IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING AND CASTING IRON PIPES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clapham, Thomas Clapham, and
William Clapham, of Wellington Foundry, in Keighley, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING
AND CASTING IRON PIPES."
Sealed the 9th November 1858, and dated the 10th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clapham,
Thomas Clapham, and William Clapham, at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 10th May
1853.
We, JOHN CLAPHAM, THOMAS CLAPHAM, and WILLIAM CLAPHAM,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MOULDING AND CASTING IRON PIPES" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the use of a casing or box of peculiar
construction for the purpose of moulding and casting iron pipes of all
sizes in loam or green sand, which may be effected in the following
manner, and by the following means, reference being had to the illus-
trative Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and
letters of reference marked thereon respectively, as follows:-

page_text: At Sheet 1, Fig. 1, exhibits a side elevation of the exterior of the
above-mentioned casing or box, adapted for moulding and casting
socket pipes. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal and vertical section of said casing
or box, with a socket pipe therein. Fig. 3, is a transverse and vertical
section taken through the line A, B, at Figs. 1, and 2. Fig. 4, exhibits
a longitudinal and vertical section of another form of construction of
the before-mentioned casing or box, and intended for the moulding and
casting of flanged pipes. Fig. 5, is a transverse and vertical section
taken through the line C, D, at Fig. 4. At each of these Figures
similar letters, of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts,
in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of the Figures
respectively. At Figs. 1, 2, 3, A, B,_marks. a cast iron casing or
box, formed in two parts, and with flanges a, a, through which screws
are passed for, connecting. said, parts together, as shewn at Figs. 1,
and 3. The inner surface of. the casing or box is formed with a
number of iron pegs, to prevent the loam employed in the moulding of
the pipe from falling off; and there are innumerable holes b, b, formed
in the casing A, B, for the emission of vapour and gases given off
during the process of casting or-running-in-the molten metal; and,
further, the junction surfaces; of the flanges. a, a, are planed smooth,.so
that when the two parts of said casing or box are. bolted together a
perfect joint is thus formed, and the metal prevented from running out
at such part during the operation of casting, and after the loam has
been dried. The openings at the ends of the casing or box A, B, are
formed smaller than the other parts, to receive the ends of the core C,
which may be formed in the manner usually practised, and the molten
metal may be poured into the mould through one or more holes or
runners suitable for such purpose. The construction" of the casing or
box exhibited at Figs. 4, and 5, differs from the foregoing one in the
following respects: It will be seen upon referring to Fig. 4, that the
ends of the casing or box A, B, are fitted with plates D, D, upon which
snugs c, c, are fornied, as shewn at Fig. 5, as also upon the casing A, B,
through which bolts are passed for connecting the plates D. D, thereto;

page_text: in other respects the parts A, B, are similar to those before-mentioned
with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3. The construction of the tool employed
for striking the loam inside of the casings A, and B, is exhibited at Figs.
6, 7, 8, 9; the parts a'; a; of this tool, when in use, slide upon the
flanges a; a, of the said casings, and the part b, is of the required size
for the inside of the pipe; the partic, situated at the front end of the
tool is pointed for the purpose of removing the superfluous loam which
passes off along the enlarged part. d; of said, tool; and thus the inner
surface of the loam is prepared to receive the core.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Clapham, Thomas Clapham, and William
Clapham, in the Great Seal, Patent Office, on the 10th November
1853.
.
L-
1:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
JOHN CLAPHAM, THOMAS CLAPHAM, and WILLIAM CLAPHAM, of Welling-.
ton: Foundry, Keighly, in the County of York, send greeting..."
"WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight: .hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of: Her reign, did;. for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give.
and grant unto us, the said John Clapham, Thomas Clapham, and
William Clapham, Her special licence that we, the said John Clapham,
Thomas Clapham, and William Clapham, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Clapham, Thomas
Clapham, and William Claphani, our: executors, administrators, and
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
CASTING IRON PIPES, upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the

page_text: said John Clapham, Thomas Clapham, and William Clapham, or one
of us, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under
the hand and seal of one of us, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Clapham, Thomas Clap-
ham, and William Clapham, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:
Our Invention relates, firstly, to an improved mode of moulding iron
pipes in loam or green sand, and consists in a new and peculiar con-
struction and arrangement of the flask or box to be employed for that
purpose, and a certain apparatus or tool peculiarly constructed for
striking up the loam or green sand in the said flask or box; and,
secondly, to the casting of pipes in such said flask or box.
And in order to explain our said Invention as completely as possible
we now proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for
carrying our said Invention into practical effect, reference being had to
the illustrative Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the numeral Figures
and letters of reference marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, exhibits a side elevation of the exterior of a flask or box
constructed according to our said Invention, and adapted for moulding
and casting socket pipes. Figure 2, is an end elevation of the same
at A. Figure 3, is an end elevation at B. Figure 4, is a transverse and
vertical section of the flask or box through the line C, D, at Figure 1.
Figure 5, is a longitudinal and vertical section taken through the lines
E, F, at Figures 2, 3, 4. Figure 6, is a side elevation of the exterior
of a flask or box constructed according to our said Invention, and
adapted for moulding and casting flange pipes. Figure 7, is a trans-
verse and vertical section of the same taken through the line G, H, at

page_text: Figure 6; and Figure 8, is a longitudinal and vertical section thereof
taken through the line I, K, at Figure 7. Figures 9, and 10, are
detached parts herein-after referred to. At each of the foregoing
Figures we employ similar letters of reference to denote corresponding
parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of the
Figures respectively. A, B, marks a cast iron box or flask, formed
in two parts, with flanges a, a, and holes therein, through which screws
are passed for connecting said parts together by nuts, as exhibited at
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4. The inner surfaces of the two parts of said flask or
box are formed with a number of iron pegs b, cast therein, same
being employed for the purpose of preventing the loam or green sand
from falling off, or becoming disengaged from the flask or box during
the operations of moulding and casting (in some cases, however, these
pegs may be dispensed with); and there are innumerable small
holes c, c, formed through said flask or box (as exhibited) for the
emission of the air, vapours and gases which accumulate in the flask
or box during the operation of casting or running the molten
metal therein; and, further, the junction surfaces of the flanges
a, a, of said flask or box, are planed or otherwise made smooth and
true, so that when the two parts A, and B, of said flask or box are.
bolted together a perfect joint is thus formed, and the metal pre-
vented from running out at such part during the operation of casting.
The ends of the flask or box A, B, are formed open, and have hoops
C, D, of metal, one of which is shewn detached at Figures 9, and 10,
fitted thereinto same, being employed to support the ends of a core
barrel E, exhibited at Figure 5, to which they are affixed; and for the
escape of air, at the same end of the flask or box at which the molten
metal run or poured in, holes d, being formed in one of the metal
hoops for that purpose, as exhibited at Figure 9.
hole formed in the upper half A, of the flask or box, into which a
hollow core of loam or green sand is fitted, as at e, Figure 5, through
which the molten metal is run or poured; the use of this core is to
prevent the loam from being pulled away and destroyed whilst removing
the casting therefrom, and by thus constructing the upper part of the
There is a taper

page_text: In preparing this flask or box for the moulding and casting of iron pipes
we proceed as follows:-The loam or green sand, after having been
prepared in the usual way, is forcibly pressed upon the iron pegs b, into
each part of the flask or box, and in moulding a socket pipe the socket
thereof is moulded or struck by hand with an ordinary instrument called
a "strickle," commonly used by founders, and we strike the loam at
that part of the flask which is to form the barrel of the pipe by the use
of a tool of the shape exhibited at Figures 11, 12, 13, 14. Figure 11,
is a side elevation of said tool; Figure 12, a top plan view thereof;
Figure 13, a bottom plan view; and Figure 14, an end view at A,
(Figure 11,) of such said tool. In. using this tool the parts a', a',
rest; and are slided upon, the flanges a, a, of the flask or box A, and B;
the part b', 6'; of said tool is of the required size and shape to form the
outside of the barrel of the pipe, and the part c!, of said tool is formed
pointed; as at Figures 11, and 13, for the purpose of readily removing
the superfluous loam or sand, which, coming into contact with the
inclined part d', of the tool, is forced forward therewith during the
operation of moulding; and in this manner and by these means we
prepare the inner surface of the parts A, and B, of the flask or box
which is to form the outside of the pipe; and we form the inside and
ends of the pipe by attaching to the flask or box a metal core barrel E,
upon the ends of which the before-mentioned metal hoops are fitted, so
that when said core barrel is placed within the flask or box the hoops
C, and D, come flush, or nearly so, with the ends thereof, as exhibited
at Figure 5; the inner surface of the hoop C, forms the end of the
socket of the pipe, and the hoop D, the end of the barrel thereof; and
around and about said core barrel we form a core in the manner.
usually practised by founders, and having dried the same, as also the loam,
in the parts A. and B, of the flask in the usual manner, we then place

page_text: the core within the lower part B, of the flask or box, the hoops C,
and D, resting therein, care being taken to keep the air holes d, in the
hoop D, uppermost; and, finally, we place and connect the upper
part A, to the lower part B, of said flask or box by bolts and nuts in
the manner before stated. The flask or box is now ready to receive
the molten metal, which, upon being poured in through the core e,
surrounds the core E', and fills the space between it and the inner
surface of the flask or box and the hoops C, and D; and in this
manner and by these means we mould and cast iron socket pipes.
And we would here remark, that in removing the casting from the flask
or box it is necessary first to knock out the core c, to prevent the
runner tearing away the loam as the upper part A, of the flask or box
is being removed, and thereby to preserve the mould from injury, and
so enable it to be again used for casting other pipes in, as before stated.
And as regards the casting of iron flange pipes, we employ for that
purpose a flask or box of the construction exhibited at Figures 6, 7, 8,
and proceed in the manner before stated for forming the core and
striking the loam upon the inner surfaces of the parts A, and B, of
the flask or box; but instead of employing hoops C, D, as at Figure 5, we
employ pieces of metal F, G, formed with lugs or projections f, as at
Figure 7, for connecting said pieces to the ends of the flask or box A, B,
which should be suitably formed for that purpose. And we would
remark, that, if necessary, the piece F, which is at the same end of the
flask or box at which the metal is run or poured in, may have air holes
formed therein, as before described with reference to Figure 5; and for
the same purpose the pieces F, and G, serve also to form the outer
surfaces of the flanges during the operations of moulding and casting
said pipes. The core barrel H, passes through the pieces F, G, as
exhibited, same being prepared and employed in the same manner and
for the same purpose as that herein-before stated.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be and may be performed, we declare our Inven-
tion to consist in, and we claim, the moulding and casting of iron
pipes in the manner and by the means herein-before particularly

page_text: described, set forth, and represented by the illustrative Drawing
hereunto annexed, as constituting "Improvements in Moulding and
Casting Iron Pipes."
In witness whereof, we, the said John Clapham, Thomas Clapham,
and William Clapham, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-threc.
Witness,
JON WHITLEY, J",
Gas Works, Keighley.
JOHN CLAPHAM.
THOMAS CLAPHAM.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
WILLIAM CLAPHAM. (L.s.)