JPH0371215B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a casting method and a casting apparatus for a cast-on strap for connection between ears of a storage battery electrode group.

(Prior Art) A conventional casting method and apparatus for a cast-on-strap for connection between the ears of a storage battery electrode group involves inserting a cast-on-strap casting mold into a melting tank in which lead or lead alloy is heated and melted through a supply path. When connecting the ears of a group of battery electrode plates using the mold, first pour the molten metal from the melting tank into the strap casting recess opened on the top of the mold, and then pour the molten metal from the melting tank. The filled molten metal is heated and kept warm from the outside with a burner, heater, etc., and the tip of the ear group of the inverted electrode plate group is immersed in it.In this state, the mold is cooled to solidify the molten metal and form the ear group. It has been practiced to form a cast strap in which the straps are bonded together.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional method and apparatus described above, the high-temperature molten metal created in a melting tank is injected into the mold, which takes time and results in uneven filling. Tend. In addition, the filled molten metal cannot maintain a good high temperature because it cools down during the pouring process and is poured into a mold that has been cooled by the previous cooling and solidification process, so the molten metal must always be heated with a burner or heater. In addition, since the heating must be stopped before the ear is inserted, the molten metal cools down when the ear is inserted, and the molten metal in contact with the ear surface in particular cools, resulting in poor welding between the ear surface and the solidified strap. There are disadvantages such as it is difficult to obtain a sufficiently satisfactory weld between the casting straps between the ears, the equipment and work for heating the mold are cumbersome, and the manufacturing cost tends to be high. .

(Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional cast-on-strap method, eliminates the need to heat the mold with a burner or heater and maintain it at a high temperature, and simplifies heating and holding. The present invention provides a casting method for a cast-on strap for connection between the ears of battery electrode plates, which improves welding efficiency. The mold is immersed, and the molten metal is allowed to flow into the strap casting recess opened on the upper surface of the mold, and then pulled up, and the tips of the plurality of ears of the electrode plate group inserted into the recess are inserted into the recess. It is characterized in that it is kept immersed in the filled molten metal that has been pumped out, and in this state, the mold is cooled to solidify the filled molten metal, thereby forming a casting strap in which the selvedges are joined together.

The present invention is based on the first invention, and further provides a casting method that can easily perform uniform melt bonding of the joining surfaces of the ears and the casting strap, and as described above, the casting method is performed by immersion of the mold. The feature is that the material that has been pulled up is immersed in the molten metal again for a short time with the ears of the electrode plate group inserted therein.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a casting apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned casting method, which comprises a bathtub containing molten lead or a lead alloy, and a strap casting recess located above the bathtub and open to the top surface. A strap casting mold, a movable holding device for holding the mold in a vertically movable manner, a holding device for holding at least one electrode plate group in an inverted state above the movable holding device, and a movable holding device for holding the electrode plate group holding device in a vertically movable manner. It consists of a lifting device that holds the

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the method of the present invention in which cathode straps and anode straps are protruded alternately from one side or the other side of an electrode plate group for a storage battery and connect cathode ears and anode ears, respectively, which are lined up. The apparatus used for casting, and FIGS. 3 to 8, show examples of implementing the present method using this apparatus.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, A indicates a group of electrode plates to which the present method is applied, and when the plate group A is inverted, a holding device 1, for example, a pair of holding plates 1 , 1 to keep it suspended. The holding plates 1, 1
is connected to a lifting device 2 such as an air cylinder via a connecting member. It is held movable up and down by a lifting device.

According to the present invention, a large-capacity bathtub 3 containing molten lead or lead alloy is prepared, and the molten metal b in the bathtub 3 is heated by a heating means 4 such as a burner or an electric heater on the lower surface of the bottom of the bathtub 3. temperature of 200~300
℃, generally maintained at a high temperature of around 280℃. Generally, it is preferable that the bathtub 3 also serves as a melting tank in which lead or lead alloy is directly placed therein and heated and melted. According to the present invention, a strap casting mold 5 is horizontally installed above the bathtub 3 and immediately below the inverted electrode plate group A positioned above the bathtub 3. is held by a movable holding device 6 to enable immersion into the molten metal b. The movable holding device 6 may be the same elevating device that lifts and lowers the electrode plate group A, but in the illustrated example, a casting recess 5a for connecting a cathode lug group and a casting recess 5a for connecting an anode lug group opened on the upper surface of the mold 5 are used. After the cathode lug n group and the anode lug p group of the electrode plate group A are inserted to a predetermined depth into the casting recess 5b, the molten metal b of the bathtub 3 is pushed down together with the downward movement of the electrode plate group A. The device was designed so that it could be immersed in the water. That is, support plates 6a, 6a protruding from the left and right sides of the mold 5, and guide columns 6c, 6c inserted through the support plates 6a, 6a and planted on the base 6b.
and springs 6d, 6d that fit around the outer peripheries of the guide columns 6c, 6c and resiliently support the base 6b and the lower surfaces of the support plates 6a, 6a. The mold 5 through the elastic force of
can be maintained at the upper limit position above the bathtub 3 at all times,
The regulating members 7, 7 protruding from the lower part of the holding plates 1, 1 supporting the electrode plate group A are brought into contact with the upper surface of the mold 5, and are further pushed downward against the elastic force of the springs 6d, 6d. so that it is pushed to In such a case, it is possible to omit providing a similar lifting device separately from the lifting device for lifting and lowering the holding plates 1, 1 described above. On the upper surface of the mold 5, when it comes into contact with the regulating members 7, 7 of the electrode group holding plates 1, 1, each lug n, p of each electrode plate lug group has its corresponding recess 5a, 5b. A gap c is provided at a predetermined depth within the bottom surface of the gap c, so that only the tip of the gap c is automatically regulated.

The inside of the mold 5 has a cooling water channel 8 having an inlet 8a at one end and an outlet 8b at the other end. 9
shows a flexible water pipe connected to the inlet 8a and the outlet 8b. Next, an embodiment of the casting method using the above-mentioned apparatus will be described.

The holding plates 1, 1 holding the electrode plate group A are moved downward by extending the air cylinder of the elevating device 2 connected to the holding plates 1, 1, and brought into contact with the mold 5 below. In such a case, the cathode plate lug groups n, n... and the anode plate lug groups p, p... of the electrode plate group A are placed in the corresponding recesses 5a, 5b of the mold 5 with their tips at a predetermined depth. Stays inserted. In this case, at the same time, a gap c for molten metal inflow is ensured between each of the ears n, n and the bottom and circumferential surfaces of each recess. Furthermore,
Subsequently, the electrode plate group A is moved down via the holding plates 1, 1, and the mold 5 in which the electrode plate group is inserted is pushed down against the springs 6d, 6d, as shown in the fifth figure. The mold 5 is immersed in the high temperature molten metal b at 280°C in the lower bathtub 3. The immersion depth of the mold 5 may be 2 to 3 mm below the surface of the molten metal. When doing so, the molten metal b instantly flows into each of the recesses 5a and 5 on the upper surface of the mold 5.
b and the gap c between the ears and around it.
satisfy. Next, the holding plates 2, 2 are immediately moved upward, and accordingly, the mold 5 is moved upward through the extension of the springs 6d, 6d, and is pulled up from the molten metal b in the molten tank 3 (6th
figure). At this pulled-up position, cooling water is passed through the mold 5 to cool and solidify the molten metal b' that has flowed into the recesses 5a and 5b of the mold 5. After completely solidifying, by moving the holding plates 1, 1 upward, the electrode plate group A is moved upward, and the ear group is placed in the recess 5 of the mold 5.
When separated from a and 5b, plate groups A and A are obtained which are provided with cast straps s that are fused to the surface of each ear of each ear group and firmly connect the ear groups. In order to further improve the welding between the ear groups n..., p... of the electrode plate groups A, A and the casting strap s, as described above, immediately after the mold 5 is pulled up, the mold 5 is re-inserted into the molten metal in the bathtub 3. Immerse in b. In such a case, the mold 5
Fine foreign matter that obstructs welding, such as oxides, that have adhered to the surface of the selvedges due to the molten metal b' previously filled in the recesses 5a and 5b, is removed by re-immersion into the recesses of new molten metal. The mold 5 is cooled by the water cooling, and is immediately immersed in the molten metal b. This is because the filled molten metal b drawn into the recess tends to be cooled by the mold 5, so at least the bottom surface of the mold 5 is soaked in the bathtub 3 before being immersed in the mold 5, as shown in FIG.
The mold 5 is heated, for example, by contacting the surface of the molten metal b in the mold 5, preferably by immersing the lower part in the molten metal b.
Preferably, preheating to .degree. The bath water 3 in the melting tank 1 is constantly maintained at a high temperature by the heating means 4, and lead or lead alloy is newly replenished and melted. As described above, according to the present invention, the molten metal b in the bathtub 3 is used not only for casting the strap but also for cleaning the surface of the ear.
It can also be advantageously used for preheating the mold.

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the casting of a strap for connection between ears for connection between cells will be described. 9th
The figure shows the case where this method is applied to a group of electrode plates assembled in a battery case. That is, the interior is divided into 6 parts by the partition wall 10a.
The electrode plate group A is divided into two cell chambers.
A... is accommodated, and the inter-cell connection ears n, p... of each of the electrode plate groups A, A,... protrude upward from the top surface of the opening of the battery case 10, and on the outer surface of one end of the battery case 10, This is an example of a monoblock type storage battery 11 having a cathode terminal ear N and an anode terminal ear P projecting upward, in which a cast strap is integrally molded between the ears in order to connect these ear groups in series.

In FIG. 10, these cathode and anode ear groups p, n, . Correspondingly, recesses 12, 12, . Six sets of molds 13 for series connection of storage batteries in one group form a plate-shaped set mold 14 with a common surface area, thereby connecting the electrode plate groups A, A, etc. of six storage batteries. Series connections can be obtained at the same time by forming cast straps using this method.

Figures 11 and 12 show the above set mold 1.
4 is a casting apparatus for carrying out the present method of casting a cast-on strap for connecting a storage battery electrode plate group, and the set mold 14 is equipped with a movable holding device 6 provided on the periphery of the upper surface of a bathtub 3 provided below the set mold 14. It is held movably by. The holding device 6 holds the mold 1
4 attached to the outer periphery of the surrounding frame-shaped suspended support plate 6
The four corners of a are connected to a base 6b consisting of the four peripheral walls of the bathtub 3.
The guide support plates 6c, 6c, .
6e indicates a stopper provided on the upper outer periphery of each guide column 6c. A storage battery holding device 1 is provided above the set mold 14. The holding device 1 consists of a support plate that supports the periphery of the battery case 10 of the inverted storage battery 11 on the upper surface, and the holding body 1 has electrode plate groups A, A, . It has six through holes 15 through which the inter-cell connecting ear groups P, N and the negative and anode terminals P, N are inserted. The holding plate 1 is connected via a frame-shaped connecting member 16 to a lifting device 2 consisting of an air cylinder. In the middle of the frame-shaped connecting member 16, storage battery holding rods 18 are fixed to a rotating shaft 17 horizontally installed across the opposing frame plates, and are fixed to the upper surface of the holding plate 1, corresponding to the number of storage batteries. The bottom of each storage battery placed upside down was pressed and fixed from above. 21a and 21b are the frame-shaped connecting members 16;
A pair of guide bushes provided on both outer surfaces of the connecting member 16 are shown, and the connecting member 16 is connected to the pair of guide bushes 2
The upper frame 2 of the machine frame 20 on the outside through 1a and 21a
It is slidably provided on a pair of left and right guide posts 21, 21 fixed between 0a and the lower frame 20b, and as the air cylinder 2 expands and contracts, the storage battery holding device 1, that is, the holding plate is connected via the connecting member 16. 1 can be raised and lowered freely. The bathtub 3 is equipped with a heating means (not shown) such as a burner or an electric heater (not shown).
can be built-in. Alternatively, it can be provided on the bottom surface. Further, at the four corners of the upper surface of the set mold 14, stepped surfaces are provided with a fixing pin 7a at the center to regulate the depth at which the inter-cell connecting ears n and p of the battery electrode plate group are inserted into the casting recess 12. A protruding regulating member 7 is provided. The pin 7a acts to be inserted into the pin hole 1a of the holding plate 1 that it abuts. The set mold 14 has a recess 12 for casting each storage battery.
. . . It has water channels 8 surrounding each mold 12 of the group. Furthermore, it is convenient to provide the set mold 14 with a thermocouple insertion hole 22, into which a thermocouple (not shown) is inserted, so that the temperature of the mold 14 can be measured via the thermocouple. be.

Next, the operation of the casting apparatus will be explained.

On the holding plate 1, six storage batteries 11 shown in FIG. In this state, the lifting device 2 is operated to move the holding plate 1 downward via the connecting member 16 so that it comes into contact with the upper surface of the set mold 14 below. In this case, the inter-cell connection ears p, n and terminals P, N which protrude below each of the storage batteries A are connected to the corresponding casting recesses 12, 12, . . . of the mold 13, respectively.
The tip thereof is inserted into the recess 12 to a predetermined depth, leaving a gap c between it and the bottom surface of each recess 12. (Dotted line in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13A). Furthermore, when the holding plate 1 is moved downward by the subsequent operation of the lifting device 2, the downward force moves the set mold 14 and the movable holding plate 6a that holds it against the spring force of the spring 6d. Then, the mold 14 is immersed in the high-temperature molten metal b in the bathtub 3 with the ears of the electrode plate group inserted into the upper surface of the mold 14. (Figure 13B). In this case, the molten metal b flows into each recess 12 and fills b'. Immediately, by contracting the cylinder of the lifting device 2, the storage battery holding plate 1 is slowly moved upward. At this time, the springs 6d...6d are expanded, and the set mold 14 moves upward accordingly, and is lifted out of the molten metal in the bathtub 3. In this case, the tip of the lug group of each electrode plate group A is connected to each concave portion 12 of the set mold 14.
The mold 14 is held immersed in the molten metal b' filled therein, and is pulled up from the molten metal b'. Next, cooling water is passed through the mold 14 at its upper limit position to cool the set mold 14 and cool and solidify the molten metal b' in each recess 12.

Next, by separating the electrode plate groups A, . . . from the mold 14, as shown in FIG. A cast strap s is produced to complete the manufacturing process of the method. Next, the holding plate 1 is lifted by the lifting device 2.
After raising the battery to the highest level, the press rod 18 is swung upward to release the pressure on each storage battery and take out the storage battery.

Incidentally, it is sufficient to immerse the set mold 14 in the molten metal b for 1 to several seconds. Alternatively, the set mold 14 that has been pulled up may be immersed again in the molten metal b for a short time to obtain a good weld between the ears of the casting strap. The dipping treatment may be performed three or more times.

Furthermore, as in the previous embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, before the set mold 14 is immersed (injected) into the molten metal b, a portion of the cooled mold 14 is immersed in the molten metal b to reduce the high temperature. By preheating the mold 14 with the molten metal b to 200°C or more and then immersing it, cooling of the inflowing molten metal b' by the mold 14 is prevented, and the mold 14 is heated through good surface melting of the edges. It is preferred to provide a good one-piece molding of the cast strap.

Incidentally, in order to further improve the welding of the casting strap between the ears of the electrode plate group, the tips of the ears may be preliminarily coated with flux. For this purpose, a machine frame 20 that holds the storage battery holding device 1 via a connecting member 16 is connected to a pair of rails 19, 1.
The carriage 20c is supported on a carriage 20c that moves along the
Drive source 2 such as a piston cylinder that moves 0c
5 allows the trolley 20c to move forward and backward, and as shown in Figure 12, the storage battery holding device 1 carried on the machine frame 20 is positioned above the flux tank 23 installed in front of the bathtub 3 by its backward movement. do what you can. 24 indicates a flux f heating means in the flux tank 23. In the above device, first,
In the flux tank 23, the electrode plate group A of the storage battery
The tip of the ear group is dipped in the flux f to adhere the flux, and then pulled up, and then the machine frame 20 is
is moved forward and stopped above the bathtub 3 in front, and then a cast strap s is formed at the tip of the ear group of the electrode plate group to obtain a good connection between the ears by the cast strap. did.

The following is an example of an operation sequence using the apparatus shown in FIG. 12, which is capable of successively carrying out the flux application process and the molten metal immersion process.

...In the flux immersion station, place the storage battery in an inverted state on the holding plate 1, and press the presser rod 8.
Fix the holding plate 1 with. Check the setting status using a limit switch or sensor.

. . . The storage battery is lowered by the lifting device 2 and stopped at a position where the tips of the ears of the storage battery are immersed in the flux f of the flux tank f. This is done by sensing with a limit switch or sensor... After immersion for one to several seconds using a timer, the limit switch or sensor raises the electrode group to its original position and stops it.

. . . Activate the drive device 25 with a limit switch or tailgate to advance the machine frame 20 and move the mold 14 of the casting station where the bathtub 3 and the mold 14 are located.
Stop directly above.

...The holding plate 1 equipped with the storage battery is moved downward by the lifting device 2, and brought into contact with the mold 14 via the limit switch, and the tips of the ears of the electrode plate group are inserted into the recesses 12, 12... In the inserted state to a predetermined depth, the mold 14 is continuously moved downward and stopped at a position where the lower part of the mold 14 is immersed in the molten metal b of the bathtub 3,
This state is maintained for a predetermined period of time by a timer, and the temperature of the mold 14 is approximately 200°C (measured by a thermocouple).
Preheat with molten metal B until .

After preheating for a predetermined period of time, the lifting device 2 is operated again via the limit switch or sensor, and the mold 14 is immersed in the molten metal b for 1 to 2 seconds by a timer, so that the molten metal is completely covered with all the recesses 12.
The molten metal is poured into the tank and then pulled up. The immersion of the mold 14 is performed by operating a limit switch so that the immersion is stopped 2 to 3 cm below the hot water level.

. . . The lifting is detected by a sensor or a limit switch, and the mold 14 is moved down again, and the mold 14 is immersed for 1 to 2 seconds by a timer to flow and replace the filled molten metal b' in the recess.

...The mold 14 is cooled by passing water through the mold 14 with the holding plate 1 of the mold movable holding device 6 held at the uppermost position by the spring 6d, and the recesses 12, 12 of the mold 14 are cooled. After the molten metal b′ in … solidifies and cools down to a predetermined temperature of 150℃ or less,
Through a sensor that detects this cooling temperature, the elevating device 2 is moved upward to move the storage battery upward, and the casting straps s with the ears of the electrode plate group well welded are placed on each of the molds 14. At the same time as it is removed from the recess 12, the holding plate 1 is returned to its original position on the uppermost stage and stopped.

...At the top position, after the sensor detects,
By releasing the pressure of the presser rod 8 on each storage battery having a group of ears equipped with casting straps s, a storage battery having a casting strap according to the present method between ears for intercell connection, and an ear and a terminal in one body can be obtained. It will be done.

...Then, the limit switch switches the machine frame to 20.
is moved backwards together with its retaining plate 1 to the original position above the flux bath 23, and the storage battery to which the next new ear group is to be welded is placed and fixed on the upper surface of the retaining plate 1 in an inverted state. Prepared for flux treatment.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, a bath containing high-temperature molten metal of lead or lead alloy is provided, a strap casting mold is immersed, and the molten metal is poured into a strap casting recess opened on the upper surface of the mold. This method not only allows strap casting to be carried out quickly, but also eliminates the need to heat and maintain the molten metal in the mold at a high temperature using a heating device such as a burner or electric heater, unlike conventional methods. It is not necessary to carry out casting every time, a heating device can be omitted, and production costs are reduced.Furthermore, the mold can be preheated by the molten metal in the bath, which is advantageous, and the preheated mold can be used to heat the molten metal. The immersion ensures that a strong casting strap is obtained with the ears welded with the filling molten metal at a good and uniform temperature; Impurities that impair welding such as oxides on the surface of the ear can be washed away, and the surface of the ear has an exposed surface of pure lead or lead alloy metal, which improves compatibility with the filling molten metal.
This has the effect of providing an interauricular cast strap that has significantly improved integration with the ear.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway front view of an example of a casting device for a cast-on strap for connection between ears of a storage battery electrode plate group, which implements the method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line - 3 to 8 show an example of the casting method of the cast-on strap according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an example of the casting method for the cast-on strap according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the group in the lowered state with the tip of the ear group inserted, and is shown at - in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mold in a downward movement state when it is immersed in bath water in a bathtub, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the mold when it is lifted out of the molten metal, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cast mold. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the electrode plate group with on-straps; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom of the mold in a downwardly moving state in contact with the molten metal surface in the bath; FIG. Figures 10 to 12, which are perspective views of a monoblock type storage battery in which a group of battery electrode plates are assembled in a battery case, show an example of a casting apparatus for carrying out the present method.
0 is a top view of the mold, FIG. 11 is a cutaway front view of the main parts of the device, and FIG. 12 is a cutaway side view thereof.
13A-B and 14 show an embodiment of the casting method of the present invention using this apparatus, and FIG.
13B is an enlarged cross-sectional view with a part cut out in the lowered state in which the electrode plate group holding plate in the battery case is moved downward and the tip of the ear group of the electrode plate group is inserted into the mold. FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view of the mold in a downwardly moving state with the mold immersed in the molten metal in the bathtub, and after the mold has been pulled up from the molten metal in the bathtub and cooled, the ears of the electrode plate group have been removed from the mold. Your cross-sectional view, Figure 14, shows the mold placed in the molten metal in the bathtub.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the same in a partially immersed state. A... Electrode plate group, 1... Holding device, holding plate, 2...
... Lifting device, 3... Bathtub, 4... Heating means, 5,
12, 13, 14...mold, 5a, 5b...recess, 6...movable holding device, 8...channel, b...molten metal, b'...filling molten metal, c...gap, p...anode plate lugs , n... cathode plate lug, 11... storage battery, 16...
Connecting member, s...casting strap.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A strap casting mold is immersed in the molten metal in a bath containing molten lead or lead alloy, and the molten metal is allowed to flow into a strap casting recess opened on the upper surface of the mold, and then pulled. At the same time, the tips of the plurality of ears of the electrode plate group inserted into the recess are kept immersed in the filling molten metal drawn into the recess, and in this state, the mold is cooled to fill the filling molten metal. Let it solidify,
1. A method for casting a cast-on strap for connecting ears of a storage battery electrode group, characterized in that the strap is formed into a cast strap in which the ears are joined together. 2. The casting method according to claim 1, wherein the bath is a melting tank for heating and melting lead or a lead alloy. 3. A strap casting mold is immersed in the molten metal in a bath containing molten lead or lead alloy, and the molten metal is allowed to flow into the strap casting recess opened on the upper surface of the mold, and then pulled up and placed inside the recess. After keeping the tips of the plurality of ears of the electrode plate group inserted in the recess immersed in the filling molten metal, the mold is immersed in the molten metal again in this state, and the mold is pulled up slightly. A casting method for a cast-on strap for connection between ears of a storage battery electrode plate group, which is characterized in that both steps are performed once. 4. Preheating the mold by contacting or immersing a part of the mold for strap casting in the molten metal in the molten tank containing molten lead or lead alloy, then immersing the preheated mold, and Filling by pouring a portion of the molten metal into the strap mold recess opened on the upper surface, then pulling it up and drawing the tips of the plurality of ears of the electrode plate group inserted into the recess into the recess. A connection between ears of a battery electrode group, characterized in that the mold is kept immersed in molten metal, and in this state, the mold is cooled to solidify the filled molten metal to form a cast strap in which the ears are joined together. Casting method for cast-on straps. 5. A bathtub containing molten lead or lead alloy, a strap casting mold located above the bathtub and equipped with a strap casting recess that is open on the top surface, and a movable holding device that holds the mold in a vertically movable manner. , a holding device for holding at least one electrode group in an inverted state above the electrode group, and an elevating device for holding the electrode group holding device vertically freely. Strap casting equipment.