Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Making Moulds for Casting.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 11th May, 1889
Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Making Moulds
for Casting.
We, STEPHEN ALLEY, and JOHN ALEXANDER MAC LELLAN, of the Sentinel Works,
Polmadie, in the County of Renfrew, 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 further improve and supplement apparatus
of the kind described in our Patent Specification No. 3294 of 1887.
In apparatus of the kind referred to the ram of an hydraulic cylinder forces a platen
carrying the mould box with the pattern in it and with the sand or mould material
heaped upon the pattern, with considerable speed up against a fixed block so as by the
concussive action and following pressure to effect the ramming operation in a
satisfactory and rapid manner.
In carrying out our present Invention instead of fixing the upper block to an
entablature connected by four corner rods or pillars to the base, we have it fixed to a
movable bracket carried by a massive column at the back of the machine, thus leaving
a clear space on three sides for conveniently putting on and removing the mould
boxes. We also dispense with a hopper for filling in the sand, as we find the operation
can be quite conveniently and speedily performed by shovelling the sand directly into
the mould box. The platen is guided by sleeves fixed to it and working on short
pillars fixed to the base; and the parting plate when descending comes to rest on the
tops of these pillars the contacts being made by rubber buffer pieces fixed in sockets in
the underside of the parting plate. A bellcrank treadle lever is provided for removing
a curved block which temporarily supports the platen at one stage of its descent, a
spring drawing the block back into position when the platen rises again. The pattern
which is of metal is heated by means of gas flames applied underneath the platen, to
prevent the condensation on the surface of the pattern of any moisture the sand may
have. The pattern is fixed to the platen and the position of the parting plate in
relation to the platen is accurately adjusted by means of strong screws tapped through
the platen and fixed by jam nuts.

page_text: A special turntable is combined with the moulding apparatus to enable it to be
worked with the expedition of which it is capable, the mould boxes being transferred
to this in succession as moulded, and being carried round with a step by step
movement to a position where the molten metal is poured into them, cores being put
in and the moulds being finished whilst in transit by one or more workers on the
turntable. The turntable is placed in a shallow pit with its platform at the top of the
pit. There is a central pillar fixed down to a suitable foundation, on which pillar
the platform rests by means of an elongated hollow conical centre, struts and stays
extending from this centre to support the outer parts of the platform. Above the
centre there is a circular tray on which cores and other articles can be placed, and
which is arranged to serve as a means for turning the table as required. The tray is
fitted with a tubular boss on the upper reduced end of the centre pillar, and the boss
has on it a pinion gearing with a spurwheel on the upper end of a vertical counter
shaft carried by the platform, whilst a pinion on the lower end of the counter shaft
gears with a spurwheel fixed on the pillar.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
3.
Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Making Moulds
for Casting.
"
We,
STEPHEN ALLEY, and JOHN ALEXANDER MAC LELLAN, of the Sentinell Works,
Polmadie, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner, the same is. to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by: the following statement, that is
to say :-
Our said Invention has for its object to further improve and supplement apparatus
of the kind described in our Patent Specification No. 3294 of 1887.
In apparatus of the kind referred to the ram of an hydraulic cylinder forces a platen
carrying the mould box with the pattern in it and with the sand or mould material heaped
upon "the pattern with considerable speed up against a fixed block so as by the
concussive action and following pressure to effect the ramming operation in a
satisfactory and rapid manner.
A special turntable is combined with the moulding apparatus to enable it to be
worked with the expedition of which it is capable, the mould boxes being transferred
to this in succession as moulded, and being carried round with a step by step
movement to a position where the molten metal is poured into them, cores being put
in and the moulds being finished whilst in transit by one or more workers on the
turntable.
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 showing our improvements.
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a plan and figures, 2, and 3,
are side and front elevations of the apparatus for making moulds. Figures, 4, and 5,
on sheet, 2, are respectively a plan and a vertical section of the turntable. In these
drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
The moulding apparatus shown on sheet, 1, of the drawings, is carried upon a
massive bed plate, A, in an opening in which there is fixed an hydraulic cylinder, B.
The ram, C, of the hydraulic cylinder carries a platen, D, which is guided in its
vertical movements by tubes, E. fixed to its four corners and working on rods, F,
fixed down to the bed plate. These short rods, F, are used instead of the long rods
which in ordinary hydraulic presses connect the bed plate to an overhead entablature ;
and instead of using an entablature connected by rods to the bed plate, we employ for
resisting the action of the press, a block, G, of wood_fixed to a strong bracket, H,
which is fitted on the upper end of a massive pillar, J, standing at the back of the
machine and fixed down to the bed plate, A. With this arrangement there is, except
where 'the pillar, J, is, clear space all round the machine for putting on and taking off
mould boxes and for filling in the sand or mould material.
.

page_text: Above the platen, D, there is a parting plate, K, on which the mould box or flask, L,
is placed, whilst the pattern, M, is fixed to the platen, D, and, when a mould is being
filled and pressed, projects up through an opening in the parting plate, K, such opening
being shaped exactly to the contour of the pattern at the parting plane. The parting
plate, K, is accurately adjusted by means of screws, N, screwed up through the
platen, D, and fixed by jam nuts.
The sand or mould material is shoveled into the flask, L, when the parts are in the
positions in which they are shown in figures, 2, and 3, and is filled in so as to be
heaped up to some extent above the middle of the pattern, M. In some cases the
quantity of sand or mould material may be measured by means of a light frame
indicated by dotted lines, 9, in figure, 2, temporarily placed on the top edges of the
flask, L, enough sand or mould material being supplied to fill up to the top of this
frame. The water under pressure is then admitted into the hydraulic cylinder, B, and
the ram, C, with the parts carried by it is run rapidly up. The block, G, above, is
shaped to enter easily within the flask, L; and the result of the operation, when
adequate speed and pressure are employed, is to form a mould with the sand or mould
material pressed on all parts of the pattern with sufficiently uniform density. The
block, G, has fixed to its under side a projection, 10, to form a gate in the mould this
projection being made with a hole into which a pin, 11, on the pattern, M, enters
when raised.
As soon as the compression of the sand or mould material has been effected the
hydraulic ram, C, is lowered, and the parts carried by it descend, but to different
positions. The parting plate, K, descends until stopped by the tops of the fixed
rods, F, which extend up through holes in the platen, D, and are encountered by
rubber buffer pieces fixed in cups, P, formed on the under side of the parting plate, K,
at the corners. The descent of the platen, D, is for a moment arrested when the
parting plate, K, is stopped; but immediately afterwards the platen, D, descends as
much further as to lower the pattern, M, down through the parting plate, K. The
flask, L, with the moulded sand in it can then be removed, and an empty mould box
or flask be put into its place for the next moulding operation. For the purpose of
temporarily arresting the descent of the platen, D, as described, there are fixed to its
under part two legs, Q, which temporarily rest upon a chock plate, R, (indicated by
dotted lines in figure, 1.). This chock plate, R, itself rests by means of adjustable
screw pins, S, upon an annular projection formed on the hydraulic cylinder, B; and it is
arranged like a lever to turn on a centre, T, at one side. A treadle, U, in the form of
a bell crank is provided for withdrawing the chock plate, R. being connected to it by
a chain passing round a guide pulley, V, whilst a spring, W, draws the chock plate, R,
into position for arresting the descent of the platen, D, as soon as in rising the legs, Q,
get above the chock plate. When the platen, D, descends to its lowest position on
the withdrawal of the chock plate, R, violent concussion is avoided by rubber rings, ✗,
placed on the ram, C, so as to encounter the stuffing-box gland of the hydraulic
cylinder, B.
The movements of the apparatus are controlled by a hand lever, Y, fixed on the
spindle of a valve in a valve box, Z through which the water passes on its way to and
from the hydraulic cylinder, B, the valve box being connected to the cylinder by a
pipe, 13, and having supply and exhaust pipes connected to it. The speeds at various
parts of the descent are controlled automatically by a rod or bar, 14, which is
adjustably fixed to the platen, D, so as to move therewith. The bar, 14, is formed
with a cam surface, 6, which when the hand lever, Y, is pressed round in the direction
of the arrow in figure, 1, to put the cylinder in communication with the exhaust,
partially closes the exhaust at the time when the pattern, M, is beginning to be
withdrawn from the parting plate, K.
Owing to the rapidity with which, when our improved apparatus is used, moulds
can be formed, the castings made, and the sand or mould material be ready for use
over again, it happens that the sand or mould material is in a warm condition when
put into the mould box, and condensation of moisture is apt to take place upon the
the pattern, which is itself a casting, and cause imperfect work and inconvenience.

page_text: To avoid this trouble we keep the platen, D, and through it the pattern, M, in a warm
state by means of two or more Bunsen jets of gas and air burning beneath the platen
and supplied by a pipe, 7. In order to limit the upward movement of the platen, D,
and parts on it, when from inadvertence it is raised without there being sand in the
flask, L, a pair of bars, 8, are fixed to the platen being entered up through slots in the .
bed plate, A, and having heads on their bottom ends which not being able to pass
through the slots acts as stops. The space beneath the platen, D, is enclosed by thin
iron sheets, 12, to keep out sand.
When the patterns to be moulded are comparatively shallow or have parts projecting
to a small extent, both flasks for a mould may be rammed or operated on simultaneously
by means of our improved apparatus. In this case the half pattern (M) is formed or
fixed on the parting plate, K, and the under side of the plate is made with a parting
surface and with the other half pattern formed or fixed on it. The lower flask is put
on the platen, D, below. the plate, K, and is supplied with a suitable quantity of sand,
the plate, K, which bas been held in a raised position is then lowered, and the upper
flask is put upon it; and the operation is completed in the same manner, or nearly so
as hereinbefore described for the single flask.
'
The turntable shown on sheet, 2, of the drawings is placed partly in a shallow pit, 15,
being carried by a bed plate, 16, fixed at the centre of the bottom of the pit. In the
bed plate, 16, there is fixed a central pillar, 17, partly indicated by dotted lines in
figure, 5, and on this pillar there is fitted so as to be capable of turning on it a
tubular piece, 18, forming the main centre of the turntable the framework of which is
built upon it, and is composed of radial horizontal girders, 19, of steel or iron and
inclined struts and ties, 20. On the framework, 19, 20, there is fixed a platform, 21,
of sheet iron. A cylindrical rim, 22, is combined with the rest of the framework by
angle iron and vertical radial plates, 23, on which an annular ledge, 24, is fixed. This
ledge, 24, which is slightly inclined down towards the centre is provided for receiving
the mould boxes. The centre piece, 18, is made with a spindle extending above the
set
platform, 21, and indicated by dotted lines in figure, 5, and on this spindle there
à tubular boss, 25,which has fixed at its upper end a small circular table or disc, 26,
made with a rim by means of which it can be turned. On the lower part of the boss, 25,
there is a pinion, 27, which gears with a spurwheel, 28, on the upper end of a vertical
shaft, 29, carried in bearings in the framework of the turntable and having at its
lower end a pinion, 30, in gear with a spurwheel, 31, fixed on the stationary central
piller, 17. With this gearing the entire turntable is moved slowly round on the small
central table, 26, being turned by a worker standing on the platform, 21.
In using our improved turntable the mould boxes are successively transferred from
the moulding machine on to the annular ledge, 24, and the turntable is moved round
at intervals through short distances, a worker on the turntable putting in cores if
required and turning the small table, 26. The mould boxes being thus carried round
step by step move in succession into the position for filling them, and are carried
onwards to a position where they are removed or otherwise dealt with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. Moulding apparatus comprising in combination, an hydraulic cylinder with its
ram extending upwards and bearing a platen, a pattern fixed on the platen, a parting
plate with a contour opening through which the pattern can project, adjusting pins
screwed in the platen to determine the position of the parting plate when lifted by the
platen, a mould box or flask, a resisting block above the platen and fixed to a bracket
upon a pillar at the back of the machine, a movable chock plate for temporarily
supporting the platen at a point in its descent, and a valve for controlling the action
of the water in the hydraulic cylinder, the several parts being arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In moulding apparatus having a rising platen with a pattern fixed on it, a parting
plate-adjustable in relation to the platen, combined with a device for guiding the
platen and stopping the parting plate when the platen has partly descended, such

page_text: device consisting of rods fixed to the bed plate and extending up through guide tubes
fixed to the platen with their upper ends acting as stops for the parting plate
substantially as hereinbefore described.
•
3. In moulding apparatus having a rising platen or a parting plate with a pattern
fixed on it, a heating device applied under the platen substantially in the manner and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
4. A turntable constructed to turn on a fixed central pillar and comprising in
combination a framework, a sheet iron platform, a raised annular ledge or table, a
central small table and gearing for turning the turntable substantially as hereinbefore
described.
5. A turntable with the gearing for turning it consisting of a central rimmed table
or disk, a pinion. fixed to the centre boss of the table or disk, a vertical shaft carried
by the turntable and having on it a spurwheel gearing with the said pinion, and a
pinion on the vertical shaft gearing with a fixed spurwheel substantially as hereinbefore
described.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.