Improvement in Molding Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Molding Machines.
We, FRANK MOORE and FRANCIS LUDLOW CLARK, Mechanical Engineers'
residing at Pittsburgh and Swissvale, respectively, in the County of Allegheny
State of Pennsylvania, and United States of America, 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 :--
Our invention relates to machines for making molds for castings, of the 'class or
type in which a rotating table is employed for the successive presentation of a
series of flasks or mold boxes to a device for effecting the compression of 'the sand
therein. The object of our invention is to provide a machine of such general type
which shall be simple, compact, and durable in its structure, and be adapted to be
expeditiously operated, with an economical application of motive power, and without
involving any hand molding. To this end, our invention consists in certain novel
devices and combinations hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings :
Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a molding machine embodying our
invention, at the line a, e, of Fig. 3, one of the pattern plate carrier' guides, and
both pattern plate carriers shown therein, being in elevation;
Fig. 2, a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken at right angles to
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, a plan or top view of the table, with the cylinder standards and one of
the pattern plate carriers in horizontal section, and showing in plan, a pattern plate,
a platen, and a stripping plate;
J
Fig. 4, a vertical central section through the operating cock or valve;
Fig. 5, a plan or top view of the same;
Figs. 6, 7 and 8, transverse sections through the same, in the positions of supply,
equalization, and release respectively, and;
Fig. 9, a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating a modifica-
tion of the ramming mechanism.
In the practice of our invention we provide a substantial base or bed plate 1,
adapted to be secured to a floor or other suitable foundation. A circular track 2
is connected to the bed plate, the upper surface of said track being partly
horizontal, in two planes of different levels, and partly composed of alternately
reversed inclines, connecting the horizontal portions. A vertical cylindrical
standard. 3 is fixed to the bed plate, concentric with the track 2, and a vertical
standard 4 is bolted to the bed plate, exterior to the track 2, said standard serving,
together with the standard 3, to support the mechanism, presently to be described,
by which the sand is compacted in the flasks.
A table. 5, composed of an annular top connected by radial arms to a central
hub or sleeve, is fitted to rotate on the bed plate, upon ball bearings 6, concentric
with the track 2 and standard. 3, its central hub fitting and moving freely around
the standard 3. The top plate of the table 5 is provided with a series of circum-
ferential recesses or notches 31, to receive a latch whereby the table is held
stationary-during the jarring and ramming of the flasks, and the table carries a
series of pattern plates 7, which support the patterns a, and are connected to the
tops of cylindrical pattern plate carriers 8, fitting, with the capacity of free
vertical movement, in bracket guides 9, secured circumferentially to the table.
The guides 9are provided with internal recesses near their tops, to receive
packing 9, for preventing the access of sand to their inner surfcaes, and the
pattern plate carriers are supported on rollers 10, which are journalled in shoes
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page_text: or hearings 11, secured to the lower ends of the carriers, and traverse over the
track 2 in the rotation of the table. During the jarring and ramming of each
flask the roller of its carrier is relieved, from contact with the track by the
elevation of the carrier, which, in these periods, is supported by members abutting
against the bearing faces of its shoe, as hereinafter described.
Vertical bearing pins 12 are fixed in each of the pattern plates 7, said pins
entering and fitting freely in sleeves 13 projecting downwardly from the lower side
of a platen or pressure plate 14, one of which is provided for each pattern- plate,
said platens being adapted to support the stripping plate 15 and flask 16, and being
themselves supported, except during the jarring and ramming of the flask upon
bearing faces on the top of the table 5. The normal vertical relation of the
pattern plates and platens is maintained by guide pins 17, fixed to the table and
fitting corresponding openings in the platens.
1
The tops of the standards 3 and 4 are connected by a substantial frame casting
or entablature 18, which supports the mechanism by which compacting pressure is
applied to the sand in the flasks, fluid pressure being preferably utilized, as in the
instance illustrated. A compressing cylinder 19 and a releasing cylinder 20, which
are arranged horizontally and in line axially, are secured to or formed integral
with the frame 18, on opposite sides of a line perpendicular to a point in the circular
path traversed by the axes of the pattern plate carriers in the rotation of the table 5.
The cylinders 19 and 20 are fitted with suitably packed pistons 21 and 22 respectively,
the piston 21, of the compressing cylinder 19, being coupled, by a link 23, to the
adjacent ends of a pair of toggle levers 24, 25, and the piston 22 being coupled, by
a link 26, to the link 23 of the opposite piston. The opposite or outer ends of the
toggle levers 25 and 24 are coupled, respectively, to a ramming plate 27, having a
working face 28, of wood or other suitable material, and to an abutment, which
may either be fixed, or, preferably, as shown, adapted to yield upon the application
of pressure above a desired and determined limit to the toggle levers.
The
ramming plate 27 is provided with a vertical extension 29, which, in this instance,
is of cylindrical form and fits truly in a corresponding guide 30, on the frame 18,
thereby ensuring true rectilineal movement of the ramming plate.
The table 5 is held stationary during the operations of jarring and ramming
the flasks, by a latch 32, which enters one of the series of notches 31 in the
periphery of the table, the latch being forced into engagement with a notch, when
the latter is brought into line with it by a spring 33, and being withdrawn
therefrom, to admit of the rotation of the table, by a piston 34, fixed to a stem
projecting from the latch and fitting in a fluid pressure cylinder 35.
The jarring of the sand in the flask, whereby it is preliminarily compacted
about the pattern a, therein, is effected by tapping or jarring the flask vertically,
while the sand is being poured into the flask from a spout 36, another flask being
rammed in the same interval of rest of the table: In the instance shown, the
jarring operation is performed by blows of a fluid pressure piston, as presently to
be described, but any other suitable striking or jarring device may be employed
and would constitute in relation to the coacting members, the mechanical equivalent
of that herein illustrated. A jarring block 37, having two lateral. jaws which
project upwardly on opposite sides of the track 2, and are adapted to abut at their
upper ends against the shoe 11 of a pattern plate carrier, is fitted to slide vertically
in guides on the bed plate 1, above the open upper end of a fluid pressure
cylinder 38, which is fixed to the lower side of the bed plate, with its, axis
perpendicular to a point in the circular path traversed by the axes of the pattern
plate carriers in the rotation of the table. The tops of the jaws of the jarring
block stand at such distance above the track 2, as to act as supports for the
shoe 11 of a pattern plate carrier and to raise the roller 10 of the latter
entirely clear of the track 2, when the shoe is brought above them in the rotation
of the table. A piston 39 is fitted to work in the cylinder 38, and in its upward
movement under pressure, to strike the lower end of the jarring block 37, the

page_text: piston, with the jarring block, and the carrier and flask supported by the jarring
block, dropping by gravity to their original positions upon the relief of pressure.
Operating fluid is supplied to the piston 39 by a valve 40, controlling a supply
pipe 41, and actuated by a treadle 42, the actuating valve being normally seated
by a spring 43. The supply pipe 41 leads into a chamber 41ª below the
cylinder 38, communication between said chamber and the cylinder being con-
trolled by a check valve 40" which opens downwardly, and is normally held unseated
by the piston 39, when the latter rests at the lower extremity of its traverse. A
portion of the fluid which is admitted to the chamber 41 by the opening of the
valve 40, when the treadle 42 is depressed by the operator, passes by the check
valve 40, into the cylinder 38, and effects the upward blow or stroke of the piston,
at the terminal of which it is exhausted, through a discharge port 42 in the
cylinder 38. During the upward stroke of the piston 39, the check valve 40" is
closed by the preponderance of pressure on its lower side, cutting off fluid supply,
and is reopened, admitting supply for the next upward stroke, when struck by the
piston 39 at the terminal of the downward stroke. The movements of the piston
are thus rendered automatic and continuous while the supply valve is hield .open,
and the rapidity and force of the blows of the piston on the jarring block and
flask may be regulated, as desired, by the operator.
Each of the pattern plate carriers is supported during the ramming of the flask
thercon, by rollers 43, which are mounted on a stout shaft journalled in bearings on
opposite sides of the track 2, and project sufficiently far above the highest portion
of the latter to enable them to abut against and act as the supports of the lower
bearing faces of the shoe 11 of a pattern plate carrier, which they lift until its
roller 10 stands entirely out of contact with the track, so as to obviate wear or
breakage of the roller under the pressure sustained by the carrier in the ramming
operation, also raising the platen 14 from its bearing on the table, and supporting
it on the bearing pins 12 of the pattern plate.
The distribution of actuating fluid to the cylinders 19, 20, and 35 is controlled
by a regulating cock or valve 44, fitted in a casing 45, to which are connected a
pipe 46 leading from a source of fluid supply, a pipe 47 leading into the compressing
cylinder 19, a pipe 48 leading into the releasing cylinder 20, and a pipe 49 leading
into the cylinder 35. The cock 44 is provided with a port 50, whereby commu-
nication may, in one position of the cock, be established between the main supply
pipe 46 and the pipe 47 leading to the compressing cylinder 19, and, in another
position of the cock, between the compressing cylinder pipe 47 and the releasing
cylinder pipe 48. A second port 51, admits of communication being opened and
closed between the compressing cylinder pipe 47, and the unlatching cylinder 35.
In order to effect the ramming of the flask, the regulating cock is turned by its
handle 52, into the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby admitting fluid under pressure
to the compressing cylinder 19, and effecting the stroke of its piston 21, which,,
acting through the toggle levers 24 and 25 upon the pressure plate 27, imparts to
the sand in the flask the pressure requisite for compacting it by a ramming
operation. The regulating cock is next turned into the position shown in Fig. 7,
cutting off the supply of fluid to the piston 21 and opening communication between
the compressing cylinder 19 and the releasing cylinder 20 on the left hand side of
the piston 22 of the latter, through the pipe 47, port 50, and pipe 48. Equilibrium
of fluid pressure is thereby established on the pistons 19 and 22 of the respective
cylinders. Finally, the regulating cock is turned into the release position, as shown
in Fig. 8, whereby fluid will be admitted from the cylinder 19 to the cylinder 35,
through the pipe 47, port 51, and pipe 49, and will force out the piston 34, with-
drawing the latch 32 from the notch of the table with which it is engaged, and
permitting movement of the table into position for the jarring and ramming of the
two next succeeding flasks. Upon the relief of pressure in the cylinder 19, the
then preponderating pressure in the cylinder 20 forces the piston 22 thereof in
the direction of the cylinder 19, and returns the parts to their normal position as-

page_text: shown in Fig. 1. The fluid which has effected the compressing and releasing
strokes of the pistons 19 and 22, is exhausted from the cylinders, at the terminal of
the releasing stroke, through a release port 53 in the cylinder 20.
In order to regulate accurately the degree of pressure applied to the sand in
ramming, the flasks, and, prevent any injurious results from the exertion of a greater
pressure. upon the piston of the ramming cylinder, the abutment of the toggle
levers-24 and 25 is, instead of being fixed rigidly to the frame 18, constructed with
the capacity of automatically yielding under any degree of pressure above that
which may be desired and determined, and thereby relieving such excess of pressure.
To this end, the upper toggle lever 24 is coupled to a stem 54, having a collar or
shoulder 55, and a strong helical spring 56 bears at one end against said collar, and
at the other against a tubular adjusting nut 57, which engages an internal screw
thread on an upward extension 58 of the frame 18. The stem 54 works freely in
the central bore of the adjusting nut 57, and the adjusting nut is fixed in desired
position by a lock nut 59. It will be seen that the stem 54 is, in effect, a fixed.
abutment under any pressure not exceeding the maximum to which the resistance
of the spring 56 may be adjusted, and that any excess of pressure is exerted in,
effecting the compression of the spring and, the upward movement of the abutment...
While we have set forth a nut as the preferred means of effecting variation of
the resistance applied to the abutment, we do not desire to limit ourselves to such
specific device, as it will be obvious that the same result might be similarly attained
by other well known means, as, for example, a plate bearing on the spring and
held in different positions by a bar fitting recesses in the frame extension 58. Any
suitable adjusting member would therefore constitute in operation the mechanical
equivalent of the nut described and shown.
The patterns a, are withdrawn from the flasks through the openings in the
stripping plates 15, in and by the downward movement of the pattern plate carriers
due to their gravity, in passing over the incline from the upper to the lower
horizontal portions of the track 2. The patterns are correspondingly raised to
operative position by the traverse of the carriers from the lower to the upper
horizontal portions of the track.
The table 5 being balanced and supported with a comparatively slight degree of
friction, its intermittent movements of rotation may be readily effected by hand,
and no rotating mechanism has therefore been illustrated. It will be obvious,
however, that if deemed desirable, the application of power to the rotation of the
table may be made, without departure from the spirit of our invention by the
employment of any suitable and preferred system of driving gearing.
Fig. 9 illustrates a modification, designed for use in machines of comparatively
small size, in which the compressing and releasing cylinders are dispensed with, and
the pressure by which the flasks are rammed is applied by hand. For this purpose,
a pressing lever 60 is coupled at one end to the frame 18, by a fulcrum pin 61, and
the adjacent ends of the toggle levers 24 and 25 are coupled to the lever 60, above
its fulcrum, by a link 62. Manual power applied to the free end of the lever exerts
the desired pressure for ramming the flasks, and acts with constantly increasing
leverage as the lever is moved downwardly by reason of the correspondingly
decreased.angularity of the coupling link 62.
In operation, the patterns a, are connected to the pattern plates, the stripping
plates 15 fitted around them, and the flasks 16 placed on the stripping plates and
held in position thereon by pins entering eyes on their sides. The table is moved
into position in which one of the carriers 8 rests upon the jarring block and the
flask is filled and jarred. A further movement of the table is then made by which
this flask and carrier are brought into position in which they are supported by the
rollers 43, and the flask is rammed as before described; the next succeeding flask
being jarred during the same period, in which, also, a flask containing a completed
mold is removed from the table, and an empty flask is placed in position thereon.
These operations are successively and continuously repeated, and it will be seen that

page_text: the molds can be rapidly and accurately formed, without necessitating
operations involving the employment of skilled labor.
any manual
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that, what we
claim is:
1. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of
pattern plates carried thereon, a jarring device, and a ramming device, said jarring
and ramming devices being adapted to act independently and successively upon the
contents of flasks supported by the pattern plates during intervals of rest of the
table, and to coincidently act upon the contents of two different flasks during cach
interval of rest of the table, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of
pattern plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides
fixed to said table, a series of pressure plates each located above a lower abutment
supporting said carriers, toggle levers coupled to an abutment and to a ramming
plate located in position to impart pressure from the toggle levers to the contents
of flasks supported by the pattern plates and pressure plates and a link coupled to
the toggle levers and to a device for imparting pressure thereto, substantially as
set forth.
3. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of
pattern plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides,
fixed to said table, a lower abutment supporting said carriers, a fluid pressure
cylinder and piston, toggle levers coupled to said piston and to an abutment, and.a
ramming plate coupled to the toggle levers in position to impart, pressure from the
piston and toggle levers to the contents of flasks supported by the pattern plates,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern
plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to
said table, a movable block adapted to support each of said carriers when brought
above it by the rotation of the table, and a striking or tapping device for jarring
said block and the members supported thereon, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern
plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to
said table, a movable block adapted to support each of said carriers when brought
above it by the rotation of the table, a piston fitted in a fluid pressure cylinder
and adapted to impart a succession of vertical jarring movements to said block
and the members supported thereon, a regulating cock controlling the admission
of fluid to said cylinder, and an admission check valve and a fluid discharge
passage, which are opened alternately by the piston at the extremities of its stroke,
substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern
plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to
said table, a movable block and a fixed abutment, each adapted to support one of
said carriers when brought above it by the rotation of the table, a striking or
tapping device for jarring said movable block and the members supported thereon,
a ramming plate located in position to impart pressure to the contents of a flask
supported by a carrier and the fixed abutment during the jarring of the movable
block, and pressure mechanism coupled to and actuating said ramming plate,
substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table having a series of
circumferential locking notches, a series of pattern plates connected to carriers
which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to said table, a lower bearing
or abutment, a fluid pressure cylinder and piston, a ramming plate coupled to
said piston in position to impart pressure therefrom to the contents of flasks
supported by the pattern plates, a latch adapted to engage the locking notches
of the table, an unlocking, piston connected to said,latch and working in a second

page_text: fluid pressure cylinder, and a connection for transmitting pressure from the first
cylinder to actuate the unlocking piston, substantially as set forth.
a
8. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern
plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides. fixed to
said table, a lower abutment supporting said carriers, a compressing cylinder and
releasing cylinder each fitted with a piston, toggle levers coupled to an abutment
and to each of said pistons, a ramming plate coupled to the toggle.levers in position
to, impart pressure from the piston of the compressing cylinder to the contents of
flasks supported by the pattern plates, and a regulating cock controlling fluid
supply to the compressing cylinder, transfer of. fluid from the compressing cylinder,
to the releasing cylinder, and exhaust of fluid from the compressing cylinder,
substantially as set forth.
9. The combination, in a molding machine, of a pattern plate connected to a
carrier, a lower abutment, supporting said carrier, a ramming plate located in
position to impart pressure to the contents of flasks supported by the pattern
plate, a pair of toggle levers, one of which is coupled to the ramming plate, a link
coupled to the toggle levers and to a device for imparting pressure thereto, a
movable abutment coupled to the toggle levers and acting to transmit pressure
applied thereto to the ramming plate, and an adjusting device for regulating the
degree of resistance applied to the abutment, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of
pattern plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides
fixed to said table, a lower abutment supporting said carriers, a fluid pressure
cylinder and piston, a ramming plate located in position to impart pressure to the
contents of flasks supported by the pattern plates, toggle levers coupled to said
piston and ramming plate, a movable abutment stem coupled to one of the toggle
levers, a spring bearing against a collar on said stem, and an adjusting device
bearing on said spring and engaging a fixed support, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a circular track
fixed concentric therewith and having its surface partly horizontal in planes of
different levels and partly in inclines connecting the horizontal portions, a series
of pattern plate carriers, each supported by a roller traversing on the track and
fitted to move vertically in a guide fixed to the table, a series of vertically movable
platens or pressure plates, each adapted to support a stripping plate and flask
and to bear upon the table during the traverse of the pattern plate carrier rollers
over the lower horizontal portions of the track, and bearing pins connected to the
pattern plate carriers and supporting the platens when raised by the elevation of
the pattern plate carrier rollers to or above the upper horizontal portion of the
track, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a circular track
fixed concentric therewith and having its surface partly horizontal in planes of
different levels and partly in inclines connecting the horizontal portions; a series of
pattern plate carriers, each fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to the table,
shoes provided with lower bearing faces and fixed to the carriers, rollers journalled
in said shoes and adapted to traverse on the track, a series of vertically movable
platens or pressure plates, each adapted to support a stripping plate and flask
and to be supported by a pattern plate carrier when the roller of said carrier is
elevated to or above the upper horizontal portion of the track, ramming mechanism
adapted to impart pressure to the sand in a flask during an interval of rest of the
table, and lower bearings abutting against the bearing faces of the carrier shoes
and supporting the carriers. during the ramming operation, substantially as set
forth.
13. The combination, in a molding machine, of a bed plate, a rotatory table, a
circular series of ball bearings supporting said table centrally on the bed plate,
a series of pattern plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically
in guides fixed to said table, a lower abutment supporting said carriers, a post
fixed to the bed plate concentric with the table and fitting freely therein, a post

page_text: fixed to the bed plate exterior to the table, and ramming mechanism supported
by said posts above the table, in position to impart pressure to the contents of
flasks supported by the pattern plates during intervals of rest of the table,
substantially as set forth.
14. The combination, in a molding machine, of a rotatory table, a series of
pattern plates connected, to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides
fixed to said table, a movable block adapted to support each of said carriers when
brought above it by the rotation of the table, a piston fitted in a fluid pressure
cylinder below said block, a supply pipe leading into a supply chamber com-
municating with said cylinder, a regulating cock controlling said supply pipe, a
check valve controlling communication between the supply chamber and cylinder
and adapted to be opened by the piston at the lower terminal of its stroke, and
a fluid discharge passage in the cylinder adapted to be opened by the piston at the
upper terminal of its stroke, substantially as set forth.
Dated at Pittsburgh Pa USA this Fourteenth day of October A D 1891
Witnesses:
J. SNOWDEN BELL.
F. E. GAITHER.
FRANK MOORE.
FRANCIS LUDLOW CLARK.