IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Walker, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS."
Sealed the 4th February 1859, and dated the 7th August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th August 1858.
1, JAMES WALKER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to what are technically known by moulders as
collapsable core bars, such as are used for shaping the interior surfaces of
pipes and other tubular or hollow articles. The practical object attained by
such core bars is the slight variation in the diameter of the bars, to the effect
that whilst the bars may be set with facility to the actual diameter required in
the moulding action, their diameter may be at once mechanically reduced to
facilitate their withdrawal after the casting has been made. The main shell
or barrel of a core bar of this kind consists of a thin cast-iron pipe or tubular
cylinder, slotted or cut through longitudinally from end to end.
Each lip or

page_text: edge of this slot is cast or formed with a longitudinal thickened portion pro-
jecting interiorly to form the bearing edge surfaces for the action of a series of
flat double incline or wedge pieces of metal, by the action of which the neces-
sary expansion of the core bar cylinder is produced. In the case of core bars
of moderate diameters the metal discs forming the end plates are held together
by a central rod or bar, and the expanding action is produced by a flat longi-
tudinal bar running the whole length of the core bar, being interposed between
the central tie bar and the interior of the main shell or cylinder. The acting
wedge pieces are formed with, cast on, or attached to this bar at intervals, and
they are entered into edge cheeks or recesses in the thickened portions of the
main cylinder. In this way when the wedge bar is drawn up or out, its inclines
allow of the natural collapse of the cylinder to the form in which it is cast'; but
when the wedge bar is pushed in or down, the traverse of the wedges along the
slot of the cylinder expands the core bar to the size required. This longi-
tudinal traverse of the wedge har may be effected in various ways, but a simple
plan of effecting this action is by means of a loose lever, the outer end of which is
entered into the eye of a fixed rod or pillar carried by the core bar, and then
by applying pressure to the other end of this lever the latter is made to bear
upon the end of the wedge bar and force it downwards. Each side of the
outer or upper end of the wedge bar is formed with serrations, so that the
wedge bar may be drawn up and outwards by inserting one end of a short flat
lever into one of the notches or serrations, whilst a fulcrum is obtained by
making the lever bear upon the stationary top of the core bar. This arrange-
ment enables the moulder to work his bar without the agency of any screws
or other complex or expensive apparatus. For large core bars it is preferred
to connect the end disc plates by a set of longitudinal bars surrounding the
axis of the bar. The opening left at the slot when the core bar is expanded is
allowed for by an overlapping strip of malleable iron or other material, which
is attached to one edge of the slot, and covers it up.
According to another plan the expansive action of the core bar is secured by
the rotatory action of a longitudinal rod, fitted at intervals with duplex,
eccentric, or-cam-pieces. These picces_fit_in_between_internal_projections
formed on each side of the slot of the main shell. When the core bar is at
its smallest diameter these eccentric pieces stand with the line of their greatest
dimension in a radial position as regards the core bar's centre, but when the
eccentric shaft or rod is turned round the longest dimension of the eccentrics
coming in between the edges or lips of the slot of the main cylinder cause the
latter to expand. Core bars made in this way are cheap, and being accurately
cast to form they preserve their cylindrical contour during working. Instead

page_text: of this plan the main cylinder of the core bar may be cast to the size of the
core of the pipe intended to be cast, and when the casting has been made, the
bar is withdrawn by compressing it so as to reduce its diameter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said James Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th February 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WALKER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Walker, Her special license that I, the said James Walker,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Walker, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Walker, by
an instrument in writing under my.hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Walker, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to what are technically known by moulders as
collapsable core bars, such as are used for shaping the interior surfaces of
pipes and other tubular or hollow articles. The practical object attained by
such core bars is the slight variation in the diameter of the bars, to the effect

page_text: that, whilst the bars may be set with facility to the actual diameter required in
the moulding action, their diameter may be at once mechanically reduced, to
facilitate their withdrawal after the casting has been made. The main shell
or barrel of a core bar of this kind consists of a thin cast-iron pipe or tubular
cylinder, slotted or cut through longitudinally from end to end.
Each lip or
edge of this slot is cast or formed with a longitudinal thickened portion pro-
jecting interiorly, to form the bearing edge surfaces for the action of a series
of flat double incline or wedge pieces of metal, by the action of which the
necessary expansion of the core bar cylinder is produced. In the case of core
bars of moderate diameters, the metal discs forming the end plates are held
together by a central rod or bar, and the expanding action is produced by a
flat longitudinal bar running the whole length of the core bar, being interposed
between the central tie bar and the interior of the main shell or cylinder.
The acting wedge pieces are formed with, cast on, or attached to this bar at
intervals, and they are entered into edge cheeks or recesses in the thickened
portions of the main cylinder. In this way, when the wedge bar is drawn up
or out, its inclines allow of the natural collapse of the cylinder to the form in
which it is cast; but when the wedge bar is pushed in or down, the traverse
of the wedges along the slot of the cylinder expands the core bar to the size
required. This longitudinal traverse of the wedge bar may be effected in
various ways, but a simple plan of effecting this action is by means of a loose
lever, the outer end of which is entered into the eye of a fixed rod or pillar
carried by the core bar, and then by applying pressure to the other end of this
lever the latter is made to bear upon the end of the wedge bar and force it
downwards. Each side of the outer or upper end of the wedge bar is formed
with serrations, so that the wedge bar may be drawn up and outwards by
inserting one end of a short flat lever into one of the notches or serrations,
whilst a fulcrum is obtained by making the lever bear upon the stationary top
of the core bar. This arrangement enables the moulder to work his bar
without the agency of any screws or other complex or expensive apparatus.
For large core bars, it is preferred to connect the end disc plates by a set of
longitudinal bars surrounding the axis of the bar. The opening left at the
slot when the core bar is expanded, is allowed-for-by-an-overlapping-strip_of
malleable iron or other material, which is attached to one edge of the slot,
and covers it up.
According to another plan, the expansive action of the core bar is secured
by the rotatory action of a longitudinal rod fitted at intervals with duplex
eccentric or cam pieces. These pieces fit in between internal projections
formed on each side of the slot of the main shell. When the core bar is

page_text: at its smallest diameter, these eccentric pieces 'stand with the line of their
greatest dimension in a radial position as regards the core bar's centre, but
when the eccentric shaft or rod is turned round, the longest dimension of
the eccentrics coming in between the edges or lips of the slot of the main
cylinder, cause the latter to expand. Core bars made in this way are cheap,
and being accurately cast to form they preserve their cylindrical contour
during working. Instead of this plan, the main cylinder of the core bar may
be cast to the size of the bore of the pipe intended to be cast, and when the
casting has been made the bore is withdrawn by compressing it so as to reduce
its diameter.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood; I shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures upon the explanatory Sheet of
Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously
carried out in practice.
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is a longitudinal section of one
arrangement of my improved collapsable core bar; Figure 2 is an elevation
of the core bar, with a portion broken away to show the internal arrangement;
Figures 3 and 4 are plans of the top and under side of the core bar; Figure 5
is a transverse section of the same through the line A, B, Figure 1; and
Figure 6 is a corresponding section taken through the line C, D, in the lower
part of the same Figure; Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of another modifi-
cation of my improved coré bar, as adapted for larger work than the arrange-
ment shown in Figures 1 to 6; Figure 8 is an elevation of the same partially
broken away at the lower part; Figure 9 is a plan of the upper part of the
core bar; and Figure 10 is 'a transverse section of the arrangement. In the
modification shown in Figures 1 to 6, the main portion or shell E of the core
bar consists of a comparatively thin cylinder of perforated cast iron, which is
made with a longitudinal slot or opening F, that extends throughout its length.
At regular intervals along the opening F and adjacent to each margin, pro-
jections G are cast or otherwise formed on the interior of the shell E. These
projecting parts G are of an elliptical figure in their longitudinal outline, and
they form bearing surfaces for distending the shell E of the core bar, as herein-*
after described. To prevent the distortion of the shell from this distending
action, a flat bar of metal H extends throughout the length of the shell E, and
is rivetted or otherwise secured thereto; the bar H is arranged diametrically
opposite to the longitudinal opening F. The upper extremity of the shell E
fits into the lower end of the cast-iron faucet piece or cap I of the core bar.
This faucet piece I rests upon the shell E by its inwarilly projecting fins J

page_text: which are cast on the interior of the faucet piece, and come in contact
with the upper edge of the shell E, when it is placed thereon. The metal disc
which forms the upper part of the faucet piece or cap I is cast with openings
formed therein, as shown in the Plan, Figure 3, on the accompanying
Drawings. Through the central aperture in the disc of the faucet piece is
passed a central rod or bar K. The upper extremity of the central bar K is.
formed into an eye, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 on my Drawing, and its
lower end passes through the metal disc L, which forms a base to the
shell E. The central bar K rests upon the disc of the faucet piece I.
by means of a collar which is formed on the upper portion of the bar;
a key is passed through the bar on the under side of the upper disc, by
The lower end of the
which the two parts are attached to each other.
bar K is passed through a central aperture in the disc L, and near the
extremity a screw thread is cut in the bar, to which the nut M is adapted;
by screwing this nut upwards the several parts are securely attached to
each other. The bottom disc L of the core bar is made with a vertical
rim on its upper face, into which the downwardly projecting fins N that
are cast on the shell E fit, as shown in the sectional view, Figure 1, on
the accompanying Drawing. The interior of this rim, as well as that of the
cylindrical portion of the faucet piece I, are made to a predetermined size, and
serve to limit the distension of the cylinder E. The main cylinder or shell E
is caused to expand by means of the wedge bar O, which in this modification
is a flat bar of metal having projecting wedge pieces P cast or otherwise
formed thereon. The wedge picces P are formed on the bar at regular
intervals apart, corresponding to the distance between the elliptical projections
G. Upon the face of these wedge pieces P, or that part which is brought in
contact with the projections G, longitudinal grooves are formed; the width of
these grooves corresponds to the diameter of-the-central part. of the. projecting
parts G on the shell E.
At the parts where these wedge pieces P are formed
the bar is thickened a little at the back, so as to obtain a firm bearing against
the central bar K, when the shell or cylinder E is expanded. The upper and
-lower-ends-of-the-wedge_bar_O_pass through apertures made for the purpose
in the faucet piece I and the bottom disc L. The notches or serrations Q
formed in the upper extremity are for the purpose of raising. the bar with
facility, as will be presently described. When setting up the core bar for use
the bar O is lowered, so that the central wedge-shaped projections P between
the parallel grooves pass down between the elliptical projections G. The bar
is forced downwards by means of a lever, one end of which is inserted in
the eye of the central bar K; between the lever and the collar formed on the

page_text: bar Ka serrated or stepped piece or bar of metal is inserted. The lever is
then depressed, which forces the bar O downwards; this action causes the
wedges P to drive the projections G further apart, causing the shell E to
expand. The serrated bar is then pushed further under the lever, so as to
bring its heel upon a higher portion of the fulcrum, and the bar O is still
further depressed. This operation occupies but little time, and is repeated for
three or four or more times, until the desired amount of expansion of the
main cylinder or shell E is obtained, which is limited by the internal diameter
of the faucet piece I and the rim of the disc L. When the wedge bar O is
depressed to the full extent, the end of the rotating catch R, which revolves
on the bar K, is brought over the upper extremity of the bar O, in order to
retain it in its place during the casting operation. The longitudinal opening
F in the shell or cylinder E is covered externally by a thin and narrow strip
of metal S, which is fastened by screws or other means to one side of the
opening F. After the casting operation is effected, and it is desired to release
the core bar, it is caused to contract by raising the wedge bar O. The con-
traction of the core bar is mechanically effected by the compressive action of
the outer projecting parts of the wedge pieces P, which serve to draw the pro-
jections G closer to each other as the bar is raised. The catch R is turned
aside, and the flattened end of a crowbar or lever is put under the upper
notch or tooth Q, and by the depression of the lever the bar is raised to a
certain extent. This operation is repeated with the next notch or tooth until
the bar is raised, so that the wedge pieces P are clear of the projections G,
upon which the cylinder E naturally assumes its normal condition, and is
altogether free of the casting around it. In the modification shown in Figures
7 to 10 of the accompanying Drawings, the arrangement of the core bar is
adapted for much larger castings than that herein-before described. The
arrangement of the greater portion of the parts of this modification are similar
to that shown in Figures 1 to 6, and the parts are severally marked with
corresponding letters of reference. In this arrangement there are, in addition
to the central bar K and the wedge bar O, four other bars T, which are
arranged equidistantly round the central bar, and pass through the faucet
piece I and bottom disc I, being secured thereto by nuts. Core bars
arranged according to these improvements are simple in construction, may be
readily adjusted and used by the moulder, and are adapted to facilitate greatly
his labour, and produce better and more perfect castings at a reduced cost.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict

page_text: myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I con-
sider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of collapsable core bars,
forming a part of the machinery or apparatus used in moulding or shaping
metals, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of forming the internal portion of moulds for
casting or shaping metals by means of a metal cylinder, which is constructed
so as to be readily distended or collapsed by mechanical means, as herein-
before described and delineated in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the system or mode of constructing collapsable core bars in which
the main portion or shell of the core bar consists of a metal cylinder, having
longitudinal slot or opening extending from end to end, so as to admit of the
cylinder being readily distended or collapsed to the required and predetermined
extent, as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the mechanical arrangement for effecting the distension and
collapse of the core bar, as herein-before described and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Walker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
JAMES WALKER. (L.S.)
JAMES WALKER. (L.S.)