# US 2014/0190652 A1 · Die casting machine and die casting method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190652 A1 - Document ID: US20140190652A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,582 - Filed: 2012-08-06 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-12 - Inventors: Heinrich G. Baumgartner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190652A1 ## CPC - B22D 17/002: {using movable moulds (for plastics B29C45/04)} - B22C 9/062: {Mechanisms for locking or opening moulds} - B22D 17/263: {mechanically} - B22D 17/266: {hydraulically} - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) - B22C: FOUNDRY MOULDING (moulding refractory materials in general B28B) ## Abstract A die casting machine (1) is provided, including a die casting mold (3) having at least one stationary first casting mold part (5), at least one second casting mold part (7) that is movable along guide pillars (6), and at least two lateral casting mold parts (8, 9), which are movable relative to one another transversely to the travel path of the at least one second casting mold part (7). Locking pins (14) protrude from at least two lateral casting mold parts (8, 9), which in a locked position engage behind at least the movable second casting mold part (7) such that the travel path of the at least one second casting mold part (7) is limited in the direction away from the at least one first casting mold part (5). The invention further relates to a die casting method for producing metal castings using the casting mold as described above. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A die casting machine (1, 10), comprising a die casting mold (3) having at least one stationary first casting mold part (5), at least one second casting mold part (7) that is movable along guide pillars (6), and at least two lateral casting mold parts (8, 9), which are movable relative to one another transversely to a travel path of the at least one second casting mold part (7), locking pins (14) project from the at least two lateral casting mold parts (8, 9), and, in a closed position, engage behind at least the at least one movable second casting mold part (7) in such a way that the travel path of the at least one second casting mold part (7) in a direction away from the at least one first casting mold part (5) is limited. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pins (14) projecting from the at least two lateral casting mold parts (8, 9) engage behind the stationary first casting mold part (5) and the movable second casting mold part (7). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a partial area of the movable second casting mold part (7) is movable in an interspace bounded by the lateral casting mold parts (8, 9). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the locking pins (14) is movable in a longitudinal direction of the pin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one locking pin (14) is movable in the longitudinal direction of the pin against a return force. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of a return spring, or a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electromechanical force transmitter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pins (14) are integrated into the at least two lateral casting mold parts (8, 9). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pins (14) engage behind an associated counter support on at least one of the casting mold parts (5, 7) in the closed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the counter support associated with at least one of the locking pins (14) is a flange (21) projecting from at least one of the casting mold parts (5, 7). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking pins (14) taper toward a free pin end thereof such that a side face thereof facing the adjacent counter support forms a guide bevel (22), and the counter support provided at least on one of the casting mold parts (5, 7) has a complementary mating guide bevel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second casting mold part (7) has two casting mold part pieces (23, 24), which are movable to a distance from one another, and the upper casting mold part piece (23) carries the counter support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the casting mold part pieces (23, 24) of the second casting mold part (7) are guided so as to be movable one inside the other and are movable to a distance from one another by applying pressure to at least one parting surface situated therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the lateral casting mold parts (8, 9) is movable transversely to the travel path of the second casting mold part (7) by a lateral part drive, and a return movement of the lateral part drive of the at least one lateral casting mold part (8, 9) is blockable mechanically. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein said lateral part drive is assigned at least one blocking catch (16), which is movable between an open position and a blocking position, in said blocking position the blocking catch (16) acts upon a stop surface connected to one of the lateral casting mold parts (8, 9) in such a way that a return movement of the lateral part drive is blocked. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the blocking catches (16) taper in such a way toward a free catch end thereof that a side face thereof facing the adjacent lateral casting mold part (8, 9) forms a guide bevel, and the stop surface (17) connected to the lateral casting mold part (8, 9) has a complementary mating guide bevel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of the lateral part drives is assigned to each of the laterial casting mold parts, and the lateral part drives comprise hydraulic cylinders (13). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casting mold parts (5, 7) and the lateral casting mold parts (8, 9) delimit at least one mold cavity (4), and at least one air extraction opening (25) and at least one inflow opening (26) for the molten metal opens in said mold cavity (4). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one blocking slide (27) is guided movably in the movable second casting mold part (7), closing the at least one inflow opening (26) in a leak-tight manner in a closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the die casting machine (1, 10) has at least one molten metal pump (29), by which the molten metal is pumped out of a molten metal reservoir (28), via the at least one inflow opening (26), into the at least one mold cavity (4) of the die casting mold (3). ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The die casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide pillars (6) project beyond the stationary first casting mold part (5) or beyond a machine platen (11) of the die casting machine (1, 10), said platen carrying the first casting mold part (5). ### Claim 21 A die casting method for a die casting mold (3) having a stationary first casting mold part (5), a second casting mold part (7) that is movable along guide pillars (6), and at least two lateral casting mold parts (8, 9), which are movable relative to one another transversely to a travel path of the second casting mold part (7), comprising, in a first method step, moving the casting mold parts (5, 7) and the lateral casting mold parts (8, 9) into a closed position of the die casting mold (3) and joining the mold parts together, locking the casting mold parts (5, 7) and the lateral casting mold parts (8, 9) mechanically to one another in the closed position, feeding a quantity of molten metal intended for at least one mold cavity into the die casting mold (3), and subjecting the molten metal in the at least one mold cavity (4) to pressure during a cooling process.