham et al...........l64/20l fmm Pattern A sand and a 3 192 580 7/1965 Lubalin 164/14 cooperate to dump sand from the hopper rapidly into 300l829 9/196] De 'g g' the blow box. Gas under pressure IS distributed 3 3 2,1964 M n "iii X throughout the sand from below to fluidize the sand c and simultaneously force is applied above the sand to 3,149,884 9/1964 Jones ..302/53 flow the mass into the pater. 3,269,428 8/1966 Stockel et a]. ..222/ 195 X 3,360,301 12/1967 Donaho ..302/53 6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures r 1 I R E V E Fi S E 1 COAT 90 I i f 2 COAT FILL (ONE WITH CURE DIRECTION) SAND g 522 DE EC CLOSE OPEN MOLD T T MOLD a. DIRECTION) REMOVE minim" 5m: 1698330 SHfEI 2 0F 6 FIG. 6

REVERSE com 5 I 2 l COAT FILL (ONE WITH CURE DIRECTION) SAND 3 4 l COAT CLOSE OPEN MOLD (REvERsE DETEcT MOLD a. DIRECTION) REMOVE IN- 4I 6 5 "TUNED 5 SHEETJUFG wli.

FIG. 8

PITEN'TEIIsn sun 3.688.830

saw u or 6 PATENTEDssr 5:912 3.888.830

SHEEISBFG FIG. IO

METHOD OF MAKING MOLDS This invention relates to the making of molds, for example shell molds for making ferrous metal castings. The invention is concerned with improvements in both the application of parting agent to permanent patterns and with the delivery of mold-forming material into the pattern cavity.

In order to help separate the finished shell mold from the pattern, the walls of the cavity which determine and shape the mold are coated with a parting agent such as a silicon oil which may be applied before each mold is formed. In customary processes the parting agent is sprayed on the exposed cavity surfaces of an open pattern with an air suspension or mist of the parting agent. But the parting agent also coats the surfaces of separation of the pattern. This retains particles of dust or fine sand which may dislodge from the finished molds. Such particles may prevent the subsequent precise mating of the mold halves and prevent precise closing of the pattern. To avoid this I propose to spray the parting agent through a passage into a pattern which is first accurately mated and precisely closed.

With molds with complicated cavity shapes or with a long series of cavities it is sometimes difficult to coat the surfaces evenly, and the last cavity in the series may not receive enough. Sometimes several molds are made successively from the same cavity between successive applications of parting agent and when this is done uneven distribution of the parting agent becomes very important because removal of molds may completely remove parting agent from the last cavity while the first cavity may have enough.

One of the objects of the invention is to increase the reliability and evenness of coating with parting agent.

Another object is to prevent application of parting agent to the parting surfaces of the pattern.

Another object is to provide an improved method for detecting minute separation of parts of a mold which is nominally and apparently closed but actually held slightly open by small obstacles such as grains of molding sand adhering to the surfaces of separation.

Another object is to prevent excessive build-up of parting agent in one part of the pattern.

In the making of large numbers of small inexpensive expendable shell molds it is important that the mold making apparatus operate rapidly, accurately and economically to make precisely formed molds. One of the important requirements of this operation is to transfer small quantities of sand rapidly and intermittently from a sand storage place. to a blow box and the rapid and precise filling of the mold cavity from the blow box. Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide an improved, economical, efficient and rapid device for transferring measured amounts of sand from a storage place into a mold cavity and packing the sand in the cavity to form a precise mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and means for maintaining, during the blowing operation, a body of sand having fluid characteristics so that the sand will flow accurately into the mold cavity and be firmly packed to provide a precise mold.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which can readily be moved against the pattern and away from the pattern to permit the coating of the pattern with a parting agent between intervals of blowing the sand into the mold.

These and other objects of the invention will be understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings which disclose, for illustration only and not by way of limitation, one way of practicing the invention and one form of apparatus for carrying out the process.

FIG. I is a diagrammatic side elevation of a pattern for forming molds in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan of the pattern shown in FIG. 1 showing one form of blow-vent nozzle for coating the mold cavity with parting agent.

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the blow-vent nozzle in a different position to perform another coating step.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing schematically one form of nozzle for blowing molding sand into the pattern cavity.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of one form of device for detecting an inaccurately closed pattern.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 4 but shows a modified fonn of the sand nozzle.

FIG. '1 is a flow diagram illustrating successive steps in the making of a mold in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial structural elevation corresponding to FIG. 1 showing one form of apparatus for carrying out this invention with the blow-bent nozzle in the position indicated by FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an elevation like FIG. 8 showing the blowvent nozzle in a position corresponding to FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a partially schematic elevation taken from the right of FIG. 8 and 9 showing the movement of the blow-vent nozzle toward and away from the pattern.

FIG. 11 is a schematic elevation of another form of device for blowing sand into the pattern.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged structural section in the plane of the paper showing the lower portion of the sand blowing device illustrated in FIG. ll.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged elevation partly in section of the sand fluidizing nozzle shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective partly broken away of a modified form of fiuidizing nozzle.

DEFINITIONS As used here pressure gas means any gas under pressure, including, without limitation air and superheated steam.

Sand means any granular mold-forming material adapted to be packed into a cavity and cured to form a mold. One example, without limitation, is silicon sand, the grains of which have been coated with a curable binder.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 and I2 are the top and bottom halves of a permanent metal pattern which mate along a plane of separation indicated by the line 14. The pattern has a series of cavities 16 connected by passages 18 as shown in dotted lines. The bottom half 12 has, at the parting plane,

grooves forming passages

20 and 22 from outside the pattern into the series of cavities, there being one passage connecting each end of the series of cavities with the atmosphere as shown in FIG. 2.

A gas suspension of parting agent is sprayed into one of the

passages

20 or 22 while venting the

other passage

22 or 20. The spray can pass through the entire pattern and coat the walls of each of the four cavities. We spray with a blow-vent nozzle 24 including a bar 26 carrying spray nozzle 28 and having spaced calibrated

orifices

30 and 32 through the bar. When the bar is in position shown in FIG. 2 and with the bar clamped against the side of the pattern, a suspension of parting agent is sprayed through the nozzle 28 into the passage 22, the passage being vented to the atmosphere through the calibrated orifice 30. The size of the

exit orifices

30 and 32 is so related to the size of the nozzle 28, to the blowing pressure and to the size of the passages that the suspension is somewhat retarded in being vented to the atmosphere to encourage even coating. After the parting agent has been so applied, and either before or after the removal of a finished mold from the pattern, the pattern can be sprayed in the reverse direction as shown in FIG. 3 in which the blow-vent nozzle has been moved so that the nozzle 28 sprays into the pattern passage 20 and the passage 22 is vented through the orifice 32.

The reverse blowing of parting agent has various advantages. As parting agent is sprayed into one passage (e.g., 22) it tends to coat the early part of the passage through the pattern (including the cavities) more heavily than the later part of the passage near the exit 20. Not only does reverse blowing promote even coating, but this even coating tends to prevent excessive build-up of parting agent during the repetition of the process in making a large number of molds. Repeated removal of cured molds progressively removes or consumes the parting agent. If the parting agent were sprayed always from the same end, and sufficient agent were maintained at the other end, an undesirable quantity would build up near the apply end.

The invention includes spraying alternately from opposite ends of the pattern successively even when a single spray in one direction is enough to coat the pattern between making one mold and making the next. Thus in FIG. 7 at station 1 the mold cavity may always be sprayed through passage 22 but may be sprayed, for example, every other time a mold is made, or every fourth time. At station 8 the mold cavity may be sprayed only through passage 20, but may be sprayed only in the intervals between spraying at station 1. This tends to even the consumption of the parting agent, even if every application, while sufficient, is not uniform.

Since the parting agent is applied only when the mold halves are accurately mated and since the passages and cavities of the pattern are exposed to the atmosphere through a vent which controls the pressure in the cavities and prevents the development of an excessive pressure, no parting agent reaches the surfaces of separation of the pattern.

The gas used for blowing the parting agent may be superheated steam. This appears to reduce the viscosity of some parting agents and to distribute them evenly. Also it tends to prevent cooling of the mold between curing operations which would otherwise occur with compressed air.

When the parting agent has been satisfactorily applied to the pattern, whether in a single stage as illustrated in FIG. 2, or two successive stages as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 together, the pattern is ready to be filled with sand. Referring to FIG. 4, we pack the cavities by blowing sand into one of the passages, for example, 22, while closing or blocking the other passage 20.

This provides a single dead-end passage for delivering an air suspension of treated sand into the pattern. It will be understood that the pattern is provided with small air vents, as is known in the art, to permit the escape of the air from the suspension of sand grains while preventing the escape of the sand and thus effect packing. Such vents occur around ejection pins which have a carefully determined clearance between the pins and the holes in which they are mounted. This is customary molding practice and being well known is not illustrated here.

It is important to prevent flow of sand and air out of one of the

passages

20 or 22 when blowing the sand into the pattern. To this end we provide a sand blow nozzle as shown in FIG. 4, in which a bar 34 carries the nozzle 36 and is elongated to cover the passage 20 while the male 36 is opposite the passage 22. When the bar is clamped against the pattern this effectively closes the passage 20.

One very good way of preventing flow out of the passage 20 while blowing sand into the passage 22 is to blow sand into the mold cavity through both passages at the same time, for example with a twin sand blow nozzle as illustrated in FIG. 6. Sand is blown simultaneously into both

passages

20 and 22 through two sand nozzles 36' and 36' in a manifold 38.

The process of making molds includes the following steps: close pattern, apply parting agent, blow sand, cure mold, open pattern and remove finished mold, close pattern, apply parting agent if necessary, blow sand, and repeat.

It sometimes happens that when the pattern is open dust adheres to the parting surfaces. This is particularly apt to happen when the pattern is open for removing a finished mold. While the mold is formed of a closely packed, adhered and cured body of sand grains, it is possible for very fine sand grains to dust off and get on the parting surfaces of the pattern. Sometimes these are too small to be noticed but they prevent the precise closing of the pattern and this prevents the making of accurate molds. This opening may be so small as not to be apparent to the operator or the pattern may be so covered with shields or other parts of the machine that it is difiicult for the operator to see the mold.

In order to detect when a mold is held slightly open while nominally and apparently closed a passage 40 is provided through one of the pattern halves to the surface of separation as shown in FIG. 5. When testing the pattern for separation we blow into this passage air from a source of regulated constant pressure through a fixed orifice of definite size and I measure the pressure between the orifice and the surface of separation. This may be done by apparatus shown in the United States patent of one of us, Walter H. Van Deberg, US. Pat. No. 3,029,629, Apr. 27, 1962, and in the application of said Van Deberg, executed of even date herewith, titled SEPARATION 179 DETECTOR, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 5, air is supplied from a pressure regulator 42 through a calibrated orifice 44 to a test line 46 from which it is delivered into the passage 40 through a pressure tight connection. Pressure in the line 40 is measured by any suitable sensor 48, which may be a flexible diaphragm clamped between two halves of a chamber and carrying a rod which, when there is high pressure in line 46, holds open a switch 50 in an electric circuit. An open switch indicates that the pattern is closed. When the switch S closes, indicating an open pattern, the electric circuit 52 may make a visual or audible signal or may reject the pattern so that the parting agent may not be applied or so that sand will not be blown in. I use the term reject to include anything which prevents use of the pattern, for example physically removing the pattern from proximity to the blow-vent nozzle or from proximity to the sand blow nozzle, or activating mechanism to cause the pattern to pass by the nozzles while preventing operation of the nozzles.

The invention includes mounting a series of patterns on a transfer device such as a rotary indexing table 60, for example like that shown at 10 in the US. Re. Pat. No. 26,218 to Earl A. Thompson, June 6, I967, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The table is intermittently rotated, to present each mold successively to a series of stations in which the operations diagrammatically indicated in FIG. '7 may be performed.

At station 1 the mold may be coated with parting agent sprayed in one direction as indicated in FIG. 2. At optional station 2 the pattern may be sprayed with parting agent in the reverse direction as indicated in FIG. 3. Alternatively the pattern may pass by station 2 depending on whether or not a reverse coating is required. At station 3 the pattern may be filled with sand either as indicated in FIG. 4 or as in FIG. 6. At station 4, which may include prolonged exposure in a heater, the mold is cured in any well known manner. At station 5 the pattern is opened and the finished mold removed. At station 6 the mold is closed. At station 7 the mold is tested for precise closing as indicated in FIG. 5. If the mold is not closed it is rejected in any one of the ways indicated above. At station 8, if the mold is not rejected it is coated with parting agent again, if this is necessary, and this may be done either in a single stage illustrated in FIG. 2 or in two stages as illustrated in FIG. 3. Then the cycle is repeated as described above.

In one form of machine for practicing the invention patterns 10-12 are attached at intervals around the circumferencc of the table 60 corresponding to the positions of the fixtures 1 14 of the reissue patent. The table is rotated step by step as disclosed therein, stopping with a pattern at each station. Blow-vent nozzles 24 and sand blow nozzles 36 are placed at the various stations, corresponding to stations 14 in the reissue patent, to perform the operations described above whenever the table is at rest.

The

parts

24, and 36 may be constructed as shown in FIGS. 10-14. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, arm 62 carries the blow-vent nozzle 24 and is pivoted between the arms 64 of a pivoted yoke 65 by a shaft 66. The rod can be rocked in the yoke to move the blow-vent nozzle between its FIG. 8 (or FIG. 2) position and its FIG. 9 (or FIG. 3) position by a piston rod 68 sliding in a double-acting cylinder 70 pivoted to the yoke. The piston rod may be activated by suitable hydraulic apparatus like that shown in the reissue patent by having the cylinder form part of a hydraulic link such as a, c or e in FIG. 5 of that patent.

The pivoted yoke 65 is clamped to a shaft 72 (FIG. 10) journaled in a fixed support 74 so that the entire structure including blow-vent nozzle 24, arm 62, yoke 65, and cylinder can be rocked selectively to clamp the blow-vent nozzle against the pattern, as in full lines in FIG. 10, or move away from the pattern (dotted lines in FIG. 10) to let the table be moved. This rocking is done by a piston rod 76 pivoted to the yoke 65 (FIG. 10) and sliding in a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 78 pivoted to the support 72. The cylinder may be actuated as shown in the Reissue patent. In the position of FIG. 8 the central nozzle 28 discharges into the first passage 22 in the pattern and the passage 20 is vented through the control orifice 30. The nozzle 28 is supplied with a suspension of parting agent by any suitable connection, not shown, connected to a timed control valve, not shown. In the position of FIG. 9 the nozzle 28 discharges into the passage 20 of the pattern while the control orifice or vent orifice 32 vents the passage 22.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show diagrammatically and structurally one form of device for blowing sand into the patterns. A sand hopper including a discharge tube 92 is attached to the upper side of a sand blow box 94 which carries and communicates with a sand blow nozzle 36 which may have a seal 95 which can be pressed against the pattern 10-12. The hopper and blow box together form a rigid structure which is rigidly supported on a bar 96 pivoted to a fixed support at 98 so that the bar can be swung up and down by a rod and piston 100 pivoted at 102 to a fixed support and sliding in a double acting hydraulic cylinder 104 pivoted at 106 to the bar 96 and supplied by a hydraulic lines 108 and 110. When there is higher pressure in the line 110 then in the line 44 the link formed by the cylinder and piston rod is lengthened to raise the right end of the rod 96 to tilt the sand hopper to move the blow box away from the pattern 10-12, in order to permit the table 60 to be indexed or to permit another form of device such as a parting agent blower to be pressed against the pattern.

Sand contained in the hopper 90 can drop into the blow box when a sand valve 112 opens downward at the bottom of the tube 92. The valve is pivoted to a link 116 pivoted at its left end to the hopper at 118 and pivoted at its right end at 120 to a double acting hydraulic cylinder 122 having a piston and rod 124 pivoted to the bar 96 at 106 and supplied by

hydraulic lines

126 and 128. The valve 112 may be supported by a tube 114 pivoted at in the link 116. When there is higher hydraulic pressure in the line 126 this tends to lengthen the link formed by the cylinder, piston and rod, and this holds the valve closed. When there is higher pressure in the line 128 the valve is dropped to admit sand to the blow box. Opposite ends of the cylinder 122 may be pressurized to open or close the valve by a hydraulic link corresponding to the link 3144 in the Reissue patent referred to.

It is contemplated that at each opening of the valve 112 a quantity of sand approximately equal to that required to fill the mold cavity will be dropped into the blow box. The maximum quantity of sand in the blow box at this time will be about 25 percent more than required to fill the mold and will substantially fill the blow box, although it may be slightly less than the capacity of the blow box.

[t is desirable that this charge of sand be delivered from the hopper to the blow box as rapidly as possible and since this may occur under the action of gravity it may be necessary to vent the blow box as sand is being dumped into it. For this purpose we provide a vent valve in the sand valve connected to the atmosphere. This is the conical end 142 of a rod 140 cooperating with a valve seat secured to the end of the tube 114. The rod 140 is grounded at the top of the hopper to a spring 146 so that as the sand valve 112 descends in opening, the rod 114 follows it for a short distance until stopped by a flange 148. Further movement of the sand valve 1 12 opens the vent valve 142.

One form of actual structure of the blow box is shown in H0. 12.

With the blow box 94 held against the pattern -12 by the cylinder 104 the valve 112 is momentarily opened to deposit the desired quantity of sand. Then the valve 112 is closed and air under pressure is admitted by a valve 130 to the interior of the blow box to blow sand into the pattern until the cavity is tightly packed with sand, leaving some sand remaining in the blow box. Thereafter the valve 130 is closed, the blow box is vented to relieve pressure therein through vent line 152 and the entire apparatus is swung away from the pattern 10-12 to allow table 60 to be rotated.

Two conditions are important in blowing sand satisfactorily into the pattern. The sand should be in a condition approximating that of a fluid and there should be a moving force on the top surface of the sand.

The first is achieved by blowing air under pressure into the body of the sand below its top surface and distributing this air throughout the sand to produce an airsand mixture which has fluid characteristics analogous to the properties of quick sand. This fluid condition is achieved by the air nozzle 134 in FIGS. 12 and 13. This is a hollow tube 154 having an interior passage which is an extension of the passage 132 and which is connected through radial passages 156 with exterior grooves 158 inside a screen 160 which surrounds the tube. The nozzle 134 has a flange 162 by which it is attached to an adjustable plug 164 through which the passage 132 is formed. The plug can be adjusted in and out by screws 166 and springs 168.

Alternatively the nozzle 134' shown in FIG. 14 can be formed as a hollow cylinder of porous sintered metal analogous to the metal used for porous self-lubricating bearings.

Preferably the nozzle extends substantially across the width of the blow box and is aligned with the blow nozzle 36 and extends close to a tapered opening 170 which matches the tapered opening 172 of the interior of the blow nozzle 36.

lt is important to maintain the proper ratio of volume of sand to air flow through the nozzle 134. The air admitted through the nozzle 134 fluidizes the entire body of sand in the blow box. The force which flows the sand into the pattern may be the force of air pressure on top of the sand in the blow box, plus the force of fluidizing air, the air being admitted through the

passages

132 and 174, whenever the valve 130 is open. The pressure on top of the sand should be equal to or preferably greater than the pressure of the air within the body of the sand in order to achieve satisfactory flow of sand and to prevent the air from the nozzle 134 causing a sand storm in the space above the sand above the blow box. The pressure above the sand will be the pressure of the air supply while the pressure within the sand will be somewhat less due to the resistance to flow through the nozzle 134 and through the sand itself. The required balance between air pressure on top of the sand and fluidity can be determined by proper adjustment of the plug 164 in or out and by proper proportion of the

passages

156 and 158 and screen (or al ternatively the porousity of the nozzle 134'). A choke may be placed in the passage 132.

As will be seen from FIG. 11, whenever the valve 130 is turned on air pressure is supplied to the nozzle 134, to the supply line 174 and to the vent line 152. The supply to the vent line is insignificant because of the line 174. It is important to vent the space above the chamber whenever the air supply is cut off as has been explained and it is important that this space be vented slowly in order to prevent even temporarily a higher pressure in the body of the sand than above it. To this end the vent line 152 has a choke 176 to reduce the pressure slowly above the sand.

FIG. 12 shows the air supply and vent connection to the space above the sand and the blow box. The wall of the blow box is provided with an opening 180 for connection to the line 174 and an opening 182 containing the suitable choke 176 for connection to the vent line 152. A screen 184 may be placed over these openings.

When the air supply is interrupted it is possible to have a higher pressure in the blow box than in the passage 132. This tends to force fine sand or dust from the sand and into the passage 132. This could eventually work into the system and interfere with the proper operation of the valve 130. To prevent this a check valve is placed in the supply line between the valve 130 and the nozzle 134, as close to the nozzle as practical and at any rate between the nozzle and the connection of the vent line 152.

In an alternative arrangement the pressure from air above the sand in the blow box can be dispensed with and the sand flowed into the pattern centrifugally. With such an arrangement the vent line and the fluidizing line would be used and the entire structure would be revolved rapidly about an axis to the right of the blow box as seen in FIG. 12. Preferably also the L-shaped blow box illustrated would be changed to a straight cylindrical structure arranged radially between the axis of rotation and the patterns 10-12. The entire structure would be rotated or revolved at any suitable speed to provide the necessary force on the inter-face between the sand and the space in the box which force would be equal to or greater than the force exerted by the air pressure in the sand.

The table 60 is intermittently rotated. When the table is at rest the blow nozzles and sand nozzles are pressed against the patterns, then the appropriate blowing operations are performed, the air supply is shut off and the blow-vent nozzle and sand nozzles are swung away from the patterns. Then the table is advanced to the next position of rest. All of these movements are in timed coordination and can be effected by the actuation and control apparatus disclosed in said Reissue patent. Each of the movements and each opening and closing of a valve to supply parting agent or sand may be performed by the appropriate cylinders shown herein or other cylinders, not shown, to operate the valves, all of which cylinders are connected to hydraulic links such as a, c, e, g, h disclosed in said Reissue patent. These are arranged to perform in order the steps illustrated in H0. 7.

We claim as our invention 1. The method of making a mold in a pattern having a cavity and a pair of passages from outside the pattern into the cavity, which includes blowing a suspension of parting agent through one of the passages and into the cavity, then preventing flow from the pattern out of one of the passages while blowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through the other passage and while permitting escape from the pattern of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the cavity with moldforming material.

2. The method of making a mold in a pattern having a cavity for forming a mold and having a pair of passages from outside the pattern into the cavity, which includes flowing a gaseous suspension of parting agent through one of the passages and into the cavity to coat the wall of the cavity with parting agent, then flowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through both passages while permitting escape through the pattern of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the cavity with mold-forming material.

3. The method of making a mold which includes using a pattern having a cavity for forming a mold and having a pair of passages from outside the pattern into the cavity, which includes flowing a gaseous suspension of parting agent in one direction through to one of the passages and into the cavity, then flowing a gaseous suspension of parting agent in the opposite direction through the other passage and into the cavity, then preventing flow from the pattern out of one of the passages while flowing a gaseous suspension of moldforming material through the remaining passage and while permitting escape through the pattern of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the cavity with mold-forming material.

4. The method of making a plurality of molds in a pattern having a series of connected cavities for forming a plurality of molds and having a first passage from outside the pattern into one end of the series of cavities and having a second passage from outside the pattern into the other end of the series of cavities, which includes flowing a gaseous suspension of parting agent through one of the passages and into the series of cavitics then preventing flowing from the cavities out of one of the passages while flowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through the other passage and while permitting escape through the cavities of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the series of cavities with mold forming material.

5. The method of making molds in a pattern having a passage through the pattern including a cavity for forming a mold, which method includes blowing a suspension of parting agent in one direction into the passage to coat the cavity, filling the cavity with mold-forming material and forming a mold, removing the mold, blowing a suspension of parting agent in the opposite direction through the cavity to coat the mold and again makiaigla mold in the cavity.

6. e method of making a mold in a closed pattern having a cavity and a passage from outside the pattern into the cavity, which method includes blowing a suspension of parting agent in superheated steam into the passage and into the cavity, then blowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through the passage while permitting escape from the pattern of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the cavity with mold-forming material.

i i l i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 688 85Q Dated September 5. 1972 Inventor(s) WALTER H. VAN DEBERG ET AL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [73] the name of the assignee should read F. Jos. Lamb Company, Warren Michigan, a corporation of Michigan.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents FORM F'O-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 n u 5. GOVERNMENT Pnnmm; OFFICE: I959 OI66-38|.

Claims

1. The method of making a mold in a pattern having a cavity and a pair of passages from outside the pattern into the cavity, which includes blowing a suspension of parting agent through one of the passages and into the cavity, then preventing flow from the pattern out of one of the passages while blowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through the other passage and while permitting escape from the pattern of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the cavity with mold-forming material.

3. The method of making a mold which includes using a pattern having a cavity for forming a mold and having a pair of passages from outside the pattern into the cavity, which includes flowing a gaseous suspension of parting agent in one direction through to one of the passages and into the cavity, then flowing a gaseous suspension of parting agent in the opposite direction through the other passage and into the cavity, then preventing flow from the pattern out of one of the passages while flowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through the remaining passage and while permitting escape through the pattern of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the cavity with mold-forming material.

4. The method of making a plurality of molds in a pattern having a series of connected cavities for forming a plurality of molds and having a first passage from outside the pattern into one end of the series of cavities and having a second passage from outside the pattern into the other end of the series of cavities, which includes flowing a gaseous suspension of parting agent through one of the passages and into the series of cavities then preventing flowing from the cavities out of one of the passages while flowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through the other passage and while permitting escape through the cavities of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the series of cavities with mold forming matErial.

5. The method of making molds in a pattern having a passage through the pattern including a cavity for forming a mold, which method includes blowing a suspension of parting agent in one direction into the passage to coat the cavity, filling the cavity with mold-forming material and forming a mold, removing the mold, blowing a suspension of parting agent in the opposite direction through the cavity to coat the mold and again making a mold in the cavity.

6. The method of making a mold in a closed pattern having a cavity and a passage from outside the pattern into the cavity, which method includes blowing a suspension of parting agent in superheated steam into the passage and into the cavity, then blowing a gaseous suspension of mold-forming material through the passage while permitting escape from the pattern of the gas of the last named suspension to pack the cavity with mold-forming material.