Cooling unit for a selective cooling of casting piece as they are obtained in casting molds

Abstract

cooling unit for use in sand molds where casting parts are obtained. The coolers consist of several modules ( 5 ) mounted on a support ( 4 ) with a certain clearance, and attached to it by a bar ( 7 ), being placed on a pallet ( 3 ) handled by robotic means and displaceable within a casting installation together with an upper pallet ( 1 ) in which the mold is placed, which is superimposed and coupled on the lower pallet ( 3 ) in the automated assembly of the mold on the cooling unit, the mold being automatically disassembled from the cooling unit after the cast part (P) is obtained. Each cooler module ( 5 ) can consist of a single part, two parts ( 5′ ) or three parts ( 5″ ), and it is mounted on the corresponding support ( 4 ) with a clearance ( 6 ) in order to absorb the expansions and contraction caused by the heat transmitted by the molten metal.

1 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds made of sand, especially applicable in processes for casting aluminium parts such as engine blocks, essentially characterised in that it comprises cooling modules ( 5 ) mounted on a support ( 4 ) to which they are joined by a bar ( 7 ) which crosses all the cooling modules ( 5 ), with this support ( 4 ) being mounted on a lower pallet ( 3 ) handled by robotic means and displaceable within a casting installation together with an upper pallet ( 1 ) on which the mold is placed, which is superimposed and attached to the lower pallet ( 3 ) during the automated assembly of the mold on the cooling unit, the mold also being automatically disassembled from the cooling unit after obtaining the cast part (P).  
     
     
         2 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the cooling module ( 5 ) is mounted on the support ( 4 ) with clearances ( 6 ) to absorb the expansions and contractions caused by the heat transmitted by the molten metal.  
     
     
         3 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the cooling module ( 5 ) consists of a single part.  
     
     
         4 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the cooling module ( 5 ) consists of two parts ( 5 ′) with a clearance ( 6 ′) between them defining escape paths for the air when pouring the molten metal.  
     
     
         5 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the cooling module ( 5 ) consists of three parts ( 5 ″), with a clearance ( 6 ′) between them defining escape paths for the air when pouring the molten metal.  
     
     
         6 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the cooling modules ( 5 ) embrace the cast part (P) on its front and side faces in order to cool them.  
     
     
         7 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the upper pallet ( 1 ) supporting the sand mold is provided with a large central opening ( 29 ) with a size and shape matching the perimeter of the cooling unit support ( 4 ) in order to facilitate the insertion of the sand mold in the cooling unit.  
     
     
         8 .- Cooling unit for selective cooling of casting parts when they are obtained in casting molds according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it incorporates extraction means ( 20 ) for the mold from the cooling unit consisting of a table ( 21 ) vertically displaceable by action of a hydraulic cylinder ( 22 ) whose stem acts on the lower face of the table ( 21 ), which is also provided with vertical guides ( 23 ) to guide the table ( 21 ) with respect to a fixed frame ( 28 ) placed in the disassembly station ( 11 ), the table ( 21 ) also having on its top face stems ( 24 ) that rise together with the table ( 21 ) and cross orifices ( 25 ) made in the lower pallet ( 3 ) of the cooler until pushing on the lower face of the upper pallet ( 1 ) which carries the mold, raising the upper pallet ( 1 ) and the mold until releasing them from the cooling unit, with the hydraulic cylinder ( 22 ) being mounted on the fixed frame ( 28 ), which is also provided with anchorings ( 26 ) for retaining the lower pallet ( 3 ) while raising the upper pallet ( 1 ) and wheels ( 27 ) on which rests the lower pallet ( 3 ).