Single-piece cooling blocks for casting and molding

Abstract

A block for use in a die casting or molding system receives manufacturing material for distribution into a runner system of a die or mold and cooling fluid for transferring heat away from the block. The block comprises a single-piece body and a plurality of cooling bores. The single-piece body includes features for distributing the manufacturing material, and has a first face, a second face and a plurality of side surfaces disposed between the first face and second face. The plurality of bores are positioned between the side faces and form cooling channels for receiving the cooling fluid.

1 . A cooling block for use in a molding or casting system, wherein the block receives manufacturing material for distribution into a runner system of a mold or die and cooling fluid for transferring heat away from the block, the cooling block comprising:
 a single-piece body having features for distributing the manufacturing material, the body comprising:
 a first face; 
 a second face; and 
 a plurality of side surfaces disposed between the first face and the second face; and 
   a plurality of bores positioned between the side surfaces and forming cooling channels for receiving cooling fluid such that temperature of the features and manufacturing material can be controlled.   
   
   
       2 . The cooling block of  claim 1  wherein the features include a sprue having a length extending from the first face to the second face and for directing the manufacturing material into the runner system. 
   
   
       3 . The cooling block of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of bores form a channel encircling the sprue such that cooling fluid can be circulated around a circumference of the sprue. 
   
   
       4 . The cooling block of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of bores include a plurality of transverse bores extending into the first face around the sprue, wherein the plurality of transverse bores intersect the channel encircling the sprue such that cooling fluid can be circulated along a length of the sprue. 
   
   
       5 . The cooling block of  claim 1  wherein the features include a sprue post for receiving the manufacturing material into the runner system of the die or mold. 
   
   
       6 . The cooling block of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of bores includes a bore extending into the second face of the block such that it extends into the sprue post. 
   
   
       7 . The cooling block of  claim 5  and further comprising a runner portion for linking the spreader post with the runner system of the die or mold. 
   
   
       8 . The cooling block of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of bores includes a bore extending into one of the plurality of side surfaces for cooling the runner portion. 
   
   
       9 . A sprue block for use in a casting or molding system, the sprue block comprising:
 a single-piece body comprising:
 a first face; 
 a second face; and 
 a plurality of side surfaces disposed between the first face and the second face; 
   a sprue running from the first face to the second face for receiving material for distribution into a runner system of a die or mold; and   a plurality of bores extending into the single-piece body for receiving cooling fluid for transferring heat away from the single-piece sprue block.   
   
   
       10 . The sprue block of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of bores form intersections that form a pathway through the single-piece body. 
   
   
       11 . The sprue block of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of bores form a channel between the first and second faces and encircle the sprue such that cooling fluid can be circulated around a circumference of the sprue. 
   
   
       12 . The sprue block of  claim 11  wherein some of the plurality of bores include plugs such that cooling fluid is directed through the pathways. 
   
   
       13 . The sprue block of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of bores include a plurality of transverse bores extending into the first face around the sprue such that cooling fluid can be circulated along a length of the sprue. 
   
   
       14 . The sprue block of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of transverse bores include baffles for directing cooling fluid along a length of each transverse bore. 
   
   
       15 . The sprue block of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of bores comprises:
 a plurality of lateral bores forming a channel encircling a circumference of the sprue;   a plurality of transverse bores around the sprue extending into the first face along a length of the sprue; and   wherein the plurality of transverse bores intersect the plurality of lateral bores such that cooling fluid can be circulated along a length of the sprue and around the circumference of the sprue.   
   
   
       16 . The sprue block of  claim 15  wherein:
 first and second lateral bores extend into a first side surface and intersect first and second transverse bores, respectively;   third and fourth lateral bores extending into second and third side surfaces generally perpendicular to the first and second lateral bores and intersecting the first and second transverse bores, respectively;   fifth and sixth lateral bores extending into a fourth side surface and intersecting the third and fourth lateral bores, respectively, and intersecting third and fourth transverse bores, respectively; and   a seventh lateral bore extending into the third side surface and intersecting the fifth and sixth bores, and a fifth transverse bore.   
   
   
       17 . A spreader block for use in a casting or molding system, the spreader block comprising:
 a single-piece body comprising:
 a first face comprising:
 a spreader post for distributing material into a runner system of a die or mold; and 
 a runner portion for linking the spreader post with the runner system die or mold; 
 
 a second face having a first cooling bore extending into the spreader post for receiving cooling fluid for transferring heat away from the block; and 
 a plurality of side surfaces disposed between the first and second faces. 
   
   
   
       18 . The spreader block of  claim 15  and further comprising a second cooling bore extending inward from one of the side surfaces and intersecting the first cooling bore. 
   
   
       19 . The spreader block of  claim 18  and further comprising a third cooling bore extending inward from one of the side surfaces for cooling the runner portion. 
   
   
       20 . The spreader block of  claim 19  and further comprising a runner formed into the runner portion of the first surface connecting a tip of the spreader post with the runner system of the die or mold.