Mold Locking Mechanism With Gas Pressure Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mold systems for cast parts face challenges in maintaining contact pressure during swinging movements by a heavy casting apparatus, leading to unreliable locking and difficulty in demolding, especially when the mold is freely handled by a robotic arm.
Innovation Solution
The mold incorporates a locking mechanism with a gas pressure spring to maintain closing pressure and an emergency release mechanism using a gas pressure actuator, push rods, and ejector rods for reliable demolding, allowing for autonomous locking and demolding regardless of the mold's position or phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mold is freely swung by a heavy casting apparatus or robotic arm, then the mold can be positioned according to the casting program, but the mutual contact pressure of the mold parts cannot be maintained reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is activated before the swinging movement begins. The mold parts are locked together in the closed position prior to being freely swung by the robotic arm, ensuring that the contact pressure is established in advance and maintained throughout the positioning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is integrated into the mold itself, making the mold self-locking. The mold parts automatically maintain their mutual contact pressure through the locking mechanism without requiring external intervention during the swinging and positioning operations.
2Reliability
If the mold parts are pressed together by an extrinsic closing device, then the mold cavity is sealed, but the locking mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device combines multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism. The locking sleeves, tension bolts, and energy storage means work together as one unified system that both seals the mold cavity and maintains contact pressure, rather than using separate locking and sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage means uses compressed gas (pneumatics) to provide the locking force. The gas pressure spring or gas pressure actuator stores energy and releases it to maintain the contact pressure between mold parts, simplifying the mechanical structure compared to purely mechanical spring systems.
3Reliability
If the mold is locked during casting, then the contact pressure is maintained, but the demolding process becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to be dynamically controllable. The locking and unlocking states can be switched as needed during the casting process. The energy storage means can be activated to lock during casting, then deactivated or reversed to unlock for demolding, allowing the system to adapt to different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension bolt acts as an intermediary element between the locking sleeves and the energy storage means. It transmits the locking force during casting and can be selectively retracted or disengaged to facilitate demolding, serving as a controllable mediator between the locked and unlocked states.
4Reliability
If a locking mechanism is integrated into the mold, then the mold can be securely locked during swinging, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into modular components: locking sleeves on each mold part, tension bolts for connection, and separate energy storage means. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies assembly and maintenance while providing reliable locking during swinging movements.
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 ensures a tightly sealed mold cavity during casting and enables reliable demolding of solidified cast parts, even when the mold is freely moved by a robotic arm, improving operational efficiency and reducing the risk of damage.
Implementation Method 1
the locking device has an energy storage means with a gas pressure spring to maintain the closing pressure which presses the mold plates together
Implementation Method 2
the emergency release mechanism has a gas pressure actuator and has push rods and ejector rods charged by the gas pressure actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A mold for production of cast parts, having two mold parts in the form of mold plates, which mold parts arc movable with respect to each other from an open position into a closed position, wherein the mold parts in their closed position define a mold cavity which may be filled with liquid casting compound and in their open position enable removal of a cast part which has solidified by at least partial cooling, and are lockable in their closed position by a locking device which joining the two mold parts so as to be releasable, and which mold parts may also be swung, wherewith in the closed position the locking device produces the locking of the mold plates with the stipulation that the locking pressure is maintained. The locking device has an energy storage means with a gas pressure spring for maintaining the closing pressure which presses the mold plates together after they have initially been pressed together.