Apparatus and method for impregnating components
(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title Apparatus and method for impregnatingcomponents (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B22D 031/00 B05C 003/02 (21) Application No: 2003238303 (22) Application Date: 2003.06.19 (87) WIPO No: WO04/043632 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 10/292,346 2002.11.12 (33) Country US 200511037 (43) Publication Date : 2004 .06.03 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2004 .07.08 (71) Applicant(s) GODFREY AND WING, INC. (72) Inventor(s) Gilmore, Christopher D.; Barney, Chris topher B. (-|-|) Application No AU 2003238303 A8(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title Apparatus and method for impregnatingcomponents (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B22D 031/00 B05C 003/02 (21) Application No: 2003238303 (22) Application Date: 2003.06.19 (87) WIPO No: WO04/043632 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 10/292,346 2002.11.12 (33) Country US 200511037 (43) Publication Date : 2004 .06.03 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2004 .07.08 (71) Applicant(s) GODFREY AND WING, INC. (72) Inventor(s) Gilmore, Christopher D.; Barney, Chris topher B. -1- A machine for impregnating a die cast metal part with liquid impregnant comprises an impregnation chamber having liquid impregnant in a lower portion, an opening for ingress and egress of the parts being defined in a side wall of the chamber above the liquid impregnant, a door for sealing the opening, a part holder in the chamber and an elevator for positioning parts above the liquid impregnant during evacuation of the chamber and then immersing the parts in the liquid impregnant during subsequent pressurization of the chamber. We claim: 1. Apparatus for impregnating a part with liquid impregnant comprising an impregnation chamber having a top, a bottom and at least one side wall therebetween, the chamber defining a lower portion for receiving a liquid impregnant and an upper portion above the lower portion, a side wall of the chamber defining an opening communicating with the upper portion of the chamber, the opening being above the liquid impregnant in the chamber during impregnation, a door for sealing the opening during evacuation and subsequent pressurization of the chamber for impregnation of the part, a part holder in the chamber for receiving the part to be impregnated,STDC0353 and an elevator for positioning the part holder in the upper portion of the chamber so that the part is held above the liquid impregnant during evacuation of the chamber and then for positioning the part holder in the lower portion of the chamber so that the part is immersed in the liquid impregnant during subsequent pressurization of the chamber.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the impregnation chamber is cylindrical in configuration, wherein the cylindrical chamber is arranged so that its cylindrical axis is generally horizontal, and wherein the opening is defined in an end wall of the cylinder.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part holder remains inside the chamber during loading and unloading of the parts to be impregnated.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elevator comprises a piston having a piston rod attached to the part holder.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elevator is rigidly fixed with respect to the top wall of the chamber during impregnation.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the elevator is a piston mounted on the top wall.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part holder is remote from the door.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an inflatable seal for sealing the door during evacuation and pressurization of the chamber.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the door is slidably moveable between its open and closed positions.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a door piston for sliding the door between its open and closed positions.
11. An assembly for successively impregnating multiple parts or batches of parts with liquid impregnant, the assembly including <Desc/Clms Page number 12> the impregnation apparatus of claim 1, and a robot for transporting the parts to be impregnated from a supply station through the opening in the side wall of the impregnation chamber of the impregnation apparatus and into its part holder.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the robot includes a robot arm for carrying the part between work stations, and further wherein the opening in the chamber is arranged at an angle of no greater than 45 with respect to the vertical.
13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the opening in the chamber is essentially vertical.
14. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a centrifuging station for removing excess liquid impregnant off the part after removal from the impregnation chamber, the centrifuging station comprising a centrifuge having a centrifuge carrier for carrying the part or parts to be centrifuged, the centrifuge carrier being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis by means of a first bearing above the centrifuge carrier and a second bearing below the centrifuge carrier.
15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the assembly includes a washing station for washing the surfaces of the part after centrifuging and an optional curing station for curing the liquid impregnant inside the part, and further wherein the robot arm is adapted to carry the parts between successive work stations.
16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the assembly includes multiple curing stations, and further wherein the robot is adapted to transport successive parts or batches of parts to different curing stations.
17. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a centrifuging station for removing excess liquid impregnant off the part after removal from the impregnation chamber, the centrifuging station being adapted to rotate the parts at a rate of at least about 200 rpm.
18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the centrifuging station is located below the impregnating chamber.
19. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a centrifuging station for removing excess liquid impregnant off the parts after removal from the impregnation chamber, the centrifuging station being located below the impregnation chamber, the centrifuging station comprising a centrifuge having a centrifuge carrier for carrying the part or parts to be centrifuged, the centrifuge carrier being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis by means of a first bearing above the centrifuge carrier and a second bearing below the centrifuge carrier, <Desc/Clms Page number 13> a washing station for washing the surfaces of the parts after centrifuging, and multiple curing stations for curing the liquid impregnant inside the parts that have been impregnated.
20. An impregnation apparatus for impregnating die cast metal and other parts as well as batches of such parts comprising an impregnation chamber having liquid impregnant in a lower portion thereof, an opening for ingress and egress of the parts being defined in a side wall of the chamber above the liquid impregnant, a door for sealing the opening, a part holder in the chamber and an elevator for positioning parts above the liquid impregnant during evacuation of the chamber and then immersing the parts in the liquid impregnant during subsequent pressurization of the chamber.
21. A process for impregnating a part in an impregnation chamber having liquid impregnant in a lower portion thereof, the process comprising, loading the part into a part holder in the chamber through an opening defined in a side wall of the chamber above the liquid impregnant, the opening being arranged at an angle of no greater than 45 with respect to the vertical, sealing the opening with a door, evacuating the chamber while the part is maintained above the liquid, lowering the part holder to immerse the part in liquid impregnant, releasing the vacuum in the chamber and then increasing the pressure in the chamber above atmospheric to impregnate the micropores of the part with sealant, returning the pressure in the chamber to about atmospheric, and then removing the parts from the chamber through the opening.
22. The process of claim 21, wherein the process is carried out in multiple, successive cycles, and further wherein liquid impregnant is not removed from and then reinserted into the impregnation chamber between successive impregnation cycles.