GATE VALVE SYSTEM, CASTING PLANT, AND CASTING PROCESS

Abstract

A gate valve system includes a base plate and a gate valve plate, a casting plant includes the gate valve system, and a casting process manufactures workpieces, particularly from metal materials. The base plate has an opening and the gate valve plate has a first opening and at least a second opening. The separating gate valve system is set up so that the separating gate valve system can be brought into casting, pressing, and closure positions. In the casting position, the first opening is arranged to align with the opening of the base plate, at least to the greatest possible extent; in the pressing position, the second opening is arranged to align with the opening of the base plate, at least to the greatest possible extent; and in the closure position, the gate valve plate closes off the opening of the base plate.

Claims

1. A separating gate valve system (20) for a casting facility (10), in particular for a die-casting facility or a gravity casting facility, comprising a base plate (22) and a gate valve plate (24), wherein the base plate (22) has an opening (26) and the gate valve plate (24) has a first opening (28) and at least a second opening (30), and the separating gate valve system (20) is set up in such a manner that the separating gate valve system (20) can be brought into a casting position, a pressing position, and a closure position, wherein in the casting position, the first opening (28) of the gate valve plate (24) is arranged to align with the opening (26) of the base plate (22), at least to the greatest possible extent; in the pressing position, the second opening (30) of the gate valve plate (24) is arranged to align with the opening (26) of the base plate (22), at least to the greatest possible extent; and in the closure position, the gate valve plate (24) closes off the opening (26) of the base plate (22).

2. The separating gate valve system (20) according to claim 1, wherein a funnel plate (36) is arranged on the gate valve plate (24).

3. The separating gate valve system (20) according to claim 1, wherein the separating gate valve system (20) comprises, at least in part, tungsten and/or a tungsten alloy and/or a ceramic material.

4. The separating gate valve system (20) according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the base plate (22) and the gate valve plate (24) amounts to less than 0.15 mm.

5. The separating gate valve system (20) according to claim 1, wherein the first opening (28) has a larger cross-sectional surface area through which flow can take place than the second opening (30).

6. A casting facility (10), in particular die-casting facility or gravity casting facility, comprising a mold (12) and a furnace (16), wherein the separating gate valve system (20) according to claim 1 is arranged between the mold (12) and the furnace (16).

7. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein the separating gate valve system (20) is set up in such a manner that the separating gate valve system (20) can be brought into the casting position, the pressing position and/or the closure position by means of a relative movement of the mold (12) relative to the furnace (16), which is fixed in place.

8. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein in the casting position, the first opening (28) of the gate valve plate (24), the opening (26) of the base plate (22), a sprue region (14) of the mold (12), and a connector (40) of the furnace (16) are arranged relative to one another in such a manner that a passage opening is formed, through which a melt can be introduced into the mold (12) from the furnace (16).

9. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein in the closure position, the sprue region (14) of the mold (12) is completely closed off by the gate valve plate (24) of the separating gate valve system (20).

10. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein the gate valve plate (24) is integrated into the mold (12).

11. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein the sprue region (14) has a sprue channel and/or a feeder.

12. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein the sprue region (14) or the mold (12) is set up in such a manner that a pressing apparatus, in particular a mechanical and/or pneumatic pressing apparatus can apply a pressure to the melt in the sprue region (14), in particular in the sprue channel and/or the feeder, and thereby the casting pressure can be maintained within the mold (12) even after it is uncoupled from separating gate valve system (20) and furnace (16).

13. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein the casting facility (10) comprises a transport apparatus that transports the mold (12) from a casting station to a cooling station.

14. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein the transport apparatus comprises a rotary table and/or a robot arm.

15. The casting facility (10) according to claim 6, wherein the furnace (16), in particular the connector (40) of the riser pipe (18) of the furnace (16), has an end that comes to a point, which can be coupled with the funnel plate (36) of the separating gate valve system (20).

16. A casting method, in particular die-casting method or gravity casting method, for the production of cast pieces, in particular composed of metallic materials, comprising the method steps: bringing the separating gate valve system (20) according to claim 1 into a casting position, coupling the separating gate valve system (20) and the furnace (16), introducing a melt into a mold (12), bringing the separating gate valve system (20) into a pressing position, uncoupling the separating gate valve system (20) and the furnace (16), wherein in particular, the method steps 1 and 2 can take place in any desired sequence.

17. The casting method according to claim 16, wherein the separating gate valve system (20) is brought into a closure position after uncoupling of separating gate valve system (20) and furnace (16).

18. A casting method, in particular die-casting method or gravity casting method, for the production of cast pieces, in particular composed of metallic materials, comprising the method steps: bringing the separating gate valve system (20) according to claim 1 into a casting position, coupling the separating gate valve system (20) and the furnace (16), introducing a melt into a mold (12), bringing the separating gate valve system (20) into a closure position, uncoupling the separating gate valve system (20) and the furnace (16), wherein in particular, the method steps 1 and 2 can take place in any desired sequence.

19. The casting method according to claim 16, wherein the mold (12) is rotated about at least one axis after uncoupling from separating gate valve system (20) and furnace (16).

20. The casting method according to claim 19, wherein the mold (12) is rotated by means of a tilt casting machine or a robot.

21-25. (canceled)

Description

[0081] The drawing shows:

[0082] FIG. 1 a cross-section of a partial region of a casting facility according to the invention, having a separating gate valve system in the casting position,

[0083] FIG. 2 a cross-section of a partial region of a casting facility according to the invention, having a separating gate valve system in the pressing position,

[0084] FIG. 3 a cross-section of a partial region of a casting facility according to the invention, having a separating gate valve system in the closure position,

[0085] FIG. 1 shows a partial region of a casting facility 10 according to the invention in a cross-sectional view. In the upper region of FIG. 1, a partial region of a mold 12 having a sprue region 14 situated in it is shown. In the case of the present embodiment, the sprue region 14 is configured as a sprue channel without a riser. In the lower region of FIG. 1, a partial region of the furnace 16 having a riser pipe 18 is shown.

[0086] A separating gate valve system 20 is arranged between the mold 12 and the furnace 16. In this regard, FIG. 1 shows the separating gate valve system 20 according to the invention in a casting position. The separating gate valve system 20 shown comprises a base plate 22 and a gate valve plate 24. The base plate 22 has an opening 26. The gate valve plate 24 has a first opening 28 as well as a second opening 30. In this regard, the second opening 30 is configured by means of two passage openings 30a, 30b through the gate valve plate.

[0087] Following this second opening 30, the pressing apparatus (not shown) is connected with the second opening 30 by way of a pressure feed line 32. Furthermore, seals 34 are arranged between the base plate 22 and the gate valve plate 24. The seals 34 are recessed into the gate valve plate 24.

[0088] Furthermore, the separating gate valve system 20 comprises a funnel plate 36, which is arranged on the gate valve plate 24 and aligned with it. The funnel plate 36 has an opening 38, wherein the opening 38 of the funnel plate 36 is arranged aligned with the first opening 28 of the gate valve plate 24 and forms a common passage opening. The funnel plate 36 has slanted side regions on the side facing the opening 38.

[0089] The furnace 16 has a connector 40 at the end of the riser pipe 18, which connector has slanted side regions on its outside. In this regard, the slanted side regions of the connector 40 are slanted in complementary manner to the side regions of the funnel plate 36. When the furnace 16 is coupled with the separating gate valve system 20, the slanted regions of funnel plate 36 and connector 40 slide on one another. Due to the slanted side regions, the coupling process is simplified and slight deviations of separating gate valve system 20 and furnace 16 can be equalized.

[0090] The gate valve plate 24 is displaceably mounted by means of lateral guides 42, wherein the base plate 22 has stops 44 in its end regions, which stops delimit the lateral displacement of the gate valve plate 24.

[0091] FIG. 1 shows the casting facility, in particular the separating gate valve system 20, in a casting position. In this regard, the furnace 16 is coupled with the funnel plate 36 by way of the connector 40. The furnace 16, the riser pipe 18, the gate valve plate 24, the base plate 22, as well as the sprue region 14 are arranged relative to one another, in the casting position, in such a manner that the opening 26 of the base plate 22, the first opening 28 of the gate valve plate 24, and the opening 38 of the funnel plate 36 form a continuous passage opening from the furnace 16 to the mold 12. The second opening 30 of the gate valve plate 24 is displaced laterally toward the opening 28 of the base plate 22.

[0092] FIG. 2 shows the same partial region of a casting facility 10 according to the invention in a cross-sectional view as in FIG. 1. Contrary to FIG. 1, in FIG. 2 the casting facility 10 according to the invention is shown in a pressing position.

[0093] In the pressing position, the furnace 16, the gate valve plate 24, the base plate 22, as well as the sprue region 14 are arranged relative to one another in such a manner that the opening 26 of the base plate 22 and the second opening 30 of the gate valve plate 24 form a continuous passage opening from the pressing apparatus (not shown) to the mold 12. The first opening 28 of the gate valve plate 24 is displaced laterally relative to the opening 28 of the base plate 22.

[0094] FIG. 3 shows the same partial region of a casting facility 10 according to the invention in a cross-sectional view as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Contrary to FIGS. 1 and 2, in FIG. 3 the casting facility 10 according to the invention is shown in a closure position.

[0095] In the closure position, the furnace 16, the gate valve plate 24, the base plate 22, as well as the sprue region 14 are arranged relative to one another in such a manner that neither a passage opening from the furnace 16 to the mold 12 nor from the pressing apparatus (not shown) to the mold 12 is formed. Instead, the gate valve plate 24 completely closes off the opening 26 of the base plate 22. Both the first opening 28 and the second opening 30 of the gate valve plate 24 are displaced laterally relative to the opening 28 of the base plate 22.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0096] (is part of the description)

[0097] 10 casting facility

[0098] 12 mold

[0099] 14 sprue region

[0100] 16 furnace

[0101] 18 riser pipe

[0102] 20 separating gate valve system

[0103] 22 base plate

[0104] 24 gate valve plate

[0105] 26 opening in base plate

[0106] 28 first opening in gate valve plate

[0107] 30 second opening in gate valve plate

[0108] 32 pressure feed line

[0109] 34 seal

[0110] 36 funnel plate

[0111] 38 opening in funnel plate

[0112] 40 connector

[0113] 42 lateral guide

[0114] 44 stop