Cooling Device and Method for Cooling a Component Produced in a Lost Foam Casting Method

Abstract

A cooling device is provided for cooling a component produced in a lost foam casting method by way of an EPS model. The cooling device has at least one cooling element which can be disposed flat on at least one region of the EPS model. The at least one cooling element can be fixed in a materially bonded and/or non-positive manner to the at least one region of the EPS model. A method for cooling the component produced in the lost foam casting method by way of the EPS model using the cooling element is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling device for use with a component produced in a lost foam casting method by way of an EPS pattern, the cooling device comprising:
 at least one cooling element configured to be arranged on at least one region of the EPS pattern in a planar manner, wherein
 the at least one cooling element is bondable and/or non-positively fixable on the least one region of the EPS pattern. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling element comprises an adhesive element that provides a fixedly bonds the at least one cooling element on the at least one region of the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein two or more cooling elements are provided in the cooling device, the cooling device further comprising at least one tensioning element and/or at least one clamping element operatively configured to non-positively fix the two or more cooling elements on the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the tensioning element and/or clamping element is operatively configured to mutually brace or clamp the two or more cooling elements with respect to the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling device according to  claim 4 , wherein the tensioning element comprises a band, a wire, a spring, a spring compressor and/or a screw tensioner. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the tensioning element comprises a band, a wire, a spring, a spring compressor and/or a screw tensioner. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the clamping element is operatively configured for hydraulically, pneumatically, or mechanically clamping the two or more cooling elements with respect to the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling device according to  claim 5 , wherein the clamping element is operatively configured for hydraulically, pneumatically, or mechanically clamping the two or more cooling elements with respect to the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling device according to  claim 6 , wherein the clamping element is operatively configured for hydraulically, pneumatically, or mechanically clamping the two or more cooling elements with respect to the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling device according to  claim 3 , further comprising spring elements operatively configured to connect the two or more cooling elements to each other for clamping the two or more cooling elements with respect to the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling device according to  claim 10 , wherein the spring elements are spiral springs. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling element is configured to provide active cooling of the EPS pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling device according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one cooling element comprises at least one line, bore hole and/or cavity through which a cooling medium is conducted to provide the active cooling. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling device according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a cooling unit coupled to the at least one line, bore hole and/or cavity, the cooling unit cooling the cooling medium for the active cooling.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling element is made of steel, gray cast iron, tungsten, aluminum, graphite, copper and/or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method of cooling a component produced in a lost foam casting method by way of an EPS pattern, the method comprising the acts of:
 bonding and/or non-positively fixing a cooling device on at least one region of the EPS pattern in a planar manner, the EPS pattern having a runner for a metal melt;   introducing the EPS pattern with the cooling device into a flask;   embedding completely the EPS pattern with the cooling device in unbonded sand within in the flask;   pouring the metal melt into the runner of the EPS pattern in order to evaporate the EPS pattern in the lost foam casting method; and   cooling the at least one region of the poured-in metal melt via the at least one cooling element.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the act of:
 coating the EPS pattern with a mineral refractory coating prior to bonding and/or non-positively fixing the cooling device on the at least one region of the EPS pattern.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the act of:
 conducting a cooling medium from a cooling unit through at least one line, bore hole, and/or at least one cavity of the at least one cooling element to locally cool the metal melt that is poured-in.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the conducting of the cooling medium is carried out in a closed cooling circuit from and to the cooling unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the act of:
 conducting a cooling medium from a cooling unit through at least one line, bore hole, and/or at least one cavity of the at least one cooling element to locally cool the metal melt that is poured-in.