Patent Number: 6,637,496

Title: Rotary casting system for pressurized casting machines

Abstract: Apparatus for making a cast article includes a rotary table with a drive for indexing the rotary table to a plurality of rotational positions. A molten metal supply apparatus is placed at a first fixed location adjacent to said rotary table. A plurality of casting machines are supported at predetermined spacings on the rotary table, each respective casting machine having a respective holding furnace feeding a respective stalk tube and having a molten metal inlet port for receiving molten metal from the molten metal supply apparatus when the respective casting machine is indexed to a fill position adjacent the first fixed location. Each respective casting machine is adapted to receive one or more molds and has an open mold configuration and a closed mold configuration. A cast article removal apparatus is placed at a second fixed location adjacent the rotary table for removing the cast article from a respective casting machine when the respective casting machine is at an unload position adjacent the second fixed location and is in the open mold configuration.

Inventors: Macheske; Robert L. (Tawas City, MI), Rozich; Thomas J. H. (Au Gres, MI), Gould; Alan P. (Tawas City, MI), Minor; Daniel D. (Cadillac, MI), McKibben; Kenneth D. (Defiance, OH)

Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.

International Classification: B22D 18/04 (20060101); B22D 33/00 (20060101); B22D 5/00 (20060101); B22D 5/02 (20060101); B22D 018/04 (); B22D 005/02 (); B22D 039/00 ()

Expiration Date: 10/28/2011