Titanium alloy casting forming apparatus and forming method

Abstract

The application provides a titanium alloy casting forming equipment and a forming method. The equipment comprises a smelting device, a pouring system and a feeding turntable. The smelting device, the pouring device and the feeding turntable are arranged, the tiltable condensate furnace is arranged in the smelting device, the condensate furnace can intermittently supply molten titanium liquid, the pouring system is provided with the flow guide runner which is connected with the condensate furnace and the heating channel which heats the casting mold, the feeding turntable is used for loading each casting mold, and the feeding driving device under the feeding turntable is used for transferring the casting mold to each station, so that the automatic conveying is realized, the overall structure is simple, the operation is convenient, the pouring efficiency is improved, and the large batch of titanium alloy castings can be conveniently formed. Meanwhile, the casting mold is preheated by using the heating channel, the temperature difference during pouring is reduced, the problems such as cold separation, shrinkage cavity and mold cracking are avoided, the temperature difference between the inside and the surface of the casting mold is reduced, the generation of thermal stress is reduced, and the pouring quality of the castings in the later period is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of titanium alloy casting forming and processing technology, and in particular to a titanium alloy casting forming equipment and forming method. Background Technology

[0002] Titanium alloys, due to their high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, have become key structural materials in cutting-edge fields such as aerospace. Investment casting is the mainstream process for achieving precision forming of titanium alloy castings. However, titanium alloys have high melting points and extremely high-temperature chemical reactivity. In the molten state, they readily react with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen to form a brittle oxide layer. Furthermore, the contact between high-temperature molten titanium and a room-temperature mold creates a drastic temperature difference, leading to defects such as thermal shock cracking of the mold, cold shuts in the casting, and shrinkage cavities. Therefore, strict temperature control and sealed protection are essential during titanium alloy casting.

[0003] Currently, titanium alloy casting mostly employs intermittent pouring processes, relying on manual control of pouring precision and timing. While this method can adapt to the unique pouring characteristics of titanium, it has significant drawbacks: poor consistency in manual operation, low pouring efficiency, high labor intensity and safety risks. It can only meet the needs of small-batch production and cannot meet the large-scale manufacturing requirements of titanium alloy castings in aerospace and other fields. Traditional processes struggle to balance the casting characteristics of titanium with the efficiency of mass production, hindering the industrial application of titanium alloy castings. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new, high-efficiency forming equipment to solve these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention is proposed to provide a titanium alloy casting forming equipment and forming method that overcomes or at least partially solves the above problems, and can solve the problem that traditional processes are difficult to balance the casting characteristics of titanium materials with the efficiency of mass production, thereby achieving the effect of facilitating the industrial production of titanium alloy castings.

[0005] Specifically, the present invention provides a titanium alloy casting forming device, comprising: The smelting equipment includes a protective house and a rotatable solidification furnace inside it. A feeding port is defined on the roof of the protective house and a discharging port is defined on the front side. A furnace door is provided at the feeding port and / or the discharging port. The solidification furnace is arranged at intervals below the feeding port. A casting drive device is connected to the bottom of the solidification furnace. The casting drive device is used to pull the solidification furnace to tilt and cast. A gating system located inside the protective enclosure, comprising a gating channel and a heating channel on its right side, wherein the outlet of the heating channel is located below the gating channel and a sensing element for detecting the casting mold is provided thereon. A feeding turntable is defined with a plurality of clamping slots evenly spaced in the circumferential direction. Each clamping slot is used to detachably accommodate one of the casting molds. The feeding turntable is connected to a feeding drive device, which drives the feeding turntable to rotate clockwise so that each of the casting molds passes through the heating channel in sequence and reaches the lower side of the guide runner, and then emerges from the material outlet.

[0006] Optionally, each clamping slot is defined by four L-shaped limiters installed on the upper end of the feeding turntable. The four limiters are located at the four corners of the rectangle, and each casting mold is clamped and placed within the rectangular area.

[0007] Optionally, the feeding drive device includes a base, a drive motor, a first gear, and a second gear; The base is located inside the protective house; the rotating shaft of the feeding turntable is set vertically and is rotatably mounted on the base in the horizontal direction; The drive motor is mounted on the base, and its output shaft is positioned upwards with the first gear coaxially mounted on the shaft end; The second gear is coaxially mounted on the shaft of the feeding turntable and meshes with the first gear for transmission.

[0008] Optionally, the upper end of the base has an annular plane, which is vertically aligned with the feeding turntable; The lower end face of the feeding turntable is evenly equipped with multiple support wheels along the circumferential direction. The traveling direction of each support wheel is set along the tangential direction of the radial direction of the feeding turntable, and the lower side of each support wheel abuts against the annular plane.

[0009] Optionally, the flow channel includes a flow guide, a protective shell, and two first flame nozzles; The guide fluid has a receiving section, a conveying section, and an outlet section; the receiving section has a funnel-shaped structure and is inclined to the lower right, with its upper opening located below the discharge port of the solidification furnace during the tilting and casting process; the conveying section has a straight cylindrical structure and is located at the outlet of the receiving section, and is inclined to the lower right; the outlet section has a gradually narrowing cylindrical structure and is vertically arranged, installed at the lower outlet of the conveying section, and has a smooth bend at the installation point. The protective shell is disposed inside the protective house and is arranged on the outside of the fluid guide along an inclined direction; Two first nozzles are respectively disposed on the two side walls of the protective shell. One of the two first nozzles is tilted upwards and the other is tilted downwards, and both are aligned with the guide fluid. Both first nozzles are connected to a gas supply system to provide gaseous fuel to the two first nozzles. Each of the casting molds has a beating cup on its upper side, and the beating cup and the outlet of the outlet section are arranged vertically in correspondence during the casting process.

[0010] Optionally, the heating channel includes multiple heating components, which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the feeding turntable inside the protective chamber; and are all located in the area where the feeding turntable rotates from the material outlet to the guide channel. Each heating assembly includes a U-shaped frame and multiple second flame nozzles; each U-shaped frame is inverted and positioned above the feeding turntable and installed inside the protective enclosure; multiple second flame nozzles are respectively located on the top and both sides of the U-shaped frame, all facing the casting mold, and all connected to a gas supply system for providing gaseous fuel to the multiple second flame nozzles.

[0011] Optionally, the pouring drive device includes a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic rod, and a hydraulic oil supply system; The bottom of the hydraulic cylinder is hinged to the top of the protective house, and the hydraulic rod is disposed inside the hydraulic cylinder and hinged to the lower side of the solidification furnace at the end of the rod extending out of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0012] The present invention also provides a molding method specifically for the molding equipment described in any one of the above claims, characterized in that it includes: When the temperature inside the solidification furnace of the molding equipment is not lower than the set temperature and the solidification furnace is in the accelerator state, identify whether there is a casting mold at the outlet of the heating channel of the molding equipment. If present, the solidification furnace is tilted by the pouring drive device of the molding equipment to pour into the casting mold; In response to the set time for the solidification furnace to tilt, the solidification furnace is driven to return to the upright state by the pouring drive device, and the feeding turntable of the forming equipment is driven to rotate by the feeding drive device of the forming equipment.

[0013] Optionally, the solidification furnace is tilted by the casting drive device of the molding equipment, including: Based on the number of pours that the solidification furnace has already tilted, the target tilt angle for this tilting of the solidification furnace is determined; wherein, the number of pours reflects the cumulative number of tilts since the solidification furnace has been in a full state, and the angle of the target tilt angle is inversely proportional to the number of pours; The tilting speed of the solidification furnace within the set time is determined based on the angle between the target tilt angle and the current tilt angle; wherein, the current tilt angle reflects the tilt angle of the last pouring in the number of pours; The solidification furnace is tilted according to the tilting speed controlled by the pouring drive device.

[0014] Optionally, in response to the set time for the solidification furnace to tilt, the solidification furnace is driven to return to its normal state via the casting drive device, and the feeding turntable of the forming equipment is driven to rotate via the feeding drive device of the forming equipment, including: In response to the moment when the tilt angle of the solidification furnace reaches the target tilt angle, the feeding drive device drives the feeding turntable of the forming equipment to rotate until the casting mold is detected at the outlet of the heating channel.

[0015] In the titanium alloy casting forming equipment and method of the present invention, a melting device, a casting device, and a feeding turntable are set up. A tiltable solidification furnace is installed within the melting device, allowing for intermittent supply of molten titanium. The casting system includes a guide gating system that connects to the solidification furnace and a heating channel for heating the casting molds. The feeding turntable loads each casting mold and, via a feeding drive device, transports it to various workstations, achieving automated conveying. The overall structure is simple, easy to operate, and improves casting efficiency, facilitating the forming and processing of large batches of titanium alloy castings. Simultaneously, the casting molds are preheated using the heating channel, reducing the temperature difference during casting and preventing problems such as cold shuts, shrinkage cavities, and mold cracking. This also reduces the temperature difference between the inside and surface of the casting mold, lowers thermal stress, and ensures the casting quality in the later stages.

[0016] Furthermore, the titanium alloy casting forming equipment and method of this invention utilizes the dual conditions of furnace body alignment and furnace temperature compliance to avoid defects in low-temperature titanium liquid casting, leakage and splashing accidents caused by furnace body tilting due to failure to return to its original position, and sets precise timing sequences to ensure casting quality. Continuous automated cyclic production is achieved without manual intervention, increasing production capacity.

[0017] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in detail by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or portions. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural view of a titanium alloy casting forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural view (perspective 2) of a titanium alloy casting forming equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of a titanium alloy casting forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of a titanium alloy casting forming equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, after removing part of the protective enclosure; Figure 5 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of the structure inside the protective room of a titanium alloy casting forming equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of a pouring drive device in a titanium alloy casting forming equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of a feeding turntable in a titanium alloy casting forming equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of a heating channel in a titanium alloy casting forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of a guide gating system in a titanium alloy casting forming equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic three-dimensional structural diagram of the cooperation between the guide runner and the casting mold in a titanium alloy casting forming equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a flowchart of a molding method applied to a molding equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Reference numerals: 1. Smelting equipment; 2. Protective enclosure; 3. Solidification furnace; 4. Enclosed door; 5. Feeding port; 6. Discharge port; 7. Casting drive device; 8. Casting system; 9. Sprue; 10. Heating channel; 11. Sensing element; 12. Feeding turntable; 13. Clamping slot; 14. Casting mold; 15. Feeding drive device; 16. Limiting clip; 17. Base; 18. Drive motor; 19. First gear; 20. [Missing information - likely a gear type] 21. Support wheel; 22. Fluid guide; 23. Protective shell; 24. First flame nozzle; 25. Receiving section; 26. Conveying section; 27. Outlet section; 28. Beaker; 29. ​​U-shaped frame; 30. Second flame nozzle; 31. Hydraulic cylinder; 32. Hydraulic rod; 33. Mounting frame; 34. First support rod; 35. Second support rod; 36. Arc-shaped notch; 37. Arc-shaped protrusion; 38. Feed hopper; 39. Connecting rod. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following reference Figures 1 to 11This invention describes a titanium alloy casting forming apparatus and forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this description, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature, that is, include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified. When a feature "includes or contains" one or more of the features it encompasses, unless otherwise specifically described, this indicates that other features are not excluded and may be further included.

[0021] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "install," "connect," "link," "fix," and "couple" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] Furthermore, in the description of this embodiment, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or it can include contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. That is, in the description of this embodiment, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," or "below" of the second feature can mean the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0023] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0024] Figure 1This is a schematic three-dimensional structural view of a titanium alloy casting forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention, from one perspective. Figure 1 As shown, and with reference Figures 2 to 10 The present invention provides a forming equipment suitable for titanium alloy castings, including: a melting equipment 1, a gating system, a feeding turntable 12, and a power distribution box.

[0025] The smelting equipment 1 includes a protective enclosure 2 and a smelting furnace 3 that can be tilted and rotated inside. Specifically, the protective enclosure 2 serves as an isolation and protection mechanism, while the smelting furnace 3 is used to hold the molten titanium. The outer layer of the smelting furnace 3 can be made of high-temperature resistant carbon steel with a heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant coating, and the interior is lined with a crucible for holding the molten titanium. For example, a high-temperature resistant, low-reactivity ceramic lining; or high-purity copper, which is existing technology and will not be described in detail here. It should be noted that the high-purity copper structure and the water-cooling structure inside the furnace body allow the molten titanium in contact with the copper wall to solidify instantly, forming a "smelting shell." The molten titanium only contacts its own solid titanium shell, preventing corrosion of the copper substrate, eliminating impurity contamination, and adapting to continuous batch casting.

[0026] A feeding port 5 is defined on the roof of the protective enclosure 2, and a discharging port 6 is defined on the front side. Furnace doors are provided at the feeding port 5 and / or the discharging port 6. Specifically, molten titanium liquid can be fed into the feeding port 5 located on the roof of the protective enclosure 2 using a gantry crane, and the discharging port 6 is used for placing and removing the casting mold 14.

[0027] Below the feeding port 5, a solidification furnace 3 is installed at intervals. The bottom of the solidification furnace 3 is connected to a pouring drive device 7, which is used to pull the solidification furnace 3 to tilt and pour. Specifically, after receiving instructions from the PLC in the distribution box, the pouring drive device drives the solidification furnace 3 to rotate, so as to tilt and pour, and the pouring process is intermittent and continuous.

[0028] The casting system is located inside the protective chamber 2 and includes a runner 9 and a heating channel 10 on its right side. The outlet of the heating channel 10 is located below the runner 9, and a sensing element 11 for detecting the casting mold 14 is installed on it. Specifically, the runner 9 receives the molten titanium liquid flowing out of the solidification furnace 3 and guides it into the casting mold 14. The heating channel 10 preheats the casting mold 14 during its transfer process. This is because, from the moment the casting mold 14 is placed in the protective chamber 2 until it is transferred below the runner 9 for casting, the system aims to reduce the temperature difference between the casting mold 14 and the molten titanium liquid. This prevents problems such as thermal shock cracking of the mold, cold shuts in the casting, and shrinkage cavities caused by excessive temperature differences when the molten titanium liquid is poured into the casting mold 14. The sensing element 11 transmits a signal to the central control system when the casting mold 14 is transferred directly below the runner 9, thereby initiating subsequent casting operations.

[0029] The feeding turntable 12 is defined with a plurality of clamping slots 13 evenly spaced in the circumferential direction. Each clamping slot 13 is used to detachably accommodate a casting mold 14. Furthermore, the feeding turntable 12 is connected to a feeding drive device 15, which drives the feeding turntable 12 to rotate clockwise, causing each casting mold 14 to sequentially pass through the heating channel 10 and reach the lower side of the runner 9, and then emerge from the material outlet 6. Specifically, the feeding turntable 12 rotates during the feeding drive process, allowing it to switch between different working positions. Specifically, along the clockwise direction of the feeding turntable 12, it can be divided into a placement station, a heating station, a pouring station, and a cooling station located at the material outlet 6.

[0030] The distribution box is equipped with an air switch, circuit breaker, intermediate relay, PLC and DC power supply. The DC power supply provides power to the PLC. The PLC can be programmed to control the pouring time of each casting through a pre-designed program. It is also responsible for receiving signals from the sensing element 11. When the casting mold 14 reaches the bottom of the pouring station, it sends a control signal to the PLC to control the feeding drive device 15 to stop driving the feeding turntable 12 to rotate, so that the casting mold 14 is stably stopped directly below the guide runner 9.

[0031] In this embodiment, the titanium alloy casting forming equipment involves introducing molten titanium from a large external furnace into the solidification furnace 3 through the feeding port 5. Then, a hoisting device is used to place the casting mold 14 into the clamping slot 13 of the feeding turntable 12 through the material removal port 6. As the feeding turntable 12 rotates intermittently, the hoisting device lifts the cast mold 14 from the material removal port 6 and places a new casting mold 14 to be cast. As the feeding turntable 12 rotates, the heating channel 10 pre-sets the clockwise passing casting mold 14 to reduce the temperature difference between it and the molten titanium. When the casting mold 14 rotates directly below the runner 9, its sensing element 11 sends a trigger signal to the PLC controller. Upon receiving the control signal, the PLC simultaneously sends control signals to the feeding drive device 15 and the pouring drive device 7, controlling the feeding drive device 15 to stop rotating the feeding turntable 12, thus ensuring the casting mold 14 remains stably below the runner 9. Simultaneously, the pouring drive 7 drives the solidification furnace 3 to tilt at a preset angle. Within a certain preset time, the molten titanium flows through the guide gating channel 9 into the casting mold 14 below, completing the full pouring. Then, the PLC controller uses the timing module to time and sends a signal to the pouring drive 7, driving it to rotate in the opposite direction to a non-pouring position. At the same time, it sends a control signal to the feeding drive 15 to start working, driving the feeding turntable 12 to rotate until it passively stops after being triggered by the next signal from the sensor element 11. The completed casting mold 14 is cooled sequentially as the feeding turntable 12 rotates, and then reaches the delivery station where it is lifted away by the hoisting equipment, thus completing the entire automated pouring process and processing a large number of titanium alloy castings.

[0032] In this embodiment, a melting device 1, a casting device, and a feeding turntable 12 are provided. A tiltable solidification furnace 3 is installed within the melting device 1, allowing for intermittent supply of molten titanium. The casting system 8 includes a flow channel 9 that connects to the solidification furnace 3 and a heating channel 10 for heating the casting molds 14. The feeding turntable 12 loads each casting mold 14 and, via a feeding drive device 15, transports them to various workstations, achieving automated conveying. The overall structure is simple, easy to operate, and improves casting efficiency, facilitating the forming and processing of large batches of titanium alloy castings. Simultaneously, the casting molds 14 are preheated using the heating channel 10, reducing the temperature difference during casting and preventing problems such as cold shuts, shrinkage cavities, and mold cracking. This also reduces the temperature difference between the inside and surface of the casting mold 14, lowering thermal stress and ensuring the casting quality of the later castings.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 6As shown, each clamping slot 13 is defined by four L-shaped limiting clips 16 installed on the upper end of the feeding turntable 12. The four limiting clips 16 are respectively located at the four corners of the rectangle, and each casting mold 14 is clamped and placed within the rectangular area. In this embodiment, the four limiting clips 16 can limit the placement of the casting mold 14 in the front-back, left-right and right directions, preventing the casting mold 14 from shifting during rotation.

[0034] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 1 , 2 As shown, there are openable and closable closed doors 4 on both sides of the protective house 2, which facilitates the entry and exit of the protective house 2 during the component installation stage, and facilitates the entry of the protective house 2 into the interior of the protective house 2 through the closed doors 4 later to maintain or replace the relevant components.

[0035] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 3 , 6 As shown, the feeding drive device 15 includes a base 17, a drive motor 18, a first gear 19, and a second gear 20.

[0036] The base 17 is located inside the protective enclosure 2; the rotating shaft of the feeding turntable 12 is vertically arranged and rotatably mounted on the base 17 in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the drive motor 18 is a programmable motor, equipped with a reducer and other structures, and has a self-locking function. The motor used here is existing technology, and those skilled in the art can choose it themselves, so it will not be described in detail here. The rotating shaft of the feeding turntable 12 and the base 17 can be connected by bearing connectors. As for the vertical support, it can be provided by inserting a reversed circular groove structure on the rotating shaft, and then using an end face bearing for rotatable connection at the end.

[0037] The drive motor 18 is mounted on the base 17, with its output shaft facing upwards and a first gear 19 coaxially mounted on its end. A second gear 20 is coaxially fitted onto the shaft of the feeding turntable 12 and meshes with the first gear 19 for transmission. Specifically, this facilitates positioning of the feeding turntable 12, ensuring the turntable 12 and base 17 are coaxially arranged. This allows the drive motor 18 to be energized and rotated, driving the base 17 to move the casting mold 14 below the guide runner 9, facilitating subsequent pouring.

[0038] In this embodiment, the drive motor 18 is used to drive the gear transmission, which has high transmission accuracy, small space occupation, and can be adapted to the spatial layout of this application.

[0039] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a temperature-isolated cover can be provided outside the drive motor 18, while the drive motor 18 can be reliably cooled by an air duct.

[0040] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 4 , 6 As shown, the upper end of the base 17 has an annular plane, which is aligned vertically with the feeding turntable 12. That is, the annular plane is aligned with the lower plane of the feeding turntable 12.

[0041] Multiple support wheels 21 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the lower end face of the feeding turntable 12. The traveling direction of each support wheel 21 is tangential to the radial direction of the feeding turntable 12, and the lower side of each support wheel 21 abuts against the annular plane. In this embodiment, the multiple support wheels 21 are rolled to the edge of the annular plane of the base 17, which facilitates stable support for the feeding turntable 12. The multiple support wheels 21 are used to support the weight of the multiple casting molds 14, while ensuring smooth rotation of the feeding turntable 12. In this embodiment, the multiple support wheels 21 play a stabilizing role, ensuring smooth rotation.

[0042] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 9 As shown, the flow channel 9 includes a flow guide 22, a protective shell 23, and two first flame nozzles 24.

[0043] The guide flow section 22 has a receiving section 25, a conveying section 26, and an outlet section 27. The receiving section 25 has a funnel-shaped structure and is inclined downward to the right, with its upper opening located below the discharge port of the solidification furnace 3 in the tilting and casting operation. Specifically, this funnel-shaped structure facilitates the collection and guidance of molten titanium liquid, allowing the molten titanium liquid to enter along the receiving section 25.

[0044] The conveying section 26 is a straight cylindrical structure, located at the outlet of the receiving section 25, and is inclined downwards and to the right. The outlet section 27 is a tapering cylindrical structure, vertically positioned, and installed at the lower outlet of the conveying section 26, with a smooth bend at the installation point. Specifically, this can be achieved through a one-piece molding for a smooth transition, or through an elbow structure for a smooth transition at the connection point. When the drive motor 18 stops working, the outlet position is directly opposite the opening above the casting mold 14, facilitating casting. The material selection for the guide fluid 22 can be the same as that for the solidification furnace 3. Further details will not be provided here.

[0045] The protective shell 23 is disposed inside the protective housing 2 and is positioned on the outside of the guide fluid 22 along an inclined direction. Specifically, the protective shell 23 serves to position and install the guide fluid 22.

[0046] Two first burner nozzles 24 are respectively installed on the two side walls of the protective shell 23. One of the first burner nozzles 24 is tilted upwards, and the other is tilted downwards, both aligned with the guide fluid 22. Both first burner nozzles 24 are connected to a gas supply system to provide gaseous fuel. Specifically, the two first burner nozzles 24 here are industrial burner nozzles, which come in various types and are mainly used as combustion components in industrial and heating devices. They are used to spray natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or fuel oil for combustion, providing a high-temperature heat source. High-temperature resistant nozzles, such as silicon carbide or hard alloy, are selected here as much as possible. Regarding the gas supply system, it is located outside the protective shell 2 to ensure gas safety. It connects the two burner nozzles through pipes, and safety detection valves and on / off valves are installed on the pipes to ensure gas safety. The gas supply system here is existing technology and will not be described in detail.

[0047] Each casting mold 14 has a beaker 28 on its upper side. During casting, the beaker 28 and the outlet of the outlet section 27 are positioned vertically in relation to each other. Specifically, a beaker 28 is installed at the opening of each casting mold 14. This beaker has a bowl-shaped structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, facilitating the collection of molten titanium from below.

[0048] In this embodiment, the inclined arrangement of the guide fluid 22 facilitates reliable flow of molten titanium into the casting mold 14. The two first flame nozzles 24 are placed at an upward and downward angle, respectively, to heat the two ends of the second pouring cup carrying the fluid, reducing the temperature difference between the cup and the molten titanium alloy, making the molten titanium flow more easily and reducing pouring errors.

[0049] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 3 , 4 As shown in Figure 5, the protective shell 23 is installed at an angle via a support frame. The support frame has two mounting frames 33 for reliable installation around the protective shell 23. Installation can be achieved through welding, bolting, or other methods. Alternatively, the protective shell 23 can be configured as a bucket-shaped structure, placed within the two mounting frames 33, allowing for reliable placement using gravity while also facilitating disassembly and replacement.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 9As shown, the top and bottom of the inner wall of the protective shell 23 are provided with mounting parts that cooperate with the guide fluid 22. The upper mounting part includes two first support rods 34 spaced apart in the front-to-back direction, which extend laterally. The lower support part includes two second support rods 35 spaced apart in the left-to-right direction, which extend longitudinally. The two first support rods 34 are supported below the conveying section 26 of the guide fluid 22, and the two second support rods 35 are clamped on both sides below the outlet section 27. In this embodiment, the two mounting parts facilitate the positioning and installation of the guide fluid 22. At the same time, the dimensions of the inner wall of the protective shell 23 are larger than the dimensions of the guide fluid 22, which facilitates timely removal and replacement of the guide fluid 22 if it is damaged, thus avoiding any impact on the casting.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 5 , 8 As shown, the heating channel 10 includes multiple heating components, which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the feeding turntable 12 within the protective enclosure 2; and are all located in the area where the feeding turntable 12 rotates from the material inlet 6 to the guide gating 9. In other words, the multiple heating components are installed on the feeding side near the material inlet 6, and the positions of the multiple heating components correspond one-to-one with the intermittent stopping positions of the casting mold 14, ensuring reliable heating during the stopping period.

[0052] Each heating assembly includes a U-shaped frame 29 and multiple second burners 30; each U-shaped frame 29 is inverted and positioned above the feeding turntable 12 and installed inside the protective enclosure 2. The multiple second burners 30 are respectively located on the top and both sides of the U-shaped frame 29, all facing the casting mold 14, and all connected to a gas supply system for providing gaseous fuel to the multiple second burners 30.

[0053] Specifically, each heating assembly has five second burners 30, installed on the front and rear sides, top, and left and right sides of the second burner 30 on the far radial side of the U-shaped frame 29 in the radial direction of the feeding turntable 12. This provides omnidirectional heating of the casting mold 14 at this position. The top second burner 30 is positioned directly opposite the beaker 28 below when the casting mold 14 is at this position, reducing the temperature difference between it and the molten titanium when it reaches the pouring station. The arrangement of the second burners 30 is the same as that of the first burner 24, and their connection to the gas supply system is also the same.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 1 , 3 As shown, the pouring drive device includes a hydraulic cylinder 31, a hydraulic rod 32, and a hydraulic oil supply system.

[0055] The bottom of the hydraulic cylinder 31 is hinged to the top inside the protective enclosure 2. The hydraulic rod 32 is housed within the hydraulic cylinder 31, and its protruding end is hinged to the lower side of the solidification furnace 3. Specifically, the hydraulic oil supply system is used in conjunction with the hydraulic cylinder 31. The tilting adjustment of the solidification furnace 3 is achieved by extending and retracting the hydraulic rod 32. The hydraulic oil supply system is connected to a PLC controller and receives control signals from the PLC controller to adjust the angle. This hydraulic oil supply system is existing technology and will not be described in detail here. The hydraulic oil supply system is located outside the protective enclosure 2 to avoid temperature influences.

[0056] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 3 As shown, the discharge port of the solidification furnace 3 is pointed, which facilitates the outflow of molten liquid.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 3 As shown, two fixed connecting rods 39 are installed on the top of the protective house 2, and the condensing furnace 3 is rotatably connected to the two fixed connecting rods 39.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 4 As shown, the material inlet 6 is designed as an arc-shaped recess 36. At the bottom of the arc-shaped recess 36, an arc-shaped protrusion 37 is provided on the side wall of the protective enclosure 2, directly below the arc-shaped recess 36. Together, they form the material inlet 6. The upper surface of the feeding turntable 12 is flush with the upper surface of the arc-shaped protrusion 37. This level arrangement facilitates the use of hoisting or forklift equipment for operators to place and remove the casting molds, enabling batch casting of titanium castings.

[0059] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 1 As shown, a conical feed hopper 38 is installed at the feeding port 5 on the roof. The conical feed hopper 38 is located directly above the solidification furnace 3.

[0060] In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 5 As shown, the two sensing elements 11 are photoelectric proximity sensors. This sensor is responsible for receiving signals from the two proximity sensors. After the casting mold 14 blocks the two proximity sensors, it sends a control signal to the PLC to stop the drive motor 18, ensuring that the casting mold 14 remains stably positioned directly below the lower outlet of the guide fluid 22.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, a heating device (not shown in the figure) may be added around the solidification furnace 3 to ensure that the molten titanium liquid inside the solidification furnace 3 remains in a molten state.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present invention, a camera (not shown in the figure) is provided at the material inlet 6. The camera monitors the placement and removal of the casting mold 14 and transmits the image information to the display system. Users can monitor the placement and removal situation through the display system, which facilitates the use of hoisting equipment to hoist the casting mold 14 and monitor the hoisting process.

[0063] The present invention also provides a molding method specifically for any of the above-mentioned molding equipment, as shown in the appendix. Figure 11 As shown, this includes: when the temperature inside the solidification furnace 3 of the molding equipment is not lower than the set temperature and the solidification furnace 3 is in the accelerator state, identifying whether there is a casting mold 14 at the outlet of the heating channel 10 of the molding equipment.

[0064] Specifically, the conditions for tilting the solidification furnace 3, which requires the pouring drive device 7 to drive it, are as follows: First, the temperature inside the solidification furnace 3 must not be lower than the set temperature, which can be measured using a temperature sensor. If the temperature is lower than the set temperature, an external heating device can be used to heat the furnace to the set temperature. Second, it is necessary to detect whether the solidification furnace 3 is in the return state. This can be achieved by installing an angle sensor at the rotational installation position of the furnace 3, thus checking whether it has returned to its normal position. When both conditions are met, the outlet of the heating channel 10 is identified, i.e., the presence of a casting mold is checked using the sensing element 11.

[0065] If present, the solidification furnace 3 is tilted by the pouring drive device 7 of the molding equipment to pour into the casting mold 14.

[0066] In response to the set time for the solidification furnace 3 to tilt, the pouring drive device 7 drives the solidification furnace 3 to return to the upright state, and the feeding drive device 15 of the forming equipment drives the feeding turntable 12 of the forming equipment to rotate. Specifically, when the set time has elapsed, it indicates that a full amount of molten titanium liquid has been poured into the casting mold 14, meeting the requirements. Here, the PLC controller sends a control signal to control the pouring drive device 7 to return to the upright state, and also sends a control signal to control the feeding drive device 15 to start driving the feeding turntable 12 to rotate.

[0067] The molding method of the molding equipment implemented in this invention utilizes the dual conditions of furnace body alignment and furnace temperature reaching the target level to avoid defects in low-temperature titanium liquid casting, leakage and splashing accidents caused by furnace body tilting due to failure to return to its original position, and sets precise timing sequences to ensure casting quality. It achieves continuous automated cyclic production without manual intervention, thereby increasing production capacity.

[0068] In some embodiments of the molding method of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 1 As shown, the casting drive device 7 of the molding equipment drives the solidification furnace 3 to tilt, including: Based on the number of times the solidification furnace 3 has been tilted during pouring, the target tilt angle for this tilt is determined. The liquid level inside the furnace can be calculated based on the number of times the furnace has been tilted. The current liquid level can be used to calculate the angle at which the furnace needs to be tilted again when filled with the same amount of molten titanium. The number of pours reflects the cumulative number of tilts since the furnace was full, and the target tilt angle is inversely proportional to the number of pours. Specifically, a sensor can be used for counting, such as a through-beam sensor. Each tilt of the furnace triggers the sensor, completing one count and providing the current number of tilts. Each time new molten titanium is poured, the count resets to zero. Using the aforementioned angle sensor, the tilt angle for each tilt can be obtained and matched with a predetermined angle. For example, if the tilt angle reaches 50 degrees, the preset angle is also 50 degrees. The angle sensor then sends a control signal to the PLC controller, driving the pouring drive to return the furnace 3 to its upright position. As the number of pours increases, the target tilt angle for each pour becomes smaller. In other words, the target angle is the angle between the axis of the solidification furnace 3 and the horizontal line. This angle decreases with each pour, showing an inverse proportional relationship. The target tilt angle for each pour is calculated in advance and set in the controller.

[0069] The tilting speed of the solidification furnace 3 within a set time is determined based on the angle between the target tilt angle and the current tilt angle; where the current tilt angle reflects the tilt angle of the last pour. Since the tilting must be completed within the set time, the tilting speed needs to be determined based on the angle between the two during each pouring process, so that the liquid in the solidification furnace 3 fills the casting mold 14 within the preset time.

[0070] The solidification furnace 3 is tilted according to the tilting speed, controlled by the pouring drive device 7. This ensures that at this tilting speed and within a set time, the poured molten titanium liquid precisely fills a casting mold 14.

[0071] In the molding method of this embodiment, the pouring speed for each pour is calculated by calculating the angle between the target tilt angle and the current tilt angle, and the amount of molten titanium liquid that needs to be reached within a preset time at that angle. This allows for automatic compensation of the liquid level height at large tilt angles, ensuring a stable outflow of titanium liquid each time and avoiding early overflow and insufficient pouring later. The tilt angle and speed are dynamically corrected throughout the process from a full furnace to near-empty furnace, ensuring a uniform pouring volume per mold and solving the problem of large flow fluctuations in manual pouring, thus adapting to stable mass production.

[0072] In some embodiments of the molding method of the present invention, as shown in the appendix Figure 1As shown, in response to the set time for the solidification furnace 3 to tilt, the solidification furnace 3 is driven to return to the upright state by the pouring drive device 7, and the feeding turntable 12 of the forming equipment is driven to rotate by the feeding drive device 15 of the forming equipment, including: In response to the moment when the tilt angle of the solidification furnace 3 reaches the target tilt angle, the feeding drive device 15 drives the feeding turntable 12 of the molding equipment to rotate until the casting mold 14 is detected at the outlet of the heating channel 10. That is, after the tilt angle of the solidification furnace 3 reaches the target tilt angle, it indicates that the pouring is close to full. Simultaneously, a preset time is reached. At this time, the PLC controller sends a control signal to drive the feeding drive device 15 to drive the feeding turntable 12 of the molding equipment to rotate. This prevents residual material from the guide gating channel 9 from entering the casting mold 14, ensuring a uniform amount of material in each casting mold 14 and guaranteeing pouring quality. At the same time, the solidification furnace 3 begins to return to its normal position until the next casting mold 14 is detected arriving at the pouring station.

[0073] In the molding method of this embodiment, the solidification furnace 3 rotates the turntable synchronously when it reaches the pouring angle, without waiting for the solidification furnace 3 to return to the upright position before transferring the casting mold 14, thus shortening the single mold production cycle and improving the efficiency of batch production.

[0074] Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that although numerous exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications conforming to the principles of the present invention can be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be understood and construed as covering all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A titanium alloy casting forming equipment, characterized in that, include: The smelting equipment includes a protective house and a rotatable solidification furnace inside it. A feeding port is defined on the roof of the protective house and a discharging port is defined on the front side. A furnace door is provided at the feeding port and / or the discharging port. The solidification furnace is arranged at intervals below the feeding port. A casting drive device is connected to the bottom of the solidification furnace. The casting drive device is used to pull the solidification furnace to tilt and cast. A gating system, located inside the protective enclosure, includes a gating channel and a heating channel on its right side. The outlet of the heating channel is located below the gating channel and a sensing element for detecting the casting mold is provided thereon. A feeding turntable is defined with a plurality of clamping slots evenly spaced in the circumferential direction. Each clamping slot is used to detachably accommodate one of the casting molds. The feeding turntable is connected to a feeding drive device, which drives the feeding turntable to rotate clockwise so that each of the casting molds passes through the heating channel in sequence and reaches the lower side of the guide runner, and then emerges from the material outlet.

2. The molding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each clamping slot is defined by four L-shaped limiters installed on the upper end of the feeding turntable. The four limiters are located at the four corners of the rectangle, and each casting mold is clamped and placed within the rectangular area.

3. The molding equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The feeding drive device includes a base, a drive motor, a first gear, and a second gear; The base is located inside the protective house; the rotating shaft of the feeding turntable is set vertically and is rotatably mounted on the base in the horizontal direction; The drive motor is mounted on the base, and its output shaft is positioned upwards with the first gear coaxially mounted on the shaft end; The second gear is coaxially mounted on the shaft of the feeding turntable and meshes with the first gear for transmission.

4. The molding equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper end of the base has an annular plane, which is vertically aligned with the feeding turntable. The lower end face of the feeding turntable is evenly equipped with multiple support wheels along the circumferential direction. The traveling direction of each support wheel is set along the tangential direction of the radial direction of the feeding turntable, and the lower side of each support wheel abuts against the annular plane.

5. The molding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow channel includes a flow channel, a protective shell, and two first flame nozzles; The guide fluid has a receiving section, a conveying section, and an outlet section; the receiving section has a funnel-shaped structure and is inclined to the lower right, with its upper opening located below the discharge port of the solidification furnace during the tilting and casting process; the conveying section has a straight cylindrical structure and is located at the outlet of the receiving section, and is inclined to the lower right; the outlet section has a gradually narrowing cylindrical structure and is vertically arranged, installed at the lower outlet of the conveying section, and has a smooth bend at the installation point. The protective shell is disposed inside the protective house and is arranged on the outside of the fluid guide along an inclined direction; Two first nozzles are respectively disposed on the two side walls of the protective shell. One of the two first nozzles is tilted upwards and the other is tilted downwards, and both are aligned with the guide fluid. Both first nozzles are connected to a gas supply system to provide gaseous fuel to the two first nozzles. Each of the casting molds has a beating cup on its upper side, and the beating cup and the outlet of the outlet section are arranged vertically in correspondence during the casting process.

6. The molding equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heating channel includes multiple heating components, which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the feeding turntable inside the protective chamber; and are all located in the area where the feeding turntable rotates from the material inlet to the guide channel. Each heating assembly includes a U-shaped frame and multiple second flame nozzles; each U-shaped frame is inverted and positioned above the feeding turntable and installed inside the protective enclosure; multiple second flame nozzles are respectively located on the top and both sides of the U-shaped frame, all facing the casting mold, and all connected to a gas supply system for providing gaseous fuel to the multiple second flame nozzles.

7. The molding equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The pouring drive device includes a hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic rod, and a hydraulic oil supply system; The bottom of the hydraulic cylinder is hinged to the top of the protective house, and the hydraulic rod is disposed inside the hydraulic cylinder and hinged to the lower side of the solidification furnace at the end of the rod extending out of the hydraulic cylinder.

8. A molding method specifically for the molding equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, include: When the temperature inside the solidification furnace of the molding equipment is not lower than the set temperature and the solidification furnace is in the accelerator state, identify whether there is a casting mold at the outlet of the heating channel of the molding equipment. If present, the solidification furnace is tilted by the pouring drive device of the molding equipment to pour into the casting mold; In response to the set time for the solidification furnace to tilt, the solidification furnace is driven to return to the upright state by the pouring drive device, and the feeding turntable of the forming equipment is driven to rotate by the feeding drive device of the forming equipment.

9. The molding method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The solidification furnace is tilted by the casting drive device of the molding equipment, including: Based on the number of pours that the solidification furnace has already tilted, the target tilt angle for this tilting of the solidification furnace is determined; wherein, the number of pours reflects the cumulative number of tilts since the solidification furnace has been in a full state, and the angle of the target tilt angle is inversely proportional to the number of pours; The tilting speed of the solidification furnace within the set time is determined based on the angle between the target tilt angle and the current tilt angle; wherein, the current tilt angle reflects the tilt angle of the last pouring in the number of pours; The solidification furnace is tilted according to the tilting speed controlled by the pouring drive device.

10. The molding method according to claim 9, characterized in that: In response to the set time for the solidification furnace to tilt, the solidification furnace is driven to return to its normal position via the casting drive device, and the feeding turntable of the forming equipment is driven to rotate via the feeding drive device of the forming equipment, including: In response to the moment when the tilt angle of the solidification furnace reaches the target tilt angle, the feeding drive device drives the feeding turntable of the forming equipment to rotate until the casting mold is detected at the outlet of the heating channel.

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