Patent GB-1442724-A (GB)
Title: Installation for conveying and machining cast workpieces
IPC: B22D35/06
Filed: 1974-02-04
Abstract: 1442724 Making pistons; rotary tool head; extracting and handling castings REGIE NATIONALE DES USINES RENAULT 4 Feb 1974 [14 Feb 1973] 04958/74 Headings B3A B3F and B3T Apparatus for conveying and machining cast workpieces 10, e.g. light alloy pistons, comprises a conveyer 1 for the cast workpieces, cooling means 11, 12 for the workpieces on the conveyer 1, transfer means 2 at the upstream end of the conveyer for placing the workpieces on the conveyer, further transfer means 4 at the downstream end of the conveyer 1 for removing the workpieces from the conveyer 1 and turning and milling means 7, 8 for machining the cast workpieces on the transfer means 4. The conveyer 1 comprises a series of parallel bars forming inclined passages 9 along which the cast piston workpieces 10 slide, the workpieces being formed with sprues 24 located between lower pairs of bars 49. Spray bars 11 distribute cooling fluid on the workpieces and vapours created by the cooling are removed through a suction hood 12. Liquid coolant is collected in a tank formed in a frame 13 and discharged to a gutter 14, a vibrator 15 being secured to the tank 13 to assist the movement of the workpieces. Resilient members 18 on a rail 17 engage in orifices in the workpieces 10 while they are still in the mould and they are secured on the members 18 by ejectors of the casting apparatus. A table 16, on which the rail 17 is mounted, is withdrawn by a jack 19, the rail is pivoted about its own longitudinal axis yy 1  through 90 degrees and then it is  pivoted through 90 degrees about an axis xx 1  to align the workpieces 10 with split tubes (23), Fig. 4 (not shown). The sprues 24 are located in the splits in the tubes (23), which are pivoted by a jack 26 to align them with the bars 49 and the workpieces slide out of them on to the bars. As the tubes (23) are pivoted, the resilient members 18 are disengaged from the workpiece orifices. A carriage 28, actuated by a jack 65, Fig. 7, is moved opposite one of the workpieces 10 at the bottom of the conveyer 1, and the workpiece (10a), Fig. 9 (not shown) is released by a finger (33) to slide onto the carriage. The jack 65 is actuated to move the workpiece into alignment with a chuck 35a, into which it is inserted by a jack 68, whereupon the carriage 28 is withdrawn to take up another workpiece. The chuck is mounted on a turret 6, which is rotated to align the workpiece with a turning machine 7. The machine is provided with a tubular cutting tool 36, Fig. 12 for machining the outer cylindrical surface and face of the workpiece. A ring of teeth 37 machines the cylindrical surface and cuts off the sprue 24, while tools 38 machine the face. The turret 6 is again rotated to align the workpiece with a milling unit head 39. The workpiece is held in vertically disposed jaws (40), (41), Fig. 14 (not shown) and a lever 70c, actuated by a jack 43, releases the workpiece from the chuck 35c, and the head 39 is retracted to bring the workpiece into the milling position. A face cutter on a spindle (44) removes flash and casting risers from the workpiece. At the end of the travel of the milling head 39, the workpiece abuts a stationary ejector (47) and it is released from the jaws to drop into a bin (48).