IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Law, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, and John Inglis, of the same place,
Ironfounders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING
OR SHAPING METALS."
Sealed the 27th October 1858, and dated the 9th May 1858..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Law and
John Inglis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th May 1853.
We, DAVID LAW, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, and JOHN INGLIS, of the same place, Ironfounders, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING
OR SHAPING METALS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more especially to the moulding of pipes and
such articles as are of plain parallel section, or nearly so, throughout
their whole length. In moulding a pipe by this process the moulding
box is set on end in the usual way, with the pattern placed in its centre,
such pattern being a short length only of the entire article to be
produced. In the bottom of the box, and surrounding the pattern,
a metal ring of bevilled section, or one or more segmental pieces of

page_text: metal, is laid in, and a small quantity of the moulding sand is then
supplied to the annular space between the pattern and the box covering
over the metal ring. Then, as the moulding goes on, sand is continu-
ously supplied, whilst the short pattern is slowly drawn up through the
mould, as it is being formed, by suitable mechanism or by hand. The
pattern is guided in its longitudinal traverse by a central guide spindle
passed down through the box and through the pattern, or it may be
kept fair by guide pulleys bearing against the internal surface of the
box. The metal ring in the space between the box and the pattern
is also worked, at the same time, with a reciprocatory traverse, by
tubular rod from above. This traverse may be accomplished by several
mechanical arrangements, but it may be conveniently done by an
overhead revolving crank pin, a rod from which is connected to the
ring rod by stiff friction. By this plan, as the sand is supplied,
the ring will be rainned hard down upon it, to compress the sand for
the external contour of the pipe, whilst at the same time the stiff
friction will allow of the ring ascending as the sand accumulates
below it. In other terms, the frictional connection answers for cleva-
ting the ring, whilst it gives way to the resistances of the sand, when
the latter is sufliciently compressed: This process is carried on until
the pattern or central shaper has passed through the moulding box,
when the outside of the pipe will have been shaped. The core is then
placed in the mould, and the pipe is cast in the usual way. Instead of
connecting the running ring by stiff friction it may be contrived to be
elevated and lowered by a system of engaging and disengaging catches
or connections, which will allow of the proper rising action as the
sand accumulates. The core bars may or may not be collapsable;
if collapsable, the bar is made of flexible sheet iron, rolled round
a cylindrical shape, with a loose overlap. Down the centre of the
bar is a rod, carrying a series of scroll pieces, volutes, or inclines,
contrived to gear with pulleys or projections in the interior of the sheet
metal. Thus, by turning the central rod round upon its axis in either
direction, the flexible core bar will be expanded or collapsed by the
revolving action of the inclines. The same effect, or nearly so, may be
secured by making the core bar in three or more separate pieces,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Law and John Inglis in the Great Seal
Patent Office, on the 8th November 1853.
"
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
DAVID LAW, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, and
JOHN INGLIS, of the same place, Ironfounders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in .the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and. succes
sors, give and grant unto us, the said David Law and John Inglis,
Her special licence that we, the said David Law and John Inglis, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or. such others as we, the said
David Law and John Inglis, 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 Islo
of. Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING
METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
David Law and John Inglis, by an instrument in writing under our
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the. same was to be per-
formed, 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 wc, the said David Law and John Inglis,
do hereby declare the nature of our 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

page_text: to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thercon, that is to say:
Our said Invention relates more especially to the moulding of pipes
and such articles as are of plain parallel section, or nearly so, throughout
their whole length. In moulding a pipe by this process, the moulding
box is set on end in the usual way, with the pattern placed in its
centre, such pattern being a short length only of the entire article
to be produced. In the bottom of the box and surrounding the
pattern a metal ring of bevilled or rounded section, and composed
of one or more segmental pieces of metal, is laid in, and a small quan-
tity of the moulding sand is then supplied to the annular space between
the pattern and the box covering over the metal ring. Then, as the
moulding goes on, sand is continuously supplied, whilst the short
pattern is slowly drawn up through the mould, as the latter is being
formed, by suitable mechanism or by hand. The pattern is guided in
its longitudinal traverse by a central guide spindle passed down through
the box and through the pattern, or it may be kept fair by guide
pulleys bearing against the internal surface of the box. The metal ring
in the space between the box and the pattern is also worked at the
same time with a reciprocating traverse by a tubular rod from above.
This traverse may be accomplished by several mechanical arrangements,
but it may be conveniently done by an overhead revolving crank pin,
a rod from which is connected to the ring rod by stiff friction. By this
plan, as the sand is supplied, the ring will be rammed hard down upon
it to compress the sand for the external contour of the pipe, whilst, at
the same time, the stiff friction will allow of the ring ascending as the
sand accumulates below it. In other terms, the frictional connection
answers for elevating the ring, whilst it gives way to the resistance of
the sand, and when the latter is sufficiently compressed. This process is
carried on until the pattern or central shaper has passed through the
moulding box, when the outside of the pipe will have been shaped.
The core is then placed in the mould, and the pipe is cast in the usual
way. Instead of connecting the ramming ring by stiff friction, it ma
be contrived to be elevated and lowered by a system of engaging and
disengaging catches or connections, which will allow of the prope

page_text: rising action as the sand accumulates. The core bars may or may not
be collapsable. If collapsable, the bar is made of flexible sheet iron
rolled round to a cylindrical shape, with a loose overlap. Down the
centre of the bar is a rod carrying a series of scroll pieces, volutes,
or inclines, contrived to gear with pulleys or projections in the interior
of the sheet metal. Thus, by turning the central rod round upon its
axis, in either direction, the flexible core bar will be expanded or col-
lapsed by the revolving action of the inclines. The same effect, or
nearly so, may be secured by making the core bar in three or more
separate pieces, hinged together longitudinally, these hinges giving way.
as the bar is altered in its dimensions either way.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood,
we shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on the Sheet of Drawings
is a front elevation of our mould-making machine, represented as in
the operation of making a mould. Figure 2, is a side elevation
corresponding to Figure 1, and representing the mould box and its
supporting carriage and turntable in longitudinal vertical section.
Figure 3, is a horizontal section through the friction box, by means of
which the rammer is turned round during the moulding operation; and
Figure 4, is a horizontal section shewing the top of the slide, and the
wedge by means of which the vertical reciprocating motion is given to
the rammer. We have supposed the machine to be about to form the
mould for a length of pipe; the mould box A, for which is placed on end
upon a small wheeled carriage B, travelling upon rails C, laid down in the
moulding shop, as is usual at present, and leading to or in communica-
tion with the drying stove, and other places to which the mould may
have to be conveyed. Immediately under the ramming machine there is.
a small turntable D, upon which the mould box and carriage rest whilst
the machine is in action. A rotatory inotion is given to the turntable D,
and consequently to the mould box, by means which will be herein-after
described. The ramming machinery above is mainly supported by the
cast iron column E, on an elevated level, a second smaller column F,
serving to support the outer bearings of the driving shaft G, and crank
shaft H. The first motion driving shaft G, which is actuated by any

page_text: suitable prime mover, carries the fast and loose pulleys I, and the
pinion J. This last gears with the spur wheel K, on the crank
shaft H, which passes through the column E, and has fixed upon its
extremity a disc or crank I. A short rod M, connects the pin of the
crank L, to a pin N, fast upon the slide piece O, working in vertical V
grooves in the brackets P', cast upon the column E. To the face of the
slide O, is bolted a frictional gripping box, consisting of the wooden
segment or half piece Q, and the wedge-shaped cast iron box R,
in which is placed a wooden wedge S. This wedge tapers downwards,
and is kept well down by the spring T, and lover. U; the inner end of
which lever enters a cavity in the wedge, being passed through a slot
in the front of the box R, upon the exterior of which the lever turns
by a stud centre at U; the tension of the spring is regulated by the
thumb-nut V, whilst the lever is formed with a handle, by means of
which the attendant can relieve the pressure and raise the wedge up in
its box. It is between the wooden gripping piece Q, and the wedge R,
that the hollow spindle W, to which the rammer is attached, is held.
This rammer consists of four or other suitable number of prongs X,
having a ring or a set of segments of a ring Y, at their lower extremi-
ties. The pattern Z, for shaping the interior of the mould is very
short as compared with the length of pipe to be moulded, and it is fixed
to the lower extremity of a rod a, passing up through the hollow
spindle W, of the rammer, and suspended by a swivel joint to the
chain 6, passing round an overbead pulley to a supporting counter
weight. The action of the machine is as follows:-At cach revolution
of the shaft H, which carries a fly wheel c, for equalizing its motion,
the slide O, is made to perform a short up and down stroke or recipro-
cating traverse by means of the crank L, and connecting rod M.
During the upward movement of the slide the spindle W, of the
rammer is firmly gripped or seized by the block Q, and the wedge R,
and is thus raised up. The downward movement of the slide then
brings down the rammer upon the sand, which is being gradually fed
into the mould box, and the sand is thus rammed round the pattern Z,
to a degree of hardness dependent upon the gripping pressure of the
wedge S, which, as has been said, is regulated by the spring T

page_text: Accordingly, as the pressure of the wedge is greater, or less, the
spindle W, will slip through the gripping box, giving way, less or more,
to the resistance of the sand bencath it. As it is necessary that the
rammer should be turned slightly at each stroke, more particularly
when the ramming surface is in segments, so as continually to act upon
a fresh part of the sand, this is done by means of a friction box.d, em-
bracing the spindle, W, and supported by the bracket c, stretching from
the top of the column E. In the interior of this box, and in a
horizontal slide, is a stationary wooden block f, adjustable by means of
a small screw g. Opposite to this block f, and on the other side of the
spindle W, is a second but moveable wooden block h, which is pressed
against the spindle by the inner shorter end of a bent lever i working
on a pin in the box d. This lever i, serves at the same time to turn
round the box, and with it the spindle W. This combined turning and
gripping action is derived from the crank shaft H, the fly wheel c, of
which has cast upon it a wiper or cam j, which comes in contact with a
short lever K, on the vertical spindle c, set in bearings 1', cast on the
column E. The upper end of the vertical spindle c, carries a long
lover m, linked to the long outer end of the lever i, of the friction box d,
so that at each revolution of the crank shaft H, the cain j, causes the
vertical spindle 1, to turn slightly round, and by means of the levers m,
and i, to turn the friction box d, at the same time causing the blocks f,
and h, to grip the spindle W, of the rammer. This movement is con-
trived to take place at the moment the slide O, commences its down-
ward movement, at which time, owing to the change in the direction of
the motion, the spindle is less firmly held by the wedge S. On the
passage round of the wiper i, the pressure of the friction box d, is
relieved by the spring n. As it is necessary that the pattern block Z,
should rise as the formation of the mould progresses, this is very simply
This
brought about by fixing a cap o, on the upper end of the rod a.
cap, which has a ring of wood or of some elastic material attached to
its under side, is fixed at such a point upon the rod a, that the top p, of
the hollow spindle W, shall just touch it in rising; so that as the
spindle W, gradually slips up through the gripping block and wedge
Q, S, it will, after each slip, strike up the cap o, and rod a, to a corre-

page_text: sponding height, at which the latter, and with it the pattern block
will be retained by the counterweight attached to the other end of th
chain b. It remains to be explained in what manner rotatory motio
is given to the turntable D. This table has cast upon its under side
bevil wheel q, with which gears the bevil pinion upon the sho
horizontal shafts, working in end bearings s¹, on the bottom leve
This shaft carries at its other extremity a ratchet wheel t, worked by
spring catch upon a forked lever u, loosely centered upon the shaft
and connected at its free end by the rod v, to the horizontal arm of
bell crank lever w, loosely centered upon the driving shaft G, above
The vertical arm of the lever w, is acted upon by a cam a, keyed upo
the crank shaft H, so that at each revolution of this shaft a vibratory
movement is given to the lever w, and through it to the lever, the
spring catch of which turns the ratchet wheel t. round a certain
distance, this notion being communicated to the turntable D, by the
bevil wheels q, 1.
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 may observe, in conclusion, that we do not
confine or restrict ourselves to the precise details or arrangements
which we have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations
may be made therefrom without leviating from the principles or main
features of our Invention; but what we consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, appa-
ratus, or means for moulding or shaping metals, as herein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of moulding or shaping metals by the
combined actions of vertical ramming rotation or non-rotation of the
mould box, and the feeding in of the sand, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use in moulding or shaping metals of a
reciprocatory traversing rammer rotatory or non-rotatory, as hercin
before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of effecting the continuous reciprocatory S

page_text: traverse action of the moulding ramuner by means of a frictional
wedging or nipping action, as hercin-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of constructing collapsable core bars by
means of folding overlapping sheets of metal, actuated from the interior
of the bar.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Law and John Inglis,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Fifth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three.
DAVID LAW. (L.S.)
JOHN INGLIS. (L.S.)
DAVID LAW. (L.S.)
JOHN INGLIS. (L.S.)