EP1957222B2 - Casting method and casting plant for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a casting process for producing a casting with a mold and a casting plant for carrying out the casting process.

It is known to fill melt from a melt container into a mold for the production of castings. In known casting and casting plants often result comparatively long cycle times. The long cycle times are partly due to the fact that individual process steps can only be carried out at low speeds. For example, the speed at which the melt container can be moved, limited by the filling height of the container. At high filling levels, the container can only be moved slowly to prevent the melt from spilling over. Long cycle times also arise when individual process steps must be carried out one after the other due to the design of the casting machines. Another disadvantage of known casting plants is the massive and large-scale construction, which makes installation in existing production halls difficult or impossible. In confined spaces difficult or large size of a casting difficult or prevents accessibility for maintenance and cleaning purposes. The poor accessibility requires an increased time required for maintenance and cleaning, which leads to increased downtime of the caster.

The invention has for its object to provide a casting, can be realized with the short cycle times and has a high process reliability. Another object of the invention is to provide a casting plant for carrying out the method.

This object is achieved with respect to the method by a casting method having the features of claim 1. With regard to the casting plant, the object is achieved by a casting plant having the features of claim 6.

It is intended to firmly connect the mold with a melt containing container for producing a casting with a mold and then to rotate the mold together with the container about a common axis of rotation, so that the melt flows into the mold. The mold is rotatably mounted in this method about a rotation axis about which the common rotational movement is performed. Characterized in that mold and container are rotated together for introducing the melt into the container, castings of high quality can be achieved. The amount of melt, which serves not for the production of the casting, but for Steiger and the like., Can be kept low, so that the amount of metal to be re-melt and feed the material cycle is low. The process can be carried out with high cycle times.

In known methods, the melt is transported in the container to the mold. Such a method is for example from the EP 1 155 763 A1 known .

For example, since a mold weighs several tons for casting engine blocks or cylinder heads of automobiles, movement of the comparatively lightweight container for the melt is easy to carry out. The liquid melt in the container is very thin. In order to avoid spilling of the melt or wetting of the sealing edge, the container must therefore be made comparatively high. If the sealing edge is wetted with melt, a tight connection between the mold and the container can no longer be ensured. A wetting of the sealing edge is therefore essential to avoid. Increasing the cycle time increases the risk of overflow of the melt in the container and thus the risk of wetting the sealing edge.

The casting method according to the invention provides that the mold is moved after filling the melt to be cast in the container on the container. A movement of the container with the melt can be avoided. The mold can be moved very quickly over the container despite its high weight of several tons, so that high cycle times are feasible. The fact that the container is not or only very slightly moved, it is possible to fill the container to just below the edge, so that can be realized short risers in the mold. This results in a high yield of the potted material, so that only a small amount of material gets into the return circuit and must be remelted again.

Advantageously, the container is not moved during the movement of the mold over the container. It is envisaged that the mold will be moved in a combined translational and rotational movement over the container. A combined translational and rotational movement can be realized in a simple manner with a single drive, so that the method can be carried out with a casting machine with only one drive for the mold. The combined translational and rotational movement allows movement of the mold on the container with a component of motion perpendicular to the plane between the container and the mold.

It is envisaged that the mold and the container are rotated together by at least 180 °. As a result, a largely emptying of the container can be ensured in the mold. At the same time an advantageous filling of the mold is achieved. Suitably, the mold and the container are rotated together about a horizontal axis of rotation. Advantageously, the mold and the container simultaneously carry out a translatory movement during the common rotation. However, it may also be provided that container and mold perform only a common rotational movement and that after the common rotation container and mold are separated. Subsequently, the mold can perform a translational movement.

It is envisaged that before the sealing connection of the container with the mold and in particular before Movement of the mold over the container at least one core is inserted into the mold. The insertion of at least one core can be done from above, for example via a portal. As a result, the casting process is easy to automate. Advantageously, the insertion of the core during the filling of the melt to be cast takes place in the container. Characterized in that both steps are carried out simultaneously and not in succession, the cycle time required for the production of the casting can be further reduced. The container is expediently held movably on at least one arm in at least one direction of movement. In particular, the container is decoupled from the at least one arm before the common rotation of container and mold and coupled to the at least one arm after the common rotation. By independent of the mold movement of the container, the container can be pivoted away from the mold, so that there is a good accessibility of the mold. Characterized in that the arm is decoupled from the container before mold and container are rotated together, the common rotation can be performed unhindered. For the arm so no additional degrees of freedom are necessary. Advantageously, the container is pivotally supported on the arm about an axis of rotation. The container may also be held on several, in particular on two arms. However, it can also be provided that the container is held on one side to an arm and that the container is supported in the filled state on the opposite side. The support takes place in particular with respect to a frame of the casting plant.

A casting plant, with which the casting process can be performed, has a mold, which is pivotally mounted about a first axis of rotation and a container which is pivotally mounted about a second axis of rotation. The mold is mounted in addition to the pivotability about the first axis of rotation in a second direction of movement movable.

The movable mounting of the mold in a second direction of movement allows the mold to be moved over the container. The second direction of movement may be a pivotability about a second axis of rotation or a translational movement. The second direction of movement makes it possible to move the mold over the filled container while the container remains immobile. As a result, spilling over of the liquid melt in the container is avoided. In particular, the second direction of movement of the mold also makes it possible to fill the container with melt during the insertion of at least one core into the mold.

The second direction of movement is advantageously a longitudinal direction. Thus, the mold can perform in addition to the rotational movement a translational movement. In particular, the longitudinal direction is inclined to the horizontal. Due to the inclination of the longitudinal direction, the mold can be placed from above onto the container. Advantageously, the rotational movement of the mold is coupled to the movement in the longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to move the mold with only one drive in the longitudinal direction and about the axis of rotation, so that there is a simple structure of a casting plant for performing the casting process.

However, it can also be provided that the second direction of movement is a pivoting movement about a second axis of rotation. A pivoting movement can be structurally comparatively easy to implement. The pivoting movement can be with a corresponding arrangement of the second axis of rotation, a placement of the mold on the container from above.

It is envisaged that the mold is driven by a planetary gear, which forms in particular the last stage of a multi-stage transmission. The drive of the mold via a planetary gear allows a very large translation, so that a sufficiently large drive torque for the movement of the mold can be generated. This is necessary because of the large weight of the mold of several tons. By using a planetary gear with multiple planet gears, it is possible to make the storage of the mold very safe. This can be achieved by designing each planetary gear so that it can move the weight of the mold alone. As a result, the safety factor is multiplied by the number of planetary gears.

A large ratio is achieved when the mold is firmly connected to the outer ring of the planetary gear. A coupling of the translatory and the rotational movement can be achieved in that a firmly connected to the moving outer ring of the planetary gear wheel, in particular a gear, rolls on a running in the longitudinal direction, stationary rack. A rotation of the outer ring of the planetary gear thus causes both a pivoting movement of the mold around the axis of rotation of the outer ring of the planetary gear as well as a rolling of the outer ring of the planetary gear on the rack and thus a movement of the mold in the longitudinal direction. By appropriate design of the size of the wheel, the movement of the mold in the longitudinal direction can be adapted to the rotational movement. Advantageously, both the first axis of rotation of the mold and the second axis of rotation of the container are horizontal.

In order to enable a good sealing between the container and the mold, it is provided that the mold and / or the container has means for tolerance compensation between the superimposed upon the common rotation sealing surfaces of the mold and container. As a result, it can be ensured that mold and container bear tightly against each other during the common rotation.

It is envisaged that the mold has a holder with a closed frame on which the mold is fixed. The frame is in particular formed in one piece. The fact that the frame is designed as a closed frame, results in a high stability of the construction with low weight and small footprint. The mold has a mold cavity. Advantageously, the closed frame extends in a plane which is parallel to the first axis of rotation of the mold and which intersects the mold cavity. The mold has an actual mold, which is formed of metal and has a large weight. On this mold actuators, such as slides and the like, arranged, the weight of which is considerably lower than that of the mold. The center of gravity of the mold is therefore usually at the height of the mold cavity. In order to achieve a favorable power flow, the frame is as close to the center of gravity, so that there are short distances and thus short lever arms. This allows the construction to be carried out with low weight and high stability.

It is envisaged that the mold has a filling opening, on which the container can be fixed via at least one clamping element. Advantageously, at least one actuation for a clamping element is arranged on the underside of the mold facing away from the filling opening. In the area of the filling opening, the thermal load is very high, while set at the bottom of the mold lower temperatures. The arrangement on the underside, the operations can be arranged in a less thermally stressed area. This increases the durability of the operations.

In the construction of the mold with a frame and in the operation of the clamping elements is an independent inventive idea that can also be used in a casting plant are used in the mold and container are not rotated about a common axis.

Advantageously, the mold has at least one movably mounted cover element, wherein the movement of at least one tensioning element is coupled to the movement of at least one cover element. A lid member may for example be a flap or a slider which fixes one or more cores in the mold, so that slipping or falling out of the cores is prevented when rotating the mold. By coupling the movement of the clamping element to the movement of at least one cover element, the cover element and the clamping element can be simultaneously pivoted out of the region of the filling opening of the mold, so that the mold cavity for inserting cores or for removing the casting is freely accessible. After inserting the cores, both the cover element at the filling opening is arranged by a coupled movement and the clamping element in the region of the filling opening pivoted, so that only a small adjusting movement is necessary for the final fixation of the container. Advantageously, the actuation of the cover element and the movement of at least one clamping element via one or more interconnected pivotally mounted arms. In particular, two actuations are provided for each cover element, which are arranged on mutually connected arms and are actuated by a common arm. A clamping element is advantageously arranged on a connecting strut of the two arms between the two actuations of a cover element. Thus, the pressing of the container to the mold and the closing of the lid or elements via a combined lever mechanism, which may have one or more operations. In particular, a common operation for moving the lid member and the pivoting or swiveling out of the clamping element is provided and at least one further actuating element for the final pressing movement of the container.

Fig. 1 bis Fig. 8

schematische Darstellungen des Ablaufs des Gußverfahrens,

Fig. 9

eine Seitenansicht einer Gießanlage beim Reinigungsvorgang,

Fig. 10

eine Seitenansicht der Gießanlage beim Einlegen eines Kerns von der der Darstellung in Fig. 9 gegenüberliegenden Seite der Gießanlage,

Fig. 11

eine Seitenansicht der Gießanlage in Richtung des Pfeils XI in Fig. 10,

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht der Gießanlage in der der Darstellung in Fig. 9 entsprechenden Blickrichtung beim Füllen des Behälters,

Fig. 13

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 12 nach dem Verschwenken der Kokille über den Behälter,

Fig. 14

eine Seitenansicht der Gießanlage aus Fig. 12 beim gemeinsamen Verschwenken von Kokille und Behälter,

Fig. 15

eine Seitenansicht der Gießanlage aus Fig. 12 nach dem gemeinsamen Verschwenken,

Fig. 16

eine Seitenansicht der Gießanlage aus Fig. 12 beim Wegschwenken des Behälters,

Fig. 17

eine Seitenansicht der Gießanlage aus Fig. 12 beim Entnehmen des Gußteils,

Fig. 18

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Planetengetriebes aus Fig. 17,

Fig. 19

eine schematische Darstellung eines Verfahrensschritts des Gußverfahrens,

Fig. 20

eine Seitenansicht einer Gießanlage in Reinigungsposition,

Fig. 21

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 in einer Position zum Kerneinlegen und Einfüllen von Schmelze,

Fig. 22

die Kokille der Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 23

eine Draufsicht auf die Kokille aus Fig. 22,

Fig. 24

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 nach dem Drehen der Kokille,

Fig. 25

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 nach der Bewegung der Kokille über den Behälter mit Schmelze,

Fig. 26

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 bei der gemeinsamen Drehung von Kokille und Behälter,

Fig. 27

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 nach dem Drehvorgang,

Fig. 28

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 nach dem Wegschwenken des Behälters,

Fig. 29

die Gießanlage aus Fig. 20 mit der Kokille in Entnahmeposition.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 to Fig. 8

schematic representations of the sequence of the casting process,

Fig. 9

a side view of a casting machine during the cleaning process,

Fig. 10

a side view of the casting when inserting a core of the representation in Fig. 9 opposite side of the caster,

Fig. 11

a side view of the casting in the direction of arrow XI in Fig. 10 .

Fig. 12

a side view of the casting in the representation in Fig. 9 appropriate viewing direction when filling the container,

Fig. 13

the casting machine off Fig. 12 after pivoting the mold over the container,

Fig. 14

a side view of the casting from Fig. 12 during joint pivoting of mold and container,

Fig. 15

a side view of the casting from Fig. 12 after the joint pivoting,

Fig. 16

a side view of the casting from Fig. 12 when swinging the container,

Fig. 17

a side view of the casting from Fig. 12 when removing the casting,

Fig. 18

an enlarged view of the planetary gear Fig. 17 .

Fig. 19

a schematic representation of a process step of the casting process,

Fig. 20

a side view of a casting plant in cleaning position,

Fig. 21

the casting machine off Fig. 20 in a position for core insertion and filling of melt,

Fig. 22

the mold of the caster Fig. 20 in perspective,

Fig. 23

a plan view of the mold Fig. 22 .

Fig. 24

the casting machine off Fig. 20 after turning the mold,

Fig. 25

the casting machine off Fig. 20 after moving the mold over the container with melt,

Fig. 26

the casting machine off Fig. 20 during the common rotation of mold and container,

Fig. 27

the casting machine off Fig. 20 after the turning process,

Fig. 28

the casting machine off Fig. 20 after swinging the container away,

Fig. 29

the casting machine off Fig. 20 with the mold in removal position.

In the Fig. 1 to 8 the sequence of a casting process is shown schematically. To carry out the method, a mold 1 is provided, in which a casting is poured, and a container 2 for receiving the liquid molten metal, for example, the liquid aluminum. The container 2 is in particular a tundish. The mold 1 and the container 2 are shown schematically in side view. The container 2 is formed as a trough. At the in Fig. 1 shown cleaning position of mold 1 and container 2, the mold 1 and the container 2 in the direction of the arrow 6 are accessible, so that the mold 1 and the container 2 can be cleaned by an operator.

As in Fig. 2 is shown, the mold 1 and the container 2 are brought to a Kerneinlegeposition after cleaning. In this case, the container 2 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 7, so that the container 2 is arranged above and to the side of the mold 1 and the mold 1 is accessible from above. The mold 1 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 8 in a horizontal position.

As in Fig. 3 is shown, after the pivoting of the mold 1 and the container 2 in the Kerneinlegeposition a core 3 in the direction of arrow 9 is inserted from above into the mold 1. In this method step, any number of cores can be inserted into the mold 1. The insertion of the cores 3 is advantageously fully automatic. The cores 3 are advantageously inserted by grippers in the mold 1. The grippers are arranged in particular on a portal which extends over the mold 1.

In the following; in Fig. 4 shown method step, the mold 1 and the container 2 are pivoted to a filling position. The container 2 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 10 and the mold 1 in the direction of the arrow 11. The position of the mold 1 in the filling position advantageously corresponds approximately to the position of the mold 1 in the cleaning position. The mold 1 is inclined in the filling position and adjacent to the container 2. The container 2 is in filling position lower than in the cleaning position and in Kerneinlegeposition.

In the following, in Fig. 5 melt shown as shown by the arrow 12 is filled into the container 2 shown process step. In Fig. 5 sealing surfaces 17 on the container 2 and sealing surfaces 18 on the mold 1 are enlarged and shown schematically. When filling the container 2 with melt, the sealing surface 17 may not be wetted on the container 2, otherwise a tight closing of the mold 1 and container 2 can no longer be guaranteed. The movement during filling of the melt is advantageously coupled to a movement of the container 2 down. When filling melt, the container 2 thereby performs a downward movement.

The insertion of one or more cores 3 can also be done simultaneously with the filling of the melt to be poured into the container 2. This is in the schematic representation in Fig. 19 shown. In order to insert a core 3 during the filling of the melt in the container 2, the container 2 from the in Fig. 1 shown cleaning position pivoted directly into a position in which the container 2 is turned with its filling opening upwards. The container 2 is, as in Fig. 19 shown, arranged next to the mold 1, so that the mold 1 is accessible from above. As a result, at the same time the core 3 is inserted in the direction of the arrow 9 in the mold 1 and the melt to be poured as indicated by the arrow 12 are filled into the trough-shaped container 2. Since both process steps take place simultaneously, the cycle time for the production of a casting is thereby further shortened.

As Fig. 6 shows, the mold 1 is pivoted in the next step along the arrow 13 on the container 2. In this case, the mold 1 performs a rotary and a translatory movement. The mold 1 is placed over the container 2 that the sealing surfaces 17 and 18 sealingly abut each other and the mold 1 shows with its open side down and rests on the upwardly open container 2. When pivoting the mold 1 via the container 2, the container 2 is not moved, so that a spilling over of the liquid melt from the container 2 or a wetting of the sealing surface 17 on the container 2 is avoided.

Subsequently, the container 2 is fixed to the mold 1. After the container 2 is firmly and sealingly held on the mold 1, the mold 1 and the container 2 are rotated in the direction of the arrow 14 about a common axis of rotation 4. The rotation takes place in the opposite direction to the movements shown by the arrows 11 and 13, so that the mold 1 must be movable in total only 180 °.

In Fig. 7 the mold 1 and the container 2 are shown after rotation about the rotation axis 4 by 180 °. After the common rotation of the container 2 is removed in the direction of arrow 15 from the mold 1. As in Fig. 8 is shown in the subsequent, last step, the casting 5 is removed in the direction of arrow 16 from the mold 1. The container 2 is in this position above and next to the mold 1 in a position which corresponds approximately to the Kerneinlegeposition. As a result, unhindered access to the casting 5 from above is possible.

After removal of the casting 5, the mold 1 and the container 2 move back into the in Fig. 1 shown

Cleaning position and the production of the next casting 5 begins.

In the Fig. 9 to 18 is a casting machine 20 for carrying out in the Fig. 1 to 8 shown casting process shown. In Fig. 9 is the casting machine 20 in cleaning position. The mold 1 and the container 2 are inclined relative to the horizontal 39, so that both the interior of the mold 1 and the interior of the container 2 for an operator 27 is accessible. The container 2 is formed trough-shaped. The mold 1 is mounted on both sides via a holder 26 on a frame 21. From frame 21 is in Fig. 9 only shown in the figure behind the mold 1 side wall. The mounting of the holder 26 on the frame 21 takes place at least on one side of the mold 1 via a planetary gear 33rd

The mold 1 is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation 4 of the outer ring of the planetary gear 33, not shown. The outer ring of the planetary gear 33 is formed as a moving ring and driven by the planetary gear 33 about the rotation axis 4 rotating. On the outer ring of the planetary gear 33, a gear 24 is fixed. The gear 24 may be formed integrally with the outer ring of the planetary gear 33. The gear 24 is rotatably connected to the holder 26 of the mold 1. The gear 24 rolls on a rack 25 from. Instead of the rack 25 may also be provided a linear guide for the gear 24, on which the gear 24 or instead of the gear 24 provided wheel rolls. The rack 25 is fixed to the frame 21 of the caster 20. The rack 25 is inclined relative to the horizontal 39 at an angle α, which tapers towards the operator 27 and which may be for example about 30 °. The rack 25 defines a longitudinal direction 38 in which the mold 1 can be moved.

The container 2 of the caster 20 is fixed to an arm 22 pivotable about an axis of rotation 23 on the frame 21. The arm 22 is rotatably mounted on the frame 21 of the caster 20. Instead of an arm 22, the container 2 may be mounted on a plurality, in particular on two arms 22. Advantageously, the container 2 is mounted on both sides.

After cleaning the mold 1 and the container 2, the mold 1 and the container 2 move in the in the Fig. 10 and 11 shown core insertion position. For this purpose, the arm 22 is about the axis of rotation 23 to the operator 27 out, ie in Fig. 9 clockwise, panned. When pivoting the arm 22, the container 2 performs a rotational movement about the axis of rotation 19 relative to the arm 22. The relative movement of the container 2 relative to the arm 22 is advantageously coupled to the movement of the arm 22. The coupling can be done for example by arranged in the arm 22 chains. The chains connect a fixed to the axis of rotation 23 of the arm 22 mounted sprocket with a about the axis of rotation 19 of the container 2 movably arranged and rotatably connected to the container 2 sprocket. The numbers of teeth of the two sprockets are advantageously different, so that the rotational speed of the arm 22 about the rotation axis 23 differs from the rotational speed of the container 2 about the rotation axis 19.

The coupling of the rotational movement of the container 2 about the axis of rotation 19 to the rotational movement of the arm 22 about the axis of rotation 23 can also be achieved via a fixedly mounted in the axis of rotation 23 bevel gear, which is arranged in the arm 22 shaft with another, on the axis of rotation 19 arranged bevel gear cooperates. By coupling the movement of the container 2 to the movement of the arm 22, only one drive for the container 2 and the arm 22 is necessary. Advantageously, the drive for the arm 22 in the region of the axis of rotation 23 between the arm 22 and a in Fig. 11 shown side wall 43 of the frame 21 is arranged. As a result, the drive can be fixedly arranged on the frame 21 and does not have to move with the arm 22. Instead of an arm 22 and two arms 22 may be provided. In this case, an arm 22 is advantageously arranged on a side wall 42 of the frame 21 and the other arm 22 on the opposite side wall 43 of the frame 21.

The mold 1 is pivoted in the movement into the Kerneinlegeposition in the horizontal 39. For this purpose, the gear 24 in the illustration in Fig. 9 driven counterclockwise. Thus, the mold 1 performs both a counterclockwise movement about the axis of rotation 4 and a translational movement on the Horizontal 39 inclined rack 25 upwards. The mold 1 moves away from the operator 27 and upwards.

In Fig. 10 the position of the mold 1 is sketched dashed lines in Kerneinlegeposition. The casting machine 20 has a portal 41, on which grippers 30 and 31 are movably mounted. Both the gripper 30 and the gripper 31 each insert a core 3 in the direction of the arrow 9 into the mold 1. In the in the Fig. 10 and 11 As shown, the gripper 30 inserts a core into the mold 1. The gripper 31 is located in a position laterally above the mold 1 and moves after inserting a core 3 by the gripper 30 in the position above the mold 1 to insert a second core 3 in the mold 1. The container 2 is pivoted on the arm 22 from the region of the mold 1, so that the mold 1 is freely accessible from above.

As the Fig. 10 and 11 show, the frame 21 has two side walls 42 and 43, on which the mold 1 is mounted. The container 2 is mounted on one side on the side wall 43. However, it can also be provided a two-sided storage. On the opposite side wall 42 of the drive of the mold 1 is arranged. The side wall 42 has a guide 32, which is designed as a slot in the side wall 42 and which extends above the rack 25 and parallel to the rack 25. The guide 32 on the side wall 42 forms a fixed bearing for the mold 1. On the opposite side, ie on the side wall 42, a guide 47 and a parallel extending rack 25 are arranged, which form a floating bearing for the mold 1 and horizontal thermal expansion to compensate.

On the side facing away from the mold 1, the outer side of the side wall 42, a cranked arm 29 is arranged, which is pivotally mounted. Adjacent to the guide 32, a gear 28 is arranged on the arm 29, which forms a first gear stage for driving the mold 1. In the transmission 28 and several gear stages can be realized. By trained as a slot guide 32 protrudes into Fig. 11 not shown output shaft from the gear 28, which forms the drive pinion for the planetary gear 33. As the gear 24 moves along the rack 25, the gear 28 is moved along the guide 32 on the arm 29.

After inserting the cores 3, the mold 1 and the container 2 go into the in Fig. 12 shown filling position. For this purpose, the gear 24 in the illustration in Fig. 12 driven in a clockwise direction. As a result, the gear 24 moves on the side facing an operator 27 and down. The mold 1 is made of in Fig. 10 and 11 shown position in the view in Fig. 12 pivoted clockwise. The mold 1 is in filling position in a position corresponding to the in Fig. 9 approximately corresponds to cleaning position shown. As Fig. 12 shows, the planetary gear 33 has four planetary gears 34, of the gear 28 (FIG. Fig. 10 ) are driven. The four planet gears 34 are connected to each other via a plate 35 and fixed to the gear 28, so that the planetary gears 34 can not rotate about the drive pinion. Thereby, the gear 24, which is connected to the moving outer ring of the planetary gear 33, driven in rotation.

The container 2 is located in a position opposite to the cleaning position Fig. 9 about 180 ° about the axis of rotation 23 pivoted position. In this position, the container 2 is arranged below the axis of rotation 4 of the mold 1 on the side of the mold 1 facing an operator. The filling opening 48 of the container 2 faces upward. In the in Fig. 12 filling position shown, the container 2 is filled with liquid melt, in particular molten metal such as aluminum melt. The container 2 can be completely or almost completely filled with liquid melt. When filling the container 2 performs a downward movement, which is coupled to the filling movement.

The filling of the container 2 can also take place during the insertion of a core 3 or more cores 3 into the mold 1. For this purpose, the mold 1 moves from the cleaning position to the core insertion position and the container 2 moves to the filling position. The filling position of the container 2 and the Kerneinlegeposition the mold 1 are to be chosen so that both the mold 1 and the container 2 are accessible.

After filling the container 2, the mold 1 is as in Fig. 13 shown pivoted over the container 2. The container 2 does not change its position during pivoting of the mold 1. When pivoting the mold 1, the gear 24 in the illustration in Fig. 12 driven in a clockwise direction, so that the open filling side 44 of the mold 1 faces downward. The mold 1 is therefore opposite to in the Fig. 10 and 11 shown Kerneinlegeposition rotated by 180 ° about the axis of rotation 4. The gear 24 is located on the operator facing front end 45 of the rack 25. Because the mold 1 performs both a rotational movement about the rotation axis 4 and a translational movement in the longitudinal direction 38, which runs parallel to the rack 25, performs the mold 1 with a directional component in the vertical direction, so from above, are placed on the container 2. The mold 1 has clamping elements 36, with which the container 2 is clamped on the mold 1. Once the container 2 is held on the clamping elements 36 of the mold 1, the arm 22 is decoupled from the container 2. The container 2 can thereby move independently of the arm 22.

In order to compensate for tolerances between the container 2 and the mold 1 and to achieve a good seal between mold 1 and container 2, the mold 1 has a total of four clamping elements 36 which are formed as clamping claws. At each corner of the container, a clamping element 36 is arranged. The clamping elements 36 pull the container 2 by a small path in the range of a few millimeters to the mold 1 after the arm 22 has been decoupled from the container 2. The container 2 is of the clamping elements 36 against the or the cores 3 in the Mold 1 pressed. The clamping elements 36 are advantageously hydraulically operated and valve-controlled, so that the clamping elements 36 compensate for tolerances and bumps in the sealing surface between the container 2 and mold 1, since each corner of the container 2 can move independently. The fact that the clamping elements 36 are arranged on the mold 1, results in a short power flow, which does not lead through the axis of rotation 4 of the mold 1. As a result, the storage of the mold 1 is less stressed. The means for tolerance compensation can also be arranged in the storage of mold and / or container.

Subsequently, the mold 1 and the container 2 are rotated by 180 ° about the rotation axis 4. This is in the Fig. 14 and 15 shown. As the figures show, the gear 24 rolls counterclockwise from the front end 45 to the rear end 46 of the rack 25 from. Accordingly, the mold 1 rotates in a first direction of rotation on the container 2 and in reverse direction together with the container 2. Thus, the mold 1 must be rotatable only by a total of about 180 °.

Fig. 15 shows the casting machine 20 after the common rotation of mold 1 and container 2 by 180 ° about the axis of rotation 4 of the mold 1. By the rotation of the container 2 with the mold 1, the liquid melt from the container 2 flows completely into the mold 1 and forms thereby the casting off. After pivoting the clamping elements 36 are released. The arm 22 pivots from the in Fig. 14 shown position counterclockwise upward and the container 2. Subsequently, the container 2 is coupled to the arm 22. When coupling takes place an automatic centering of the container 2 on the holder of the container 2 on the arm 22nd

As Fig. 16 shows the container 2 is then lifted by the arm 22 of the mold 1 and swung away. The container 2 is in the in Fig. 17 pivoted shown Kerneinlegeposition of the container 2 and thereby performs a rotation in the figures in the counterclockwise direction about the axis of rotation 19. In the in Fig. 17 shown position, the container 2 is arranged above and in a lateral region of the mold 1, so that the mold 1 is accessible from above and the casting in the direction of the arrow 16 from the mold 1 can be removed from the mold. After demolding go mold 1 and 2 containers in the Fig. 9 shown cleaning position and the process is performed again.

In Fig. 18 the planetary gear 33 is shown enlarged. The planetary gear 33 is driven by a pinion 37 which is the output shaft of the transmission 28. The pinion 37 drives four planet gears 34, which are held stationary on the plate 35. The rotational movement of the planet gears 34 causes a rotation of the outer ring of the planetary gear 33, to which the gear 24 is fixed. The outer ring of the planetary gear is mounted with a cross roller bearing at its outer periphery in a housing part. The housing part is fixedly connected to the housing of the transmission 28. The rack 25, on which the gear 24 rolls, has the in Fig. 18 dotted line indicated by teeth 40. In the exemplary embodiment, four planetary gears 34 are provided. Each planet gear 34 is designed so that it alone could hold the weight of the mold 1 of several tons. The four planet gears 34 thus cause a quadrupling of the safety factor. In case of failure of a planetary gear 34, a secure holding of the mold 1 and a safe function of the casting machine 20 is still guaranteed.

Instead of the rack 25, which cooperates with the gear 24 and thus causes a coupled translational and rotational movement, and a lever linkage may be provided, via which the mold 1 is moved in a corresponding coupled movement.

In the Fig. 20 to 29 an embodiment of a caster 50 is shown. The caster 50 has a mold 51 which is mounted on a frame 21. Same reference numerals as in the Fig. 1 to 19 identify components of the same function. The mold 51 is rotatably mounted on two arms 59 about the axis of rotation 4. The two arms 59 are arranged on both sides of the mold 51 and connected to each other via a shaft 60. The shaft 60 is disposed adjacent to a bottom 63 of the frame 21 and extends between the two side walls 42 and 43 of the frame 21. On the shaft 60, the two arms 59 are mounted with the mold 51 about a second axis of rotation 58 pivotally mounted on the frame 21 , To drive the mold 51 about the first axis of rotation 4, a drive 61 is fixed to the arm 59 arranged adjacent to the side wall 43 with a gear 62 which rotatably drives the mold 51 about the axis of rotation 4.

As well as Fig. 21 shows, on the side wall 42 opposite the side wall 42, a plate 65 is rotatably supported about a rotation axis 23. On the plate 65 of the arm 22 is mounted, on which the container 2 is held. The arm 22 is formed as a receptacle in which the container 2 is located. At the bottom 87 of the arm 22 of the container 2 via a plurality of connecting pin 72 is fixed. The connecting pins 72 hold the container 2 loosely at the bottom 87, so that the container 2 can move relative to the arm 22 by a predetermined amount. As Fig. 21 shows, the arm 22 is mounted on the plate 65 via lever 86. At the levers 86 engage a braking device 67 and a pivot drive 68 at. The pivot drive 68 moves the arm 22 relative to the plate 65 between the in Fig. 20 shown outwardly folded position and the in Fig. 21 shown folded between the side walls 43 and 42 position. The braking device 67 represents a safety device. The arm 22 can be blocked via the brake device 67. To move the plate 65 with the arm 22 and the container 2 about the axis of rotation 23, a drive 66 is provided. At the periphery of the plate 65, a locking jaw 88 is arranged, via which the plate 65 can be blocked.

As the FIGS. 20 and 21 show, the mold 51 has a mold cavity 49 which is accessible via a filling opening 54. At the filling opening 54 are two flaps 73 at the; Mold 51 is arranged, which can be pivoted away about parallel to the axis of rotation 4 axes from the filling opening 54 to the outside. The flaps 73 constitute cover elements which secure cores arranged in the mold 51 and which can cover the filling opening 48 at its edge region.

In Fig. 20 the casting machine 50 is shown in cleaning position. The mold 51, is rotated about the first axis of rotation 4 so that the filling opening 54 facing forwards, ie to an operator, and upwards. The arm 22 with the container 2 is outwardly to the side wall 42 and about the axis of rotation 23 (FIG. Fig. 21 ) upwards and in the illustration after Fig. 20 diagonally forward, that is to say to an operator, turned. The mold cavity 49 of the mold 51 and the container 2 are accessible to an operator and can be cleaned in this position.

After cleaning the mold 51 and the container 2, the mold 51 moves in the in Fig. 21 shown core insertion position. For this purpose, the mold 51 pivots about the axis of rotation 4 until the filling opening 54 of the mold 51 points vertically upwards. Simultaneously or with a time delay, the arm 22 is pivoted between the side walls 42 and 43 and rotated about the axis of rotation 23 until the container in the in Fig. 21 In this position, the side wall 43 facing the end of the arm 22 on supports 71, which are fixed to the side wall 43. The supports 71 may be formed for example as a bearing. About the supports 71, the free end of the arm 22 is supported to the frame 21 out.

In the in Fig. 21 shown position of the casting pad 50, the cores are inserted into the mold 51, as to the Fig. 10 and 11 is described. At the same time, the container 2 is filled with melt. In this case, the sealing edge 17 of the container 2 may not be wetted with melt. In order to keep the formation of bubbles in the melt low, it is provided that the container 2 performs a pivoting movement about the axis 23 in synchronism with the filling movement of a filling device, not shown.

After the cores are inserted into the mold cavity 49, the flaps 73 close. For the opening and closing movement, the flaps 73 have operating arms 74, which are of in Fig. 20 shown schematically operations 55 are actuated and of which in Fig. 21 one is shown only partially. The actuations 55 are arranged on the underside 57 of the mold 51 facing away from the filling opening 54. As Fig. 21 shows, the casting machine 50 has a drive cylinder 64 which is mounted on the frame 21 and which pivots the arms 59 about the axis of rotation 58. Both arms 59 have an in Fig. 21 for one of the arms 59 shown boom 69, whose function will be explained below.

In the FIGS. 22 and 23 the mold 51 is shown together with the container 2 arranged thereon. As Fig. 22 shows, the mold 51 has a holder 53 which comprises two U-shaped receptacles 89 which are connected to each other via a closed, integrally formed frame 52. The legs of the U-shaped receptacles 89 extend at the end regions of the longitudinal sides of the mold 51 and point upwards, that is to say towards the filling opening 54. The mold 51 is arranged in the two receptacles 89. The frame 52 extends around the periphery of the mold 51 around the mold 51 around in a plane which is parallel to the axis of rotation 4. The plane in which the frame 52 is arranged is arranged at a small distance from the filling opening 54. Advantageously, the center of gravity of the mold 51 lies in the plane spanned by the frame 52 or adjacent thereto. The plane spanned by the frame 52 intersects the mold cavity 49.

As Fig. 23 shows, the actual mold of the mold 51 is fixed to the frame 52 via four mounting screws 82. Two of the fastening screws 82 are arranged above and adjacent to the axis of rotation 4. Instead of the two fastening screws 82, a single fastening screw 82 may be provided. The two other fastening screws 82 are arranged in corner points of the mold and the frame 52. The fastening screws 82 form a triangle, so that there is a defined attachment of the actual mold on the frame 52. The actual casting mold is advantageously vibration-damped via the screws 82, that is to say mounted on the frame 52 with the interposition of further vibration damping elements.

As the FIGS. 22 and 23 show, the holder 53 has actuating arms 74 for actuating the flaps 73. The actuating arms 74 are pivotally mounted on the U-shaped receptacles 89 about a rotation axis 75. In the region of the axis of rotation 75, a shaft 90 is arranged, on which a lever arm 83 of the actuating arm 74 engages. At the lever arm 83, the actuator 55 attacks. To open the flaps 73, the actuator 55 actuates the lever arms 83 in an actuating direction 79. As a result, two grippers 81, which engage on opposite sides of a flap 73, are pulled outwardly on each actuating arm 74. The grippers 81 engage bolts 80 of the flaps 73. The rattles 73 are pulled outward until bolts 80 of the flaps 73 come to lie in receptacles 78 on the holder 53. Further actuation of the lever arms 83 in the actuation direction 79 causes a gift of the flaps 73 about the bolts 77 upwards and outwards. As a result, with only one actuation 55, the flap 73 can perform a combined translatory and rotational movement.

The actuating arms 74 have a transverse strut 76, on each of which at least one clamping element 56 is arranged. To compensate for tolerances between the container 2 and the mold 51 a plurality of clamping elements 56 are advantageously arranged on each actuating arm 74. The clamping elements 56 move upon actuation of the lever arms 83, so that the movement of the clamping elements 56 is coupled to the movement of the lever arms 83 and the actuating arms 74 to the movement of the flaps 73. To press the container 2 fixed to the mold 51 and the core in the mold 51, the clamping elements 56 each have at least one actuator 91, which acts on a movable portion 92 of the clamping elements 56. The movable portions 92 press the container 2 against the mold 51.

After inserting the core or cores into the mold 51 ( Fig. 21 ), the flaps 73 are closed by operating the lever arms 83 in the direction of actuation 79. Subsequently, the mold 51 is rotated by 180 ° about the rotation axis 4 until it is in the in Fig. 24 shown position. The filling opening 54 of the mold 51 points downward. The arm 22 is rotated about the axis of rotation 23 (FIG. Fig. 21 ) Is rotated so that the filling opening 48 of the container 2 has vertically upwards. Subsequently, the mold 51 is moved in the direction of the arrow 84 via the container 2. The container 2 remains stationary. The movement of the mold 51 over the container 2 by pivoting the arms 59 about the axis of rotation 58. For this purpose, a drive cylinder 64 is actuated. The actuations 55 are in the Fig. 24 to 29 Not shown.

In Fig. 25 the arrangement of the mold 51 is shown above the container 2. As the Fig. 25 to 27 show, each arm 59 has a boom 69. The two arms 69 are connected via a connecting rod 70 with each other. When pivoting the mold 51 from the in Fig. 24 shown position in the Fig. 25 shown position pivots the connecting rod 70 upwards. Supply hoses for actuating cylinders can be guided on the mold 51, for example for slides or the like, via the connecting rod 70. The connecting rod 70 ensures that the supply lines are not passed over the ground. This ensures that the supply lines can not come into contact with hot melt, even if melt would accidentally flow to the bottom.

After the mold 51 has been pivoted over the container 2, the container 2 is pressed firmly and sealingly against the mold 51 via the clamping elements 56. Due to the loose mounting of the container 2 on the arm 22, the arm 22 can remain arranged on the container 2. The container 2 can be moved relative to the arm 22 to compensate for tolerances. After the sealing connection of container 2 and mold 51, the mold 51 and the container 2 are rotated together about the axis of rotation 4. After the pivoting movement of the mold 51 over the container 2, the axis of rotation 4 is coaxially to the axis of rotation 23 of the container 2. Thus, the container 2 and the mold 51 can be rotated together. The drives 61 and 66 run synchronously. The mold 51 and the container 2 are in the direction of in Fig. 26 shown arrow 85 on the in Fig. 26 shown rotated position 180 ° until the container 2 above the mold 51 in the in Fig. 27 shown position is arranged. By the rotation of mold 51 and container 2, the melt from the container 2 has flowed into the mold 51.

Subsequently, the container is pivoted by the filling opening 54 to the outside. This is in Fig. 28 shown. Subsequently, the mold 51 is pivoted back about the axis of rotation 58. In this rear position, the casting can be removed. However, it may also be provided that the casting in the front position of the mold 51, ie directly after the removal of the container 2 from the filling opening 54, is removed. After removal of the casting mold 51 and container 2 are cleaned again. For this purpose, the mold 51 is in the in Fig. 20 shown position. Then the next casting can be made.

Claims (17)

1. Casting method for producing a casting (5) with a permanent mould (1, 51), which can be pivoted around an axis of rotation (4)
   wherein

   - the melt to be cast is filled into a receptacle (2),

   - after the receptacle (2) has been filled with the melt to be cast the permanent mould (1, 51) is moved over the receptacle (2),

   - the receptacle (2) is connected in a sealed manner to the permanent mould (1, 51),

   - the permanent mould (1, 51) and the receptacle (2) are rotated together about the permanent mould's (1, 51) axis of rotation (4) so that the melt flows out of the receptacle (2) into the permanent mould (1, 51),

   - the permanent mould (1, 51) and the receptacle (2) are separated from each other,

   - the casting (5) is removed from the permanent mould (1, 51).
2. Casting method according to claim 1,
   characterised in that the receptacle (2) is not moved when the permanent mould (1, 51) is moved over the receptacle (2).
3. Casting method according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that the permanent mould (1) and the receptacle (2) are rotated together by at least 180°, the permanent mould (1) and the receptacle (2) being rotated together about a horizontal axis of rotation (4).
4. Casting method according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that at least one core (3) is inserted into the permanent mould (1, 51) before the receptacle (2) is connected in a sealed manner to the permanent mould (1, 51).
5. Casting method according to claim 4,
   characterised in that the insertion of the core (3) is realised while the melt to be cast is filled into the receptacle (2).
6. Casting installation with a permanent mould (1, 51) which is pivotally mounted about a first axis of rotation (4) and with a receptacle (2) which is pivotally mounted about a second axis of rotation (23), wherein the permanent mould (1, 51) is movably mounted in a second movement direction so that - besides the pivotability about the first axis of rotation (4) - the permanent mould (1, 51) can be moved over the receptacle (2), the receptacle (2) being connectable in a sealed manner to the permanent mould (1, 51), the permanent mould (1, 51) and the receptacle (2) being rotatable together so that the melt flows out of the receptacle (2) into the permanent mould (1, 51), wherein the permanent mould (1, 51) and the receptacle (2) can be separated from each other, and wherein the casting (5) can be removed from the permanent mould (1, 51).
7. Casting installation according to claim 6,
   characterised in that the second movement direction is a longitudinal direction (38).
8. Casting installation according to claim 7,
   characterised in that the longitudinal direction (38) extends obliquely relative to the horizontal (39) and the rotation movement of the permanent mould (1) is coupled to the movement in the longitudinal direction (38).
9. Casting installation according to claim 6,
   characterised in that the second movement direction is a pivot movement about a second axis of rotation (58).
10. Casting installation according to one of the claims 6 to 9,
    characterised in that the permanent mould (1) is driven via a planetary gear (33).
11. Casting installation according to one of the claims 6 to 10,
    characterised in that the second axis of rotation (23) of the receptacle (2) and the first axis of rotation (4) of the permanent mould (1, 51) extend horizontally.
12. Casting installation according to one of the claims 6 to 11,
    characterised in that the receptacle (2) is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation (23) on at least one arm (22).
13. Casting installation according to one of the claims 6 to 12,
    characterised in that the permanent mould (1, 51) and / or the receptacle (2) have means for tolerance compensation between the sealing surfaces (17, 18), lying one on top of the other during co-rotation, on the permanent mould (1, 51) and the receptacle (2).
14. Casting installation according to one of the claims 6 to 13,
    characterised in that the permanent mould (51) has a holder (53) with a closed frame (52), to which the permanent mould (51) is fixed.
15. Casting installation according to claim 13,
    characterised in that the permanent mould (51) has a mould cavity (49) and the closed frame (52) extends in a plane lying parallel to the first axis of rotation (4) of the permanent mould (51) and intersecting the mould cavity (49).
16. Casting installation according to one of the claims 6 to 15,
    characterised in that the permanent mould (51) has a filling opening (54), to which the receptacle (2) can be fixed via at least one clamping element (56), and at least one actuating means (55) for a clamping element (56) is disposed on the lower side (57) of the permanent mould (1) facing away from the filling opening.
17. Casting installation according to claim 16,
    characterised in that the permanent mould (1) has at least one movably mounted cover element and the movement of at least one clamping element (56) is coupled to the movement of at least one cover element.

Images