IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Elder, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS."
Scaled the 20th July 1855, and dated the 24th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Elder at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th March
1855.
I, DAVID ELDER, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, 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 the construction or formation of sand or loam
moulds, to be used for casting metal pipes and other articles of parallel section,
or nearly so, throughout their length, and consists of a mode or system of
mechanical ramming of the material of the mould, combined with the shaping
action of a short length of the pattern which produces the inner surface of
the mould. The general arrangements involved are especially applicable to
the preparation of moulds for cylindrical pipes, but they are also capable of..
effective application in preparing the moulds for articles of rectangular or other
transverse section, provided such articles have their sides parallel, or nearly so,
throughout their whole length. In commencing to prepare a mould by this
process, the mould box is disposed vertically, in the usual manner, with the

page_text: short length of pattern intended for shaping the interior of the mould placed in
the bottom thereof. This pattern piece is conical on its upper end, or so
formed as to admit of the easy descent over it of the moulding sand. The part
whence this coned portion springs has upon it a series of radial feather pieces,
corresponding, or nearly so, at their outer ends to the diameter of the actual
pattern. These feathers or ribs answer as a guide surface for the traverse of
the rammer, as well as for the passage down of the moulding sand. The
pattern is suspended by a central rod from an overhead cross head, capable of
vertical traverse in guides, and balanced by a counterweight and chain. This
cross head also carries a short horizontal shaft, fitted with cranks or eccentrices,
from which two or more rods descend to an annular ramming piece which
encircles the pattern inside the mould box. When in action this crank shaft
is continuously driven by a pair of-bevil pinions-connected to any prime mover
by a square vertical shaft, one pinion travelling thereon, or by any other
convenient system of gearing. The rammer is a short, solid, plain annular
piece or cylinder, open at both ends, and made to embrace the pattern from the
upper side or end, its internal surface fitting closely upon the radial feathers of
the pattern. The face of the rammer has at its upper portion an inclined
projecting ring piece, nearly or quite touching the cone on the pattern when
the latter is in its highest position, and covering the upper edges of the feather
pieces: The sand is supplied to the interior of the mould box in the usual
manner, and it falls within the open upper end of the rammer, whence it finds
its way down over the inclined surface of the cone of the pattern through the
interstices of the feathers, and directly beneath the bottom edge of the ranimer
itself: As the moulding goes on, the traverse of the rammer through short
lengths of stroke rams down the sand as required, the proper supply of sand
-being-passed down in a continuously intermittent manner at each up stroke of
the rammer as the latter relieves the feather passages of the pattern, and
permits the sand to drop freely through directly beneath the ramming edge.
As the sand accumulates beneath the rammer, it gradually forces the latter up
,together with the pattern fast to the cross head until the operation is completed.
The application of a greater or less counterweight to the cross head gives the
required power of varying the density of the rammed sand, and the formation
of the feather passages or their equivalents upon the pattern, in combination
with the relieving action of the rammer, affords perfect uniformity of supply of
the sand without other precaution; the greater; or less lift of the rammer of
course correspondingly regulates the supplies of sand. This apparatus may be
variously modified, both as regards the driving action and the actual ramming
details. The arrangement may be simplified by making the pattern itself act

page_text: as the rammer, an annular projecting portion being formed upon the pattern at
the base of the cone to answer as the ramming surface. In this case the sand
supplies would find their way down outside this ramming edge, and between it
and the surface of the mould box. Again, to increase the effective area of
such an annular ramming piece, a separate ring or short open cylinder is
passed over the pattern, this cylinder when in its lowest position having its
lower edge coincident with the ramming surface of the pattern. The separate
cylinder is traversed vertically by the overhead mechanism in concert with
the pattern, but it is made to ascend at each stroke slightly before the pattern
lifts for its up-stroke. The pattern and the cylindrical piece then descend
together, and together form the actual ramming surface. By this arrangement
an effective ramming surface is secured, in conjunction with the regularity of
sand supplies, due to the periodical early ascent of the separate cylinder. As
there are no rotating movements in these arrangements between the rammers
and the patterns and the mould boxes, it is obvious that articles of various
transverse sections may be moulded, as herein-before described, with as much
ease as cylindrical articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Elder in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
ELDER, junior, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send.greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said David Elder, junior, Her special license that I, the said David Elder,
junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
David Elder, junior, my 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 I,
the said David Elder, junior, by an instrument in writing under my hand and

page_text: seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 I, the said David Elder, junior, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the construction or formation of sand or loam
moulds, to be used for casting metal pipes and other articles of parallel section
throughout or nearly throughout their length, and consists of a mode or
system of mechanical ramming of the material of the mould, combined with
the shaping action of a short length of the pattern which produces the inner
surface of the mould. The general arrangements involved are especially
applicable to the preparation of moulds for cylindrical pipes, but they are
also capable of effective application in preparing the moulds for articles of
rectingular or other transverse section, provided such articles have their sides
parallel throughout or nearly throughout their whole length. In commencing
to prepare a mould by this process, the mould box is disposed vertically, in the
usual manner,
with the short length of pattern intended for shaping the interior
of the mould placed in the bottom thereof. This pattern piece is conical on its
upper end, or so formed as to admit of the easy descent over it of the moulding
sand. The part whence this coned portion springs has upon it a series of
radial feather pieces, corresponding, or nearly so, at their outer ends to the
diameter of the actual pattern. These feathers or ribs answer as a guide
surface for the traverse of the rammer, as well as for the passage down of the
moulding sand. The pattern is suspended by a central rod from an overhead
cross head, capable of vertical traverse in guides, and balanced by a counter-
weight and chain. This cross head also carries a short horizontal shaft, fitted
with cranks or eccentrics, from which two or more rods descend to an annular
ramming piece, which encircles the pattern inside the mould box. When in
action, this crank shaft is continuously driven by a pair of bevil pinions con-
nected to any prime mover by a square vertical shaft, one pinion travelling
thereon, or by any other convenient system of gearing. The rammer is a short,
solid, plain annular piece or cylinder, open at both ends, and made to embrace
the pattern from the upper side or end, its internal surface fitting closely upon
the radial feathers of the pattern. The face of the rammer has at its upper
portion an inclined projecting ring piece, nearly or quite touching the cone on

page_text: the pattern when the latter is in its highest position, and covering the upper
edges of the feather pieces. The sand is supplied to the interior of the mould
box in the usual manner, and it falls within the open upper end of the rammer,
whence it finds its way down over the inclined surface of the cone of the
pattern through the interstices of the feathers, and directly beneath the bottom
edge of the rammer itself. As the moulding goes on, the traverse of the
rammer through short lengths of stroke rams down the sand as required, the
proper supply of sand being passed down in a continuously intermittent manner
at each up-stroke of the rammer as the latter relieves the feather passages of
the pattern, and permits the sand to drop freely through directly beneath the
ramming edge. As the sand accumulates beneath the rammer, it gradually
forces the latter up together with the pattern fast to the cross head until the
operation is completed. The application of a greater or less counterweight to
the cross head gives the required power of varying the density of the rammed
sand, and the formation of the feather passages or their equivalents upon the
pattern, in combination with the relieving action of the raminer, affords perfect
uniformity of supply of the sand without other precaution; the greater or
less lift of the rammer of course correspondingly regulates the supplies of sand.
This apparatus may be variously modified, both as regards the driving action
and the actual ramming details. The arrangement may be simplified by
making the pattern itself act as the rammer, an annular projecting portion
being formed upon the pattern at the base of the cone to answer as the
ramming surface. In this case the sand supplies would find their way down
outside this ramming edge, and between it and the surface of the mould box.
Again, to increase the effective area of such an annular ramming piece, a
separate ring or short open cylinder is passed over the pattern, this cylinder
when in its lowest position having its lowest edge coincident with the ramming
surface of the pattern. The separate cylinder is traversed vertically by the
overhead mechanism in concert with the pattern, but it is made to ascend at
each stroke slightly before the pattern lifts for its up-stroke. The pattern and
the cylindrical piece then descend together, and together form the actual
ramming surface. By this arrangement an effective ramming surface is
secured, in conjunction with the regularity of sand supplies, due to the
periodical early ascent of the separate cylinder. As there are no rotating
movements in these arrangements between the rammers and the patterns
and the mould boxes, it is obvious that articles of various transverse sections
may be moulded, as herein-before described, with as much ease as cylindrical
articles..
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shali

page_text: now proceed to 'describe the several explanatory Figures of the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a partially sectioned elevation of one
modification of my improved moulding apparatus, portions of the framing and
rods being broken away to contract the length of the Figure within convenient
limits; Figure 2 is a plan of, the actuating details; and Figure 3 is a vertical
section of a portion of a mould as completed, with the core placed inside it.
The apparatus is represented as arranged for forming a mould for a pipe of
cylindrical contour. This mould is formed in a cast-iron mould box, which is
usually made in two halves, whereof one is supposed to be removed, the other,
A, being represented in the Drawing as placed upon the carriage B, upon
which the mould is subsequently carried away. The interior of the mould
box A is sufficiently larger than the exterior of the pipe to be cast, to allow of
the necessary thickness of loam or-mould material to be introduced. The
internal surface of the mould is formed upon a short pattern piece C, repre-
sented in vertical section in 'the Drawings, and connected by a rod D to an
overhead cross head E. The lower portion of the pattern piece C is cylindrical,
and corresponding to the external diameter of the pipe to be cast. This
cylindrical portion of the pattern piece is surmounted by a conical part. F,
upon which are formed or fixed a series of radiating feathers G, the external
edges of which are flush with the surface of the lower part of the pattern
piece. Above the part F is a short cylindrical portion H, and this last is
surmounted by the cone I. The rammer is a cylindrical casting J, the lower
part of which is accurately turned internally to fit the cylindrical pattern C,
and to slide upon the feathers G, which act as guides to it when it is elevated
above the cylindrical portion C of the pattern piece. The external diameter
of the rammer is slightly less than the internal diameter of the mould box A,
and its bottom ramming edge is bevilled. This ramming edge may, however,
be shaped in various ways, as may be found most suitable in practice. The
rammer is suspended and worked by two rods K, which are fitted to a pair of
eccentrics L upon a horizontal shaft M, carried in bearings in the crosshead E
above. The revolution of the eccentrics communicates a vertical reciprocating
motion to the rammer J, causing it to ram down the sand or mould material
between the pattern C and the side of the mould box. The sand or mould
material is supplied continuously in any convenient manner in at the mouth
of the mould box. It first falls on a conical flange N, cast upon the inside
of the rammer J. The inner edge of this flange loosely fits the short cylin-
drical portion H of the pattern piece, and when the rammer is near the
bottom of its stroke, the part H fills the central opening in the flange J, and

page_text: cuts off the further descent of the sand. When, however, the rammer is
elevated, the sand falls freely through the opening in the flange J, and
running down the conical surface F between the feathers G, enters beneath
the bottom ramming edge of the rammer, this edge being at the time elevated
a little above the cylindrical portion C of the pattern piece, so as to let the
sand descend beneath it. The supply of the sand may be modified by varying
the shape of the top of the pattern piece, and by suitably proportioning the
passages through which it descends. When the sand becomes of sufficient
consistence beneath the ramming edge, the rammer not being ableito descend
to the full extent of its stroke, a back strain takes effect-on, the shaft M. and
cross head E. This cross head is formed with slides to work upon the 'vertical
guides of a stout cast-iron frame P, so that when the back strain occurs; the
cross head rises, lifting the pattern piece C with-it. To effect this lifting move-
ment the strain and the resisting consistency of the sand beneath the rammer,
from which this strain is derived, must be sufficient to lift the weight of the
cross head E and parts suspended from it, and also to overcome the frictional
resistance of the pattern in the mould. In ordinary cases the weight and
resistance will be too great, that is to say, the sand beneath the ramming edge
will become harder than is desirable before it will cause sufficient strain .to
lift the cross head and pattern details; and it will therefore be necessary to
counterbalance these parts to a greater or less extent, by means of a weight
attached to a chain Q, which, passing over pulleys in the framing P, is con-
nected to the cross head E, and exerts a lifting action-upon it.. It will be
obvious to the practical man that by proportioning the balance weight the
degree of hardness of the mould may be regulated with the greatest nicety,
whilst the degree of hardness will be perfectly uniform from the bottom to the
top of the mould, the rammer and pattern gradually rising as each increament
of the mould is brought to the proper degree of hardness by the ramming
action. It now nierely remains to describe the manner of driving the machine.
The shaft M, by the rotation of which the whole machine operates, has keyed'
on one of its ends a bevil wheel R, which is in gear with a bevil wheel S upon
a vertical shaft T, to which last motion is communicated from any prime
mover in any convenient way. The bevil wheel S is loose upon the shaft T,
but being fitted upon it square, or with a groove and feather, is driven
by it whilst it travels upon it longitudinally, so as to be always in gear
with and drive the bevil wheel R, the movements of which it is made to
accompany by a collar bracket U, embracing its boss and fixed upon the cross
head E.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, apparatus,
or means for making moulds for casting metals, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of making moulds for casting metal articles of
parallel section throughout or nearly throughout their length, wherein a pattern
piece of short length is connected to a sliding frame, constructed to contain or
carry driving mechanism for giving a reciprocating motion to a raminer
encompassing and sliding upon the pattern piece, the whole being arranged, so
that the reaction of the rammer shall raise the frame and pattern piece as each
increment of the mould attains the degree of consistency and hardness for
which the machine is set, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of making moulds for casting metal articles of
parallel section, wherein the pattern itself is made to ram the material of the
mould, in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Elder, junior, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five.
DAVID ELDER, JUNE.
(L.B.)