Patent Application
20240316621
The current invention refers to a mould comprising a mould/shroud coupling mechanism for a shroud of a casting installation. It also concerns a mould assembly and a casting installation for casting a molten metal comprising the mould/shroud coupling mechanism, and to a method of casting molten metals. The mould/shroud coupling mechanism of the present invention allows to automatically and smoothly form a sealing contact between a nozzle of a ladle and a shroud, without the intervention of a human operator or of a robot.
One of the main challenges of metal casting processes is avoiding the entrainment of air during casting. This can lead to defects, including air bubbles and oxide films, which result in cracks in the casting. To avoid entrainment of air it is known in the art to cast the molten metal with the aid of a shroud which reduces re-oxidation of the metal upon pouring it between the ladle and the mould. As shown in
A system for casting molten metals is disclosed in European patent application EP 3 463 715 B1. This system includes,
To form a sealing contact between the nozzle and the funnel of shroud, EP 3 463 715 B1 proposes a lifting mechanism located at the upper surface of the mould. The lifting mechanism comprises concentrically arranged first and second collars, wherein the first collar is fixed to the upper surface of the mould and the second collar is rotatably coupled to the upper surface of the mould and supports the funnel of the shroud. A bayonet system comprising a follower engaged in a ramped slot allows the second collar to be lifted relative to the upper surface of the mould by rotation, thus causing a linear motion of the shroud. The rotation of the bayonet system is carried out by an operator, who must dose the angle of rotation of the bayonet to lift the funnel sufficiently to form a sealing contact, without damaging the refractory materials in contact. The operator necessarily must be in the vicinity of the nozzle of the ladle which is from a security perspective not ideal. Moreover, one operator is required for centring and aligning the ladle nozzle above the funnel and another operator is required to operate the lifting mechanism via the handle. Once the funnel of the shroud is in contact with the nozzle, the lifting mechanism does not move anymore during the whole duration of the casting operation. This can be a problem, since the flow of molten metal through the shroud causes vibrations which propagate to the contact area between the nozzle and the funnel, which can cause wear or even cracks in the refractory materials.
It is an object of the current invention to provide a mould comprising a mould/shroud coupling mechanism which is easy to operate, and which requires less human interventions for engaging a funnel of a shroud with the nozzle of a ladle to form a sealing contact. Moreover, it is an object of the current invention to provide a casting installation which is easier and safer to operate than the systems known in the prior art.
A further object of the current invention is to provide a method of casting molten metals with the mould/shroud coupling mechanism of the above referred kind.
These and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are covered by the dependent claims.
In a first aspect, the invention concerns a mould for casting molten metals, comprising:
The mould is characterized in that the mould/shroud coupling mechanism comprises:
The seat member is coupled to the base member by at least one compliant element such that the seat member is separated from and movable relative to the base member upon application of a load onto the seat member which deforms the at least one compliant element.
The compliant element can comprise one or more resilient elements defining a resilient configuration. The one or more resilient elements can include an elastomeric material at a process temperature or a spring, preferably a spiral spring, extending between the seat member and the base member. Alternatively, the compliant elements can comprise a free-flowing material enclosed in one or more bags configured for deforming upon application of the load onto the seat member.
In a preferred embodiment, the base member and seat member each comprises a central hole aligned with one another to define a lead in towards the bore for the shroud. In the resilient configuration as defined supra the mould/shroud coupling mechanism can comprise at least three resilient elements, preferably at least three spiral springs, extending between the seat member and the base member, wherein the at least three resilient elements are preferably equally spaced apart around a circumference of the central holes of the seat member and the base member.
In a second aspect, the invention concerns a mould assembly comprising:
In a preferred embodiment of the mould assembly, the shroud is fixed to the seat member with a filling of moulding sand sealing an annular gap between the funnel and the seat member and defining a seat for the funnel, and the seat member preferably comprises a sleeve defining a boundary of the annular gap.
In a third aspect, the invention concerns a casting installation comprising,
In a gripping-configuration of the casting installation according to the invention, the casting installation comprises a ladle/shroud coupling mechanism configured for reversibly gripping the shroud to the nozzle, preferably without forming a seal between the funnel and the nozzle, wherein the ladle/shroud coupling mechanism comprises,
In preferred embodiments of the gripping-configuration of the casting installation:
In a preferred embodiment of the gripping-configuration of the casting installation, the funnel adapter is fixed to the shroud with an adhesive material.
In a preferred embodiment of the gripping-configuration, the seat member of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism is configured for receiving the funnel adapter and holding the shroud in the shroud casting position. In a preferred embodiment of the gripping configuration, the seat member comprises a conical portion centred on the central hole of the seat member. The conical portion is configured for guiding the shroud in alignment with the bore as the ladle is lowered vertically with the shroud reversibly locked to the nozzle.
In a fourth aspect, the invention concerns a method for casting a molten metal with the casting installation according to the invention, comprising:
In one embodiment of the method wherein the casting installation comprises the mould assembly according to the invention, the method comprises engaging the nozzle into the funnel by lowering vertically the ladle and forming the sealing contact between the nozzle and the shroud by further lowering the ladle for the nozzle to apply the load onto the funnel.
In another embodiment of the method applied to the gripping configuration of the casting installation, the method comprises:
Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
In a first aspect, the invention concerns a mould (2) for casting molten metals as shown in
In
In
The housing (6) of the mould (2) according to the invention comprises a single housing inlet (6i) and a single or a plurality of housing outlets (60). It is configured for distributing the flow of the molten metal traversing the housing from the housing inlet (6i) to the one or more housing outlets (60) connected to the casting cavities. The housing (6) is selected among a diverter housing and a filter housing comprising a filter element for filtering and eliminating impurities in the flow of molten metal.
During a casting, the molten metal contained in a ladle (103) is dispensed through a nozzle (12) located in a lower portion of the ladle (103), whence it flows into the cavities (3) through shroud (9), the housing (6), and the feeding channels (5). The shroud (9) comprises a funnel (11) attached to a proximal end of a shaft (10) which is hollow with a shroud bore opening a shroud inlet in the funnel and extending to a shroud outlet (9o) opening at a distal end (10d) of the hollow shaft. For maintaining a position of the shroud during the duration of a casting operation, the mould according to the invention comprises a mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14), an embodiment of which is shown in
As shown in
With the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) of the invention it is not necessary to manually lift the shroud (9) received in the seat member (15) in order to engage the funnel (11) with the nozzle (12) of the ladle (103). In one embodiment of the present invention, the shroud is coupled to the mould in the casting position, i.e., with the funnel resting on the seat member (15) of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14), with the hollow shaft housed in the bore (7), and the shroud outlet (9o) in the housing (6). Contrary to the mould/shroud coupling mechanism described in EP 3 463 715 B1, at the rest state, the funnel is resting on the seat member (15) which is maintained at a rest distance (h0) from the base member (16) by the reaction force of the so biased compliant element (17). The nozzle (12) of the ladle (103) is engaged with the funnel (11) resting on the seat member (15) of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) simply by first moving the ladle above the mould, vis-à-vis the funnel and subsequently lowering the ladle (103) towards the mould (2) until the nozzle engages the funnel, as illustrated in
In
Another advantage brought by the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) in the mould of the invention is to allow displacements between the seat and base members, and thus between the shroud held by the seat member and the mould and to absorb energy generated by such movements, reducing wear caused by friction between moving elements. For example, lowering down the ladle along the vertical direction requires a high level of precision by the operator commanding the position of the ladle for avoiding shocks when engaging and contacting the nozzle with the funnel i.e., to establish the contact between the nozzle and the funnel softly. In absence of the compliant element, lowering down the ladle too far or too fast may induce important stress, shocks or even failure in a refractory material of the nozzle and funnel, especially at the contact point with the nozzle. The energy of such impact is partly absorbed in the present invention thanks to the presence of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) allowing compliant relative displacement between the seat and base members.
The mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) in the mould of the invention preferably allows for also compensating a lateral and/or a tilting misalignment between the nozzle and the funnel i.e., a misalignment between the nozzle and the funnel in a horizontal direction. Lateral misalignments can occur when lowering down the ladle for engaging the nozzle into the funnel of the shroud. Without compliant element (17) in the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) as is the case to date, a lateral misalignment can prevent the formation of a sealing contact between the nozzle and the funnel or may cause important material stresses to compensate this misalignment for establishing the sealing contact. In the present invention, lateral misalignment is compensated by the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) thanks to the introduction of the compliant element, thereby reducing material stresses and potential failures in the casting installation. The same applied in case of a tilting or angular misalignment (a) as illustrated in
Similarly, the mould according to the invention comprising the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) also allows to compensate small displacements of the ladle with respect to the mould and to maintain the sealing contact between the nozzle and the funnel during the casting operation. For example, such displacements are due to molten metal flowing through the shroud bore and to changes in the distribution of the mass of the molten metal held in the ladle as the ladle is progressively emptied of molten metal during the casting operation, which causes the ladle to slightly tilt or move vertically or laterally, and the nozzle engaged in the funnel therewith as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, wherein the shroud is in the casting position before the ladle is lowered to establish contact between the nozzle and the funnel (cf.
The filling (22) of moulding sand may comprise an organic binder such as furan, alkaline-phenolic binders. Also, other binders, for example inorganic binders or clay minerals may be used. The filling defines a seat for a conical shoulder (23) of the funnel and at the same time provides a seal and fixes the shroud to the mould (2)
In the casting position of shroud, the funnel is preferably flush with an upper rim of the sleeve as illustrated in
A preferred embodiment of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) of the invention is represented in
The base member (16) is preferably rigidly fixed to the upper surface (8) of the mould (2). For examples, the base member can be coupled with an adhesive (organic or mineral), or with fastening means such as screws, rivets, and the like. This ensures that the central hole (20) of the base member remains concentric with the bore (7) during the whole casting operation. The base member also comprises three radially outwardly extending arms (18) which are equally spaced apart from each other at a radial distance to an axis of symmetry of the central hole (20), and aligned with the corresponding opposite arms of the seat member (15). The compliant element (17) is formed by three spiral springs (17s) sandwiched between the seat member and the base member.
Referring to
When the shroud (9) with the funnel (11) is in the casting position resting on the seat member (15) the spiral springs (17s) are at the rest state, so that there is a vertical rest distance (h0) between the seat member (15) and the base member (16) (cf.
When the metal is to be cast into the casting cavity (3) the ladle is centred above the mould (2) such that the nozzle (12) of the ladle is aligned with the funnel (11). The ladle (103) which hangs on a crane is then lowered and the nozzle (12) engages the funnel (11) thereby exerting a downwardly directed force which vertically displaces the seat member (15) towards the base member (16). This vertical displacement is made possible by the deformation of the compliant elements (17) (here by the compression of the spiral springs).
In the mould according to the invention, the seat member (15) is coupled to the base member (16) by at least one compliant element (17) such that the seat member (15) is separated from and movable relative to the base member (16) upon application of a load onto the seat member (15) which deforms the at least one compliant element (17). In particular, upon application of the load or force applied vertically and downwardly as the ladle is lowered and the nozzle (12) presses onto the funnel (11) of the shroud received in the seat member (15), the compliant element (17) is configured for moving from a rest state as illustrated in
In addition, the compliant element (17) in the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) according to the invention can be configured for allowing lateral displacements of the seat member (15) relative to the base member (16) i.e., relative displacements between the seat and base members along a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction.
In the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) of the invention, the compliant element (17) can be at least partially resilient such that in the deformed or loaded state it opposes a reaction force tending to restore at least partially the rest state of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14). This includes compliant elements (17) showing an elastic behaviour (such as spiral springs (17s) made of steel), or a visco-elastic behaviour, with an elastic modulus (E′) and a loss modulus (E″). For example, under application of the vertically and downwardly oriented load by the nozzle of the ladle onto the funnel received in the seat member, to drive the seat element (15) down to the sealed distance (d1) from the base element (16), the reaction force of the loaded compliant element (17) can tend, upon release of the load, to drive the seat element (15) at least partially towards the initial rest distance (d0) from the base element (i.e., to a distance h, such that h1<h≤h0). Such resilient element is preferred as it is suitable for maintaining a sealing contact between the funnel and nozzle during a casting also in the event of the nozzle moving slightly up and down due to vibrations during the casting. Generally speaking, the compliant element which is resilient is thus more suitable for uses in cases wherein the nozzle sealingly engaged in the funnel of the shroud moves or vibrates during the casting operation.
Alternatively, the compliant element (17) can show a purely plastic or viscous behaviour, such that upon release of a load, it is unable to recover, even partially, its original geometry. For example, this is the case of a compliant element configured for deforming substantially plastically upon application of a load. This can also be the case of flexible bags or vessels containing a free-flowing material, such as a particulate material (e.g., sand or the like), which can absorb energy be opposing a viscous flow to the load applied by the nozzle onto the shroud and seat element.
The mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) can comprise one or more compliant elements (17) extending between the seat member (15) and the base member (16), and separating them from one another in the vertical direction. Preferably, the one or more compliant elements (17) comprise one or more resilient elements including an elastomeric material at a process temperature or a spring, preferably a spiral spring (17s) as illustrated in
In a first embodiment shown in
In a second embodiment shown in
In a third embodiment shown in
Alternatively, the compliant element (17) comprises a free-flowing material enclosed in one or more bags or flexible containers configured for viscously deforming upon application of the load onto the seat member (15). The compliant element can also comprise disposable elements configured for being destroyed or crushed by plastic deformation upon application of the load on the funnel by the nozzle.
Preferably, the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) comprises at least three resilient elements, preferably at least three spiral springs (17s), extending between the seat member (15) and the base member (16), wherein the at least three resilient elements are preferably equally spaced apart around a circumference of the central holes of the seat member (15) and the base member (16), as illustrated in
In another aspect, the invention concerns a mould assembly comprising the mould (2) according to the invention as described supra, and the shroud (9) in the casting position, with the funnel resting on the seat member (15). The shroud comprises a funnel (11) attached to a proximal end of a shaft (10) which is hollow and has a distal end (10d) comprising a shroud outlet (9o). The shroud casting position is defined as the position wherein the shaft (10) is accommodated in the bore (7) with the distal end (10d) thereof inserted through the housing inlet (6i) with the shroud outlet (9o) enclosed in the housing (6).
Preferably, the funnel is located outside of the mould, i.e., above and adjacent to the upper surface (8) of the mould, and the shaft (10) is received within said bore (7) and is movable up and down therein. The shaft is elongated and extends along the vertical direction such that molten metal may flow through it driven by gravity. The shroud outlet (9o) may comprise one or more apertures for dispensing molten metal in the housing (6).
In the shroud casting position as shown in
The shroud (9) is made of a refractory material, such as for example of fused silica. Alternatively, the shroud can be made of other materials like alumina-graphite materials. Preferably, the proximal end of the shroud (9) which forms the funnel (11) has a conical shape with sloping shoulders (23) which rest on the seat member (15). In one embodiment, the shoulder rests on a filling (22) filling up a space between a sleeve of the seat member (15) and the funnel as can be taken from the cross-sectional view in
In a preferred embodiment of the mould assembly according to the invention, the shroud (9) is fixed to the seat member (15), preferably with a filling (22) of moulding sand sealing an annular gap between the funnel (11) and the seat member (15) and defining a seat for the funnel (11), and the seat member (15) preferably comprises a sleeve (21) defining a boundary of the annular gap as illustrated in
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a gasket is placed in the mouth of the funnel (11) allowing a basically tight engagement between the nozzle (12) and the funnel (11). The gasket may for example be formed by a plasticized clay or by an intumescent material.
In another aspect, the invention concerns a casting installation comprising the mould (2) according to the invention, the shroud (9), and the ladle (103) comprising the nozzle (12) provided at a base of the ladle (103) for dispensing molten metal out of the ladle. The nozzle (12) is configured for reversibly and sealingly engaging into the funnel (11) of the shroud (9). The ladle (103) is configured for being displaced relative to the mould (2), such as to position the nozzle (12) substantially vertically above the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) and to be lowered vertically until the nozzle (12) is sealingly engaged in the funnel (11) of the shroud (9) in the shroud casting position by applying the load onto the seat member (15). The casting installation may comprise a gasket which is preferably located in the funnel. In the casting installation, the shroud (9) may be fixed to the seat member, preferably with the filling (22), or may be detachable and removable from the seat member (15).
As this also can be seen from
The funnel and the nozzle are preferably configured such that the nozzle is self-centring within the funnel. For example, a surface of the funnel configured for receiving the nozzle may have a conical shape as represented in
A preferred embodiment of the casting installation according to the invention comprises a ladle/shroud coupling mechanism (140) configured for reversibly gripping the shroud (9) to the nozzle (12), preferably without forming a seal between the funnel (11) and the nozzle (12).
As illustrated in
As shown in
The funnel adapter (140f and nozzle adapter (140n) are complementary to one another and are configured to releasably and loosely engage one another in the locked position. One important aspect of the ladle/shroud coupling mechanism (140) according to the invention is that the funnel adapter (1400 and nozzle adapter (140n) are configured to loosely engage one another in a locked position. That means that the funnel and nozzle adapters engage each other in the locked position with sufficient play relative to each other so that they can be articulated to a certain extent relative to one another within certain limits. This design allows for relative movement of the shroud and the ladle when the shroud is attached to the ladle so that the risk of damage for the shroud while being inserted for example into the bore of the mould is significantly reduced. In the locked position, it is preferred that no sealing contact is formed between the nozzle and the funnel.
In a preferred embodiment of the ladle/shroud coupling mechanism represented in
Again, turning to
On the outer circumference of the funnel adapter (140f three or four holding pegs (109) extend outwards in the radial direction. The holding pegs (109) may be engaged by fastening hooks (107) attached to the nozzle adapter (140n) which is attached to the ladle base plate (105).
The nozzle adapter (140n) is designed as a socket surrounding the nozzle (12). At the side attached to the ladle (103), also referred to as the proximal side, the first coupling member (11) comprises a bayonet ring (106) engaging the ladle base plate (105). The nozzle adapter (140n) is detachably connected to the ladle (103). At the other end of the nozzle adapter (140n), also referred to as the distal end, the nozzle adapter (140n) comprises a plurality of studs (111) on which the fastening hooks (107) are rotatably attached.
While lowering the nozzle (12) into the funnel (11) the nozzle adapter (140n) and the funnel adapter (1400 are engaged with each other. Coupling and locking of the nozzle and funnel adapters can be achieved into different ways. The fastening hooks (107) can be self-engaging. A ramped surface (112) of the fastening hooks (107) slides over the holding pegs (109) so that the fastening hooks (107) catch the holding pegs (109).
Alternatively, the funnel adapter (140f may be rotated so that upon lowering of the ladle (103) the holding pegs (109) are placed between the fastening hooks (107) and then upon rotation of the funnel adapter (1400, for instance counter clockwise locking of the holding pegs (109) within the fastening hooks (107) is achieved.
Once coupled as shown in
In another embodiment of the ladle/shroud coupling mechanism (140), the holding means of the funnel adapter (140f comprises one or more holding pegs (109) and the nozzle adapter (140n) comprises a bayonet coupling element configured for interacting with the one or more holding pegs to reversibly lock the shroud (9) to the nozzle (12) in the locked position.
The nozzle adapter (140n) might be in the form of a sleeve like member which at one end and/or at both ends may be configured as a bayonet coupling element. The nozzle adapter (140n) may enclose the nozzle and may be releasably attached to a ladle baseplate (105) as illustrated in
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the ladle/shroud coupling mechanism according to the invention the funnel adapter and/or the nozzle adapter are rotatable around a longitudinal axis in order to allow at least disengagement of the funnel and nozzle adapters by rotating either the funnel or the nozzle adapter around said longitudinal axis.
In the casting installation according to the invention, the seat member (15) of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14) is configured for receiving the funnel adapter (140f and holding the shroud (9) in the shroud casting position.
The funnel adapter (140f is preferably fixed to the shroud (9) with an adhesive material (113) as represented in
The funnel adapter (1400 may be configured to be received in the seat member (15) on the mould (2) in a centred fashion. Therefore, the funnel-adaptor may comprise a truncated bearing surface.
Preferably, the casting installation according to the invention allows coupling of the ladle with the shroud in situ, i.e., while the shroud is inserted in the mould. A separate attachment stand for the ladle is thus not required. This system allows inserting the shroud into the mould with a separate crane. Once the shroud is inserted in the mould the ladle may be located above the mould with the nozzle being centred over the funnel of the shroud. Upon lowering the ladle, the nozzle may be brought into engagement with the funnel of the shroud. While engaging the nozzle of the ladle with the funnel the funnel and shroud adapters may be locked with one another so that the ladle and the shroud are loosely locked to one another.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the downward directed force upon lowering the nozzle of the ladle into the funnel will cause the seat member to move towards the base member against the reaction force of the compliant element, preferably against the spring tension of the at least one spring, so that the coupling of the nozzle and the funnel can be performed in a controlled fashion. The downward movement of the seat member towards the base member will of course cause the shroud to move axially within the bore of the mould. For example, if the distal end of the shroud extends into a housing of the mould, the downward movement of the seat member towards the base member drives the distal end of the shroud deeper into the housing where the at least one shroud outlet (9o) communicates with the runner system of the mould i.e., with the casting cavity via the feeding channels (5).
In the existing art, the so-called Harrison process suggested by the Harrison Steel Castings Company involves attaching a fused silica shroud below the nozzle of a bottom pour ladle. The mould is provided with a side riser for receiving the shroud. Below the side riser a pouring well is provided which feeds into the casting cavity. With the shroud attached, the ladle is aligned over a mould and then lowered so as to insert the shroud into the side riser. The stopper rod is then moved into the open position so that molten metal with the ladle flows through the nozzle and the shroud into the mould. Once the mould is filled, the stopper is closed. The ladle is lifted until the shroud is clear of the mould and is then moved over to the next mould to repeat the process. For attaching the shroud below the nozzle of the bottom-pour-ladle the ladle is first secured in an attachment stand and then the shroud is fixedly attached to a shroud holder assembly which is connected to the ladle baseplate.
One drawback of said rigid and fixed attachment of the shroud to the nozzle is that clearing the nozzle by oxygen lancing is almost impossible. As the material of choice for the shroud is fused silica, inserting the shroud into the side riser of the mould while being attached to the bottom of the ladle is a difficult and critical manoeuvre since even the slightest tilting of the shroud may result in destruction of the shroud.
In the invention, the previous drawback is avoided by loosely gripping the shroud to the ladle and by providing the compliant element allowing relative displacements between the seat and base members of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14). This reduces the risk of destroying the shroud when inserting it into the mould and thus provides a safer system for handling a shroud in order to obtain several castings with one shroud in one pouring heat.
To further improve the safety of the engagement of the shroud gripped to the ladle in the bore of the mould, the seat member (15) preferably comprises a conical portion centred on the central hole of the seat member, the conical portion being configured for guiding the shroud in alignment with the bore (7) as the ladle (103) is lowered vertically with the shroud (9) reversibly locked to the nozzle (12).
Method without Ladle/Shroud Coupling Mechanism (140)
The invention also concerns a method for casting a molten metal with the casting installation according to the invention.
In a first embodiment of the method illustrated in
In an example of the invention, the funnel of the shroud comprises a shoulder for seating the funnel onto the seat member (15), and the funnel is accommodated directly to the seat member (15) and the shroud is releasably maintained in the shroud casting position under the force of gravity. In another example, a filling (22) is provided between the funnel and the seat member (15). The shroud (9) is fixed to the seat member (15) with a filling (22) sealing an annular gap between the funnel (11) and the seat member (15) and defining a seat for the funnel (11). Preferably, the seat member (15) comprises a sleeve (21) defining a boundary of the annular gap, and the filling (22) can be applied on the sleeve (21) prior to receiving and seating the funnel on the filling (22). Then, the filling should dry until the funnel is fixed to the seat member (15).
After step 1a in
Then, the method comprises the step of further lowering the ladle (103) vertically until the nozzle (12) engaged in the funnel (11) applies a load onto the funnel sitting on the seat member (15), thus moving the seat member (15) relative to the base member (16) against the compliant elements (17), and forming a sealing contact between the nozzle (12) and the shroud (9) which is in the shroud casting position. This is illustrated in step 2 of
After establishing the sealing contact between the nozzle (12) and the funnel (11), casting of the molten metal can start. The nozzle is opened, thereby allowing the molten metal to flow from the ladle (103) to the casting cavity (3) through the nozzle (12), the shroud (9), and the housing (6) of the first mould. Once the casting cavity is full as illustrated in step 3 of
As illustrated in step 4 of
Then, the ladle is available for a subsequent casting into a second mould, preferably another pouring with the same heat as illustrated in
Method with Ladle/Shroud Coupling Mechanism (140)
In a second embodiment of the method according to the invention, the casting installation comprises the ladle/shroud coupling mechanism (140). Such method is illustrated in
In a first way of initializing the casting illustrated in
Alternatively, the ladle can be displaced above a storage place of the shroud (9) and pick it up by lowering the ladle with the nozzle vertically aligned with the funnel until engaging the nozzle in the funnel and gripping the shroud (9) to the nozzle (12) with the ladle/shroud coupling mechanism (140).
Once the shroud is gripped to the ladle, the ladle can be moved for:
Preferably, the funnel rests on the seat member (15) through the funnel adapter (1400 i.e., the funnel adapter (140f is fixed to the funnel and is received in the seat member (15) of the mould/shroud coupling mechanism (14), as illustrated in
The sealing contact between the nozzle (12) and the shroud (9) in the shroud casting position is formed by further lowering the ladle (103) vertically until the nozzle (12) engaged in the funnel (11) applies a load onto the funnel sitting on the seat member (15), thus moving the seat member (15) relative to the base member (16) against the compliant elements (17). This is illustrated in step 2 of
In a second way of initializing the casting, the shroud (9) is inserted in the first mould in the casting position before being gripped by the ladle. The gripping of the shroud occurs by lowering the nozzle towards the funnel and a sealing contact is formed upon driving the nozzle further down against the resistance offered by the compliant element (17), as illustrated in
Preferably, before a sealing contact is formed, the ladle and the shroud are not only releasably, but also loosely locked with each other.
In the second way of initializing the casting illustrated in
After establishing the sealing contact between the nozzle (12) and the funnel (11) according to the first or second way of initializing the casting, the nozzle is opened, thereby allowing the molten metal to flow from the ladle (103) to the casting cavity (3) through the nozzle (12), the shroud (9), and the housing (6) of the first mould. Once the casting is finished or the casting cavity is full as illustrated in step 3 of
As illustrated in step 4 of
Then, the ladle with the shroud coupled thereto is available for a subsequent casting into a second mould with the same heat as illustrated in step 5 of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21190734.0 | Aug 2021 | EP | regional |
| 21190735.7 | Aug 2021 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/072007 | 8/4/2022 | WO |
