A NEW AND IMPROVED. METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR RAMMING SAND IN MOULDERS' FLASKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Septimus Coleman and Alfred George Edwin
Morton, both of Chelmsford, in the County of Essex, Engineers, for the Inven-
tion of A NEW AND IMPROVED. METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR RAMMING
SAND IN MOULDERS' FLASKS.”
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Septimus Coleman
and Alfred George Edwin Morton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 29th October 1877.
HENRY SEPTIMUS COLEMAN and ALFRED GEORGE EDWIN MORTON, both of
Chelmsford, in the County of Essex, Engineers. "A NEW AND IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND MACHINE FOR RAMMING SAND IN MOULDERS' FLASKS."
Our Invention relates to the application of steam power for the purpose of
ramining the sand in the flasks in the operation of preparing moulds for casting;
and our Invention consists in the employment for this purpose of a machine
resembling a steam hammer, whereby the whole of the sand with which the flask is
to be filled is at a single blow rammed tightly around the pattern in the flask.
Hitherto the sand has been rammed or packed into the flasks by means of a hand
tool, with which a succession of blows are struck on the sand in different parts of
the flask whilst the latter is being filled, it being necessary to ram up each successive
layer of sand at a time in order that the whole of the sand, and particularly that
nearest the pattern, may be properly consolidated; but by our Invention the flask is
entirely filled with sand, a sufficient surplus being piled up above the top of the flask
to ensure the proper consolidation of the mould, and the whole is rammed up by a
single blow delivered over the whole surface of the flask, the runner hole being also
formed at the same time.
Our Invention also comprises a modification in the flask itself to adapt it to our
improved method of moulding.

page_text: The ramming machine comprises a steam cylinder and piston, together with the
usual valve gear and other appendages. To the end of the piston rod is attached a
flat plate, the flask being placed directly beneath it on a suitable block, on which
the pattern to be moulded is fixed. The plate is directed in its ascent and descent
by a suitable guide on the standard or frame on which the cylinder is supported.
To the under surface of this plate the runner stick is attached, in order to form the
runner hole, at the same time that the mould is rammed, a corresponding aperture
being provided in the block, on which the pattern is fixed, to receive the point of
the runner stick on its descent, and allow the sand driven down by it to escape.
The upper edges of the flask are bevelled at a suitable angle to prevent any of the
sand lodging thereon, and causing a portion of the impact to come upon the sides of
the flask; and suitable means are provided to ensure the proper position of the flask
on the block. The pattern to be moulded is permanently fixed on this block, and
as soon as one flask is filled and rammed it can be removed and replaced by another,
which is filled and rammed in the same way.
If desired, two or more blocks may be provided, each with a portion or portions
of an entire pattern fixed on it, the blocks being movable along ways, with suitable
means for traversing the blocks and ensuring their proper position relatively to the
ramming-up plate, so that whilst the flask on one block is being rammed, that on
another may be removed and replaced by a fresh one, which may be filled in readi-
ness for ramming. In this way pairs of flasks may be quickly filled and rammed in
readiness for use. This arrangement can be used in combination with what is
known as a moulding machine, in which the pattern is withdrawn from the mould
by means of a lever or other mechanical appliance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Septimus Coleman and Alfred George Edwin Morton in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th April 1878.
HENRY SEPTIMUS COLEMAN and ALFRED GEORGE EDWIN MORTON, both of
Chelmsford, in the County of Essex, Engineers. "A NEW AND IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND MACHINE FOR RAMMING SAND IN MOULDERS FLASKS."
Our Invention relates to the application of steam power for the purpose of
ramming the sand in foundry flasks in the operation of preparing moulds for casting;
and our Invention consists in the employment for this purpose of a machine
resembling a steam hammer, whereby the whole of the sand with which the flask is
filled may at a single blow be rammed tightly around the pattern in the flask.
Hitherto the sand has been rammed or packed into the flasks by means of a hand
tool by striking a succession of blows on the sand in different parts of the flask in
order that the whole of the sand, and particularly that nearest the pattern, should
be properly consolidated; but according to our Invention the flask is entirely filled
with sand, with a sufficient surplus piled up above the top to ensure the proper
consolidation of the mould, and the whole is rammed up by a single blow delivered
over the whole area of the flask, the runner hole being also formed at the same
time.
Our Invention also comprises a modification in the flask itself to adapt it to our
improved method of moulding.
The ramming machine comprises a steam cylinder and piston, together with the
usual valve gear and other appendages. To the end of the piston rod is attached a
flat plate of superficial area about equal to or rather larger than that of the flask,
the flask being placed directly beneath it on a suitable block, on which the pattern
to be mounted is fixed. The plate is directed in its ascent and descent by a suitable
guide on the standard or frame on which the cylinder is supported. To the under
surface of this plate the runner stick is attached, in order to form the runner hole,
at the same time that the mould is rammed, a corresponding aperture being provided
in the block, on which the pattern is fixed to receive the point of the runner stick
on its descent, and allow the sand driven down by it to escape. The runner stick
being attached to a plate having a rectilinear motion, is drawn from the mould on
the rising of the plate, thus leaving a clean hole of suitable shape for pouring the
metal into. The edges of the flask which are uppermost when ramming in the
machine are bevelled at a suitable angle to prevent any of the sand lodging thereon,
which would cause the force of the blow to be expended upon the sides of the flask;
and suitable means are provided to ensure the proper position of the flask on the
block. The pattern is fixed on this block, and as soon as one flask is filled and
rammed it can be replaced by another, which is filled and rammed in the same way.
If desired, two or more blocks may be provided, each having a portion or portions
of an entire pattern or patterns fixed on it, the blocks being moveable along ways,
with suitable means for traversing the blocks and ensuring their proper position
relatively to the ramming-up plate, so that whilst the flask on one block is being
rammed, that on another block, which has been already operated upon, may be
removed and replaced by an empty flask, which may be filled in readiness for
ramming. In this way pairs of flasks may be quickly filled and rammed in readiness
for use.
This arrangement can be used in combination with what is known as a
moulding machine, in which the pattern is withdrawn from the mould by means of
a lever or other mechanical appliance.

page_text: A is a steam cylinder, with piston B, valve and valve gear C mounted on a
standard D, the whole of these parts being similar in construction and operation to
a steam hammer. Instead however of the ordinary hammer head or tup, a flat
plate E is attached to the lower end of the piston rod B¹, the said plate being pre-
ferably made to work up and down on or between a guide rib or ribs D¹ on the
standard D. To the lower face of this plate E is fixed the downwardly projecting
runner stick F in any convenient position, according to the shape of the pattern.
The place of the anvil is occupied by a cast-iron block G, on which is fixed or cast
the pattern or half pattern of the article to be cast, and in the upper surface of the
block G there is an aperture to receive the point of the runner stick F, said
aperture leading to an outlet H for the escape of the sand driven down by the
runner stick.
The flask is placed upon the block G, as represented by the dotted lines. It may
be of any ordinary construction, except that the upper edges of the flask should
be bevelled, as shown in section in Figure 3, to prevent any sand lodging thereon.
The configuration of that part of the top surface of the block G on which the
lower edges of the flask rest corresponds exactly with that of the said edges, whether
they be in one plane or whether they follow the parting line of the mould, which
for articles of irregular or unsymmetrical form may vary in height at different
points. In such cases a different block G would necessarily be used with the other
one of the pair of flasks..
In using this steam rammer in connection with what is known as a moulding
machine, the block G instead of being solid is hollow, and the pattern, instead of
being cast or fixed on the block, is supported within it by an upright spindle or
other suitable carrier, and is arranged to be raised into its proper position and to
be lowered after the blow has been delivered in the same way as in the moulding
machine.
Having described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The improved method, herein described, of ramming foundry flasks at a
single blow by means of a steam-actuated ramming plate, as set forth.
Second. The employment in combination of a steam-actuated ramming plate pro-
vided with a runner stick, one or more blocks bearing a pattern or patterns, and a
foundry flask placed thereon, all constructed and operating substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Third. The employment in combination with a steam-actuated ramming plate of
a hollow block to support the flask and a moveable pattern within the block
furnished with mechanism for withdrawing it from the mould, substantially as
specified. .
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Septimus Coleman, for myself and on
'behalf of the said Alfred George Edwin Morton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
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