Casting assembly and method to provide magnetic retention for over-molded inserts in die cast tooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10125720-B2
Application number	US-201615207608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2016
Priority date	Jul 12, 2016
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

An exemplary casting assembly for an engine block includes, among other things, an insert and at least one magnet configured to retain the insert in a predefined position within an engine block mold cavity. An exemplary engine block casting method includes, among other things, positioning at least one insert in a mold cavity, retaining the insert in position with at least one magnet, introducing material into the mold cavity to form an engine block, and solidifying the material to secure the insert within the engine block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A casting assembly for an engine block comprising:
an insert;
at least one magnet configured to retain the insert in a predefined position within an engine block mold cavity; and an electrical circuit that cooperates with the at least one magnet to detect a presence of the insert in the engine block mold cavity.

2. The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a bulkhead insert defining an engine crank bore.

3. The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises an electromagnet or permanent magnet.

4. The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engine block is aluminum and the insert comprises a material other than aluminum.

5. The casting assembly of claim 4 , wherein the material of the insert comprises a ferrous material.

6. The casting assembly of claim 1 , including a cooling circuit to cool the at least one magnet if a temperature of the magnet exceeds a predetermined temperature.

7. The casting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the engine block mold cavity is provided within a die, and wherein the die includes a bore configured to receive the magnet, and wherein the cooling circuit is at least partially received within the bore.

8. The casting assembly of claim 7 , including at least one temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the magnet.

Assignees

• Ford Motor Co

Inventors

• Burns Jonathan Robert
• Mckeough Bryan
• Zindel Jacob Wesley
• Rentschler Robert Gordon

Classifications

• B22C9/101 Primary

  Permanent cores · CPC title

• B22D21/007

  with low melting point, e.g. Al 659 degrees C, Mg 650 degrees C · CPC title

• B22D19/04

  for joining parts · CPC title

• B22C9/24

  for hollow articles · CPC title

• F02F7/0095 Primary

  Constructing engine casings (welded casings F02F7/0034) · CPC title