A MODE OR MODES OF FOUNDING TYPE, AND OF CASTING IN METAL, PLASTER, AND CERTAIN OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1848

page_text: HARRISS SPECIF
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HARRIS, of No. 4, Richards Terrace, Albion Street, Rotherhithe, in the
County, of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of November, in the
twelfth year of Her reign, did give and grant unto me, the said John Harris,
myexors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said John Harris, my exors, admors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Harris, my exors, admors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereaftór during the term of years therein expressed, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend my Invention of "A MODE OR
MODES OF FOUNDING TYPE, AND OF CASTING IN METAL, PLASTER, AND CERTAIN OTHER
MATERIALS," within that part of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and
Mau, and also in all' Her Colonies and Plantations abroad; in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso requiring that I, the said John
Harris, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
Di 1

page_text: immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Harris, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by this present statement and Specification thereof,
reference being had to the three several Sheets of Drawings hereunto
belonging, and forming part hereof :-
It is well known, that more especially in founding type, and also in casting
generally according to the modes hitherto ordinarily practised, that much diffi-
culty is experienced in rendering such type or other castings completely solid
and sound throughout their entire mass, owing to the fact that a portion of
the air (which occupies the mould previously to the metal or other material
being run or poured thereinto) is frequently not displaced by the metal or
other material, and consequently the type or other casting is rendered unsound.
Now my Invention has for its object the removal of this objection to the said
modes hitherto ordinarily practised, either completely or to a very considerable
extent, and consists,―
Firstly, in causing the metal or other material (in a molten or fluid, or
analogous state) to run, pass, or flow through the mould in a continuous
stream, carrying with it the air, scoria, dirt, sand, &c., and (when the mould
is completely filled with the metal or other material) in shutting or cutting
off the flow of the said metal or other material whilst it is so running, passing,
or flowing.
Secondly, in causing the said metal or other material (in condition as afore-
said) to run, pass, or flow through the mould, and in shutting or cutting off
the flow before that the whole of the mould is filled, thus driving the air
from the lower portions of the mould (or that nearest the exit), and together
with the air, the scoria, dirt, sand, &c., also leaving the remaining portion of
the mould to be filled after that such shutting or cutting off of the flow is
effected.
And I would here remark, that of the mode or modes herein set forth under
the above two distinct divisions, that set forth under the first division will be
found the more applicable to type founding (including not only type with letters
thereon, but also quadrates, blanks, spaces, stereotype plates, or other forms
commonly in use amongst printers), and also to the casting of small articles
or subjects; whilst that set forth under the second division will be found the
more applicable to the casting of large articles or subjects, in which the pas-
ages of a considerable quantity of molten metal or other material through the

page_text: mould (being in excess of the quantity actually required for the casting itself)
would beattended with too great au expense in heating the metal, or in waste
of material, or other impediment to the former plan.
(I.) In illustration of the manner in which I carry into effect the first
division of my Invention, I will now proceed to describe the Sheet 1 of the
Drawings, in which I have represented several Figures or Views of a mould
or apparatus for the purpose of founding type, and in which Figures the corre-
sponding parts are marked with similar letters or characters.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are a side elevation, a top plan view, and an end view
respectively of the said mould or apparatus. Figure 4, a longitudinal and
vertical section taken through the line Z, Z (in Figure 2), shewing the upper
and lower slide (hereafter mentioned), so placed as that the several ports or
openings through them are arranged to form a series of continuous passages
with the several respective or corresponding passages through the body of the
mould. Figure5, a view corresponding with the last, but shewing the reverse
position of the said slides, and also the middle slide (herein-after mentioned)
as brought into action. Figure 6, a transverse vertical section through the
line Y, Y (in Figure 2), with the slides in the position represented in the
Figure 4. Figure 7, a horizontal section taken through the line X, X (in
Figure 6), with the slides in the position represented in the Figure 5. Figures
8, 9, and 10 are detached plan views of the slids F, L, G, respectively, the
last one representing the several matrices M (hereafter mentioned) which it
carries, some of them as in their proper grooves, two of them as removed out
of their grooves and on one side of the slide, and one of them as only partially
slided out of its groove. The main portion or body of the mould or appa-
ratus is divided into two halves or portions A and B, connected together by
a vertical hinge joint C, which allows the half A to swing round or open
away from the half B, as denoted by the dotted lines in Figure 2. A+ a
handle attached to the half A for moving it on the said hinge. D, the bed
plate of the apparatus, being in one piece or connected with the fixed half B.
E, a handle or catch serving to keep the two halves firmly and closely
together, as represented in the several Figures. The two halves at the part
or parts of contact are so shaped as to leave a series of rectangular vertical
passages E+, E+, between them, corresponding in size and proportion with
the size and proportion of the type required to be manufactured; and the
said two halves are so fashioned at their upper portions as to form a trough
into which the molten metal is first to be poured in the operation of founding,
Fand G, the upper and lower slides respectively, each being furnished with
a series of ports or openings F+ and G+ respectively corresponding in number

page_text: with the number of passages E+, E+, and each (slide) working in grooves
-formed half in either of the halves of the apparatus. The upper slide F is
further furnished with a corresponding series of pieces of beading projecting
from its under side, for the purpose of giving the proper form to the feet of
the type to be made. H, a lever working on a fulcrum at I, for the purpose
of actuating the slides F and G, by moving (with the hand) the upper end of
the said lever. L is the middle slide. K, a pin projecting from the under
side of the slide.F, and taking into a slot or recess in the upper side of the
said middle slide, for the purpose of causing the required small amount of
action of the latter from the action of the former of these slides. The middle
slide L (which works only in the half B) carries a series of small projecting
pieces of beading for the purpose of forming what are commonly known as
nicks in the type. The said slide may be furnished with one or more series
of such projections, according as one or more nicks are required to be made
(instead of being furnished with only one series, as represented). The lower
slide G carries the matrices M, in which the forms of the letters to be pro-
duced are punched; these matrices being fitted into grooves in the said slide,
and capable of being changed for others with different characters thereon, as
required. The operation of casting is as follows:-Suppose the two halves
of the mould or apparatus to be kept close together by means of the handle
or catch E, and the slides to be so arranged as to leave a series of continuous
vertical passages through the mould or apparatus (as represented at Figure 4);
the molten metal is then to be poured into the trough in the upper portion,
when it will run or flow through the several series of passages in a series of
continuous streams, and will displace and expel the air which previously
occupied them.
While the metal is thus running or flowing in a series of
continuous streams (a sufficient time having been allowed for the passage of
any dross or scum, &c. through the passages) the position of the slides is to
be reversed (as shewn in Figure 5), the effect of which will be as follows:-
The lower slide G will carry the matrices M, M, under the passages E, E,
and stop the further flow of metal through them. The upper slide will cutt
off the flow at the top of these passages, leaving the type of the required
length and without any unnecessary encumbrances, known as "jets" in
ordinary type founding, and the pieces of beading on the under side of the
said slide will form the feet of the type, and, further, will tend to compress
the metal similarly to the action of the middle slide now about to be described.
The two slides G and F having first acted simultaneously, or nearly so, the
middle slide L acting immediately afterwards, and whilst the metal remains
in a molten state, will form the nicks in the sides of the type, and at the same

page_text: time ensure the entry of the metal into the letters or recesses of the matrices,
and will slightly compress the whole body of the metal thus formed into type.
Directly that the metal is set or becomes solidified, the handle or catch Eis to be
thrown back, and the half A of the mould or apparatus is to be swung round
on the hinge C, when the type will either fall out or may be readily removed.
To complete the manufacture of the type they will require finishing in the
ordinary manner, but this forms no part of my Invention. I would here
remark, that although I have represented a series of matrices with different
letters punched therein, yet it is necessary, in order to save the trouble and
expense of sorting, to have the same letter on each matrix of a series
employed at one and the same time or operation of casting.
(II.) In illustration of the manner in which I carry into effect the second
division of my Invention, I will now proceed to describe the second Sheet
of the Drawings, and I would here again remark, that it is the displacement
and expulsion of the air, more especial from the lower portion of the mould
or that nearest the exit, which it is my object (under this division) to effect,
as this appears to be the chief difficulty experienced in casting generally,
according to the methods hitherto adopted.
The Sheet 2 represents several Figures or Views of an apparatus for the
purpose of effecting this objectas adapted to a pair of ordinary flasks or frames
used in brass casting. Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, are a side elevation, an end
elevation, a top plan view, and an inverted plan view respectively. Figure 15
is a vertical section through the line W, W (in Figure 13), shewing the
ports or passages (herein-after mentioned) open. Figure 16,a view, partially
in side elevation and partially in section, shewing the said ports or passages
closed. Figure 17, a partial transverse section (through the line V, V, in
Figure 13), shewing one of the ports or passages open. Figure 18, a top plan
view of the apparatus detached from the flasks or frames, the slide being in a
similar position to that represented in Figure 16. In all the said last-
mentioned several Figures the corresponding parts are marked with similar
letters or characters. The subject for which a mould is (in certain of these
Figures) represented as prepared, is that of a number of balls from which the
parts joining the several balls is to be clipped or cut off, after that the casting
is made, in order to render them complete. a, a, the flasks or frames, carrying
the two halves b, b, of the mould formed in loam or sand. c, a carriage or
guide for the slide d. e, a lever working on a fulcrum at f, formed by a
forked lug on a projection from the carriage c; the lower end of the lever e
passes through a hole in one end of the slide d, so that by a movement of the
upper end of the lever by the hand the said slide may be actuated so as to close

page_text: or open the ports or passages. These ports or passages are openings formed
in the slide, and furnished with a lining or coating of loam or sand. The
carriage c is represented as attached to the flasks or frames a, a, by pins and
cotters, as affording a ready means of connection and disconnection, so as to
allow the same apparatus to be transferred to a series of flasks or frames in
succession, if it should be desired to do so.
The operation of casting is as follows:-Suppose the ports or passages to be
open, as in Figure 15, the molten metal is to be poured into the mould at the
top, and as soon as a portion thereof has passed completely through the mould,
and the metal runs in a continuous stream through the ports or passages, the
scoria, dirt, sand, &c., having been allowed to pass, and the air in the lower
portion of the mould having necessarily been displaced and expelled the slide
is to be actuated so as to close the ports or passages, as in Figure 16, when the
mould will gradually fill, and any air in the upper portion of the mould will be
.displaced and expelled through air gits in the ordinary manner.
The Sheet 3 of the Drawings represents two further illustrations of the
manner in which I carry into effect the second division of my Invention,
namely, its application to the purposes of cylinder casting and pipe casting in
iron. The Figures 19 to 22 represent its application to the former purpose,
and in each of these Figures the corresponding parts are marked with similar
letters or characters. Figure 19 is a section through the floor of a foundry,
representing the cylinder as having been cast and remaining in the mould.
The core is not shewn, but is made and supported in the ordinary manner.
Figure 20, a top plan view. Figure 21, a similar view of the horned ring or
plate (hereafter mentioned), and of the slide, aud certain other parts, which.
may readily be distinguished by the letters of reference appearing thereon.
Figure 22,.a vertical section taken through the line U, U (in Figure 20), and
.viewed in the direction denoted by the arrow in that Figure. is the ordinary
sand pit or floor of the foundry, in which the mould is imbedded. 1, the
horned ring or plate, on which the mould is built, covered with a layer of loam.
as usual.
m, the mould, formed of brick and loam. The cast cylinder is
..marked *. n, a space or receptacle formed in the sand under the plate l, for
the purpose of receiving the superfluous metal, the said space being fashioned
so that the said superfluous metal may form itself into pigs so as to be readily
broken up for the purpose of melting over again. o, a tube fixed to the plate 1,
and serving as an air vent from the space n. p, a rod, furnished with handle q
at top, and lever r at bottom, for actuating the slide s which works in guidest,t,
fixed to the plate. The slide is furnished with a layer or coating of loam on
its upper surface, and there is a port or opening through the plate l, against

page_text: which the slide works. The several Figures shew the passage through the
port or opening as closed. This passage is the only exit through which
the metal is allowed to escape from the mould into the space n, although six
several holes are shewn through which it may enter at the top of the mould.
The operation of casting is similar to that lastly above described. The
molten metal is to be run or poured into the mould through the openings
at the top, the passage through the port being open, and as soon as the metal
runs in a continuous stream through such passage, and the intended effects
(previously described with regard to the brass casting) have taken place the
slide s is to be actuated so as to shut or cut off the flow through the said
passage, and the running or pouring in of the molten metal is to be continued
until the mould is filled (and a slight head in addition is formed, as in the
ordinary manner, if this should be required).
The Figures 23, 24, and 25 represent the application of the second division
of my Invention to the purpose of casting pipes or tubes, and in each of these
three Figures the corresponding parts are marked with similar letters or
characters. Figure 23 is a longitudinal section of a pair of flasks for this
purpose, shewing the mould therein, and representing a pipe as having been
cast and remaining in the mould. The core is represented as made and
supported in the ordinary manner. Figure 24 is a plan view shewing the
greater portion of the lower flask, and a small portion (one end) of the upper
flask, together with the appurtenance thereunto belonging. Figure 25, a
transverse section through the line T, T (in Figures 23 and 24). 1 is the
upper flask, and 2, 2, its handles.
3, the lower flask, and 4, 4, its handles
5, 5, the two halves of the mould. 6, the pipe cast therein. 7, the slide
working between guides, 8,8, fixed to the upper flask. 9, a lever for actuating
the said slide, so as to move it from the position shewn (that is, with the port
uncovered) into such a position as to cover or close the port or opening 10 in
the lower flask; 11, a part of the lower flask intended as a receptacle for the
superfluous metal, the said part containing sand so fashioned as that the said
superfluous metal may form itself into pigs.
The operation of casting is similar to that in each of the two cases lastly
above described. Suppose the slide 7 to be in the position represented, the
molten metal is to be poured or ran into the mould through the openings
at 12, 12, and as soon as the metal runs in a continuous stream through the
port or opening 10, and the intended effects (as previously mentioned) have
taken place, the flow of the metal through the said port or opening is to be
shut or cut off by means of the slide, and the running or pouring of the metal

page_text: eight hundred and forty-nine.