Feeder system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a feeder system for use in metal casting operations utilising casting moulds, and to feeder sleeves and breaker cores for use in the feeder system. There is provided a feeder system for metal casting, the feeder system comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a breaker core, the feeder sleeve having a first end and an opposite second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, and a continuous sidewall extending generally around the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, the sidewall defining a cavity for receiving molten metal during casting, and the breaker core defining an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting, wherein the first end of the feeder sleeve comprises a base portion which is mounted on the breaker core, and the second end of the feeder sleeve comprises a planar roof portion and a curved or chamfered portion extending around the periphery of the roof portion, for connecting the sidewall and the roof portion.

Claims

1. A feeder system for metal casting, the feeder system comprising a feeder sleeve mounted on a breaker core, the feeder sleeve having a first end and an opposite second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, and a continuous sidewall extending generally around the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, the sidewall defining a cavity for receiving molten metal during casting, and the breaker core defining an open bore therethrough for connecting the cavity to the casting, wherein the first end of the feeder sleeve comprises a base portion which is mounted on the breaker core, and the second end of the feeder sleeve comprises a planar roof portion and a curved or chamfered portion extending around a periphery of the roof portion, for connecting the sidewall and the roof portion, wherein the minimum diameter of the roof portion is 25-90% of the minimum diameter of the sidewall of the feeder sleeve.

2. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the feeder sleeve is cylindrical and the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder is generally circular, oval or obround.

3. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the base portion and the breaker core extend at an angle of 2-100° relative to the longitudinal axis of the feeder sleeve.

4. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the base portion and the breaker core extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the feeder sleeve.

5. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the breaker core comprises a planar base and a raised sidewall extending around the circumference of the planar base.

6. The feeder system of claim 5, wherein the height of the raised sidewall is 1-15% of the height of the feeder sleeve.

7. The feeder system of claim 5, wherein the breaker core further comprises a boss projecting from an upper surface of the raised sidewall.

8. The feeder system of claim 7, wherein the boss projects partially or completely around the circumference of an inner edge of the raised sidewall.

9. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the roof portion comprises an open bore therethrough.

10. The feeder system of claim 9, wherein the minimum diameter of the bore extending through the roof portion is 20-100% of the minimum diameter of the roof portion.

11. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the second end of the feeder sleeve comprises a chamfered portion and the chamfered portion extends at an angle of 10-70° relative to the longitudinal axis of the feeder system.

12. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the second end of the feeder sleeve comprises a chamfered portion and the width of the chamfered portion, as measured between the sidewall and the roof portion, is 10-150% of the minimum diameter of the sidewall.

13. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the second end of the feeder sleeve comprises a curved portion and the radius of curvature of the curved portion is 2-100 mm.

14. The feeder system of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the feeder sleeve comprises two or more parts which are fitted together, wherein one of the parts comprises the roof portion and the curved or chamfered portion, and wherein another one of the parts comprises the base portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIGS. 1-3 are schematic views of a feeder system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the feeder system shown in FIGS. 1-3;

(4) FIGS. 5-7 are schematic views of a feeder system according to a different embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the feeder system shown in FIGS. 5-7;

(6) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a feeder system in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 10 is a plan view of the feeder system shown in FIG. 9;

(8) FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a breaker core for use with embodiments of the feeder system of the invention; and

(9) FIG. 12 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a breaker core for use with embodiments of the feeder system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a feeder system 100 comprising a feeder sleeve 10 mounted on a breaker core 11. The feeder sleeve 10 has a first end 12 and an opposite second end 13, with a longitudinal axis A extending between the first and second ends 12,13. A continuous sidewall 14 extends generally around the longitudinal axis A in the shape of a cylinder, defining a cavity therein for receiving molten metal. The diameter D.sub.1 of the sidewall 14 is constant from the first end 12 of the feeder sleeve 10 to the second end 13.

(11) The second end 13 of the feeder sleeve 10 comprises a centrally located, planar roof portion 16 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. The second end 13 also comprises a curved portion 15 connecting the sidewall 14 and the roof portion 16 of the feeder sleeve. The radius of curvature of the curved portion 15 is 28.5 mm. The roof portion 16 is circular and has a centrally located bore 17 extending therethrough, which is also generally circular in cross-section. The diameter D.sub.2 of the roof portion 16 is 50% of the diameter D.sub.1 of the sidewall of the feeder sleeve, and the diameter D.sub.3 of the bore 17 is less than the diameter D.sub.2 of the roof portion 16, such that a part of the roof portion 16 extends around the entire periphery of the bore 17.

(12) The first end 12 of the feeder sleeve 10 is mounted on the breaker core 11, and is inclined at an angle α of 70° relative to the longitudinal axis, such that the sidewall 14 is shorter on one side of the feeder sleeve 10 than on the opposite side. The breaker core 11 comprises a planar base 110 and a raised sidewall 111 extending around the circumference of the planar base 110 (best seen in FIG. 4). The planar base 110 is generally circular and comprises a centrally located bore 112 extending therethrough. The raised sidewall 111 has a lower surface 113 which is in communication and integrally formed with the planar base 110, and an upper surface 114 opposite to the planar base 110, with an inner edge 115 and an oppositely disposed outer edge 116 extending between the lower and upper surfaces 113, 114. The height H.sub.2 of the raised sidewall 111, as measured from the lower surface 113 to the upper surface 114, is 6.25%% of the maximum height H.sub.1 of the feeder sleeve 10, as measured from the first end 12 to the second end 13 where the height of the sidewall 14 is greatest.

(13) The breaker core 11 further comprises a boss 117 projecting from the inner edge side of the upper surface 114 of the raised sidewall 111. The boss 117 extends around 25% of the circumference of the inner edge 115. The base of the sidewall 14 of the feeder sleeve 10 has a thickness T.sub.1 which corresponds to the remaining area of the upper surface 114 of the raised sidewall 111 excluding the boss 117, such that the base of the sidewall 14 abuts against the boss 117.

(14) Referring to FIGS. 5-8, there is shown another embodiment of a feeder system 200 according to the present invention. The feeder system 200 comprises a feeder sleeve 20 mounted on a breaker core 21. The feeder sleeve 20 has a first end 22 and an opposite second end 23, with a longitudinal axis B extending between the first and second ends 22,23. A continuous sidewall 24 extends generally around the longitudinal axis B, generally in the shape of a cylinder defining a cavity therein for receiving molten metal. The diameter of the sidewall 24 is slightly smaller at the second end 23 of the feeder sleeve 20 than at the first end 22, such that the sidewall 24 has a minimum diameter D.sub.4 at the second end 23 of the feeder sleeve.

(15) The second end 23 of the feeder sleeve 20 comprises a centrally located, planar roof portion 26 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B. The second end 23 also comprises a chamfered portion 25 connecting the sidewall 24 and the roof portion 26 of the feeder sleeve. The chamfered portion 25 is inclined at an angle β of 50° relative to the longitudinal axis B and extends for a distance W.sub.1 equal to 24% of the minimum diameter D.sub.4 of the sidewall 24. The roof portion 26 is circular and has a centrally located bore 27 extending therethrough, which is also generally circular in cross-section. The diameter D.sub.5 of the roof portion 26 is 63% of the minimum diameter D.sub.4 of the sidewall of the feeder sleeve, and the diameter D.sub.6 of the bore 27 is less than the diameter D.sub.5 of the roof portion 26, such that a part of the roof portion 26 extends around the entire periphery of the bore 27.

(16) The first end 22 of the feeder sleeve 20 is mounted on the breaker core 21. The first end 22 of the feeder sleeve 20 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B, such that the sidewall 24 has a uniform height. The breaker core 21 comprises a planar base 210 and a raised sidewall 211 extending around the circumference of the planar base 210 (best seen in FIG. 8). The planar base 210 is generally circular and comprises a centrally located bore 212 extending therethrough. The raised sidewall 211 has a lower surface 213 which is in communication and integrally formed with the planar base 210, and an upper surface 214 opposite to the planar base 210, with an inner edge 215 and an oppositely disposed outer edge 216 extending between the lower and upper surfaces 213, 214. The height H.sub.4 of the raised sidewall 211, as measured from the lower surface 213 to the upper surface 214, is 6% of the height H.sub.3 of the feeder sleeve 20, as measured from the first end 22 to the second end 23.

(17) The breaker core 21 further comprises a boss 217 projecting from the inner edge side of the upper surface 214 of the raised sidewall 211. The boss 217 extends around the entire circumference of the inner edge 215. The base of the sidewall 24 of the feeder sleeve 20 has a thickness T.sub.2 which corresponds to the remaining area of the upper surface 214 of the raised sidewall 211 excluding the boss 217, such that the base of the sidewall 24 abuts against the boss 217.

(18) Referring to FIGS. 9-10, there is shown a further embodiment of a feeder system 300 according to the present invention. The feeder system 300 comprises a feeder sleeve 30 mounted on a breaker core 31. The feeder sleeve 30 has a first end 32 and an opposite second end 33, with a longitudinal axis (not shown) extending between the first and second ends 32,33. A continuous sidewall 34 extends generally around the longitudinal axis with an obround cross-sectional shape, defining a cavity therein for receiving molten metal.

(19) The first end 32 of the feeder sleeve 30 is mounted on the breaker core 31. The first end 32 of the feeder sleeve 30 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, such that the sidewall 34 has a uniform height. The breaker core 31 comprises a planar base (not shown) and a raised sidewall 311 extending around the circumference of the planar base. The planar base is generally obround and comprises a centrally located bore extending therethrough (not shown).

(20) The second end 33 of the feeder sleeve 30 comprises a centrally located, planar roof portion 36 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second end 33 also comprises a curved portion 35 connecting the sidewall 34 and the roof portion 36 of the feeder sleeve 30. The roof portion 36 is obround and has a centrally located bore 37 extending therethrough, which is also obround in cross-section.

(21) As shown in FIG. 10, the sidewall 34 has a minimum diameter D.sub.7 between the long sides of the obround cross-section and a maximum diameter D.sub.8 between the short sides of the obround cross-section. The obround roof portion 36 also has a minimum diameter D.sub.9 between the long sides and a maximum diameter D.sub.10 between the short sides. The minimum D.sub.9 diameter of the roof portion 36 is around 40% of the minimum diameter D.sub.7 of the sidewall 34. The diameter of the bore 37 is less than the diameter of the roof portion 36, such that part of the roof portion 36 extends around the entire periphery of the bore 37.

(22) Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown an embodiment of a breaker core 400 for use in a feeder system according to embodiments of the present invention. The breaker core 400 comprises a planar base 410 and a raised sidewall 411 extending around the circumference of the planar base 410. The planar base 410 is generally circular and comprises a centrally located bore 412 extending therethrough. The raised sidewall 411 has a lower surface (not shown) which is in communication and integrally formed with the planar base 410, and an upper surface 414 opposite to the planar base 410, with an inner edge 415 and an oppositely disposed outer edge 416 extending between the lower and upper surfaces 413, 414. The breaker core 400 further comprises a boss 417 projecting from the inner edge side of the upper surface 414 of the raised sidewall 411. The boss 417 extends around approximately 25% of the circumference of the inner edge 215.

(23) Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown another embodiment of a breaker core 500 for use in a feeder system according to embodiments of the present invention. The breaker core 500 comprises substantially the same features as the breaker core 400 shown in FIG. 11, except that the planar base 510 is obround rather than circular and the boss 517 extends around the entire circumference of the inner edge side of the upper surface 514. The bore 512 extending through the planar base 510 is also obround in cross-section.