U.S. patent application number 11/727245 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-27 for mold with heat regulation ducts and its realization method.
Invention is credited to Andrea Rottigni.
Application Number | 20070221356 11/727245 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38198048 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070221356 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rottigni; Andrea |
September 27, 2007 |
Mold with heat regulation ducts and its realization method
Abstract
A mold includes ducts designed to be traveled by heat-regulating
fluid of the mold. The ducts are realized by grooves realized on
the external surface of the mold and closed above along their
extension by metallic strips. Advantageously the grooves are formed
by pairs of ribs projecting from the surface of the mold to form
side walls of the ducts.
Inventors: |
Rottigni; Andrea; (Alzano
Lombardo BG, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACOBSON HOLMAN PLLC
400 SEVENTH STREET N.W., SUITE 600
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
38198048 |
Appl. No.: |
11/727245 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
164/348 ;
164/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 41/46 20130101;
B29C 33/04 20130101; B29C 41/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
164/348 ;
164/122 |
International
Class: |
B22D 27/04 20060101
B22D027/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 24, 2006 |
IT |
MI2006A 000557 |
Claims
1. Mold including ducts designed to be run through by
heat-regulating fluid of the mold and characterized in that the
ducts are realized by grooves on the external surface of the mold
closed above along their extension by metallic strips.
2. Mold in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the
grooves are identified laterally by pairs of ribs projecting from
the external surface of the mold and on the top of which are
fastened the metallic strips.
3. Mold in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the
metallic strips are welded.
4. Mold in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the strips
are formed in segments along the extension of the ducts and that
the segments include sheet metal bands cut from strip and sheet
metal curves cut from a sheet.
5. Mold in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the
grooves are made in melting from the mold body.
6. Mold in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the
grooves are made by removal of material from the mold body.
7. Mold in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the strips
are of the same material as the external surface of the mold.
8. Mold in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the height
of the ribs above the surface of the mold is greater than the
thickness.
9. Mold in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the
thickness of the ribs is less than the distance between two ribs
forming the walls of a same channel.
10. Mold in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the
grooves end in unions for connection to a fluid supply.
11. Method for realization of a mold with ducts designed to be
traveled by heat-regulation fluid of the mold and including the
steps of realization on the external surface of the mold of a
plurality of grooves identifying channels open above and then
fastening onto the latter along their extension metallic strips to
constitute upper closing of the channel to form a duct.
12. Method in accordance with claim 11 in which the grooves are
identified laterally by pairs of ribs projecting from the external
surface of the mold and on the top of which are fastened the
metallic strips.
13. Method in accordance with claim 11 in which the metallic strips
are fastened by welding.
14. Method in accordance with claim 11 in which the strips are
formed as segments along the extensions of the channels and the
segments include sheet metal strips which are cut from ribbon and
sheet metal curves which are cut from a sheet.
15. Method in accordance with claim 11 in which the grooves are
made in melting from the mold body.
16. Method in accordance with claim 11 in which the grooves are
made by removal of material from the mold body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a mold with heat-regulation ducts
and to a method for its realization.
[0003] 2. State of the Prior Art
[0004] In the production of metallic molds which are to be heat
regulated (heated and cooled) on the surface by different heating
vectors (diathermic oil, water et cetera) there are at present some
technical possibilities.
[0005] A first possibility in the case that the mold is made up of
a metallic block is to realize drillings at a sufficient distance
from the internal surface of the mold and connect the drillings
with the external tubes.
[0006] But this procedure becomes particularly complex when the
surface of the mold is curved or arranged on different levels often
forcing compromises among many and costly drillings or drillings
which are at different distances from the internal surface of the
mold with resulting variations in the surface thermal yield. In
addition, this technology does not lend itself to the realization
of molds which must necessarily have reduced thicknesses such as,
for example, rotating molds.
[0007] A second possibility is to realize the mold by melting by
inserting in the casting the heat-regulation circuit realized with
tubing in a more highly melting material than that of the mold. In
this manner the heat-regulation circuit is `co-melted` in the
mold.
[0008] But this procedure has considerable problems. For example
the positioning of the piping in the seat in which the metal of the
mold will be melted is a delicate operation which can easily cause
defects since the metal of the piping has an expansion coefficient
different from the melting metal and can cause distortions in the
mold or jeopardize solidification in the melted metal to create
surface defects due to shrinkage, suction, porosity et cetera. In
addition, in case of errors or necessity of changing, the
intervention operation becomes much more complex and makes it
necessary to intervene on two co-melted metals. Lastly, the heat
conductivity of the mold is reduced and in general conditioned by
the presence of a piping system of material different from that of
the mold.
[0009] A third known possibility is to realize the mold as a
metallic shell going to screw onto the rear thereof another
metallic shell which is often a welded sheet metal cover realizing
an air space in which to cause the heat-regulation fluid to
flow.
[0010] This latter solution however has disadvantages linked to the
fact that the air space, especially in the presence of curved
surfaces or on different planes, may have different depths in the
various zones of the mold with resulting non-uniformity of heat
exchange. The presence of a single air space also forces using
considerable masses of fluid with decrease of outputs and
considerable increase of the weight of the molds, which becomes
particularly detrimental for some molding technologies among which,
for example, rotary molding.
[0011] There being no bulkheads, there is no guarantee that the
fluid circulates over all of the surface of the mold instead of
following preferential circuits and thus generating different
surface heat yields.
[0012] Lastly these molds over time often have problems of sealing
between the surface shell and the cover.
[0013] The general purpose of the present invention is to remedy
the above mentioned shortcomings by making available a method for
the realization of a mold with heat-regulation channels allowing
obtaining a heat-regulated mold in a simple and effective manner
without the disadvantages of the known art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In view of this purpose it was sought to provide in
accordance with the present invention a mold including ducts
designed to be paths for heat-regulating fluid of the mold and
characterized in that the ducts are realized by grooves on the
external surface of the mold closed above along their extension by
metallic strips.
[0015] Again in accordance with this invention it was sought to
realize a mold realization method with ducts designed to be run
through by heat-regulation fluid of the mold including the steps of
realization on the external surface of the mold of a plurality of
grooves identifying channels open above and then fasten thereon
along their extension metallic strips to constitute top closing of
the channel to form a duct.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] To clarify the explanation of the innovative principles of
the present invention and its advantages compared with the prior
art there is described below with the aid of the annexed drawings a
possible embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example applying
said principles. In the drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a partially exploded diagrammatic perspective
view of part of a mold realized in accordance with this
invention,
[0018] FIG. 2 shows shaped sheet metal parts used in the mold of
FIG. 1, and
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a cross section view of a heat-regulation
channel of the mold of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically
a mold designated as a whole by reference number 10 and
advantageously for rotary molding realized in accordance with this
invention.
[0021] The mold 10 includes a mold body 11 (with interior
reproducing the shape to be got) on the external surface of which
there are grooves 16 for forming channels open on the top.
Advantageously the grooves are formed laterally by ribs 12 placed
at an appropriate distance apart and projecting from the external
surface of the mold to form the side surfaces of the channels.
[0022] The channel grooves or ribs can be obtained by mechanical
removal of material or directly as melting of the mold body. This
can also be done to conform to the technique of realization of the
metal mold shell which as for the side walls of the heat-regulation
system can be conveniently realized by mechanical processing from a
metallic block or by melting. It can be of aluminum.
[0023] Each channel is closed in segments by metallic strips welded
between the ribs. Advantageously the strips include straight sheet
metal bands 13 in the straight sections (cut from a ribbon and
possible bent) and from curves of sheet metal handlebar 14
(advantageously cut from a metal sheet), welded over the pairs of
ribs which realize the channel sides. The channels end in unions 17
for connection of known means (not shown) for circulation of the
heat-regulation fluids (heating and cooling). The material of the
bands and curves of suitable thickness can be the same as the ribs.
The unions between one strip segment and the other can also be
obtained advantageously by welding.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows as an example the cutting of all the sheet
metal curves 14 necessary for realization of the channels of the
mold of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows as an example the section of a channeling
(designated by 15) made up of side ribs 12 between which a band 13
is welded.
[0026] Advantageously the ribs have a height from the mold surface
greater that the thickness (in particular at least double) and also
have thickness which is less (in particular at least half) the
distance between two ribs forming the walls of a same channel. This
allows optimization of their efficiency in the heat exchange.
[0027] It is now clear how the preset purposes of this invention
have been achieved by making available a channeled mold and a
method for its realization.
[0028] The advantages obtained by applying this invention are for
example the capability of realizing lighter molds than those
obtained from the block by drilling and the capability of easily
realizing any heat-regulation path even on complex surfaces while
also ensuring a constant distance of the latter from the internal
surface of the mold. In addition, thanks to the use of this
invention, the mold and the heat-regulation circuit can by easily
made of the same material with resulting advantages due to the
homogeneousness of heat conduction. In a mold channeled in
accordance with this invention there is better heat exchange
between heat-regulation fluid and the metal of the mold. For
example the heat conductivity of the mold is not reduced and, in
general, is not conditioned by the presence of piping of material
different from that of the mold as happens in known molds equipped
with piping incorporated in the melting. There is also a
considerable ease of intervention for modification, the mold and
the heat-regulation system being realized of the same material and
the surface of the channels being easily accessible.
[0029] Naturally the above description of an embodiment applying
the innovative principles of the present invention is given by way
of non-limiting example of said principles within the scope of the
exclusive right claimed here. For example, the mold and the
channels could have another course than that shown as an example
depending of the specific practical requirements.
* * * * *