US 7,407,068 B2 · Compliant fill tube assembly, fill tube therefor and method of use

Abstract

A fill tube assembly is for a casting mold. The fill tube assembly includes a fill tube having a tubular member with a receiving end, a mold-engaging end and an intermediate portion. The mold-engaging end has a tapered flange radially extending therefrom, the remainder of the tubular-member has a substantially uniform cross-section. A clamping assembly is structured to maintain a substantially leak-proof seal at the fill tube, casting mold interface while accommodating dimensional variations. The clamping assembly includes a gasket, a load ring, a clamping plate and a pre-load gap between the clamping plate and the casting mold and optionally includes a dimensional compensating ring. When tightened, the clamping plate biases the load ring against the flange thereby distributing a uniform load against the casting mold, compressing the gasket therebetween while narrowing the pre-load gap to accommodate dimensional variations. A method of use is also disclosed.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A fill tube assembly comprising:

a tubular member comprising a first end for receiving molten metal, a second end having a tapered flange for engaging the casting mold, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween;
and
a clamping assembly comprising:
an annular ring disposed over the flange and having a surface engaging the tapered flange of the second end of the tubular member;
and a clamping plate for fastening to the casting mold to and for biasing the annular ring against the flange when the clamping plate is fastened to the casting mold;
wherein a dimension of the annular ring is such that when the clamping plate is biased against the ammular ring, a pre-load gap is formed between the clamping plate and the casting mold and the annular ring applies a substantially constant and substantially uniform compressive load against the flange irrespective of the temperature of the clamping assembly.

3 more elements

A casting apparatus comprising:

a casting mold including a fill tube socket and a plurality of fastener receiving apertures;
a fill tube having a receiving end, a mold-engaging end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, the mold-engaging end having a tapered flange radially extending therefrom, the remainder of the fill tube having a generally uniform cross-section;
and
a clamping assembly comprising:
an annular gasket disposed within the tapered flange socket between the tapered flange of the fill tube and the casting mold;
an annular load ring disposed over the fill tube and having a taper corresponding to the tapered flange of the mold engaging end of the fill tube;
a clamping plate disposed over the annular load ring, the clamping plate including a plurality of fastener-receiving openings corresponding to the fastener-receiving apertures in the casting mold, the clamping plate biasing the annular load ring against the flange;
wherein a dimension of the annular load ring is such that a pre-load gap is formed between the clamping plate and the casting mold and the annular load ring applies a substantially constant and substantially uniform compressive load against the flange irrespective of the temperature of clamping assembly.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compliant fill tube assembly, fill tube therefor and method of use

Life of this patent

Compliant fill tube assembly, fill tube therefor and method of use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13