[0001] Sanitary appliances in general are known to be produced inside suitable casting moulds
which comprise a set of component mould pieces constructed of plaster of Paris, which
are arranged to define a moulding cavity into which a material in the form of an aqueous
suspension (slip) is then fed.
[0002] It is also well known that moulds are widely used at the present time which enable
projecting or undercut parts to be produced on the corresponding sanitary appliances.
[0003] This is so for example in the case of water closets, bidets and urinals with an integral
rim.
[0004] Said projecting or undercut parts, for example an integral rim as heretofore described,
are produced by making the "male" part of the mould, commonly known as the "piston",
in the form of several adjacent portions which are dismantled to enable the casting
to be withdrawn.
[0005] Because of the presence of said separate portions which fit together, the respective
sanitary appliances, on stripping the mould, comprise small ribs which are created
at the inevitable small gaps existing between the various separate portions which
fit together, and between these latter and the respective mould pieces.
[0006] Because said small ribs are normally found on an exposed surface of the cast article,
for example on the inner surface of the bowl in the case of a water closet with an
integral rim, it is obviously necessary to manually correct said imperfections in
order to make the exposed surfaces for glazing perfectly smooth.
[0007] In order to carry out said finishing operation, highly specialised personnel must
be used because the operation is very deilicate and also difficult to effect, as the
work must be carried out inside said cast articles.
[0008] Consequently such finishing operations are very long and complicated, they increase
the casting time for the finished articles, and heavily affect the costs and thus
the profitability of the firm.
[0009] The main object of the present invention is to provide simple and rational means
for obviating these drawbacks.
[0010] Basically, the invention proposes to prevent raised Iine
SÍforming at the junction lines between adjacent portions of the mould, on sanitary
appliances in general during the casting of these latter.
[0011] According to the invention, this is attained by a covering element in the form of
a thin walled envelope of pocket or sleeve configuration constructed of water-permeable
elastic fabric and provided with at least one opening such that it can be mounted
over and perfectly adheres to the corresponding mould piece which is to be protected.
[0012] This re-establishes the continuity of the moulding surface of that mould piece comprising
separate portions which fit together, so as to prevent the formation of the undesirable
raised lines on the surfaces of cast articles.
[0013] The merits and characteristics of the invention will be more apparent from the description
given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, which show by way of
non-limiting example an embodiment thereof suitable for moulds for casting water closets
with an integral rim.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the envelope according to the invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are two mutually orthogonal vertical sections through a mould for
casting water closets with an integral rim, in which the upper mould piece is covered
by the invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the same upper mould piece, but inverted.
[0014] From the accompanying Figure 1 it can be seen that the proposed envelope is in the
form of a floppy sleeve 1 of frusto-conical shape, open at both ends.
[0015] Said frusto-conical shape is determined by the particular use of the invention, which
as stated is for the compound piston of a mould designed for casting water closets
with an integral rim.
[0016] However, it is obvious that said sleeve can assume any shape as dictated by the particular
configuration of the mould pieces with separate portions which fit together, to be
covered.
[0017] For example, it can comprise only one mouth or opening, in which case it assumes
the shape of a pocket or stocking.
[0018] The sleeve 1 comprises a thin water-permeable wall of constant thickness constituted
by a suitable permeable elastic fabric.
[0019] Said fabric can for example be a natural or synthetic elasticated fabric of very
dense mesh, for example a mesh of synthetic elastic fibres such as nylon, helance
or the like.
[0020] Each mouth of the frusto-conical sleeve 1 is bounded by a reinforced edge 2 which
is also elastic.
[0021] The described sleeve can be used for a mould of the type shown in Figures 2, 3 and
4, designed for moulding water closets with an integral rim.
[0022] Said mould, of known type, comprises a lower mould piece 3, two side mould pieces
4 to be placed on the lower mould piece to define a casting cavity, and upper mould
piece 5 arranged to upperly close said casting cavity, and a rear mould piece 6 lying
between the upper mould piece 5 and side mould pieces 4.
[0023] Furthermore, the upper mould piece 5 is constituted by a central core 7, of which
the central part is surrounded by a collar 8 of known type comprising a set of separate
portions which fit together.
[0024] As is known, the collar 8 is intended to mould the integral rim of the relative water
closet, and is locked to the upper mould piece 5 by usual magnetic devices 9.
[0025] As is clearly shown in Figure 4, before mounting the upper mould piece 5 on to the
mould, the sleeve 1 is mounted over this latter mould piece, and as it is taut it
adheres perfectly to the moulding surface of the core 7 and collar 8.
[0026] By means of its two reinforced end edges 2, it also engages securely with the outer
upper edge of the collar 8 and the perimetral edge of the free end of the core 7.
[0027] This ensures the correct operative positioning of the invention during the casting
stage, and its use ensures continuity of the moulding surfaces of that mould piece
constituted by the separate portions 8, so as to obviate the formation of the undesirable
raised lines on the cast article in positions corresponding with the mould joining
lines.
[0028] No description will be given of the mould assembly, the casting of the ceramic material
and the withdrawal of the cast articles from the mould as these are well known normal
operations.
[0029] It will merely be stated that after extracting the upper mould piece 5 and the constituent
parts of the collar 8, the sleeve 1 can be separated from the still soft cast article,
and be used for a subsequent casting operation after suitable cleaning.
1. An envelope for covering, during the casting stage, mould pieces comprising separate
portions which fit together, characterised by being constituted by a water-permeable
thin walled pocket or sleeve (1) provided with at least one opening for mounting it
over the corresponding mould piece comprising separate portions (7, 8) which fit together,
and constructed of an elastic material arranged to perfectly adapt or fit itself to
the moulding surface of said corresponding mould piece comprising separate portions
which fit together.
2. An envelope as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said elastic pocket or
sleeve (1) is in the form of a thin deformable water-permeable sheath of synthetic
material.
3. An envelope as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said elastic pocket or
sleeve is constituted by a natural or synthetic elasticated fabric of very dense mesh.
4. An envelope as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said at least one opening
is bounded by a reinforced edge (2) which is also elastic, and arranged to securely
grip the respective mould piece comprising separate portions which fit together.
5. An envelope as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the surface area of the
elastic pocket when not being used is decidedly less than that of the moulding surface
of the corresponding mould piece comprising separate portions which fit together.
1. Umschlag zum Bedecken, während der Gießphase, von Formstücken, die getrennte zusammenpaßbare
Stücke aufweisen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß et durch eine wasserdurchlässige dünnwandige
Tasche oder Umkleidung gebildet ist, die mindestens eine Öffnung zum Anbrigen über
dem korrespondierenden Formstück, das getrennte zusammenpassende Stücke (7, 8) aufweist
und aus elastischem Material gebildet ist zum genauen Anpassen an die Formoberfläche
des korrespondierenden Formstückes, welches getrennte zusammenpassende Stücke aufweist.
2. Umschlag nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die elastische Tasche oder
Umkleidung (1) aus einer dünnen verformbaren, wasserdurchlässigen Schicht synthetischen
Materiales gebildet ist.
3. Umschlag nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die elastische Tasche oder
Umkleidung aus einem natürlichen oder synthetischen elastischen Stoff von sehr dichtem
Geflecht (Maschenweite) gebildet ist.
4. Umschlag nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mindestens eine Öffnung durch
einen verstärken Rand (2) abgegrenzt ist, der ebenso elastisch und so ausgestaltet
ist, daß er das betreffende Formstück, welches getrennte zusammenpassende Stücke aufweist,
sicher erfaßt.
5. Umschlag nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Oberflächenbereich der
elastischen Tasche, wenn er nicht gebraucht wird, deutlich kleiner ist als die Formoberfläche
des korrespondierenden Formstückes, welches getrennte zusammenpassende Stücke aufweist.
1. Enveloppe pour couvrir, pendant la phase de moulage, des pièces de moule comprenant
diverses parties s'ajustant entre-elles, caractérisée en ce qu'elle est constituée
par une chemise ou une poche (1) à paroi fine, perméable à l'eau, pourvue d'au moins
une ouverture pour son montage par dessus la pièce de moule correspondante comprenant
diverses parties (7, 8) qui s'ajustent entre elles, et elle est formée en un matériau
élastique conçue de façon à s'adapter ou à s'ajuster parfaitement à la surface de
moulage de ladite pièce correspondante de moule comprenant diverses parties s'ajustant
entre-elles.
2. Enveloppe selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite chemise ou poche
élastique (1) est formée d'une feuille perméable à l'eau, déformable, mince, d'un
matériau synthétique.
3. Enveloppe selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite chemise ou poche
élastique est constituée d'un tissu naturel ou synthétique élastifié à mailles très
serrées.
4. Enveloppe selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que au moins une ouverture
est bordée par une arête renforcée (2) qui est également élastique, et qui est disposée
de façon à s'accrocher fermement à la pièce de moule respective, comprenant diverses
parties qui s'ajustent entre-elles.
5. Enveloppe selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'aire de la surface
de la poche élastique, lorsqu'elle n'est pas utilisée, est notablement inférieure
à celle de la surface de moulage de la pièce de moule correspondante comprenant les
diverses parties qui s'ajustent entre-elles.