IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING FOR CASTING SHOT, SHELLS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Higgins, of Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Maker, and Thomas Schofield Whitworth, of the
same Place, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING
FOR CASTING SHOT, SHELLS, AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 13th July 1855, and dated the 17th January 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Higgins and
Thomas Schofield Whitworth at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 17th January 1855.
We, JAMES HIGGINS, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, and THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH, of the same Place, Mechanic, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING
FOR CASTING SHOT, SHELLS, AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to shot, shells, and other spherical articles, and
consists in a method of causing the pattern to leave the sand with less risk of
disturbance than heretofore. To this end we apply apparatus thereto whereby
it may be caused to revolve; thus we attach one-half of the pattern to a plate,
which is adapted as a bottom to the mould box, and ram sand therein, as usual;
this having been done, a pinion taking into a wheel formed upon the pattern
plate is turned, and the desired revolution of the pattern plate is effected; this
forms one-half of the mould. The other is in like manner produced, and the
two joined together. If desired, however, the pattern plate may constitute a

page_text: diaphragm between two boxes, and carry one-half of the pattern on each side,
rotatory motion being communicated thereto by means of teeth formed at its
edge. In moulding one-half of the pattern at a time, whether of spherical or
other form, we place the plate upon a table capable of being lowered, whereby
the pattern may be withdrawn from the sand, leaving the mould box supported
by the frame.
Another part of our improvements relates to the ramming and supplying of
sand into mould boxes. The rammer is caused to rise and fall by means of a
crank, to which it is connected through the medium of an elastic part, which
will give way upon an undue resistance taking place. It is of such a form as
to cover a portion only of the area to be rammed, and, according to one
arrangement, is caused, as it rises and falls, to turn upon its axis, so as to
operate upon the surface at different parts successively; in addition to which
motion, it is gradually drawn upward, in order to afford space for the accumu-
lating sand. Instead, however, of these exact arrangements, the box may be
made to turn and to descend. The turning of the rammer or mould box
refers to the use of cylindrical mould boxes, but if they be employed of
rectangular shape, we impart to them or to the rammer a traversing motion
or motions, so as to submit the surface of the sand to compression at different
parts successively. The sand is supplied from a hopper, the bottom of which
is provided with an aperture or apertures, opened in such a manner as to allow
the supply to take place at-intervals, -and-in order to secure this we adapt an
apparatus similar to a pug mill. Another method of ramming sand which
we adopt consists in the employment of a roller or rollers caused to rotate
within the box, and permitted to rise as the sand accumulates above the
pattern.
Another part of our improvements consists in a method of smoothing the
mould for spherical castings, in order to effect the operation now practised
with the hand trowel; for this purpose, we use an instrument mounted in a
frame capable of being adapted to the mould box in such a manner, that when
caused to revolve, its edge shall describe a circle coincident with the surface of
the moulded cavity; to this instrument a handle is adapted, for the purpose
of turning it in contact with the sand; and in order to prevent an accidental
disturbance of the sand before the scraper is properly adjusted, we so mount it
in its frame that it may be kept upward by a spring or otherwise, until correctly
placed.