Improvements in Sand Molding Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Sand Molding Machines.
We, WILLIAM C. WHITEHEAD, and JOHN H. LATSHAW, in the City of Indianapolis,
State of Indiana, United States of America, Manufacturers, and Machinists, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In the drawings Fig. 1 represents an interior side view of our improved machine,
the full lines indicating the position of the parts when the pattern plate is raised, the
dotted lines indicating the position of the movable parts of the mechanism when the
pattern plate is lowered, the frame-work and shaft being in cross sections. Fig. 2 is
an interior end view of the same, the frame-work and pattern plate being in cross
sections on the line -, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the cross piece or stud
plate. Fig. 4-is a detailed view of the triangular piece to which the short arm (a³) is
pivoted. Fig. 5 is a view of the stud plate.
The frame-work of the machine consists of the base (63) mounted on the rollers (7),
the top piece (p) upon which the parting plate (t) rests, the upper and lower parts
being connected by uprights (u), as shown in Fig. 1. Between these uprights
and near each end are curved braces or hangers (h h) which are bolted to the top,
their lower ends meeting and being connected together furnish pivotal support for
the ends of the jointed levers (j), as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These hangers have
projections or guides (g) which are channelled to receive slides (sl) connected to the
under side of the pattern plate which moves freely in these guides when the pattern
plate is being raised or lowered. The upper ends of the jointed levers are pivoted
at 5-5 to projections on the under side of the pattern plate (p¹), their lower ends
being pivoted at 6-6 in the lower united ends of the hangers (h h). Thus the
pattern plate and the mechanism connected therewith, namely, the jointed levers and
the guides are supported directly by means of the curved hangers (hh) between the
ends and free from contact with the other parts of the frame and the object of this is
to prevent the jointed levers from being thrown in or out of line at their lower pivotal
connection when the pattern plate is lowered.

page_text: (c) are cross pieces or plates which are slotted at each end to permit a letteral
movement, these plates being bolted to projections from the frame work, as shown in
Fig. 1, and these plates are intended to support in openings (h) small upright pins
or studs which are intended to carry or support a small plate or section of the parting
plate upon or near their upper ends so that its top piece when in operation is
sustained in any position required by the pattern. This auxiliary plate which is
carried upon the top of these studs being intended to support a part of the pattern,
say for instance the central hub portion of the pulley, the rim of the pulley itself
being carried on the pattern plate and passing upward when the levers are raised
through a corresponding shaped opening in the parting plate. When the pattern
plate() is raised and the parts are in the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 1,
the flask is placed over the pattern and the sand falling in is rammed in the usual
manner, then by means of the lever (1) which is mounted on the rock-shaft (s) the
latter is rotated, and through the medium of the arms (a a¹) and their connected
links (aa) which are pivoted at 3 and 7 to the jointed levers connected with the
pattern plate, the latter is lowered and the solid patterns are carried with it away
from the sand, but in the case of the pulley only the rim is thus carried away, leaving
the spider and hub still in the sand. The stud plates are also adapted to sustain soft
sand-cores for small openings in patterns which would otherwise be broken off when
the pattern was removed. Many other cases might arise in addition to those herein
specified where their use would be beneficial. The lever (!) moves against the face of
the quadrant (7) which has small holes to receive pins so as to stop the movement of
the lever at such point as may be desired.
It has been found after careful experiment that in drawing the pattern from the
sand, the two ends of the pattern plate do not descend equally, and that there is
more or less difference in the level of the ends at such times, and in order to
remedy this we have devised the peculiar method of pivoting the shorter arm or
link which connects the arm of the rock-shaft to the jointed levers, herein shown,
namely:
This shorter arm or link (a³) is pivoted at one end, at (2), to the arm (a¹). Its
other end, instead of being pivoted at the central point (4), of the jointed lever (i), as
is the case upon the other side of the machine, is pivoted at (7) to one corner of a
spherical triangle (s), all the sides and angles of which are unequal, and the upper
corner of this triangle. is connected at (4) with the jointed lever (1), and when in that
position the vertical side of this triangle becomes the lower half of the jointed lever
on that side, so that the distance from 4 to 5 and from 4 to 6 are equal. The angles
of this triangle have the following values: the angle ABC is fifty-seven and one
half degrees, the angle B A C is forty-six degrees, the angle A CB is seventy-six and
one half degrees. These angles having a fixed value, insure the relative proportional
lengths of the sides, and a mathematical calculation establishes the fact that these
elements are necessary in order to effect the result desired, namely, the movement of
the pattern plate in either direction so that its upper surface is always in a horizontal
plane. This construction, when the parts are in the position shown in the full lines,
makes the angle 672 equal to the angle 136, and when, the pattern plate is lowered
and the parts are in the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the angles of the
joining levers on both sides are equal, indicating that the surface of the pattern plate
is level.
Our improvement further consists in attaching the coiled springs (sp) to the
shaft (s) at one end and coiling them around the shaft, connecting the other end of
the spring with the brackets (b) in which the shaft is journalled.
The object of this is to use the force of the springs against the weight of the
pattern plate and patterns, so that it will act as a sort of counter balance, and prevent
any jerking or unsteady movement of the pattern plate and its load at any point of its
movement, and it accomplishes this by throwing the force of the spring against the
rotary movement of the shaft as the pattern plate descends. This force being exerted
equally and constantly prevents any sudden or irregular movement of the pattern
plate while being lowered.

page_text: It must be understood that the working parts of the machine are practically
supported by the pairs of hangers (h-h & h―h) on each end and are not only held free
from contact with the ends and base of the frame, but also above the floor, so that no
jar of the frame or unevenness of the floor will seriously disturb the relation of the
working parts or the operation of the machine.
Another feature of our invention is in making the pattern plate (p¹) with openings
or perforations in order to allow the surplus sand to fall through and out of the way,
and these openings are preferably made flaring so that any sand collecting thereon,
and which upon a solid plate would be likely to remain and hinder the bearing of the
top of the pattern plate against the under side of the parting plate, will fall through
and out of the way.
As will be seen from Fig. 1, the arm (a¹) is made a little shorter than the arm (a),
opposite it, and this difference in length, is one of the necessary elements in securing
the equal lowering of both ends of the pattern plate when the pattern is being
withdrawn from the sand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
1. A sand molding machine wherein the pattern plate is supported upon a pair of
jointed levers at each end, and connected by links of unequal length to a rock-shaft
supported in brackets connected with the frame, which is revolvable in its bearings
so as to operate the jointed levers connected therewith, and raise or lower the pattern
plate, the shorter link pivoted at one end to an arm connected with such rock-shaft,
and at the other to a projection from the jointed levers on that side, of such length
and angle as to maintain the pattern plate in a level position throughout its entire
length at all points of its movement, substantially as shown and described.
2. A sand molding machine, comprising in combination a frame work, a parting
plate on top, a rock-shaft journalled in brackets connected with such frame, arms on
the rock-shaft pivoted to links of unequal length which connect such arms to a pair of
toggle levers hinged at their upper ends to the pattern plate, and at their lower ends
to curved hangers or braces bolted to the top of the frame, and hanging down free
between the ends of the frame, such hangers having channeled guides to admit tho
movement therein of slides fastened to and beneath the pattern plate, whereby the
pattern plate and its load is suspended beneath the frame work, and free from
other contact therewith in its ascent or descent, one or more springs coiled upon
the shaft, and connected also to the brackets in which such shaft is journalled,
whose force evenly résists the rotation of such shaft, substantially as shown and
described.
3. A sand molding machine wherein the pattern plate is movable up and down by
means of a revolving shaft and a system of toggle levers, a mechanism for maintaining
the level of all parts of the pattern plate in its downward movement, which consists in
shortening one of the links that connect the arms of the rock-shaft with the toggle
levers, and making the connection between such shortened links and the toggle levers
on that end by means of a triangular frame whose sides are all unequal and whose
angles are substantially of the values herein before mentioned, as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. A sand molding machine comprising in combination a frame work, a parting
plate supported thereon, an armed shaft revolvable in bearings connected with the
frame, a pattern plate supported upon the toggle levers at each end, and upon slides
moving in guides formed upon braces hanging from the upper part of the frame, and
between the ends thereof, whose lower united ends provide pivotal support for the
lower ends of the toggle levers, such toggle levers connected at one end to an arm of
the rock-shaft by a link, and at the other through a triangular frame whose sides are
unequal and whose angles have the values herein before given, to a shorter link
which is pivotally connected to an arm of the rock-shaft at a point diametrically
opposite the arm connected to the longer link, and one or more springs connected to

page_text: the shaft and frame whose force evenly resists the rotation of the rock-shaft when
the pattern plate is being lowered, substantially as shown and described.
5. A sand molding machine comprising in combination a frame work supporting a
parting plate, having openings to permit the passage through it of patterns fixed
upon a pattern plate adapted to be raised or lowered by suitable mechanism connected
below it to the frame work, one or more bars connected to the frame work on either
side of such pattern plate in which are secured studs supporting parts of the parting
plate on their upper ends, in openings formed in such parting plates to permit the
passage of parts of patterns, substantially as shown and described.
6. A sand molding machine comprising in combination a frame work having
openings to permit the passage through it of patterns, a pattern plate carrying such
patterns, and movable up and down by mechanism connected below it to the frame
work, one or more bars connected to the frame work on either side of such pattern
plate, adjustable laterally on their supports, and carrying adjustable studs which
sustain cut out portions of the parting plate in position to meet the requirements of
the patterns, substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. A sand molding machine comprising in combination a frame work supporting
on its top a parting plate having openings to permit the passage through it of
patterns or parts of patterns, parts of said plate cut out from the main portion
sustained in position by studs, adjustable vertically, supported on horizontal bars,
adjustable laterally, and resting on projections connected with the frame work,
pattern plate on which the patterns are fixed, movable up and down by mechanism
below it to the frame work, with means for operating the same, substantially as shown
and described.
a
8. A sand molding machine wherein the pattern plate is movable up and down by
means of a revolving shaft and a system of toggle levers, a mechanism for maintaining
the level of all parts of the pattern plate in its downward movement, which consists in
shortening one of the arms upon the rock-shaft and one of the links that connect the
arms of the rock shaft with the toggle levers, and making the connection between
such shortened links and the toggle levers on that end by means of a triangular frame
whose sides are all unequal and whose angles are substantially of the values herein
before mentioned, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Seventh day of June 1887.