Sand core making machine

Abstract

A sand core making machine that includes a hopper having a hollow body with an inner surface delimiting a passageway for a material used in the manufacture of a sand core. The hopper includes a plurality of breaker assemblies with each breaker assembly having at least one string. The ends of a string are attached to corresponding attachment points of the inner surface of the hollow body, such that the strings are arranged in a flow passage of the material. At least two breaker assemblies are spaced apart such that the two breaker assemblies interact with each other to break lumps of the material supplied to the hopper when the hollow body is shaken.

1 . A sand core making machine comprising;
 a hopper having a hollow main body with an inner surface delimiting a passageway for a material used in the manufacture of a sand core, the hopper including at least first and second breaker assemblies that respectively include first and second strings, each of the first and second strings having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first and second ends of the first string being respectively attached to first and second attachment points of the inner surface of the hollow main body, the first and second ends of the second string being respectively attached to third and fourth attachment points of the inner surface of the hollow main body, the first and second strings not being connected to one another in the material passageway and being configured to vibrate upon the hollow main body of the hopper being shaken, the first and second breaker assemblies being spaced apart from each other such that the when the first and second strings vibrate, the first and second breaker assemblies interact with each other to break lumps of the material supplied to the hopper; and   an actuator coupled to and configured to shake the hollow main body of the hopper.   
     
     
         2 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first plurality of breaker elements attached to and distributed in series on the first string, and a second plurality of breaker elements attached to and distributed in series on the second string, the first and second plurality of breaker elements respectively protruding from the first and second strings. 
     
     
         3 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second plurality of breaker elements has a shape selected from the group consisting of a spike shape, a cube shape and a ball shape. 
     
     
         4 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first string extends in a first direction and resides at a first height inside the hollow main body of the hopper, and the second string extends in a second direction and resides at a second height inside the hollow main body of the hopper, the second direction being different than the first direction and the second height being different than the first height. 
     
     
         5 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the first string extends in a first direction and resides at a first height inside the hollow main body of the hopper, and the second string extends in a second direction and resides at a second height inside the hollow main body of the hopper, the second direction being different than the first direction and the second height being different than the first height. 
     
     
         6 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second directions are perpendicular to one other. 
     
     
         7 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment points reside in a first plane, and the third and fourth attachment points reside in a second plane below the first plane. 
     
     
         8 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second attachment points reside in a first plane, and the third and fourth attachment points reside in a second plane below the first plane. 
     
     
         9 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second planes are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second strings are configured to be arched upon being vibrated. 
     
     
         11 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a filtering assembly arranged below the first and second breaker assemblies, the filtering assembly including at least one filter mesh. 
     
     
         12 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the filtering assembly comprises a first filter mesh and a second filter mesh spaced apart from and below the first filter mesh, and a plurality of elements arranged between the first and second filter meshes with freedom of movements. 
     
     
         13 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the first and second filter meshes is larger than a size of the plurality of elements so that upon the hollow main body being shaken, the plurality of elements jump between the first and second filter meshes. 
     
     
         14 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 12 , wherein a space between the first and second filter meshes is divided into a plurality of compartments, each of the plurality of compartments housing a subset of the plurality of elements. 
     
     
         15 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 14 , wherein adjacent compartments of the plurality of compartments are communicated with each other through passages that are smaller in size than the size of the plurality of elements to prevent a movement of the elements between the adjacent compartments but allowing the passage of material between the adjacent compartments. 
     
     
         16 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the filtering assembly comprises walls that extend at least partially between the first and second filtering meshes to delimit the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         17 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the walls extend partially between the first and second filtering meshes with there being a gap between the walls and the second filtering mesh. 
     
     
         18 . A sand core making machine comprising;
 a hopper having a hollow main body with an inner surface delimiting a passageway for a material used in the manufacture of a sand core, the hopper including a first breaker group having a first plurality of spaced-apart breaker assemblies arranged in a first plane inside the passageway, and a second breaker group having a second plurality of spaced-apart breaker assemblies arranged in a second plane inside the passageway, the second plane being spaced apart from the first plane, the first and second plurality of breaker assemblies being coupled to the hollow main body and configured to interact with one another upon the hollow main body being shaken; and   an actuator coupled to and configured to shake the hollow main body of the hopper.   
     
     
         19 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the first and second planes are arranged parallel to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the first plurality of breaker assemblies includes a string extending in a first direction, and each of the second plurality of breaker assemblies includes a string extending in a second direction different from the first direction. 
     
     
         21 . The sand core making machine according to  claim 20 , wherein the first and second directions are perpendicular to one another, and the strings of the first plurality of breaker assemblies being arranged parallel to one another, and the strings of the second plurality of breaker assemblies being arranged parallel to one another.