METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HELICAL CASTING PATTERN

Abstract

A method for producing a helical casting pattern. The method including: providing a pattern body having a longitudinal axis, a cavity extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a pattern body wall that surrounds the cavity; providing a processing tool for creating a recess; arranging the pattern body and the processing tool such that the processing tool extends at least partially through the pattern body wall in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis; and rotatably driving at least one of the processing tool and the pattern body about one of the longitudinal axis of the pattern body and an axis parallel thereto, relative to one another, with a relative movement between the pattern body and the processing tool in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis being produced one of continuously or at least intermittently during or in alternation with the relative rotational movement.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. A method for producing a helical casting pattern, comprising: providing a strand-shaped pattern body including at least one of EPS, EPMA, copolymer and a wax, and having a centric longitudinal axis, a centric cavity extending in the direction of the centric longitudinal axis, and a pattern body wall that surrounds the centric cavity; providing a processing tool for creating a recess; arranging the strand-shaped pattern body and the processing tool such that the processing tool extends at least partially through the pattern body wall in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis; and rotatably driving at least one of the processing tool and the strand-shaped pattern body about one of the longitudinal axis of the strand-shaped pattern body and an axis parallel thereto, relative to one another, with a relative movement between the strand-shaped pattern body and the processing tool in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis being produced one of continuously or at least intermittently during or in alternation with the relative rotational movement.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of a rotational speed of the relative rotational movement between the processing tool and the strand-shaped pattern body and a speed of the relative movement between the processing tool and the strand-shaped pattern body in the direction of the longitudinal axis remains constant during at least a time segment of the production of the helical casting pattern.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of a rotational speed of the relative rotational movement between the processing tool and the strand-shaped pattern body and a speed of the relative movement between the processing tool and the strand-shaped pattern body in the direction of the longitudinal axis is changed during the production of the helical casting pattern.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein two or more processing tools are moved at least one of simultaneously and jointly relative to the strand-shaped pattern body.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing tool includes one of a strand or strip that is retained between two bearing points and held tautly during movement of the strand-shaped pattern body and the processing tool.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing tool includes one of a strand-shaped or strip-shaped processing body that is exclusively held at a first end thereof.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing tool (5, 5) comprises a rotatably drivable circular disk.

32. The method of claim 25, comprising a second relative movement between the processing tool and the strand-shaped pattern body, which is oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the relative rotational movement and the relative movement along the longitudinal axis being at least one of: superimposed at least intermittently by the second relative movement; and at least intermittently interrupted during the second relative movement.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing tool is heated during production of the helical casting pattern.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing tool has a strand-shaped design and is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis during production of the helical casting pattern.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the processing tool has a strand-shaped design and moves in at least one of a vibrating manner and an oscillating manner in the direction of its longitudinal axis during production of the helical casting pattern.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of outer dimensions of the strand-shaped pattern body and dimensions of the cavity vary along the longitudinal axis.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the strand-shaped pattern body has one of a rectangular base surface and a round base surface, and outer dimensions of the strand-shaped pattern body represent one or more of a polyhedron, a cuboid, a frustrum of a pyramid, a cylinder, and a frustrum of a cone.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein the strand-shaped pattern body is mounted in a suspended manner, while the recess is being created, by being attached in an upper region, the recess being introduced from the bottom to the top.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein a receiving plate is arranged beneath the strand-shaped pattern body, which moves along with the strand-shaped pattern body in a rotatory and translatory manner and receives a strand of the strand-shaped pattern body that is pulled downwardly due to gravity as the recess is being introduced.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein a groove is introduced together with the recess into the strand-shaped pattern body, which extends in the pattern body wall, proceeding from one of inside and outside, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, or which, proceeding from the recess, extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein a contour of a strand is processed at the same time that the recess is introduced, by way of the processing tool, edges of the strand preferably being one of rounded and functional contours being introduced.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the functional contour includes at least one of one or more cooling fins and one or more positioning aids and one or more mounting aids and one or more cooling channels.

43. The method of claim 25, wherein a depression is introduced on one or more sides of a strand so as to create a cooling channel, and the depression is then closed, in particular by pressing together adjoining windings, when the depression is provided on at least one a top side and a bottom side of the strand.

44. A processing device for a helical casting pattern, comprising: a processing tool for creating a recess in a pattern body; a first drive device for driving, in a rotatory manner, at least one of the pattern body and the processing tool relative to one another about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pattern body or identical thereto; and a second drive device for driving, in a translatory manner, at least one of the pattern body and the processing tool relative to one another in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pattern body.

45. The processing device of claim 44, wherein the processing tool is configured to create one or more recesses in the pattern body, and to process the pattern body by way of one or more of cutting, erosion, and local melting.

46. The processing device of claim 44, comprising a control unit that controls the first drive device and the second drive device in a coordinated manner.

47. The processing device of claim 44, comprising a heating device for heating the processing tool.

48. The processing device of claim 44, comprising a third drive device for driving the processing tool in one or more of a vibrating manner, an oscillating manner, and a rotating manner about its own longitudinal axis.

49. The processing device of claim 44, wherein the processing tool includes one or more of a hot air stream, a water jet, and a laser beam for introducing the recess into the pattern body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The disclosure will be shown and described hereafter based on exemplary embodiments in figures of a drawing. In the drawings:

[0045] FIGS. 1a-1c show helical casting patterns in perspective illustrations, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0046] FIGS. 1d-1e show helical casting patterns in side views, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a processing device for a pattern body, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the processing device from FIG. 2 in detail, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a detail from FIG. 3 in a section indicated there, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a processing tool, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a modified concept of the processing device, according to embodiments of the disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a pattern body mounted in a suspended manner, according to embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0053] FIGS. 8a-8c show an introduction of grooves in pattern bodies, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] FIG. 1a shows a helical casting pattern 1, which is composed of a hollow cylinder having an interior cavity 3, wherein a helical recess 16 has been introduced into the cylinder wall/pattern body wall 4. The portions of the cylinder wall 4 remaining between the individual turns of the recess 16 extending helically around the circumference form a helical body, which can serve as a casting pattern in lost mold processes for casting a metal cast body. A metallic coil body or a helical spring or coil spring can be produced thereby in a subsequent casting process.

[0055] A section of the strand forming the helix is shown on the bottom right of FIG. 1a. A cross-section is shown, which is square. The extension of the cross-section in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 (axial) is shown in the direction of the vertical arrows 100, and the radial extension of the cross-section with respect to the axis 2 is shown in the direction of the horizontal arrows 101.

[0056] The longitudinal axis of the casting pattern 1 and of the underlying pattern body 1 is denoted by reference numeral 2 in the figures.

[0057] FIG. 1b shows a helical casting pattern 1 having a helical recess 16, wherein the underlying pattern body into which the recess 16 is introduced is cube-shaped and has a cube-shaped cavity 3. The edges of the pattern body may optionally be rounded. The outer dimensions of the pattern body as well as the dimensions of the cavity 3 are constant along the longitudinal axis 2 in the shown embodiment. In other embodiments, both dimensions or only one can vary along the longitudinal axis 2.

[0058] FIG. 1c shows an alternative embodiment of the helical casting pattern 1, wherein the casting pattern 1, or the underlying pattern body, has a square base surface and tapers upwardly in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2, whereby a frustrum of a pyramid is formed. The cavity likewise has a square base surface and tapers upwardly, thus also following the shape of a frustrum of a pyramid. The cavity 3 can taper to the same degree as the outer dimensions, so that a wall thickness of the pattern body wall 4 is kept constant. The cavity and outer dimensions, however, can also change differently, so that a wall thickness increases or decreases upwardly. In this way, the shape and thickness of the formed strand can vary in the radial direction.

[0059] FIG. 1d, by way of example, shows a side view of a casting pattern 1 including a recess 16, wherein the casting pattern 1 has a non-tapering shape along the longitudinal axis. This may be, for example, a cylinder having a round or elliptical base surface, or a cuboid having a rectangular or square base surface. A possible progression of the recess 16 is identified in FIG. 1d, wherein a pitch of the recess 16 varies on the shown side. In this way, the shape and the thickness of the formed strand can vary in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2.

[0060] FIG. 1e shows a side view of a casting pattern 1 including a recess 16, wherein the underlying pattern body tapers upwardly, in contrast to the pattern body from FIG. 1d. Depending on the base surface of the pattern body, this may be a polyhedron, and in particular a frustrum of a pyramid or a frustrum of a cone. It is apparent in FIG. 1e that the pitch 16 of the recess varies along the longitudinal axis 2. Here as well, the thickness of the formed strand is varied in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2, as was also the case in FIG. 1d, by the variable pitch of the recess 16. For example, the thickness of the strand in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 can be varied such that a cross-section of the strand is constant, while a thickness of the strand accordingly changes in the opposite manner in the radial direction.

[0061] FIG. 2 schematically shows a section of a pattern body 1 in a perspective view, wherein, as in FIG. 1, the longitudinal axis is denoted by reference numeral 2, the cavity by reference numeral 3, and the pattern body wall/cylinder wall by reference numeral 4. Beneath the pattern body 1, a processing device comprising a processing tool 5 is shown schematically, which during a rotational movement, which is indicated by the arrow 6, can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis 2. For this purpose, the processing tool 5 is fastened to an arm 17, which, in turn, is fastened to a rotatably drivable shaft 18. The shaft 18 can be driven by way of a rotary drive 11.

[0062] Additionally, a second drive is provided in FIG. 2, which is not shown in greater detail and moves the processing tool 5 in a translatory manner in the direction of the arrow 7. Moreover, a further drive can be provided, which causes an oscillating movement of the processing tool 5 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 10 thereof, wherein the movement is schematically indicated by the double arrow 8.

[0063] The processing tool 5 can, for example, be implemented by a flat saw blade or a strand-shaped rasp body as well as a saw blade having a round cross-section. However, as is shown in FIG. 5, it may also include a circular saw blade 9, which can be driven separately.

[0064] The processing tool 5 is designed so as to be able to remove the material of the pattern body 1 so as to introduce the recess 16 into the pattern body. For this purpose, the processing tool 5 can, in principle, enable processing by way of eroding, in addition to processing by way of cutting, or melt the pattern body 1, as will be described hereafter.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the processing device in greater detail in a perspective view. In the figure, the pattern body 1 to be processed has been omitted for the sake of clarity, however the longitudinal axis 2 thereof is plotted, which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18. The shaft 18 is mounted in a telescoping tube 18, and can be driven together with the telescoping tube 18, or separately therefrom, by a rotary drive 11 in the direction of the arrow 6 within the scope of a rotational movement. Moreover, the shaft 18 can be advanced in a translatory manner inside the telescoping tube 18 in the direction of the arrow 7, wherein a second drive 12 for driving the shaft 18 or a further telescoping tube in which the shaft 18 can glide is provided in the direction of the arrow 7. The driving movements 6, 7 are matched to one another and controlled by a control unit 13 in such a way that, for example, a regular helical shape is implemented, with a simultaneous rotational movement and advancement movement by the processing tool 5. The ratio of the speeds of the drives 11, 12 can also be changed during the movement so that, for example, the pitch of the helix can be changed suddenly or steadily. Moreover, one of the movements may also be intermittently suspended, so that helical shapes other than regular shapes can be created.

[0066] The function of the linear drive 12, the second drive, is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. It is shown there that a gear wheel 12 is rotatably mounted and drivable within the second drive 12, the gear wheel engaging in a toothed rack integrated into the shaft 18 or a holding tube that slidably mounts the shaft 18, and thereby linearly drives the shaft 18 inside the telescoping tube 18. The gear wheel 12 is usually driven by an electric motor, which can be electrically controlled by way of the control unit 13.

[0067] An arm 17, which carries an oscillating linear drive 15, is fastened to the shaft 18. The extension 17 of the arm 17 is moved in an oscillating manner by the linear drive 15 in the direction of the double arrow 18, along the axis 10 of the arm 17. The processing tool 5 in the form of a rasp, which is arranged at the end of the arm 17, thereby carries out a saw-like movement for removing material of the pattern body wall.

[0068] FIG. 6 shows a modified concept of the processing device, in which, in turn, a shaft 18 is rotatably drivable inside a telescoping tube 18 by way of a rotary drive 11 in the direction of the arrow 6, and in which the shaft 18 can moreover be driven by way of a linear drive, which is not shown in detail in FIG. 6, in the direction of the arrow 7.

[0069] The processing tool 5 is designed as a wire, which is tensioned between a heating device 14 and a holder 19 fastened to the arm 17. As a result of the heating wire 5 being heated by way of the heating device 14, the heating wire is brought to a temperature above the melting point of the material of the pattern body 1, so that the heating wire can be used for hot cutting and, in this way, introduces a recess 16 into the pattern body 1. The heating device 14 can be designed as a current source, for example, which generates a heating current through the heating wire 5/or the processing tool 5, so as to bring this to the necessary temperature.

[0070] As a result of the described embodiments of the processing device and the method, it is possible to produce a casting pattern 1 that allows the volume to be optimally filled by keeping the dimensions of the helical recess 16 small. In this way, a corresponding volume utilization by the metallic cast body created by way of the casting pattern 1 is also made possible.

[0071] FIG. 7 illustrates a method in which the pattern body 1 is mounted in a suspended manner during the creation of the recess 16. It is fastened in an upper region to a fastening device 22 and held by the fastening device 22. The recess 16 is introduced from the bottom to the top in the process, in direction of the arrow plotted in the figure. A processing tool is not shown in FIG. 7 for the sake of clarity. It may also be anchored in a suspended manner above the pattern body 1, but may also sit on a base. The downwardly acting weight g ensures that the strand being incrementally produced is pulled away downwardly. In this way, undesirable reconnection of the strand to the remaining pattern body, or a strand section located thereabove, can be avoided. This configuration can be used in connection with a hot processing tool, for example, when a risk of rejoining exists due to melting of the strand. The suspended mounting of the pattern body 1 can also be provided in other processing tools. The separated strand, hanging down, can be received by a receiving plate, which moves along with the pattern body, provided the pattern body is moved.

[0072] FIGS. 8a to 8c show possible embodiments of the processing device including a groove cutter 5 for introducing a groove 16.

[0073] FIG. 8a shows a groove cutter 5, which is arranged at the processing tool 5, 5 and, proceeding therefrom, extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis. A groove 16 can thus be generated, which, proceeding from the recess 16, extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2.

[0074] For example, the processing tool 5, 5 can be configured to rotate, together with the groove cutter 5 arranged thereon, about the longitudinal axis 10 of the processing tool. However, it may also be designed as a non-rotating knife. In the latter case, that is, when an arrangement not rotating about the axis 10 is involved, but, for example, a cutting, for example a hot-cutting, arrangement, it is also possible to generate a groove only on the top side or only on the bottom side of the strand.

[0075] The bottom right of FIG. 8a shows the cross-section of the strand generated by way of the shown processing tool.

[0076] The shown processing tool may also be provided in addition to a processing tool without groove cutter, and may be arranged at a distance therefrom in the direction of the longitudinal axis at the shaft 18, so that a first recess 16 with the groove 16, and a further recess 16 without groove, as was described in connection with the preceding figures, can be created. In terms of the ratio of the advancement speed to the rotational speed, care typically must be taken that, for the recesses, a pitch is achieved that is dimensioned so large that the two recesses do not make contact with one another.

[0077] FIGS. 8b, 8c show groove cutters 5 by way of which, together with the introduction of the recess 16, a groove 16 can be introduced into the pattern body 1, which, proceeding from the inner side or the outer side, extends in the pattern body wall orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 2.

[0078] For example, the groove cutters 5 can be designed as a knife, and in particular as a heated knife, or also as a circular saw blade.

[0079] In the embodiments from FIGS. 8b and 8c as well, care is typically taken in terms of the ratio of the advancement speed (along arrow 7) to the rotational speed (along arrow 6), that a pitch is achieved in each case for the recess 16 and the groove 16 which is dimensioned such that the groove 16 and the recess 16 do not make contact with one another. In this way, it can be achieved that the strand includes a groove along the windings on the inside (FIG. 8b) or on the outside (FIG. 8c).

[0080] The bottom right of FIGS. 8b and 8c again shows the cross-section of the strands generated by way of the shown processing tools.

[0081] The groove cutters from FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c can be arbitrarily combined with one another. In this way, it is possible to generate strands that each include one or more grooves on one or more sides.

[0082] The dimensions or positions of the grooves 16 that are introduced using the devices from FIGS. 8a to 8c can be established relative to the shaft 18 of the processing device. In particular, the radial distance thereof with respect to the shaft 18 can be established or establishable by the arm 17, or the second arm 17, or the connecting piece 21. The dimensions of the pattern body are typically taken into consideration during the positioning of the groove cutters, so that the groove is generated at the desired location, at the desired depth. The use of the groove cutters is possible, in particular, with cylindrical pattern bodies, even if the movement of the processing tool is limited to a rotation and a relative movement along the longitudinal axis. In particular the groove cutter from FIG. 8a, however, can also be used with other pattern bodies having a sufficient wall thickness. However, it may also be provided in the method that, in addition to the rotational movement of the processing tool and/or of the pattern body, a second relative movement takes place between the processing tool and the pattern body, which is oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotational movement and/or the relative movement, along the longitudinal axis, are superimposed by the second relative movement, at least during a portion of the second relative movement, and/or wherein the rotational movement and/or the relative movement, along the longitudinal axis, are interrupted during the second relative movement, at least during a portion of the second relative movement. For example, in the case of oval or rectangular pattern bodies, corresponding curve tracks can be selected, resulting, for example, in a constant distance between the point undergoing processing and the center. In this way, it is in particular made possible to also introduce grooves or other functional contours into components that are not rotation-symmetrical, or, for example, to round edges. As a result of the aforementioned second relative movement, it is also possible, however, to control or vary a certain progression of a groove, or a depth of a groove (both in the case of bodies that are rotation-symmetrical and those that are not rotation-symmetrical).