Improved Means to be Employed in the Moulding of Dished and Analogously Shaped Articles from Molten Metal.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
Improved Means to be Employed in the Moulding of Dished and
Analogously Shaped Articles from Molten Metal.
I, WILLIAM AMBLER, of Bradford, Yorkshire, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention to be as follows
--
This invention relates to improved means to be employed in the moulding of
dished and analogously shaped articles from molten metal, the improved apparatus
being especially adapted to produce such articles as still-bottoms and heads and the
like.
In carrying the invention into effect I use a vertical mould which is made of the
required internal formation and dimensions (according to the exterior formation of
the article to be moulded) and is caused to receive rotary motion at any desired
constant or differential speed, and I also use conjunctively with such mould a
superposed plunger or block which is made of the required external formation and
dimensions according to the interior formation of the required article, such plunger
or block being disposed centrally of the mould and being so connected to its support
as that it may be lowered into and raised from out of the mould as and when
required, and as to be capable of revolving around its support when it descends
into contact with the molten or plastic metal within the rotating mould. The
support of the plunger may be operated by a hydraulic cylinder or by a steam
cylinder or by a screw or by any other suitable means. The plunger or its support
is or may be capable of adjustment so that the plunger when in its lowered position
may be caused to leave a space of any required width between it and the inner
surface of the mould according to the required thickness of the article to be
moulded.
In the operation of the apparatus the metal is poured into the mould which is
rotated at a suitable speed so as to cause the molten metal to spread in approxi-
mately even thickness over its inner surface while the metal remains in a molten
or plastic condition the plunger or block is caused to descend into within the mould
while the latter is still rotating.
The metal is thus confined between the mould and the plunger which is caused
to rotate by its contact with the metal, and the plunger may be caused to exert
When the metal
any desired pressure upon the metal to aid in consolidating it.
has sufficiently set the speed of rotation of the mould is gradually lowered until it
stops, when the plunger may be raised and the moulded article removed.
By such improved means I am enabled to obtain dense and homogeneous moulded
castings in which the molecules of the metal are well compacted together and are
free from occluded gases.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means to be Employed in the Moulding of Dished and
Analogously Shaped Articles from Molten Metal.
I, WILLIAM AMBLER, of Bradford, Yorkshire, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improved means to be employed in the moulding of
dished and analogously shaped articles from molten metal, the improved apparatus
being especially adapted to produce such articles as still bottoms and heads, shells,
hollow ingots and other hollow articles having solid or closed bottoms.
The improved arrangement of apparatus is illustrated on the accompanying
drawings in front elevation partly in section in Fig. 1, and in side elevation in
Fig. 2.
and
In accordance with the invention, I use a vertical mould 3, which is made of
the required internal formation and dimensions (according to the exterior formation
of the article to be moulded) and with an inner projecting removable rim
is caused to receive rotary motion at any required constant or differential speed
by any suitable or appropriate means, and I also use conjunctively with such mould
a superposed plunger or block 4, which is, made of the required external formation
and dimensions according to the interior formation of the required article, such
plunger or block being disposed with its axis in line with that of the mould, and
being so connected, as at 5, to a supporting rod 6, as that it may be capable of
revolving around the same when lowered thereby into contact with the molten
or plastic metal within the rotating mould, or it may be so arranged as not to
be able to revolve around the rod 6. The plunger rod may be operated so as
to raise the plunger from or lower it into the mould as and when required, by
a hydraulic cylinder 7, as in the modification illustrated, or by a steam cylinder
or by a screw or by any other suitable means.
8, represents a three-way cock, for admitting the pressure to either end of the
cylinder 7, by the pipe connections 9, and 10, represents exhaust pipes, under the
control of cocks 11, by which the exhaust can be regulated, and by such means
the rod may be lowered to any required extent, so that the plunger when in its
lowered position may be caused to leave a space of any required width between it
and the bottom or inner surface of the mould according to the required thickness
of the article to be moulded.
In the operation of the apparatus, an appropriate quantity of molten metal is
poured into the mould, which is rotated at a suitable speed so as to cause the
molten metal to spread in approximately even thickness over its inner surface up
to the level of the rim a, or its equivalent: while the metal remains in a molten
or plastic condition the plunger or block is caused to descend into within the mould
while the latter is still rotating. The metal is thus confined between the mould
and the plunger, which, if it be loosely mounted upon the rod 6, is caused to rotate
by its frictional contact with the metal, and the plunger may be caused to exert
any desired pressure upon the confined metal to aid in consolidating it. When the
metal has sufficiently set, the speed of the rotation of the mould is gradually
lowered until it stops, when the plunger may be raised and the moulded article
removed. If the plunger is so arranged as not to rotate upon the rod 6, the metal
may be allowed to contract upon it, being removed by a collar carried by the cross-
head 12, upon the withdrawal of the plunger rod. The cylinder 7, may be
supported by pillars 13, and may be bolted, as at 14, to an adjacent wall. The
moulded article may be raised out of the mould by a ram 15, operated when
required. 16 represents part of the gearing rotating the mould.

page_text: By such improved means, I am enabled to obtain dense and homogeneous
moulded castings in which the molecules of metal are well compacted together and
are free from occluded gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described arrangement of apparatus for moulding hollow
articles having solid or closed bottoms.
2. The manufacture of hollow articles with solid or closed bottoms from molten
metal by moulding the same in a vertically rotating mould used conjunctively with
a superposed plunger or block by means of which latter any required pressure
may be brought to bear upon the metal while being moulded, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 14th day of March 1891
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.