METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CAST PRODUCT USING BREATHABLE SALT CORE

Abstract

A breathable salt core is provided that is placed in a cavity of a casting mold in order to mold a hollow part of a cast product and that is dissolved and removed after casting, the breathable salt core being formed by powder molding innumerable salt particles into a predetermined shape corresponding to the hollow part, wherein a gap that can retain a gas remaining in the cavity in a casting process is formed between the innumerable salt particles that have been powder molded. The breathable salt core thus manufactured assures that residual gas within the cavity pushed by the molten metal to enter the gap formed between salt particles of the salt core, thereby avoiding any incomplete filling of the molten metal, and which can be formed with a simple production process at a low cost.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a cast product using a breathable salt core that is placed in a cavity of a gravity casting mold in order to mold a hollow part of the cast product and that is dissolved and removed after gravity casting, wherein the breathable salt core, which is formed by powder molding innumerable salt particles into a predetermined shape corresponding to the hollow part and in which a gap that can retain residual gas within the cavity pushed out by molten metal in a casting process is formed between the innumerable salt particles, is placed within the cavity of the casting mold in an uncalcined state, and in the subsequent gravity casting process, the residual gas within the cavity, which is pushed out by molten metal, is made to enter the gap via a surface of the breathable salt core and be retained within the breathable salt core.

2. A method for manufacturing a cast product using a breathable salt core that is placed in a cavity of a casting mold in order to mold a hollow part of the cast product and that is dissolved and removed after casting, wherein the breathable salt core, which has a charging density subsequent to powder molding is 88% to 92% and is formed by powder molding innumerable salt particles into a predetermined shape corresponding to the hollow part and in which a gap that can retain residual gas within the cavity pushed out by molten metal in a casting process is formed between the innumerable salt particles, is placed within the cavity of the casting mold in an uncalcined state, and in the subsequent casting process, the residual gas within the cavity, which is pushed out by molten metal, is made to enter the gap via a surface of the breathable salt core and be retained within the breathable salt core.

3. The method for manufacturing the cast product using the breathable salt core according to claim 1, wherein the cast product is a piston for an internal combustion engine, and the hollow part is a cooling channel in a crown of the piston.

4. (canceled)

5. The method for manufacturing the cast product using the breathable salt core according to claim 2, wherein in the breathable salt core the salt particles are powder molded at a molding pressure of 80 to 130 MPa so as to give a charging density of 88% to 92%, and a calcination step and a machining processing step subsequent to said powder molding are omitted.

6. The method for manufacturing the cast product using the breathable salt core according to claim 5, wherein the salt particles, which do not contain an additive, are directly powder molded on their own.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 (A) is a sectional view (sectional view along A-A in FIG. 1 (B)) of a piston for an internal combustion engine having a cooling channel that has been molded using a breathable salt core of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (B) is a sectional view along B-B in FIG. 1 (A). (first embodiment)

[0021] FIG. 2 (A) is a sectional view showing a state in which the breathable salt core is set in a cavity of a mold of a production device for producing the piston P for an internal combustion engine of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 2 (B), (C) are enlarged perspective views showing parts B, C of the above. (first embodiment)

[0022] FIG. 3 shows the breathable salt core and a support pin thereof, which are to be set in the production device of FIG. 2 (A). (first embodiment)

[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of molten metal when the molten metal is poured into the cavity of the mold of FIG. 2 (A). (first embodiment)

[0024] FIG. 5 (A) shows the structure of a molding machine for subjecting the breathable salt core of the present invention to powder compression and molding, and the structure of a mold of the molding machine, and FIGS. 5 (B1) to (B3) are enlarged views of part B of FIG. 5 (A) showing stepwise the operation when molding the salt core. (first embodiment)

[0025] FIG. 6 is a scanning electron microscope image of the surface of the salt core when the molding pressure is at two different levels when molding using the molding machine of FIG. 5 (A).

First Embodiment

[0026] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between molding pressure and charging density of the salt core. (first embodiment)

[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between charging density of the salt core and percentage misruns in the cooling channel and the relationship between charging density and percentage setting cracks. (first embodiment)

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS

[0028] 1 Casting mold [0029] 2 Cavity [0030] 4 Salt core [0031] 10 Gas [0032] 17 Salt particles [0033] 18 Gap [0034] C Cooling channel [0035] P Piston for internal combustion engine

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0036] An embodiment in which the breathable salt core of the present invention is applied to molding of a cooling channel in the crown of a piston for an internal combustion engine is explained below by reference to the attached drawings.

First Embodiment

[0037] In the explanation below, for convenience a portion on the upper side of the paper of FIG. 2 (A) is referred to as being up and a portion on the lower side of the paper is referred to as being down.

[0038] A piston P for an internal combustion engine shown in FIG. 1 has a cooling channel C in its crown, and the crown of the piston P is cooled by introducing an oil jet that has been injected from an interior space S side of the piston P beneath the cooling channel C via one of two openings H1, H2 formed in a lower face of the cooling channel C and discharging it via the other opening. In FIG. 1 (A), a portion on the right-hand side with respect to a central axis L of the piston P is a sectional view passing through the opening H1 as shown in the right half in a cross section along A-A in FIG. 1 (B), and a portion on the left-hand side is a sectional view containing a parting line PL, which is described later, as shown in the left half in the cross section along A-A in FIG. 1 (B).

[0039] FIG. 2 (A) shows a casting device for casting the piston P having the cooling channel C, the casting device including a mold 1 having left and right molds 1a, 1b that can be split with the parting line PL shown in FIG. 1 (B) as mating faces, a cavity 2 that is formed in the interior of the mold 1, a metal core 3 that is disposed within the cavity 2 and is for molding the interior space S of the piston P, and a breathable salt core 4 that is disposed on an outer peripheral side on the upper side of the metal core 3 and is for molding the cooling channel C.

[0040] Formed in the mold 1 is a pouring inlet 6 via which a molten metal 5 is poured into the cavity 2 from a ladle, which is not illustrated. Formed at positions above the cavity 2 are a feeder part for the molten metal 5 thus poured and a degassing hole 7 via which gas within the molten metal 5 is discharged.

[0041] The metal core 3 is for molding the interior space S of the piston P, is formed so as to have a substantially convex shaped cross section, is vertically movably mounted on a bottom face of the cavity 2, and is formed from a large-diameter cylindrical portion 3a on the lower side and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 3b extending upward from the upper end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 3a. Formed at symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis L on a radially outer peripheral side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 3a are vertically extending through holes 9 through which a pair of support rods 8 supporting the salt core 4 are inserted.

[0042] Each support rod 8 is formed into a long and thin columnar shape as shown in FIG. 2 (A) and FIG. 3, has a small-diameter support pin 8a in its upper end part, and supports the salt core 4 via its upper end part. The support pin 8a extends within a support hole 4f, which is formed in the salt core 4 and is described later, from the lower end to the vicinity of the upper end of the salt core 4.

[0043] The salt core 4 is as shown in FIG. 3 formed into an annular shape with powder molded salt particles 17 using a molding machine 11, which is described later. The cross section of the salt core 4 is as shown in FIGS. 2 (B), (C) formed laterally asymmetrically from an outside face 4a on the outermost side in the radial direction and parallel to the central axis L, a lower face 4b extending radially inward from the lower end of the outside face 4a, an inside face 4c extending upward from the inner end of the lower face 4b so as to be parallel to the central axis L with a length that is shorter than the length of the outside face 4a, an inclined face 4d extending obliquely upward and radially outward from the upper end of the inside face 4c, and an upper face 4e extending radially outward from the extremity of the inclined face 4d up to the upper end of the outside face 4a, part where the respective faces are connected being formed into a smooth arc shape. A pair of the support holes 4f are formed at substantially opposite positions on the diameter of the salt core 4 so as to extend vertically, the support pin 8a of the respective support rods 8 is inserted from below through the support hole 4f, and parts other than the support holes 4f of the salt core 4 are formed into a solid so as to have a gap 18, which is described later, between the salt particles 17.

[0044] A method of casting the piston P having the cooling channel C is explained by reference to FIG. 2 (A).

[0045] In order to form the piston P by casting, the mold 1 is opened, and the support pin 8a of the support rod 8, which has been inserted into and retained by the through hole 9 of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 3a, is inserted into the support hole 4f of the salt core 4, thus supporting the salt core 4 within the cavity 2. In this state, a gap through which a molten metal can flow is formed between an outer face of the salt core 4 and an inner wall face of the cavity 2 except in places where the support rods 8 protrude (as described later, the places where the support rods 8 protrude become the openings H1, H2 in the piston P subsequent to casting).

[0046] In this state, the mold 1 is closed, the molten metal 5 is poured into the cavity 2 via the pouring inlet 6, the molten metal 5 moves upward along an outer peripheral face of the metal core 3 within the cavity 2, and when it reaches the upper end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 3a of the metal core 3 the flow branches into a flow that moves upward on the outer peripheral side along the outside face 4a of the salt core 4 and a flow that moves upward on an inner peripheral side along the inside face 4c from the lower face 4b of the salt core 4.

[0047] FIG. 4 (A) shows a state in which the molten metal 5 thus branched has reached an upper face of the salt core 4. When from this state the molten metal 5 moves further upward within the cavity 2, at a position where the molten metal that has moved around to the upper part from the inner peripheral side of the salt core 4 and the molten metal that has moved around to the upper part from the outer peripheral side of the salt core are combined, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the residual gas 10 within the cavity that have been pushed out by the molten metal moving around from the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side collide in a part where they meet, and this inhibits the flow of the molten metal 5 thus causing a possibility of incomplete filling. However, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, which is described later, since the gap 18, which is capable of retaining the gas 10 remaining in the cavity 2, is formed between the salt particles 17 of the breathable salt core 3, it is possible to make the residual gas 10 enter the gap 18 and be retained, thereby preventing the flow of molten metal 5 from being inhibited in the part and incomplete filling from occurring.

[0048] After the rough material of the piston P is thus molded by charging the interior of the cavity 2 with the molten metal 5, the support rods 8 are made to descend and pulled out from the piston P, the mold 1 is opened and the piston P is taken out, and high pressure water is applied to the salt core 4 remaining within the cooling channel C via the openings H1, H2 of the piston P formed by pulling out the support rods 8, thus dissolving and removing the starting salt of the salt core 4.

[0049] A method for manufacturing the breathable salt core 4 of the present invention, which can form the gap 18 capable of retaining gas remaining in the cavity, between the salt particles 17 of the salt core 4 is now explained below.

[0050] FIG. 5 (A) shows the molding machine 11 for powder compressing and molding the breathable salt core 4 of the present invention; the molding machine 11 has an upper punch 12 having an annularly formed pressing portion 12a, a lower punch 13 similarly having an annularly formed pressing portion 13a, and a die 14 surrounding the pressing portion 13a of the lower punch 13, a pair of rod-shaped bodies 15 protruding from the pressing portion 13a of the lower punch 13 in order to form the support hole 4f of the salt core 4, which is described above. The pressing portion 12a of the upper punch 12, the pressing portion 13a of the lower punch 13, the die 14, and the rod-shaped body 15 form molds of the molding machine 11 for powder compressing and molding the breathable salt core 4.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5 (B1), opposing faces of the pressing portion 12a of the upper punch 12 and the pressing portion 13a of the lower punch 13 have a shape that coincides with the shape of the salt core 4 subsequent to molding so that the salt core 4 does not have to be subjected to machining processing after powder molding. When molding the salt core 4, starting salt having a substantially uniform particle size with an average of on the order of 350 μm is first charged into a groove part 16 sandwiched between the die 14 and a side wall 13b of the lower punch 13 on the upper face of the pressing portion 13a of the lower punch 13, as shown in FIG. 5 (B2) the upper punch 12 is made to descend, and the starting salt charged into the groove part 16 is compressed with a low molding pressure of 80 to 130 MPa by means of the pressing portion 12a, thus carrying out powder molding of the salt core 4. After powder molding, as shown in FIG. 5 (B3) the pressing portion 12a of the upper punch 12 is moved upward and the pressing portion 13a of the lower punch 13 is made to ascend, thus enabling the powder molded breathable salt core 4 to be pulled upward from the interior of the groove 16 while drawing out the rod-shaped body 15.

[0052] In the present invention, since the starting salt is compressed with such a low pressure of 80 to 130 MPa, an excessive load will not be applied to the opposing faces of the pressing portions 12a, 13a of the upper and lower punches, which are the molds of the molding machine 11, and it is therefore possible to prevent the pressing portions 12a, 13a of the upper and lower punches from being broken early even when the opposing faces of the pressing portions 12a, 13a of the upper and lower punches have in advance a shape that coincides with the shape of the salt core 4 subsequent to powder molding.

[0053] Moreover, as described above, since the cross-sectional shape of the salt core 4 can be molded as it is by means of the upper and lower punches 12, 13 with a low molding pressure, the molding precision is good, and it is unnecessary to subject it to machining processing after powder molding; after powder molding, merely by taking out the powder molded salt core 4, while drawing out the rod-shaped body 15, from the groove part 16 sandwiched between the die 14 and the pressing portion 13a of the lower punch 13, the breathable salt core 4 having the support hole 4f can be produced without carrying out a calcination step or a machining processing step, and so-called net shaping is thus possible.

[0054] The capability of fully ensuring the gap 18, which can retain gas, between starting salt particles by compressing the starting salt with a low pressure of 80 to 130 MPa, and the capability of maintaining a strength that can prevent setting cracks when it is set within the cavity 2 of the mold 1 is now explained below.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows an electron microscope photograph of the surface of a breathable salt core of the present embodiment when the molding pressure is 90 MPa and an electron microscope photograph of the surface of a conventional salt core when the molding pressure is 210 MPa; in the electron microscope photograph of the present embodiment, reference numeral 17 shows salt particles, and reference numeral 18 shows the gap. As is clear from this electron microscope photograph, in the present embodiment the gap 18 capable of retaining gas remains between the salt particles 17, but in the conventional arrangement in which molding is carried out with a molding pressure of 210 MPa, which is a conventionally usual molding pressure, it can be seen that a gap 18 capable of retaining gas does not exist.

[0056] Moreover, as is clear from FIG. 7, in which the abscissa is molding pressure (MPa) and the ordinate is charging density (%) and which shows the relationship between the molding pressure and the charging density, the breathable salt core 4, which is produced with a molding pressure of 80 to 130 MPa, is able to have a charging density that is contained within a range of 88% to 92% as shown by .star-solid., in the casting process the gap 18, which is capable of retaining the gas 10 remaining in the cavity 2, can be formed between the salt particles 17, running properties of molten metal during casting are good, and it is possible to maintain a strength that can prevent setting cracks from occurring when the salt core 4 is set within the cavity 2 of the mold 1.

[0057] This point is further explained by reference to FIG. 8.

[0058] FIG. 8 is a graph in which the abscissa is charging density and the ordinate is percentage misruns within the cooling channel C and percentage setting cracks, showing the relationship between the charging density and the percentage misruns by a chain line and the relationship between the charging density and the percentage setting cracks by a solid line; as is clear from this graph, the percentage misruns within the cooling channel C shown by ∘ is 0% until the charging density exceeds 92% and gradually increases from the point after the charging density exceeds 92%, and the percentage occurrence of setting cracks shown by • is 0% when the charging density is 88% or greater but gradually increases as the charging density decreases when the charging density is less than 88% (.star-solid. shows an area where ∘ and • overlap one another). It can therefore be seen that when the charging density is contained in a range of 88% to 92%, as shown by .star-solid. it is possible to suppress the percentage misruns and the percentage setting cracks to 0%, it is possible by compressing the starting salt with a low pressure of 80 to 130 MPa to fully ensure the gap 18, which is capable of retaining gas between starting salt particles, and it is also possible to retain a strength that can prevent setting cracks from occurring when it is set within the cavity 2 of the mold 1.

[0059] On the other hand, the conventional salt core is subjected to machining processing for molding it into a predetermined shape before being set in a cavity of a casting mold; in order to ensure a strength that can withstand machining processing, starting salt particles having different particle sizes are usually blended in order to improve the charging density, an additive such as a binder such as water glass or a lubricant such as a metallic soap is added to the starting salt thus blended to thus further increase the strength, furthermore, powder molding is carried out by pressing with a high pressure to thus increase the charging density, and calcination is carried out in order to further enhance the strength. Since the salt core is subjected, subsequent to such steps, to machining processing for molding the salt core into a predetermined shape or hole machining for forming a support pin support hole, the production process becomes complicated and it is difficult to form the salt core at low cost. In the salt core produced by the conventional steps in such a way, the charging density of the starting salt is high, it is difficult for residual gas within the cavity to enter the interior of the salt core, and incomplete filling of molten metal easily occurs. However, since the breathable salt core 4 of the present invention forms the gap 18, which is capable of retaining gas, between the innumerable powder molded salt particles 17, due to powder molding being carried out with a low pressure, it is possible to directly powder mold the salt particles 17, which have a substantially uniform particle size and do not contain an additive, with a low pressure, and not only is it possible to omit operations of calcination or machining processing, but it is also possible to eliminate the necessity for blending salt particles 17 having different particle sizes or adding an additive such as a binder such as water glass or a lubricant such as a metallic soap, thus enabling the breathable salt core, which is resistant to incomplete filling of molten metal, to be produced simply and at low cost.

[0060] The operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above arrangement is now explained.

[0061] In the present embodiment, since the breathable salt core 4, which is placed in the cavity 2 of the mold 1 and is dissolved and removed after casting, is formed by powder molding the innumerable salt particles 17 into a predetermined shape corresponding to the cooling channel C of the piston P, and the gap 18, which is capable of retaining the residual gas 10 remaining in the cavity in the casting process, is formed between the innumerable powder molded salt particles 17, it is possible by allowing the gas 10 remaining in the cavity 2 in the casting process to enter the gap 18 and be retained thereby, to prevent the flow of molten metal 5 from being inhibited by the residual gas 10, thus forming the breathable salt core 4 having good running properties so that hardly any incomplete filling of the molten metal 5 occurs.

[0062] Moreover, since it is not necessary to specially provide the breathable salt core 4 with a groove via which the residual gas 10 within the cavity 2 pushed out by the molten metal 5 can escape, the production process is simple, and it can be formed at low cost.

[0063] Furthermore, since the breathable salt core 4 has a charging density of 88% to 92%, it is possible to fully ensure the gap 18, which retains the gas 10 remining in the cavity in the casting process, to thus achieve good running properties and it is also possible to maintain a strength that can prevent setting cracks from occurring when it is set within the cavity 2.

[0064] Moreover, the piston P equipped with the cooling channel C having good running properties can easily be produced at low cost.

[0065] Furthermore, since the breathable salt core 4 is used without being calcined, it is possible to prevent contact parts between the salt particles 17 from being melted accompanying calcination, thus enabling the gap 18, which is capable of retaining gas remaining in the cavity, to be reliably formed between the salt particles 17.

[0066] Moreover, the breathable salt core is powder molded from the salt particles 17 with a molding pressure of 80 to 130 MPa so as to give a charging density of 88% to 92%, and after powder molding it is produced without carrying out a calcination step or a machining processing step. Due to the powder molding being carried out with a low pressure of 80 to 130 MPa, the mold of the molding machine 11, which coincides with the cross-sectional shape of the salt core, can be used to thus enable a machining processing step to be omitted, and due to the charging density being set at 88% to 92% at that time, it is possible to prevent setting cracks from occurring when the salt core 4 is set within the cavity 2 as it is, thus enabling a calcination step to be omitted, and the production process is thereby simple and the cost is low.

[0067] Furthermore, due to the powder molding being carried out with a low pressure, the gap 18, which is capable of retaining the gas 10 remaining in the cavity 2 in the casting process, is formed between the innumerable salt particles 17 subsequent to molding, and it is therefore possible by making the gas 10 remaining in the cavity 2 in the casting process enter the gap 18 to prevent the flow of molten metal from being impaired, thus enabling the breathable salt core 4 having good running properties to be formed.

[0068] Moreover, since the salt particles 17 having a substantially uniform particle size and containing no additive such as water glass or a metallic soap are directly powder molded with a low pressure on their own, it is possible to simply and inexpensively produce a breathable salt core that forms the gap 18, which is capable of retaining gas, between the salt particles 17 without blending the salt particles 17 having different particle sizes and without adding an additive such as a binder such as water glass or a lubricant such as a metallic soap.

[0069] An embodiment of the present invention is explained above, but the present invention may be modified in a variety of ways as long as the modifications do not depart from the subject matter.

[0070] For example, the breathable salt core 4 of the present invention can also be used effectively as a salt core for molding a hollow part of a cast product other than one forming the cooling channel C of the piston P.