IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF CASTING METALS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1881

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LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF
CASTING METALS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from
abroad by Samuel Langhorne Clemens, of Hartford, Connecticut, Daniel
Slote, and Charles Sneider, both of New York City, all in the United States
of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert.John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
"IMPROVEMENTS
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
A communi-
IN THE MODE OF CASTING METALS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
cation from abroad by Samuel Langhorne Clemens, of Hartford, Connecticut,
Daniel Slote, and Charles Sneider, both of New York City, all in the United States
of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in casting metals and in moulds
for carrying the same into effect.
The Invention is particularly designed for the production of fine castings, such
as relief line plates, type, and blocks for printing, embossing, and other similar
purposes, although it may be applied with advantage to all descriptions and varieties
of castings.
The Invention has for its object to provide certain improved means whereby a
plate, type, block, or other article or object may be cast in hard metal or alloy,
such as brass, bronze, or the like, in such manner as to produce clearly and sharply
defined designs, figures, or letters in relief, and to obviate the occurrence of blow
holes, bubbles, and other imperfections which are so common to ordinary castings
in hard metal.
To this end the Invention consists in casting the metal in a mould having a
matrix or matrices formed with a backing which is readily destructible under the
influence of the heat of the molten metal, and with a facing of refractory material

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of such nature as to permit the necessary designs, figures, or letters to be formed
therein in intaglio by means of a graver or otherwise, the metal being caused to
flow over the face of the matrix or matrices previous to forming on the same so
as to carry the air and slag or other impurities before it; the destructible backing
by breaking or being otherwise destroyed by the heat, affording passages directly
through the matrix or matrices for the further escape of the gases, thus insuring a
perfect casting.
a
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a sectional view of the mould
I employ in carrying my Invention into effect; Figure 2 represents a top view of
half flask showing a modified form of the mould, and Figure 3 a vertical sectional
view of such modified mould showing the same complete.
To carry my Invention into effect I first take a plate of suitable size constructed
of glass or other suitable material, which will be readily destructible under the
influence of heat, and cover it with a coating to any desired thickness of material
capable of being conveniently and properly worked or cut through in the desired
lines of the designs or letters by means of a graver or otherwise.
This material for coating or covering the plates may consist of any substance or
composition which will possess the requisite qualities.
In practice I have found the following to answer well for general purposes,
viz.
Ground brick or porous clay, one pound.
Whitning, one pound and a half.
Plaster of Paris, one quarter of a pound.
For the hardest alloys or metals a little more ground brick or clay may be
employed. The composition is formed into plates or tablets of any desired size and
shape, and in any convenient manner, after which it is allowed to set and is
baked and' properly hardened: It is then pasted; cemented, or otherwise secured
to the glass plate. For this purpose the cement known as stratena will be found
to answer, well, although any other cement may be employed. When the cement
has become thoroughly dried and the material fastened securely to the glass, the
lines of the desired designs, types; or figures are cut through the compound to the
surface of the glass by means of a graver or other instrument, after which the plate
is set with the glass surface toward the sand in an ordinary flask properly filled
with sand, a suitable cavity being formed for the metal of which the body of the
casting is to consist. The sand at the back of the plate is perforated in innu-
merable places by means of a suitable instrument or mould in such manner as to
form a large series of air passages, while at the same time the intervening portions
of the sand will form a backing to support the plate. A gate is constructed at the
adjoining edges of the two flasks on a line with the face or faces of the matrix so
that the metal when poured in will flow evenly over the upper surface of the lower
matrix and carry the air and slag before it, and thus come into intimate contact™
with the entire surface, a receptacle or receptacles being formed at the side or sides
of the mould in which the superfluous metal collects. As the fluid metal thu's passes
over the face of the matrix it will be evident that it will fill the lines forming the
designs or letters therein to the exclusion of the air, while the heat of the metal
will break the glass of the said matrix, forming a passage directly through the
same, by which the gases developed by the hot metal may escape, relieving the
metal of the pressure generated by such gases, and effectually obviating the blow
holes which would otherwise be formed in the body of the completed type plate or
block. In order to facilitate the breaking of the glass the back of the same may
be scored or scratched by means of a diamond or other suitable tool previous to
the insertion of the matrix.
My Invention will be found to be peculiarly applicable to the construction of
plates or blocks for printing or embossing figures or designs in different colors, or
designs of relief where it is necessary to employ a number of plates adapted to
register with each other. In such cases the portion of the design to form the first
of a series of plates will be constructed as before mentioned.
Then in the con-

page_text: struction of the remaining plates the portions of the design forming the registering
parts may be sketched out on paper, and the same applied to the lower face of the
glass in proper position so as to form an accurate guide in cutting through the
composition, thus providing a means whereby the most perfect registration in the
finished plates or blocks may be effected.
My Invention, besides the above enumerated applications, may be used in the
construction of patterns of various descriptions for castings, as will be evident.
Referring to the Drawings, the letter A indicates a flask of the ordinary or any
improved pattern constructed in two parts, in which the mould is formed. The
letter B indicates the matrix or matrices, which consist each of a plate of glass C
or other destructible material. The letter D indicates the facing of the matrix or
matrices formed of the before mentioned compound or any refractory material
having substantially similar properties, the designs, figures, or letters being formed
in intaglio in such facing in any suitable manner. The letter E indicates the
body of the mould, which is formed of sand as usual with the cavity F for the
reception of the metal which is to form the body of the casting. At the back of
each matrix is formed a series of appertures or air passages G by means of a
suitable pattern or any convenient instrument for the escape of gases.
The letter H indicates the gate through which the molten metal is poured into
the mould. This gate is formed at one side of the mould, and enters the cavity
therein on a line with the adjoining faces of the two parts thereof. The letter I
indicates the receptacle or receptacles for the reception of the superfluous metal.
The said receptacles are open to the air, as indicated by the letter K, to permit the
escape of the gases from the molten metal, as before mentioned.
Having thus fully described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The process of producing relief line plates, blocks, or types for printing,
embossing, and other like purposes, by securing a sheet or coating of suitable sub-
stance upon a plate of glass or other destructible material, placing the same in a
suitable flask, and pouring the molten metal into the same so as to pass over the
face of the matrix and carry the air and slag before it prior to cooling and forming
upon the same, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2nd. The process of producing relief line plates, blocks, or types in hard metal
by forming a matrix of suitable composition on a sheet of glass or other destructible
material, and casting the hot metal upon the same in a suitable mould, whereby
the glass or destructible plate will be destroyed, forming an escape for the gases
developed by the hot metal in such manner as to obviate the formation of blow
holes, bubbles, and other imperfections, substantially as specified.
3rd. The method herein described of forming matrices for the construction of
relief line plates, blocks, or type for printing, embossing, and other like purposes,
by securing to a sheet of glass or other destructible material a coating of proper
material, and engraving through such material, substantially as specified.
4th. The method herein described of constructing a matrix for the formation of
relief line printing or embossing blocks, plates, or type by securing a sheet of proper
material to a sheet of glass, engraving through such material, and scoring or
scratching the back of the glass, substantially as specified.
5th. The method herein described of constructing matrices for the formation of
registering plates, blocks, or type printing, and embossing, by securing a suitable
compound or material to a sheet of glass, and suitable designs to the opposite side
of the same, and cutting or engraving through the material, the designs forming
guides for cutting or engraving, whereby a series of accurately registering plates,
blocks, or type may be formed, substantially as specified.
6th. The method of forming castings by causing the metal to flow over a matrix
in a flask so as to carry the air and slag before it and cool gradually on the face
of said matrix, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
7th. The method of forming metallic castings by causing the metal to collect

page_text: against the face of a matrix having a destructible backing of glass or other material
in a suitable mould, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
8th. The mould constructed as described with a matrix having a destructible
backing and passages for the escape of the gases, and provided with a gate for the
admission of the metal, and a receptacle or receptacles for the superfluous metal,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, 1881.
11.
J.
HADDAN. (L.S.)