An Improved Sand-moulding Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
An Improved Sand-moulding Machine.
I, JOHN JAMES MCCLELLAND, of 89, Cadogan Terrace, Victoria Park, London,
Foreman Iron Moulder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a sand-moulding machine designed to work quickly
and ensure perfect moulding, and is adapted to take a mould of any class of
work.
Briefly the machine consists of a strongly built frame, in the upper part of
which a rammer is reciprocated from one end of a rocking lever, fulcrummed on
the frame, the other end of the lever being worked from a cylinder in which a
piston is actuated by steam, hydraulic or air pressure.
The pattern carriage which holds the moulding box is mounted on wheels
and is adapted to run into the lower part of the frame above mentioned under
the rammer, which is then caused to descend upon the moulding box and make
the mould.
The rammer is then reversed, and the pattern carriage is withdrawn from
under the rammer to remove the completed mould, and, if necessary, fix a new
pattern. While this is being done, a second pattern carriage with moulding
box may be brought from the other side of the frame under the rammer, so
that one machine may be used for two sets of moulds.
The rammer and pattern carriage are the main features of the invention.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which,
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the moulding machine with the upper part
in section on the line 1-1, Fig. 2, one pattern carriage only being shown which
is drawn out from under the rammer.
Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of same, with the cylinder for operating the
lever in section and the pattern carriage under the rammer.
Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the pattern carriage separate.
Fig. 4 shows a side view of a portable form of a pattern carriage, designed
chiefly for hand power.
!
Fig. 5, shows an end view of the pattern carriage shown in Fig. 4, and with
the frame to carry the pattern plate, in position.
Fig. 6 shows a sectional side elevation of the rotary part of a vibrating
engine, which is attached to the pattern carriage in Fig. 2 to ensure a clean
and sharp mould.
Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal vertical section of the whole engine.
Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal horizontal section of Fig. 7.
Referring to Fig. 1, 2 and 3. a is the base or foundation plate upon which
he machine is mounted and built. At one end of this frame a vertical cylinder b
s mounted, in which a piston b¹ is reciprocated by steam, air or other pressure,
which is admitted to the cylinder by the pipe a¹ in the foundation a. Attached
rn 077

page_text: to the piston is a connecting rod 62, which is connected at its other end b³ to one
end of a rocking lever c fulcrummed on the shaft c¹ journalled in bearings con
the rammer frame d. 64 is a spring having one end fixed to the cylinder b and
the other end fixed to the end of the lever c, for the purpose of returning the
rammer and piston to their normal position after being operated.
The other end of the rocking lever c is connected with the rammer e by link e¹
as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The rammer é consists of a preferably square frame
with an adjustable face, formed by a number of square headed bolts e3 (in this
machine there are 16) which pass through and depend from a plate e³ in the
rammer e. The bolts are held by nuts et at their upper ends, and are fitted
with strong springs e beneath the plate and behind the square heads of the
bolts e². Thus if required, the density of the sand over the pattern in certain
places may be regulated by screwing or unscrewing the nuts on the bolts, thus
increasing or decreasing the density of the sand at that particular part.
The rammer e slides up and down between the cheeks of the frame d which
are upheld by vertical screwed pillars in the base plate a. The frame d is
preferably bedded in a concrete or the like foundation (not shown) and pre-
ferably higher than the pattern carriage platforms 9 which are fixed on the
ground level, so that the base plate of the rammer frame and the tops of the
pattern carriage platforms are on the same level. Rails g¹ of preferably A-sec-
tion, are laid on the base plate a, and on the pattern carriage platforms 9, on
which the pattern carriages h run, same being fitted with correspondingly grooved
wheels for that purpose.
The pattern carriages which are the principal features of this invention are
constructed as follows:-
:
The wheels g2 are mounted on axles g³, and fitted on these are bearings g*,
which support by the A-shaped bars g³, the pattern plate support h. The bars g³.
are A-shape to prevent sand lodging on them.
The pattern plate support h is an enclosure preferably of rectangular shape,
the corners of which project upwards in four columns h². These pass through
the pattern plate h³ and support the moulding box i. The pattern plate h³ is
supported by two other columns h each arranged at about the centre of two of
the sides of the carriage plate h¹.
The pattern plate h³ is provided with ears or lugs h³ in which holes are formed
to engage with pins projecting from corresponding lugs on the moulding box i.
To raise the mould from the pattern plate, a hand lever j is used, which is
fulcrummed on and operates a shaft 1 passing from side to side under the pattern
carriage. On one side the end of the lever j is attached at 3 to a link which
is connected at to a vertical sliding bar K. On the other side a crank,
operated by the shaft ¹, is connected to a link similar to 3 which operates a
similar sliding bar K¹ on the other side of the pattern carriage. The upper ends'
of the sliding bars K K' are fitted with projecting pins K2 which engage with
corresponding holes formed in lugs projecting from the moulding box. To
ensure steadiness the sliding bars K K¹ move between guides K³ on the pattern
carriage. Thus, when the hand lever is thrust downwards the sliding plates K
will be caused to travel upwards and raise the moulding box i from the pattern
plate h³.
The mould may then be removed and while this is being done, the moulding
box is kept in the raised position, by the engagement of the lever j with a
spring catch on the pattern carriage as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.
The patterns are designed to remain fastened on to the plate, but if required
suitable stripping plates can be used, according to the class of work. When a
stripping plate is used, H is a seat plate for use therewith.
To ensure a clean and sharp mould a vibrator k is brought into action directly
after the withdrawal of the rammer.
Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, ¹ is a cylinder in which rotates a disc ², on
the periphery of which a number of curved vanes ³ are fixed. The disc is

page_text: 1
keyed on to a central shaft l, and when steam or other elastic fluid
is admitted to the cylinder, through the port, the steam in-
pinging onto the curved vanes ³ will cause the disc and consequently
the shaft to rotate. The steam exhausts through the port. The shaft
projects through one side of the cylinder (Fig. 8,) and is fitted with a crank l',
the crank pin on the end of which, engages a vertical slot m¹³ formed in a link m
connected with which and extending in opposite directions are two strikers m² m³.
As the crank revolves, the strikers will be reciprocated in casings n n'. Each
of the strikers are fitted with a spring cap n to decrease their impact upon the
end plates of the casings n n².
The vibrator k above described is, as shown in Fig. 2, fixed near the top of
the pattern carriage by bolts o which pass through the lugs o¹.
The vibrator is preferably driven at high speed, and the vibration thus set up
will effectually prevent the sand sticking to the pattern.
Referring to the machine generally, when the pattern carriage is brought
under the rammer it is held stationary by a locking arm 2 fixed to the base
plate a such arm engaging a projection p¹ on the pattern carriage.
The machine is operated as follows:-
:-
The pattern carriage is got ready, with the moulding box filled with sand and
the pattern plate being fixed in place. It is then wheeled under the rammer
where it is secured by arm p and projection p¹. The power is then turned on
and the piston 61 in the cylinder will be forced up and rock the lever c, and
bring the rammer down upon the moulding box. The mould is instantly formed
and the power is turned off, the cylinder exhausting through preferably a three-
way cock (not shown).
The rammer will then be raised by the action of the spring 64 and the
pattern carriage can be drawn back to its platform for the removal of the mould.
A pattern carriage from the other side can now be brought under the rammer
and the process repeated.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a portable form of pattern carriage is here shown,
intended for use with hand work in cases where the expense of putting in a
power plant is considered too great, and in this case, the moulding machine can
be operated by hand levers, screws or other simple gear. The wheels of this
pattern carriage are not grooved, and the frame q, is made of angle iron braced
together by the ribs q¹.
When out of use the carriage can be wheeled out of the way.
It will thus be seen that the improved sand moulding machine hereinbefore
described is adapted for any class of moulding, and effects great economy of
cost and space, whilst the carriage platforms being isolated from the machine
prevents damage which might be done to one mould, due to shock whilst
ramming the other.
For small workshops, the machine may be operated by any suitable form of
hand gear which would be substituted for the steam actuated gear above
described.
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 an improved sand moulding machine, the rammer with its special work.
ing face, being operated by one end of a lever, fulcrummed on the rammer
frame, the other end of said lever being operated from a piston reciprocating in
a cylinder under the influence of steam, air, hydraulic or other pressure, sub-
stantially as herein described and set forth.
2. In an improved sand moulding machine, the pattern carriage as described,
and the means for raising the mould from the pattern, substantially as described
and shown with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
3. In an improved sand moulding machine, the arrangement of two platforms

page_text: for pattern carriages enabling two distinct classes of work to be done on one
machine, substantially as herein described and set forth.
4. In a sand moulding machine, the vibrator, wherein the rotation of a disc
causes a pair of strikers to be reciprocated at high speed, and the vibration thus
set up ensuring a clean and sharp mould, substantially as herein described and
set forth.
5. In a sand moulding machine, the combination of the rammer, as described,
rammer frame, rocking lever, piston and cylinder for operating said lever, with
the pattern carriage described and shewn with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,
together with the vibrator as described and the means for raising the mould
from the pattern, substantially as herein described and set forth.
6. In a sand moulding machine, the combination of two pattern carriage plat-
forms, isolated from, but in conjunction with the foundation plate and two
movable pattern carriages, substantially as herein described and set forth.
7. In a sand moulding machine, the combination of the portable form of
pattern carriage, substantially as shown and described with reference to Figs. 4
and 5.
Dated this 16th day of Aug 1800
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 33, Cannon Street, London, E.C.