A leakage of a molten metal is suppressed at the time of pouring.

A control method for an automatic pouring apparatus according to one embodiment includes: calculating a dropping position of a molten metal on a horizontal surface passing through a height position of a sprue, a flow velocity of the molten metal in the dropping position, and a radius of a sectional surface of the molten metal on the horizontal surface, on the basis of a dropping trajectory of the molten metal flowing out from a discharge port, generating an objective function which is relevant to a total weight of the molten metal flowing into a mold from a ladle and depends on a distance between the discharge port and the center of the sprue in a predetermined direction, on the basis of the dropping position, the flow velocity of the molten metal in the dropping position, the radius of the sectional surface of the molten metal on the horizontal surface, a radius of the sprue, a flow rate of the molten metal flowing out from the discharge port, and a density of the molten metal, and calculating the distance between the discharge port and the center of the sprue in the predetermined direction, in which the total weight of the molten metal flowing into the mold from the ladle is maximized, on the basis of the objective function.

A leakage of a molten metal is suppressed at the time of pouring.

A control method for an automatic pouring apparatus according to one embodiment includes: calculating a dropping position of a molten metal on a horizontal surface passing through a height position of a sprue, a flow velocity of the molten metal in the dropping position, and a radius of a sectional surface of the molten metal on the horizontal surface, on the basis of a dropping trajectory of the molten metal flowing out from a discharge port, generating an objective function which is relevant to a total weight of the molten metal flowing into a mold from a ladle and depends on a distance between the discharge port and the center of the sprue in a predetermined direction, on the basis of the dropping position, the flow velocity of the molten metal in the dropping position, the radius of the sectional surface of the molten metal on the horizontal surface, a radius of the sprue, a flow rate of the molten metal flowing out from the discharge port, and a density of the molten metal, and calculating the distance between the discharge port and the center of the sprue in the predetermined direction, in which the total weight of the molten metal flowing into the mold from the ladle is maximized, on the basis of the objective function.

A control device (1) for a stopper (3) comprises: an outer casing (10), a control rod (6) sliding through the casing (10), rigidly attachable to the stopper (3), a hydraulic circuit (20) including a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (21) and a reversible hydraulic pump (9), the hydraulic cylinder (21) having a first and a second chamber (21a, b) between which a piston (22) slides, the hydraulic pump (9) being connected directly to the first and second chamber (21a, b) by means of a first branch and a second branch (20a, b) of said hydraulic circuit (20, respectively, the piston being rigidly attached to the control rod (6), the hydraulic circuit (20) being entirely housed in the outer casing (10), a control circuit (30) connected to the hydraulic circuit (20) to control the position of the piston (22).

A control device (1) for a stopper (3) comprises: an outer casing (10), a control rod (6) sliding through the casing (10), rigidly attachable to the stopper (3), a hydraulic circuit (20) including a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (21) and a reversible hydraulic pump (9), the hydraulic cylinder (21) having a first and a second chamber (21a, b) between which a piston (22) slides, the hydraulic pump (9) being connected directly to the first and second chamber (21a, b) by means of a first branch and a second branch (20a, b) of said hydraulic circuit (20, respectively, the piston being rigidly attached to the control rod (6), the hydraulic circuit (20) being entirely housed in the outer casing (10), a control circuit (30) connected to the hydraulic circuit (20) to control the position of the piston (22).

[Problem to Be Solved] A pouring control method for controlling an automatic pouring device with a tilting-type ladle is provided. By the method, a lip of a pouring ladle approaches a sprue of a mold without striking any object located within the range of its movement. Also, by the method, the molten metal that runs out of the ladle can accurately fill the mold. [Solution] The pouring control method comprises the steps of setting a target flow rate of molten metal to be poured, generating a voltage to input it to a motor that tilts the ladle (hereafter, the tilting motor) so as to reach the target flow rate of the molten metal based on an inverse model of a mathematical model of molten metal that runs out of a pouring ladle and an inverse model of the tilting motor, estimating the flow rate of the molten metal that runs out of the ladle, estimating the falling position and getting the estimated falling position to be a target position, and generating a trajectory for the movement of the pouring ladle wherein the trajectory causes the height of the lip of the pouring ladle above the level of a sprite of a mold to decrease.

[Problem to Be Solved] A pouring control method for controlling an automatic pouring device with a tilting-type ladle is provided. By the method, a lip of a pouring ladle approaches a sprue of a mold without striking any object located within the range of its movement. Also, by the method, the molten metal that runs out of the ladle can accurately fill the mold. [Solution] The pouring control method comprises the steps of setting a target flow rate of molten metal to be poured, generating a voltage to input it to a motor that tilts the ladle (hereafter, the tilting motor) so as to reach the target flow rate of the molten metal based on an inverse model of a mathematical model of molten metal that runs out of a pouring ladle and an inverse model of the tilting motor, estimating the flow rate of the molten metal that runs out of the ladle, estimating the falling position and getting the estimated falling position to be a target position, and generating a trajectory for the movement of the pouring ladle wherein the trajectory causes the height of the lip of the pouring ladle above the level of a sprite of a mold to decrease.

A control pin for controlling the flow of molten metal through a down spout in a casting process is provided. The control pin comprises a body having an elongated shape, a lower portion insertable in the down spout, and a terminal end, opposite the lower portion. The body includes a central core, preferably a hollow tube or a rod of alumina or mullite; a heating element disposed around the central core, and an intermediate layer surrounding the central core and encasing the heating element, the intermediate layer being made of a solidified ceramic putty. Finally, an outer shell, preferably made of woven fiber reinforcing fabric in a matrix of ceramic, surrounds the intermediate layer.

A control pin for controlling the flow of molten metal through a down spout in a casting process is provided. The control pin comprises a body having an elongated shape, a lower portion insertable in the down spout, and a terminal end, opposite the lower portion. The body includes a central core, preferably a hollow tube or a rod of alumina or mullite; a heating element disposed around the central core, and an intermediate layer surrounding the central core and encasing the heating element, the intermediate layer being made of a solidified ceramic putty. Finally, an outer shell, preferably made of woven fiber reinforcing fabric in a matrix of ceramic, surrounds the intermediate layer.

A molten metal holding and pouring box with a rectangular-shaped upper section and a pyramidal-shaped lower section provides a relatively constant flow of molten metal being poured from the box through each of two bottom nozzles into two separate foundry molds at the same time. The two bottom nozzles are contained in a unitary dual nozzle assembly that facilitates replacement as required by wear, or a change in location of the sprue cups in the two separate foundry molds being filled with molten metal.

A molten metal holding and pouring box with a rectangular-shaped upper section and a pyramidal-shaped lower section provides a relatively constant flow of molten metal being poured from the box through each of two bottom nozzles into two separate foundry molds at the same time. The two bottom nozzles are contained in a unitary dual nozzle assembly that facilitates replacement as required by wear, or a change in location of the sprue cups in the two separate foundry molds being filled with molten metal.