Patent GB-677837-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to moulding machines
IPC: B28B5/00
Filed: 1949-03-02
Abstract: 677,837. Endless-chain moulding machines. MARTIN, E. M. May 30, 1950 [March 2, 1949], No. 5729/49. Class 87(ii) A moulding machine for forming aerated blocks comprises two series of co-operating mould members interconnected to form a pair of endless bands and mounted to move to successively bring a mould member in the one band into cont i g u o u s relationship with a mould member of the other band and form a mould, means to feed a charge of moulding material to the moulds before the members are fully engaged, and means in the moulds whereby an aerating fluid is injected into them to aerate the material prior to its setting in the moulds. The endless bands pass round rotatable members which comprises a pair of upper discs 6 and a pair of lower discs 7, the discs in a pair being interconnected by spur wheels so that they rotate in opposite directions. Each mould member 4, 5 has lugs 14, 15 with slots 17 through which pass rods 18 which also engage notches 22 spaced round the peripheries of the discs 6, 7. Longitudinal guides may also be provided for engagement by the rods 18 as they move downwards, to ensure that the moulds formed by the mould members 4, 5 remain intact. As the mould members move together on the upper discs 6 their lower ends meet but their upper ends present an opening in which molten slag is poured. The upper ends, which also have sharp edges, are so formed that when the mould members are parallel and moving downwards a space is left at the top for excess material to escape. The mould members 4, 5 separate as they are carried round by the lower discs 7, their lower ends moving apart to allow the moulded article to fall out and their upper ends moving together to break off excess material. In order that a moulded block may be formed along one face with a groove and along the opposite face with a corresponding ridge, each member 4 may have along its lower end a ridge 26, and a groove 27 may be provided along the adjacent upper ends of co-operating members 4, 5. The members 4, 5 may be in the form of open-ended channels and the material may be confined at their ends by circular plates 30 on the shafts of the driving discs and vertical side plates 31 with their ends shaped to fill the spaces between the circular plates 30. Water may be injected into the material in the moulds to generate gas and cause aeration. To accomplish this one disc 6 may be fixed to a hub member 34 which is rotatable on a sleeve 35. The sleeve 35 is carried on a fixed hollo wshaft 9 but may be turned upon it, and has an aperture 37 adapted to communicate with a passage 38 in the shaft leading to a hollow 36 through which the water may be forced. The hub member 34 has radial channels 39 which are coupled to channels 40 extending radially through the disc 6 to outlet connectors 41 which are adapted to connect with tubes 21 held in lugs 20 on the mould members 4. When a member 4 is correctly positioned for aeration water is supplied to the tube 21 and thence through a tube 42 to spray jets 43. To vary the position of aeration the sleeve 35 is turned on the shaft 9, an enlargement of the passage 38 enabling its angular relationship with the aperture 37 to be varied It is stated that cores may be arranged for engagement with the composite moulds for moulding hollow blocks.