Apparatus for injecting molten metal into a die cast machine and methods and control systems for cooling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9744590-B2
Application number	US-201414273268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2014
Priority date	May 8, 2014
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for injecting molten metal into a die cast machine is provided. The apparatus includes a molten metal reservoir having a first open end in fluid communication with a die casting mold and a second open end. The molten metal reservoir includes at least one first cooling fluid path positioned about at least a portion of an outer surface of the molten metal reservoir and in thermal contact with the molten metal reservoir. The apparatus further includes a plunger sized to fit within the second open end. The plunger includes a plunger tip and a second cooling fluid path defined within the plunger tip and in thermal contact with the molten metal reservoir. A plurality of thermal actuators are also provided. Each of the plurality of thermal actuators controls a volume of cooling fluid flowing through one first cooling fluid path of the at least one first cooling fluid path or the second cooling fluid path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for injecting molten metal into a die cast machine, the apparatus comprising:
a molten metal reservoir having a first open end in fluid communication with a die casting mold and a second open end, the molten metal reservoir including a plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths arranged along a length of the molten metal reservoir between the first open end and the second open end, each first cooling fluid path encircling a portion of the length of the molten metal reservoir, and being in thermal contact with the molten metal reservoir;
a plunger sized to fit within the second open end, the plunger including a plunger tip and a second cooling fluid path defined within the plunger tip and in thermal contact with the molten metal reservoir; and
a plurality of thermal actuators, each of the plurality of thermal actuators independently controlling a volume of cooling fluid flowing through a respective one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path includes an inlet and an outlet and each thermal actuator receiving cooling fluid from the outlet of the respective first cooling fluid path of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths or the second cooling path.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each thermal actuator is configured to adjust the cooling fluid flowing in the respective one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling path in response to a change in temperature of the cooling fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each thermal actuator is configured to increase a flow of cooling fluid in response to an increase in temperature of the cooling fluid.

5. The apparatus of the claim 4 , wherein each thermal actuator is configured to decrease a flow of cooling fluid in response to a decrease in temperature of the cooling fluid.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each thermal actuator includes a phase change material in thermal contact with the cooling fluid, the phase change material controlling a response of the thermal actuator to increase or decrease the flow of cooling fluid.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the inlet of each of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path is coupled to a cooling fluid source, and each thermal actuator includes an outlet in fluid communication with the cooling fluid source to return cooling fluid to the cooling fluid source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the outer surface of the molten metal reservoir defines an aperture providing fluid communication between a source of molten metal and an interior of the molten metal reservoir for introducing molten metal into the molten metal reservoir.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of thermal actuators independently controls the volume of cooling fluid flowing through each one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path in response to the temperature of a cooling fluid flowing through each respective thermal actuator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of thermal actuators independently controls the volume of cooling fluid flowing through each one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path to enable independent temperature control of different portions of the length of the molten metal reservoir.

11. A system for controlling a flow of cooling fluid through an apparatus for injecting molten metal into a die cast machine, the apparatus including a molten metal reservoir having a first open end in fluid communication with a die casting mold and a second open end, a plunger sized to fit within the second open end, the plunger including a plunger tip, and a plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths, and a second cooling fluid path defined within the plunger tip and in thermal contact with the molten metal reservoir, the system comprising:
each of a plurality of thermal actuators independently controlling a flow of cooling fluid through a respective one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path, wherein each of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths is arranged along a length of the molten metal reservoir between the first open end and the second open end and each first cooling fluid path encircles a portion of the length of the molten metal reservoir, and is in thermal contact with the molten metal reservoir.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each thermal actuator is in fluid communication with an outlet of the respective one of the the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein each thermal actuator includes a phase change material in thermal contact with the flow of cooling fluid through the respective thermal actuator, and the phase change material controlling a response of each thermal actuator to increase or decrease the flow of cooling fluid.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths and the second cooling fluid path includes an inlet in fluid communication with a cooling fluid source, and each thermal actuator includes an outlet in fluid communication with a fluid return of the cooling fluid source.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein an increase in temperature of the cooling fluid flowing through one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths or the second cooling fluid path causes a response in each thermal actuator to increase the flow of cooling fluid through each thermal actuator.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a decrease in temperature of the cooling fluid flowing through one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths or the second cooling fluid path causes a response in each thermal actuator to decrease the flow of cooling fluid through each thermal actuator.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus further includes an aperture defined through the molten metal reservoir providing fluid communication between a source of molten metal and an interior of the molten metal reservoir for introducing molten metal into the molten metal reservoir, and the temperature of the flow of cooling fluid through one of the plurality of independent and adjacent first cooling fluid paths or the second cooling fluid path increases in response to the temperature and a duration of the molten metal within the molten metal reservoir and decreases after the plunger pushes the molten metal into the die casting mold.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Schroeder Karl
• De Neff Robert C
• Stasiak Tom
• Hider Tim
• Homan Shane
• Whitmore Don

Classifications

• B22D17/2038

  Heating, cooling or lubricating the injection unit (for plastics B29C45/74, B29C45/83) · CPC title

• B22D17/32

  Controlling equipment · CPC title

• B22D17/203

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

• B22D17/263 Primary

  mechanically · CPC title

• B22D39/026

  using a ladler · CPC title