IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING MOULDS OF SAND OR SUCH LIKE MATERIAL.”
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Ley, of the Vulcan Iron Works, Derby, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORMING MOULDS OF
SAND OR SUCH LIKE MATERIAL.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Ley at the Office
of the Commissionera of Patents on the 21st June 1881.
FRANCIS LEY, of the Vulcan Iron Works, Derby. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR FORMING MOULDS OF SAND OR SUCH LIKE MATERIAL."
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for forming moulds
of sand or such like material. The machine is designed for moulding from plate
moulds or from loose patterns.
The pattern to be moulded is placed or fixed on to the upper surface of a metal
plate, which is laid on to a truck or carriage that can be run on rails, so as to be
brought below the ram of a press or moved out from below it. The moulding boxes
or flasks are laid on to the metal plates, pins on the one entering sockets in the
other. The boxes are filled with sand and the sand is by a revolving strickle
levelled true with the top edge of the flask. Upon the top of the sand is laid a
wooden board with battens across it on the back or top surface. The width and
length of the board are somewhat less than the inside of the flask, and the edges
are preferably tapered or bevilled so that it may the better enter the mould when
forced downwards into it.
The ram of the press I make capable of moving upwards and downwards in
vertical guides. To move it upwards and downwards I joint it by a connecting
rod to a crank pin on a shaft, to which a slow revolving motion is given in any
suitable manner; I mako the crank pin moveable along a radial slot, so that its
throw may be adjustable. I also make provision for connecting the lower end of
the rod to the ram at different heights to allow for different thicknesses of flasks.
The wheel by which the driving shaft receives its motion I make fast upon the
shaft by a friction clutch, so that the shaft may readily be disconnected from it, or
fast and loose pullies may be used if the machine is driven by a belt.

page_text: In some cases I provide the flasks or boxes with spring catches to catch over a
horizontal pressure plate carried by the lower end of the ram. The catches aro
pressed aside on the descent of the ram by the pressure plate until the pressure
plate gets below the lips of the catches; the catches will then catch over the top of
the plate, and when the ram carrying the plate is again moved upwards the
mould will be lifted upwards with it, leaving the pattern upon the truck or
carriage.
When the ram again descends it may be made to lay the mould upon the truck
or carriage when the pattern has been taken off from it or on to another truck or
carriage.
The machine is made double, that is, with two trucks or carriages and two
rams. The cranks for working the rams are at the two ends of a horizontal
driving shaft mounted in bearings at the top of the frame.
The driving
wheel or pulley by which the shaft is driven is intermediate of the length of the
shaft.
The top half of a mould may thus be formed upon one carriage, whilst the bottom
half is formed upon the other carriage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Ley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st December
1881.
FRANCIS LEY, of the Vulcan Iron Works, Derby. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR FORMING MOULDS OF SAND OR SUCH LIKE MATERIAL.”
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for forming moulds
of sand or such like material. The machine is designed for moulding from plate
moulds or from loose patterns.
The pattern to be moulded is placed or fixed onto the upper surface of a metal
plate, which is laid onto a truck or carriage that can be run on rails, so as to be
brought below the ram of a press or moved out from below it. The moulding
boxes or flasks are laid on to the metal plates, pins on the one entering sockets in
the other. The boxes are filled with sand, and the sand is levelled true with the
top edge of the flask. Upon the top of the sand is laid a wooden board with
battens across it on the back or top surface. The width and length of the board
are somewhat less than the inside of the flask, and the edges are preferably
tapered or bevilled so that it may the better enter the mould when forced downwards
into it.
The ram of the press I make capable of moving upwards and downwards in
vertical guides. To move it upwards and downwards I joint it by a connecting
rod to a crank pin on a shaft, to which a slow revolving motion is given. I also
make provision for connecting tho pressure plate of the ram at different heights to
allow for different thicknesses of flasks. The wheel by which the driving shaft
receives its motion I make fast upon the shaft by a friction clutch, so that the shaft
may readily be disconnected from it, or fast and loose pullies may be used if the
machine is driven by a belt.
The machine is made double, that is, with two trucks or carriages and two
rams. The cranks for working the rams are at the two ends of a horizontal
driving shaft mounted in bearings at the top of the frame.
The driving
wheel or pulley by which the shaft is driven is intermediate of the length of the
shaft.
The top half of a mould may thus be formed upon ono carriage, whilst the bottom
half is formed upon the other carriage.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a moulding
machine constructed according to my Invention.
a, a, is the frame of the machine; it carries the axis b at its upper part in
suitable bearings. This axis is caused to rotate at a comparatively slow speed, as
represented in the Drawings; it has a grooved V wheel c upon it, and this is
driven by an endless chain with V projections upon it that enter the groove. The
wheel c is made heavy to act as a fly wheel; it is loose upon the axis, but can be
clutched fast with it by a friction clutch of ordinary construction operated by the
lever d, the screw e, and the hand wheel f.
Two similar discs are fixed upon the axis b at its ends; in each there is a crank
pin g; h, h, are slides arranged to move vertically upon the frame in dovetail
guides; cach slide is connected with the corresponding crank pin 9 by a connecting
rod i. The slides h, h, at their lower ends carry pressure plates k, k, which are so

page_text: fitted that they may easily be removed, as for different sorts of work pressure
plates of various sizes may be required.
The pressure plates have screwed stems on their upper surfaces, which are
received into corresponding sockets at the lower ends of the slides; ks are holes to
receive a rod or lever, which is used in turning the pressure plate round to adjust
the height.
These parts constitute the adjustable rammers. Beneath the rammers the frame
at a', a¹, forms a bracketted support, upon which are the carriages 1, 1, and these
can be pushed in under the rammers or drawn forward or backwards from them as
the operator requires. Each carriage runs upon four wheels and is guided by the
framo. The plate m is laid upon the carriage, and this plate has the pattern
formed or fixed upon its face. The plates m, m, will carry each a half pattern and
then the two flasks rammed upon the plates go together and form a complete
mould.
n, n, are the flasks; they have perforated lugs or sockets upon them, which fit
onto pins projecting upwards at m³, m', from the edges of the plates m, m.
In working the machine the operations are as follows:-
The pattern plate being on the carriage and the flask over it, as the Drawing
represents, moulding sand is poured into the flask to fill it, and the excess of sand
is removed by passing a strickle over the top of the flask. The board 9, stiffened
by cross pieces at the back, is then laid upon the sand in the flask; the carriage
thus loaded is now run in under the rammer or pressure plate, which descending
drives the board q into the flask and consolidates the sand. The previous
adjustment of the machine and the uniform filling of the flasks ensures the proper
amount of pressure being uniformly given. The flasks when removed from the
machine are put together and a complete mould ready for casting is thereby
formed.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,—
First. The combination, substantially as described, of the axis b, the two
cranks g,g, the two connecting rods i,i, the slides h, h, and the two pressure
plates h, k, forming apparatus for simultaneously ramming the upper and the lower
parts of a mould.
Second. My improved moulding machine, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Ley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.