Device, system and method for die-casting metallic material in the thixotropic state

1. A device for die-casting metal material, comprising;

a screw unit for bringing the material into a thixotropic state; a cylinder/piston unit fed by the screw unit for applying pressure to the thixotropic material for the die casting; and a thermally controllable valve arranged between the screw unit and the cylinder/piston unit; wherein the thermally controllable valve includes a connection channel having controllable means for cooling of material located therein until said material is below the solidification temperature thereof, and wherein the connection channel widens in the direction from the screw unit to the cylinder/piston unit so that material solidified therein forms a form-fitting plug which widens in the direction of the cylinder/piston unit to prevent movement of the plug back into the screw unit and reliably keep high injection pressures of the cylinder/piston unit away from the screw unit;

wherein the screw of the screw unit is axially displaceable and, on its side facing the valve, has a cone seal for sealing with respect to a conical annular shoulder on the inner periphery of the screw unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection channel is equipped with controllable means for heating and/or cooling the material located therein.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screw unit and the cylinder/piston unit form a gap therebetween, said gap, except for thermal insulators, being bridged only by the valve.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cone seal, at the tip thereof, carries a tappet which can be introduced into the connection channel.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cylinder/piston unit is arranged approximately horizontally, and the screw unit is arranged approximately vertically.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screw is provided with a heater.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screw unit is formed with at least two screws which rotate in opposite directions and mesh with one another in a gear-like manner.

8. The device according claim 1 , wherein at least one temperature sensor is arranged in the piston of the cylinder/piston unit.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one pressure sensor is arranged in the piston of the cylinder/piston unit.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screw unit and/or the cylinder/piston unit is/are equipped with controllable means for forced cooling.

11. A system for die-casting metal material in a thixotropic state, comprising the device according to claim 1 , a die-casting hydraulic system for applying pressure to the piston of the cylinder/piston unit, and a die-casting mould fed from the cylinder/piston unit for die-casting metal material in the thixotropic state.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the widening of the connection channel is conical or stepped.

13. A device for die-casting metal material, comprising;

a screw unit for bringing the material into a thixotropic state; a cylinder/piston unit fed by the screw unit for applying pressure to the thixotropic material for the die casting; and a thermally controllable valve arranged between the screw unit and the cylinder/piston unit; wherein the thermally controllable valve includes a connection channel having controllable means for cooling of material located therein until said material is below the solidification temperature thereof, and wherein the connection channel widens in the direction from the screw unit to the cylinder/piston unit so that material solidified therein forms a form-fitting plug which widens in the direction of the cylinder/piston unit to prevent movement of the plug back into the screw unit and reliably keep high injection pressures of the cylinder/piston unit away from the screw unit;

wherein at least one stirring element is arranged on an effective piston area of the piston, and the piston can additionally be driven in rotation.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein a torque measured at a rotary drive of the piston determines a state of the thixotropic material in an injection chamber of the cylinder piston unit.

15. A method for die-casting metal material in a thixotropic state, comprising:

bringing the metal material into the thixotropic state in a screw unit,

feeding the thixotropic material from the screw unit via a connection channel into a cylinder/piston unit, wherein the connection channel widens in the direction from the screw unit to the cylinder/piston unit,

allowing the material located in the connection channel to solidify to form a form-fitting plug widening in the direction of the cylinder/piston unit,

injecting the thixotropic material from the cylinder/piston unit into a die-casting mould whilst the connection channel is blocked by the solidified material therein to reliably keep high injection pressures of the cylinder/piston unit away form the screw unit, and

wherein the thixotropic material is stirred in the cylinder/piston unit before and/or during the injection procedure.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further including the step of heating the connection channel until the material located therein is able to flow again for preparation of a renewed execution of the method.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the material is allowed to solidify as a result of forced cooling of the connection channel.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the material is allowed to solidify by switching off a heater of the connection channel.

19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the widening of the connection channel is conical or stepped.