COOLER SYSTEM AND MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING THEM IN CASTING MOLDS

SYSTEME DE REFROIDISSEURS ET MOYEN PERMETTANT DE LE MONTER SUR DES MOULES PAR INTRUSION

English Abstract

The cooler system is intended for sand molds used to produce cast parts. The
coolers are formed by several units or modules (5) that are somewhat loosely
mounted on an support (4) and affixed thereto by a bar (7). A multiple cooler
that is arranged on a pallet (3), another pallet (1) serving as mold support
being in turn superimposed thereon, is thus formed, which enables displacement
of the assembly in the chain of the casting facility. Assembly of the multiple
cooler on the mold and its disassembly and removal relative to the cast part
is performed automatically. Each unit or module (5) of the cooler may consist
of one, two (5') or three parts (5''). Their assembly on the corresponding
support (4) is carried out by allowing for looseness (6) in order to absorb
the expansions and contractions caused by the heat conveyed by the molten
metal.

French Abstract

L'invention porte sur un système de refroidisseurs se prêtant à une utilisation avec des moules en sable avec lesquels on obtient des pièces de fonte. Les refroidisseurs sont constitués de différentes unités ou modules (5) qui sont monté(e)s sur un support (4) et fixé(e)s avec un certain jeu sur celui-ci grâce à une barre (7). L'ensemble forme un refroidisseur multiple qui, disposé sur une plaque (3) sur laquelle est superposée une autre plaque (1) servant de support du moule, permet le déplacement de l'ensemble dans la chaîne de l'installation de fonte. Autrement dit, le montage du refroidisseur multiple sur le moule, ainsi que son extraction et sa séparation par rapport à la pièce de fonte qui est obtenue, s'effectuent de forme automatique. Chaque unité ou module (5) du refroidisseur est susceptible d'être constitué(e) d'une pièce unique, de deux pièces (5') ou de trois pièces (5''), et son montage sur le support correspondant (4) s'effectuera avec jeu (6) afin d'absorber les dilatations et contractions provoquées par la chaleur transmise par le métal fondu.

Claims

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CLAIMS
1.- System of coolers and means for their assembly
in casting moulds, which being applicable in the processes
of casting aluminium pieces, such as engine blocks, the
casting being carried out in sand moulds by means of
pouring aluminium therein, and in those in which coolers
are used to cool quickly certain parts of the piece to be
obtained, characterised in that it comprises a series of
coolers (5) that as a whole determine a multiple cooler
mounted on a support (4) or cooler holder, the different
modules or units (5) of the coolers being coupled to the
support (4) itself by means of a bar or similar, running
through all of them; it having been foreseen that the
support (4) of the coolers is mounted on a pallet (3) that
can be handled by robotic means moveable in the
corresponding production line together with the respective
support pallet (1) of the corresponding mould, all of
which permitting the automatic assembly of the coolers
(5), as well as their separation or disassembly with
regard to the casting (P) that is obtained.
2.- System of coolers and means for their assembly
on casting moulds, according to claim 1, characterised in
pat the modules or units of coolers (5) are mounted on
she support (4) with play (6), to absorb the expansions
and contractions originated by the heat transmitted by the
molten metal.
3.- System of coolers and means for their assembly
on casting moulds, according to previous claims,
characterised in that each unit or module of coolers (5)
is capable of being constituted in a single piece, in two
pieces (5') or in three pieces (5"), with play (6')
between them in order to determine escape paths for the

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air, in the pouring of the molten metal into the mould.
4.- System of coolers and means for their assembly
in casting moulds, according to previous claims,
characterised in that the units or modules constituting
the coolers (5) present an appropriate configuration to
grasp the casting (P) in a such way that the cooling of
the latter takes place both on its front part and on its
side and adjacent parts.

Description

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SYSTEM OF COOKERS AND MEANS FOR THEIR ASSEMBLY ON CASTING
MOULDS
DESCRIPTION
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system of
i0 coolers foreseen for its use in sand casting moulds to
achieve the cooling of certain parts of the cast pieces
that are obtained. The coolers are foreseen for their
application in the obtaining of, for example, engine
blocks obtained by casting aluminium in sand moulds, with
the object of achieving an enhancement of the
metallurgical properties in certain areas of the obtained
piece.
The coolers will be mounted On a cooler holder and
fastened to this in such a way that they form a multiple
cooler that facilitates their automated assembly on the
corresponding mould, as well as their extraction with
respect to the casting, with return to the assembly area.
Also part of the object of the invention are the means
that intervene in the assembly/disassembly process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the processes of casting aluminium pieces, such
as certain engine blocks, the use is known of coolers that
are arranged in certain areas of the casting mould, all of
which is for the purpose of having the poured aluminium
c,_,ol more quickly in the zone in contact with the cooler,
thereby improving the metallurgical properties of the

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piece in those areas that have cooled more quickly.
In the casting of aluminium engine blocks, the use
of coolers is known to cool more quickly those parts of
S the piece that will constitute the seat of the crankshaft,
the coolers being constituted on the basis of a
cylindrical body of cast iron that is placed in the mould
before the metal is poured, with the object that said
cylindrical body causes quicker cooling in the partitions
that will conform the seat for the crankshaft.
In accordance with the practice employed up until
now, the cooler only acts on the surface of the piece that
will be in contact with it, so that its effectiveness is
limited practically to one side of the piece.
In a production line of aluminium engine blocks,
the basic operative sequences are the following:
~0 Firstly the cores are placed inside the sand mould
and subsequently the coolers, the latter being positioned
and secured in the most convenient and opportune way.
Subsequently the metal is poured into the mould, the
latter passing to the cooling station and then to the de
moulding station.
The de-moulding of the casting can be carried out
by means of vibration, although at present it is carried
out by means of a heat treatment that causes the melting
of the binder resin, loosening the sand and producing the
destruction of the mould in a simple manner, all of this
such that after said destruction of the mould the casting
will be obtained which will continue on its way to receive
the treatments it requires, and moreover the sand with the
coolers, sand which before returning it to the recovery

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plant thereof, it is necessary to separate from the
coolers, an operation that is generally carried out by
vibration. Said operation of separating the sand from the
coolers requires time and appropriate means to carry it
out, which results in an additional economic cost.
Keeping in mind these operative sequences, the
destruction of the mould by means of heat treatment,
implies heating the coolers, whereby the energy efficiency
is impaired.
To all those inconveniences it is necessary to add
the fact that in the traditional system the number of
coolers that are required is very high.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The system of coolers that is proposed, has been
conceived to resolve the problem explained above, it being
foreseen that the cooler as a whole is multiple and is
mounted on a cooler holder, so that all the units or
modules that constitute the cooling assembly are joined or
anchored to the cooler holder, by means of a bar or
similar element, what permits that the assembly of the
multiple cooler on the mould, as well as its disassembly,
can be carried out automatically, since the cooler holders
will be mounted on a pallet that can be handled by robotic
means moveable on the production line, the same as the
mould transporting pallet.
Each unit or module of the cooler will be
materialized in one, two or three pieces, positioned in
such a way that between them a certain play is determined
to absorb possible expansions and contractions.

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Furthermore, the positioning of the coolers on the
corresponding support or cooler holder will be carried out
also with a certain play, with the object of likewise
absorbing the expansions and contractions that are caused
by the heat or temperature rise transmitted by tr.e molten
metal.
If the coolers are constituted by two or more
pieces, on one hand, the absorption of expansions and
~0 contractions will be facilitated and, on the other, the
play between the parts that form each unit of the cooler
constitutes escape paths for the air when pouring the
molten metal, the operation of filling the mould being
facilitated, even in the corners or at conflictive points.
Another feature of the coolers of the invention,
is that the design thereof is such that they partially
envelope the piece to be obtained, whereby the contact
between the latter and the cooler not only affects the
front area of one of its faces but extends likewise to
part of its sides, achieving the cooling on said frontal
and lateral parts.
As for the automation of the assembly/disassembly,
it has been foreseen that the function installation that
operates with the type of coolers according to the system
of the invention, carries out first a transfer of the
mould for cooling, and subsequently an extraction of the
cooler and corresponding separation and evacuation with
3U regard to the casting, the transport of the coolers being
carried out to the station for placement and insertion in
the mould, after previously passing through a treatment
area in which the cleaning and painting are carried out,
as well as other operations on the cooler itself.

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Among the benefits offered by the described system
_._ coolers, the following can be mentioned:
- It improves the energy efficiency in the
system of treating the casting.
- It resolves the problem of separation of
piece-cooler-sand, in the return circuit of
the casting line.
- It allows the process followed by the cooler
in itself to be kept under control,
eliminating vibrations, impacts, etc.
- It facilitates control in the reference change
in production.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To complete the description that is being made and
with the object of assisting in a better understanding of
~:he characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a
preferred practical embodiment thereof, accompanying as an
i:~tegral part of this description, is a set of drawings
-.~:erein by way of illustration and not restrictively, the
_allowing is shown:
Figure 1. - It shows a longitudinal section of a
moulding box and its parts with the multiple cooler of the
invention installed therein, as well as the piece to be
cooled.
Figure 2. - It shows a transversal section of the
~5 assembly represented in the previous figure.

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Figure 3. - It shows a detail in the manner of how
the coolers are located on the corresponding support and
fastened to this by means of a transversal bar, a cooler
being seen of a single piece, another consisting of two
pieces and a third constituted by three pieces, in all
cases it is possible to see the corresponding play.
Figure 4. - It shows a schematic representation of
the route followed by the coolers through the facilities
of the foundry line.
Figure 5. - It shows a view in section of a
specific embodiment of the coolers and corresponding
cooler holder, on a pallet that can be handled by power-
assisted means.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
%0
As can be seen in the referenced figures, the
system of coolers object of the invention, is foreseen for
its assembly on a sand mould, the latter being located on
a pallet (1) which is superimposed and fastened, by means
of corresponding keys (2), to a pallet (3) below to which
is fastened the support (4) or cooler holder, the latter
being constituted by the modules or units (5), as is shown
in figure 1. The sand mould comprises the cover or top
core (17), the base or bottom core (18) and the core
assembly (19) that forms the frame.
In the support (4) are located the modules or
units of coolers (5) that can be constituted by a single
piece, by two pieces (5' ) or by three pieces (5" ) , as is
represented in figure 3, so that in any case the cooling

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units or modules ( 5 ) are mounted with a certain play ( 6 )
on the support (4) and fastened to this by means of a bar
or similar (7) that traverses transversally both the
support (4) and all the modules or units of coolers (5),
it having been foreseen also that these last come with a
recess so that the cast piece (P) cools down, not only
through its front face, but also through its side ones as
is represented in said figure 3. That is, the modules or
units of the coolers are designed to grasp the castings
i0 (P) by those parts that must receive the benefit of the
use of the cooler, so that the cooling takes place not
only on the front part of the piece (P), but also extends
to the adjacent side parts.
Between the module or modules of the cooler (5)
and the support (4) or cooler holder as well as between
the modules themselves, there exists a play (6-6'),
respectively, to absorb possible expansions and
contractions, as well as for the escape of the air
?0 contained in the mould when casting the piece.
The placement on the mould of the multiple cooler
that the different units or modules (5) constitute and
their disassembly with regard to the former, can be
carried out automatically since the support (4) or cooler
holder will be mounted in turn on the pallet (3) which can
be handled by robotic means moveable on the production
line, as is illustrated schematically in figure 4, wherein
the casting station (8) can be seen facing logically the
30 casting furnace (9), so that after said casting station
(8) there is a cooling area (10), followed by a cooler
extraction station (11), and after this station (11) a
station (12) corresponding to the area for removing the
casting, whilst the cooler continues on a return path
35 (13), with changes of direction, until reaching the

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station (14) for placement or insertion of the cooler
itself on the mould, the latter coming from the
disassembly area (15); with the particularity that in the
return path (13) of the cooler from the exit station (11)
to the placement station (14), there exists an area or
sector (16) in which the treatment of the cooler itself
takes place, corresponding to the cleaning, painting, etc.
thereof.
In figure 4, corresponding to the schematic
representation of the part of the casting plant line which
operates with the system of coolers object of the
invention, in station (11) the automatic extraction of the
coolers takes place, it being only the mould that is
routed to the de-moulding station or evacuation area (12)
in which the casting is obtained, all this in a such
manner that with a limited number of coolers, for example
40 or 50, it is possible to cater for the plant, which is
important given their high cost and maintenance.