Moulded Part Permeability Gradient for Casting Mold Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing casting molds face challenges with uneven drainage and handling difficulties due to their large and heavy design, as well as the complexity of producing molded articles and green compacts.

Innovation Solution

A molded part for casting molds with a shell and flange having different permeabilities, where the shell is more permeable to fluids than the flange, allowing controlled fluid flow and integrated sealing, and a releasable coupling for easy handling and drainage, made from the same material for uniform properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the mold and molded parts are made large to accommodate ceramic product casting, then the casting capacity is improved, but the mold becomes heavy and difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecasting capacityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mold is divided into multiple molded parts (first molded part, second molded part, etc.) that can be assembled together to form the complete mold. This segmentation allows the mold to achieve large casting capacity while each individual part remains manageable in size and weight for handling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the molded parts have porous edge layers for drainage, then fluid drainage capability is improved, but the drainage becomes uneven across the mold space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid drainage capabilityVSAvoiddrainage uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different molded parts are assigned different permeability characteristics based on their local requirements. The first molded part has a porous edge layer with higher permeability for primary drainage, while the second molded part has a flange with lower permeability for secondary drainage or sealing, creating locally optimized drainage that achieves overall uniformity across the mold space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the flange has low permeability for sealing contact, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but fluid drainage through the flange is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidfluid drainage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flange is designed with lower permeability than the main shell to provide effective sealing contact with the sealing surface. However, the flange is still made permeable to some degree, allowing it to drain fluids that penetrate through the seal, thus maintaining both sealing effectiveness and drainage capability at different locations of the same component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If the shell and flange are made from different materials to optimize their properties, then material performance is improved, but production complexity and joint reliability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial performanceVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shell and flange are made from the same material (PMMA or other plastic), ensuring uniform material properties throughout the molded part. This homogeneity simplifies production by eliminating the need for material transitions and joints between different materials, while still allowing different permeability characteristics to be achieved through design differences in structure and thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

5Device complexity

If the molded part has integrated flange and shell for simplicity, then production is simplified, but sealing capability with environment worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidsealing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flange portion of the integrated molded part is designed with specifically lower permeability than the shell portion, creating a localized sealing zone at the flange-sealing surface interface. This allows the integrated structure to maintain both production simplicity and effective sealing capability through differentiated material properties at different locations.

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

Enables even drainage, simplified production, and improved handling of molded parts by directing fluid discharge through the shell and providing a secure sealing mechanism, facilitating the production of ceramic products with uniform water absorption and easy removal of green compacts.

Implementation Method 1

The shell has a first permeability to a fluid and the flange has a second permeability to the fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeability: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

A flange (12) is arranged on one edge of the molded part for sealing contact with a sealing surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

JP H07 256616 A discloses a mold with two molded parts. The purpose of JP H07 256616 A is to achieve water absorption that is as uniform as possible across the entire shell surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3482845B1Moulded part, mould and method of moulding a green body
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 DORST TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3482845B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3482845B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3482845B1 patent drawingFigure 3c~3d

AI summary

The invention relates to a molded part 1 for a casting mold 100. The molded part 1 comprises at least one shell 11 for casting a product. A flange 12 is arranged on a frame of the molded part 1 for sealing against a sealing surface 13. The shell 11 has a first permeability for a fluid, and the flange 12 has a second permeability for the fluid. The second permeability is smaller than the first permeability.