A multi-chamber vacuum melting method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of precision casting, and particularly relates to a multi-chamber vacuum melting and casting method and device. The method comprises pouring a shell to be poured in a forming chamber; based on the shell pouring in the forming chamber being completed, obtaining a remaining working duration of a slow cooling chamber; based on the remaining working duration being 0, transferring the shell poured in the forming chamber to the slow cooling chamber to sequentially perform first temperature interval slow cooling and second temperature interval slow cooling; based on the remaining working duration being greater than 0, controlling the forming chamber to perform first temperature interval slow cooling on the poured shell; based on the first temperature interval slow cooling duration of the shell in the forming chamber exceeding a preset duration and the remaining working duration being 0, transferring the shell in the forming chamber to the slow cooling chamber to perform second temperature interval slow cooling. In this way, the problem that an unbalanced cooling rate forms a large temperature gradient in the casting and further causes thermal stress concentration is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of precision casting technology, and more specifically, to a multi-chamber vacuum casting method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Due to the special nature of the application scenarios, castings have extremely stringent technical standards. Their core function is to replace traditional welding processes with integrated casting, reduce weak links at structural joints, and adapt to the lightweight design requirements of equipment, thereby improving the overall performance and reliability of the equipment.

[0003] However, during the investment casting process of high-temperature alloy castings, the wall thickness of different parts is often uneven due to the structural design of the casting itself. This difference in wall thickness directly leads to significant differences in the cooling rate of different areas after casting. This uneven cooling rate further creates a large temperature gradient inside the casting, leading to thermal stress concentration. Thermal stress concentration can compromise the stability of the casting's internal structure, ultimately greatly increasing the risk of cracking. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problem of uneven cooling rates leading to large temperature gradients within castings and consequently thermal stress concentration, this invention provides a multi-chamber vacuum casting method and apparatus.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a multi-chamber vacuum casting method, the multi-chamber vacuum casting method comprising:

[0006] The shell to be poured is poured into the molding chamber;

[0007] Based on the completion of the shell casting in the molding chamber, the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber is obtained;

[0008] Based on the remaining working time being 0, the molded shell that has been poured in the molding chamber is transferred to the slow cooling chamber for slow cooling in the first temperature range and the second temperature range in sequence; wherein, the temperature of slow cooling in the first temperature range is greater than the temperature of slow cooling in the second temperature range.

[0009] Based on the remaining working time being greater than 0, the molding chamber is controlled to slowly cool the cast shell within the first temperature range.

[0010] Based on the fact that the time for slow cooling of the shell in the first temperature range within the molding chamber exceeds a preset time, and the remaining working time is 0, the shell in the molding chamber is transferred to the slow cooling chamber for slow cooling in the second temperature range.

[0011] Optionally, the molding chamber includes an inlet chamber, a casting chamber, a feeding chamber, a lifting unit, a casting insulation unit, and a feeding unit;

[0012] The process of pouring the mold shell to be poured in the molding chamber includes:

[0013] The preheated mold shell to be poured is transported to the mold inlet chamber;

[0014] The mold shell to be poured in the mold inlet chamber is transferred to the casting chamber;

[0015] The lifting unit inside the mold chamber is controlled to raise the mold shell to the pouring position;

[0016] The mold insulation unit in the mold chamber is controlled to heat the mold shell at the pouring position;

[0017] The feeding unit in the feeding chamber is controlled to pour the material into the mold shell at the pouring position.

[0018] Optionally, the step of controlling the molding chamber to slowly cool the cast shell within the first temperature range based on the remaining working time being greater than 0 includes:

[0019] Based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than 0 and less than the remaining working time, the casting chamber is controlled to slowly cool the cast shell in the first temperature range.

[0020] Based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than the remaining working time, the mold shell that has been poured in the casting chamber is transferred to the heat preservation area in the mold entry chamber for slow cooling in the first temperature range.

[0021] Optionally, controlling the casting chamber to slowly cool the poured shell within the first temperature range based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than 0 and less than the remaining working time includes:

[0022] Based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than 0 and less than the remaining working time, the material loading status of the insulation zone of the forming chamber is obtained;

[0023] Since the insulation zone of the mold-feeding chamber is in an unloaded state, the mold insulation unit and the mold shell are controlled to descend synchronously to the bottom of the mold chamber at a preset speed, and the mold insulation unit is controlled to slowly cool the mold shell after casting in the first temperature range.

[0024] Optionally, controlling the casting chamber to slowly cool the cast shell within the first temperature range based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than 0 and less than the remaining working time further includes:

[0025] Based on the presence of the mold shell in the insulation zone of the mold-feeding chamber, which is in the slow cooling stage of the first temperature range, the mold insulation unit and the mold shell are controlled to descend synchronously to a preset position at a preset speed, and the mold insulation unit is controlled to perform slow cooling of the mold shell after casting in the first temperature range; wherein, the preset position is provided with a feeding space from the bottom of the mold-feeding chamber, so that the mold shell in the mold-feeding chamber can pass through the feeding space to reach the slow cooling chamber.

[0026] Optionally, the preset speed is negatively correlated with the remaining working time.

[0027] Optionally, the multi-chamber vacuum casting method further includes:

[0028] The material loading status of the casting chamber is acquired in real time;

[0029] Since the casting chamber is in an unloaded state, the process returns to the step of transferring the preheated shell to be poured through the mold inlet to the casting chamber.

[0030] Secondly, this application provides a multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus, applied to the multi-chamber vacuum casting method described in any one of the first aspects; the multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus includes:

[0031] A molding chamber for casting a molded shell;

[0032] The cooling chamber includes a slow cooling chamber, which is used to slowly cool the cast shell in a first temperature range and a second temperature range; the temperature of the slow cooling in the first temperature range is greater than the temperature of the slow cooling in the second temperature range; the indoor temperature of the molding chamber is greater than the indoor temperature of the cooling chamber.

[0033] Optionally, the molding chamber includes an infeed chamber, a casting chamber, a feeding chamber, a lifting unit, a casting insulation unit, and a feeding unit; the infeed chamber, the casting chamber, and the slow cooling chamber are arranged sequentially in a horizontal direction; the feeding chamber is located above the casting chamber; the lifting unit and the casting insulation unit are both located inside the casting chamber; the lifting unit includes a lifting support rod and a lifting platform; the lifting support rod is vertically telescopic; the lifting platform is connected to the top end of the lifting support rod; the feeding unit includes a crucible;

[0034] The multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus also includes multiple conveying trolleys; the conveying trolleys are used to carry the mold shell; the lifting platform lifts the conveying trolleys to drive the mold shell upward.

[0035] Optionally, two lifting support rods are arranged in parallel in the lifting unit; the space between the two lifting support rods is a feeding space; when the lifting platform is in a preset position, the mold shell of the mold-feeding chamber can pass through the feeding space to reach the slow cooling chamber.

[0036] To address the problem of uneven cooling rates leading to large temperature gradients within castings and consequently thermal stress concentration, this invention offers the following advantages:

[0037] To mitigate the cooling rate, this application employs different cooling control methods based on the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber after the mold shell to be cast in the molding chamber: when the remaining working time is 0, the mold shell is transferred to the slow cooling chamber for slow cooling in the first and second temperature ranges sequentially; when the remaining working time is greater than 0, the molding chamber is first controlled to perform slow cooling of the mold shell in the first temperature range, and when the slow cooling time in the first temperature range exceeds the preset time and the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber is 0, the mold shell is then transferred to the slow cooling chamber for slow cooling in the second temperature range. This allows the casting to undergo slow cooling for a certain period at a high constant temperature, and after the casting shape stabilizes, it undergoes gradual cooling, slowing down the cooling rate and improving the casting quality. Simultaneously, this application utilizes the relatively high temperature of the molding chamber itself, reusing it as a slow cooling chamber for the first temperature range slow cooling stage, thereby improving both the utilization rate of thermal energy and the casting production efficiency of the multi-chamber vacuum casting device. This effectively reduces the accumulation of internal stress in the casting, achieves a uniform and controllable cooling process, and ultimately avoids the problem of excessive temperature during cooling due to uneven casting wall thickness. It also solves the problem of large temperature gradients and thermal stress concentration caused by significant differences in cooling rates in different parts after high-temperature alloy casting is cast, thus reducing the risk of casting cracks. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 A flowchart of the multi-chamber vacuum casting method in Embodiment 1 is shown;

[0039] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus in Embodiment 2 is shown;

[0040] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 A simplified schematic diagram of the lifting unit and conveying trolley of a multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus.

[0041] Reference numerals: Molding chamber 10; Infeeding chamber 11; Casting chamber 12; Feeding chamber 13; Lifting unit 14; Lifting support rod 141; Lifting platform 142; Casting mold insulation unit 15; Feeding unit 16; Slow cooling chamber 20; Conveying trolley 30; Gate valve 40. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and thus implement the present disclosure, and are not intended to imply any limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

[0043] As used herein, the term "comprising" and its variations are to be interpreted as open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" is to be interpreted as "at least partially based on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" are to be interpreted as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" is to be interpreted as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "vertical", "horizontal", "lateral", "longitudinal", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation or being constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientations or positional relationships; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. In addition, the terms "installed", "set up", "equipped with", "connected", and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are mainly used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (the specific types and structures may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0044] Example 1:

[0045] In this embodiment, to solve the above problems, this application provides a multi-chamber vacuum casting method, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the multi-chamber vacuum casting method includes steps S10, S20, S30, S40, and S50.

[0046] Step S10: Pour the shell to be poured into the molding chamber 10.

[0047] Step S20: Based on the completion of shell casting in the molding chamber 10, the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber 20 is obtained, and the availability status of the slow cooling chamber 20 is accurately determined. This provides a basis for selecting a suitable cooling method in the future, avoids conflicts in the cooling process, and ensures that the cooling process proceeds in an orderly manner.

[0048] In step S30, based on the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber 20 being 0, the molded shell, after being poured in the molding chamber 10, is transferred to the slow cooling chamber 20 for sequential slow cooling in the first and second temperature ranges. The temperature of the first temperature range is higher than the temperature of the second temperature range. After the molded shell is poured, a casting is formed inside. By first slow cooling in the first temperature range and then in the second, the cooling rate of the casting is slowed down, effectively reducing the accumulation of internal stress and achieving a uniform and controllable cooling process. This avoids problems such as excessive temperature differences during cooling due to uneven wall thickness. Furthermore, the slow cooling in the second temperature range can adapt to the changing stress sensitivity of the casting during cooling, thereby ensuring the stability of product quality.

[0049] In step S40, based on the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber 20 being greater than 0, the molding chamber 10 is controlled to perform slow cooling of the cast shell in the first temperature range. This ensures that the cast shell is in a stable high-temperature environment during the period when the slow cooling chamber 20 is occupied, preventing stress from the casting due to sudden temperature changes. At the same time, it provides a buffer for the connection of subsequent cooling steps and ensures the continuity of the cooling process.

[0050] In step S50, based on the fact that the duration of slow cooling of the shell in the first temperature range within the molding chamber 10 exceeds the preset duration, and the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber 20 is 0, the shell in the molding chamber 10 is transferred to the slow cooling chamber 20 for slow cooling in the second temperature range. This avoids excessive isothermal treatment of the casting, which could lead to low efficiency in the slow cooling zone. Transferring the shell to the slow cooling chamber 20 for slow cooling in the second temperature range further ensures uniform and controllable cooling. Furthermore, the slow cooling in the second temperature range of the slow cooling chamber 20 can adapt to the changing stress sensitivity of the casting during cooling, further reducing stress accumulation.

[0051] For example, if the casting temperature is 1200-1400℃ immediately after pouring, it needs to undergo slow cooling in two temperature ranges. The ambient temperature for the first temperature range slow cooling can be 1000℃, and the casting needs to be held in this environment for 1 hour to ensure temperature uniformity. Then, the casting undergoes slow cooling in the second temperature range, with an ambient temperature of 500℃~1000℃. Specifically, the second temperature range slow cooling is divided into three stages. In the first stage, the initial ambient temperature is 1000℃, and the cooling rate is 50℃ / hour until the ambient temperature reaches 900℃, where it is held for 1 hour. The first stage of the second temperature range slow cooling uses a lower temperature rate for initial cooling to reduce the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the casting, while holding it at 900℃ for one hour further homogenizes the temperature inside and outside the casting. In the second stage, the ambient temperature is lowered at a rate of 60°C / hour until it drops from 900°C to 800°C, and then maintained at 800°C for 1 hour, slightly increasing the cooling rate while remaining within a safe range to ensure coordinated cooling of all parts of the casting. In the final cooling stage, the temperature is lowered at 80°C / hour until it reaches 500°C. During the low-temperature stage, the cooling process can be accelerated appropriately to improve production efficiency while ensuring casting safety. Once the temperature reaches 500°C, the vacuum environment is broken, and the mold shell is removed. In some embodiments, the first temperature range for slow cooling can be 900°C to 1100°C, and the second temperature range for slow cooling is adaptively adjusted based on the first temperature range.

[0052] Furthermore, the molding chamber 10 includes an inlet chamber 11, a casting chamber 12, a feeding chamber 13, a lifting unit 14, a casting insulation unit 15, and a feeding unit 16. Each unit works together to ensure stability during the casting process and to provide a qualified shell for the subsequent cooling steps.

[0053] Step S10 includes steps S11 to S15. The multi-chamber vacuum casting method executes steps S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S20, S30, S40, and S50 in sequence.

[0054] Step S11: The preheated mold shell to be poured is transported to the mold chamber 11 to maintain a suitable pouring temperature for the mold shell to be poured, so as to avoid casting defects caused by the mold shell being too cold during pouring. At the same time, the mold chamber 11 provides temporary storage and transition space for the mold shell to ensure the continuity of the pouring process.

[0055] Step S12: Transfer the mold shell to be poured in the mold chamber 11 to the casting chamber 12, so that the mold shell is in the pouring operation area, ensuring that the pouring operation is carried out in a stable environment and improving the pouring quality.

[0056] Step S13: Control the lifting unit 14 in the casting chamber 12 to raise the mold shell to the pouring position, and precisely adjust the relative position of the mold shell and the feeding unit 16 so that the pouring material can be accurately injected into the mold shell to ensure the accuracy of pouring.

[0057] Step S14: Control the mold insulation unit 15 in the mold chamber 12 to heat the shell at the pouring position, maintain the temperature of the shell during the pouring process, prevent the shell temperature from dropping too quickly and causing defects such as shrinkage cavities inside the shell, and ensure the quality of the shell molding.

[0058] Step S15: Control the feeding unit 16 in the feeding chamber 13 to pour the material into the mold at the pouring position.

[0059] Further, step S40 includes steps S41 and S42, and the multi-chamber vacuum casting method sequentially executes steps S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S20, S30, S41, S42, and S50.

[0060] Step S41: Based on the fact that the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber 20 is greater than 0 and less than the threshold of the remaining working time, the casting chamber 12 is controlled to perform slow cooling of the cast shell in the first temperature range. The high temperature conditions of the casting chamber 12 are used to perform slow cooling of the cast shell in the first temperature range of the slow cooling stage, so that the transfer of the shell is reduced when the slow cooling chamber 20 is about to be idle, the temperature loss during the transfer process is reduced, and the casting efficiency is improved.

[0061] In step S42, based on a threshold where the remaining working time exceeds a certain threshold, the completed mold shell in the casting chamber 12 is transferred to the insulation zone in the mold-feeding chamber 11 for slow cooling in the first temperature range. The insulation zone in the mold-feeding chamber 11 provides a stable high-temperature constant-temperature environment for the mold shell, ensuring the effectiveness of slow cooling in the first temperature range and preventing stress accumulation due to sudden temperature drops. Reusing the mold-feeding chamber 11 as a slow cooling chamber 20 reduces the space occupied by the casting chamber 12, thereby ensuring that the subsequent batch of casting and the slow cooling of the previous batch can be carried out synchronously, further improving the casting efficiency of the multi-chamber vacuum casting device.

[0062] In other embodiments, the multi-chamber vacuum casting method sequentially performs steps S11, S121, S13, S14, S15, S20, S30, S411, S412, S413, S42, and S50.

[0063] Step S12 includes step S121, where step S121 is an optimization of step S12:

[0064] Step S121: The preheated mold shell to be poured is conveyed to the mold chamber 11 in a first preset posture. If the mold shell to be poured has a regular shape, it needs to be marked at one end. Irregularly shaped mold shells do not need to be marked.

[0065] Step S41 includes steps S411 to S423.

[0066] Step S411: Based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than the remaining working time, the mold shell that has been poured in the casting chamber 12 is rotated to the second preset posture and then transferred to the mold entry chamber 11.

[0067] Step S412: Based on the mold shell entering the mold chamber 11, the vision camera inside the mold chamber 11 is controlled to identify the orientation of the mold shell. The vision camera can observe the orientation of the mold shell after casting. If there are markings, the orientation of the mold shell can be determined based on the orientation of the markings, thereby determining whether casting is complete and ensuring the orderly steps of entering the insulation zone for slow cooling in the first temperature range.

[0068] Step S413: Based on the orientation being the second preset orientation, control the shell to rise to the insulation zone for slow cooling in the first temperature range. If the orientation is the first preset orientation, it is necessary to confirm whether the casting is complete or whether the rotation has failed, and corrections are required.

[0069] Further, step S42 includes steps S421 and S422, and the multi-chamber vacuum casting method sequentially executes steps S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S20, S30, S41, S421, S422, and S50.

[0070] Step S421: Based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than 0 and less than the remaining working time, obtain the material loading status of the insulation zone of the mold chamber 11, accurately determine whether the insulation zone is available, provide a basis for the selection of the cooling position of the shell, avoid the interruption of the cooling process due to the occupation of the insulation zone, and ensure the orderly progress of the cooling operation.

[0071] In step S422, since the insulation zone of the mold-feeding chamber 11 is unloaded, the mold insulation unit 15 and the mold shell are controlled to descend synchronously to the bottom of the mold-feeding chamber 12 at a preset speed. The mold insulation unit 15 is also controlled to slowly cool the poured mold shell in the first temperature range, ensuring the mold shell remains within the insulation range of the mold insulation unit 15 and guaranteeing the uniformity of the slow cooling in the first temperature range. Simultaneously descending to the bottom, since the insulation zone of the mold-feeding chamber 11 is empty, there is no need to provide clearance for the mold shell in the mold-feeding chamber 11, improving the space utilization of the equipment and effectively reducing the internal stress of the mold shell. Furthermore, the simultaneous descent of the mold insulation unit 15 to the bottom of the mold-feeding chamber 12, while adjusting its height position for slow cooling, saves process time.

[0072] Furthermore, step S422 also includes step S4221, in which the multi-chamber vacuum casting method sequentially executes steps S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S20, S30, S41, S421, S422, and S50. Step S4221 can be explained in detail later.

[0073] Step S4221: Based on the presence of a mold shell in the first temperature range slow cooling stage within the insulation zone of the mold-feeding chamber 11, the mold insulation unit 15 and the mold shell are controlled to descend synchronously to a preset position at a preset speed. The mold insulation unit 15 is then controlled to perform slow cooling of the poured mold shell within the first temperature range. The preset position has a feeding space from the bottom of the mold-feeding chamber 12, allowing the mold shell from the mold-feeding chamber 11 to pass through the feeding space and reach the slow cooling chamber 20. This ensures that the current mold shell is slowly cooled within the first temperature range without affecting the transport of other mold shells from the mold-feeding chamber 11 to the slow cooling chamber 20, enabling the parallel execution of multiple mold shell cooling processes, improving cooling efficiency. Simultaneously, the continuous insulation by the mold insulation unit 15 prevents temperature fluctuations in the mold shell and reduces stress accumulation.

[0074] Furthermore, the preset speed is negatively correlated with the remaining working time. The descent speed can be reasonably adjusted according to the slow cooling idle time. The shorter the remaining working time, the faster the descent speed, so as to complete the position adjustment and connect with the subsequent cooling steps as soon as possible. The longer the remaining working time, the slower the descent speed, so as to avoid vibration or temperature fluctuation of the shell due to excessive descent and ensure cooling stability. It can also prevent the shell from staying at the same height for a long time, reducing the risk of wear and tear on the lifting unit 14.

[0075] Furthermore, the multi-chamber vacuum casting method also includes steps S60 and S70, and the multi-chamber vacuum casting method sequentially executes steps S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S20, S30, S40, S50, S60 and S70.

[0076] Step S60: The material loading status of the casting chamber 12 is obtained in real time, and the idle status of the casting chamber 12 is grasped in a timely manner, so as to provide accurate basis for subsequent shell conveying and pouring operations, avoid operational conflicts, and improve the continuity of the overall process.

[0077] Step S70: Based on the fact that the casting chamber 12 is in an unloaded state, return to the step of transferring the preheated shell to be poured through the mold inlet chamber 11 to the casting chamber 12. When the casting chamber 12 is unloaded, return to the shell transfer step to make full use of the idle time of the equipment, improve the utilization rate of the casting chamber 12, shorten the production cycle, and at the same time ensure the continuity of the pouring process and improve the overall production efficiency.

[0078] In the final stage of cooling in the slow cooling chamber 20, gas is introduced. The gas pressure expands and absorbs heat, rapidly reducing the casting temperature, shortening the cooling cycle, and lowering the casting temperature to a safe range where it can be directly touched.

[0079] Example 2:

[0080] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 As shown, this application provides a multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus, which is applied to the multi-chamber vacuum casting method in any of the embodiments; the multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus includes a forming chamber 10 and a cooling chamber.

[0081] The molding chamber 10 is used to pour the shell, providing a stable working environment for the shell pouring, ensuring the smooth progress of the pouring operation, and providing a qualified molding foundation for the subsequent cooling steps.

[0082] The cooling chamber includes a slow cooling chamber 20, which is used for slow cooling of the cast shell in a first temperature range and a second temperature range. The temperature of the slow cooling in the first temperature range is higher than the temperature of the slow cooling in the second temperature range; the internal temperature of the molding chamber 10 is higher than the internal temperature of the cooling chamber. Through the combination of slow cooling in the first and second temperature ranges, the slow cooling chamber 20 achieves a uniform and controllable cooling process for the shell, effectively reducing internal stress accumulation and avoiding excessive temperature differences caused by uneven wall thickness.

[0083] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the molding chamber 10 includes an inlet chamber 11, a casting chamber 12, a feeding chamber 13, a lifting unit 14, a casting mold insulation unit 15, and a feeding unit 16. The inlet chamber 11, casting chamber 12, and slow cooling chamber 20 are arranged horizontally in sequence. The feeding chamber 13 is located above the casting chamber 12, and the lifting unit 14 and casting mold insulation unit 15 are both located within the casting chamber 12. The lifting unit 14 includes a lifting support rod 141 and a lifting platform 142. The lifting support rod 141 is vertically extendable, and the lifting platform 142 is connected to the top of the lifting support rod 141. The feeding unit 16 includes a crucible. This rational spatial layout ensures smooth connection between the shell conveying, pouring, and cooling processes, reducing transfer distance and time. The lifting support rod 141 of the lifting unit 14 works in conjunction with the lifting platform 142 to achieve vertical extension and retraction adjustment, which can precisely control the position of the mold shell. The crucible of the feeding unit 16 is convenient for storing and conveying the casting material. The coordinated work of each component improves the stability and accuracy of the casting and cooling process.

[0084] The multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus also includes multiple conveyor trolleys 30. The conveyor trolleys 30 are used to carry the mold shells. The lifting platform 142 raises the mold shells by lifting the conveyor trolleys 30. The conveyor trolleys 30 carrying the mold shells allow for stable transfer between chambers, preventing direct contact between the mold shells and conveying components and facilitating batch transport. The lifting platform 142, by raising the conveyor trolleys 30, makes the lifting operation smoother, preventing the mold shells from tilting or being damaged during ascent, and ensuring the accuracy of the casting position.

[0085] After preheating, the mold shell is transported into the mold-feeding chamber 11 by a trolley. A vacuum is then created inside the chamber. Once the pressure in the mold-feeding chamber 11 and the casting chamber 12 is balanced, the mold shell enters the casting chamber 12. A lifting support rod 141 inside the casting chamber 12 lifts the mold shell, and the mold insulation unit 15 insulates the shell to prevent cracking due to excessive temperature differences. After pouring, the lifting support rod 141 lowers the lifting platform 142. The shell is then transferred by a trolley to the slow-cooling chamber 20 for further cooling.

[0086] Furthermore, two lifting support rods 141 are arranged in parallel within the lifting unit 14. The space between the two lifting support rods 141 is the feeding space. When the lifting platform 142 is in the preset position, the mold shell in the mold inlet chamber 11 can pass through the feeding space to reach the slow cooling chamber 20. The two parallel lifting support rods 141 improve the load-bearing stability and lifting smoothness of the lifting platform 142, preventing the mold shell from swaying during lifting. The feeding space reserved between the two support rods ensures that the lifting platform 142 does not obstruct the mold shell conveying channel when in the preset position, guaranteeing that the mold shell in the mold inlet chamber 11 can smoothly pass through and reach the slow cooling chamber 20, enabling the parallel execution of multiple mold shell cooling processes and improving the overall operating efficiency of the equipment.

[0087] In other embodiments, the multi-chamber vacuum casting method further includes a gate valve 40. After the mold shell is preheated, the gate valve 40 is opened, and the mold shell is sent into the corresponding cavity by the conveying trolley 30. After the gate valve 40 is closed, the cavity is evacuated. After the pressure in the two cavities is balanced, the gate valve 40 is opened, and the mold shell enters the casting chamber 12. The lifting unit 14 in the casting chamber 12 lifts the mold shell to a preset position, which is equipped with a mold insulation unit 15 to insulate the mold shell and prevent cracking caused by excessive temperature difference. After the gate valve 40 is opened, the casting chamber 12 is connected to the melting chamber, and the molten steel in the melting chamber is injected into the mold shell through the holes to complete the casting. After the casting is completed, the lifting unit 14 descends, the mold shell returns to the initial position, and is transferred by the conveying trolley 30 to the slow cooling chamber 20 for subsequent cooling treatment.

[0088] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing this disclosure, and in practical applications, various changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A multi-chamber vacuum melting process, characterized by, The multi-chamber vacuum casting method includes: The molding chamber is used to pour the shell to be cast into the molding chamber; the molding chamber includes an inlet chamber, a casting chamber, a feeding chamber, a lifting unit, a casting insulation unit, and a feeding unit; Based on the completion of the shell casting in the molding chamber, the remaining working time of the slow cooling chamber is obtained; Based on the remaining working time being 0, the molded shell that has been poured in the molding chamber is transferred to the slow cooling chamber for slow cooling in the first temperature range and the second temperature range in sequence; wherein, the temperature of slow cooling in the first temperature range is greater than the temperature of slow cooling in the second temperature range. Based on the remaining working time being greater than 0, the molding chamber is controlled to slowly cool the cast shell within the first temperature range. Based on the fact that the time for slow cooling of the shell in the first temperature range in the molding chamber exceeds the preset time and the remaining working time is 0, the shell in the molding chamber is transferred to the slow cooling chamber for slow cooling in the second temperature range. Wherein, the step of controlling the molding chamber to slowly cool the cast shell in the first temperature range based on the remaining working time being greater than 0 includes: Based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than 0 and less than the remaining working time, the material loading status of the insulation zone of the forming chamber is obtained; Since the insulation zone of the mold chamber is in an unloaded state, the mold insulation unit and the mold shell are controlled to descend synchronously to the bottom of the mold chamber at a preset speed, and the mold insulation unit is controlled to slowly cool the mold shell after casting in the first temperature range. Based on the presence of the mold shell in the insulation zone of the mold-feeding chamber, which is in the slow cooling stage of the first temperature range, the mold insulation unit and the mold shell are controlled to descend synchronously to a preset position at a preset speed, and the mold insulation unit is controlled to perform slow cooling of the mold shell after casting in the first temperature range; wherein, the preset position is provided with a feeding space from the bottom of the mold-feeding chamber, so that the mold shell in the mold-feeding chamber can pass through the feeding space to reach the slow cooling chamber; Based on the threshold that the remaining working time is greater than the remaining working time, the mold shell that has been poured in the casting chamber is transferred to the heat preservation area in the mold entry chamber for slow cooling in the first temperature range.

2. The multi-chamber vacuum casting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of pouring the mold shell to be poured in the molding chamber includes: The preheated mold shell to be poured is transported to the mold inlet chamber; The mold shell to be poured in the mold inlet chamber is transferred to the casting chamber; The lifting unit inside the mold chamber is controlled to raise the mold shell to the pouring position; The mold insulation unit in the mold chamber is controlled to heat the mold shell at the pouring position; The feeding unit in the feeding chamber is controlled to pour the material into the mold shell at the pouring position.

3. The multi-chamber vacuum casting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset speed is negatively correlated with the remaining working time.

4. The multi-chamber vacuum casting method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The multi-chamber vacuum casting method further includes: The material loading status of the casting chamber is acquired in real time; Since the casting chamber is in an unloaded state, the process returns to the step of transferring the preheated shell to be poured through the mold inlet to the casting chamber.

5. A multi-chamber vacuum melting apparatus for use in the multi-chamber vacuum melting method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, The multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus includes: A molding chamber is used for casting a mold shell; the molding chamber includes an inlet chamber, a casting chamber, a feeding chamber, a lifting unit, a casting mold heat preservation unit, and a feeding unit. The cooling chamber includes a slow cooling chamber, which is used to slowly cool the cast shell in a first temperature range and a second temperature range; the temperature of the slow cooling in the first temperature range is greater than the temperature of the slow cooling in the second temperature range; the indoor temperature of the molding chamber is greater than the indoor temperature of the cooling chamber.

6. A multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The mold-feeding chamber, the casting chamber, and the slow-cooling chamber are arranged sequentially in a horizontal direction; the feeding chamber is located above the casting chamber; the lifting unit and the casting insulation unit are both located inside the casting chamber; the lifting unit includes a lifting support rod and a lifting platform; the lifting support rod is vertically telescopic; the lifting platform is connected to the top end of the lifting support rod; the feeding unit includes a crucible; The multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus also includes multiple conveying trolleys; the conveying trolleys are used to carry the mold shell; the lifting platform lifts the conveying trolleys to drive the mold shell upward.

7. A multi-chamber vacuum casting apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lifting unit has two lifting support rods arranged in parallel; the space between the two lifting support rods is a feeding space; when the lifting platform is in a preset position, the mold shell of the mold-feeding chamber can pass through the feeding space to reach the slow cooling chamber.

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