Stopper for a Sprue of a Casting Mould

Abstract

The invention relates to a stopper for a sprue of a casting mould, said stopper having a through-passage for introducing casting material into the sprue of the casting mould and being designed such that it automatically closes the through-passage to prevent casting material from flowing out of the casting mould, and also to a method for filling a casting mould with casting material, having the steps of: inserting such a stopper into a sprue of a casting mould and introducing casting material into the through-passage.

Claims

1. A stopper (2) for a sprue (4) of a casting mould (6), which has a through-passage (8) for introducing casting material into the sprue of the casting mould and which is designed such that it automatically closes the through-passage against the flow of casting material out of the casting mould.

2. The stopper according to the previous claim, characterized by a connection profile (22), which is designed in the through-passage (8) for the connection of a casting material feed line.

3. The stopper according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the stopper has a stopper body (2) made of an elastic material, which is deformed elastically under the pressure of the casting material during introduction through the through-passage (8) into the sprue (4) of the casting mould (6) and thereby opens a closure (10) in the through-passage into the sprue.

4. The stopper according to the previous claim, characterized in that the closure (10) has a slit (10), the walls of which lie on each other in the undeformed state of the stopper body and close the through-passage (8).

5. The stopper according to the previous claim, characterized in that the slit (10) in the undeformed state of the stopper body (2) extends radially with respect to the direction of flow (9) through the through-passage through one end of the stopper body, into which the through-passage (8) flows, and extends axially (9) into the through-passage.

6. The stopper according to one of the two previous claims, characterized by one or more slits (10), which are turned towards each other around an axis (9) by the same angle.

7. The stopper according to one of the three previous claims, characterized in that the slit (10) is straight.

8. The stopper according to one of the four previous claims, characterized in that the stopper body (2) or the stopper (2) is rotationally symmetrical.

9. The stopper according to one of the previous claims, characterized by an installation device (24), by means of which the stopper (2) can be releasably fastened in the sprue (4) of the casting mould (6).

10. A method for filling a casting mould (6) with casting material, having the steps of: inserting a stopper (2) according to one of the previous claims into a sprue (4) of a casting mould and then introducing casting material into the through-passage (8).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] These and additional advantages and features of the invention are described in greater detail below based on the following illustrations of exemplary embodiments of the invention. They show in:

[0017] FIG. 1 a spatial view of a stopper according to the invention,

[0018] FIG. 2 a side view of the stopper according to FIG. 1,

[0019] FIG. 3 the side view of the stopper according to FIG. 2 cut,

[0020] FIG. 4 the cut side view of the stopper according to FIG. 3 inserted into the sprue of a casting mould,

[0021] FIG. 5 a cut spatial view of the arrangement according to FIG. 4 in a view from outside the casting mould, and

[0022] FIG. 6 another cut spatial view of the arrangement according to FIG. 4 in a view opposite that in FIG. 5 from within the casting mould.

[0023] All figures show a stopper 2 for a sprue 4 in a sectional plane 5 of a casting mould 6 (FIGS. 4 to 6). Only a cone-shaped partial volume 6 is visible from the casting mould 6 (shown cut).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The stopper 2 has a through-passage 8 for introducing casting material (not shown) into the sprue 4 of the casting mould 6. The stopper 2 is designed in a rotationally symmetrical manner around the axis 9.

[0025] According to the invention, this stopper 2 is designed so that it automatically closes the through-passage 8 so that casting material does not flow back out of the casting mould. For this, the stopper 2 consists of a stopper body 2 made of an elastic material, which deforms elastically (not shown) under the pressure of the casting material (not shown) during introduction through the through-passage 8 into the sprue 4 of the casting mould 6 (FIG. 4) and thereby opens a closure 10 in the through-passage 8, while the closure 10 is closed in the case of an undeformed body. For this, the closure has four slits 10 (FIG. 1), the walls 12 (FIG. 2) of which lie on each other in the undeformed state of the stopper body 2 (the figures show the slits 10 with a certain width 14 for the detectability of the walls 12) and close the through-passage 8. The slits 10 are straight and turned towards each other around the symmetrical axis 9 of the stopper 2 by 45.

[0026] In the undeformed state of the stopper body (in accordance with all figures), all four slits 10 extend radially with respect to the direction of flow 9 (identical to the symmetrical axis 9) through the end 18 of the stopper body 2, which protrudes into the casting mould 6 (FIG. 4) and into which the through-passage flows in the direction of the casting mould 6 (FIG. 4), and axially from the end 18 into the through-passage 8.

[0027] Under the pressure of an introduced casting material (not shown), the eight pie-shaped ends 20 (FIG. 1), into which the four slits 10 divide the end 18, spread radially outward and thus now release the through-passage 8 over the entire length of the stopper 2 in the area of the central symmetrical axis 9.

[0028] In order to facilitate the connection of a feed line (not shown) for the casting material (not shown), the stopper 2 can have a connection profile 22 (FIG. 3), which is designed to connect a casting material feed line. This profile is arranged on the end facing towards the outside of the casting mould 6 in the through-passage 8 when it is inserted into a casting mould 6 (FIG. 4). There, grooves 22 progressing circumferentially radially are designed complementary to webs (not shown) progressing circumferentially radially on a thus suitably designed tip of a mixer (not shown), which then systematically fits with this connection profile.

[0029] For insertion into the sprue 4 of a casting mould 6, the stopper 2 has an installation device 24 (FIGS. 4 and 5), by means of which the stopper 2 can be releasably fastened in the sprue 4 of the casting mould 6 by four screws 26. For this, the casting mould 6, for the sprue 6 of which the stopper 2 is provided, has also structures 28, namely bore holes 28, through which the casting mould 6 is adjusted for the insertion and releasable fastening of the stopper 2. The installation device 24 is a coupling collar 24 that overlaps a flange collar 30 on the stopper 2 (FIG. 4) and presses into the sprue 4 in an edge-sealing manner. The device 24 holds the stopper 2 tight and sealed in the sprue 4 along its edge but is still quickly releasable at the four screws 26.

[0030] In order to further accelerate the quick interchangeability of the stopper (for example when it is designed as a disposable item and is to be replaced after one or more uses), an alternative coupling collar (not shown) can also be hinged to the casting mould 6 by means of a hinge joint (not shown) and then only needs to be fastened in the functional position for example with one or two screws (i.e. according to the designed position of the coupling collar 24) in order to securely guarantee its pressing and holding function.