Method for producing a casting core for manufacturing cylinder heads

Abstract

A method for producing a casting core for manufacturing cylinder heads including the following steps: producing at least one core component, by a constructive method, with a contour for the formation of internal contours of a first cylinder head producing at least one further core component, by a constructive method, with a contour for the formation of internal contours of a further cylinder head; producing at least one sprue core component for feeding the molten mass during the casting method; and joining the two core components to the sprue core component in an opposing orientation.

Claims

1. A method for producing a casting core for manufacturing cylinder heads, the method comprising the acts of: generating at least one core component, using a constructive method, with a contour for forming inner contours of a first cylinder head; generating at least one further core component, using a constructive method, with a contour for forming inner contours of a further cylinder head; generating at least one sprue core component, for supplying the melt during casting; and connecting the two core components to the sprue core component in opposite orientations in a lateral direction such that combustion chambers of the first and further cylinder heads are oriented in laterally opposite directions to one another.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sprue core component is generated by a constructive method.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the core components have a connecting portion, and the sprue core component has mating connecting portions, and the core components are fastened, via the connecting portions, on the mating connecting portions of the sprue core component.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portions of the core components are form-fitting portions, and the mating connecting portions of the sprue core component are mating form-fitting portions.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portion of the core components includes a pin-type protrusion, and the mating connecting portions of the sprue core component include a corresponding depression into which the pin-type protrusion is plugged.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the core components are connected to the sprue core component in opposite orientations of approximately 180.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sprue core component has at least one feeder portion.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the sprue core component has at least one air-outlet portion.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein inorganic material is used for generating at least one of the core components.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lateral direction forms an angle of 90 relative to a downward direction to a base plate of a mold.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a casting core according to the invention and of associated cylinder heads;

(2) FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 from a different perspective;

(3) FIG. 3 shows the constructive method step for producing a casting core according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 4 shows the step of connecting the core components to a sprue core component;

(5) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a casting core according to the invention; and

(6) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a casting core according to the invention inserted into an appropriate mold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 show, in schematic form, how a casting core 10 according to the invention works. It is clearly evident here how a central sprue core component 40 has a further core component 20 and 30 arranged on the left and right of it in each case. The two lateral core components 20 and 30 here have corresponding contours, which serve for forming the respective cylinder head 100 and the associated inner contour 110. It is also clearly evident here how the central sprue core component 40 and the corresponding feeder portions 46 and the air-outlet portion 48 provide central, and thus double-use, functions for the two cylinder heads 100.

(8) FIG. 3 shows, in schematic form, a first step of a method according to the invention. Here, preferably inorganic material is constructed in layers for example with the aid of rapid prototyping or 3D printing. In the case of this embodiment, two core components 20 and 30 are constructed. It is already clearly evident here that the two core components 20 and 30 are of symmetrical design, since they are used for configuring the same or identical cylinder heads 100. The formation of pin-like extensions for the connecting portions 22 and 32 is also clearly evident in this illustration. The two connecting portions 22 and 32 are designed here in the form of form-fitting portions 24 and 34.

(9) FIG. 4 shows the operation of assembling the resulting core components 20 and 30 and a sprue core component 40. The sprue core component 40 may likewise have been generated here, for example, in layers. The arrows illustrate clearly here how the two core components 20 and 30 are simply pushed laterally into corresponding mating connecting portions 42. Connections to the connecting portions 22 and 32 can thus be ensured via the correlation of the mating connecting portions 42 and/or the design in the form of mating form-fitting portions 44. As a result, following assembly, the appearance of the completed casting core 10 is, for example, like that of the embodiment according to FIG. 5.

(10) If the casting core 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is then inserted into a mold 200, the resulting formation may be that, for example, according to FIG. 6. It is clearly evident here that abase plate 210 and lateral slides 220 provide a corresponding cavity, in which spaces for the formation of free volumes in the cylinder heads 100 are kept free above the casting core 10. It is then possible for the casting operation to be carried out according to the invention, and for two cylinder heads 100 to be formed simultaneously in a lateral orientation, offset through 180, to the left and right of the sprue core component 40.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

(11) 10 Casting core 20 Core component 22 Connecting portion 24 Form-fitting portion 30 Core component 32 Connecting portion 34 Form-fitting portion 40 Sprue core component 42 Mating connecting portion 44 Mating form-fitting portion 46 Feeder portion 48 Air-outlet portion 100 Cylinder head 110 Inner contour 200 Mold 210 Base plate 220 Slide

(12) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.