Method and apparatus for estimating dimensional uniformity of cast object
AssigneeUnited States Pipe and Foundry Company
InventorsKenneth J Watts, Stephanie R Holtz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an estimate of uniformity of wall thickness of a centrifugally cast object, such as a pipe cast from molten iron, substantially immediately after the casting process is complete. The volume of molten metal entering the mold over time is determined and correlated with casting machine position and velocity data to estimate wall thickness along the length of the pipe. Process defects can then be identified promptly and corrective action taken.
Claims7
A method of estimating uniformity of pipe wall thickness of an object formed in a centrifugal casting process in which molten metal is poured in a stream from a ladle into a casting machine having a trough that is movable linearly with respect to a longitudinal axis of a rotating cylindrical mold, the method comprising:
- obtaining a diameter of a plurality of samples of the stream poured from the ladle;
- receiving, during casting, position data of the casting machine with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mold;
- associating the diameter of each sample to a position of the casting machine, wherein the association adjusts for a delay between the pouring of the sample and a disposition of the sample into the mold from the trough;
- using the associated position and diameter data, comparing a velocity of the casting machine to the diameter of the stream as determined from the diameters of the samples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.