Method and apparatus for casting metal articles

Abstract

To cast one or more metal articles, a mold structure is positioned on a support with an anchor extending upward from the support into the mold structure. The mold structure and anchor are interconnected by a retainer which extends through a portion of the mold structure into the anchor. When the mold structure is immersed in a cooling bath, force is transmitted between the mold structure and anchor to retain the mold structure against movement relative to the support.

1 . A method of casting metal articles, said method comprising the steps of providing a support, positioning a mold on the support with an anchor extending upward from the support into the mold, interconnecting the mold and the anchor with a retainer member which extends through a portion of the mold into the anchor, at least partially filling the mold with a molten metal while the mold is disposed on the support, thereafter, at least partially immersing the mold in a bath, and transmitting force between the mold and the anchor to retain the mold against movement relative to the support during performance of said step of immersing the mold in a bath. 
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said step of interconnecting the mold and the anchor with a retainer member includes moving a pin through a portion of the mold into the anchor. 
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said step of positioning the mold on the support includes positioning the mold on the support with a second anchor extending upward from the support into the mold, said method further includes the steps of interconnecting the mold and the second anchor with a second retainer member which extends through a portion of the mold into the second anchor, and transmitting force between the mold and the second anchor to further retain the mold against movement relative to the support during performance of said step of immersing the mold in a bath. 
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said step of positioning the mold on the support includes positioning the mold on the support with a central axis of the anchor coincident with a central axis of the mold. 
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said step of positioning the mold on the support includes inserting the anchor into an opening formed in the mold while the anchor is fixedly connected to the support. 
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the mold includes a pour cup connected in fluid communication with a plurality of article mold cavities, said step of positioning the mold on the support includes moving the anchor into an opening which is formed in the mold and is disposed beneath the pour cup. 
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the mold includes an array of article mold sections, said step of positioning the mold on the support includes moving the anchor into an opening which is disposed in the mold at a central portion of the array of article mold sections. 
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bath is formed by a body of molten metal which is at a temperature which is less than the temperature of the molten metal in the mold, said step of immersing the mold in the bath includes moving the support and the body of molten metal relative to each other while the body of a molten metal is at a temperature which is less than the temperature of the metal in the mold. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for use in casting a metal article in a mold, said apparatus comprising a mold support having an upper side surface on which the mold is supported, an anchor which is fixedly connected to and extends upward from said upper side surface of said mold support and is at least partially surrounded by the mold, and a retainer member which extends through a portion of the mold and engages said anchor to retain the mold against movement relative to said mold support. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said anchor has a central axis which extends perpendicular to said upper side surface of said mold support, and said retainer member has a central axis which extends parallel to said upper side surface of said mold support. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said retainer member extends through said anchor, said retainer member having a first portion which engages a first portion of the mold adjacent to a first side of said anchor and a second portion which engages a second portion of the mold adjacent to a second side of said anchor. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said anchor extends into a downpole disposed beneath a pour cup of the mold and said portion of the mold through which said retainer member extends is a portion of the downpole of the mold. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said anchor has a central axis which is coincident with a central axis of the mold. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said retainer member has a central axis which extends transverse to the central axis of said anchor. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the mold includes a base portion which engages said mold support and an article mold portion which extends upwardly from the base portion of the mold, said portion of the mold engaged by said retainer member being spaced from and disposed above the base portion of the mold. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said anchor engages a central portion of said mold support, said retainer member extends through said anchor and engages portions of the mold disposed on opposite sides of said anchor at locations paced from the base portion of the mold. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  further including a container disposed beneath said mold support and holding a body of molten metal, said mold support and said container being relatively movable to at least partially immerse the mold in the body of molten metal in the container.