Low-pressure casting apparatus
By positioning the refrigerant connection outside the die base, the low-pressure casting apparatus enhances leak detection and maintains mold temperature stability, thereby improving casting quality.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing low-pressure casting apparatuses face challenges in detecting refrigerant leaks due to connections within the die base, which can lead to unnoticed leaks and potential quality issues in castings.
The connection between the refrigerant flow path and supply device is positioned outside the die base, facilitating easier detection of refrigerant leaks and preventing leakage into the mold.
This configuration allows for prompt detection of refrigerant leaks, ensuring consistent mold temperature and improved casting quality by preventing refrigerant ingress into the mold.
Smart Images
Figure 2026075992000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a low-pressure casting apparatus.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a casting apparatus that cools molten metal supplied to a cavity of a mold by supplying a refrigerant to a cooling space in the mold when manufacturing a casting from the molten metal.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] As a casting method, for example, there is low-pressure casting. Low-pressure casting improves the circulation of molten metal by reducing the pressure inside the mold and can manufacture thin-walled and large-sized castings. A low-pressure casting apparatus is provided with a die base on the upper mold for the purpose of weight reduction of the mold. The connection between a hose extending from a supply device that supplies a refrigerant and a refrigerant flow path in the low-pressure casting apparatus extending from the cooling space is performed inside the die base. Therefore, due to refrigerant leakage from the connection part inside the die base, there is a risk that the operator may not notice the refrigerant leakage.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems and provides a low-pressure casting apparatus capable of easily detecting refrigerant leakage.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The low-pressure casting apparatus according to the present disclosure is a low-pressure casting apparatus for manufacturing a casting from molten metal, comprising: a mold having a cavity formed in which the molten metal is filled; a die base attached to the upper side of the mold; a cooling space provided in the mold through which a refrigerant flows to cool the molten metal in the cavity; and one or more refrigerant passages, one end of which is connected to the cooling space and the other end of which is connected to a refrigerant supply device, wherein the connection between the refrigerant passage and the supply device is located on the outside of the die base.
[0007] By positioning the connection between the refrigerant flow path and the supply unit on the outside of the die base, workers can more easily notice refrigerant leaks. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] The present invention provides a low-pressure casting apparatus capable of easily detecting refrigerant leaks. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a low-pressure casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart of the manufacturing method for a casting according to Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] The following describes specific embodiments of this disclosure in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity, the following descriptions and drawings have been simplified as appropriate.
[0011] (Embodiment 1) <Configuration of a low-pressure casting apparatus> First, with reference to Figure 1, the configuration of the low-pressure casting apparatus according to this embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the low-pressure casting apparatus according to this embodiment 1. The low-pressure casting apparatus 1 is a casting apparatus that manufactures castings from molten metal such as aluminum alloy. As shown in Figure 1, the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 comprises a mold 10, a die base 20, an ejector pin 30, an ejector plate 40, an ejector plate cover 50, a refrigerant pipe 60, and a refrigerant block 70. In the following description, a two-dimensional xy orthogonal coordinate system will be used as appropriate.
[0012] The mold 10 comprises an upper mold 11 and a lower mold 12. The upper mold 11 forms a cavity C together with the lower mold 12. That is, when the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 are closed, a cavity C is formed in the mold 10. Molten metal is filled into the cavity C. The low-pressure casting apparatus 1 manufactures a casting by cooling and solidifying the molten metal filled into the cavity C. The upper mold 11 also has one or more cooling spaces R through which a refrigerant flows to cool the molten metal in the cavity C. Note that the cooling spaces R and the cavity C are not connected. The cooling spaces R may be provided not only in the upper mold 11 but also in the lower mold 12.
[0013] The die base 20 is mounted on the upper side (+y direction side) of the upper mold 11. The ejection pin 30 is a rod-shaped member that can protrude into the cavity C of the mold 10 and is used to release the casting from the mold 10. The extrusion plate 40 is a plate-shaped member that pushes the extrusion pin 30 in the direction of the cavity C (-y direction). Since the extrusion plate 40 is connected to the extrusion pin 30, when the extrusion plate 40 moves up or down, the extrusion pin 30 also moves up or down accordingly. The extrusion plate cover 50 is provided on the upper side (+y direction side) of the die base 20 and the extrusion plate 40 in order to close the gap between the die base 20 and the extrusion plate 40.
[0014] The gaps between the upper mold 11 and the die base 20, the gap between the die base 20 and the extrusion plate cover 50, and the gap between the extrusion plate cover 50 and the extrusion plate 40 are each sealed with a sealing material. Therefore, a sealed space S is formed on the upper side (+y direction side) of the upper mold 11 by the upper mold 11, the die base 20, the extrusion plate 40, and the extrusion plate cover 50. The air in the sealed space S is sucked out through a suction hole T provided in the die base 20 by a suction device (not shown). As a result, the sealed space S is depressurized, and the flow of molten metal in the cavity C of the mold 10 is improved. Therefore, the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 can produce thin-walled and large castings.
[0015] The refrigerant pipe 60 is connected at one end to the cooling space R and at the other end to the refrigerant block 70. One end of the refrigerant block 70 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 60. The other end of the refrigerant block 70 is connected to a hose U1 extending from a refrigerant supply device by a coupler U2. The refrigerant supplied from the hose U1 of the supply device is guided to the cooling space R through the refrigerant flow path formed by the refrigerant pipe 60 and the refrigerant block 70. Multiple refrigerant flow paths may be provided in the low-pressure casting apparatus 1. These multiple refrigerant flow paths may be divided, for example, into flow paths that guide refrigerant from outside the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 to the cooling space R, and flow paths that guide refrigerant from the cooling space R to outside the low-pressure casting apparatus 1.
[0016] If the connection between the refrigerant block 70 and the coupler U2 is made inside the die base 20, there is a risk of refrigerant leakage occurring inside the die base 20. Because the refrigerant leakage occurs inside the die base 20, there is a risk that the operator will not notice the leak. Furthermore, if the leaked refrigerant accumulates inside the mold 10, the temperature of the mold 10 may not reach the target temperature, potentially leading to a decrease in the quality of the casting.
[0017] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the connection between the refrigerant block 70 and the coupler U2 is made outside the die base 20. By having the connection between the refrigerant flow path and the supply device located outside the die base 20, it becomes easier for the operator to notice refrigerant leaks. Furthermore, there is no risk of refrigerant leaking from the connection flowing into the mold 10.
[0018] <Method for manufacturing a casting> Next, referring to FIG. 2, a method for manufacturing a casting using the low-pressure casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the method for manufacturing a casting according to Embodiment 1. The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 starts after the cavity C is formed in the mold 10 in a state where the upper mold 11 and the lower mold 12 are closed.
[0019] First, the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 fills the cavity C in the mold 10 with molten metal (step S101). In this step S101, the air in the sealed space S is sucked by a suction device (not shown) through the suction holes T provided in the die base 20. As a result, the sealed space S is depressurized, and the circulation of the molten metal in the cavity C of the mold 10 is improved.
[0020] Next, the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 cools the molten metal in the cavity C (step S102). In this step S102, in order to efficiently cool the molten metal in the cavity C, the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 supplies a refrigerant to the cooling space R in the mold 10. Since the connection portion between the refrigerant flow path and the supply device is located outside the die base 20, it is easier for the operator to notice refrigerant leakage. Furthermore, there is no risk that the refrigerant leaking from the connection portion will flow into the mold 10. When the molten metal in the cavity C is cooled and solidified, a casting is completed.
[0021] Finally, the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 releases the casting from the mold 10 (step S103). The low-pressure casting apparatus 1 pushes out the push pin 30 in the direction (-y direction) into the cavity C by lowering the push-out plate 40. Then, the casting is pushed by the push pin 30 and released from the mold 10.
[0022] As described above, according to the low-pressure casting apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1, since the connection portion between the refrigerant flow path and the supply device is located outside the die base 20, it is easier for the operator to notice refrigerant leakage. Furthermore, there is no risk that the refrigerant leaking from the connection portion will flow into the mold 10.
[0023] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0024] 1. Low-pressure casting apparatus 10 molds 11 Upper mold 12 Lower mold 20 Die Base 30 ejection pins 40 Extruded sheet 50 Extruded plate lid 60 refrigerant pipes 70 Refrigerant Block C Cavity R Cooling space S closed space T suction hole U1 Hose U2 coupler
Claims
[Claim 1] A low-pressure casting apparatus for manufacturing castings from molten metal, A mold having a cavity formed in which the molten metal is filled, A die base attached to the upper side of the mold, A cooling space provided in the mold through which a refrigerant flows to cool the molten metal in the cavity, One end comprises the cooling space, and the other end comprises one or more refrigerant flow paths connected to the refrigerant supply device. The connection between the refrigerant flow path and the supply device is located outside the die base. Low-pressure casting apparatus.