IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Page, of the Town and County of Perth, North
Britain, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING
OR SHAPING METALS."
Sealed the 30th November 1855, and dated the 25th June 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Page at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th June
1855.
I, JOHN PAGE, of the Town and County of Perth, North Britain, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING METALS" to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates chiefly to the moulding of metal pipes, or the produc-
tion of hollow articles of cylindrical contour; but it is also applicable to the
moulding or casting of other articles in metal of a form more or less similar to
that of pipes. In casting such articles as pipes, core bars capable of expanding
and collapsing in diametrical dimensions are employed. These core bars are
each composed of four (more or less) longitudinal pieces of curved metal, or
segmental metal plates, so combined together as to be capable of forming core
bars of various diameters by being disposed annularly with their longitudinal
junction wedge-shaped or inclined edges in contact with each other. In the

page_text: axial line of this combination of plates is a central spindle or adjusting shaft,
projecting longitudinally beyond the extreme ends of the core bar segments.
At one extreme end of this central spindle is a circular disc piece of metal,
equal in diameter to the largest dimension to which the core bar is to be
expanded. The inner face of this disc has upon it two diametrically opposed
inclined pieces, contrived to bear against face pieces or pulleys on the lower
ends of the two corresponding segmental plates of the core bar. These inclined
guide pieces are disposed upon their disc plate so as to slope inwards from the
circumference of the disc, and they are open for the admission to an inner
inclined surface of a stop piece or catch on the ends of the segmental core bar
plates. In this way the segmental plates are retained in both directions.
The opposite extreme end of the central spindle is screwed for a short distance
to carry a disc nut piece, the circumference of which is bevilled in a direction
the reverse of the inclined pieces at the other end of the bar. This bevilled
circumference of the disc nut bears against a corresponding reversed incline on
the inner face of each segmental plate of the core bar at that end. The whole
of the segmental plates forming the circumferential body of the core bar are
wedged-shaped longitudinally. The two opposite segments against which the
open inclined guides on the stationary solid disc act, as first of all described
herein, are disposed with their narrow ends downwards, so that, one being
slightly elevated independently of the other two segments, their edges clear and
become disengaged owing to the wedge action. The stationary solid end disc
in casting pipes vertically is made the lower end, the screw end of the central
adjusting spindle being at the upper end of the core bar, so as to be within the
easy reach of the moulder. The upper ends of the combined segmental plates
are held together by a deep wrought-iron ring. The embraced portions of the
segmental plates are formed with chipping pieces or projections, intended
principally to form air passages. The action of the disc nut when turned in the
proper direction presses the four segments out hard up against their retaining
ring, the whole of the segments being traversed laterally outwards in a parallel
position by the combined action of the disc nut, the bottom end guides, and
one or more intermediate inclined guides of a similar nature, held by the
central spindle. Retaining catches of various kinds may be used for the upper
adjusting end of the core bar instead of the details already mentioned; or the
top of the core bar may be secured by bolting two of the segmental plates
which have their narrow ends uppermost by means of wedge bolts passing
across the end of the bar.
When these wedge bolts or other retainers are
removed, the two segmental plates, which have their narrow ends downwards,
and which may be called the small plates, being attached to the crane, may be

page_text: elevated a short distance when the other two segmental (large) plates are
allowed to collapse. A simple screw nut combined with two radial hinged
catches may be used for the adjusting action, instead of the arrangement herein
before described. The downward pressure of the nut causes the hinged
catches to expand the segmental core bar plates, whilst on the elevation of the
nut the two primarily lifting segments may be taken up to clear, as herein-
before mentioned. The core bars, whether collapsable or plain and solid, are
coated.in a superior manner in a vertical mould box, prepared a little larger in
diameter than that of the intended core, this difference being an allowance for
shrinkage of the loam. This vertical moulding chamber is enveloped in a steam
chamber to dry the loan used for coating the core bar; the loam is mixed with
water at a good heat in an iron vessel, maintained at an elevated temperature
by steam. In coating solid core bars, the bar is made with a considerable
longitudinal taper; the small end is placed downwards with a loose ring at its
bottom. In this condition it is passed into the mould box, and made to revolve
at an uniform rate by the action of any convenient prime mover. The heated
loam is then permitted to flow down from a hopper into the annular space
between the exterior of the core bar and the interior of the mould box. As
the core bar rotates, it carries down and forces the loam into its place, and the
heat involved in the operation dries the loam coat almost as quickly as it is
laid on.
Plain tapering but solid core bars may be coated in this way without
the use of straw or any other material between the core bar and the loam.
The core bar may be made to revolve in the loam after the pipe is cast, so as
to be withdrawn from the centre of the pipe without difficulty.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the .Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Page in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PAGE, of the Town and County of Perth,-North Britain, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Page, Her special license that I, the said John Page, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John

page_text: Page, 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 OR
SHAPING METALS," upon the condition, (amongst others) that I, the said John:
Page, by an instrument in writing under my hand. and seal, should parti-
cularly 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Page, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say.
2
1
My said. Invention. relates chiefly to the moulding of metal pipes, or the
production of hollow.articles of cylindrical contour; but it is also applicable to
the moulding or casting of other articles in metal of: a form. more or less
similar to that of pipes.. In: casting such. articles as pipes; core: bars capable
of expanding and collapsing in diametrical dimensions are employed.. Thésé
core.bars are each composed of four! (more or less) longitudinal'. pieces of
curved metal or segmental metal plates, so 'combined together as to be capable
of forming core bars. of various diameters: by being disposed. annularly with
their longitudinal junction wedge-shaped or inclined edges in contact with each
other. In the axial line of this combination of plates is a central spindle or
adjusting shaft projecting longitudinally beyond the extreme ends of the core
bar segments. At one extreme end of this central 'spindle is a circular dise
piece of metal, equal in diameter to the largest dimension to which the core
bar is to be expanded. The inner face of this disc has upon it two diame-
trically opposed inclined pieces, contrived to bear against face pieces or pulleys
on the lower ends of the two corresponding, segmental plates of the core bar.
These inclined guide pieces are disposed upon their disc plate so as to slope
inwards from the circumference of the disc, and they are open for the admis-
sion to an inner inclined surface of a stop piece-or catch on the ends of the
segmental core bar plates. In this way-the-Segmental plates are retained in
both directions. The opposite extreme end of the central spindle is screwed
for a short distance to carry a disc nut piece, the circumference of which is
bevilled in a direction the reverse of the inclined pieces at the other end of the

page_text: bar. This bevilled circumference of the disc nut bears against a corresponding
reversed incline on the inner face of each segmental plate of the core bar at.
that end. The whole of the segmental plates forming the circumferential.
body of the core bar are wedge-shaped: longitudinally. The two opposite
segments against-which the open inclined guides on the stationary solid disc
act, as first of all. described herein, are disposed with their narrow ends down-
wards, so.
that, on being slightly elevated independently of the other two
segments, their edges clear and become disengaged owing to the wedge
action. The stationary solid end disc in casting pipes vertically is made the
lower end, the screw end of the central adjusting spindle being at the upper
end of the core bar, so as to be within. the easy reach of the moulder. The
upper ends of the combined segmental plates are held together by a deep
wrought-iron ring; the embraced portions of the segmental plates are formed
with chipping pieces or projections, intended principally to form air passages.
The action of the disc nut when turned in the proper direction presses the four
segments out hard up against their retaining ring, the whole of the segments
being traversed laterally outwards in a parallel position by the combined action
of the disc nut, the bottom end' guides, and one or more intermediate inclined
guides of a similar nature held by the central spindle. Retaining catches of
various kinds may be used for the upper adjusting end of the core bar instead
of the details already mentioned; or the top of the core bar may be secured
by bolting two of the segmental plates which have their narrow ends upper-
most by means of wedge bolts passing across the end of the bar.. When these
wedge bolts or other retainers. are removed, the two segmental plates, which
have their narrow ends downwards, and which 'may be called the small plates,
being attached to. the crane, may be elevated a short distance when the other
two segmental (large) plates are allowed to collapse. A simple screw nut
combined with two radial hinged catches may be used for the adjusting action;
instead of the arrangement herein-before described. The downward pressurė
of the nut causes the hinged catches to expand the segmental core bar plates,
whilst on the elevation of the nut the two primarily lifting 'segments may
be taken up to clear, as herein-before mentioned. The core bars, whether
collapsable or plain and solid, are coated in a superior manner in a vertical
mould box, prepared a little larger in diameter than that of the intended core,
this difference being an allowance for shrinkage of the loam. This vertical
moulding chamber is enveloped in a steam chamber to dry the loam used for
coating the core bar. The loam is mixed with water at 'a good heat in an iron
vessel, maintained at an elevated temperature by steam. In coating solid core
bars; the bar is made with a considerable longitudinal taper; the sinallend..

page_text: placed downwards with a loose ring at its bottom. In this condition' it is
passed into the mould box, and made to revolve at an uniformi rate by the
action of any convenient prime mover. The heated, loani is then permitted to
flow down from a lopper into the annular space between the exterior of the
corc bar and the interior of the mould box. As the core bar rotates, it carries
down and forces the loam into its place, and the heat involved in the operation
dries the loam coat almost as quickly as it is laid on. Plain tapering but
solid core bars may be coated in this way without the use of straw or any
other material between the core bar and the loam. The core bar may be
made to revolve in the loam after the pipe is cast, so as to be withdrawn from
the centre of the pipe without difficulty.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several explanatory Figures on the Slieet of
Drawings hereunto attached.*
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is an elevation of a collapsable core
bar, as constructed according to one modification of my improved system;
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the core bar, as supposed to be turned
a quarter round from the position in which it is represented in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a plan of the disc which is applied to the bottom end of the core
bar; and Figure 4 is a plan of the complete core bar as looking upon its
top end, and corresponding to Figure 2. I shall particularise the remaining
Figures on the Sheet of Drawing, as I shall herein-after have occasion to
refer to theni.
According to the modification represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the
cylindrical or external surface portion of the core bar is composed of four
segmental pieces A, B, C, D.. The segmental pieces A, B, are larger than
the other two C, D; and whilst all the four pieces fit together with inclined
edges, as seen in transverse section, the two smaller pieces are tapered
longitudinally downwards, so as to free themselves from the edges of the
adjacent segments when slightly raised up from these last. These segments
are disposed round a central spindle or adjusting shaft E, which projects
longitudinally beyond their extreme ends, and is fitted at its lower end with a
circular disc F, slightly less in diameter than the largest dimension to which
the core bar is to be expanded. The inner face of this disc has upon it two
diametrically opposed inclined pieces G, against which face pieces H, upon the
lower ends of the smaller segments C, D, bear. The inclined guide pieces G
slope inwards from the circumference of the disc, and are open to receive pins
I, carried by lugs upon the segments C, D, so that these segments are retained
and guided in both directions. The opposite extreme end of the spindle is

page_text: screwed for a short distance, as at J, to receive a disc nut piece K, the
circumference of which is bevilled in a direction the reverse of the pieces Gat
the other end of the bar. Each half of Figures 2 and 4 on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached represents the disc nut piece K, and one of the
segments C, D, in a different position. The bevilled circumference of the disc
nut. K bears against corresponding reversed inclines L on the inner faces of
the segments C, D; at their upper ends. By screwing down the disc nut K
into the position in which it is represented on the right-hand side of Figure 2,
the segments C and D are pressed downwards and outwards, being guided
accurately below by the guides G. If necessary, additional guides M may
be fixed upon the spindle E at any intermediate point between its opposite
ends, lugs with suitable face pieces N being formed or fixed upon the segments
C, D, at the corresponding points thereof. The upper ends of the four
segmental plates A, B, C, D, are held together by a deep wrought-iron ring O,
shaped internally to the extreme diameter to which the segments are to be
expanded, allowance being made for the formation of ridges upon the portions
of the segments covered by the ring for the passage of air between such
ridges. When the core bar is required to collapse, the disc nut K is unscrewed,
so as to permit of the segments C, D, being raised by means of the lugs P, the
action of the guides G at the bottom causing these segments to recede towards
the central spindle E as they are being raised. After this the two larger
segments A, B, can be easily drawn in towards the central spindle, when the
entire core bar can be removed from the casting.
Figure 5 on the Sheet of Drawings is a vertical section, and Figure 6 is a
plan, of a collapsable core bar, some of the details of which are slightly
modified from those described in reference to Figures 1 to 4. I shall, however,
indicate similar parts by the same letters of reference as in those Figures.
The central spindle E is a tubular one, of cast iron, formed with a central solid
screwed portion J on its upper end. The lower retaining guides G pass from
the disc F to the spindle E, and the segments C, D, are connected to these
guides by external and internal pins H and I, carried by lugs upon the
segments. The segments are retained in position at their upper ends when
expanded by means of links or insertion pieces Q, which are jointed to lugs R,
cast upon the insides of the segments near their upper ends. These pieces Q
when turned down into the position represented in the left-hand half of Figure 5
act as stays between the spindle E and the segments C, D, keeping the latter
expanded to their full limit. The pieces Q are themselves kept in position by
a nut K screwed upon the upper portion J of the spindle. When the nut K
. is raised upwards, by unscrewing, the link Qcan turn on its joint, and a chain

page_text: being connected to it by the link S, the segment may be lifted by it, the lifting
action causing the segment to recede inwards, in obedience to the action of the
lower guides G. **
Figure 7 on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto attached is' a vertical section
of the upper portion of the core bar'as taken at right angles to Figure 5, and
it shows a mode of linking. the central spindle and the larger segments. A, B;
to the lifting chains in such a manner that the lifting action. shall first cause
the segments to récedé inwards, after which the entire core bar will be raised
together. The segments A, B, are connected by short links T to rings.or
links U upon two lifting chains, whilst the spindle E and its appendages are
connected to the same rings U by longer links or hooks V, so that when the
lifting chains are hauled tight, the longer links V will remain slack until 'the
segments are first drawn up into the position represented on the left-hand side
of Figure 7, when the weight of the spindle and appendages coming on the
chains will cause them to draw in the segments A; B, towards the spindle.
Figure 8 on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto attachéd is a vertical section
. of a core bar in the act of being coated with mould material according to.my
improved system, Figure 9 being a plan of the apparatus corresponding. The
core bar A, if made in a single piece, is preferred to be of a slightly tapered
form, and is placed in a cylindrical vessel B, the internal diameter of which is
slightly larger than the external diameter of the intended-core as finished, to
allow of the shrinkage of the mould material after its application to the core
bar. The moulding vessel B.is placed vertically in a closed chamber C, which
is heated by steam, for the purpose of drying the coating of the mould material
upon the core bar. The loam or mould material is mixed with water at a
good heat in an iron vessel, maintained at an elevated temperature by steam.
The core bar A. being passed into the moulding vessel B, is made to revolve
iat a uniform rate by means of its spindle D, and the heated loam or mould
material is permitted to flow down from a hopper into the annular space
between the interior of the mould chamber B and the exterior of the core
bar A. As the core bar rotates, it carries down and forces the loam into its
place; and the heat employed in the operation dries the-loam coat almost as
quickly as it is applied, causing it to shrink from the sides of the vessel B, so
that the finished core can be easily withdrawn from this last: The vessel B
Fis made with a trumpet-mouth E, and the top of the core bar A is covered
-with a-bell-shaped-shield-F-to-guide-the-loan in-between-the-sides-of-the-vessel
and the core bar.
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

page_text: effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, apparatus,
or means to be employed in moulding or shaping metals, as herein-before
described.
Second, the application and use in moulding or shaping metals of circular
or similar contour of collapsable core bars composed wholly or partially of
portions or plates tapered or wedged-shaped longitudinally and upon their
lateral edges, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of forming collapsable core bars for moulding or
shaping metals, wherein the component segmental portions of the bar are
expanded by means of a disc or ring with a bevilled edge, such ring acting
upon inclined surfaces upon the segments, and being screwed and moved
longitudinally upon the central spindle of the core bar, as herein-before
described.
Fourth, the system or mode of guiding the segmental portions of collapsable
core bars by means of inclined guiding surfaces attached to the bottom plates
of the core bar, or to the central spindle at any part of its length, as herein-
before described.
.
Fifth, the system or mode of confining the segmental portions of collapsable
core bars by means of a deep solid ring encircling them at one end and forming
the socket end of the core bar, the covered portions of the segments being
formed with grooves or recesses to act as air passages, as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the system or mode of retaining or holding the segmental portions of
collapsable core bars in their expanded position by means of hinged stay
pieces, capable of being turned down between the central spindle and the
segments by means of a disc screwed upon the spindle or otherwise, as herein-
before described.
.Seventh, the system or mode of securing the segmental portions of collaps-
able core bars by means of transverse bolts passed across the top of the core
bar, as herein-before described.
Eighth, the system or mode of coating core bars for moulding or shaping
metal articles of circular contour in a heated chamber so as to dry the coating
as it is formed, as herein-before described.

page_text: Ninth, the application and use in moulding or shaping metal articles of
circular or similar contour of solid or non-collapsable core bars made with a
taper, but coated with the mould material in such a manner as to constitute
a core of parallel longitudinal outline, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Page, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five.
JOHN PAGE. (L.S.)