IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING AND SHAPING METALS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hunter, of Coltness: Iron Works, Cambus-
nethan, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Ironmaster, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING AND SHAPING METALS."
Sealed the 18th June 1861, and dated the 14th March 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hunter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
March 1861.
I, JAMES HUNTER, of Coltness Iron Works, Cambusnethan, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Ironmaster, do hereby declare the nature of the.
said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING AND SHAPING METALS," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of casting wheels, rails, pillow
blocks, and other generally similar details, so as to obtain hard and durable
surfaces thereto, as well as economy of time and expence in moulding. Under
one modification the mould in which the wheel or other article to be cast is'
formed is made entirely of iron. The mould is formed in two parts, in manner
similar to the ordinary sand moulds; these parts are placed one upon the
other, and when so arranged a cavity is left between the parts corresponding.
the form of the wheel to be cast: A metal core is arranged in the centre
of the mould which passes through the two parts, and this forms the aperture

page_text: in the centre of the wheel to receive the axle or spindle, which may be either
fast or loose; a vertical tubular aperture or "gate" is formed in the upper
half of the mould which conveys the molten metal down into the cavity formed
in the body of the mould; the mouth of the "gate" is surrounded by a ridge
which slopes down to the aperture and serves to prevent the overflow of the
metal. In casting angle iron rails, pillow blocks, or the foot-step bearings of
shafts, and other similar details, the moulds are formed of cast or malleable iron,
the minor details of which are arranged to suit the article to be produced.
These moulds produce very superior castings, as the surface of the molten
metal is instantly chilled by its contact with the cold face of the mould. In
this way the surface of the casting is rendered nearly as hard as steel, and
consequently far more durable than similar articles cast in the ordinary way.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
'by the said James Hunter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
September 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HUNTER, of Coltness Iron Works, Cambusnethan, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Ironmaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me;
the said James Hunter, Her special license that I, the said James Hunter,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Hunter, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter,
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOULDING AND SHAPING METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said James Hunter, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in.
writing under.my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,..
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what: manner the same, was to be performed, and cause the same, to be.
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that. I, the said James Hunter,. do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention; and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being "had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked: thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to an improved mode of casting wheels, rails,
pillow blocks, and other generally. similar details, so as to obtain hard and
durable surfaces thereto, as well as economy of time and expense in moulding.
Under one modification, the mould in which the wheel or other article to be
cast is formed is made entirely of iron. The mould is formed in two parts in
manner similar to the ordinary sand moulds; these parts are placed one upon
the other, and when so arranged a cavity is left between the parts cor-
responding to the form of the wheel to be cast.. A inetal core is arranged in
the centre of the mould which' passes through the two parts, and this forms.
the aperture in the centre of the wheel to receive the axle or. spindle, which
may be either fast or loose. A vertical tubular aperture or "gate" is formed
in the upper hálf of the mould, which conveys the molten metal down into
the cavity formed in the body of the mould; the mouth of the "gate" is
surrounded by a ridge which slopes down to the aperture, and serves to
prevent the overflow of the metal. In casting angle iron rails, pillow blocks,
or the footstep bearings of shafts and other similar details, the moulds are
formed of cast or malleable iron, the minor details of which are arranged to suit
the article to be produced; these moulds produce very superior castings as the
surface of the molten metal is instantly chilled by its contact with the cold*
face of the mould. In this way the surface of the casting is rendered nearly
as hard as steel, and consequently far more durable than similar articles cast:
in the ordinary way. I
.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in shaping and
moulding metals may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe:
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications under
which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that is
to say,
→
:
Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section of my improvements as applied.
to the casting of the wheels used for the trams or small carriages used in coal
mining; Figure 2. is a sectional elevation of the arrangement corresponding
to Figure 1; and Figures. 3 to 6 are elevations, and plan views of the castings
produced by the apparatus; Figures 7 to 10 are longitudinal and transverse
sections, showing two modes of casting lengths of rail for tramways; Figures

page_text: 11 to 14 are a plan, longitudinal and transverse sections, showing the arrange-
ment of the moulds for casting pillow blocks or other generally similar.
details.
The apparatus delineated in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a rectangular:
framing A, formed by preference of cast iron; this framing, has formed in the
upper part a series of transverse recesses in which the mould boxes B are
placed and fastened therein by means of wedges driven in between the faces
of the recess and the mould box. The mould is formed of cast or wrought
iron; the lower part B has in it a central aperture through which the move-
able spindle or core C passes. This core piece is either of a circular or square
figure in its transverse section, and it forms the central opening in the cast
wheel. If the wheel is intended to rotate on the axle of the carriage the
central aperture is made circular, but if the axle is to rotate, then the aperture
in the wheel is. made square so that it may be easily keyed thereto. The
lower end of the core Crests upon the inner portion of the hand lever D,
which is weighted at the inner part so that it remains in a horizontal position
when not otherwise acted upon. The lower part of the mould has also four
tubular openings in which are fitted the prints E; these are either of a
triangular, circular, or other figure in their transverse section, and they form
the openings shown in the wheels F, Figures 3 and 5. The upper part G of
the mould is formed of cast iron with a central opening for the upper end of
the core C to pass through. In this part of the mould two "gates" or funnel-.
shaped openings H are formed; these openings taper downwards, and enter
the internal cavity of the mould. The upper part G of the mould has formed
on it four laterally extending handles I, by means of which the upper part is
lifted off or turned round as required. The parts of the mould being arranged
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the molten metal is poured into the mould by
means of a double-lipped ladle, so that two streams of metal run simulta-
neously in by the funnels H. The moment the mould is fitted with the molten
metal the workman turns round the upper part of the mould G, which has
the effect of severing the metal at the small ends of the funnels H, and so
leaves the surface of the wheel complete. The top. of the mould is now lifted
off, and may be reversed to get out the moulded pieces in the funnels. H; the
hand lever D. is depressed which raises the core C, and with it the moulded
wheel, which is now complete, and corresponds in figure to one or other of
the forms delineated in Figures 3 to 6. The surfaces of the metal being.
instantly chilled by its contact with the metal mould, it is rendered very hard,
and these. wheels are. consequently far more durable than those of the ordinary
kind.

page_text: Figures 7 and 8. represent. in longitudinal elevation and transverse section
an arrangement for casting the angle rails for forming tramways. In this
modification the: box J is formed of cast or malleable iron, and is made of. a-
length corresponding to the length of the intended rail. The inner part of the
box forms a comparatively deep channel along the centre, and a portion of
smaller depth extending. laterally on each side forming a T-shaped figure, as
shown in the transverse vertical section Figure 8. Two loose bars. K are
placed longitudinally in the bottom of the box. These bars are tapered
'slightly towards the upper parts, and between them is placed a third. bar L.
The top part M of the box is then placed on, which serves to keep the bars in
position during the casting. If the rails are cast on the level, the metal .may
be poured in at the top. The molten métal flows along the L-shaped space
between the bars K and the inner faces of the box, and thus forms a pair of
rails at each casting. If preferred, the box may be supported on the laterally
projecting studs N, and the rails cast on end.. In this case the middle bar L
may form a part of the upper portion M of the box, or it may be temporarily
secured to the bottom part of the box by means of a clamp driven on with a
hammer, and taken off in the same manner when the casting is completed.
In the modification shown in Figure 9 and 10 the loose bars are dispensed
with. The lower part of the box J is similar to the former arrangement; the
sides of the box are formed with snugs projecting upwards in an angular direction,
and the top of the box is formed in two parts M, each having outwardly
projecting snugs to admit of their being hinged to the lower part J. These
top parts are so formed as to leave a space between their inner faces and that
of the lower part of the box corresponding to the thickness of the intended rail,
as delineated in Figure 10. One end of the box is extended to a semicircular
figure, and in this. part. is formed the apertures for pouring in the molten
metal, which is done by means of a double-lipped ladle. As soon as the metal
has set the top parts are thrown back by means of the handles O, and the
castings are taken out.
Figure 11 is a plan of the lower part of a box for casting pillow blocks;
Figure 12 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 1, 2, and
Figures 13 and 14 are sections taken on the line 3, 4, but slightly modified
from each other in detail. The lower part P of the box is made of malleable
or cast iron, and forms a series of cells shaped to the figure of the pillow blocks
to be cast. In the central recess of each mould is fitted the core piece Q, and
the bolt holes of the pillow block are formed by the prints or vertical pins R,
which may either be cast or formed in one with the lower part of the box P,
as shown in Figure 13, or they may be moveable, and be fitted into tubular

page_text: openings, as shown in Figure 14. The top part S of the box is also formed
of malleable or cast iron, and has in it the funnel-shaped openings T to admit
of the molten metal reaching the interior of the moulds. The metal is poured
in by the openings 'T, and when set the top' S of the mould is removed, and
the castings are lifted out by raising the core pieces Q, which are: either
actuated by hand levers, as shown in Figures I and 2, or by other equivalent
means. With moulds formed in this manner the casting of pillow blocks,
footstep bearings, and' other generally similar details: may be carred on with
great rapidity and economy, at the same time producing chilled castings of
superior quality and durability.
Having now .described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I eonsider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters. Patent is,
J
First, the general arrangement and combination of parts for moulding and
shaping metals for the purpose of producing chilled castings, as herein-before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof...
Second, the system or mode of casting wheels, rails, pillow blocks, footstep
bearings, and other generally similar details in the manner and by means of
thie machinery or apparatus herein-before described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any miere equivalent therefor..
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hunter, have hereunto set. my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one:
JAMES HUNTER (')
!
JAMES HUNTER