Improvements in the Manufacture of Cast Metal Ingots, Projectiles, and the like, and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cast Metal Ingots, Projectiles,
and the like, and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
But
My invention relates chiefly to the manufacture of hollow cylinders or cylindricalingots
of fluid compressed steel. Heretofore these cylinders or ingots have been obtained
by first casting a solid cylinder or ingot of fluid compressed steel and then boring
the same or reheating and punching it to make it hollow or tubular.
according to my present invention I effect the manufacture of hollow ingots or
cylinders without boring and without reheating, the entire operation being effected
with the initial heat of the casting; that is to say, after casting the cylinder or
ingot, I form therein, either before or after removing it from the mould, but
before allowing it to cool, a central hole or cavity of any required diameter and
extending entirely or partially through the metal.
In practising this operation according to my invention, I first cast the steel in
the usual manner of manufacturing the ingots in a mould, and then, before the
metal has cooled sufficiently to have become set, I force a mandrel through, or
partially through, the same to form the central hole or cavity therein.
metal is then allowed to cool, preferably under heavy pressure as in the case of
solid ingots:
The
This method of producing hollow cylinders or ingots is not only cheaper and
quicker than any former method of producing such ingots, but it tends greatly
to improve the quality of the metal.
My improvements also partly relate to the construction of the presses and their
adjuncts for use in the said method of manufacturing hollow ingots. Also to
improved means for holding the mould down and the parts of the mould in place
during the casting of the metal and while the metal is under pressure therein, and
for permitting the ready release of the said mould and the separation of the parts
of the same when the pressure is relaxed or taken off.
My said invention, moreover, relates to the manufacture of cast steel shells and
to apparatus for use in such manufacture.
I construct my improved moulding presses for use in the production of hollow
ingots, as follows, that is to say:-On a strong bed, base or foundation I erect
columns or pillars for carrying the upper portions of the press. Between these
columns I place the mould. This mould is preferably formed of a series of short
sections or rings placed one upon the other, though it may, if desired, be formed
in one piece. Heretofore these short sections or rings forming the mould have
been held in place, during the casting and cooling of the metal in the mould, by
cramps or clips placed upon the adjacent flanges of the rings. But according to
my present invention I provide for holding the mould securely in place and for
holding the rings or sections securely together during the casting and cooling of
the metal, by hydraulic power. For example, arrange over the top of the mould
a strong cross-head which is capable of vertical movement and is connected with
the rams of hydraulic cylinders whereby it can be moved toward and away from
the upper end of the mould. The said hydraulic cylinders may be arranged
In some instances, I secure them upon the
bed or base of the press, and in other instances I attach them to a strong casting
or block which forms the upper part of the said press. The said cylinders are
connected by suitable pipes with a reservoir or head in such a manner that, when the
either above or below the cross-head.

page_text: liquid pressure is allowed to act through the said pipes, it forces the said cross-head
closely and tightly down upon the end of the mould, thereby holding it firmly down
upon the bed or base-plate and also at the same time holding the rings or sections of
the mould securely together.
The hydraulic cylinder for supplying the pressure for compressing the metal in the
mould is arranged above the said mould in or on the aforesaid block or casting, and
its ram extends through a hole in the aforesaid cross-head so that the latter offers no
obstruction to the movement of the said ram. Rails or slides are arranged in
_connection with the press to facilitate the placing of the mould therein and its removal
therefrom.
The metal is poured into the said mould as in the manufacture of solid ingots, and
pressure is applied by means of the aforesaid hydraulic press. The mould can be
released by simply raising the cross-head from the top of the mould, the latter can
then be moved from under the pressure-ram and placed in another press under a
mandrel whereby the central hole or cavity is to be formed in the metal. This press
is also provided with a cross-head which forms a cover for closing the end of the
mould and applying pressure for holding down the mould and keeping the rings or
sections thereof securely together as above described.
If the ingot is to be removed from the mould before the central hole or cavity is
formed in it, its removal should be effected as expeditiously as possible so that it may
be punched before the metal cools sufficiently to become set.
For this purpose I
modify the construction of the moulding or casting press as follows, viz. -I make the
foundation-block of the press with a central hole somewhat larger in diameter than
the largest ingot to be cast in the machine and with a recess or cavity at the upper
end of this hole for the reception of one or other of a series of interchangeable rings or
annular pieces of different internal diameter to suit ingots of different sizes. Each of
these rings or annular pieces is of such internal diameter that it will permit the passage
of the ingot through it, whilst preventing displacement of the lags from the mould
with the said ingot. A sliding plate is placed over the said hole in the foundation-
block and over the aforesaid ring or annular piece to support the well-bottom of the
mould. Beneath the central hole in the foundation-block I arrange a hydraulic
cylinder, the ram of which works in the said hole and is intended to receive the ingot
when displaced from the mould by the pressing-ram and to replace it in the said
mould before the latter is removed from the press, so that the mould and ingot may be
drawn together from the moulding press toward the punching press. Before the
ingot is punched, the mould lifted off by a crane or other convenient means.
A suitable central projection is preferably formed on the pressing-ram, so that,
when the ingot is being pressed, a recess will be formed in the end of the same to
centre the punch or mandrel for forming the central hole through the ingot.
is
The ingot is transferred from the moulding press to the punching press as follows,
viz. :- -When the ingot is sufficiently compressed, the pressure is relaxed and suitable
lifting rods are coupled to the mould. The mould and the ingot therein are then
lifted to permit the removal of the sliding plate from beneath them. The mould and
ingot are then lowered and the ingot is pushed out by the pressing-ram and received
by the hydraulic ram working in the central hole in the foundation-block. The said
ingot is thus disengaged from the sand-lining of the mould and is supported upon the
last named ram while the mould is lifted to again admit the sliding plate;
the ingot
then returned to the mould, the sliding plate is introduced beneath the ingot, and the
mould and ingot are removed from the press upon the said sliding plate. Before
the ingot is pushed from the mould, a loose packing-plate slightly thicker than the
aforesaid sliding plate is placed between the ingot and the ram-head for supporting it;
this packing-plate is displaced by the said sliding plate when the latter is introduced
beneath the ingot. The sliding plate is formed with a hole to allow the punch or
mandrel to pass through the ingot.
To obviate the necessity for holding the ingot down while the punch or mandrel is
being withdrawn, the head or enlarged end of the punch or mandrel is made removable
so that it does not require to return with the stem or shank of the said punch or

page_text: mandrel. Water is rapidly circulated down the centre of the punch to keep it cool
The punch or mandrel is operated by means of hydraulic cylinders carried by the
foundation-block or by the upper block of the press.
The above description relates more especially to vertical presses, but I can apply
my improvements to horizontal presses for the manufacture of hollow ingots or the
like.
When the punching-press is horizontal, it may, if desired, be separate from the
casting or moulding press and pit, as, while the ingot is being turned on its side, it
can at the same time be conveyed to the punching press. The ingot is placed
horizontally and is punched from both ends simultaneously until the mandrels meet,
or nearly meet, in the centre of the said ingot, when one mandrel is withdrawn and
the hole then finished by means of the other mandrel. The rams for operating these
punches or mandrels are sometimes arranged to work in the same cylinder or cylinders.
The casting-press and punching-press are sometimes arranged upon the same bed in
combination with hydraulic apparatus for conveying the mould and ingot to and
from either of the said presses. To the crosshead of the hydraulic ram are attached
sliding bars extending throughout, or nearly throughout the length of the pit. In
these bars are a number of holes arranged at convenient distances apart. The said
bars slide beneath the plates that carry the mould and ingot, and the holes are intended
to receive suitable stops which are placed on either side of one or the other of the
said plates according to the direction in which the said plate is required to travel.
When the plate is required to travel through a distance greater than the stroke or
travel of the ram, the stops are changed to other holes, when the said ram has made
its return stroke, and the sliding bars and plate are again moved by the said ram.
It is obvious that I can, if desired, employ other suitable means for moving the
mould or ingot, or both, into and out of the presses.
•
In the manufacture of cast steel shells, I use a press constructed with a strong base
or bed and with columns or pillars for supporting the upper portions of the press
somewhat as above described.
I-prefer that the said columns or pillars should be secured to the base or bed of the
press by screwing them into the same. I first cast the shell nearly of the proper
finished diameter with one end open, and if necessary cut it to the required length.
I then place it, while hot, in a mould or die and compress or condense it endwise and
I then
give it the required diameter and thickness of metal as hereinafter described.
close in the open end and compress the metal at this part. I can thus produce a
shell in which the metal at the pointed end is in a condition suitable for penetrative
effect while that of the body is such as will ensure its fracture or bursting at the
proper moment; moreover the endwise compression ensures the soundness of the
metal throughout the entire body of the projectile.
The mould is slightly larger in diameter than the casting. The casting is placed in
the said mould and a central mandrel or plunger, working through a tubular plunger,
is inserted into the shell and held with its end against the inner end of the cavity in
the same, while the tubular plunger is forced against the outer end of the said shell.
The said mandrel should be slightly smaller in diameter than the interior of the shell
before the same is compressed. The said mandrels or plungers are attached to the
rams of hydraulic cylinders of suitable capacity for exerting the required pressure ;
and smaller hydraulic cylinders are, in some instances, provided for withdrawing the
central mandrel. Another hydraulic cylinder is placed below the mould for raising
the shell out of the same.
To remove the shell from the mould, the central mandrel is withdrawn while the
shell is held down by the tubular plunger. The latter is then raised and the shell
lifted out of the mould by the ram of the cylinder arranged below the mould.
In some instances, I construct the press to work with one, two or more moulds, and
where there are numerous moulds I can arrange them either in a straight or circular
series. The shells can be lifted from the mould by hydraulic apparatus separate from
the press, the mould being moved into the required position by hydraulic or other
suitable apparatus.

page_text: I sometimes modify my invention by dispensing with the aforesaid tubular or
annular plunger and using a loose ring or annular block which is placed upon the
upper or outer end of the shell in the mould, the central mandrel being forined with
a shoulder which acts on the aforesaid loose ring while the end of the mandrel enters
the cavity of the shell as aforesaid. And, in combination with the said loose ring,
I use screw-clips or jaws for holding the shell down while the mandrel is withdrawn
previous to taking the shell out of the mould as above described. The apparatus for
making the said shells may be arranged for either vertical or horizontal action of the
mandrels or plungers. When the shell has been brought to the required finished
external and internal diameter as above described, I close in the end by means of die-
blocks such as are described in the Specification of my Patent dated 19th January
A.D. 1888, No. 875, or by other suitable means.
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cast Metal Ingots, Projectiles,
and the like, and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited
of Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, 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:-
My invention relates chiefly to the manufacture of hollow cylinders or cylindrical
ingots of fluid compressed steel or other suitable metal.
Heretofore these cylinders or ingots have been obtained by first casting a solid
cylinder or ingot of fluid compressed steel and then boring the same or reheating and
punching it to make it hollow or tubular. But according to my present Invention,
I effect the manufacture of hollow ingots or cylinders without boring and without
reheating, the entire operation being effected with the initial heat of the casting, that
is to say, after casting the cylinder or ingot, I form therein either before
or after removing it from the mould, but before allowing it to cool a central hole
or cavity of any required diameter and extending entirely or partially through the
metal,
In practising this operation according to my said invention, I first cast the
steel in a mould in the usual manner of manufacturing solid ingots, and then, while
the metal is in a suitable condition, I force one or more punches or mandrels through,
or partially through, the same to form the central hole or cavity therein. I prefer that,
while cooling, the metal should be under heavy pressure.
This method of producing hollow cylinders or ingots is not only cheaper and quicker
than any former method of producing such ingots, but it tends greatly to improve the
quality of the metal.
My improvements also partly relate to the construction of the presses and
their adjuncts for use in the said method of manufacturing hollow ingots. Also
to improved means for holding the mould down and the parts of the mould in place
during the casting of the metal and while the metal is under pressure therein, and for
permitting the ready release of the said mould and the separation of the parts of the
same when thus released.
My said invention, moreover, relates to the manufacture of cast steel shells and to
apparatus for use in such manufacture.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in vertical central section, illustrating one form
of my improved moulding-press.

page_text: Figure 2 is a side elevation of the said press, one of the hydraulic cylinders being
shown partly in vertical central section.
Figure 3 is a front elevation, partly in vertical central section, and
Figure 4 a side elevation, of another form or modification of my improved moulding-
press.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, showing another modification
of my said moulding-press.
Figure 6 is also a front elevation, showing a further modification of my said
press.
Figure 7 is a front elevation, partly in vertical central section, illustrating a still
further modification of the said press.
Figure 8 shows a portion of Figure 7 and illustrates the method of inserting
beneath the ingot and mould a plate hereinafter mentioned, on which the said ingot
and mould are to be drawn from the press.
Figure 9 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 10 a plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating one form of my improved
punching-press.
Figure 11 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and,
Figure 12 a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a moulding-press and
a punching-press constructed according to my present improvements, arranged upon
the same bed and provided with improved means for moving the ingots and moulds
into and out of the said presses.
Figure 13 is a plan, and
Figure 14 a front elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing a punching-
press provided with cutting apparatus hereinafter described for dividing the ingot
into pieces of any desired length.
Figure 15 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 13,
Figure 16 is a plan, partly in horizontal section,
Figure 17 a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, and
Figure 18 an end elevation, illustrating another form or modification of my improved
punching-press.
Figure 19 is a front elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing one form
of my improved press for the manufacture of shells.
Figure 20 is a front elevation, and
Figure 21 a side elevation of a similar press provided with three moulds arranged
to be moved into and out of the same by hydraulic power, and
Figure 22 is a front elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing another
form or inodification of my improved press for the manufacture of shells.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8, A is a strong bed, base or foundation; B, B are
vertical columns or pillars erected thereon for carrying the upper portions of the press.
C is the mould, which is placed upon the bed or base A between the said pillars. D is
a block or casting which is fitted and secured upon the pillars B, and in which is fixed
a hydraulic cylinder E provided with a ram or plunger E¹ for compressing the metal
in the mould.
The mould C is preferably formed of a series of short sections or rings placed one
upon another as shown, though it may, if desired, be formed in one piece. Hereto-
fore such short sections or rings forming the mould have been held in place,
during the casting and cooling of the metal in the mould, by cramps or clips placed
upon the adjacent flanges of the rings. But according to my present invention, I
provide for holding the mould securely in place and for holding the rings or sections
securely together, during the compression and cooling of the metal, by hydraulic
power. For example arrange over the top of the mould, a strong cross-head F
which is capable of vertical movement and is firmly secured to the rams G¹ of
hydraulic cylinders G, whereby it can be moved to and from the upper end of the
mould. The said hydraulic cylinders G may be arranged either above or below the
cross-head F. In some instances, I secure them upon the bed or base A of the press

page_text: as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5; in other instances, I attach them to the block or
casting D which forms the upper part of the press, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7.
The said cylinders G are connected by suitable pipes with an accumulator or pressure
main in such a manner that, when the liquid under pressure is admitted to the said
cylinders, it forces the said cross-head F closely and tightly down upon the upper
end of the mould C, thereby holding the said mould firmly down upon the bed or
base A, and at the same time holding the rings or sections of the mould securely
together.
The ram E of the cylinder E extends through and works in a hole in the cross-
head F, so that the latter can move freely up and down and offers no obstruction to
the movement of the said ram. The cylinder E is open at the bottom, and is connected
at its upper end with an accumulator or pressure main. One or more small rams H¹
working in hydraulic cylinders H, are firmly connected with the ram E¹ for the
purpose of lifting the said ram out of the mould. The cylinders H may be secured
either on the top of the block D, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4; or in the end
portions of the said block, as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, wherein the ram E¹
is shown provided with a flange or cross-head E2 in which the rams H¹ are firmly
secured.
The metal is poured into the mould C as in the manufacture of solid ingots, and the
cross-head F is forced tightly down upon the said mould; pressure is then applied to
the casting or ingot I in the mould by means of the hydraulic cylinder E. After
the required compression and cooling of the metal, the mould is released by simply
raising the cross-head F from the top thereof; the said mould is then moved from
under the pressing-ram E¹, and placed in a punching-press such as I have
hereinafter described with reference to Figures 9 to 18, whereby the central hole or
cavity is formed in the ingot.
If the ingot is to be removed from the mould C before the punching of the central
hole or cavity, its removal should be effected as expeditiously as possible so that it may
be punched before the metal cools sufficiently to become set. For this purpose I
modify the construction of the moulding press, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, viz. :-
I make the base or foundation block A with a central hole A³ somewhat larger in
diameter than the largest ingot to be moulded in the press, and with a recess or
cavity A at the upper end of this hole, for the reception of one or other of a series of
interchangeable rings or annular pieces L of different internal diameter to suit ingots
of different sizes. Each of these rings or annular pieces is of such internal diameter
that it will permit the passage of the ingot through it, for the purpose hereinafter
specified, whilst preventing displacement of the lags C¹ from the mould C with
the said ingot.
A sliding plate M, Figure 8, is provided for placing over the hole A³ in the
foundation block A and over the aforesaid ring or annular piece L to support the well-
bottom of the mould while the pressure is being applied to the ingot by the ram El
To admit this sliding plate M, the mould and ingot are lifted by means of the hydraulic
cylinders G through the medium of the cross-head F and lifting-rods Q.
Beneath the central hole A³ in the foundation block A, I arrange a hydraulic
_cylinder N, the ram N¹ of which works in the said hole and is intended to receive the
_ingot when displaced from the mould by the pressing-ram E¹ as hereinafter specified,
and to replace it in the said mould before the latter is removed from the press, so that
the mould and ingot may be drawn together from the moulding-press. The mould is
then, by preference, lifted from the ingot by a crane or other convenient means, and
the ingot is introduced into the punching-press hereinafter described.
A suitable central projection E³ is preferably formed on the pressing-ram E' so that,
when the ingot is being pressed, a recess will be formed in the upper end of the same
to. centre the punch or mandrel for forming the central hole through the ingot.
P is a loose packing-plate, which is slightly thicker than the slding plate M, and
which is placed on the ram-head N¹ for supporting the ingot, this packing-plate is
formed with a hole to allow the punch or mandrel to pass through the ingot.
The ingot is removed from the moulding-press and transferred to the punching-press

page_text: as follows, viz.: When the ingot is sufficiently compressed, the pressure on the
rain E¹ is relaxed, and the lifting-rods Q attached to the cross-head F are coupled to
the mould. The mould and the ingot therein are then lifted to permit the removal of
the sliding plate M from beneath them. The mould and ingot are then lowered
and the ingot is pushed out of the mould by the pressing-ram E¹ and received by the
ram N¹. The said ingot is thus disengaged from the sand lining of the mould, and is
then supported upon the ram N¹ and plate P, while the mould is lifted to again admit
the sliding plate M beneath it; the ingot is then returned to the mould by the
ram N¹, the sliding plate M is introduced beneath the ingot, the packing plate P' being
displaced by the said sliding plate, as shown in Figure 8, and the mould and ingot are
removed from the press upon the said sliding plate M.
The punching-press shown in Figures 9 and 10, is provided with a bed or base A
and vertical pillars or columns B, similar to those of the moulding-presses above
described.
The punch or mandrel J is fixed at its upper end in a cross-head J¹ which is firmly
connected with the rams K' of hydraulic cylinders K, whereby the punch or
mandrel J may be forced through and withdrawn from the ingot. The bed or base A
is formed with a central hole or cavity A2, to permit the passage of the punch or
mandrel completely through the ingot.
This press is, in some instances, provided with a cross-head for holding the ingot in
position.
To obviate the necessity for holding the ingot down in the punching-press while the
punch or mandrel is being withdrawn, the head or enlarged end J2 of the punch or
imandrel J is made removable from the shank or stem thereof, or it is so fixed thereon
that the least resistance to its return with the shank or stem will detach it therefrom;
the said head or enlarged end, therefore, does not require to return with the stem or
shank of the punch or mandrel, and, consequently there will be no difficulty in with-
drawing the said punch or mandrel, which may have become highly heated during its
passage through the ingot.
Water is rapidly circulated down the centre of the punch or mandrel to keep it cool.
For this purpose, the punch or mandrel is made hollow, and a water-supply pipe J³ is
fixed in the top of the press and extends downward into the said punch or mandrel J,
so that, notwithstanding the up-and-down movement of the said punch or mandrel, the
month of the said pipe will always be within the same. J4 is a guide for the punch
or mandrel. The hydraulic cylinders K may be either secured in the base or
foundation block A as shown, or firmly attached to the upper part of the press.
The moulding-press and punching-press are sometimes arranged upon the same bed,
.as shown in Figures 11 and 12, in combination with suitable means for conveying the
.mould and ingot to and from either of the said presses, that is to say :-To facilitate
the placing of the mould in either of the presses and its removal therefrom, I arrange,
in connection with the said presses, sliding rails or bars R which can be moved to and
fro by means of a hydraulic cylinder S, to the ram S' of which the said rails or bars
are connected by a cross-head S2 or by other convenient means. The said rails or bars
are provided with holes R¹ into which may he inserted suitable pins or stops to
engage with the mould, or with a sliding plate M on which the mould or the ingot is
supported, so that, by means of the said rails or bars, the mould or ingot may
be moved in one or the other direction as required. The sliding rails or bars R
extend throughout, or nearly throughout the length of the pit, and the holes R¹ are
arranged at convenient distances apart so that the pins or stops can be placed on
either side of one or the other of the said plates M according to the direction in which
the said plate is required to travel. When the plate is required to travel through a
distance greater than the stroke or travel of the ram, the said pins or stops are taken
out and are inserted in other holes when the said ram has made its return stroke,
and the sliding bars and plate are again moved by the said ram in the required
direction.
It is obvious that I can, if desired, employ other suitable means for moving the
mould or ingot, or both the mould and ingot into and out of the presses.

page_text: For parting the ingot or dividing it into cylindrical pieces of any desired length,
1 employ, in combination with either the moulding-press or the punching-press,
preferably the latter, suitable cutting apparatus comprising knives or chisels operated
by hydraulic presses.
In Figures 13, 14 and 15, I have shown a punching-press provided with such
cutting apparatus. In this case, a hydraulic cylinder N is arranged in a pit beneath
the press, somewhat like that in the moulding-press shown in Figures 7 and 8.
V, V are the knives or chisels, which are firmly secured in the rams W₁ of hydraulic
cylinders W. The said rams W₁ are made hollow to serve as cylinders for draw-back
rams W'2.
The hydraulic cylinder W on the right hand side of the press in Figures 13 and 14
may be fixed.
The hydraulic cylinder W on the other side of the said press is
movable away from its operative position to permit the introduction and removal of
the mould or ingot into and from the said press. For moving the said cylinder W
into and out of its operative position, I can employ a hydraulic cylinder X, Figure 15,
the ram X¹ of which is suitably connected with the said cylinder W.
The ingot I, preferably after it has been punched, is lowered upon the ram N¹ of
the hydraulic cylinder N until the part of the ingot where the same is to be divided is
level with the knives or chisels V. The said knives or chisels are then operated
repeatedly by the rams W₁, the ingot being partially rotated between each cut;
a piece of the desired length is thus severed or cut from the ingot. The piece thus
cut off is supported and removed from the press by a jib-crane Y or other convenient
means. The ingot is then raised by the ram N¹ and, if necessary, again cut by the
knives or chisels V.
The above description relates more especially to vertical presses, but I can also
apply my improvements to horizontal presses for the manufacture of hollow ingots or
the like.
When the punching-press is horizontal, it may, if desired, be separate from the
moulding-press and pit, as, while the ingot is being turned on its side, it can at the
same time be conveyed to the punching-press.
In Figures 16, 17 and 18 I have shown a horizontal punching-press, in which there
are two punches or mandrels J, each of which is fixed in a cross-head J¹ firmly
connected with two rams K¹ working in the cylinders K. The said cross-heads J¹ are
arranged to slide in or upon suitable guides on the bed or base A. This press is
provided with suitable guides J, and with hinged pieces or straps T for firmly
holding the ingot I in place therein during the punching operation. The ingot is
placed horizontally and is punched from both ends simultaneously until the punches
or mandrels meet, or nearly meet in the centre of the said ingot; one punch or
mandrel is then withdrawn and the hole is finished by means of the other punch or
mandrel. The rams for operating these punches or mandrels may be arranged to
work in the same cylinders, as shown, or in separate cylinders.
In making a cast steel shell according to my invention, I proceed as follows, viz. :-
I first cast the shell nearly of the proper finished diameter with one end open, and, if
necessary, cut it to the required length. I then place it in a mould or die and
compress or condense it endwise and give it the required diameter and thickness of
metal, as hereinafter described. I then close in the open end and compress the metal
at this part, the object being to produce a shell in which the metal at the pointed end
is in a condition suitable for penetrative effect, while that of the body is such as will
permit its fracture or bursting at the proper moment; moreover the endwise com-
pression closes the blow-holes, and condenses and thickens the metal and ensures the
soundness thereof throughout the entire body of the projectile.
In Figure 19, I have shown a convenient and advantageous form of press for the
manufacture of cast steel shells according to my present improvements. This press
has a strong base or bed A and columns or pillars B for supporting the upper portions
of the press, somewhat as above described with reference to Figures 1 to 7.
I prefer that the columns or pillars of the presses herein described should be secured
to the base or bed by screwing them into the same, as shown.

page_text: a is the mould, the internal diameter of which should be slightly larger than the
external diameter of the casting before compression. Above this mould, is arranged a
central mandrel or plunger b working through the tubular or annular ram or plunger c¹
of a hydraulic cylinder c, which is firmly secured in the block or casting D. The
mandrel or plunger b should be slightly smaller in diameter than the interior of the
shell before the same is compressed. The said mandrel is connected by a cross-head d
to the rams e¹ of hydraulic cylinders e of suitable capacity for exerting the required
pressure. These cylinders serve also for withdrawing the central mandrel b. Another
hydraulic cylinder g is placed below the mould a and is provided with a ram g¹ for
raising the shell out of the same.
8
The operation of this press is as follows, that is to say:-The casting or shell & is
placed in the mould a and rests upon the head of the ram g¹, the central mandrel b is
then inserted into the shell and held with its end against the inner end of the cavity
in the same, while the tubular ram or plunger c¹ is forced against the outer or upper
end of the said shell, the pressure being applied simultaneously to the said mandrel
and to the tubular ram or plunger. The metal is thus compressed and condensed and
the wall of the shell shortened and thickened until the said shell entirely fills the space
between the central mandrel and the mould.
To remove the shell from the mould, the central mandrel b is first withdrawn, while
the shell is held down by the tubular ram or plunger c¹; the latter is then raised and
the shell is lifted out of the mould by the ram g¹.
In some instances, I construct the press to work with either one, two or more
moulds, and where there are numerous moulds, I can arrange them in either a straight
or a circular series. The shells can, moreover, be lifted from the mould by hydraulic
or other apparatus separate from the press, the mould being moved into the required
position by hydraulic apparatus or by other convenient means.
In Figures 20 and 21, I have shown a press wherein I employ three moulds a,
which are provided with flanges a³ and are connected by bars h fitting upon pins or
studs a² fixed in the said flanges. The mould a on the right hand side of Figure 21,
is connected with the ram j¹ of a hydraulic cylinder j for moving the moulds to and
fro as hereinafter specified. Plates or bars A5 are secured by screws or bolts to the
bed A and engage with the flanges a¹ of the moulds a for the purpose of holding down
the said moulds, whilst permitting their to-and-fro movement by the ramp.
I sometimes modify the construction of the said press by dispensing with the
aforesaid tubular or annular ram or plunger and using a loose ring or annular block c²,
Figure 22, which is placed upon the upper or outer end of the shell in the mould, the
central mandrel b being formed with a shoulder b¹ which acts on the aforesaid loose
ring when the end of the mandrel has entered the cavity of the shell as above described.
In combination with the said loose ring c², I use screw-clips or jaws k for gripping
the said ring c² and holding it and the shell down while the mandrel is withdrawn
previous to taking the shell out of the mould. The said jaws or clips are worked
by mechanism similar to that described in the Specification of former Letters
Patent granted to me and dated 19th January A.D. 1888, No. 875, or by other
convenient mechanism.
The apparatus for making the said shells may be arranged for either vertical or
horizontal action of the mandrels or plungers.
When the shell has been brought to the required finished external and internal
diameters as above described, I close or partially close in the end of the shell by
means of die-blocks such as are described in my said former Specification No. 875,
or by other suitable means.
The above described method of making compressed steel castings is also
advantageous in the manufacture of hollow cylinders, hoops, tubes and similar
articles, for the purpose of improving the quality of the metal.
In my said former Specification No. 875, I have described the manufacture of
hollow projectiles or shells by a method wherein the molten metal is placed in a
suitable mould and is subjected to pressure therein until, by the cooling and com-
pression, it is brought to a semi-fluid or plastic condition, and a punch or mandrel
B

page_text: is then forced partially through the metal to form the central cavity of the shell,
the displaced metal flowing upward into the space around the punch or mandrel in
the said mould. In my present method of manufacturing hollow cylinders or ingots
as above described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the solid ingot,
before being punched, is removed from the mould in which it is compressed; therefore
the metal displaced by the punch will flow radially outwards. Moreover, by my
present improvements, whether the punching be effected before or after the removal of
the ingot from the mould, I am enabled to manufacture an ingot which is tubular
throughout its length, the punch or mandrel for forming the central hole being
forced entirely through the ingot, instead of partially through the same as described
in my said former specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I
claim :-
First. The manufacture of a hollow cylinder or ingot as hereinabove described.
Second. In the manufacture of such hollow cylinders or ingots, the punching of
the ingot from both ends simultaneously, as above specified.
Third. The manufacture of a shell by first forming a hollow casting open at one
end, subjecting the said casting to endwise pressure for the purposes specified, and
then closing or partially closing the open end of the said casting.
Fourth. The herein described method of manufacturing a shell or similar object
consisting in first casting a hollow or tubular body, placing the same in a loosely
fitting mould, inserting into it a suitable mandrel and applying endwise pressure
simultaneously to the said mandrel and to the metal around the same in the mould,
the end or ends of the casting, if necessary, being subsequently closed or partially
closed, for the purposes above specified.
Fifth. A shell manufactured as herein described by casting a hollow body open at
one end, compressing the same endwise and then closing or partially closing its
open end.
Sixth. A moulding or other press provided with suitable means for holding down
the mould and securing the parts thereof together by hydraulic power, for the purposes
above specified.
Seventh. The combination, with moulding and punching presses, of rails or bars
arranged to be moved longitudinally to and fro by hydraulic or other power and
provided with removable pins or stops, for the purposes above specified.
Eighth. A punch or mandrel provided with a loose or removable head, so that, after
the punching operation, the shank or stem of the punch can return without the head
thereof, for the purpose above specified.
'
Ninth. A moulding or punching press provided with knives or chisels operated by
hydraulic power for parting the ingot or dividing into two or more pieces or lengths,
as above specified.
Tenth. A press provided with a mandrel working within a hollow or tubular ram
or plunger, for the purposes above specified.
Eleventh. A press provided with a mandrel, a ring or annular piece fitted on the
said mandrel and adapted to bear against a shoulder thereon, and jaws or clips for
holding down the said ring and the casting while the mandrel is withdrawn from the
latter, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Twelfth. The improved press constructed substantially as described with reference
to either of the forms or modifications shown in the accompanying drawings and
operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
MANASSAU CIDUNT T
MANASSAH GLEDU T
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.