High-pressure die casting apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10137498-B2
Application number	US-201415021691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2013
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A high-pressure die casting apparatus including a shot sleeve extending through a first die half to a molding surface, and a plunger received in the shot sleeve is provided. The shot sleeve includes a side wall presenting a fluid passageway and a partial end wall disposed in a fixed position relative to the side wall. The partial end wall defines a wall opening adjacent the molding surface. Fluid is poured into the shot sleeve while the die apparatus is open, and the partial end wall prevents the fluid from flowing out of the shot sleeve. The plunger then presses the material into the mold cavity until only a portion of the material remains in the shot sleeve and blocks the wall opening. After the solidified material is ejected from the apparatus, the portion of material blocking the wall opening prevents lubricant from entering the shot sleeve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A die apparatus for die casting, comprising:
a first die half having a first molding surface;
a second die half having a second molding surface facing said first molding surface to present a mold cavity therebetween;
a shot sleeve extending through said first die half toward said first molding surface;
said shot sleeve including a side wall presenting a fluid opening for conveying fluid,
said side wall extending to a partial end wall, the partial end wall defining at least one wall opening for allowing fluid to flow from said fluid opening toward said mold cavity;
a plunger disposed in said shot sleeve for pressing fluid through said at least one wall opening; and
a material separator disposed along one of said molding surfaces and movable relative to said molding surface, wherein said material separator is a break plate received in said first die half between said partial end wall of said shot sleeve and said first molding surface, said break plate is movable in a direction perpendicular to said first molding surface, said break plate defines at least one connection opening extending therethrough, and each connection opening is axially aligned with one of said wall openings for allowing fluid to flow from said shot sleeve through said break plate and toward said mold cavity.

2. The die apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid passage presents a cross-sectional area disposed parallel to said first molding surface, said partial end wall of said shot sleeve presents a cross-sectional area greater than or equal to one third of said cross-sectional area of said fluid passage, and said partial end wall of said shot sleeve is disposed in a fixed position relative to said side wall and said first molding surface.

3. A die apparatus for die casting, comprising:
a first die half having a first molding surface;
a second die half having a second molding surface facing said first molding surface to present a mold cavity therebetween;
a shot sleeve extending through said first die half toward said first molding surface;
said shot sleeve including a side wall presenting a fluid opening for conveying fluid,
said side wall extending to a partial end wall, the partial end wall defining at least one wall opening for allowing fluid to flow from said fluid opening toward said mold cavity;
a plunger disposed in said shot sleeve for pressing fluid through said at least one wall opening; and
a material separator disposed along one of said molding surfaces and movable relative to said molding surface,
wherein said first die half comprises a block of material disposed in a fixed position relative to said second die half;
said first molding surface includes a contour for shaping the fluid;
said first die half includes a first back surface facing opposite said first molding surface and a sleeve opening extending continuously from said first back surface to said first molding surface;
said sleeve opening includes at least one die opening extending toward said first molding first, each of said die openings being axially aligned with one of said wall openings for conveying fluid from said fluid opening of said shot sleeve toward said first molding surface;
said first die half includes a support ledge disposed parallel to said first molding surface and defining said at least one die opening and spacing said shot sleeve from said first molding surface;
said first die half defines a material separator opening along said first molding surface for receiving said material separator;
said material separator is movable in a direction perpendicular to said first molding surface;
said side wall of said shot sleeve extends along a center axis from a first end to a second end and circumferentially around said center axis to form said fluid passage;
said fluid passage presents a cross-sectional area extending perpendicular to said center axis and parallel to said first molding surface;
said first end of said shot sleeve is open and receives said plunger;
said partial end wall of said shot sleeve is disposed in a fixed position and stationary relative to said side wall of said shot sleeve and said first molding surface;
said partial end wall of said first die presents a cross-sectional area extending perpendicular to said center axis and parallel to said first molding surface, and said cross-sectional area of said partial end wall is greater than or equal to one third of said cross-sectional area of said fluid passage, and said partial end wall is disposed along one side of said shot sleeve;
each of said wall openings of said shot sleeve presents a cross-section area extending perpendicular to said center axis and parallel to said first molding surface, said cross-sectional area of each wall opening is less than said cross-sectional area of said axially aligned die opening, and said cross-sectional area of each wall opening increases in a direction moving toward said axially aligned die opening;
said side wall of said shot sleeve defines a pouring hole disposed on a side of said shot sleeve opposite said partial end wall for receiving the fluid;
said plunger includes a plunger head presenting a cross-sectional area approximately equal to said cross-sectional area of said fluid passage of said shot sleeve;
said plunger head includes a serrated surface facing said second die half for engaging material contained in said shot sleeve;
at least one hold pin is received in said second die half and extends upwardly from said second molding surface, each of said hold pins is axially aligned with one of said die openings and one of said wall openings;
said second die half comprises a block of material aligned with and movable relative to said first die half;
said second molding surface presents a contour for shaping said fluid;
said second die half includes a second back surface facing opposite said second molding surface; and
said second die half defines at least one hold pin opening along said second molding surface, and each hold pin opening receives one of said hold pins.

Assignees

• Magna Int Inc
• Wilkes Richard John
• Zelina Owen Michael
• Niu Xiaoping

Inventors

• Wilkes Richard John
• Zelina Owen Michael
• Niu Xiaoping

Classifications

• B22D17/203

  Injection pistons (B22D17/2053 takes precedence; for plastics B29C45/53) · CPC title

• B22D17/10 Primary

  with horizontal press motion · CPC title

• B22D17/2272

  Sprue channels · CPC title

• B22D17/2023

  Nozzles or shot sleeves · CPC title

• B22D17/2007

  Methods or apparatus for cleaning or lubricating moulds · CPC title