IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING MACHINES FOR MAKING AND RAMMING MOULDS FOR SMALL CASTINGS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ezard, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING MACHINES
FOR MAKING AND RAMMING MOULDS FOR SMALL CASTINGS."
Sealed the 27th April 1880, and dated the 1st November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ezard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1879.
CHARLES EZARD, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING MACHINES FOR MAKING AND RAMMING MOULDS
FOR SMALL CASTINGS."
My Invention has reference to the moulding machines described in the Speci-
fication of my Letters Patent, dated 24th December 1878, No. 5278. In the
machine described in the said Specification the box with the patterns attached was
placed on a table carried by a hydraulic ram. The mould box was placed above
the pattern box, a skeleton box was placed upon the mould box, and the necessary
sand having been supplied to the boxes by means of a hopper and funnel with a
slide or shutter the ram was caused to rise so as to force the boxes against a fixed
head; then while the ram with the pattern box was descending ready for the next
operation the mould box was temporarily held against the head by a suitable
mechanical arrangement, and was subsequently released and deposited upon a table
or platform.
Now according to my present improvements I dispense with the means of holding
the mould box against the fixed head, and lift off the mould box in the usual way
after ramming, and to enable this to be done I provide for swinging the head or
top of the machine out of the way after ramming, so that it will not interfere with
lifting off the mould box. For this purpose I mount the head or top of the machine
on the upper end of uprights, whose lower ends are connected to a horizontal
shaft, which may pass through the bed or foundation of the machine. To this shaft
I attach an arm or lever carrying a weight to act as a counterpoise to the head or
top. Thus after a mould box has been rammed the head or top of the machine is
[Price £1

page_text: easily swung out of the way, the horizontal shaft before named acting as the centre
of the movement, and when the mould box bas been lifted off and another box
filled with sand has been put in its place, the head or top is as easily swung back
again into the upright position for ramming. A strong bracket or stop ensures
that the head is in an upright position during the ramming, and another stop
prevents the head being swung too far back.
Instead of filling the boxes with sand by means of a hopper and funnel, as
described in my aforesaid Specification, I now prefer to fill the boxes with a spade
or other suitable tool, as is usually done for hand ramming, and I therefore dispense
with the hopper and funnel.
My present Invention also includes a new arrangement for admitting the water
into and allowing it to escape from the hydraulic cylinder. I employ a slide valve
similar to the slide valve of an engine, and this valve is in connection with two
openings or ports, one of which is the inlet for water to the hydraulic cylinder, and
the other the outlet for the water from the said cylinder. Water is supplied to the
valve casing, and when the valve is moved in one direction, say upward, by means
of a lever the inlet to the cylinder is uncovered so that water enters and raises the
ram; then on lowering the valve the inlet port is crossed and the outlet port
uncovered, so that the water in the cylinder escapes. Thus the movement of the
lever in the one direction and its return movement cause the ram to be raised and
lowered.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters -Patent filed by
the said Charles Ezard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th April
1880.
CHARLES EZARD, of, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounder.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING MACHINES FOR MAKING AND RAMMING MOULDS
FOR SMALL CASTINGS."
My Invention has reference to the moulding machines described in the Speci-
fication of my Letters Patent, dated 24th December 1878, No. 5278. In the
machine described in the said Specification the box with the patterns attached was
placed on a table carried by a hydraulic ram. The mould box was placed above
the pattern box, a skeleton box was placed upon the mould box, and the necessary
sand having been supplied to the boxes by means of a hopper and funnel with a
slide or shutter the ram was caused to rise so as to force the boxes against a fixed
head; then while the ram with the pattern box was descending ready for the next
operation the mould box was temporarily held against the head by a suitable
mechanical arrangement, and was subsequently released and deposited upon a table
or platform.
Now according to my present improvements I dispense with the means of
holding the mould box against the fixed head, and lift off the mould box in the
usual way after ramming, and to enable this to be done I provide for swinging the
head or top of the machine out of the way after ramming, so that it will not
interfere with lifting off. the mould box. For this purpose I mount the head or
top of the machine on the upper end of uprights, whose lower ends are connected
to a horizontal shaft, which may pass through the bed or foundation of the machine.
To this shaft I attach an arm or lever carrying a weight to act as a counterpoise to
the head or top. Thus after a mould box has been rammed the head or top of the
machine is easily swung out of the way, the horizontal shaft before named acting as
the centre of the movement, and when the mould box has been lifted off and another
box filled with sand has been put in its place, the head or top is as easily swung
back again into the upright position for ramming. A strong bracket or stop ensures
that the head is in an upright position during the ramming, and another stop
prevents the head being swung too far back.
Instead of filling the boxes with sand by means of a hopper and funnel, as
described in my aforesaid Specification, I now prefer to fill the boxes with a spade
or other suitable tool, as is usually done for hand ramming, and I therefore dispense
with the hopper and funnel.
My present Invention also includes a new arrangement for admitting the water
into and allowing it to escape from the hydraulic cylinder. I employ a slide valve
similar to the slide valve of an engine, and this valve is in connection with two
openings or ports, one of which is the inlet for water to the hydraulic cylinder, and
the other the outlet for the water from the said cylinder. Water is supplied to
the valve casing, and when the valve is moved in one direction, say upward, by
means of a lever, the inlet to the cylinder is uncovered, so that water enters and
raises the ram; then on lowering the valve the inlet port is crossed, so that the
water in the cylinder runs back and escapes through the outlet port, which now
communicates with the inlet port through the valve. Thus the movement of the
lever in the one direction and its return movement cause the ram to be raised and
lowered.
In the annexed Drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 a side
elevation of a machine constructed according to my Invention. In Figure 1 the
parts are shewn in the position they occupy after the compression has been com-
pleted; in Figure 2-the head is shewn swung back, and the ram and boxes in their
lowest position.

page_text: a is the foundation or bed plate; b is the hydraulic cylinder containing a ram c,
which has a table d fixed to the top, and a guide rod d working through a bracket
d on the cylinder; e is the box to which the patterns are attached; this box is
placed on the table d; fis the moulding box, which is placed on the box e, and g
is a skeleton box, which is placed on the box f; h is a valve casing, and h¹ the
valve shewn separately in vertical section in Figure 3, for controlling the admission
and outlet of the water to and from the cylinder b; this valve may be operated by
the lever i or otherwise; k is the supply pipe to the valve; 7, the pipe leading from
the valve to the cylinder b; and m, the waste or exhaust pipe; n is the press head;
it is carried by uprights o, o, whose lower ends are connected to a horizontal shaft p
passing through the foundation a. This shaft is free to move on its axis within a
given limit, and it has connected thereto a lever or arm q carrying a weight r to
act as a counterpoise to the head n; 8, s, are brackets having stops t to ensure that
the head is in an upright position during the ramming, and stops u to prevent the
said head being swung too far back.
The mode of working or operating the machine, as shewn in the Figures, will be
fully understood by the explanations hereinbefore given.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The combination or arrangement of parts forming an improved moulding machine
for making and ramming moulds for castings, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ezard, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty ninth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty.
CHARLES EZARD. (L.S.)