JPH0547349B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1: A cleaning method for scraping particles from the internal and external surfaces of a casting, comprising: vibrating a mass of medium in a substantially vertical direction by a first vibration applying means at a frequency and amplitude that fluidizes the medium. vibrating the casting in a substantially vertical direction with a second vibration imparting means; and vibrating the vibrating casting so that the medium flows around the inner and outer surfaces of the casting to scrape particles from the surfaces. inserting the casting into the fluidized medium; and lifting the casting upwardly from the medium while leaving the medium vibrating to eject the medium and scraped particles; applying a first vibration; A cleaning method characterized in that the means and the second vibration applying means vibrate the medium and the casting at a vertical amplitude of S millimeters and a frequency of F vibrations/minute so that SF ² /1788160>1.

2. The cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein SF ² /1788160 is substantially 1.3.

3. A cleaning device for scraping particles from the inner and outer surfaces of a casting, comprising: a medium containing container; a fluidizing means for fluidizing the medium in the container by vibrating it in a substantially vertical direction; suspension means for suspending the casting in a fluidizing medium; and for vibrating the casting in a substantially vertical direction in the fluidizing medium so as to scrape particles from the internal and external surfaces of the casting. vibrating means; and means for drawing the casting upwardly from the medium in the vessel while causing the medium and casting to exit the vessel while the medium remains fluidized; All the means are
A cleaning device characterized in that it has a vertical amplitude of S millimeters and a frequency of F vibrations/min such that SF ² /1788160>1.

4. The vibration means vibrates the casting at a frequency and amplitude different from the frequency and amplitude given to the medium by the fluidizing means. cleaning equipment.

5. The suspension means includes a frame on which the vibrating means is attached, a mounting means for attaching the casting to the frame, and a vibration and a frame for moving the attached casting into and out of the fluidized medium. 4. The cleaning device according to claim 3, further comprising a lifting means for raising and lowering the cleaning means.

6. A cleaning method for scraping particles from the inner and outer surfaces of a casting, comprising the steps of: vibrating one block of media in a substantially vertical direction by means of a first vibration application means at frequencies and amplitudes that respectively fluidize the medium; vibrating the casting in a substantially vertical direction with a second vibration imparting means; and fluidizing the vibrating casting so that the medium flows around the inner and outer surfaces of the casting to scrape particles from the surfaces. and lifting the casting upwardly from the medium while leaving the medium vibrating to eject the medium and scraped particles, the first vibration imparting means stage comprising: SF ² /
1788160 A cleaning method characterized by vibrating at a vertical amplitude of S millimeters and F frequency/min such that 1788160>1.

7. A cleaning device for scraping particles from the inner and outer surfaces of a casting, comprising: a medium containing container; a fluidizing means for fluidizing the medium in the container by vibrating it in a substantially vertical direction; suspension means for suspending said casting in a fluidizing medium; and for vibrating said casting in a substantially vertical direction in said fluidizing medium so as to scrape particles from the internal and external surfaces of said casting. vibrating means; and means for drawing the casting upwardly from the medium in the vessel while causing the medium and casting to exit the vessel while the medium remains fluidized; A cleaning device characterized in that it has a vertical amplitude of S millimeters and a frequency of F vibrations/min such that SF ² /1788160>1.

8. The suspension means includes a frame on which the vibrating means is attached, a mounting means for attaching the casting to the frame, and a frame and a mounting means for attaching the attached casting to and from the fluidized medium. 4. The cleaning device according to claim 3, further comprising a lifting means for raising and lowering the vibration means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for scraping foreign matter from internal and external surfaces of parts such as castings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many manufacturing and assembly processes, foreign matter can become attached or deposited on the internal and external surfaces of the parts being manufactured. Such foreign matter must be removed before the parts are assembled or put into use.

For example, in the foundry industry, various metal casting methods are used, one of which is a method using an inexpensive styrofoam mold coated with ceramic material. Such molds can be formed with complex shapes having recesses, cavities, internal passageways, crevices, chambers, and the like. Place the mold into the mold box,
Once mold sand is placed around the mold, preparation for casting is completed. During the casting process, the styroform mold melts away, leaving only the ceramic coating, which holds its shape long enough to form a metal casting.
However, ceramic coatings eventually break down during the casting process, leaving fragments of the ceramic coating and other particles of foreign material and sand attached to the interior and exterior surfaces of the casting. Needless to say, it is undesirable for such foreign particles to be attached to the finished product, so
must be removed. However, castings often have internal holes that make it difficult for hands and tools to bend.
Having holes, crevices, chambers, etc. makes it difficult to remove foreign particles.

All molding devices have the same drawbacks, to a greater or lesser extent. That is, residual particles of the mold and mold sand remain on the inner and outer surfaces of the casting. Such residual particles must be removed before the casting is placed into service or further processed.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus suitable for cleaning parts such as metal castings, and in particular for cleaning particles and foreign matter from the surfaces and cavities of the parts. The device comprises a granular media receiving container, a vibration generator for creating a vibratory movement in the container that fluidizes the granular media, and suspension means for suspending the component within the fluidizing medium. This suspension means is also subjected to an oscillatory movement different from that of the container vibration generator, so as to impart an oscillatory movement to the component.

The present invention also provides a method for cleaning particles or foreign matter from a cavity of a component. This method consists of an operation in which a mass of granular media is subjected to an oscillating motion that fluidizes it, a casting is placed in the media, the media flows around the casting, enters the cavity of the casting, and rubs the mass. It consists of an operation in which particles or foreign matter are removed by a dropping action.

According to the present invention, parts such as castings can be easily and inexpensively cleaned as desired and as needed, and the inner and outer surfaces thereof can be cleaned.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a first embodiment of the vibrating cleaning device of the present invention. Figure 2 is line 2-2 in Figure 1.
This is a diagram taken along the Figure 3 shows line 3- in Figure 1.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along line 3; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the casting of FIG. 3 after being cleaned by a cleaning device. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vibratory cleaning apparatus 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, particularly shown for cleaning castings, includes a first,
This is shown in Figure 2. The cleaning device 10 comprises a container 12 for containing a granular cleaning medium 14, such as a steel shot, a mixture of liquid and solid, or any other fluidizable material. The container 12 is fixed to a support stand 16. container 1
2 and the weight of the medium 14, the support stand 16
For example, it is necessary to have a reinforcing structure in which the plates 18 and 20 are connected by a support structure 22.

The support stand 16 is supported by springs 24 at its four corners. The spring 24 is mounted on a base 26 which is suitably secured to the floor 30.

A vibration generator 34 of any known type is provided. The vibration generator illustrated here consists of an electric motor 36 having a shaft 38 carrying an eccentric weight 40 . These vibration generators are suspended from the bottom surface of the support base 16 as means for generating vibrations.
The vibration generator 34 is of the type shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,815, which makes it possible to change the effective force of the eccentric weight from zero to a maximum, thereby changing the amplitude. It can be made into Alternatively, the electric vibration generator 34
Other types of vibration generators can be used instead, such as hydraulic vibrators.

Vibration generator 34, when energized, imparts vibratory motion to container 12 and its contents in excess of acceleration due to gravity. Acceleration expressed in G (gravitational acceleration) units can be calculated using the following formula.

Acceleration=SF ² /1788160 where S is amplitude (millimeter) and F is frequency/min. For example, if the frequency/min is 3600 and the amplitude is 0.1778 mm, then the container 12
and an acceleration of approximately 1.29 G is imparted to the medium 14.
This acceleration fluidizes the medium 14 and causes it to flow freely. As taught in applicant's own Japanese Patent No. 1584874, particles are
such as imparting higher acceleration (i.e. SF ² /
It has been discovered that if vibrations are applied with a frequency and amplitude (such that 1788160 > 1), such vibrations will fluidize particles as if they were a fluid. It is the medium 14 that imparts an acceleration higher than the gravitational acceleration of 1 G to the container 12 and its contents (medium 14).
This is to liquefy the The fluidized medium 14 is then transferred to the casting 5 to be cleaned, which will be described later.
It not only flows around the outer surface of the casting 50, but also penetrates into the very small cavities and passages of the casting 50.
Particles such as foundry sand and foreign matter adhering to the casting 50 can be removed very effectively by the scraping action.

A part or casting support structure 44 is suspended above the vessel 12 by chains 42 . The support structure 44 consists of a frame 46 constructed of I-beams 48 having sufficient rigidity to support and vibrate the component or casting 50, with mounting beams 52 extending downwardly from the frame 46. It is adapted to allow a desired number and type of parts, such as castings 50, to be attached thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, two castings 50,50
are secured to the mounting beam 52 by bolting their flanges 54 to the beam. Of course, various other means may be used to secure the illustrated component or casting 50 or other types of components or castings to the mounting beam 52, and such means will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Opening 53 to passage (hollow part) 55 of casting 50
It is important that the passage be kept open and free of obstructions so that the medium 14 can freely move in and out of the passageway.

Frame 46 is directly coupled to a second set of vibration generators 60 . Each vibration generator, in the example shown, again consists of an electric motor 62 driving a shaft 64 with synchronized eccentric weights 66 at both ends. As with the vibration generators 34 of the container 12, the second set of vibration generators is preferably driven to vibrate the frame 46 in such a manner that the acceleration = SF ² /1788160 is greater than unity.

The second set of vibration generators 60 includes one
The upper plate 70 is suspended by a pair of springs 72.
It has a bracket 74 connected to the support chain 42 and isolated from the vibrations of the vibration generator 60 by a spring 72. The chain 42 is used to lower the frame 46 and mounting beam 52 to insert the casting 50 into the medium 14 or alternatively to raise the frame 46 from the medium 14 so that the casting or part 50 can be removed. Appropriate means are provided for manipulating the .

The casting or component 50 may be manufactured using a styroform mold coated with a ceramic-based material. During the casting process, the styroform mold substantially melts and the ceramic cladding retains its shape for a sufficient period of time to form the casting 50. After this step, coating material particles or foreign matter 80 (third
) and other materials on the outer surface 82 of the casting 50.
and remains attached to the inner surface 84. Cleaning device 40 is used to remove such particles or foreign matter 80 from all surfaces of casting 50, including both interior and exterior surfaces 82, 84.

To remove particles or foreign matter 80, the casting or component 50 is secured to the mounting beam 52, and then a vibration generator 34 for the container 12 and the media 14 and a vibration generator for the frame 46 and the component 50 are installed. 60 is energized. The vibrating frame 46 is lowered to position the component or casting 50 within the vibrating medium 14. This operation
This is facilitated because the medium 14 in the container 12 is fluidized by the vibrations of the generator 34. Thus, the medium 14 easily flows around the casting 50 and into crevices and passageways within the casting. The vibration of the casting 50 itself is caused by the medium 14 being the casting 50.
facilitates free flow into cracks and passageways. The medium 14 flowing around the outer surface 82 of the casting 50 and along the inner surface 84 of the passageway has an abrasive (scrubbing) effect on the surface of the casting so that particles or foreign matter 80 are scraped from the casting. As a result, a clean and, depending on the material of the casting, a shiny casting 50 as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

While the support structure 44 is being raised to remove the casting 50 from the vessel 12, the vibration generator 60 of the support structure continues to be driven to eject the media 14 and dislodged foreign matter or particles 80 from the passageway 55 within the casting. It is possible to do so.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a vibratory cleaning device 10'. The same reference numerals have been used for the same parts as in FIG. This cleaning device 10' uses a two-mass system to vibrate the component or casting 50. That is, in the case of the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the vibration generator set 60 used to apply vibration to the beam 52 and the component 50 is not directly attached to the frame 46', but is connected to the vibration generator set 60. , frame 46' and mounting beam 5
2 and a second set of springs 88 interposed between the actuating weight 90 and the actuating weight 90 carried by. This second set of springs 88 is used to synchronize the vibrations of the frame 46 to enhance the vibrational motion of the casting 50.