US 5,701,944 A · Die casting machine and method

Abstract

The machine includes a carriage assembly supporting a shot sleeve and shot cylinder at a fixed angle relative to vertical. The sleeve follows a first straight line path from a remote position to an intermediate position aligned with an aperture of the die casting die and a second path to a position communicating with the aperture. Docking cylinders lift the shot cylinder, sleeve and a docking plate to a position at which the docking plate is aligned with locking cylinders and to bring the sleeve into engagement with the die aperture. Actuation of the locking cylinders moves the docking plate into engagement with a sleeve frame supporting the shot cylinder which is thereafter actuated to eject molten metal from the sleeve engaged to the die aperture.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A method for casting metals comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a die defining a cavity, an aperture communicating with said cavity and a sleeve for receiving metal in a molten condition, said sleeve having a tip positioned for longitudinal movement therein from a retracted position to an extended position;
(b) disposing said sleeve at a fixed angle relative to vertical;
(c) moving said sleeve along a first straight line path from a first position remote from said die aperture to an intermediate position aligned with said aperture and thereafter along a second path from said intermediate position to an engagement position communicating with said aperture while maintaining the sleeve at said angle;
(d) placing molten metal into said sleeve when said sleeve is in said first position and said tip is in said retracted position;
and
(e) moving said tip to said extended position while said sleeve is in said engagement position to inject the molten metal into said cavity.

3 more elements

A method of die casting molten metal in a die by injection through an aperture in said die comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sleeve, a shot cylinder and rod, shot arm and tip supported on said cylinder rod, said tip extending into said sleeve, a support for said shot cylinder, docking cylinders and locking cylinders;
(b) actuating said docking cylinders to lift said shot cylinder, rod, shot arm, tip and sleeve thereby bringing said sleeve into engagement with said die aperture;
(c) thereafter actuating said locking cylinders to move said shot cylinder while maintaining said sleeve in engagement with said die aperture;
(d) placing molten metal in the sleeve;
and
(e) injecting said molten metal through said aperture.

3 more elements

A method of die casting molten metal in a die by injection of said molten through an aperture in said die comprising the steps of:

(a) providing
(i) a first movable support, a sleeve mounted for movement with said first movable support, said sleeve having an upper end for receiving said molten metal, first power means for moving said first movable support in a generally upward direction,
(ii) a second movable support above said first movable support positioned to be carried thereby upon movement of said first movable support in said generally upward direction, said second movable support being mounted for movement independent of said first movable support, second power means for moving said second movable support,
(iii) a shot cylinder having a rod extending therefrom, a shot arm and tip extending from said rod and into said sleeve, said shot cylinder mounted for movement with said second movable support,
(b) actuating said first power means to move said sleeve into communication with said die aperture and said second movable support into position to be engaged by said second power means,
(c) thereafter actuating said second power means to move said second moveable support,
(d) placing molten metal in the sleeve;
and
(e) injecting said molten metal through said aperture.

6 more elements

A method of die casting comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a shot assembly with a sleeve containing molten metal in a position aligned with a docking block of a die, said shot assembly including (i) docking cylinders having attached for movement therewith a movable plate and a means for supporting said sleeve for movement with said movable plate, (ii) a docking plate positioned between said movable plate and said sleeve, (iii) a shot cylinder attached to said docking plate for movement therewith, said shot cylinder including a shot rod extensible to move a tip positioned in said sleeve,
(b) moving said movable plate and said sleeve upwardly to engage said sleeve with said docking block, at least a portion of the movement of said movable plate carrying said docking plate therewith,
(c) engaging said docking plate with locking cylinders mounted independently of said shot assembly to urge said docking plate further upwardly to locking position while said sleeve remains in fixed engagement with said docking block, and
(d) ejecting said molten metal from said sleeve and into said die.

1 more element

In a die casting machine for casting molten metal through an aperture in dies, said machine including

(a) a shot assembly having
(i) a sleeve,
(ii) a shot cylinder, a rod extending therefrom and a shot arm attached to said rod for movement therewith, said shot arm having a tip extending into said sleeve,
(iii) a primary support structure,
(iv) docking cylinders having rods mounted to said primary support structure extending generally upwardly therefrom,
(v) a secondary support structure connected to said docking cylinder rods for movement therewith,
(vi) connectors joining said secondary support structure to said sleeve,
(vii) a docking plate positioned above said secondary support structure in position to be moved upwardly upon contact and urging thereby,
(viii) means mounting said docking plate for movement independently of movement of said secondary support structure,
(ix) fasteners joining said shot cylinder to said docking plate for movement therewith, and
(b) locking cylinders fixedly mounted and having engagement heads;
said docking cylinders actuatable to urge said secondary support structure and said sleeve generally upwardly, said secondary support structure carrying said docking plate to a position aligned for engagement by said engagement heads upon actuation of said locking cylinders.

9 more elements

A die casting machine comprising

(a) dies defining a cavity for receiving molten metal, said dies being relatively movable between an open position and a closed position, aperture means in said dies for receiving molten metal injected upwardly therethrough, said aperture means communicating with said cavity,
(b) a shot assembly for receiving molten metal at a first station and delivering said molten metal to said dies at a second station, said shot assembly including (i) a sleeve having an open upper end and being disposed in a fixed angle with respect to vertical and (ii) a shot cylinder having a rod, an extension movable by said rod for ejecting molten metal from said sleeve open upper end,
(c) support and docking means for said shot assembly including:
(i) a main support member,
(ii) docking cylinder means mounted on said main support member and having rods extending upwardly therefrom at said angle,
(iii) a docking plate above said support member,
(iv) a cross plate between said main support member and said docking plate said docking cylinder rods engaged to said cross plate,
(v) a sleeve support frame supporting said sleeve for movement therewith, a portion of said sleeve support frame being positioned above said docking plate and said sleeve support frame mounted for movement with said cross plate and for movement independently of said docking plate, said sleeve being engageable with said aperture upon actuation of said docking cylinder means, and
(vi) tie rods joining said docking plate to said shot cylinder;
and
(d) stationary locking cylinders positioned to be engageable with said docking plate following actuation of said docking cylinder means and movement of said shot assembly and said support and docking means, including said docking plate.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Die casting machine and method

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Die casting machine and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41