Control of centrifugal pipe casting operation

A method for controlling the centrifugal casting of a metal pipe including the steps of:

• pouring molten metal into a metal trough,
• obtaining a first sensing signal that the metal has entered the trough,
• having the molten metal flow through the metal trough to the end of the trough at the bell end of the pipe being cast,
• obtaining a second sensing signal that the metal has flowed to the end of the trough,
• comparing the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal to determine the actual time for the metal to flow through the trough,
• comparing the actual metal flow time with a stored standard time and decreasing the time for forming the bell end of the pipe being cast if the actual metal flow time is less than the standard time and increasing the time for forming the bell end of the pipe being cast if the actual metal flow time is greater than the standard time.

A method for controlling the centrifugal casting or iron pipe, including the steps of:

• pouring molten iron into an iron trough,
• generating a first sensing signal when the molten iron enters the trough,
• allowing the molten iron to flow through the iron trough about which a centrifugal casting machine has been rolled,
• generating a second sensing signal when the molten iron reaches the end of the iron trough and begins to form the bell end of the pipe being cast,
• comparing the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal to determine the actual iron flow time,
• utilizing a computer to determine the difference between the actual iron flow time and a standard iron flow time stored in the computer,
• modifying a standard bell forming time stored in the computer as a function of the difference between the actual iron flow time and the stored standard iron flow time to produce a modified bell forming time,
• generating an output signal from the computer to a release mechanism, and moving the casting machine and the iron trough relative to each other upon release from the release mechanism at the expiration of the modified bell forming time.

An apparatus for the controlling of a centrifugal pipe casting machine including:

• a centrifugal casting machine with a rotatable mold therein,
• a metal trough about which the rotable mold and centrifugal casting machine is capable of being rolled,
• a release mechanism which when engaged holds the casting machine about the metal trough and when disengaged allows the casting machine and the iron trough to move relative to each other,
• a first sensing device which provides a first signal when molten metal first enters the metal trough,
• a second sensing device which provides a second signal when the molten metal has flowed the entire length of the metal trough and has begun to form the bell end of the pipe being cast,
• a computer means for comparing the first and second signals and determining the actual metal flow time, for comparing the actual metal flow time with a stored standard metal flow time, for utilizing the difference between the actual metal flow time and the standard metal flow time to modify a standard bell forming time stored in the computer means to produce a modified bell forming time, and for generating a signal to disengage the casting machine release mechanism at the end of the modified bell forming time.

An apparatus for controlling a centrifugal pipe casting machine including:

• a first sensing means to provide a first signal when molten metal first enters a pouring trough of a casting machine,
• a second sensing means to provide a second signal when molten metal reaches the end of the pouring trough and begins to form the bell end of the pipe being cast,
• a computer means for receiving and comparing the first and second signals to determine the actual metal flow time, for comparing the actual metal flow time with a stored standard metal flow time, for utilizing the difference between the actual metal flow time and the standard metal flow time to modify a standard bell forming time stored in the computer means to produce a modified bell forming time,
• and for generating a signal to disengage a release mechanism to permit the casting machine and the pouring trough to move relative to each other and thusly form the length of the pipe being cast.