Feeder for use in the casting of metals in casting molds

Abstract

The invention relates to a feeder insert ( 1, 1 ′) for use in the casting of metals in casting molds, with a feeder body ( 2, 2 ′) and a feeder element ( 4, 4 ′) which interacts with the feeder body ( 2, 2 ′), which delimit a feeder cavity ( 6 ) for receiving liquid metal, the feeder body ( 2, 2 ′) having a first end ( 8 ) with a passage opening ( 10 ) for the liquid metal, and a second end ( 12 ) which lies opposite the first end ( 8 ) and is open, and the feeder element ( 4, 4 ′) being arranged at this second, open end ( 12 ), it being possible for portions of the feeder body ( 2, 2 ′) and the feeder element ( 4, 4 ′) to be displaced telescopically inside one another, with the result that the feeder cavity ( 6 ) can be compressed down to a minimum volume V K , the feeder body ( 2, 2 ′) defining at least a proportion of 40% of this minimum volume V K .

We claim: 
     
         1 . A feeder insert ( 1 ,  1 ′) for use in the casting of metals in casting molds, with a feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) and a feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) which interacts with the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′), which delimit a feeder cavity ( 6 ) for receiving liquid metal,
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) having a first end ( 8 ) with a passage opening ( 10 ) for the liquid metal, and a second end ( 12 ) which lies opposite the first end ( 8 ) and is open, and 
 the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) being arranged at this second, open end ( 12 ), 
 it being possible for portions of the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) and the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) to be displaced telescopically inside one another, 
 with the result that the feeder cavity ( 6 ) can be compressed down to a minimum volume V K , the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) defining at least a proportion of 40% of this minimum volume V K . 
 
     
     
         2 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) defining a proportion of 45% or more, preferably 50% or more, particularly preferably 60% or more, with preference 70% or more, with particular preference 80% or more, of the minimum volume V K .   
     
     
         3 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) having a mass mx and the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) having a mass m E , and the ratio of the mass mx of the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) to the mass m E  of the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) being 0.5 or greater, preferably 0.85 or greater, particularly preferably 1 or greater, very particularly preferably 2 or greater, with preference 4-5 or greater, with particular preference approximately 5.75.   
     
     
         4 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 that proportion of the minimum volume V K  which is defined by the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) having a sphericity Ψ of 0.75 or greater, preferably of 0.8 or greater, particularly preferably of 0.85 or greater, very particularly preferably 0.9 or greater.   
     
     
         5 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 i) it being possible for portions of the feeder element ( 4 ) to be pushed into the feeder body ( 2 ),   or   ii) it being possible for portions of the feeder body ( 2 ′) to be pushed into the feeder element ( 4 ′).   
     
     
         6 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the volume center of gravity of the feeder cavity ( 6 ) lying within the volume proportion which is defined by the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) when the feeder cavity ( 6 ) is compressed down to the minimum volume V K .   
     
     
         7 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 for use in the casting of metals in casting molds, with a feeder body ( 2 ) and a feeder element ( 4 ) which interacts with the feeder body ( 2 ), which delimit the feeder cavity for receiving liquid metal,   the feeder body ( 2 ) having a first end ( 8 ) with a passage opening ( 10 ) for the liquid metal, and a second end ( 12 ) which lies opposite the first end and is open, and   the feeder element ( 4 ) being arranged at this second, open end ( 12 ),   it being possible for portions of the feeder element ( 4 ) to be pushed into the feeder body ( 2 ), with the result that the feeder cavity ( 6 ) can be compressed down to a minimum volume V K , the feeder body ( 2 ) defining at least a proportion of 40% of this minimum volume V K ,   the feeder body ( 2 ) having a mass mx and the feeder element ( 4 ) having a mass m E , and the ratio of the mass m K  of the feeder body to the mass m E  of the feeder element being 0.5 or greater, and the volume center of gravity V S  of the feeder cavity lying within the volume proportion defined by the feeder body ( 2 ) when the feeder cavity is compressed down to the minimum volume V K .   
     
     
         8 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) having a wall ( 20 ) which extends from the first to the second end ( 8 ,  12 ), the wall ( 20 ) forming, on its inner side ( 22 ) which delimits the feeder cavity ( 6 ), a guide for the feeder element ( 4 ) which can be pushed along on it into the feeder body ( 2 ).   
     
     
         9 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 the guide having at least one guide face ( 24 ) or a plurality of guide portions which are arranged on the inner side of the wall ( 20 ).   
     
     
         10 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) having a longitudinal axis ( 26 ) which extends from the first end to the second end, and, at least along a portion of its longitudinal axis, an inner cross-sectional area ( 28 ) which is of substantially rotationally symmetrical configuration about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         11 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) having, starting from its second end ( 12 ) in the direction of its first end ( 8 ), an inner free cross-sectional area ( 28 ) which is constant in size and/or decreases along at least one portion of its longitudinal axis ( 26 ).   
     
     
         12 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder element ( 4 ) being configured as a feeder cap which can be placed onto the second, open end of the feeder body ( 2 ) and closes the latter.   
     
     
         13 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder element ( 4 ) having a contact portion ( 30 ) which corresponds with the inner side ( 22 ) of the wall ( 20 ) of the feeder body ( 4 ) and is designed to brake the movement of the feeder element during the displacement into the feeder body.   
     
     
         14 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder element ( 4 ) having, in relation to the longitudinal axis ( 26 ) of the feeder body ( 2 ), at least one bearing web ( 32 ) which projects outward in the radial direction via the opening at the second end ( 12 ) of the feeder body ( 2 ) and preferably lies on the second end of the feeder body ( 2 ) along the entire circumference of the opening at this end.   
     
     
         15 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 14 ,
 it being possible for portions of the feeder element ( 4 ) to be pushed into the feeder body ( 2 ), and the bearing web ( 32 ) being designed such that it is severed when the feeder element ( 4 ) is pushed telescopically into the feeder body ( 2 ).   
     
     
         16 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 that contact portion ( 30 ) of the feeder element ( 4 ) which faces the inner side ( 22 ) of the wall ( 20 ) of the feeder body ( 2 ) having at least one clamping part ( 34 ) for holding the feeder element ( 4 ) relative to the inner side of the wall ( 20 ) of the feeder body ( 2 ).   
     
     
         17 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) having, on that inner side ( 36 ) of its wall ( 38 ) which delimits the feeder cavity ( 6 ), at least one material web ( 40 ) which preferably extends radially and axially with respect to the longitudinal axis ( 26 ) of the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′).   
     
     
         18 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 17 ,
 two, three, four or more material webs ( 40 ) being arranged uniformly distributed around the longitudinal axis ( 26 ) on the inner-side wall ( 38 ) of the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′).   
     
     
         19 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) having, on its inner side which faces the feeder cavity ( 6 ), a recess ( 16 ) for receiving a centering pin tip ( 18 ).   
     
     
         20 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 at least portions of the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) and/or the feeder element comprising an exothermic heating mass.   
     
     
         21 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the feeder insert ( 1 ,  1 ′) having a modulus in the range from approximately 0.5 cm to 9 cm, preferably from approximately 1.2 cm to 2.6 cm.   
     
     
         22 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 for use in the casting of metals in vertically separable casting molds,   the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) and the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) being designed for positioning by means of a centering pin ( 14 ) which can be positioned along a centering axis, and   the feeder cavity ( 6 ) being configured in such a way that, in the case of a horizontal arrangement of the centering axis, a predominant volume proportion of the feeder cavity ( 6 ) can be positioned above the centering axis.   
     
     
         23 . The feeder insert as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 (i) the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) being formed from exothermic feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising exothermic feeder material,
 and/or 
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) being formed from exothermic feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising exothermic feeder material, 
   or   (ii) the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) being formed from insulating feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising insulating feeder material,
 and/or 
 the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) being formed from insulating feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising insulating feeder material, 
   or   (iii) the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) being formed from exothermic feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising exothermic feeding material,
 and/or 
 the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) not comprising exothermic feeder material and being formed from insulating feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising insulating feeder material, or being formed from a material or containing a material which is selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, cardboards, mixtures thereof and composite materials thereof, 
   or   (iv) the feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) being formed from insulating feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising insulating feeder material,
 and/or 
 the feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) being formed from exothermic feeder material, or at least portions thereof comprising exothermic feeder material, or being formed from a material or containing a material which is selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, cardboards, mixtures thereof and composite materials thereof. 
   
     
     
         24 . A kit for producing one or more feeder inserts ( 1 ,  1 ′) as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising
 a feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) or a plurality of feeder bodies ( 2 ,  2 ′), and 
 a feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′) or a plurality of feeder elements ( 4 ,  4 ′) which corresponds or correspond to the feeder body or feeder bodies ( 2 ,  2 ′) in such a way that, by way of respective assembling of feeder body ( 2 ,  2 ′) and feeder element ( 4 ,  4 ′), a feeder insert ( 1 ,  1 ′), can be produced or a plurality of different feeder inserts ( 1 ,  1 ′), can be produced with different volumes. 
 
     
     
         25 . The kit as claimed in  claim 24 , comprising
 a centering pin ( 14 ) which corresponds with the passage opening ( 10 ) in the or one of the plurality of feeder bodies ( 2 ,  2 ′) and preferably with a recess ( 16 ) for receiving a centering pin tip ( 18 ) in the or one of the plurality of feeder elements ( 4 ,  4 ′).   
     
     
         26 . The use of a feeder insert ( 1 ,  1 ′), as defined in  claim 1 , during the production of a casting mold with a vertical mold separation for dense feeding of a mold cavity present in the casting mold during the casting operation.