Molding apparatus and process including sand compaction system

A process for compacting sand around a mold pattern in a rigid mold flask for casting, the mold flask, when containing sand, having a combined center of gravity, said process comprising the steps of:

• resiliently supporting the rigid mold flask for horizontal movement only of the mold flask as a whole body, and shaking the mold flask to provide horizontal vibrational forces having a resultant force directed approximately through the combined center of gravity of the mold flask and the sand.

A process for compacting sand around a mold pattern in a rigid mold flask, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing means fixedly assembled to the mold flask for shaking the assembly of the mold flask and the shaking means as a whole body, the shaking means, the sand, and the mold flask, when substantially filled with sand, having a combined center of gravity, resiliently supporting the mold flask and the shaking means for horizontal movement only, and shaking the assembly of the mold flask and the shaking means with the shaking means to provide horizontal vibrational forces directed in a horizontal plane extending approximately through the combined center of gravity.

A molding apparatus comprising a rigid mold flask having a bottom and adapted to contain a mold pattern and sand, means for resiliently supporting said mold flask for horizontal movement only of said mold flask as a whole body, and means for shaking said mold flask to provide horizontal vibrational forces having a resultant force directed in a horizontal plane spaced above said flask bottom.

A molding apparatus comprising a rigid mold flask adapted to contain a mold pattern and sand, and when containing sand, having a combined center of gravity, means for resiliently supporting said mold flask for horizontal movement only of said mold flask as a whole body, and means for shaking said mold flask to provide horizontal vibrational forces having a resultant force directed approximately through the combined center of gravity.

A molding apparatus comprising a rigid mold flask adapted to contain a mold pattern and sand, and when containing sand, having a combined center of gravity, means for resiliently supporting said mold flask for horizontal movement only of said mold flask as a whole body, and means for shaking said mold flask to provide horizontal vibrational forces directed in a horizontal plane extending approximately through the combined center of gravity.

A molding apparatus comprising a rigid mold flask adapted to contain a mold pattern and sand, and when containing sand, having a combined center of gravity, means for shaking said mold flask to provide one dimensional horizontal vibrational forces, with said vibrational forces being directed approximately through the combined center of gravity, said shaking means including a pair of vibrators having counter-rotating members each rotating about a generally vertical axis, said vibrators being connected to each other and synchronized such that the resultant vibrational forces are horizontal and one dimensional, and means for resiliently supporting said mold flask for one dimensional horizontal movement only of said mold flask as a whole body, said means comprising an air bag constrained to allow only substantially one dimensional horizontal movement, said movement being in the direction of said vibrational forces.

A molding apparatus comprising a rigid mold flask adapted to contain a mold pattern and sand, means fixedly assembled to said mold flask for shaking the assembly of said mold flask and said shaking means as a whole body, said shaking means, the sand, and said mold flask, when substantially filled with sand, having a combined center of gravity, said shaking means providing horizontal vibrational forces directed in a horizontal plane extending approximately through said combined center of gravity, and means for resiliently supporting said mold flask and said shaking means for horizontal movement only.

A molding apparatus comprising a rigid mold flask adapted to contain a mold pattern and sand, means fixedly assembled to said mold flask for shaking the assembly of said mold flask and said shaking means as a whole body, said shaking means, the sand, and said mold flask, when substantially filled with sand, having a first combined center of gravity, said shaking means, the sand, and said mold flask, when partially filled with sand, having a second combined center of gravity lower than said first combined center of gravity, and said shaking means providing horizontal vibrational forces directed in a horizontal plane extending between said first and second combined centers of gravity, and means for resiliently supporting said mold flask and said shaking means for horizontal movement only.

A molding apparatus comprising a rigid mold flask adapted to contain a mold pattern and sand, said mold flask including a vertical wall, and a connecting member fixedly attached to said vertical wall, means fixedly assembled to said mold flask for shaking the assembly of said mold flask and said shaking means as a whole body, said shaking means including a housing having mounted therein a pair of vibrators rotating about generally vertical axes, and a generally horizontal arm having one end connected to said housing and an opposite end including clamping means for engaging said connecting member, said shaking means, the sand, and said mold flask, when substantially filled with sand, having a combined center of gravity, said shaking means providing horizontal vibrational forces directed in a horizontal plane extending approximately through said combined center of gravity, and means for resiliently supporting said mold flask and said shaking means for horizontal movement only.