IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
공개
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0152000
(2005-06-14)
|
공개번호 |
US-0274479
(2005-12-15)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Ludwig, Richard
- Derby, Stephen
- Puffer, Raymond
- Phipps, Bruce
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
HESLIN ROTHENBERG FARLEY &
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
0 |
초록
▼
A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax ru
A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax pattern and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree and additional wax runners are affixed in the same manner.
대표청구항
▼
1-7. (canceled) 8. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns, such apparatus comprising: a runner load station configured for holding a wax runner; means for loading wax patterns configured for holding wax patterns; a pattern assembly including a patter
1-7. (canceled) 8. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns, such apparatus comprising: a runner load station configured for holding a wax runner; means for loading wax patterns configured for holding wax patterns; a pattern assembly including a pattern fixture configured for gripping wax patterns located on the means for loading wax patterns, the pattern assembly further including means for moving the wax patterns gripped by the pattern fixture to positions adjacent to the wax runner; a heating assembly including a heating device, means for heating the heating device to a temperature sufficient to melt wax, and means for moving the heating device between the wax runner and the wax patterns, wherein the heating device is adapted to melt wax on the wax runner and the wax patterns, the means for moving the heating device is configured to remove the heating device when wax melting has occurred, and the pattern assembly further including means to bring the wax patterns and wax runner together where wax has been melted by the heating device. 9. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality wax of wax patterns according to claim 8 wherein the pattern assembly further includes means for slightly separating the wax patterns and the wax runner to form a fillet weld. 10. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 8 wherein the runner load station further includes: a first runner holder; a second runner holder, the first runner holder and second runner holder being configured to cooperatively hold a wax runner; a first upper shaft, the first runner holder being mounted to rotate thereon; a second upper shaft, the second runner holder being mounted to rotate thereon; and means for rotating the first upper shaft. 11. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 8 wherein the runner load station further includes: a first runner holder; a second runner holder, the first runner holder and second runner holder being configured to cooperatively hold a wax runner; a first upper shaft, the first runner holder being mounted to rotate thereon; a second upper shaft, the second runner holder being mounted to rotate thereon; means for rotating the first upper shaft; a pivot axle rotatably mounted generally at a right angle to the first upper shaft, the runner load station being mounted to tilt on the pivot axle; and a means for tilting the runner load station on the pivot axle, the means for tilting contacting the runner load station to apply a force thereto. 12. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 8 wherein the means for loading wax patterns has a point of rotation and rotates about the point of rotation. 13. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 8 wherein; the means for loading wax patterns has a point of rotation and rotates about the point of rotation; and the means for loading wax patterns further includes a plurality of pattern trays configured for holding wax patterns. 14. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 8 further including: a cleaning station configured for cleaning the heating device, the heating assembly further including means for placing the heating device into the cleaning station at predetermined intervals. 15. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 8 wherein the pattern assembly further includes means for slightly separating the wax patterns and the wax runner to form a fillet weld after the wax patterns and the wax runner are placed in contact with one another and before the wax hardens. 16. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns, such apparatus comprising: a runner load station including a pair of runner holders configured for holding a wax runner; means for loading wax patterns having a center point, the means for loading wax patterns being rotatably mounted about the center point, the means for loading wax patterns being located adjacent the runner load station; a plurality of pattern loading trays for holding wax patterns in a preselected position, the pattern trays being located at equal angular intervals about the center point and equidistant from the center point, the pattern loading tray located closest to the runner load station being an inner tray; a pattern assembly including means for three-dimensional movement; a pattern fixture affixed to the pattern assembly configured for gripping wax patterns in the inner pattern tray, the means for three-dimensional movement of the pattern assembly being adapted to move wax patterns gripped by the pattern fixture adjacent to the wax runner being held by the pair of wax runner holders; a heating assembly including means for three-dimensional movement; and a heating device mounted on the heating assembly, the heating assembly being adapted to move the heating device between the wax runner being held by the pair of runner holders and the wax patterns gripped by the pattern fixture and positioned adjacent to the wax runner, the heating assembly being further adapted to remove the heating device from between the wax runner and the wax patterns, the pattern assembly being further adapted to lower the wax patterns into contact with the wax runner and then to slightly separate the wax patterns from the wax runner to form fillet welds that fuse the wax patterns to the wax runner, the pattern fixture being further adapted to release the wax patterns. 17. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 16 further including: a cleaning station configured for cleaning the heating device, the heating assembly further including means for placing the heating device into the cleaning station at predetermined intervals. 18. (canceled) 19. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the pattern assembly is configured to slighting separate the wax patterns from the wax runner by slightly raising the wax patterns from the wax runner. 20. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 16 wherein the heating device comprises a heated blade, the apparatus further comprises a cleaning station for cleaning the heated blade, and the heating assembly further comprises means for placing the heated blade into the cleaning station at predetermined intervals. 21. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 10 wherein the runner load station further includes a pulley drive device, the pulley drive device engaging the first upper shaft and the second upper shaft, wherein the pulley drive device is configured to drive the second upper shaft substantially synchronously with the rotation of the first upper shaft. 22. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns according to claim 13 wherein the pattern trays are located at equal angular intervals about the point of rotation. 23. An apparatus for assembling a wax tree from a wax runner and a plurality of wax patterns, said apparatus comprising: a base; a runner load station configured for holding a wax runner, the runner load station being pivotally coupled to the base; means for loading wax patterns that is rotatably mounted on the base, the means for loading wax patterns configured for holding wax patterns to be attached to the wax runner; a pattern positioning assembly that is connected to the base, the pattern positioning assembly including a pattern fixture configured for gripping one or more wax patterns and means for moving the pattern fixture in at least two dimensions, wherein the means for moving the pattern fixture is adapted to moving the wax patterns from the means for loading wax patterns to a position over the wax runner; and a heating blade assembly that is connected to the base, the heating blade assembly comprising a heating blade for melting wax on a surface of the wax runner and surfaces of the wax patterns, means for heating the heating blade, and means for moving the heating blade to a position between the wax runner and the wax patterns being held in the position over the wax runner. 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the means for moving the pattern fixture is further adapted to moving the wax patterns into contact with the wax runner and subsequently moving the wax patterns slightly away from the wax runner to form fillet welds between the wax runner and the wax patterns. 25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the means for moving the heating blade is further adapted to moving the heating blade into contact with the wax patterns. 26. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a cleaning station configured for cleaning the heating blade, and the means for moving the heating blade is further configured to move the heating blade into the cleaning station. 27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the means for moving the pattern fixture and the means for moving the heating blade are further adapted to cooperatively bring the heating blade into contact with the wax runner and the wax patterns during overlapping time intervals. 28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the cleaning station comprises one or more air jets, the air jets being configured to blast air against the heating blade to facilitate removal of accumulated wax from the heating blade.
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