Improvements in Sand-molding Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sand-molding Machines.
1, ABRAHAM L. TEETOR, of the City of Indianapolis, in the County of Marion,
and State of Indiana, United States of America, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAND-MOLDING MACHINES,"
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 to the construction of sand-molding machines; and its object
is to provide a safe and ready means for clamping the flask in position upon a
revolving plate or frame; also, to provide means for vibrating the pattern, so as to
loosen it in the sand to allow its free withdrawal, dispensing with the usual method
of wrapping the pattern; also, to provide means for raising the cross-head and table
in position for receiving the flask, and for carrying the flask from the machine out of
the way by means of the swinging crane, such crane being either automatic or
otherwise in its operation; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the
various parts, hereinafter described and claimed, and as will be understood from the
following description.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the entire machine, the dotted lines
representing the position of the parts when the flask has been lowered.
Figure 2 is
a bottom view of the swinging crane. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of
the upper part of the machine. Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the
clamping device. Figure 5 is a section through a part of the clamping plate, pinion,
and eccentric. Figure 6 is an edge view of one end of the reversible plate to which
the patterns may be directly attached, and which may be used either with or without
the frame shown in Figure 11. Figure 7 is a top view of one arm of the cross-
head, its antifriction rollers, guide, and upright; also the device for automatically
operating the swinging crane. Figure 8 is a side view of the automatic device for
swinging the crane. Figure 9 is a bottom view of the guide-brackets. Figure 10 is
a view of one end of the machine, showing the hand-wheels and vibrating mechanism.
Figure 11 is a top view of the revolving frame and plate to which the patterns are
secured. Figure 12 is a top view of the cross-head. Figure 13 is a cross-section
through the upper and lower flasks and pattern-plate, showing how the guide-pin
from the lower flask passes up through the pattern-plate into the projection from
the upper flask.
In detail, 11 are the end supports or uprights which support the entire mechanism,
these being tied together and braced by the plates 2, and arranged so as to form a
tripod-base, and having projections at the upper end, in which are journaled axles 3
of a revolving plate or frame, 4. The plates 2 are bolted together, in this case near
the centre of the machine, as seen in Figures 1 and 9, forming a housing in which
to place the link-motion used in the machine, and are at each end bolted to
uprights 11.
In the centre of the revolving frame is secured a pattern-plate, 5, by strips 7,
secured with screws or otherwise. The pattern-plate 5 in this case has two projections
at one side, one having a hole corresponding in size and location to the guide-pin of
the flask to be used, and the other having a slot which is longitudinal with the
machine and equal in width to the diameter of the other hole, so as to admit of any
variation or irregularity in the distance that may occur between the guide-pins. To
the plain sides of this plate are secured the patterns or parts of patterns at the
general parting-lines, as may be seen at 6, and when the parting-lines are irregular
the plate can be made to conform thereto.
8 is a flask of the usual form used in sand-molding.

page_text: 10 is a board, such as is used in hand-molding to prevent the sand from falling out
of the flask on its being rolled or turned over.
11 11 are levers mounted on external ends of a shaft journaled in the revolving
plate 4 and transversely through the axis of the latter.
12 12 are pinions mounted on each end of said shaft against the revolving plate,
which are adapted to engage with the rack-bars 13-one on each side-which in
turn engage with pinions 14, of which there is preferably one at each corner of
frame 4. These latter pinions are mounted centrally on fixed stud-pins 56, and are
provided with an eccentric sleeve or hub, 57, formed integral therewith, the latter
being journaled in the centre of the end section of the clamping-bail 15. One of
these clamping-bails is at each end of the revolving plate, as seen at 15 15 in
Figure 3, and as is evident the upper sides of these clamping-bails must fall or
incline toward each other to bind down the board 10 on flask 8. The bails being
really rings surrounding the revolving plate entirely and pivoted centrally, it is
evident that while the upper part of each is falling toward the centre the lower side
must recede from the centre of the machine. Thus while a flask is being bound
down on the upper side of the revolving plate the flask on the under side is thereby
released. These bails are operated in the following manner: The double rack-bars 13
are moved back and forth by the levers 11, one of which is always in proper position
to operate and engage, say, at the upper side of the pinions 14 at one end of the
machine and at the under side of the pinions at the other end. It is seen that they
will revolve in opposite directions, and by virtue of frictional contact occuring
between the sides of the pinions 14 and inner surfaces of the bails, against which
they bear. the bails are moved in a corresponding direction until they strike down
against the top of the hoard 10, covering the flask, as seen at 15 15, Figure 3, when
they will cease moving forward. As the pinions with their eccentrics 57 are revolved
still further by the same operation of lever 11, the bails will be drawn down firmly
by the action of the eccentries which operate now, drawing in a direct line from the
point of contact of the bail on the board 10 toward the centre of the eccentrics,
holding the board firmly to the flask.
16 is a hand-wheel mounted securely upon one axle, 3, of the revolving frame, and
is provided with two handles placed diametrically opposite, within which are latches 17,
pivoted at 18, which are alternately forced by springs, into engagement with a
projection, 20, which is formed on the outside of the end upright of the machine and
adapted to catch and hold the latches firmly, these springs being located within the
spaces 19. (See Figure 3).
21 is a lever secured at will on either end of a short transverse shaft, on which are
mounted counter-acting springs 221 and an arm, 22, to which is movably attached
at 23 a curved link, 24, which is attached to lever 26 at 25. This lever is pivoted
to plates 2 at its outer end, and has connected to its inner end at 27 a link, 28, which
is connected at 29 to plate 30, which may he secured to or be integral with the
cross-head 31, which is provided at each end with anti-friction wheels 40, as shown
in Figure 12, adapted to move along the three sides of the guides 31, which are fixed
on the inner sides of the uprights of the frame.
To the under side of cross-head 31 are secured, centrally and opposite each other,
two guide-brackets, 33, at the lower ends of which are mounted anti-friction wheels 39,
there being two of these wheels in each bracket, and placed in this case opposite to
other two and all in contact with guides 41 on plate 2. (See Figures 1 and 9.) It
is seen that with this arrangement of wheels at this point and that of the wheels
mounted in each end of the cross-head 31 when the cross-head is raised or lowered
its movement must be uniform and equal at all points and with but little frictional
resistance.
32 is a universally-adjustable movable table, supported at its centre by means of a
ball-and-socket joint and steadied at three or four lateral points by pins 35, which are
held in sockets adapted to them by plates 36. These pins extend down through
openings in the cross-head arms, and are given a certain frictional resistance which

page_text: may be regulated to any desired degree by the use of screws, which secure the spring
clamping-arms 37, which partly embrace these pins, as shown in Figure 12. Thus it
will be seen that though the flasks be unequal in depth at one side or end as com-
pared to that of the other this table will accommodate itself to such irregularity, upon
being pressed up firmly against the flask below, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, and is
held in such adjusted position by the steadying-pins 35, so that the flask moves
evenly at all points from the pattern-plate on being withdrawn. This feature makes
possible and practical the process of returning the pattern back into the mold after
having been withdrawn and dusted with fine facing-sand, as is practiced to a consider-
able extent where fine castings are produced. Again, this is a very valuable feature
in cases where patterns are used having but little or no draft and very deep. Thus is
the case if the table were rigid and the flask uneven in a slight degree, the flask would
fall on being unclamped at the side having the least depth until it had equal bearing
on the table, which would cause the pattern to undercut or break down the sand, and
this would be destructive to the mold.
The vibrating mechanism will now be described.
46 is a wheel loosely mounted on an axle, 3, (see Figure 10,) outside of hand-
wheel 16. It has pivoted to its rim at 45 an anchor-shaped double cam-lever, its
middle arm reaching to the center of the wheel and terminating at its free end in a
fork, as seen at 44, the two prongs of which reach, preferably, to opposite sides of the
hub of wheel 16. This double cam-lever has its two lateral arins of the same size
and shape, each forming a pallet, as seen at 43, adapted to follow closely the contour
of the cam-wheel 42, which may be angular at its periphery, as shown in the
drawings; or it may be represented by an undulating or wave line. Thus it will be
seen that when the wheel 46 is rotated on its axis, carrying with it the double cam-
lever, the wheel 42 remaining stationary, being in this case secured to arms of
wheel 16, said lever is oscillated rapidly upon its axis, causing the prongs 44 to strike
sharply from either side against the hub of wheel 16, jarring the axle 3 and the
pattern, and loosening it in the sand, as more fully described hereinafter.
Figure 2 is a view, looking from beneath, of a swinging crane, 47, having
transverse fingers 48, and hinged at 49 to rod 50, which is secured to the end upright
of the machine by clips or eyes 51. The fingers 48 of this crane 47 reach by the
ends of the table and under the ends of the flask which project beyond the table.
When it is closed into the machine, these fingers lie next over the long arms of the
cross-head, the upper edges being a little lower than the top of the table 32, and are
carried by the cross-head as the latter is raised and lowered, the eyes 49 being
adapted to slide upon the rod 50 as the table moves. When the swinging crane is
applied to the machine without the automatic operating-cams, the projections 51 (see
Figure 1) act as rests or stops for the crane when at its lowest position, and one or
more of these projections are placed at such height that when the table is lowered
with the flask the crane stops its descent a short distance above the lowest point
reached by the table, thus supporting the flask clear of the table, so that the crane can
be easily swung out from within the machine, and when relieved of the flask may be
swung back again into the machine to be carried up and back to receive the next
flask. This crane is made to operate automatically by an anti-friction roller, 55,
secured on the upper eye, 49, of the crane, as seen in Figures 7 and 8, and a cam, 53,
set on rod 50 at any desired height, said cam having projections engaging with the
end upright which keep it from turning when the roller 55 comes in contact with it,
and rolling down the incline the crane will swing out, carrying with it the flask.
The crane is then at the lowest point necessary for it to drop to, and the roller 55
rests on the opposite and lower point on cain 53. A cam, 54, which is a reverse cam,
as, compared with 53, is secured at one end to the cross-head arm, as
Figure 7, reaching out and nearly surrounding cam 53, and near to it so as to catch
the roller 55. This cam, rising with the table, will evidently return the crane auto-
matically to its position near the table to receive another flask.
seen in
The machine operates as follows: One of the latches 17 is brought into engagement
with projection 20, that the revolving frame and pattern-plate may assume a fixed

page_text: horizontal position. Now suppose that there is no flask on the machine, as shown in
Figure 3, and that the bails 15 are in a reversed position, as represented by dotted
lines 15¹. A flask, 8, is placed in position on patiern-plate 5, the pins of the flask in
place. The flask is then filled with sand and tamped or rammed in the usual manner
and the board 10 placed thereon, and the bails drawn as shown at 15 15, the table
and crane being at their ower position, as represented by dotted lines, Figure 1.
The latch 17 is then released from catch 20 and the revolving plate 5 turned the
upper side down, when the latch 17 in the opposite handle will be brought into
engagement with the catch 20, and the table and crane elevated by lever 21 through
the intervening mechanism, until the table bears firmly against the board 10, beneath
and under the flask. Another flask matching the one now beneath is set upon the
plate, the pins of the first flask projecting through the pattern-plate 5 and locating
the second flask properly. The second flask is filled with sand, tamped, covered with
another board 10, and the bails drawn, at the same time being withdrawn, as before
shown, from the flask beneath, allowing it to rest entirely on the table 32. Now to
withdraw the lower flask from the pattern, a few rapid turns are given in either
direction to the wheel 46, to which is pivoted at 45 the double cam-lever, which is
rapidly oscillated through its engagement with the cam-wheel 42, and being adapted
to strike sharply against the hub of wheel 16 sets up a series of rapid vibrations, and
the strokes coming as they do from all sides toward the axis of the revolving frame
a general tremor permeates this entire section of the machine, freeing the sand
thoroughly from the pattern. After this tremor has begun and before it ceases, the
table is lowered with the flask, the table moving a little below the lowest point to
which the crane-fingers 48 drop. The flask is then carried from the machine on said
crane. Plate 4 is again revolved, bringing the second flask beneath. The table 32
is again elevated, another flask placed on the machine, and the operation continued
as before.
I am aware that sand-molding machines having reversible molding-tables mounted
in bearings on the top of the machine and provided with clamps on each side are not
new, and do not broadly claim the same as my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. A sand-molding machine comprising, in combination, a reversible molding-table
mounted in bearings at the top of the machine, a pair of clamps connected by a rack-
bar which is operated by means of a lever and pinion at one end of the table, whereby
the upper clamps are thrown in position for holding the board upon the flask, a
frame-work providing bearings for the axle of such reversible molding-table, and
a hand-wheel mounted on such axle provided with latches engaging with projections
connected to the uprights of the frame for locking the reversible molding-table in a
horizontal position, substantially as shown and described.
2. A sand-molding machine comprising, in combination, a reversible molding-
table mounted in bearings at the top of the machine, a frame-work supporting and
providing bearings for the axle of such molding-table, a hand-wheel mounted on such
axle and provided with latches engaging with projections on the frame for locking
such table in a horizontal position, and a vertically-movable table resting upon self-
adjusting center and corner bearings below the reversible molding-table, mounted on
guides in the frame and connected by suitable rods and links to a shaft provided
with a lever for operating the elevating mechanism, substantially as shown and
described.
3. A sand-molding machine, comprising, in combination, a reversible molding-table
✓ mounted at the top of the machine, a frame-work providing bearings for the axle
thereof, and vibrating mechanism for jarring such table and the pattern supported by
it, said mechanism being mounted on and constructed and arranged to strike upon
such axle, substantially as shown and described.
4. A sand-molding machine comprising, in combination, a frame-work, a reversible

page_text: molding-plate mounted in bearings at the top thereof, a pair of clamps connected to
each end of such molding-plate, a rack-bar for operating such clamps, a pinion whose
inner face bears against the inner face of such clamp, provided with an eccentric hub
mounted upon a stud-pin passing through such clamp and connected to the frame, a
pinion mounted on a transverse shaft, a lever for operating such pinion, whereby
motion is communicated to the rack-bar and the clamps thrown down so as to bind
the top of the flask placed upon the molding-plate, a table mounted on self-adjusting
bearings for supporting the lower half of the flask when the table is reversed, a
vertically-moving cross-head carrying such table and mounted on guides in the fram
and connected by suitable links or rods to a shaft provided with a lever for operating
the lifting mechanism, and a swinging crane hinged to a rod connected with one side
of the framework, and provided with fingers resting upon the cross-head beneath the
adjustable table which carries the flask-section, such fingers adapted to support the
flask, whereby the latter may be swung back out of the machine, substantially as
shown and described.
5. In a sand-molding machine, a self-adjusting vertically-moving table for supporting
and lowering the lower half of the flask, mounted upon a universal bearing at its
centre and provided at or near its edges with universally-jointed steadying-pins having
an adjustable frictional resistance, and supported by a cross-head mounted on guides
in the frame and adapted to be raised or lowered by means of suitable mechanism,
substantially as shown and described.
6. In a sand-molding machine, a reversible molding-plate provided with trunnions
having bearings in the top of the frame and carrying a pair of pivoted double clamps
at each end, a rack-bar on each side connected to such clamps at each end, operated
by suitable pinions, and lever mechanism, whereby the clamping of the upper bail of
the clamp will release the grip of the lower by the same movement, substantially as
shown and described.
7. In a sand-molding machine, the vibrating mechanism herein described, com-
prising a wheel, 46, loosely mounted upon the axle 3, which carries the reversible
niolding-frame 4, the double cam-lever 44, pivoted at 45 to the rim of such wheel, its
middle arm depending to strike the axle, its other end terminating in a fork provided
with two lateral arms forming a pallet, 43, and the cam-wheel 42, keyed upon the
axle 3, substantially as shown and described.
8. In a sand-molding, a swinging crane, 47, having fingers 48, loosely hinged to
the rod 50 by eyes 49, the upper one of which carries a friction-wheel, 55, engaging
with the cam-block 53, secured to the rod 50, and the reverse-cam 54, having one end
secured to an arm of the cross-head 31, substantially as shown and described.
9. A sand-molding machine comprising, in combination, a frame composed of the
uprights 1, connected by the bridge-plate 2, having the cross-head 31 moving therein
by friction-wheels 40 upon guides 34, the reversible plate or frame 4, provided with
trunnions 3, having bearings in the top of the frame, a hand-wheel, 16, mounted
upon one of such trunnions for revolving the same, provided with latches 17, pivoted
at 18 in recesses 19, such latches engaging with a projection, 20, upon the outside of
the frame, the pattern-plate 5, carried in strips 7, for supporting the patterns 6, the
double reversible clamps 15, having frictional contact with the pinion 14, and being
eccentrically mounted thereon, the latter engaging with the rack-bar 13, the pinion 12,
having a lever for revolving the same, such pinion also engaging with the rack-bar for
operating the clamps at each end, the adjustable table 32, for supporting the lower
section of the flask, carried in self-adjusting bearings at the top of the cross-head, the
casting 33, link 28, pivoted at 27 to link 26, the latter pivoted at 25 in the side of the
frame and connected by a wrist with the curved link 24, the latter connected with
the crank or arm 22, whose other end is connected with a shaft upon which a lever, 21,
is mounted for operating the elevating mechanism, and counteracting springs, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
10. A sand-molding machine comprising, in combination, a frame-work supporting
in bearings upon its top a reversible molding-plate, means for locking such molding-
plate in a horizontal position, a table resting upon self-adjusting bearings for supporting

page_text: the flask-section carried upon a cross-head movable vertically within the frame,
mechanisur, substantially as described, for raising and lowering such table, a crane
binged to the frame and carried up and down by the movement of such cross-bead,
and means for automatically swinging the crane when it has reached its lowest point,
carrying the flask away from the machine and closing it into the machine by the
elevation of the cross-head, operating and arranged substantially as described.
11. In a sand-molding machine, a crane having fingers for carrying the flask-
section, hinged to a rod connected to the frame of such machine, the fingers resting,
when closed, upon a cross-head movable vertically in the frame, such crane provided
with an automatic opening and closing mechanism, and means whereby this mechanism
is actuated by the ascent and descent of the cross-head, substantially as shown and.
described.
12. A sand-molding machine comprising, in combination, a frame-work carrying a
reversible molding-plate in bearings upon its top, such molding-plate having a pair
of double clamps connected at each end with mechanism for operating such clamps,
whereby the bringing of the upper pair in position to lock them upon the flask
releases the grip of the lower clamps, substantially as shown and described.
13. In a sand-molding machine, the combination, with a reversible molding-plate
journaled in a frame-work; and means for locking such molding-plate in a horizontal
position, of a self-adjusting vertically-moving table for supporting or lowering the
lower flask-section, mounted upon a universal bearing at its center and provided at
or near its edges with universally-jointed steadying-pins having an adjustable
frictional resistance for lowering such flask evenly at all points from the pattern,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 21st day of August 1889
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.