Positioning apparatus for a centrifugal casting machine and means for positioning components thereof for a mold stripping operation

摘要

A positioning apparatus for a centrifugal casting machine having an articulated mold that is mounted for rotation in a cantilevered manner on a drive shaft. The positioning apparatus includes a pair of pillow block bearings having arcuate bearing races that operate to allow the drive shaft to be tilted within a predetermined angular range relative to its longitudinal axis. In addition, the positioning apparatus includes a plurality of locking pins each of which are mounted to cooperate respectively with one of a plurality of positioning members mounted on a rotatable mold-supporting face plate of the casting machine. Operation of the lock pins into engagement with the positioning members moves the face plate into a predetermined position relative to its axis of rotation, following a casting cycle of the machine, so that segments of the centrifugal mold can be radially stripped from an article cast therein without unduly distorting the cast article.