Process for hardening sand foundry parts

A process for the hardening of a sand foundry part wherein a hardening gas is circulated through a sand foundry part containing a binding agent to cause hardening of said sand foundry part, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing a primary gas supply circuit and a secondary gas supply circuit, said primary gas supply circuit having a part in common with said secondary gas supply circuit, and said primary circuit being provided with a source of hardening gas;
• providing a sand foundry part containing a binding agent in said part in common with said primary and secondary gas supply circuits and in communication with any gasses circulating therein;
• circulating by means of said primary gas supply circuit a hardening gas/carrier gas through said sand foundry part containing said binding agent;
• closing said primary gas supply circuit when the quantity of said hardening gas present in the part of the primary gas supply circuit common to the secondary gas supply circuit is an amount corresponding to, or slightly exceeding, the theoretical quantity for a complete hardening reaction;
• opening the secondary gas supply circuit;
• and
• circulating the hardening gas/carrier gas through the secondary supply circuit until the hardening of the sand foundry part has been completed.