Improvements in Apparatus for Moulding Wheels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Moulding Wheels.
We, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, and ROBERT CATANACH SMITH, of Rosebank
Foundry, Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
Our said invention has for its object to improve the construction of apparatus for
moulding wheels and to facilitate the forming of the moulds accurately and
expeditiously.
In carrying out our invention the ramming or compressing of the sand or mould
material is effected by means of an hydraulic cylinder which raises a platen up
towards a resisting block between which and it are the pattern and mould box with
accessory details. The resisting block may be permanently fixed or it may be upon
a massive bracket arranged to swing round about a vertical axis. A carrier
bracket which is arranged to swing horizontally either with the resisting-block
bracket or independently, serves for carrying the pattern and other parts by means
of diametrically opposite trunnions allowing of the pattern and other parts being
easily turned over.
In the case of moulds for tram-car wheels, for which application the improved
apparatus is well adapted, the pattern or mould plate for the under side of the
wheel, that is the side which is undermost when the wheel is being cast, is placed
on the platen and there is placed on it a ring in the form of a cylindrical band and
which may be termed the flask ring as it constitutes the sides of the flask or mould
box. On the flask ring there is placed a sand-measuring ring the joint depth of the
flask ring and measuring ring determining the space to be occupied by the sand or
mould material when in the loose state before compression. The resisting block
enters within the measuring ring down to the level of the top edge of the flask
ring.
After the compression and when the platen has been lowered, the measuring ring
is removed, and a grating like a spoked wheel is attached to the flask ring and
mould plate to support the sand when turned over. The parts are next swung to
one side on the carrier bracket and turned over on the trunnions; after which the
mould plate is detached and removed, and a chill ring is substituted for chilling the
tread and flange of the wheel.
The mould for the upper side is formed in a similar way and is placed upon the
mould for the underside, true concentricity and accurate adjustment being insured
by using a portable guide ring or frame within which the moulds are adjusted and
which is afterwards removed.
Where an electric current is conveniently available the attachment of the mould
plates flask rings and measuring rings may be effected magnetically by passing
the current through a coil of insulated wire encircling the mould plates or other
parts.
Dated this Sixteenth day of June 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Moulding Wheels.
We, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, and ROBERT CATANACH SMITH, of Rosebank
Foundry, Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
Our said invention has for its object to improve the construction of apparatus for
moulding wheels, and to facilitate the forming of the moulds accurately and
expeditiously.
In carrying out our invention the ramming or compressing of the sand or mould
material is effected by means of an hydraulic cylinder which raises a platen up
towards a resisting block, between which and it are the pattern and mould box with
accessory details. A swinging bracket serves for carrying the pattern- and other
parts, and allowing of their being easily turned over. The invention also comprises
certain improvements, hereinafter described, connected with the mould box.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood we hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings, to
be hereinafter referred to and representing moulding apparatus as made with our
improvements.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a front elevation, and Figure, 2, a
sectional side elevation of part of the improved apparatus, Figure, 3, on Sheet, 2,
being a plan of the same.
Figure, 4, is an inverted plan, and Figure, 5, a vertical section of the bottom half
mould box.
Figure, 6, is a plan, and Figure, 7, a vertical section of the top half mould box.
Figure, 8, is a vertical section of the top and bottom mould boxes combined.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The ramming or compressing of the sand or mould material, A, is effected by
means of an hydraulic cylinder, B, which raises a platen, C, up towards a resisting
block, D, between which and it are the pattern and mould box, E, with accessory
details. The platen, C, is securely fixed to the cylinder ram, B 1, a projection, B 2,
in the upper part of the ram fitting into a recess formed in the platen, and being
held there by a pin, C 1. The resisting block, D, might be permanently fixed, but
it is by preference on a massive bracket, G, arranged to swing round about a
vertical axis upon a spindle, G 1, which is securely fixed in the framing, H, of the
machine. A carrier bracket, J, which is arranged to swing with the bracket, G,
being fixed thereto (or it might swing independently) serves for carrying the
pattern and other parts by means of diametrically opposite trunnions, J 1, on the
mould box, E, allowing of the pattern and other parts being easily turned over.
The carrier bracket, J, is supported at its outer end by a suspension rod, J 2, fixed
at its upper end to a bracket, J 3, bolted to the top of the bracket, G.
In the case of moulds for tram-car wheels, for which application the improved
apparatus is well adapted, the pattern or mould plate, E 1, for the under side of the
wheel, that is the side which is undermost when the wheel is being cast-is placed
on the platen, C, and there is placed on it a ring, E 2, in the form of a cylindrical
band, which may be termed the flask ring, as it constitutes the sides of the flask or
mould box, E. On the flask ring, E 2, there is placed a sand-measuring ring, E 3,
the joint depth of the flask ring and measuring ring determining the space to be
occupied by the sand or mould material, A, when in the loose state before compression.
When the mould box, E, and its accessory parts are raised by the hydraulic
cylinder, B, sufficiently, the resisting block, D, enters within the measuring
ring, E 3, down to the level of the top edge of the flask ring, E 2.

page_text: After the compression and when the platen, C, has been lowered the measuring
ring, E3, is removed, and a grating, K, like a spoked wheel is attached by a series
of cutters, K 1, to the flask ring, E 2, and mould plate, E 1, to support the sand
when turned over. The parts are next swung to one side on the carrier bracket, J,
and turned over on the trunnions, J 1, after which the mould plate, E 1, is detached
aud removed, and a chill ring, E 4, such as is shown in Figure, 8, is substituted for
chilling the tread and flange of the wheel.
The mould for the upper side, shown in Figures, 6, 7, and 8, is formed in a similar
way, and is placed upon the mould for the underside, true concentricity and accurate
adjustment being insured by using a portable guide ring or frame, L, within which
the moulds are adjusted and which is afterwards removed.
Where an electric current is conveniently available, the attachment of the mould
plates, E 1, flask rings, E 2, and measuring rings, E 3, may be effected magnetically
by passing the current through a coil of insulated wire (not shown) encircling the
mould plates or other parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The construction and arrangement or combination of parts constituting our
improved apparatus for moulding wheels, substantially as hereinbefore described,
and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for moulding wheels, the construction or combination of parts
constituting our improved mould box, substantially as hereinbefore described and as
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fourteenth day of March 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.