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US 5,896,912 AGranted
Method and apparatus for casting a vehicle wheel in a pressurized mold
AssigneeHayes Wheels International, Inc.
InventorsBrian K. Monroe, S. Joe Kingrey, Romulo A. Prieto, Bor-Liang Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mold for gravity casting vehicle wheels having reusable thermally insulative linings attached to the interior of the gate and ball riser cavities. After filling the mold with molten metal, the gate cavity can be pressurized to assure that the mold cavity is completely filled. The ball riser cavity also can be pressurized subsequent to the gate cavity pressurization. The pressure on the gate and ball riser cavities forces molten metal from the cavities into the mold cavity as the metal cools and solidifies.
Claims18
A mold for gravity casting a vehicle wheel, the mold comprising:
- a base segment;
- a top segment movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- first and second side segments movable between retracted positions and extended positions;
- said base, top and side segments cooperating when said top and side segments are in said extended poisons to define a mold cavity, said first and second side segments further cooperating when in said extended position to define a sprue;
- said sprue including a gate chamber adapted to receive molten metal, said gate chamber communicating with said mold cavity;
- and
- a reusable thermally insulative gate liner disposed within said gate chamber;
- said gate liner including a first portion mounted upon said first side segment and a second portion mounted upon said second side segment, said gate liner portions movable with said side segments.
5 more elements
A mold for gravity casting a vehicle wheel, the mold comprising:
- a base segment;
- a plurality of side segments movable between retracted positions and extended positions;
- a top segment movable between a retracted and an extended position, said extended top segment cooperating with said base segment and said extended side segments to define a mold cavity for casting a vehicle wheel, said top segment further including a riser cavity formed adjacent to and communicating with a ball forming portion of said mold cavity;
- and
- a reusable thermally insulative liner mounted within said top segment riser cavity, said liner movable with said top segment such that said liner as used during multiple casting operations to form a plurality of wheel castings.
2 more elements
A process for gravity casting a metal vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a wheel mold having a base segment, a top segment movable between a retracted position and an extended position, first and second side segments movable between retracted positions and extended positions;
- the base, top and side segments cooperating when the top and side segments are in the extended positions to define a mold cavity, the first and second side segments further cooperating when in the extended position to define a sprue;
- the sprue including a gate chamber adapted to receive molten metal, the gate chamber communicating with the mold cavity, and a reusable thermally insulative gate liner disposed within the gate chamber;
- the gate liner including a first portion mounted upon the first side segment and a second portion mounted upon the second side segment, the gate liner portions movable with the side segments;
- (b) placing a filter across the base of the first gate liner portion;
- (c) closing the mold segments with the filter positioned across the base of the gate liner;
- (d) pouring molten metal into the sprue, the liner maintaining the temperature of the molten metal such that the filter is thoroughly wetted with molten metal to allow the molten metal to flow into the mold cavity;
- (e) allowing the metal to solidify within the mold cavity;
- (f) opening the mold, the gate liner portions being carried by the mold segments and being retained thereon for casting a subsequent wheel;
- and
- (g) removing the wheel casting and the filter from the mold.
8 more elements
A process for gravity casting a metal vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a wheel mold having a base segment, a top segment movable between a retracted position and an extended position, first and second side segments movable between retracted positions and extended positions;
- the base, top and side segments cooperating when the top and side segments are in the extended positions to define a mold cavity, the top segment including a generally cylindrical riser cavity extending axially into the center of the top mold segment, the riser cavity being adjacent to the center portion of the mold cavity and communicating therewith, the riser cavity having a reusable thermally insulating liner attached thereto, the first and second side segments further cooperating when in the extended position to define a sprue;
- the sprue including a gate chamber adapted to receive molten metal, the gate chamber communicating with the mold cavity;
- (b) pouring molten metal into the sprue, the metal flowing through the sprue and into the mold cavity with a portion of the molten metal entering the riser cavity, the liner maintaining the temperature of the molten metal within the riser cavity such that the molten state of the metal is maintained for a longer period of time in the riser cavity than in the mold cavity;
- (c) allowing the metal to solidify within the mold cavity, the molten metal in the riser cavity being urged by gravity to reenter the mold cavity as the metal therein solidifies and contracts;
- (d) opening the mold, the riser cavity liner being carried by the mold top segment and being retained thereon for casting a subsequent wheel;
- and
- (e) removing the wheel casting from the mold.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.