IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING AND MIXING METALS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Alfred Beresford Bennett of Kings Heath in the
County of Worcester, and Bernard Peard Walker of Birmingham in the
County of Warwick for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING AND
MIXING METALS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Alfred Beresford
Bennett and Bernard Peard Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 18th August 1882.
JAMES ALFRED BERRESFORD BENNETT of Kings Heath in the County of
Worcester and BERNARD PEARD WALKER of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING AND MIXING METALS
"3
Our invention has for its object improvements in casting and mixing metals so
as to produce sounder castings.
The first part of our invention relates specially to the mixing of copper and its
alloys in such a manner as to make it a much brighter color and sounder when
cast without materially interfering with the nature of either the pure copper or the
alloys which may be for the time under treatment. This we effect in the following
manner: While the metal is in a liquid state in the crucible or mixing vessel we
take a very small portion of metallic sodium and having carefully enveloped it with
a casing of some substance which will not easily be consumed by the molten metal,
such as blotting paper, we attach the casing containg the metallic sodium to a rod
and then plunge it to the bottom of the molten metal in the crucible or mixing
vessel when it is immediately volatilized spreading throughout the whole body of
the molten metal so that when it is cast there is a much greater freedom from pores
and it is therefore of sounder quality.
The second part of our invention has special reference to the mode in which we
cast the before mentioned and other metals, and is as follows: We will explain the
apparatus as applied to the before mentioned copper mixed with metallic sodium.
We take a hollow tubular mould of almost any length with a reduced end to form
a journal which is carried in suitable bearings. This journal is hollow and forms a
convenient blow pipe. The other end of the mould may be partly stopped up but
[Price 6d1

page_text: leaving a hole at or near the centre to receive a pipe or mouth piece communicating
with the bottom of the mixing vessel. This mixing vessel is formed by an outer
and inner casing of any suitable material and may be on rollers to run up to the
mould. The process of casting would then be as follows:-The molten copper
would be poured into the mixing vessel and the packet of metallic sodium plunged
to the bottom as before explained. The vessel would then be run up to the mould so
that its spout would enter the mould loosley. The metal would then be liberated
to run into the mould by the withdrawal of a plug out of the bottom of the mixing
vessel. At or about the same time the mould would be rapidly revolved by means
of a pulley or other mechanism which would drive the molten metal by centrifugal
force to the extremities of the inner surface of the mould where it would be com-
pressed and further solidified to any desired thickness and shape or shapes according
to the form of the mould which might be one chamber or more, or a number of
recesses or small moulds leading off from one or more large moulds. The mould
would be prepared by suitable lining such as fine clay, asbestos or other material of
non-conducting nature.
Before commencing to pour the metal into the mould it would be heated by a
blast of gas through the journal blowpipe which might when necessary be con-
tinued during the process of casting. The cylinders of copper or alloys this made
may be drawn down into tubes or opened out and rolled into sheets or cut up
spirally and drawn into wire indeed the copper thus mixed and manipulated is very
dense indeed and suitable for many purposes.
We also use our apparatus for casting other metal tubes and compound tubes
such as lead outside and tin inside in which case we run the lead first into the
mould while the mould is rapidly revolving and immediately the lead is sufficiently
cool we pour in the tin while the mould is still revolving and thus complete the
lining. Such and similar tubes may be drawn to any size and thickness.
The same apparatus may also be used for casting rolls to take the place of those
now known as hollow chilled rolls. To accomplish this we first run into the mould
hard or white metal of various hardnesses according to the purpose for which it is
required while the mould is revolving so as to spread the hard iron by centrifugal
force as before explained, and immediately this is somewhat set we run in softer and
tougher iron to form the inner casing or body. By this means we obtain an outer
casing of great density without any air holes or blow holes which such rolls are
liable to especially at their upper end in the mould and we are therefor more
certain to obtain uniformity in the results of casting as we get no upper part in
practice while casting a cylinder or roll on its side. Such rolls or castings may be
made with an outer case hard steel and an inner case of cast iron, or the inner case
may be of softer steel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Alfred Beresford Bennett and Bernard Peard Walker in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th February 1883.
JAMES ALFRED BERESFORD BENNETT of Kings Heath in the County of
3 Worcester and BERNARD PEARD WALKER of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING AND MIXING METALS
"
Our invention has for its object improvements in casting and mixing metals so
as to produce sounder castings.
The first part of our invention relates specially to the mixing of Copper and its
alloys in such a manner as to make it a much brighter color and sounder when
cast without materially interfering with the nature of either the pure copper or the
alloys which may be for the time under treatment. This we effect in the following
manner-While the metal is in a liquid state in the crucible or mixing vessel we
take a very small portion of metallic sodium and having carefully enveloped it
with a casing of some substance such as blotting paper which will not easily be
consumed by the molten metal we attach the casing to a rod and then plunge it to
the bottom of the molten metal in the crucible or mixing vessel when it is imme-
diately volatilized spreading throughout the whole body of the molten metal so
that when it is cast there is a much greater freedom from pores and it is therefore
of sounder quality. The quantity of sodium required is about one twentieth
cent of the weight of the metal to be purified. But best copper requires less
than commoner copper.
per
The second part of our invention has special reference to the mode in which we
cast the before mentioned and other metals and is as follows:-We will explain the
apparatus as applied to the before mentioned copper mixed with metallic sodium.
We take a hollow tubular mould of almost any length with a reduced end to form
a journal which is carried in suitable bearings. This journal is hollow and forms a
convenient blow pipe. The outer end of the mould may be partly stopped up but
leaving a hole at or near the centre to receive a pipe or mouth piece communicating
with the bottom of the mixing vessel. This mixing vessel is formed by an outer
and inner casing of any suitable material and may be mounted on rollers to run
up to the mould. The process of casting would be as follows:-The molten
copper would be poured into the mixing vessel and the packet of metallic sodium
plunged to the bottom as before explained. The vessel would then be run up to
the mould so that its spout would enter the mould loosley. The metal would then
be liberated to run into the mould by the withdrawal of a plug out of the bottom
of the mixing vessel. At or about the same time the mould would be rapidly
revolved by means of a pulley or other mechanism which would drive the molten
metal by centrifugal force to the extremities of the inner surface of the mould where
it would be compressed and further solidified to any desired thickness and shape
according to the form of the inner part of the mould which might be one chamber
or more; or a number of recesses or small moulds leading off from one or more
large moulds. The mould would be prepared by suitable lining such as fire clay,
asbestos or other material of nonconducting nature. Before commencing to pour
the metal into the inould it would be heated by a blast of gas through the journal
blow pipe which may be continued during the process of casting. The cylinders of
copper or alloys thus made may be drawn down into tubes or opened out and rolled
into sheets or cut up spirally and drawn into wire, indeed the copper thus mixed
and manipulated is very dense and suitable for many purposes.
We also use our apparatus for casting other metal tubes and compound tubes
such as lead outside and tin inside in which case we run the lead first into the
mould while the mould is rapidly revolving and immediately the lead is sufficiently
cool we pour in the tin while the mould is still revolving and thus complete the
ining Such and similar tubes may be drawn to any size and thickness.
The same apparatus may also be used for coating rolls to take the place of

page_text: those known as hollow chilled rolls. To accomplish this we first run into the
mould hard or white metal of various hardness according to the purpose for which
it is required while the mould is revolving so as to spread the hard iron by
centrifugal force as before explained and immediately this is somewhat set we run
in softer and tougher iron to form the inner casing or body. By this means we
obtain an outer casing of great density and without any air holes or blow holes
which such rolls are liable to especially at their upper end in the mould and we
are therefore more certain to obtain uniformity in the results of casting as we get
no upper part in practice while casting a cylinder or roll on its side. Such rolls or
other castings may be made with an outer case of hard steel and an inner case of
cast iron, or the inner case may be of softer steel.
In order that our invention may be more easily carried out in practice we have
appended hereunto drawings showing modifications of the same and which we will
now proceed to explain.
Figure 1 is a part side elevation and a part sectional elevation of the apparatus
shown on one bed plate S. S.
Figures 2 and 3 are cross section and plan of a modification of the mould A
showing how it may be made up in various lengths 1, 2, 3 with a variety of moulds
formed in the lining M at the junction of the lengths such for instance as the
shapes t, t, t' or t³ which may be greatly varied and many articles such as nails,
pins, bolts, and other articles may be formed in the lining M. This lining may be
made of fire clay or sand or even of fire brick in segments so as to conveniently
come apart and allow the castings to be taken out.
In making plain tubes the mould A as shown in Figure 1 is sufficient and this
is the form most applicable for sheets also as the side of the tube would be cut and
the tube straightened and rolled into such sheets. These tubes may also be fluted
or ribbed for ornamentation or the flutes or ribs may be cut up and rolled into
rods and other shapes.
The mixing vessel B may be mounted upon the carriage C so that the spout D
may be easily run back out of the mould A. Now the metal being mixed as
before set forth in the mixing vessel B it is run up to about the position shown
when the plug E is withdrawn by raising the handle F allowing the metal to run
down the spout D into the mould A. Before the metal is liberated the mould A is
rapidly revolved by means of the pulleys G which are hung upon the hollow
shaft H which finishes at one end with the mould A and at the outer end with the
bell mouth H¹. The gas for heating the mould is delivered by the pipe J through
the hollow shaft H and deflected against the sides of the mould by the deflecting
plate K.
Having now described our said invention of improvements in casting and mixing
metals we would remark that we do not lay any claim to the casting of cylinders
in a revolving vessel as that has been done before but what we do claim is:-
First The purifying of copper and its alloys by the introduction of metallic
Sodium substantially as berein set forth.
Second The manner herein set forth of casting metals in a revolving mould in
combination with the gas flame and hollow blow pipe and shaft.
Third: The mould A shown in Figures 2 and 3 for the purpose of casting various
shapes substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof I the said James Alfred Beresford Bennett have hereunto
set my hand and seal on behalf of myself and the before said Bernard
Peard Walker this sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
JAMES ALFRED BERESFORD BENNETT (L.S.)