IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Deas Jack, of Montrose, in the County of
Forfar, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS."
Sealed the 1st March 1864, and. dated the 8th September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Deas Jack at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
September 1863.
I, JAMES DEAS JACK, of Montrose, in the County of Forfar, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS," to be as follows, that is to
say-
This Invention relates to the application, employment, and use of mecha-
nical means and apparatus for effecting the ramming of the sand in making
metal castings in place of using manual labour as heretofore. The pattern
in use under this process is placed upon a horizontal platform or table
and over it is placed the usual moulding box. In connection with the
top of the box there is a vertical pipe or duct for the supply downwards
of the moulding sand. The pipe contains a vertical screw blade shaft,
and as this revolves the moulding sand is forced down through a hole in
the top of the box. A worm and wheel arrangement or other convenient
mechanical contrivance is fitted beneath the moulding box, and this turns
a vertical shaft for pressing the pattern upwards against the descending sand.

page_text: When the moulding is completed the pattern is withdrawn by the worm and
wheel action through an aperture in the platform, and the box with its
mould is then lowered by a bottom eccentric or other mechanical means
so as to clear it from the lower end of the sand feeding pipe. The box can
then be turned round.and handed over to another platform for further treat-
ment. The sand is conducted to the top of the feeding pipe by an endless chain
of boxes or cells, and it requires no previous preparation, as the feed action
mixes it quite fine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Deas Jack in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
"DEAS JACK, of Montrose, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her, most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did,. for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Deas Jack, Her special license that I, the said James
Déas Jack, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Deas Jack, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 James Deas Jack, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of
them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature 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.
I r
NOW KNOW YE, that, I, the said James Deas Jack, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and.in. what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, 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 application, employment, and use of
mechanical means and apparatus for effecting the ramming of the sand in
making metal castings in place of using manual labour as heretofore. The
pattern in use under this process is placed upon a horizontal platform or table;
and over it is placed the usual moulding box. In connection with the top of
the box there is a vertical pipe or duct for the supply downwards of the
moulding sand. The pipe contains a vertical screw blade shaft, and as this.
revolves the moulding sand is forced down through a hole in the top of the
box. A worm and wheel arrangement or other convenient mechanical con-
trivance is fitted beneath the moulding box, and this turns a vertical shaft for
pressing the pattern upwards against the descending sand. When the mould--
ing is completed the pattern is withdrawn by the worm and wheel action
through an aperture in the platform, and the box with its mould is then
lowered by a bottom eccentric or other mechanical means, so as to clear it
from the lower end of the sand feeding pipe. The box can then be turned
round and handed over to another platform for further treatment. The sand is:
conducted to the top of the feeding pipe by an endless chain of boxes or cells,.
and it requires no previous preparation as the feed action mixes it quite fine..
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the Figure on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings,.
which I have hereunto appended for, the purpose of showing one modification.
under which my Invention may be carried into practical effect, that is to say,;
the Figure represents a sectional elevation of one; form of my improved?
machine for, moulding metals, in which A is the base or sole plate, on which
are cast the two projecting bosses B, into which, holes are bored to receive:
the lower ends of the parallel guide standards C, these standards being
securely fixed into the boss B by cotters. At the upper end of the parallel
guide standards C is carried a frame D for supporting the central tube or
feeding box E, shown in section, and at the outer portion of this framing ar
bolted or otherwise fixed the brackets F for carrying the chain rollers H.
At the side of the feeding box E is formed the spout or hopper I, through.
which the sand is fed in quantities, or continuously as required; it is preferred.
to cast the top or lid of the feeding box in one piece with the upper portion
of the feeding box E, and in the centre of it is formed the projecting boss J,.
a hole being formed through the centre of this box to fit the vertical revolving.
shaft K, carrying at its lower end the screw blades L, this shaft being actuated.
or caused to rotate by the screws M, gearing into the worm wheel N, keyed

page_text: or otherwise fixed to its upper end. Passing over each standard C is a
moveable collar O, furnished at its outer end with an eye O¹ to be taken hold
of by the hook on the chain P, passing over the pulleys or rollers H, and
carrying at their outer ends the weights Q. At the inner side of the collars O
are formed the round projecting studs R, shown in dotted lines in the
Drawing, and into the sides of the table S holes are made to fit over the pro-
jecting studs or pins R, the table S being capable of revolving on these studs:
The table S is also provided with cramps T for holding the moulding box U
firmly against the surface, as shown in the Drawing; underneath this portion
of the table to which the moulding boxes are fastened are laid a pair of
rails V to form a tramway on which are run the trucks or lorries W, on which
'the moulds as they are finished are taken away.
Having now described in detail the various parts of my moulding machine;
I shall now proceed to point out the system, mode, or manner of operating
with the same, as follows:-Sand is fed into the hopper I, by an elevator or
other convenient arrangement, and when a sufficient quantity of it is intro-
duced circular motion is communicated to the tangential screw M, which
gears into and actuates the worm wheel N, and vertical shaft K, carrying
the screw blades L, and it is obvious that as these screw blades revolve they
gradually force out the sand from the feeding box or chamber E.
The machine in the Drawing is shown as in use for moulding the chairs for
supporting railway bars, but it is also equally applicable for moulding of other
forms and construction of articles. In the case of moulding railway chairs
and such like forms, the pattern or patterns b, are fixed in duplicate sets on to
both sides of the tilting table S. When it is desired to fill and compress a
moulding box with sand, the box U is first secured to the top of the table S,
by the cramps T, in proper position having the pattern or patterns b inside:
and the whole is then raised until the top edge of the box U, comes in con
tact with the lower edge or flanch of the feeding tube or chamber E, against
which it is made to bear evenly, and firmly held there while being filled by
two "cutters," inserted through the holes c, formed for the purpose in the
collars O, and the columns C. The elevating screw M is then set in motion,
and the moulding box rammed or compressed full of sand by the action of
the screw blades L, when the "cutters" are removed from their recesses C,
and the table with the box on it is then lowered sufficiently to allow of its
being turned over, which brings the pattern or patterns fixed to the under side
of the table uppermost and deposits the moulding box U, upon the top of the
truck or lorry W, the cramps are now loosened, and a new box having been
placed and secured by the cramps T on the top of the table S, as shown in

page_text: this position in the Drawing, ready to be rammed in turn. The raising of
the table with its new box upon it to bring it in contact with the under edge
of the feeding chamber E, and at the same time withdraws the lower pattern
or patterns b, out of the mould, of the previously rammed box U, which was
deposited on the truck W, the loose pieces a of the patterns being then
removed from the mould by hand, the mould and truck are ready to be taken
away to any convenient part of the foundry. The second box with its patterns
on the upper side of the table S is now fixed in position to be rammed or
compressed with sand by the screw blades L, when it is lowered, turned over,
deposited on the truck, and the pattern withdrawn, all as before described
in relation to the first box, and so on in succession. This machinery is
also applicable to the moulding of many other descriptions of articles to
be cast besides that which has been herein-before specified.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into practical effect, I would observe in conclusion, that I do not confine
myself to the precise details, which I have had occasion to describe or refer to
as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the true
principles and 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 apparatus or machinery
for ramming and compressing,sand into moulds as herein-before described.
Second, the fitting of a vertical duct with screws or blades for the purpose
of forcing sand into moulding boxes, placed below it as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Deas Jack, have hereunto set my
JAMES DEAS JACK. (L.s.)