IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL ROLLERS AND CYLINDERS USED FOR CALICO PRINTING, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Smedley, of Holywell, in the County of
Flint, Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF METAL ROLLERS AND CYLINDERS USED FOR CALICO PRINTING, AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 23rd April 1861, and dated the 27th October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Smedley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1860.
I THOMAS, SMEDLEY, of Holywell, in the County of Flint, Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF METAL ROLLERS AND CYLINDERS USED FOR CALICO PRINTING AND OTHER
PURPOSES, to be as follows:-.."
-My Invention relates to the casting of rollers and cylinders used for calico
printing and other purposes, and has for its object the prevention of "cold
sets, by which the interior of the casting is liable, to, be rendered defective.
For this purpose instead of fixing the core bar in the mould in the manner
hitherto practised before the metal is poured in,, I insert the core. bar after the
anetal has been poured into the mould, and thereby obviate the liability to the
production of "cold sets by the metal adhering to the core during the process...
of pouring the same into the mould.

page_text: The ordinary mode of casting metal rollers and cylinders under pressure is
by means of a powerful lever press, the upper part of which is moveable. The
mould is formed in two pieces divided longitudinally, which are held together
by means of wrought-iron hoops. The top and bottom ends of the mould are
turned to fit the interior of it, similar to engine pistons. Now, I propose to
fix the core bar to the upper end, lowering them into the mould (after being
filled with the molten metal) by means of the press, the upper end of the
mould being attached to the top of the press, which, as before stated, is
moveable, sliding up and down as acted upon by the lever; but the mode of
inserting the core bar may be varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Smedley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SMEDLEY, of Holywell, in the County of Flint, Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the 'twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Smedley, Her special license, that I, the said Thomas Smedley,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Smedley, my executors, administrators, and 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 THE MANU-
FACTURE OF METAL ROLLERS AND CYLINDERS USED FOR CALICO PRINTING AND OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Smedley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should -par-
ticularly 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Smedley, 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 Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Metal Rollers' and
Cylinders used for Calico Printing and other Purposes," relates to the casting
of such rollers and cylinders, and has for its object the prevention of. defects
in such castings, particularly of "cold sets," by which the interior of the
casting is liable to be rendered unsound. Also by the improved mode. of
casting, herein-after described the rollers and cylinders can be cast longer, and
thinner, than is done by any of the modes ordinarily adopted, whereby con-
siderable advantage. is gained in the subsequent manufacturing of them, as the
cost of stretching them out to their required length: under the hammer or
between the rollers will be much reduced, while the weight. of metal in a
casting to make a given roller or cylinder will be considerably lessened,
particularly in those of large dimensions. For this purpose instead of fixing
the core bar in the mould in the manner hitherto practised, before the metal
is poured in, I insert the core bar after, the, metal has been poured into the
mould; and thereby obviate the liability to defects, and particularly to the
production of "cold, sets" by the metal adhering to the core during the
process of pouring the same into the mould. And I here recommend that the
metal be conveyed from the furnace to the mould in a ladle, sufficiently large
to hold the quantity intended to be poured into the mould, and not in hand
ladles, as is generally done.;
"
The ordinary, mode of casting metal rollers and cylinders under pressure is
by means of a powerful lever press, the upper part only of which is moveable,
or by a combined hydraulic and screw press, having both the upper and lower
parts moveable. The mould is formed in two pieces, divided longitudinally,
which, are held together by, means of wrought-iron hoops. The top..and
bottom ends of the mould are turned to fit the interior of it, similar to engine
pistons. Now, I propose to fix the core bar to the upper, end, and cause them
to enter, the mould (after being filled with the molten metal) by. means of the
press, the upper end or piston of the mould: being fixed to the top of the press
and the lower end or piston being made to slide up and down, as acted upon
by the lever;. but the mode of inserting the core bar may be varied.
Having, thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed: to
describe in what manner the same is to be performed, by the aid of the
accompanying Drawing, in which is represented a hydraulic press adapted
for holding and moving up and down the stationary and moveable parts of the
mould,, respectively in the manner above referred to.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a section of the hydraulic press and the mould; Fig. 2 represents
the mould detached. *>
A is a cast-iron mould in two pieces, and held together by three wrought-
iron hoops, into which mould is poured the metal in a fluid state; B is a
piston, turned to fit the lower part of the hollow mould; C is another piston,
turned to fit the upper part of the same; D is an iron or steel core bar fitted
into the upper piston ; & is a moveable piece of iron, which is taken out before
inserting the upper piston and the core bar, and afterwards replaced; in order
to fix them as required; e is the cap or top of the press; ff, are wrought-
iron pillars supporting the same; E is a guide plate to keep the upper end
of the hollow mould upright; F, F, are weighted levers to support the mould
in its required position; G is a moveable plug in the lower piston B, supported
by a weighted lever m; His a hydraulic ram, with top piece and travelling
table; I is a water cylinder, furnished with a valve J at the bottom; K is a
water pipe leading from the pumps;. L is another hydraulic ram acted upon
by a heavy lever marked M ; N is a water cylinder for this ram to work in;
Pare links connecting the lever M. to the ram L; Q is a pillar for supporting
one end of the lever; R is a crane with a brake, for raising and lowering the
weighted end of the lever; S is a box-to hold any heavy material for increasing
the power of the lever in its downward movement; T is a pipe for conveying
the water from the lever press to the pump press; V is a pipe. for returning
the water to the lever press after each opération. .
+
In operating with this machine the ram Lis elevated; so that the cylinder N
is filled with water, the other ram H being at its lowest point, as shewn in
Fig. 1. The metal in a fluid state is poured into the mould A, the lever M
being then quickly lowered drives the ram H with the mould upon it upwards
with rapidity, the core bar D.penetrating the molten metal, and the upper and
lower ends of the 'mould or pistons C and B compressing the metal while in 'a
molten state. During this operation the pumps are at work, so that the great
compressing power exerted by them is brought to bear upon the metal while
it is in a molten state. It will be seen that the moveable plug G in the lower
end of the mould or piston. B; which is held in its place by the weighted
lever m, will be made to descend by the end of the core bar D coming in
contact with it. After the metal has been sufficiently compressed, the next
thing to be done is to force out' the core bar D, for which purpose the ram H
must be lowered a few inches; the piece of iron'd removed, the ram L raised

page_text: (while the table on the ram H is supported in its position), and a piece of iron
inserted under the moveable plug G. The hydraulic press is then applied to
force out the core bar D.
From the foregoing description it will be obvious that my improvement
consists in arranging the mechanism so as to admit of the proper quantity of
metal being poured into the mould before the core bar is inserted, and of the
requisite compressive force being applied after its insertion. And in order to
give the required extent and rapidity of action to the compressive force, the
water cylinders M and I of sufficient depth'and of equal diameter, are arranged
as shewn with the pipe T, of sufficient capacity to convey the water from: one
cylinder to the other without hindrance. Also the pumps communicating with
the cylinder I are set in motion immediately that the lever M is allowed to
commence its descent.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would remark that I do not claim as
of my Invention the machinery represented and described, except for the
purpose of applying the compressive force as required after the metal has been
poured into the mould without a core bar therein; but I hereby declare that
what I claim as of my Invention is, the arrangement of mechanism by means
of which the core bar is inserted in the mould after the metal has been poured
in, for the prevention of "cold sets" and other defects, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof. I, the said Thomas Smedley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
THO. SMEDLEY. (L.S.).
J. DAVID,
Holywell, Accountant,
National Prov. Bank of England,
Holywell.