IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0246765
(2002-09-19)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- LeBlanc, Guy
- Lemieux, Julien
- Anson, James P.
- Wilson, Donald A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Shlesinger Arkwright &
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
108 |
초록
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An adjustable mold for direct chill casting of metals has longitudinally movable end walls which are clamped between the mold side walls during casting. Each end wall is secured to a sliding carriage which supports the end wall and allows it to be moved along the end portions of the side walls. The
An adjustable mold for direct chill casting of metals has longitudinally movable end walls which are clamped between the mold side walls during casting. Each end wall is secured to a sliding carriage which supports the end wall and allows it to be moved along the end portions of the side walls. The sliding suspender has a clamping mechanism which applies a clamping force to one or both of the side walls, the force being transversely directed through a center of the end wall. The side walls are pivotable relative to one another to allow clamping and unclamping of the end walls. Preferably, one end of each side wall is pivotable so as to transversely displace the opposite end of the side wall, with the pivoting ends of the respective side walls preferably being opposite one another across the mold.
대표청구항
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1. A mold for direct chill casting of metal ingots, the mold comprising a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls which together define a generally rectangular mold space having an open top through which molten metal enters the mold;each of the side walls having a first end portio
1. A mold for direct chill casting of metal ingots, the mold comprising a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls which together define a generally rectangular mold space having an open top through which molten metal enters the mold;each of the side walls having a first end portion, an opposed second end portion, an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, and at least one of the end walls comprising a movable end wall assembly which is movable relative to the side walls to alter an area of the mold space, each of the movable end wall assemblies comprising: (a) a central end wall member extending across a space between the end portions of the side walls, the central end wall member having opposed end surfaces which are sealable against the inner surfaces of the side walls; (b) a pair of upper extension members attached to the central end wall member, each of the upper extension members extending outwardly beyond an end surface of the central end wall member and over one of the side walls; (c) a pair of lower extension members attached to the central end wall member, each of the lower extension members extending outwardly beyond an end surface of the central end wall and under one of the side walls; (d) a pair of connecting members, each of which extends along the outer surface of one of the side walls and connects one of the lower extension members and one of the upper extension members, wherein the extension members and the connecting members together define a pair of spaces, each located outwardly of an end surface of the central end wall member, through which the side walls extend; and (e) clamping means movable with the movable end wall assembly to clamp the side walls into sealing engagement with the end surfaces of the central end wall member. 2. The mold according to claim 1, wherein the upper extension members are formed at opposite ends of an upper retaining member which is secured to an upper surface of the central end wall member, and the lower extension members are formed at opposite ends of a lower retaining member which is secured to a lower surface of the central end wall member.3. The mold according to claim 1, wherein the clamping means is provided on at least one of the connecting members, each clamping means exerting an inwardly directed clamping force on one of the side walls to clamp the central end wall member proximate its centre of gravity, and an outward force on the connecting member on which the clamping means is provided.4. The mold according to claim 3, wherein the clamping means comprises a wedge clamp comprising a vertical wedge received between one of the connecting members and the outer surface of one of the side walls, the wedge having a relatively thick upper end and a relatively thin lower end, the wedge being driven downwardly to increase the clamping force exerted on the side wall.5. The mold according to claim 4, wherein the wedge clamp further comprises a manually adjustable screw mechanism for adjusting the clamping force.6. The mold according to claim 1, wherein the vertical wedge is received in a groove formed in an inner surface of the connecting member, the groove having a depth which is less than a thickness of the upper end of the vertical wedge.7. The mold according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member on which the clamping means is provided is connected to the upper and lower extension members in an interlocking arrangement to prevent movement of the connecting member relative to the upper and lower extension members in response to the outward force exerted by the clamping means.8. The mold according to claim 1, wherein the end portions of the opposed side walls are parallel to each other.9. The mold according to claim 1, wherein both of the end walls are comprised of movable end wall assemblies.10. The mold according to claim 1, wherein each of the side walls has an internal coolant passage and a plurality of coolant openings communicating with the internal coolant passage, the coolant openings being positioned proximate the inner surface of the side wall and oriented to receive coolant from the coolant passage and direct the coolant downwardly and inwardly at the ingot as it emerges from a lower end of the mold, and wherein each of the movable end wall assemblies is provided with sealing means to block the coolant openings proximate the end surfaces of the central end wall member.11. The mold according to claim 10, wherein the sealing means comprises at least one resilient sealing member.12. The mold according to claim 10, wherein the sealing means is provided on the movable end wall assembly outwardly of each end surface of the central end wall member.13. The mold according to claim 10, wherein the central end wall member is curved at its opposite ends so as to form curved corners with the side walls, such the end surfaces of the central end wall member have a greater area than a cross-sectional area of the central end wall member through the end wall member midway between the end surfaces, and wherein the sealing means blocks at least some of the coolant openings which are directed at a corner of the ingot emerging from the lower end of the mold.14. The mold according to claim 1, wherein each of the side walls has an internal coolant passage and a plurality of coolant openings communicating with the internal coolant passage, the coolant openings being positioned proximate the inner surface of the side wall and oriented to receive coolant from the coolant passage and direct the coolant downwardly and inwardly at the ingot as it emerges from a lower end of the mold, the mold further comprising:(f) blower means for blowing a fluid toward the coolant as it exits one or more of the coolant openings in the side wall, the blower being directed to blow the coolant away from contact with corners of the ingot emerging from the lower end of the mold. 15. The mold according to claim 14, wherein each of the lower extension members comprises a bottom plate having a plurality of spaced apertures which are in at least partial registration with some of the coolant openings, and which are spaced away from the inner surface of the side wall relative to the coolant openings.16. The mold according to claim 15, wherein the lower surface of the side wall is provided with a plurality of drain grooves through which the apertures in the bottom plate communicate with the coolant openings in the side wall, the grooves extending along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the side walls.17. The mold according to claim 15, wherein the blower means comprises a blower for blowing a compressible or non-compressible fluid.18. The mold according to claim 15, wherein the blower means comprises a compressed air blower.19. The mold according to claim 15, wherein the blower means is mounted to a lower surface of each lower extension member, proximate a corner of the mold space.20. The mold according to claim 1, wherein each of the side walls is pivotable about a pivot axis extending through its first end portion, the pivot axis being perpendicular to a plane defined by the mold space, wherein pivoting of each side wall about the pivot axis displaces the second end portion of that side wall relative to the other side wall, thereby altering a distance across the mold space between the end portions of the opposed side walls.21. The mold according to claim 20, wherein the first end portion of one side wall is directly across the mold space from the second end portion of the other side wall.22. The mold according to claim 20 wherein at least one of the end walls is movable relative to the side walls to alter an area of the mold space, the at least one end wall being clamped between the first end portion of one side wall and the second end portion of the other side wall.23. The mold according to claim 22, wherein both of the end walls are movable.24. The mold according to claim 23, wherein the end portions of one side wall are parallel to the end portions of the other side wall when the end surfaces of the end walls are sealed to the inner surfaces of the side walls.25. The mold according to claim 20, wherein each of the side walls has a generally rectangular transverse cross-section and has an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, with each end portion of each side wall being secured to a stationary surface by a hold down mechanism having an upper member and a lower member between which the end portion of the side wall is received.26. The mold according to claim 25, wherein two hold down mechanisms are provided at opposite ends of the mold, each hold down mechanism retaining the first end portion of one of the side walls and the second end portion of the other side wall.27. The mold according to claim 26, wherein the pivot axis about which each side wall pivots extends through the upper and lower members of the hold down mechanism which retains the side wall, and through the first end portion of the side wall.28. The mold according to claim 27, wherein each side wall pivots about a pivot member coincident with the pivot axis.29. The mold according to claim 28, wherein the pivot member comprises at least one pivot pin engages both the hold down mechanism and the first end portion of the side wall.30. The mold according to claim 29, wherein the pivot member comprises a first pivot pin extending between the upper member of the hold down mechanism and the upper surface of the side wall and a second pivot pin extending between the lower member of the hold down mechanism and the lower surface of the side wall.31. The mold according to claim 30, wherein the first and second pivot pins are attached to the upper and lower members of the hold down mechanism respectively, and wherein the upper and lower surface of each side wall is provided with cavities to closely receive the pivot pins.32. The mold according to claim 25, wherein each hold down mechanism is provided with one or more movement limiting means to limit the amount by which the second end portion of each side wall can be displaced by rotation of the side wall about the pivot axis.33. The mold according to claim 32, wherein each of the movement limiting means comprises pin extending between the hold down mechanism or the side wall and a slot in which the pin is received, the slot having sufficient length such that movement of the pin between the ends of the slot will allow the second end of the side wall to move into and out of engagement with one of the side surfaces of an end wall.34. The mold according to claim 33, wherein the slot of each movement limiting means is formed in either the upper or lower surface of a side wall, and the pin is attached to either the upper or lower member of the hold down mechanism.35. The mold according to claim 34, wherein the second end of each of the side walls is movable through an arc having a radius equal to a distance between the pivot axis and a center of the slot.36. The mold according to claim 34, wherein the upper and lower members of each hold down mechanism respectively comprise an upper plate and a lower plate which are parallel to one another, and wherein the hold down mechanism further comprises a pair of side walls extending between the upper and lower plates, the side walls of the hold down mechanism having a height such that the upper and lower plates are separated by a distance which is slightly greater than a height of the mold side walls.37. The mold according to claim 36, wherein the hold down mechanism comprises a pair of U-shaped members fastened together, each U-shaped member having a bight portion and a pair of legs, the bight portion of one U-shaped member comprising the upper plate of the hold down mechanism and the bight portion of the other U-shaped member comprising the lower plate of the hold down mechanism, the legs of the U-shaped members forming the side walls of the hold down mechanism.38. The mold according to claim 1, further comprising a bottom block which is received in the mold space at the beginning of a casting operation and which is movable downwardly away from the mold during casting, the bottom block comprising:(a) a center section attached to a base plate, the center section having opposed sides which extend along the mold side walls when the bottom block is received in the mold space; and (b) a pair of end sections, each having a side which extends along one of the mold end walls when the bottom block is received in the mold space, wherein at least one of the end sections is releasably attached to the center section along a joint line which extends between the sides of the center section; each of the at least one releasable end sections being secured to the center section by a clamping mechanism comprising: (i) a cavity provided in a surface of one of the end section and the center section; (ii) a protrusion provided on a surface of the other of the end section and the center section, the protrusion being received in the cavity when the end section is attached to the center section along the joint line, and (iii) moving means for moving the protrusion relative to the cavity; wherein the cavity has an inner surface, the moving means moving the protrusion into engagement with the inner surface of the cavity to clamp the end section into engagement with the center section along the joint line. 39. The mold according to claim 38, wherein the cavity of the clamping mechanism is provided in a lower surface of the releasable end section, and the protrusion is provided on an upper surface of an extension portion which is attached to the center portion and underlies the end section when the end section is clamped into engagement with the center section along the joint line.40. The mold according to claim 38, wherein the protrusion and the inner surface of the cavity are engaged when the releasable end section is clamped into engagement with the center section along the joint line.41. The mold according to claim 40, wherein the protrusion and the inner surface of the cavity interlock so as to prevent separation of the releasable end section and the center section when the protrusion and the inner surface of the cavity are engaged.42. The mold according to claim 38, wherein the moving means moves the protrusion toward and away from the joint line between the releasable end section and the center section, such that a force exerted by the protrusion against the inner surface of the cavity is directed toward the joint line between the releasable end section and the center section.43. The mold according to claim 38, wherein the moving means comprises a screw threadingly engaged to a threaded bore in the protrusion.44. The mold according to claim 39, wherein the moving means comprises a screw threadingly engaged to a threaded bore in the protrusion, the screw extending toward the joint line through the extension portion of the center portion and into the bore of the protrusion, the extension portion being provided with screw retaining means to prevent withdrawal of the screw from the extension portion.45. The mold according to claim 38, wherein at least one alignment member is provided along the joint line to align the releasable end portion relative to the center portion.46. The mold according to claim 45, wherein the at least one alignment member comprises at least one alignment pin extending substantially perpendicular to the joint line.47. The mold according to claim 38, wherein the protrusion comprises a spring-loaded portion having an engagement surface which engages the inner surface of the cavity, the spring loaded portion being movable relative to a remainder of the protrusion during engagement of the protrusion with the inner surface of the cavity.48. The mold according to claim 38, wherein the center section is attached to the base plate through a bottom block mounting plate.
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