IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING CHAINS OR OTHER INTERLINKED OR INTRICATE ARTIOLES OF CAST STEEL OR OTHER CAST METAL "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Ralston, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING CHAINS OR OTHER
INTERLINKED OR INTRICATE ARTIOLES OF CAST STEEL OR OTHER CAST
METAL
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Ralston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1883.
WALTER RALSTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MAKING CHAINS OR OTHER INTERLINKED OR INTRICATE ARTICLES OF
CAST STEEL OR OTHER CAST METAL"
This Invention relates to the formation of chains of cast steel and is applicable
in forming chains or other interlinked or intricate articles of any cast metal; and
it consists in forming such articles by means of moulds shaped by patterns made of
a suitable fusible substance which is got out of the moulds by subjecting them to a
temperature sufficient to liquefy it so that it may run out.
In making a cast-steel chain according to one modification, alternate links are
moulded and cast separately, and are placed in their proper positions in indenta-
tions formed for thoin in a layer of sand or other suitable mould material. The
indentations are formed by means of a suitable pattern plate having on it half
patterns arranged edge-ways for the links already cast and with half patterns
arranged flat-ways for the intermediate links, or vice versa. After the indenta-
tions have been formed and the pattern plato removed, the steel links are placed
in their positions and patterns made of paraffin wax or other suitable fusible
material, and formed in halves are placed in the intermediate indentations so as to
interlink with the steel links. The mould is then completed by adding the
necessary sand or mould material, and is afterwards put into a stove or otherwise
subjected to a sufficient heat to melt the paraffin which may be allowed to run
out at the runners or holes provided for pouring in the molten steel when casting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Ralston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th July
1883.
" IMPROVE-
WALTER RALSTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
MENTS IN MAKING CHAINS OR OTHER INTERLINKED OR INTRICATE ARTICLES OF
CAST STEEL OR OTHER CAST METAL
"
My said Invention relates to the formation of chains of cast steel and is
applicable in forming chains or other interlinked or intricate articles of any cast
metal, and it consists in forming such articles by means of moulds shaped by
patterns made of a suitable fusible substance which is got out of the moulds by
subjecting them to a temperature sufficient to liquefy it so that it may run out.
In making a cast-steel chain according to one modification, alternate links are
moulded and cast separately, and are placed in their proper positions in indenta-
tions formed for them in a layer of sand or other suitable mould material. Pattern
links made of paraffin wax or other suitable fusible material, and formed in halves
are placed in intermediate indentations so as to interlink with the previously cast
steel links which have been placed in the alternate indentations. The mould is
then completed by adding the necessary sand or mould material, and is afterwards
put into a stove, or is otherwise subjected to a sufficient heat to melt the paraffin
which may be allowed to run out at the runners or holes provided for pouring in
the molten steel when casting.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and illustrating by way of example one of the modes of
effecting my improvements.
I
Figures, 1, and 2, on the accompanying sheet of drawings are a face view and an
edge view of a fusible pattern for a chain link. Figure, 3, represents a hinged
mould for shaping the fusible pattern link. Figure, 4, is a plan or face view of a
pattern plate used in forming the mould. Figure, 5, is a vertical section of the
lower mould flask in an inverted position with the bottom half of the mould
formed in it on the pattern plate. Figure, 6, is a transverse vertical section
showing the addition of the upper half of the mould; and figure, 7, is a longitudinal
vertical section of the completed mould as placed in an inverted position on a
carriage on which it is run into a stove to be heated and have the wax links
melted and the wax drained out of them. In theso drawings the same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The chain links or other articles may be of any desired shape and with or
without transverse bars or studs. The mould, 8, shown in figure, 3, is made of
metal in two halves hinged together and is made with a matrix or hollowed part
of the shape of the intended link. The wax is placed in warm water, or is
otherwise rendered sufficiently soft and plastic by heat, and is then put into the
mould, 8, and the mould closed, and subjected to sufficient pressure to force the
wax into every part of the matrix. When the wax pattern, 9, has been taken out
of the mould it is divided as shown in figures, 1, and 2, to allow of its being
interlinked with the other chain links. Figure, 4, represents a pattern plate, 10,
to be used in forming a mould in which three new links are to be cast in positions
interlinking with four previously cast links. The pattern parts on the plate
correspond to half links, four being placed flat-ways and three edge-ways. This
pattern plate, 10, may be used to make suitable indentations by being inverted
and pressed down into a layer of sand or mould material in a flask or mould box
it is howover preferable to place the pattern plate, 10, as shown in figure, 5, and

page_text: after placing a mould flask, 11, above it to ram sand upon it. This flask, 11, is
the lower flask in an inverted position and is turned over and the pattern plate, 10,
removed prior to proceeding with the next stage of the moulding operations. The
flask, 11, having been thus turned over into the position in which it is shown in
figure, 6, four previously cast steel links, 12, are placed in the flat indentations
(these links being indicated by dotted lines in figure 6). Wax links, 9, are then
placed edgeways in the intermediate indentations, and so as to interlink with the
previously cast links, 12, and the upper mould flask, 13, having been placed in
position sand or mould material is filled in to complete the mould, conical wooden
plugs, 14, being introduced so as to just touch each wax link, 9, to form runners or
gates for pouring in the molten steel. The sand or mould material is rammed into
the upper flask, 13, care being however used to avoid injuring the shape of the
wax link by the ramming operation.
The ramming having been completed and the gate plugs, 14, removed, the
mould box consisting of the pair of flasks, 11, 13, is inverted and placed on a
truck, 15, as shown in figure, 7, and a shallow dish, 16, having been placed
beneath the gates or runners, 17, the truck is run into a stove in which sufficient
heat is applied to melt the wax or substance of the links, 9.-The wax or fusible
substance melted in this way drains off through the runners, 17, into the dish, 16,
placed below and can be used over again. When the wax or fusible substance has
been completely drained off, the mould can be removed from the stove, and after
being turned over may have the molten steel poured into it.
The patterns and mould boxes may be arranged for casting any convenient
number of links at once; and if preferred the whole of the links may be moulded
and cast at the same operation, instead of the alternate links being cast at a
separate operation.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
The making or forming of chains or other interlinked or intricate articles of cast
steel or other cast metal by means of moulds which, or parts of which, are shaped
by patterns made of paraffin wax or other suitable fusible substanco which is got
out of the moulds by melting it, substantially as herein before described.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Walter Ralston, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three,
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.)
WALTER RAISION (L.B.)