IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY CHAIRS
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
ALFRED COWPER, of Smethwick, near Birmingham, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth
day of May, in the ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Alfred Cowper, my
exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Edward Alfred Cowper, my exors, admors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Alfred Cowper, my exors, admors,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY CHAIRS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso that I, the said Edward Alfred Cowper, should cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within

page_text: Bix calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at largo appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that 'in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Edward Alfred Cowper, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hercunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates to means of forming moulds for making railway
chairs, such moulds consisting partly of sand and partly of metal chill plates,
the metal chill plates being introduced into the patterns before making moulds
(by remaining in the sand) and such chill plates being allowed to retain their
positions in the sand after the patterns aro withdrawn, and until the chairs
my Invention may be
are formed by the melted metal. And in order that
fully understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
•
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING No. 1.
pattern P, metal
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the bottom box B, B, containing
the pattern P, with a metal chill plate C in its correct position, ready to be
surrounded by sand for forming the mould. This chill plate is introduced
into the pattern before ramming in the sand, and is left in the mould after
the pattern is withdrawn, and until the chair is cast. P is the pattern of
iron, brass, wood, or other suitable material, resting on the ramming board R.
C is the metal chill plate. S, a space to be filled with sand. S', S', S', is space
between the pattern and box, also to be filled with sand. Figure 2 represents
a vertical section of the bottom box B, B, containing the
'chill plato C, and sand, as inverted on the flat board F. T, T, is the top
box. Figuro 3 represents a cross section of the bottom box B, B, and an end
view of the pattern P, with the metal chill plate C in its correct position.
Figure 4 represents a front view of the metal chill plate C. Figure 5 repre-
sents a vertical section of the metal chill plate C. Figure 6 represents a
horizontal section of the metal chill-plato C, and the jaw of the pattern P
in their relativo positions. In forming a mould I first place the pattern of the
chair P on a board R (commonly called a ramming board) and place the
notal chill plate C within the jaws of the pattern P, and in contact with
that side on which the rail will eventually be situated; this metal chill plate C

page_text: does not fill the whole of the space between the jaws of the pattern P, but
leaves about one half or rather more unoccupied. The metal chill plate C is
mado somewhat longer than than the width of the chair pattern P, and is left
somewhat rough at the ends, for the purpose of being held securely in its
position by means of the sand forming the mould, as will presently be seen.
The pattern P having the metal chill plate in it, as above described, in next
surrounded by a box or flask B, B, (such as is commonly used by ironfounders)
and sand is then rammed into the box or flask B, B, all round and over the
pattern and the metal chill plate, care being taken that in ramming the sand
the metal chill plate C is not shifted out of its proper position in the pattern.
By this means the pattern and metal chill plate are closely enveloped in sand.
The box being now full of sand, level with the top, the flat board F is laid
thereon, and the box or flask B, B, (now containing the pattern, the metal
chill plate, and sand) is turned over together with the flat board F and the
running board R; the latter is then removed so as to leave that part of the
pattern which was on the ramming board R exposed to view. The top
box T, T, is now placed on the bottom box B, B, and is rammed full of sand
in the usual way of moulding, and is then removed. The pattern is now to be
loosened in the mould by rapping.it gently (as commonly practised by iron-
founders, and then altogether withdrawn, leaving the metal chill plate C in the
sand, by which it is securely held, and the top box T, T, being replaced
(suitable openings being made in the sand for the admission of the metal), the
mould is ready to receive the melted metal of which the chair is to be formed,
and which is then poured into it, and as soon as the casting thus made has cooled
a little it is turned out of the sand, and the metal chill plate removed; the
casting is then trimmed or dressed in the usual way. In place of ramming
the top box full of sand on the bottom box, it may be rammed full of sand on
a board (commonly called an oddside board) which has the form intended for
the bottom of the chair shaped on it. This top box being then removed
from the oddside board is placed on the bottom box after the pattern has been
withdrawn. It will be found on examining the Drawing that I form that part
of the pattern against which the metal chill plate bears of such shape as shall
allow of the pattern being easily withdrawn from the mould. The metal chill
plate C is sustained in its position whilst the sand is being rammed against it
by its ends having projections which take a bearing against the sides of the chair
pattern, which are bevilled slightly, so as to receive them. This is clearly
shewn in Figure 6, where P is a section of the jaw of the pattern, and C is the
metal chill plate.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING No. 2.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the pattern P, with the metal chill
plate C in its correct position. p.is a small looso piece fitting the pattern P.
When the pattern is withdrawn the small loose picco p is left in the sand,
but is afterwards withdrawn by a small wire hook which is inserted in the hole 5
O, and drawn up out of the mould. Figure 2 represents a plan of the pattern
P, with the small loose picce pin its place, and the metal chill plate C also
in its place. This mode of moulding I prefer for such chairs as have the space
between the jaws much greater at bottom than at top. In some cases I employ
more extensive chill surfaces in making moulds according to my Invention, 1
and this is shown in Figure 3, which represents a vertical section of a pattern
P, with metal chill plates C and C' in their proper positions on the pattern.
W is a wedge used to keep the metal chill plates in contact with the jaws of
the pattern, but such wedge may be dispensed with. Figure 4 represents
'a plan of a chair when cast from such a mould. This modo of moulding I
prefer for such chairs as have a projecting lug or lip, as at L (Figure 3) at
the top of one jaw. Another variation is shown in Figure 5, which represents
a vertical section of a pattern P with the metal chill plates C, C, C³, in their
proper positions. These metal chill plates are left in the sand until after the
chair is cast, as in the previous cases, and are then removed, C³ being first
taken off the casting, C' next, and C last. Figure 6 represents a plan of a
chair when cast from such a mould. This mode of moulding I prefer for such
chairs as have a long projecting lug or lip, as at L (Figure 5).
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the details, so long as the peculiar character of my Invention be
retained; but what I claim as my Invention is, the method of forming the
insides of railway chairs by means of chill plates placed in the pattern, before
the sand is rammed, the said plates being left in the sand when the pattern
is withdrawn, and until the chairs are cast, thus ensuring great accuracy in the
form of the chair.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Alfred Cowper, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
EDWARD ALFRED (L.S.) COWPER. $

page_text: BUTTON, LALA.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of November,
in the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid Edward Alfred Cowper came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.