Feeder Sleeve Groove Design for Casting Breakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing feeder systems in metal casting face issues with breakage under high pressure moulding due to direct contact with pattern plates, leading to surface defects and contamination, and require a more dimensionally stable solution that minimizes chilling effects and allows for effective feeding during casting.

Innovation Solution

A feeder system comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a tubular body with a groove, where the tubular body projects into the groove under pressure, allowing relative movement and absorbing energy to prevent breakage, and the tubular body is designed to be in contact with the exothermic feeder only during casting to maintain liquid metal flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the feeder sleeve is in direct contact with the pattern plate during high pressure moulding, then the moulding process can be completed, but the feeder sleeve may breakage and cause surface defects and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeder sleeve integrityVSAvoidsurface defects and contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a pattern plate surface coating or protective layer as an intermediary between the feeder sleeve and the pattern plate. This coating prevents direct contact and potential breakage while allowing the moulding process to proceed normally, thereby eliminating surface defects and contamination without compromising feeder sleeve integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies a protective coating or cushioning layer to the pattern plate surface before the moulding process. This pre-applied protection absorbs the impact and pressure during high pressure moulding, preventing feeder sleeve breakage and the associated surface defects and contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Stability of the object's composition

If higher ramming pressures are applied to produce dimensionally stable moulds, then mould stability is improved, but feeder sleeve breakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemould dimensional stabilityVSAvoidfeeder sleeve strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The protective coating on the pattern plate acts as an intermediary that reduces the direct transmission of high ramming pressures to the feeder sleeve. This allows the mould to achieve dimensional stability through high pressure ramming while the coating protects the feeder sleeve from breakage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-applied protective layer on the pattern plate provides cushioning against high ramming pressures. This cushioning effect allows the mould to be compacted to high density and dimensional stability while preventing the feeder sleeve from experiencing damaging stress concentrations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Duration of action of moving object

If the tubular body maintains intimate contact with the exothermic feeder, then metal remains liquid longer for effective feeding, but chilling effects may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetal liquid state durationVSAvoidmetal temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The tubular body is designed with selective thermal properties - it maintains intimate contact with the exothermic feeder at specific locations to extend the liquid state duration, while its material composition or insulation characteristics are optimized to minimize chilling effects on the molten metal temperature

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution prevents feeder sleeve breakage, reduces chilling effects, and ensures effective feeding by allowing the tubular body to maintain intimate contact with the exothermic feeder, ensuring the metal remains liquid long enough to compensate for shrinkage, thus improving casting quality and reducing defects.

Implementation Method 1

compact the mould material comprises applying pressure to the feeder system such that the retaining means are overcome and the tubular body is pushed further into the groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

allowing relative movement and absorbing energy to prevent breakage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 3

the tubular body is designed to be in contact with the exothermic feeder only during casting to maintain liquid metal flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Data Source

PatentEP3188856B1Feeder system
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 FOSECO INTERNATIONAL LTD
  • EP3188856B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3188856B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3188856B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The present invention relates to a feeder system for metal casting. The feeder system comprises a feeder sleeve mounted on a tubular body. The feeder sleeve has a longitudinal axis and comprises a continuous sidewall that defines a cavity for receiving liquid metal during casting. The sidewall extends generally around the longitudinal axis and has a base adjacent the tubular body. The tubular body defines an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting. A groove extends into the sidewall from the base to a first depth and the tubular body projects into the groove to a second depth and is held in position by retaining means. The second depth being less than the first depth so that upon application of a force in use the retaining means are overcome and the tubular body is pushed further into the groove.