IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Andrew Muir, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, and James McIlwham, of the same
Place, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR
SHAPING METALS."
Sealed the 12th August 1859, and dated the 26th March 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Andrew Muir
and James Mellwham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 26th March 1859.
We, MATTHEW ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Machinist, and JAMES MILWпAM, of the same Place, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to a system or mode of mechanically moulding
various moderately sized articles in metal, but in particular railway chairs.
The mechanical arrangements for carrying out this Invention in actual practice
consist essentially of two separate divisions, namely, that relating to the
ramming of the moulding sand upon the pattern, and that comprising the
removal of the pattern from the moulded sand or the "drawing" of
the pattern. These two processes are entirely separate and distinct, and are in
the present case carried on in different situations on the moulding floor. The
moulder works, for the sake of convenience, whilst standing upon a level

page_text: lower than that of the apparatus which he employs, and be has before bim a
rectangular cast-iron box of metal, with an open top, filled with rough cast
scrap metal to act as a heater to keep the pattern and plate warm, and in a
fit condition for moulding. This box or heater may be kept at the proper
temperature in many ways; coal dust or other fuel may be used for this
purpose in conjunction with an air blast, but the waste or rough scrap metal of
the foundry is preferred, as being the most suitable for the purpose. The
pattern plate, to which the pattern is attached, is of wrought iron, perforated
with numerous holes for the inlet of heat from the box or chamber on which
the plato with its pattern is placed. The pattern plate being disposed upon
the box, the moulder, with his assistant, places the lower or main moulding
box upon it, the simple setting down of the box answering for the securing of
the box upon the plate by an arrangement of pendulous self-acting catches.
Each end of the pattern plate is slotted through, and formed with an upper
flange all round the slot. In each of these slots there is fitted a differentially
formed pendulous lever or tumbling catch, working on a fixed centro pin in
the projecting flanges of the slot, and formed with an inclined weighted tail
piece projecting through on the lower side of the plate. Each tumbling catch,
when inert or out of action, in this position of the pattern plate, has its upper
inclined end leaning forward; against a stop pin, which sets it to the exact
position required. The moulding or sand box has a trunnion or centro stud at
each end, and when these trunnions come down in the act of placing the box
upon the plate, they press upon inclines formed on the upper ends of the
pendulous or tumbling catches. This action forces back the upper ends of the
catches, and the trunnions then slip into bearing recesses in the catches; this
locks the moulding box to the plate, and the ramming up of the sand is then
procceded with. When this is accomplished, the top plate is put on and
fastened by inclined catches, and the rammed box is ready for removal to the
pattern "drawing" apparatus. Above the ground machinery there is a long
horizontal rail, carrying a traversing pulley, from the stud of which there is
suspended a connecting rod, to the lower end of which rod there is attached a
hooked slinging piece or open frame, with arms made wide enough to take in
the moulding box. The lower end of each arm is fitted with hooked bearings
and stops for the purpose of slinging the rammed box. The connecting or
suspension rod of the sling is in two lengths, connected together by an
intermediate hand lover, to enable the moulder to lengthen and shorten the
suspension rod with facility when the rammed box is to be raised and lowered.
This lever is jointed at one end to the top of the lower length of the suspen-
sion rod, whilst the lower end of the upper section of the rod is similarly.

page_text: jointed to the lever at an intermediate point between the end centre and the-
handle. When the rammed box is to be slung, the moulder drawing the sling
towards him depresses the handle of the lever to raise the sling clear of all
beneath it, and when in position over the rammed box the lever handle is
elevated to allow the hooked bearings to catch beneath the prolonged ends of
the box trunnions outside, where they are caught by the tumbling catches,
the stops on the sling arms assisting the entry and connection of the parts.
The lever handle then being again depressed, the rammed box is lifted clear
off its heating base, and it is then traversed by the over-head rail and pulley.
action, being turned over on its trunnions by its own preponderating upper.
weight until it reaches the "drawing" platform. This platform is a little
below the level of the ramming base, and it has at its front edge next the.
moulder two vertical guide stop standards. An open framed carriage, of
wrought iron, on four grooved wheels is run up against suitable stop pieces on.
the lower portions of these standards. These stops set the carriago for
distance in its line of traverse towards the edge of the platform or table, and a
horizontal inclined piece on one of the standards adjusts it laterally or in its
necessary central position.
By means of the lever handle the slung box, as reversed, is now lowered.
down upon the carriage, and by means of additional and higher stops, and an
incline upon the front stop standards, it is set accurately to position by the
pattern plate coming against these surfaces. The moulder then traverses the
carriage with the rammed box forward away from him until it comes between
a pair of vertical traversing spindles used in the drawing operation, and so
that the ends of the pattern plate come immediately over two broad T-head
pieces, one on the top of each main vertical spindle. These two spindles aro
set in line with each other, and with their T-heads parallel with each other,
and they are accurately guided in deep collar bearings on the table or plat-.
form. Each spindle passes down through the table, and they have eyes at
their lower ends for joint connections with the ends of a pair of levers, one
of which is fast near each end of a horizontal rocking shaft carried in end
bearings beneath the table.. The same shaft has also upon it two other levers
on the side next the moulder, and to these latter levers there is hung a very.
heavy weight.. This weight is heavy enough to just balance the weight of the
spindles and connections, and the pattern plate, when the latter is carried upon
the two T-heads of the spindles, whilst it has a powerful tendency to lift the
parts of the apparatus when the pattern plate is removed. The upper part
of one of the main spindles has a lateral stud in it to carry a pendant link, to
which is intermediately jointed ouc end of a long hand lever set on an inter-

page_text: mediate stud link jointed on the platform. The end link of the lever at the
main spindle is prolonged below the point of connection with the lever, and
terminates in a hook, which can be made to engage or not with a fixed stud
pin in the stationary spindle guide. The intermediate centre stud link of the
lever is disposed between a short parallel pair of standard pieces in which is a
distance stop for setting the lever. When the carriage with its rammed box
is pushed forward the pattern plate comes up against a back end stud on the
top of each T-piece of the spindles, and this action adjusts the distance of
traverse in that direction, whilst the reverse incline pieces on the T-pieces
similarly set the pattern plate for the central position. As thus arranged,
the moulder strikes the face of the pattern plate with his mallet to aid
the "draw," and the concussion thus arising causes tho tumbling locking
catches to become disengaged from the trunnions of the box from the
rebound of the inclined pendulous tail pieces of those catches now on the
upper side of the reversed pattern plate. As this striking takes place for the
loosening action, the moulder disengages the locked end of the lever, and
the main vertical spindles being now in their lowest position are then clevated
by the descent of the weight on the other side of the rocking shaft. This.
elevation is governed by the lever so as to take place slowly, and thus the pattern
plate with its pattern attached is slowly, evenly, and steadily lifted up, drawing
the pattern clear out of the sand and leaving the moulded impression in tho
box. The mould is now drawn away on its carriage, and its top box rammed
by hand or in any other convenient way is put on by a separate operation.
The pattern plate with its pattern on the lower side is then turned over
towards the moulder by the aid of two end stops on those ends of the spindle
T-picces, and the pattern plate is then replaced upon the heated box for another
series of moulding operations. The two main spindles are then lowered to
their normal position in readiness for another drawing action.
These improvements have been specially contrived for moulding railway
chairs, but they are also well suited for moulding other articles of various kinds
in metal. Under certain circumstances, or with some classes of work it may
be found convenient and judicious to adopt a mechanical arrangement for
re-conveying the pattern plate and pattern to the heating box instead of
accomplishing this action by hand. For this purpose there is or may be
hinged to the front of the drawing platform a weighted tumbling lever
pedestal to support the central portion of the pattern plate when the latter is
turned over after the "draw." When the moulder, with his assistant, turns
the pattern plate over, the moulder with one hand turns up the lever pedestal
to the position necessary to give support to the overhanging portion of the

page_text: plate, and in this condition it is ready for being slung back again to the
heating box by the traversing sling, trunnions or catches being provided on
the pattern plate for the purpose. When the plate has thus traversed away,
the lever support falls down of itself out of the way. In moulding such
articles, as either from their form, expanse, weight, or other peculiarity involve.
the necessity of using additional mechanical power, as in the case of Greaves
combined chairs and sleepers, the moulding box is rammed upon a heating
chamber and swung off by a small purchase or crab winch arrangement. The
box in this case has trunnions upon it, which, when the ramming takes place,
are at right angles with the line of traverse to the drawing apparatus. The
rammed box is slipped upon the purchase sling by means of these trunnions, and
it is then hoisted, turned over upon the trunnions, and then turned half round
horizontally and swung directly upon the T-heads of the drawing apparatus;
where the drawing takes place, as herein-before described, and the moulded
box is conveyed upon a carriage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 26th September 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MATTHEW
ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Machinist, and JAMES MILWHAM, of the same Place, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Matthew Andrew Muir and James Mellwham, Her special license that we,
the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwbam, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and
James Mollwham, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR
SHAPING METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: 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 we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James
Mollwham do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
Our said Invention relates to a system or mode of mechanically moulding
various moderately sized articles in metal, but in particular railway chairs.
The mechanical arrangements for carrying out this Invention in actual
practice consist essentially of two separate divisions, namely, that relating to
the ramming of the moulding sand' upon the pattern, and that comprising the
removal of the pattern from the moulded sand, or the "drawing" of the
pattern. These two processes are entirely separate and distinct, and are in
the present case carried on in different situations on the moulding floor. The
moulder works for the sake of convenience whilst standing upon a level
lower than that of the apparatus which ho employs, and he has before a
rectangular cast iron box of metal, with an open top filled with rough cast
scrap metal to act as a heater to keep the pattern and plate warm, and in a
fit condition for moulding. This box or heater may be kept at the proper
temperature in many ways, coal dust or other fuel inay be used for this
purpose in conjunction with an air blast, but the waste or rough scrap metal
of the foundry is preferred as being the most suitable for the purpose. The
pattern plato to which the pattern is attached is of wrought iron, perforated
with numerous holes for the inlet of heat from the box or chamber on which
the plate with its pattern is placed. The pattern plate being disposed upon
the box, the moulder with his assistant plates the lower or main moulding box
upon it, the simple setting down of the box answering for the securing of the
box upon the plate by an arrangement of. pendulous self-acting catches.
Each end of the pattern plate is slotted through and formed with an upper
flange all round the slot. In each of these slots there is fitted a differentially
formed pendulous lever or tumbling catch, working on a fixed centro pin in
the projecting flanges of the slot, and formed with an inclined weighted tail-
Each tumbling catch
piece projecting through on the lower side of the plate.
when inert or out of action in this position of the pattern plate, has its upper
inclined end leaning forward against a stop pin, which sets it to the exact
position required. The moulding or sand box has a trunnion or centre stud

page_text: at each end, and when these trunnions come down in the act of placing the
box upon the plate, they press upon inclines formed on the upper ends of the
pendulous or tumbling catches. This action forces back the upper ends of the
catches, and the trunnions then slip into bearing recesses in the catches. This
locks the moulding box to the plate, and the ramming up of the sand is then
proceeded with. When this is accomplished the top plate is put on and
fastened by inclined catches, and the rammed box is ready for removal to the
pattern "drawing" apparatus. Above the ground machinery there is a long
horizontal rail carrying a traversing pulley, from the stud of which there is
suspended a connecting rod, to the lower end of which rod there is attached a
hooked slinging piece or open frame, with arms made wide enough to take in
the moulding box. The lower end of each arm is fitted with hooked bearings
and stops, for the purpose of slinging the rammed box. The connecting or
suspension rod of the sling is in two lengths, connected together by an inter-
mediate hand lever, to enable the moulder to lengthen and shorten the
suspension rod with facility when the rammed box is to be raised and lowered.
This lever is jointed at one end to the top of the lower length of the suspension
rod, whilst the lower end of the upper section of the rod is similarly jointed to
the lever at an intermediate point between the end centre and the handle.
When the rammed box is to be slung, the moulder drawing the sling towards
him depresses the bandle of the lever to raise the sling clear of all beneath it,
and when in position over the rammed box the lever handle is elevated to
allow the hooked bearings to catch beneath the prolonged ends of the box
trunnions outside, where they are caught by the tumbling catches, the stops
on the sling arms assisting the entry and connections of the parts. The lever
handle then being again depressed, the rammed box is lifted clear off its
heating base, and it is then traversed by the overhead rail and pulley action,
being turned over on its trunnions by its own preponderating upper weight
until it reaches the "drawing" platform. This platform is a little below the
level of the ramming base, and it has at its front edge, next the moulder, two
vertical guide stop standards. An open framed carriage of wrought iron on
four grooved wheels is run up against suitable stop pieces on the lower
portions of these standards. These stops set the carriage for distanco in its
line of traverse towards the edge of the platform or table, and a horizontal
inclined piece on one of the standards adjusts it laterally, or in its necessary
central position. By means of the lever handle the slung box, as reversed, is
now lowered down upon the carriage, and by means of additional and higher
stops, and an incline upon the front stop standards, it is set accurately to
position by the pattern plate coming against these surfaces. The moulder then

page_text: traverses the carriage with the rammed box, forward away from him until it
comes between a pair of vertical traversing spindles used in the drawing
operation, and so that the ends of the pattern plate come immediately over
two broad T-head pieces, one on the top of each main vertical spindle. These
two spindles are set in line with each other, and with their T-heads parallel
with each other, and they are accurately guided in deep collar bearings
on the table or platform. Each spindle passes down through the table, and
they have eyes at their lower ends for joint connections with the ends of
a pair of levers, ono of which is fast near each end of a horizontal rocking
shaft carried in end bearings beneath the table. The same shaft has also upon
it two other levers on the side next the moulder, and to these latter lovers
there is hung a very heavy weight. This weight is heavy enough to just
balance the weight of the spindles, and connections, and the pattern plate,
when the latter is carried upon the two T-heads of the spindles, whilst it has
a powerful tendency to lift the parts of the apparatus, when the pattern plato
is removed. The upper part of one of the main spindles has a lateral stud in
it to carry a pendant link, to which is intermediately jointed one end of a long
band lever set on an intermediate stud link jointed on the platform. The
end link of the lever, at the main spindle, is prolonged below the point of
connection with the lever, and terminates in a hook, which can be made to
engago or not with a fixed stud pin in the stationary spindle guide. The
intermediate centre stud link of the lever is disposed between a short parallel
pair of standard pieces, in which is a distance stop for setting the lever. When
the carriage with its rammed box is pushed forward, the pattern plate comes
up against a back end stud, on the top of each T-piece of the spindles, and
this action adjusts the distance of traverse in that direction, whilst reverse
incline pieces on the T-pieces, similarly set the pattern plate for the central
position. As thus arranged, the moulder strikes the face of the pattern plate
with his mallet to aid tho "draw," and the concussion thus arising causes tho
tumbling locking catches to become disengaged from the trunnions of the box,
from the rebound of the inclined pendulous tail pieces of those catches, now
on the upper side of the reversed pattern plate. As this striking takes place
for the loosening action, the moulder disengages the locked end of the lever,
and the main vertical spindles being now in their lowest position, are then
elevated by the descent of the weight on the other side of the rocking shaft.
This elevation is governed by the lever, so as to take place slowly, and thus
the pattern plate, with its pattern attached, is slowly, evenly, and steadily,
lifted up, drawing the pattern clear out of the sand, and leaving the moulded
impression in the box. The mould is now drawn away on its carriage, and its

page_text: top box rammed by hand, or in any other convenient way, is put on by a
separate operation. The pattern plate, with its pattern on the lower side, is
then turned over towards the moulder by the aid of two end stops on those
ends of the spindle T-pieces, and the pattern plate is then replaced upon the
heated box for another series of moulding operations. The two main spindles
are then lowered to their normal position, in readiness for another drawing
action. These improvements have been specially contrived for moulding
railway chairs, but they are also well suited for moulding other articles of
various kinds in metal. Under certain circumstances, or with some classes of
work, it may be found convenient and judicious to adopt a mechanical arrange-
ment, for re-conveying the pattern plate and pattern to the heating box,
instead of accomplishing this action by hand. For this purpose there is, or
may be hinged to the front of the drawing platform, a weighted tumbling
lever pedestal, to support. the central portion of the pattern plate, when the
latter is turned over after the "draw." When the moulder, with his assistant,
turns the pattern plate over, the moulder with one hand turns up the lever
pedestal to the position necessary to give support to the overhanging portion
of the plate; and in this condition it is ready for being slung back again to
the heating box by the traversing sling, trunnions or catches being provided
on the pattern plate for the purpose. When the plate is thus traversed away,
the lever support falls down of itself, out of the way. In moulding such
articles as, either from their form, expanse, weight or other peculiarity involve
the necessity of using additional mechanical power, as in the case of Greaves'
combined chairs and sleepers, the moulding box is rammed upon a heating
chamber, and swung off by a small purchase or crab winch arrangement:
The box in this case has trunnions upon it which when the ramming takes
place are at right angles with the line of traverse to the drawing apparatus.
The rammed box is shipped upon the purchase sling by means of theso
trunnions, and it is then hoisted, turned over upon the trunnions and then
turned half round horizontally and swung directly upon the T-heads of the
drawing apparatus, where the drawing takes place as herein-before described,
and the moulded box is conveyed away upon a carriage.
And in order that our said Invention of improvements in moulding or
shaping metals may be-properly understood, we shall now proceed to describe
the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory Sheets of Drawings which
we have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications
under which our improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice,
that is to say, the Figures on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings represent
an arrangement of apparatus or machinery adapted in particular for forming

page_text: the moulds of railway chairs with great rapidity and economy. The system is,
however, applicable to the moulding of other articles of moderate size required
to be manufactured in large quantities. The apparatus or machinery repre-
sented on Sheet. 2 is specially arranged for moulding Greaves' combined
railway sleeper and chair.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is an elevation of the chair-moulding apparatus looking
towards it from the position where the moulder stands; Figure 2 is a partially
sectional side. clevation; and Figure 3 is a plan corresponding to Figures 1
and 2; in connection with this Figure is shown the "drag" part of a mould
with the top box on it, and one of the lines or guide rails with the carriages
and moulds complete, ready for filling; Figure 4 is an elevation of the pedestal
on which the top boxes are rammed and removed therefrom to the drag part
of the mould which is run up on its carriage alongside the pedestal, two of the
moulds in a completed state ready to receive the molten metal are shown in
this Figure. In moulding railway chairs according to this system, the moulder
stands in a recess A which is sunk below the ordinary level of the moulding
floor, so that the mould box is at a convenient height for ramming up. The
sunk part A is partly surrounded by the raised edge B which prevents the
sand from falling into the recess; the partially enclosed space C is used as a
receptacle for the finer kind of moulding. sand for moulding the upper parts
and sharp edges of the chair. The working platform on which the filling up
of the drag part of the mould takes place bas partially sunk below it a
rectangular box D, which is kept in a heated state by means of hot scrap iron
and "blackening." The top of the box is open and the scrap iron and
"blackening" are filled in up to the top, so as to impart a moderato degree of
heat to the pattern and plate. The pattern plate E is of wrought iron, with
the pair of chair patterns arranged upon it parallel to one another, as shown
in Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings. The pattern plate E is made
with an upwardly projecting swell or thickness piece at each end, which part
has a slot made in it to admit of the self-acting catch F working therein, tho
catch being retained by a pin passed through the sides of the slot and the
catch. The upper part of each of these catches is formed into a hook, as
shown in Figure 2, and the lower part being weighted, each forms a species
of pendulous tumbling catch, the weighted end causing it to take hold of and
release itself from the mould box in a self-acting manner. The "drag" or
lower part of the moulding box G is made with a laterally projecting centre
stud or trunnion at each end, and when the moulder and his assistant place
the lower part of the moulding box on the plate E, which has been previously
placed on the box D, the trunnions of the "drag," coming in contact with the

page_text: catches F, slide over the inclined surfaces of the upper part of the catches, and
so cause them to fall back a little to allow of the drag coming down fairly
upon the plate E. No sooner are the trunnions clear of the hooks of the
catches F than the weighted ends bring them back to their former position, so
that the lower inclined surfaces of the hooks now slide over the trunnions, and
thus connect the drag G and the plate E firmly to each other. The moulder
now puts a little of the fine sand into the box and presses it into the cavities
of the pattern, the brass slip pieces for moulding the overhanging parts of the
jaws having been previously put in. The assistant then shovels in the sand,
the moulder meanwhile ramming it down to form the required compact mass.
When the "drag" is properly rammed up the moulder's assistant puts on the
plate H, which is a perforated plate of cast-iron having the inclined catches I
projecting from its under surface, these catches slip over corresponding pro-
jecting inclines on the drag G, and thus the two are locked together. The
lower part of the moulding box is now ready to be inverted in order to remove
the plate E, and so withdraw the pattern from the sand; this operation is done
at that part of the moulding floor a little to the right or left of the moulder,
but immediately contiguous to the heating box D. The lower part of the
moulding box with the pattern is removed by means of an overhead traversing
sling. To the wall J is bolted the two brackets K, which support at their
outer extremities the transverse rail L, which is secured thereto by a bolt and
nut passed through a slot in the upwardly turned end of each bracket, thus
giving the means of adjusting the rail to the exact height required. Upon
this rail L the pulley M traverses to and fro, the traverse away from the box D
being regulated by the adjustable stop N. To the strap of the pulley M is
jointed the pendant rod O, the lower end of this rod is connected by a pin and
cotter to the hand lever P, the outer extremity of which carries the open
frame or sling Q. The pendent arms of the sling are made sufficiently wide to
take in the moulding box G, and the lower extremities of these arms have an
inwardly projecting part which is recessed so as to form a hook to receive the
ends of the trunnions on the moulding box, and so sustain it.
The arrangement of the hand lever P admits of the moulder bringing the
recessed ends of the arms under the trunnions, for by thrusting up the hand
lever, so as to place it nearly in a vertical position, the outer end is thereby
lowered sufficiently to bring the hooked ends of the sling under the trunnions
of the moulding box. By reversing the position of the hand lever, the box G
and plate E are swung clear of the heater D, and the box is then inverted,
and is passed rapidly to the right or left. The whole swinging freely in the
sling Q, the box G, when inverted by the moulder, or his assistant, brings the

page_text: plate H underneath, the moulder then raises the hand lever, and so lowers
the mould box on to the carriage R, which has been previously wheeled up to
receive it. It may here be observed, that the part of the moulding platform
where the heating box D is arranged, is nearer to the wall J than the
adjoining part where the carriage R stands; this arrangement is made with
a view of saving labour. For when the mould box G is to be removed from
the heating box D, the moulder draws the sling towards him to the position
'shown in Figure 2, so that when the box and plate are clear of the heater, the
moulder allows it to swing outwards, to bring the rod O, and sling Q in a
vertical position, when a simple movement to the left carries it at once over
the carriage R. The mould carriages R consist of an open rectangular frame
of wrought iron, baving laterally projecting studs bolted thereto which carry
four small grooved wheels; these carriages run in between the guide rails S,
which serve to keep them in line to receive the molten metal when ready. In
wheeling up the empty carriage to receive the mould box G, the front part
comes against the two vertical stops T, which are bolted to the moulding
platform. One of these stops has two laterally projecting bent arms U, the
lower one of which serves to adjust the carriage in a lateral direction, whilst
the stops. T stay its progress in a forward direction. The upper arm U serves
to guide the moulder in placing the box G on the carriage, for he has nothing
more to do than to bring the box G up against this stop to ensure its being
placed accurately upon the carriage. The hand lever P being elevated so as
to lower the box upon the carriage, the sling is released from the trunnions of
the box G; the sling is then pushed to the right and hooked back out of the
way, and in readiness for removing the next mould and pattern. The moulder
now pushes the mould box and carriage away from him a little, so as to bring
them between the vertical traversing spindles V. These spindles are made
with broad T-licads on which the extremities of the pattern plate E rest when
the raising of the plate is effected, the vertical stem of each spindle passes
through the vertical guides W, which are bolted down to the platform, their
upper extremities being made of a T-shaped figure, as shown in Figure 2 of
the accompanying Drawings. The lower ends of the traversing spindles V
are jointed to a pair of levers X, which are fast to the horizontal rocking
shaft Y, its journals being carried in bearings that are bolted to the side picces
of the moulding platform. The shaft Y also carries the two outwardly
extending levers Z, to which is bolted the counterweight 1, which is made
sufficiently heavy to balance the weight of the spindles and their connected
parts, as well as the pattern plate when resting upon the T-heads of the
spindles. At the centre of one of the spindle T-heads is a laterally projecting

page_text: stud which carries the pendent link 2, the lower end of which forms a catch
or hook in immediate contiguity to the stud 3, which projects ontwards from
the face of the spindle guide W. The hook of the link 2 is caused to catch
or be released at pleasure from the stud 3 by means of the long hand lever 4,
the backward end of which is jointed near to the centre of the link 2, whilst
the front end extends to within convenient reach of the moulder.
This hand
lever 4 is connected at about the middle of its length to a pendent link 5,
which passes down between the sides of the vertical guide 6, the lower end of
the link working on a pin passed through the parallel plates of the guide 6.
A pin passed through the guide plates at the upper corners serve as stops to
check the motion of the link 5 to and fro, so that the moulder by setting the
hand lever back is enabled to release the hook of the link 2, and by pressing
more or less on the lever to adjust and temper the rise of the spindles when
carrying the pattern plate. When the carriage and mould box is pushed.
forward by the moulder, its course in that direction is checked by the two end
stops 7; these stops are prolonged downwards, and pass through the ends of
the T-headed guides W, serving to steady the spindles in their upward.
traverse. Any lateral deviation of the pattern plate is prevented by the
guide pieces 8, the inclined surfaces of which direct the carriage fairly
between the lifting spindles V. The moulder now strikes the face of the
pattern plate E, in order to loosen the sand from tho plate, and aid the with-
drawal of the patter, and this action causes the tumbling catches F to release
themselves from the trunnions of the mould box G by the overbalancing of the
weighted ends which fall into the position shown in the front part of Figure 2.
Almost simultaneously with the striking action, the moulder disengages the
hook 2 by means of the hand lever 4; the spindle V being now liberated, the
weight 1 causes them to ascend, the motion is meanwhile regulated by the
moulder, who keeps his hand upon the lever 4. In this way the pattern and
plate E is steadily and evenly lifted out of the sand, leaving the moulded
impression perfectly sharp therein. The moulder's assistant now turns over
the pattern plate, and it is removed to the heating box ready to receive another
mould box G, the moulder meanwhile lowers the spindles V to their normal
position, and returns to his place in front of the heating box. A boy, by
means of a hooked hand rod draws away the completed "drag" of the mould
and runs it between the line of rails S, in readiness to receive its top box, he
also runs an empty carriage up to the stops T, to receive the next mould
box. The top plate 9 is rammed up in the usual manner on the pedestal or
stand 10, alongside which the carriages are run in the rails; as these boxes are
rammed, they are lifted off and placed on the drag part of the mould. The

page_text: plate 11, on which the top box 9 is placed to fill it with sand, has four oval
convex cavities 12 formed in it, which form corresponding projections on the
sand, and when the metal is poured into the mould, they leave two cavities in
the sole of each chair. A raised print or core 13, is also formed on the plate 11,
which hollows out a horizontal passage in the sand for the molten metal to
flow along the gate pattern 14, which forms the vertical tubular passage in
the sand, is inserted in the hole at the end of the core 13. The top box is
then rammed up, the gate pattern is taken out, and the box is removed to the
lower mould box; these completed moulds being arranged in lines between
the guide rails, the molten metal is brought along in ladles or metal holders
supported upon a carriage and is poured into the moulds in succession.
When the metal has solidified, the castings are turned out and when cold aro.
trimmed off in the usual way, which completes the operation of manufacturing.
railway chairs upon this system.
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings illustrates our system of moulding
applied to the production or manufacture of Greaves' combined railway chair.
and sleeper. Figure 1 is a partially sectional elevation of the machinery or
apparatus used in this modification; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan;
Figure 3 is a partially sectional elevation of the top box; Figure 4 is a plan
of the under side pattern plate, and Figure 5 is an elevation and plan of the
core used in casting these chairs and sleepers. In this arrangement the
heating box a is placed upon the moulding floor b, the heat is obtained in the
manner herein-before described, namely, by means of scrap iron heated to
redress, and the box filled up with "blackening," which keeps a slow and
continuous heat sufficient for the purpose. The pattern c, which is in one
piece with the plate is placed upon the heating box a, and upon it is lowered
the drag part of the mould box d, which is locked to the pattern plate by the
catches e; the mould box is made with laterally projecting trunnions to
admit of its being slung the chains f. These chains are connected to a
ring which is attached to the single chain 9; this chain is represented as
broken off in Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of our Drawings, but it forms a continuation
of the chain g, which is partially wound upon and made fast to the barrel h of
the winch. This barrel has also wound upon it, but in a contrary direction,
the chain i, the free end of which is connected to the weight j; this weight
serves to counterbalance to a great extent the weight of the rammed up box
and the pattern. The spindle of the barrel has fast to it the wheel k, which
is put in motion by the pinion 1, and winch handle m. A pawl n is carried
on a stud fixed in a bracket projecting out from one of the side standards of
the winch, and serves to prevent the turning back of the barrel when tho

page_text: weight is on the chain. Prior to filling up the mould box d, the slip pieces o
are inserted in the pattern to form the overhanging parts of the jaw, the sand
is then filled in by the moulder's assistant, the moulder meanwhile compressing
it with a rammer. The mould box and pattern plate is now slung clear of
the heating box a, is moved forwards in a horizontal direction, is turned half
round, and is then lowered down upon the carriage p. The frame of this
carriage instead of being open, as in the first modification, has fast to it a per-
forated plate on which the mould box d rests. These perforations in the plate
admit of the escape of the gases which are generated when the molten metal
is poured into the mould, the moulder having previously perforated the sand
with a pricker in the ordinary manner. The carriage p, is placed between the
traversing spindles 9 of the drawing apparatus, so that the projecting ends of
the pattern plate extend over the T-ends of the spindle q. The T-lieaded
spindles & traverse up and down in the vertical guides r, and aro connected at
the lower extremities to a horizontal shaft in manner similar to the arrange-
ment shown in Sheet 1 of our Drawings, the outwardly extending levers s
serving to carry the counterweight t, which when at liberty is sufficient to
raise the pattern out of the mould box; to prevent this upward action when
not required, one of the traversing spindles has attached to the upper part a
pendulous catch u, the hooked lower end of which catches the projecting stud v
on the spindle guide. The catch u has a laterally projecting handle to enable
the moulder to withdraw the catch from the stud v, when he wishes to
withdraw the pattern from the mould; in the descent of the traversing
spindles, the catch is knocked aside for an instant by the inclined part coming
in contact with. the stud v, and as it returns it catches under the stud. When
the mould box is lowered on to the carriage p, the moulder strikes the top side
of the pattern plate to loosen the pattern, he then turns back the catches e,
which are arranged upon the plan described in the Specification of British
Letters Patent granted to us, and bearing date on or about the Fifteenth day.
of January, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, so as to release the
pattern plate from the mould box d. The moulder or his assistant now draws
back the catch u, the weight descends, and the pattern is lifted steadily and
evenly out of the sand, the pattern is then lifted off the T-headed spindles g,
either by hand or machinery and transferred again to the heater a, and the
carriage with the mould thereon is wheeled away to receive the top box, the
arrangement for heating and filling which is placed alongside the guide rails w,
between which the carriages p run. The heating box x, Figure 3, is supported.
upon a wooden or other suitable base y, the box has placed on it a plate, the.

page_text: concave surface of which corresponds to the contour of the under side of the
sleeper and chair. The plate is formed in two parts, which are connected
to each other by pendent bridle pieces 1 and 2, arranged opposite to or in a
line with one another. Through the bridle picce 1 a pin is passed, upon which
is centred the lever 3, the handle of this lever extends out beyond the box. The
bridlo piece 2, in which the free end of the lever works, is made deeper than
the other on the opposite side, and thero is room also to admit of the upholding
catch 4 resting therein; the upper part of this catch is jointed to a lateral
stud in the lever 3, the lower part of the catch is bent outwards at a right
angle, and is formed into a handle at that part, a notch being made at the
inner end, where it rests upon the horizontal part of the bridle. The upper
part or surface of this lever 3 has formed upon it a projecting piece corre-
sponding in figure to the core shown in Figure 5, on Sheet 2 of the accom-
panying Drawings. When the top box 5 is to be filled with sand, the lever 3
is kept up by the catch 4, the sand is filled in and rammed down in the
ordinary manner. The lever 3 is now lowered by withdrawing tho catch 4,
and rested upon the bridle piece 2; this operation forms a recess or cavity in
the sand, meanwhile, a boy places in the drag part of the mould a core picce,
similar in figure to the representation in Figure 5: This core piece is placed
across the mould at the part marked 6, in Figures 1 and 2, and it serves to
form the vertical slots which aro made in the laterally projecting parts 6,
through which slots the transverse tie bars or rods are passed and secured to
the sleeper by cotters. These sleepers are made with two circular apertures
through them to admit of the ballast beneath being firmly rammed inside the
sleeper. These apertures are partly formed by the raised rims 7 on the
pattern c, and partly by the convex parts 8 on the plate, the two parts
coming together in the mould, and so forming a solid core round which the
metal flows. The top box 5 being filled up, and the "gate" 9 formed in the
usual manner for the inflowing of the metal, it is removed from the base y,
and placed on the "drag" or lower part of the mould, as shown to the left of
Figuro 1, Sheet 2. The pouring in of the molten metal into the mould, and
the subsequent trimming or chipping off of any little roughness from the cast
completes the formation of the combined sleeper and chair.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe, in conclusion, that what wo consider novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by tho
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―

page_text: First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for moulding or shaping metals, as herein-before described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of manufacturing or producing railway chairs,
or railway chairs and sleepers cast or combined in one by means of the
moulding apparatus, and the machinery connected or used in conjunction
therewith as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third, the application and use in moulding or shaping metals of a traversing
sling with suspension rods adjustable as to their combined operating length, as
herein before described for transferring the mould box.
Fourth, the system or mode of raising and lowering the mould box by
means of traversing suspension rods connected to each other by a lever in
such manner as to enable the operator to lengthen and shorten the line of
suspension.
Fifth, the application and use in moulding or shaping metals of a duplex
action lever connected to a pendent hooked link for working the "draw" of
the pattern.
Sixth, the system or mode of heating the pattern plate and pattern for
forming the lower part of the mould by means of a heating box arranged and
heated as herein-before described, or any mere equivalent therefor.
Seventh, the system or mode of connecting and disconnecting the mould
box and pattern plate by means of the pendulous weighted catches, herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth, the system or mode of effecting the withdrawal of the pattern from
the sand by means of the drawing or lifting apparatus, herein-before described
and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Ninth, the system or mode of moulding or shaping combined chairs and
sleepers, and other articles, wherein, after the sand is rammed, the mould box
is swung off its seat, turned over upon its suspension trunnions, then turned
half round horizontally, and placed upon the drawing table.
In witness whereof, we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James
MoIlwham, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-third
day of September, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.