Improved Apparatus for Casting Metals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Casting Metals.
1. CHARLES EMIL TUERK of 33 Charles Street, Hatton Garden in the City
of London, Engineer, do bereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention, which is mainly intended to facilitate and cheapen the manu-
facture of medals, but which relates also to the production of other things which
may be cast from molten metal, con:prises a smelting arrangement, wherein the
molten metal is maintained under considerable pressure, and a die or mould into
which the molten metal is forced while the plates forming the die are in contact,
but which recede before the incoming metal, until the full dimensions of the mould
are reached, thus largely obviating the difficulties occasioned by the presence of
air in the mould.
I will now describe my invention in connection with a machine for the
manufacture of medals.
Referring to the drawings
Figure 1 represents the machine in vertical section on centre line y-y of
Figure 2, which is a plan view of the machine, the lid or cover being removed.
Figure 3 shows the said cover in plan, detached. .
Figure + is a horizontal section, enlarged, on line 2-z of Fig. 1, with a portion
of the cover on top of same.
4
Figures 5, 6, 7, & 8 are details, partially in section, referring to the foregoing
views.
Figure 9 is a front elevation, on enlarged scale, of the front part of the machine,
as shewn in Figure 2; and
.
Figures 10 and 11 are horizontal sections of the foregoing Fig. 9, on the axial
ine of the same.
Figure 12 is an enlarged transverse section on line - of Fig. 4; and
Figures 13 and 14 represent details in reference to Fig. 9 of the front part of
the machine.
The machine for manufacturing medals is composed of two combined main parts,
one for smelting selected metallic substances, and the other part for casting and
compressing the fused metallic substances into form and shape.
The first part of the machine (Figures 1, 2) comprises an upright iron stand B,
bearing a receptacle A and frame M. The said iron stand is a hollow, cylindrically-
shaped body, open at ends, and rests with its base on the floor. The top portion t
of the same is perforated to a certain extent down, and supports the fittingly-shaped
receptacle A, which receives the metallic substances for smelting, and rests with
its recessed bottom 20, provided with a downwardly projecting perforated flange 22
on the the said top portion of the stand, and surrounds the same, whereby the
perforated portion of the stand comes in communicative contact with the holes t of
the said flange.
The open upper end of the said receptacle is hermetically closed with a tightly
fitting cover A (Figure 3), which bears on its top, and in the centre of the same, a
plug valve r, which can be opened or closed, and through which the receptacle

page_text: 1
1
receives the metallic substances for the smelting process. Inside the said receptacle,
and at the bottom, in line of centre of the same, is located a movable slide valve E
(Figures, 1, 4, and 8), which is guided reciprocating motion in a horizontal
direction, pointing with, its forward end la
round portion 14 in line of the valves centre on the periphery of the receptacle,
cowards an opening 17. in a projecting
which opening can be opened or closed by the said forward end projecting from
the square shoulder 18 of the valve, by means of a gear i engaged with the valve,.
and operated by a rod, connected with said gear. The upper end of the rod
passes through an opening in the said cover of the receptacle, and is mounted with
the handle 12, in connection with a spring o, to facilitate the shifting of the valve
into its closing position. Another opening R is made in the said cover, into which
is screwed a pipe R', to conduct air from a distant air-compressing apparatus (not
shewn in the drawings) into the receptacle, for the purpose further on explained.
His a mantel, which is moveably applied to the upper end of the receptacle, and
bears in front a moveable lid N, hinged to the mantel. For the purpose, of
melting the metallic substances, stored, in the receptacle, the hollow stand. B. is
provided inside, and a short distance below the perforated portion t,
suitably
with a
constructed lamp L, which can be filled with some combustible vapor through a
receiving pipe m, which projects outside the stand. Beneath the receptacle A is
arranged in, horizontal position, and turning on pivots p'p fixed opposite each other
on, the outside, of the stand B, an iron frame M, 'the rear part of which is bent in
shape to surround. the rear of the said stand at an ample space from the same, and
the branched front, portion, forming, side bars CC, in tangible 'contact with the
stand, terminate in curving upright position, where the said bars are connected
together, by an iron. plate. O... A prolonged portion 23 of the rear part of the frame
forms the base of a securely-fastened upright standing balance bar D, bearing at
ats upper.enda weight.q, which is held in-firm 'position by a screw bolt q passing
lengthwise through the weight and the said bar, and is bent in front in shape
handle Q, to move the bar conveniently back and forward, and-with the same the
connected frame M,.which is pivotally attached to the stand B, as indicated in.
full and dotted lines. in Fig..1 of the drawings. A set screw is applied to the
lower portion of the said bar, to keep the bar D and frame M in an adjusted
balanced. position.
.
い
"of a
The second main part of the machine refers to the apparatus for casting and
compressing the fused metallic substances into 'medals, and the same consists of a
base plate O (Figures 4 and 6), which bears the said apparatus, and represents an
oblong-shaped plate, with a .raised even top portion V, of similar shape, but sinaller
in proportion to receive the fitting recessed flat portion 26 of the shaft G(Figure 7),
which is fastened in longitudinal position to the middle of the base plate, and with
the same to the plate O of the iron frame M by means of screws 2; 2, passing
through the holes 34. of the mentioned plates, and entering the screw boles 25 of
the shaft. Ip, connection with the base plate Ois a support 10, situated bear the
left upper corner of the raised top portion of the said base plate, and bears a
moreable connected., lever P, the front portion of which terminates in a down-
wardly bent, and pointed hook u, and the said lever, according to its functions, is
locked or released., from its temporary, horizontal position (Figure 12)" by a
clamp K, which turns around on the shaft G. This shaft is also the bearer of
adjustably-applied brackets kk, which are tightly fixed to the, same' in 'required
position, for the purpose. of supporting the spindles F and F of the medal-
compressing part of the apparatus in direction 'parallel to the said shaft G. The
aforementioned spindles are of equal length and are supported by the said 'brackets
at a distance from their rear ends, portions of which are screw-threaded, and in
connection with, circular shaped adjustable washers 4, 4, for regulating the tension
of expanding, springs S and S', which are loosely fitted on the rear, portion of the
spindles, between the said washers and the brackets k k. The front ends of the
spindles are properly fastened to the discs-e and c', the same "having at their faces
air holes 31 (Figure. 13); and being provided with "screw-pins 7-projecting from

page_text: "their surface, to combine said discs c and c¹ with the die plates b and b¹. These
dies, which are changeable, bear on the surface, within their channelled margin 8, 8,
the obverse and reverse of the medal to be produced. A cylinder-shaped casing
or shell I (Figures 4, 8, 14), consisting of two equally constructed and joining
parts a, a, with (in line of centre of the said parts) sideway projecting sleeves 27,
surrounds fittingly the die plates 6 61, including the discs c, c' and a portion of the
spindles F F thereon.
The said parts a a' of the shell are provided each with set screws d d¹, and air
holes 30 (Fig. 12) on the side of the same, and have a semicircular recess e, Fig. 10,
in their front edge, which, when the parts a and a are brought in close contact
together, forms a hole e¹ in the centre of a recessed plane 15 (Figs. 8 and 12) on
the circumference of the shell. The same is situated in front of the receptacle A,
with the opening 17 of the projecting round portion 14 of the same on a line in
direction with the hole in centre of shell I, the parts a and a of which are kept
tightly closed together by curved clamp h (Fig. 9), pivotally connected at one end
to one of the said parts of the shell, which is securely held in its position by
the supports and u¹, Figs. 4 and 12, which are supported below upon the shaft G,
while above they embrace the sleeves 27 and 32, with the exception of the screw-
threaded end portions 9 (as shown in Fig. 14) of the same, which are provided
with fitting screw nuts f and g in front of the supports, to keep the same in close
contact with the shell. The beforementioned screw threaded portion of the sleeves
have each a slot 3 along the same, loosely closed by moveably attached guard
plates n and n'. These slots receive fitting pins 5 and 6 of the spindles F and F',
and serve for the purpose of guiding the said spindles in their reciprocating
movements with their connected discs c and c¹ in opposite directions from each
other.
To obtain the necessary force of the dies for compressing the fused metallic
substances into medals of required shape and form, the space of the spindles
between the said guard plates n and n¹ and the brackets kk is occupied by spiral
springs & and s, the same being of sufficient strength, the capacity of which is
regulated by adjusting the said brackets clamped to the shaft G in required
position. In regard to the support U, situated on the left side of the shell, and
engaged with the sleeve of part a of the same, said support bears on its side which
faces the lever Pa small cavity or recess w, Fig. 12, into which the downward
bended pointed hook u' of said lever enters, and accordingly, by the movements of
the said manipulated lever, the support U is compelled to slide in horizontal
directions on the shaft G, while the other support U¹ to the right of the shell
remains stationary in its position.
When the machine is brought into service for the manufacture of medals, the
same will be in the position as represented in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when
the receptacle or vessel A is filled with the selected metallic substances, and the
valves r and E'close the openings of the vessel, the lamp L is to be lighted for
melting the metallic substances, whereby part of the inflamed vapor will burst
through the communicating perforations of the stand B, and the receptacle or
vessel A enveloping the same, and the developed heat is kept inside the mantle H,
which surrounds the said vessel, to accelerate the fusing of the mass of metal.
When the same is ready for the charge to perform the casting of the medals, the
weighted upright standing balance bar D, Fig. 1, connected with the frame M is
pushed backwards, which movement causes the said frame to elevate the com-
pressing apparatus, and force the shell I of the same in close contact with a flat
metallic strip W, Fig. 5, loosely attached to the projecting round portion 14, Fig. 8,
of the receptacle or vessel A. This interposed strip between the round portion 14
just mentioned and the recessed space 15 of the shell, is provided with an
opening 19, which, when the strip W is in position on the said round portion of the
receptacle, and with its flat side against the recessed space 15 on the surface of the
shell, is in coincidence with the aperture 17 of the receptacle, and the hole e¹ of
the shell.

page_text: At the time the charge of the fused mass of metal is ready to take place, the
parts a and a of the shell 1, and the lever P, are locked by clamping hooks h
and K, to keep said parts of the shell tightly closed together, assisted by the force
of the expanding springs S S', Fig. 4. At the same time, a heavy pressure of
compressed air is conveyed through' the pipe R¹ to enter the receptacle for the
following purpose. When the valve E is drawn by the aid of the handle 12, such
a portion of the molten mass of metal as may be required for the size of a medal
to be cast, is forced' by the air through the hole e¹ of the shell between the dic
plates, which are close together, first filling the marginal recess 8, and then
causing the dies to slide apart inside the closed shell, with their connected
spindles F F, Fig. 9, in opposite directions, a space from each other in accordance
with the desired thickness of the medal, as regulated by the set screws d d².
In the medals manufactured by this process, wherein is used the co-operation of
the heavy pressure of compressed air on the mass of fused metal during the casting,
and the increased resistance of the gradually contracting springs against the die
plates, a sharp outlined impression from the obverse and reverse of the dies is
obtained. When the medal is finished and sufficiently cooled off by means of the
vent holes 30 of the parts a and a', Fig. 4, and 31 of the discs c c¹ connected with
the die plates b and b', the balance bar D is pulled forward with its connected
frame M, and the compressing apparatus swings into the position occupied before
starting into use, and the moveable part a is separated from the stationary one a¹
to extract the adhering medal from the die plates, which extraction is performed
by unlocking the clamps of the lever P and the shell I, and raising the said lever
sufficiently high (Fig. 10) from its temporary position, in consequence of' which
action, the pointed hook u', in contact with the groove u of the support U, pushes
the same with its connected sleeve 32 of the part a and the die plate 6 with its
attached 'discs c and spindle F backwards in close proximity with the adjustable
guard on the left end portion of the shaft G, and the medal will be relieved from
the'dies.'
As soon as the part a is separated from the part a¹, the spring S¹ on the
spindle F is released from its strain, and the expanding force of the same causes
the said spindle and its connected die plate to move forward in its former
position in front of the part a' of the shell. In case the medal still adheres to the
die plate b, it will be loosened from the same by a further rise of the lever P
(Fig. 11), which action will force the end of the spindle F into joining contact
with the guard k', and 'as the part a continually moves on in its backward direction,
while the die plate b remains stationary in its former position, the set screw d of
the said part a becomes detached from the disc c, and the medal loosens its hold
thereby on the die plates, and drops by its own weight down on the sheet J of the
frame M. As soon as the die plate is relieved from the medal, and the aforesaid
lever P still in its highest position (Fig. 11), the contracted springs on the end of
the spindle F expands, when the lever is brought down to its normal position,
which movement relieves the contracted spring S from its strain, and thereby
expanding, forces the guard plate n, and with the same the part a of the shell,
forward, until the set screw d is brought in connection with the disc C, and carries
the same with the spindle F, and the aforesaid part a, to the shell, in joining
contact with the other part a' of the same, and the die plate b regains its former
position, close to the die plate ; leaving a very small space between them for the
purpose of receiving a small quantity of the molten metal during the process of
casting necessary to force the die plates gradually apart.
When the lever P and the parts a and a' of the shell are locked by the clamps K
and h, the same are prevented from separating, and the apparatus is ready again
for repeated operative action for producing medals by this process.
To protect the operator of the machine from the effect of the heat emitted from
the compressing apparatus, when charged with the fused metal, the lid N, hinged
to the mantle H, which surrounds the receptacle A, is let down into position to
cover the shell I, until the casting of the medal is performed.
I.:

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for casting metal, comprising an expanding mould provided with
die plates which are held together elastically or otherwise, and which, under the
pressure of the molten metal forced between them, separate, to form a mould of
the size necessary for the casting required, as set forth.
2. Apparatus for making castings, comprising a closed vessel or pot for the
metal, means for heating the same, and an expanding mould, such as that herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which mould
receives the molten metal forced from the pot by air pressure, as explained.
3. The apparatus for making cast medals constructed, arranged, and operating
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of May 1895.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant,