Improvements in Moulding Machines for Metal Founders.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Anglication, 17th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HARRIS TABOR, of Elizabeth, Union County, in
the State of New Jersey, United States of America, Engineer.
Improvements in Moulding Machines for Metal Founders.
At B., The
Iron Wek, Bolton, Lancashire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly de-cribed and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention pertains to that class of moulding presses employed by the metal-
founder in compacting the sand in his moulds, and the improvements will be readily
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which:
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a metal founding machine exemplifying my improve-
ments, this view showing the machine as in open position and having on it the half-
flask and sand-box ready to be filled with sand:
Fig. 2, is a front elevation of the machine, shown partly in vertical section in the
plane of line a:
Fig. 3, is a front elevation, similar to Fig. 2, but without any parts appearing in
section:
Fig. 4, is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing however only what may be
called the head of the machine, this view showing the parts as they would be, when
the pattern was withdrawn from the mould:
Fig. 5, is a vertical section of the head of the machine in the plane of line 6: and
Fig. 6, is a plan of the head of the machine, without stripping-plate or finsk,
and showing portions broken away to more clearly illustrate the relation of parts.
In following the literal description reference may be most conveniently had to
Figs. 1 and 2, reference being had to the other figures in exceptional cases.
Referring to the drawings:-
1, indicates a cylinder adapted to produce the ramming power by the use of air
or water or steam, my preference however being steam :
2, the piston thereof:
3, the inlet to the cylinder, for steam or other medium employed, this inlet being
below the piston, and it being understood that this inlet will be provided with a
suitable valve by means of which the steam may be admitted to, or allowed to
exhaust from the cylinder, according as it is desired that the piston rise or fall:
4. the niston rod, projecting from the piston up out of the cylinder, and through
a guide the upper cylinder head, this piston-rod being of large size and great
stiffness, as in the preferred design this piston rod furnishes the sole guide for the
lower member of the press:
5, a plate secured to the upper end of the piston rod:
6, an open-topped box of which the plate forms the bottom, this box forming
what I will call the "head" of the press, this head supporting the pattern and flask
etc., and by its upward movement, compressing the sand against an opposing press
member or follower above the fla-k:
7. gaps in two opposite side walls of the box or head, to permit of the vertical
play of parts which have vertical movement independent of the head:
8, a rectangular frame resting upon, or secured to the top of the box, this frame
being intended to have secured to it the usual pattern employed in machines of this
general class, it being usual, in such moulding presses, to arrange the pattern for
attachment to the pattern-carrying element of the press, this frame being hereafter
termed the pattern-frame :
9, spurs projecting a short distance upward from the pattern-frame :

page_text: 10, a rectangular frame resting on these spurs, this frame being intended to have
secured to it, or formed with it, the usual stripping-plate, the preference however
being that the frame be treated as a part of the machine, and adapted to have
attached to it such stripping-plates as the work in hand calls for, this frame being
hereafter termed the stripping-plate-frame :
11, vertical guide-sockets formed upon each side of the head or box 6, these
sockets being closed at their lower ends as seen in Fig. 5:
12, guide stems attached to the stripping-plate-frame, and projecting downwardly
therefrom into the guide-sockets, as best seen in Fig. 4:
13, air ports leading outwardly from the guide sockets, near their lower ends but
at such height that the guide stems will reach down past the air ports when the
stripper-plate-frame rests upon the spurs 9:
14, the usual stripper-plate, resting upon, and preferably attached to the stripping-
plate-frame:
15, the usual contour hole in the stripping-plate, this hole being of such form as
to closely fit around the pattern to which it belongs:
16, the half-flask resting as usual on the stripping-plate :
17, the usual crossbars in the half-flask:
18, the usual sand-box set above the half-flask and designed to contain extra sand
which it is the duty of the press to transfer compactly into the half-flask :
19, cross-bars in the sand-box, disposed directly over the cross-bars in the half-
flask and having a thickness in excess of the bars of the half-flask :
20, the top crossbeam of the press, forming the opposing agent against which the
rising and falling head exerts its pressure:
21, strain rods for supporting the top cross-beam, these rods being pivoted at the
base of the machine so that the top part of the press can be swung back out of
the way:
22, the top rammer or follower attached to the cross-beam and designed to press
upon the sand in the sand-box and compact the sand in the half-flask, this follower
being merely a rectangular block of a size to enter the sand-box, the follower being,
if desired, a permanent part of the press, but preferably a separate part, changable
to suit various sizes of flasks in hand:
23, grooves in the lower surface of the follower of a width and depth adapting
the follower to pass down through the sand-box to the level of the top of the half-
flask, the cross-bars of the sand-box entering the grooves of the follower:
24, a pipe or channel extending through the piston and piston-rod from the lower
portion of the cylinder to within the press-head:
25, a closed cavity extending around within the body of the pattern-frame 8:
26, a pipe placing this cavity in communication with the pipe 24 whereby steam
from the cylinder is always in free communication with the cavity, thus keeping the
pattern-frame, and such pattern as may be on the pattern frame, warm, the warming
of the pattern being found to be a decided advantage in enabling the pattern to be
readily withdrawn from the
compacted mould :
27, a pair of hangers secured to the stripping-plate-frame 10 and projecting
downwardly therefrom outside the pattern-frame 8, the bases of these hangers pro-
jecting somewhat into the head through the gaps 7 in the side walls of the head
or box:
28, a plate resting on the inward projections of the hangers and becoming thus
disposed, normally, near the floor of the box or head and some distance below the
pattern-frame 8:
29, a rock-shaft supported in bearings on the upper head of the cylinder and
extending across the front of the machine :
30, a lever-toe at each end of the rock-shaft, the movement of the rock-shaft
bringing these toe- either vertically over the roch--haft or forward from such position
as desired:
31, levers, one at each side of the head or box, the rear ends of these levers
being pivoted to the box while the free forward ends are at liberty to sweep in an

page_text: arc passing through the point of occupancy of the lever-toes 30, when those toes are
in their upward position:
32, links pivoted at their upper ends to the hangers 27 and at their lower ends to
intermediate portions of the levers 31:
33, a foot lever on the rock-haft:
34. a hand lever, or two of them, on the rock-shaft.
Referring to Fig. 2, let it be assumed that the pattern-frame 8 carries the usual
pattern, that portion of the pattern structure which forms the pattern proper pro-
jecting up through the contour hole 15 in the stripping-plate, the pattern proper
thus occupying the usual position above the stripping-plate and within the half-
Mask. The all-task and sand-box will be as usual, and the follower
brought into position over the sand-box. Steam will now be admitted under the
piston, and the entire lower press member carried by the upper end of the piston-
rod, will rise and the follower will forcibly enter the sand-box and press the sand
out of the same and into the half-flask, compressing it tightly in the half-flask and
around the pattern and on the top of the stripping-plate. This finishes the pressing
operation and the half mould is completed, but still in the press and with the pattern
still in the mould. If, now, the steam be let out of the cylinder then the parts
which have risen will again descend, and the press will be opened and the follower
may be swung rearwardly out of the way; but this leaves the completed half mould
still in the press, and the pattern still in the mould, for there has been no with-
drawal of the pattern.
What is wanted is that the flask and stripping-plate shall be
held up while the pattern is withdrawn downwardly; this want is often provided for in
moulding presses, but I provide for it by means of a peculiar system. When the
head etc. is in its upward position and the ramming completed, the levers 31 (see
Fig. 1.) will have risen also, rising bodily and not turning on their pivots, the parts
will have risen so far that the rock-shaft may be turned so that the lever-toes 30
are beneath the free ends of the levers 31. Now, under these conditions, when the
steam is allowed to exhaust from the cylinder, the head will descend, as before
described, and the pattern-frame and attached pattern, will descend with it to the
normal position; as the head descends so also will the levers 31 descend, the pivots
of those levers being upon the head, but the forward ends of the levers cannot descend,
being supported by the lever-toes, the consequence is that the lever-toes form new
fulcrums for the levers 31 and that as the head descends the forward ends of the
levers do not descend, but the rear ends of the levers make the full descent; inter-
mediate portions of the levers descending through less distance and at lower speed.
The links connect the intermediate portions of the levers with the stripping-plate-
frame, and the result is that while the head or box and the pattern, and the rear
pivots of the levers have made the full descent the stripping-plate-frame has made
only a partial descent, as shown in Fig. 4; the stripping-plate and mould have
descended somewhat but the main head and pattern have made a full descent, con-
sequently the pattern has been withdrawn downwardly through the stripping-plate
leaving the half mould ready for removal from the press.
The stripping-plate-fraine normally rests on the spurs 9, made spur-like or nearly
sharp so that sand will not be apt to lodge upon them, and prevent the stripping-
plate-frame, resting fairly upon them, the resting of the stripping-plate-frame on
these spurs controlling the proper normal relationship of stripping-plate to pattern.
As the head moves down in advance of the stripping-plate-frame the spurs leave the
stripping-plate-frame which becomes supported entirely by the links, and the guide
studs in the sockets insure the proper parallel movement and position of the
parts. When the flask has been removed then the rock-shaft is tripped, by hand or
foot, thus removing the lever-toes from under the levers 31, whereupon the
stripping-plate-frame is at liberty to drop, and rest again upon the spurs, thus
putting the stripping-plate again in normal relationship to the pattern, ready for the
placing of a new half-flask; when the rock-shaft is tripped then the stripping-plate-
frame might come down upon the spurs with a serious shock this obviate by
causing the lower ends of the guide-studs to pass the air holes 13 in the guide

page_text: sockets thus penning up air in the guide sockets and producing a cushion to relieve
the shock, the penned up air slowly leaking past the guide studs and allowing the
stripping-plate-frame to come fairly down upon the spurs.
It is well understood that the stripping-plate may deal with the exterior of a
pattern but that if a pattern has a ring like form or has interior surfaces which
require stripping, then recourse must be had to independent patches of stripping-
plate which must be supported from below the pattern, these independent stripping
patches being termed stools. Should any of the usual stools be required they may
be supported on the stool-plate 28, best shown in Fig. 2. This plate is supported
by the lower ends of the hangers and thus forms a portion of the stripping-plate
structure and partakes of its movements. The stool patches will be carried as
usual on studs extending upward from the stool-plate 28, the patches being level
with the stripping-plate as usual. Where stools are not to be provided for, there
will, of course, be no necessity for the stool-plate 28, or for the arrangement
of hangers and gaps for its support and in such cases the box-like structure 6,
which I have provided to give pace under the pattern-frame for the movement of
the stool-plate, will not be required and the pattern-frame may rest directly on the
table or plate 5.
The rock-shaft arrangement is an efficient device for bringing the obstructing toes
under the levers, but any other suitable arrangement of these toes whereby they
obstruct or do not obstruct the descent of the free ends of the levers, may be
employed. Instead of employing the pressure-cylinder as a means for forcibly
raising the head, any of the mechanical devices usually employed in metal founding
processes may be substituted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, with
a press and pattern-frame, of a stripping-plate supported by the pattern-frame,
and mechanism for moving the pattern-frame and stripping-plate simultaneously
but at differing velocities.
2. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, with
a press, and a pattern supporting press-head moved thereby, of a stripping-plate
supported by the press-head, a lever pivoted to the press-head, a link connecting the
lever with stripping-plate, and a movable toe to obstruct the movement of one end
of the lever.
3. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a
box-like press-head, a pattern-frame carried thereby, a stripping-plate-frame
carried by the press-head, a stool-plate within the press-head, hangers connecting
the stool-plate with the stripping-plate-frame, a follower, and means for independently
moving the pattern-frame and stripping-plate-frame as the press opens.
4. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of
a press-head arranged to support a pattern and provided with guide-sockets, a
stripping-plate-frame provided with guide studs engaging said guide-sockets, a
follower, and means for pressing said press-head and follower toward each other.
5. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a
press head provided with guide-sockets having air-ports, a stripping-plate-frame
having guide-studs, engaging said guide sockets, a follower, and means for pressing
said press-head and follower toward each other.
6. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, with
a press-head, a follower, and means for pressing them toward each other, of a
pattern-frame supported by the press-head, and provided with upwardly projecting
spurs, and a stripping-plate supported by said spurs.
7. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of
a press, a pattern-frame having a closed cavity, and a steam pipe communicating
with such cavity.

page_text: 8. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of
a steam cylinder, a piston therein, a piston-rod having through it, a passage
communicating with the steam space of the cylinder, a pattern-frame carried by the
piston-rod and having a closed cavity communicating with the passage in the
piston-rod, and a follower.
9. In metal-founding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of
a press-head, a half-flask thereon provided with a crossbar, a sand-box disposed
over the half-flask and provided with a cross-bar over and of greater thickness than
the cross-bar of the half-flask, a follower arranged to enter the sand-box, and means
for pressing the follower and pre-head toward each other.
Dated this 12th day of March 1891.