IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1856

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
•слулят витачна ял акталент от сумяшилсянит... то порпалит
Sealed the 9th December 1856, and dated the 27th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Law and John
Inglis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 27th September 1856.
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, in the first place, to certain improvements upon the
moulding apparatus, for which British Letters Patent, bearing date on or
about the Ninth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and fifth-tbree,
were granted to us, the said David Law and John Inglis, such improvements
having for object the better practical working of the apparatus.
The present Invention also comprehends improved apparatus for forming
the socket or faucet portions of pipe moulds, and for supporting and adjusting
the cores in the moulds. In our earlier mould-making apparatus, already
referred to, the rammer is worked by a sliding piece connected to the rammer

page_text: spindle by means of a frictional griping box;, and one of our present improve-
ments consists in a new arrangement or construction of this griping box. In
the former plan the griping box was, fixed to the sliding piece, the rammer
spindle turning in it; but according to the present plan the griping box is
cylindrical, and turns with the spindle, being set in a cylindrical socket
attached to the sliding piece.
Two or more wedges are used for griping the rammer spindle, and these
are set equally apart round the griping box, being pressed in or relaxed by
means of a ring acting on their broader ends. This ring is acted upon by a
forked lever, jointed to the sliding piece, and held down by an adjustable
spring, so that when the pressure on the spindle exceeds the frictional hold of
the griping box, the spring yields, and the rammer spindle rises through the
griping box. The spindle is turned by means of a ratchet movement upon
the griping box; a loose ring is carried between collars upon the griping box,
and either upon the ring or on the griping box there is a ring of ratchet teeth,
one or more palls being arranged to act on the ratchet teeth in such a manner
that when the ring moves in one direction it turns the griping box and rammer
spindle, but slips over the griping box and spindle when turning in the opposite
direction. The ring is turned by means of a cord wound round it and attached
to the stationary framing, being guided over pulleys to the ring, and turning
the ring back and forwards by the reciprocating action of the sliding piece.
In this way the ramming spindle is both worked up and down, and turned
by means of the griping, box, the action, precisely resembling that which a
workman would apply with his hand..
a
After the mould for the outside of the pipe is rammed, up, the faucet or
socket portion is formed by scooping out the mould material by means of an
instrument formed with scooping edges shaped to correspond to the longitudinal
section of the faucet. The scooping. instrument is attached to the lower end
of a vertical spindle, under which the pipe mould is placed, and, being lowered
down into the mould, is turned to effect the operation. The pipe moulds are
generally placed upon carriages in two or other numbers, and, the vertical
spindle which carries the scooping instrument is carried in a bracket capable
of moving about a centre, so as to bring the spindle in succession over, the
different moulds upon the carriage below. The bracket can be fixed in any
position by means of a screw, nut; and lever, or otherwise.
The socket in which the spindle is set is capable of being moved out, or in
upon the bracket, so as to be accurately. adjusted over the,centre of the mould.
The spindle is supported by a chain passed over a pulley to a winch, so that it
can be lowered into and raised out of the moulds.. This faucet, forming

page_text: apparatus is placed over the line of rails along which the moulds are traversed;
so that as each set of moulds is rammed up it proceeds on to the scooping
apparatus, so as to complete that part of the operation. When the pipe is
cast with its socket or faucet end uppermost, the core is adjusted and supported
in the mould by means of a disc, formed with a central aperture for the end of
the core bar, and shaped to fit in a check or step formed in the under side
of the plate forming the top of the carriage, upon which the mould boxes are
placed. This carriage is fitted with apparatus for lifting the disc into position
under the mould box, and for holding it there during the casting operation.
The disc, upon which a ring of sand or mould material is laid to fit the
space between the bottoms of the mould and core, is inserted through a
lateral aperture in the carriage, and is placed directly under the mould; it is
then raised into position in the mould by a pair of lifters worked by a lever
projecting externally, and when in position two side levers are drawn together
under it and hold it there.
When the pipe is
bottom end piece,
The core is then lowered into the mould from above its lower end, finding
its way into the central aperture in the already fixed disc.
cast with its socket or faucet end downwards, the ring or
which is substituted for the disc to support and adjust the core, is formed so as
to have upon it the core portion of the mould corresponding to the socket or
faucet of the pipe, the main core only extending as far down as the parallel
portion of the pipe reaches, and meeting the ring or bottom end piece at the
inner end of the faucet, this bottom end piece having a central step to receive
the spindle of the core. The arrangements for lifting this bottom end piece
into position in the mould and for holding it there are the same as those
described for the disc, sufficient allowance being made of course for the
increased depth of the piece.
:
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 26th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
LAW and JOHN INGLIS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Ironfounders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
David Law and John Inglis, Her special license 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 Isle of Man, an Inven
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said David Law and Jolin Inglis by an instru-
ment 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 performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and inimediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
Our said Invention relates, in the first place, to certain improvements upon
the moulding apparatus, for which British Letters Patent, bearing date on or
about the 9th day of May 1853, were granted to us, the said David Law and
John Inglis, such improvements having for object the better practical working
of the said apparatus. The present Invention also comprehends improved
apparatus for forming the socket or faucet portions of pipe moulds, and for
supporting and adjusting the cores in the moulds. In our earlier mould-
making apparatus, already referred to, the rammer is worked by a sliding piece
connected to the rammer spindle by means of a frictional gripping box, and one
of our present improvements consists in a new arrangement or construction of
this gripping box. In the former plan the gripping box was fixed to the sliding
"piece, the rammer spindle turning in it; but according to the present plan the
gripping box is cylindrical and turns with the spindle, being set in a cylindrical
socket attached to the sliding piece. Two or more wedges are used for
gripping the rammer, spindle, and these are set equally apart round the
gripping box, being pressed in or relaxed by means of a ring acting on their
broader ends. This ring is acted upon by a forked lever, jointed to the sliding
piece, and held down by an adjustable spring, so that when the pressure on the
"spindle exceeds the frictional hold of the gripping box the spring yields, and

page_text: the rammer spindle rises through the gripping box. The spindle is turned by
means of a ratchet movement upon the gripping box. A loose ring is carried
between collars upon the gripping box, and either upon the ring or upon the
gripping box there is a ring of ratchet teeth, one or more palls being arranged
to act on the ratchet teeth in such a manner that when the ring moves in one
direction it turns the gripping box and rammer spindle, but slips over the
gripping box and spindle when turning in the opposite direction. The ring is
turned by means of a cord wound round it, and attached to the stationary
framing, being guided over pulleys to the ring, and turning the ring back and
forwards by the reciprocating action of the sliding piece. In this way the
ramming spindle is both worked up and down, and turned by means of
the gripping box, the action precisely resembling that which a workman
would apply with his hand. After the mould for the outside of the pipe is
rammed up, the faucet or socket portion is formed, by scooping out the mould
material by means of an instrument formed with scooping edges, shaped to
correspond to the longitudinal section of the faucet. The scooping instrument
is attached to the lower end of a vertical spindle, under which the pipe mould
is placed, and, being lowered down into the mould, is turned to effect the
operation. The pipe moulds are generally placed upon carriages in two or
other numbers, and the vertical spindle which carries the scooping instrument
is carried in a bracket capable of moving about a centre, so as to bring the
spindle in succession over the different moulds upon the carriage below. The
bracket can be fixed in any position by means of a screw, nut, and lever, or
otherwise. The socket in which the spindle is set is capable of being moved
out or in upon the bracket, so as to be accurately adjusted over the centre of
the mould. The spindle is supported by a chain passed over a pulley to a
winch, so that it can be lowered into and raised out of the moulds. This
faucet-forming apparatus is placed over the line of rails along which the
moulds are traversed, so that as each set of moulds is rammed up it proceeds
on to the scooping apparatus, so as to complete that part of the operation.
When the pipe is cast with its socket or faucet end uppermost, the core is
adjusted and supported in the moulds by means of a disc, formed with a central
aperture for the end of the core bar, and shaped to fit in a check or step
formed in the. under side of the plate forming the top of the carriage, upon
which the mould boxes are placed. This carriage is fitted with apparatus for
lifting the disc into position under the mould box, and for holding it there
during the casting operation. The disc, upon which a ring of sand or mould
material is laid to fit the space between the bottoms of the mould and core, is
inserted through a lateral aperture in the carriage, and is placed directly under

page_text: the mould; it is then raised into position in the mould by a pair of lifters
worked by a lever projecting externally, and when in position. two side levers
are drawn together under it and hold it, there. The core is then lowered into
Ithe mould from above. its lower end,, finding its way into the central aperture
in the already fixed disc...When the pipe. is'cast.with its socket or faucet end
<downwards, the ring for bottom end piece, which is substituted for the disc to
support and adjust the core, is formed so as. to have upon it the core portion
of the mould corresponding to the socket or.faucet of the pipe, the piain core
only extending as far. down as the parallel portion of ithe pipe reaches, and
meeting the ring.or bottom. 'end piece at the inner end of the faucet, this
bottom end piece having a central step to receive the spindle of the core.. The
arrangements for lifting this bottom end piece into position in the mould, and
for holding it there are the same as those described for the disc, sufficient
allowance being made of course for the increased depth of the piece..
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the 'explanatory
Sheet of Drawings which we have hereunto appended, for the purpose of
showing certain modifications under which.our iniprovements may be judiciously
carried out in practice..
Figure 1 on our Sheet of Drawings is a vertical. section of a gripping box
and a portion of the rammer spindle complete, as applied for moulding according
to our.process, tliese parts being sufficient to show the nature of the improve-
ments comprehended under this the first part of our Invention. Figure 2 is
afront elevation of the gripping box and rammer spindle, the parts shown
corresponding to those in Figure 1, and arranged or constructed according to
our improved system. Figure 3 is a transverse section of the lower part of the
gripping box, showing the mechanical arrangements by which the rammer
spindle is made to rotate upon its'axis. Figure 4 is a 'plan of the upper part
of the gripping box... Figure 5 is a side elevation, partially in section, of one
modification of our improvements in hollowing out. or forming the interior of
the socket or faucet part of the mould.. Figure 6. is a plan, corresponding to
Figure 5. Figure 7 is an end view of a carriage on which the pipe moulds
'are placed, and is represented as fitted with our improvements applied thereto.
Figure 8 is a plan of the carriage,: corresponding to Figure 7. 'In the illus-
trative Figures, 1 to 4 on our Sleet of Drawings, which refer to our improve-
ments in the arrangement and construction of the gripping box and parts
connected therewith, the 'arched or bulging brackets A are bolted to the
standards or other stationary parts of the machine, forming the guides in which
the rammer spindle B traverses in a vertical direction. The spindle B passes

page_text: through the cylindrical gripping box C, which is carried in the sliding bracket
D, having a cover E, the two forming a journal or bearing for the box C'to
revolve in. A vertical motion or traverse is given to the sliding bracket ;D
from a disc or crank working at the back of the. sliding bracket-D. The
action of the disc or crank herein referred to is fully described in the Speci-
fication of the former British Letters Patent granted to us, and bearing date on
or about the 9th day of May 1853. The gripping box-C:is caused to turn upon
its axis by means of a rope or chain F, which is passed.round and over a
grooved wheel or pulley G, the end being secured, to a pin H, which passes
through a lug on the lower bracket A, and is fastened thereto by a nut. The
other end of the rope or chain. F is passed under the pulley I, and is attached
to a pin K, secured in a manner similar to that of the pin.II to the upper
bracket A. The pulleys G and I rotate loosely upon pins carried by brackets
fast to the sliding bracket D. The rammer spindle is held tightly within the
gripping box by means of three or other convenient number of wedges L,
which are set at equal distances apart.round; the rammer spindle:B, as
shown in the transverse section, Figure 3. The wedges L are retained in
their places by the ring of metal M, to which is connected the forked lever :N.
Near to the outer end of the forked lever is fastened a helical spring O, which
is attached by a spindle and nut to a short horizontal stud P,. fixed to the
cover E. By means of the nut on the lower end of the spindle of the helical
spring O the pressure of the ring M on the upper part of the wedges.L.is
regulated or adjusted. The wedges L, which by preference, are made of poplar
wood, are inserted in brass boxes Q, which are screwed tight between the ring
M and the lower ring. M' by three bolts. A rotatory motion is given to the
rammer spindle B and.the gripping box C by means of the friction of the rope
or chain F on the loose pulley C' of the box C, and the mechanical arrange-
ment within it. Above the loose pulley C¹ is fitted a metal ring R, which
carrios the studs of the palls S, which are actuated by a loose ring T set, by a
pinching screw. Between the ring R and the the loose pulley C¹ is the ratchet
wheel U, keyed fast to the gripping box C. As the ring is made to rotate by
the berein-before described connections, the palls. T fall into the teeth and
prevent any backward motion of the ring U. The action of this portion of
our improved moulding apparatus is as follows:-The sliding bracket D is
lifted in a vertical direction by a disc or crank fitted at the back of the plate,
which carries with it the gripping box C, the rammer spindle B, and the
pulleys G and I. This upward motion of the moveable parts carries the
pulley I nearer to the upper bracket A, which would have the effect of slacken-
ing the rope or chain F but for the pin II and pulley G, which draw away the

page_text: "
rope as fast as the distance between the pulley I and the pin K is diminished.
The movement of the gripping box C and the rotation of the pulleys G and H
cause the rope or chain F to twist the gripping box C round upon its axis,
which has the effect of causing the palls T to actuate the ratchet ring U,
within which the rammer spindle B is tightly secured by the wedges L, con-
sequently the rammer spindle travels in one direction with the gripping box.
At the downward motion of the sliding plate D the pulley G approaches the
lower bracket A, and this motion will obviously draw the rope or chain F in a
direction the reverse to that which it has when the gripping box is ascending.
But although this motion of the rope actuates the box C¹, it has no effect on
the rammer spindle, because when the box moves in this reversed direction
the palls T slip over the ratchet teeth U without moving the gripping box C.
The instant, however, that the sliding bracket D.begins its ascent, the palls T
take into the ratchet teeth and the rammer spindle turns round. The down-
ward pressure or force of the rammer spindle B is regulated by the resistance
of the spring O which is attached to the forked lever N, and retains the
ring M on the wedges L. When the resistance or pressure against the
rammer. spindle exceeds the tensional force of the spring O it is elongated,
and the ring M rises and releases the rammer spindle. The moment this is
effected the forked lever again presses the ring M, and the wedges are again
brought closely in contact with the rammer spindle B. Thus the lifting and
rotatory motion of the rammer spindle, while the mould is being filled with
sand, is continuously and rapidly effected by the combined mechanical movements
above described.
Another part of our improvements consists of a mechanical arrangement for
hollowing out or forming the faucet or socket portion of moulds for pipes
or other articles, the moulds of which are made by means of our improved
machinery or apparatus.
One modification of this part of our Invention is shown by Figures 5 and 6;
the former being an elevation, partially in section, and the latter a plan, of the
improved machinery or apparatus. It consists of a mechanical arrangement
by which a hollowing or scooping instrument may be accurately adjusted and
lowered into one or more moulds placed in a vertical position on a carriage
beneath. The spindle V, to which the scooping instrument is attached, passes
through the vertical tubular guide W, which rests on a flange formed at or
near its centre on the plate X. To the upper end of the spindle V is attached
a swivel, to whicli a chain Y is fastened, and this chain is passed over a
grooved wheel or pulley, the axle of which pulley is supported on a pair of
vertical standards carried by a column or. pillar a, the base of which is secured

page_text: to the plate X. To the free end of the chain is attached a weight, which
counterbalances the spindle V. Below the plate is fitted a horizontal screw a,
the outer end of which carries a winch handle; by means of this screw the
plate X is moved to fro. The bracket b, by which the whole of the appa-
ratus is carried, radiates on a stud bolt c passing through the beam d, and by
means of a nut and hand lever e, is secured in any desired position. By means
of this arrangement, the platform may be turned either to the right or left
hand by simply moving the bracket bover the centre of the pipe, as indicated
by the dotted line, Figure 6. The pipe moulds are placed in a vertical position
on suitable carriages, and brought under the scooping apparatus, which is then
lowered into one of the moulds and turned round to form the faucet or socket.
When this part of the mould is completed, the scooping instrument is raised,
and by means of the adjusting parts it is brought over another mould without
shifting the carriage, and whilst this is being done the machine is ramming
another mould ready for scooping.
:
The next and last part of this our present Invention consists of improve-
ments in the arrangement and construction of carriages for supporting the
pipe moulds during the process of casting. Figure 7 is an end view, and
Figure 8 a plan, of a mould carriage with our improvements applied thereto.
When the pipe is cast with its socket end upwards, the core is adjusted and
supported inside the mould by means of a disc formed with an aperture in the
centre to receive the end of the core bar. This disc is made to fit in a cheek
or stop made in the under side of the plate which forms the top of the carriage.
The disc fis inserted through a lateral opening in the carriage, and is lifted
into its proper position by means of the foot lever g, which raises the lifters h
on which the disc is placed. The foot lever g and the lifters h are connected
to the brackets i by means of bolts and nuts, which pass through the lifters h
and brackets i. When the disc is raised by means of the levers g and lifters h
it is retained in its place by the two side levers j, which when brought together
come under and grip the disc f, retaining it firmly in a position directly under
the mould. Before using the disc f in the operation of casting, a ring of
moulding sand is made thereon, to fill up the space between the mould and
the bottom of the core. The mould being properly placed in a vertical position,
the core is lowered into it, the projecting part of its lower end being brought
over the aperture in the centre of the disc f and placed therein. To cast
pipes with the faucet or socket downwards requires the foregoing arrangement
to be somewhat modified. Instead of using the disc f, a ring or bottom piece
is made to correspond in form to the internal shape of the faucet or socket,
and it is made to receive the lower end of the main core. By means of this

page_text: modification the core which has to be lowered into the mould extends only
through the plain cylindrical part of tlie mould above the faucet or socket.
The mechanical arrangement herein-before described for lifting the disc into
the proper position applies also to. this modification of using a socket core
piece, due allowance being made for the extra depth of the core piece.
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
deviating 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,' apparatus, or
means for moulding or shaping metals, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of giving a vertical and rotatory movement,
derived from the same source, to the rammer spindle, by means of the grip-
ping box and parts connected therewith, as herein-before described, and shown
in Figures 1 to 4 of our Sheet of Drawings.
Third, the system or mode of forming the faucet or socket portion of pipe
moulds by means of the scooping or shaping machinery or apparatus, as herein-
before described. ⚫
Fourth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing the parts of
mould carriages, by means of which a disc or socket core piece is lifted and
secured in a proper position for the reception of the spindle of the core bar,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Law and John Inglis, have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.
DAVID LAW.
(L.S.)
JOHN INGLIS. (L.S.)