An Improved Machine for Breaking Pig Iron.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1893-Accepted; 17th June, 1893.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Breaking Pig Iron.
I, WILLIAM TRURAN, of The Linthorpe Iron Works, Middlesbrough-on-Tees,
in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of a machine to be used for breaking
up into convenient lengths or sections the moulds of cast iron of the form in which
they are usually raised from the open sand moulds or pig beds into which the metal
is run direct from the blast furnace, which moulds usually consist of what is
termed a 64
sow" with several "pigs" adhering thereto, grid-iron fashion.
My invention consists in improved combinations and arrangements of mechanism
by which to apply the requisite power to effect this purpose, but with the various
parts constituting the machine so arranged and combined together, that the said
machine may be brought into operation from one driving or main shaft without
requiring other attention than placing the "sow" and adhering "pigs" in position
on a table or platform from, which they are drawn into the machine and broken in
the manner required.
"
66
"
SOW
"
In a machine constructed according to my invention a slow motion driving shaft
rotates in suitable bearings in a substantially constructed frame. This driving
shaft is fitted with one or more eccentrics or cams on which a motion block is
mounted so that as the driving shaft rotates a vertical movement with great power
in the downward stroke is imparted to the motion block, into which are fitted the
breaking rams for breaking a SOW and its adhering "pigs" into the shorter
lengths or sections required, one stroke of the said motion block effecting the
requisite fractures in each case, for which
" and adhering "pigs
the
purpose
are lodged on suitable supports in the lower part of the machine so as to extend
over an open space. With the downward motion of the breaking rams, one ram
impinges upon the " SOW and another ram upon the "pigs" which break up under
Provision
the strain and fall down into a shoot or receptacle to be conveyed away.
is made to avoid the waste of power which would result if the breaking rams
exerted their pressure upon the cast iron mould so as to meet the united resistance
of the several parts thereof. This may be done by so arranging the breaking rams
that one ram impinges upon the "pigs" in time to fracture them before the other
ram impinges upon the "sow," and by grading the head of the pig breaking ram
to a series of levels or by setting the head thereof at a sufficient incline to the
plane represented by the several surfaces of the "pigs" so that these are fractured
in succession. The cast iron mould is preferably secured in a rigid position in the
machine so as to more directly receive the breaking strain of the rams.
may be effected in any suitable manner, such as by clamping the "sow." A way
of doing this consists as follows:-One or more wedges inserted into the frame of
the machine wedge the "sow" tight down upon its seat, and when again withdrawn
allow the fractured sections thereof to fall down clear of the seat which is ready for
another charge. The action of the wedges is controlled from the main shaft by
means of levers impelled in one direction by tumblers and tilted in the other
direction by a cam wheel on the main shaft, the whole being adjusted and brought
into action so that the wedges are inserted and withdrawn at the proper times to
suit the action of the breaking rams.
This
In order to make my improved pig breaking machine as useful as possible as a
labour-saving machine, I prefer to make such machines self-feeding, that is to say,
that the cast iron mould as raised from the pig bed shall only require to be laid
on a bed or platform attached to the machine to be drawn in under the breaking

page_text: rams. Without restricting myself to the precise details of moving parts by which
to effect this purpose, I will describe by way of illustration suitable means therefor.
A platform or table extends from the machine for the reception of the cast iron
moulds, the direction, position, and general arrangement of which is such that by
skidding the said moulds along the platform or table they are delivered into the
machine in the intended position below the breaking rams. The cast iron moulds
are urged forward as follows:-To an endless band passing over pulleys so as to
run level or parallel with the table or platform is attached a chock or pusher block
which travels a certain distance towards the machine and then runs back again.
This chock is hinged so as to assume a rigid attitude in its forward motion and to
be free to turn down the other way, by which construction and action it will force
the "pigs" to slide along towards the machine and will turn down and pass under
other "pigs" in its return motion. A ratchet wheel and paul worked by levers
with their balance. weights and connecting bars direct from the cam wheel (or other
wheel if preferred) on the driving shaft, controls one pulley and draws the pusher
block so far forward in the direction required to put on the feed and then release
the pulley when a weight suspended over the other pulley at once draws the pusher
block back again for a fresh advance; proper provision being made to adjust its
travel to suit the feed required by the machine. The machine may be constructed
to be stationary or to travel along the pig bed if required.
Dated this 10th day of August 1809
G. J. CLARKSON,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.
[
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Breaking Pig Iron.
I, WILLIAM TRURAN of The Linthorpe Ironworks, Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in
the County of York, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the construction of a machine to be used for breaking
up into convenient lengths or sections the moulds of cast iron of the form in which
they are usually cast in the open sand moulds or pig beds which receive the metal
direct from the blast furnace, which moulds consist of what is termed a 66
with several "pigs" adhering thereto grid-iron fashion.
SOW
"
My invention consists in improved combinations and arrangements of mechanism
by which to apply the requisite power to effect this purpose but with the various
parts constituting the machine so arranged and combined together, that the said
machine is brought into operation by the rotation of one driving or main shaft,
without requiring other attention than placing the grid iron moulds in the form of
and adhering "pigs" in position on a table or platform. from which
they are drawn into the machine and broken in the manner required.
the "sow
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a machine constructed according
to my invention.
Figure 1, is an end view of the pig breaker with the platform or table and its
operating mechanisin attached thereto in the working position except that in order
to bring both ends of the said platform or table into one view an intermediate part
is shown as broken away.
"
Figure 2 is a corresponding view in plan of the same machine:
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line X X of Figure 2 as it appears in the
reversed position.
3
Figure 4 is a transverse view in which certain parts are shown in section and
others omitted to more clearly illustrate the construction of the machine.
The above figures which all correspond also illustrate the machine with its

page_text: Working parts in their relative positions at the man up stro
apparatus.
Figure 5 illustrates certain of the moving parts at other positions of the
stroke of the machine but is otherwise a similar sectional view to that shown in
Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the underframe on which the pigs are lodged to
receive the force of the breaking ram.
66
"
Like letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
In a machine constructed according to my invention a slow motion driving shaft a
rotates in suitable bearings in a substantially constructed frame c.
This driving
shaft is fitted with one or more eccentrics or cams d on which a motion block e is
mounted so that as the driving shaft rotates a vertical movement with great power
in the downward stroke is imparted to the motion block into which are fitted the
breaking rams and for breaking a sow" and its adhering "pigs" into the
shorter lengths or sections required, one stroke of the said motion block e effecting
the requisite fractures in each case, for which purpose the "sow and adhering
pigs are lodged on suitable supports ; which form an underframe in the lower
part of the machine so as to extend over an open space in the manner shown in
Figure 6. With the downward motion of the breaking rams, the ram fimpinges
upon the pigs and the ram g upon
the " SOW , which are accordingly broken
under the strain and fall down into a shoot or receptacle to be conveyed away.
Provision is made to avoid the waste of power which would result if the breaking
rams exerted their pressure upon the cast iron mould so as to meet the united
resistance of the several parts thereof. This may be done by so arranging the
breaking rams that the ram fimpinges upon the " pigs in time to fracture them
before the other ram 7 impinges upon the SOW "and by grading the head of the
pig" breaking ram to a series of levels f¹ff as shown in Figure 4 or by
setting the head thereof at a sufficient incline relatively to the plane represented
by the several surfaces of the "pigs" so that these are fractured in succession.
"
29
The cast iron mould is preferably secured in a rigid position in the machine so
as to more directly receive the breaking strain of the rams and g. This may be
effected in any suitable manner such as by clamping the "sow." A way of doing
this which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and constitutes a feature of
my invention consists as follows:-
m is
Referring more particularly to Figures 3 and 5, one or more wedges k inserted
into the frame of the machine, wedge the sow i, tight down upon one side of the
under frame and when again withdrawn allow the fractured sections thereof to fall
down clear of the said under frame which is then ready for the next charge. The
in and out action of the wedge k is controlled from the main shaft a, and is brought
about as follows: A bell crank lever which rocks about a fixed fulcrum, has one
arm engaged with the wedge k, whilst the other carries a weight 1. is a friction
roller secured at one side to the arm to facilitate the movements of the tumbler
wedge m, which oscilates about the pivot m which is fixed to and shares the
reciprocating movement of the motion block frame. The tumbler wedge
counterbalanced by the weighted arm m² to give it a tendency to swing outwards
to the position shown in full lines in Figure 5 at which the motion block is at the
top of its stroke. The combined action of the tumbler wedge m and the bell crank
lever upon the wedge is as follows:-The bell crank lever is weighted to exert a
constant tendency to thrust the wedge k into the machine, whilst the wedge tumbler
thrusts the bell crank lever outwards with each up stroke of the motion block.
This will be understood by referring to Figures 3 and 5 in which the tumbler
wedge m, and its relation to the bell crank lever are shown in three different
positions. As the tumbler wedge m is carried up from the position shown in dotted
lines in Figure 5 it comes into contact with the friction roller of the bell crank
lever which it thrusts outwards in passing upwards as shown in Figure 3, the
actual contact being between the friction roller and the cam m³. Önce above
the friction roller the tumbler wedge swings out, and in the downward stroke the

page_text: cam m²
passes round the said friction roller at the other side, the tumbler wedge
then returns to the position shown in dotted lines when the operation is repeated,
the above described combined action of the wedge tumbler and crank lever, being
adjusted and brought into action so that the wedges are inserted and withdrawn at
the proper times to suit the action of the breaking rams. The wedge k is furnished
with a steel shoe k¹ which partakes of the movement of the wedge to which it is
suitably secured and held in position by the slot and tenon at . The wedge & is
drawn out soon after the machine starts to raise the block e and continues until the
roller clears the cam m², when the weight carries the wedge in on the loose
shoe or direct on to the " sow."
In order to make my improved pig-breaking machine as useful as possible as a
labour saving machine, I prefer to make it self-feeding, that is to say, that the cast
iron mould as raised from the pig-bed shall only require to be laid on a bed or
platform attached to the machine to be drawn in under the breaking rams.
9
A suitable and novel arrangement for effecting this purpose is shown in the
drawings in which », is the platform or table which extends from the machine for
the reception of the cast iron moulds, the direction position and general arrangement
of which is such that by skidding the said moulds along the platform or table n,
they are delivered on to the underframe jj of the machine in the intended position
below the breaking rams and g. The cast iron moulds are urged forward as
follows: To an endless band, rope, or chain o, passing over pulleys p³ and p² so as
to run parallel with the table or platform n, attached a chock or pusher block
which travels a certain distance towards the machine and then runs back again.
These chocks or pushers 9 are hinged at q¹ so as to assume a rigid attitude in
their forward motion and to be free to turn down the other way, by which
construction and action they force the "pigs" to slide along towards the machine
and turn down and pass under the next set of pigs in their return motion. A
ratchet wheel with its paul is adjustably connected by the rods to the lever s§¹
which with its friction rollers and balance weight & rocks about the fulcrum ** and
so works the said ratchet wheel direct from the cam wheel t (or other wheel if
preferred) on the driving shaft a. The ratchet wheel in its turn controls the
pulleys p and draws the pusher blocks y so far forward in the direction required to
put on the feed and then releases the pulleys p when the weight w, suspended over
the pulleys at once draws the pusher blocks back again for a fresh advance.
When the pusher blocks q, come against the pins they carry them forward so as
to withdraw the catch or check paul from the teeth of the ratchet wheel r and at
the same time throw up the roller r so that when the paul ¹ comes back for the
next feed it is kept out of gear by the roller until the weight w has taken the
pusher blocks back to the end of the platform and caused them to strike the pins u¹
which are coupled to the pins u, by the rods u² so that the movement of the pins u¹
within the slots or links u³ cause the controlling mechanism of the ratchet wheel r
to go back to position for repeating the feed, in aid of which the pin strikes
against the tail of the paul which has a spring in it of the kind in use for this
purpose and which throws it into gear.
It will be observed that the link connecting the pins and is omitted in the
drawing and that the check paul is furnished with a balance weight ² to help it
back into the ratchet wheel r at the proper time.
"
In order to avoid the risk of overstraining the feeding mechanism when a "sow
of exceptional thickness is being urged forward I provide a jockey block y mounted
to skid along the platform side plate. This jockey block is adjustably connected
by the lever y' to the ratchet wheel controlling mechanism so that when urged
forward by a
"
"SOW
too thick to pass under it, it puts the said controlling
mechanism out of gear and stops the feed. is a capstan on the end of the main
shaft a, which may be employed for moving the trucks.
The machine may be constructed to be stationary or to travel along the pig bed
if required and may be modified in its details of construction without departing from
the essential features of my invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
Firstly-A machine for breaking into convenient lengths or sections the moulds
of cast iron of the form in which they are usually run into the "pig" bed, the said
machine comprising a combination of breaking rams by which the several "pigs
and the " SOW to which they are attached are fractured, a wedge or series of
wedges for clamping the mould in position for breaking, with or without the table
or platform and its feeding mechanism, all combined, arranged and operating from
a driving or main shaft substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Secondly The mechanism for feeding the cast iron moulds onto the under frame
to be fractured by the breaking rams, the said mechanism consisting of the arrange-
ment and construction of parts in which pusher blocks q are drawn forward when
the feed is applied to the rachet wheel r until they automatically put the feeding
mechanism out of gear and then slip back again when they automatically put the
feeding mechanism into gear again, the whole being combined and operating
together, substantially as and for the purpose of my invention as hereinbefore
described and illustrated more especially in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Thirdly-The use in combination with feeding mechanism as claimed in my
second Claim of the means for automatically putting the feeding mechanism out of
gear when the jockey block y, is fouled by a sow of exceptional thickness
substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Fourthly-The mechanism for clamping the "sow" in position on the under
frame consisting of the tumbler wedge m, attached to the motion block frame,
acting in combination with the bell crank lever so that the wedges are inserted
and withdrawn at the proper times to suit the action of the breaking rams,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
:-
Fifthly The general arrangement and construction of parts constituting
machinery or apparatus for breaking into convenient lengths or sections the moulds
of cast iron of the form in which they are usually run into the "pig"-bed all
combined and operating together substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of May 1802
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.