Apparatus and method for removing investment material from an investment casting

Abstract

A two-stage investment removal apparatus for removing investment material from an investment casting includes first and second stage sub-assemblies operative for different impacting actions. The first stage sub-assembly includes spaced drive rollers for rotating the investment flask on its side, and a pneumatic hammer which engages the side wall of the investment flask for imparting impact energy to the investment flask while the flask is being rotated. The flask is placed in a protective sleeve which more evenly distributes the impact forces around the side wall of the flask during rotation. The second stage sub-assembly includes a tubular chamber, and a spring-biased seat in the chamber for receiving the bottom end of the central casting trunk when the flask is positioned on the seat. The chamber includes radial spring arms for centering the flask and casting trunk on the seat. The second stage sub-assembly further includes a vertically oriented pneumatic hammer in engagement with the upper end of the central casting trunk for imparting vertical impact energy to the central trunk. The vertical hammer cooperates with the spring biased seat to cause the casting to resiliently resonate and cause the investment molding material to disintegrate apart from the investment casting.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.