Improvements in the Manufacture of Shells or Projectiles
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 28th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Shells or Projectiles
We, GEORGE KYNOCH & COMPANY LIMITED, and EDWARD JONES, both
of Lion Works, Witton, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the moulding and casting of shells for munitions of
war, and its object is to provide means whereby a large number of shells may
be cast at one operation, and also to secure a better and more symmetrical casting.
The invention is specially applicable to casting steel shells.
Our invention consists of a new construction and arrangement of the chills in
which the shells are cast; in conjunction with a moulding box or flask made and
arranged in a manner hereinafter described.
In carrying our invention into effect according to one modification, we adopt the
following construction of chills and moulding box.
When the shells required are those of the ordinary cylindrical type, flat at one
end, and conical at the opposite end, we make the chill in the form of a cylinder
having its ends of a special construction hereinafter described. The hole or recess
in which the shell is cast is formed in the cylindrical chill axially parallel and
concentric with it. The surface of this recess corresponds with the whole outer
periphery of the required shell. The shell is cast vertically with the conical end
downwards. The outside bottom part of the chill bears a conical seat turned on it,
while the top part has also a coned seat formed on a ring projecting from the
cylinder. On this ring, and forming part of it, is another partial ring of approxi-
mately horse-shoe shape, with its inner circumference parallel with the cylindrical
inner surface of the chill, but set a short distance back all the way round from that
surface, so that if this inner horse-shoe were filled with sand, it would cover the
flat end of the chill, and also lap beyond the hole all the way round.
The bottom half of the moulding box or flask is arranged as follows.-The
outside dimensions are made to suit the number of shells required to be cast at
one operation. Starting at the top part of the bottom box, which forms the plane
of junction with the top box, we form a shallow tray whose length and breadth
extend to the sides of the box, and whose depth is practically the same as the
borse shoe ring on the chill. The depth from the floor of this tray to the foot of
the bottom box is sufficient to receive the cylindrical chills, and we so construct the
box that a casing is formed round the outside of the chill to receive it, this casing
being larger in diameter than the outside cylindrical portion of the chill so as to
leave clearance, and bored the same size as the turned coned seat portions of the
chill, hereinbefore referred to. When the chills are placed into their respective
cases, these coned surfaces automatically centre them, so as to bring them always
in the same position. That portion of the chill corresponding with the flat end
of the shell is always flush with the bottom of the tray portion of the box.
The top half of the moulding box or flask is arranged as follows.-
The overall length and breadth dimensions correspond with the lower box,
on the sides are fitted bar guides of the usual type in foundry use where special
accuracy is required.
On the top of the top box we bore, drill, or otherwise form a number of holes
whose function is to support the cores required in making the shells. These holes
are similar in number to, and when the boxes are joined, parallel and concentric
with the shell chills in the bottom box.

page_text: It is to be understood that in conjunction with the above arrangement of
moulding boxes or flasks, we use the ordinary foundry provisions for ramming the
sand where necessary, trunnions for tilting and so forth.
The operation of manufacturing shells with the improved apparatus is as
follows.
The chills are all placed in position in the bottom box where they automatically
centre themselves by reason of the coned seatings described. Plugs about the
diameter of the shell are inserted into the tubes at the top end, and thus close the
opening into their inner surfaces. When these plugs are in position, they may
come level at the top but the top of the horse shoes or partial rings, and spaces
are thus formed between the plugs and the inner surfaces of the horse shoes ;
moulding sand is now rammed in the usual manner into this space, and into the
tray depression all round the top horse shoe ends of the chills and level with the
top of the bottom box.
Runners or feed channels are cut or formed in the sand, so that each runner
strikes the diameter of the shell hole in the chill preferably at a tangent. These
runners lead from cach chill to a central feed which in turn communicates with the
gate in the top box when it is placed in position.
The cores are all fixed accurately in position by the usual prolongations; in the
drilled holes in the top box, and any ramming that we may require is done.
The two half boxes are brought accurately together by means of the guides, and
clamped or weighted in the usual manner. Thus when the steel ladle is brought
forward, one opening of the valve is sufficient to cast one complete set of shells in
the box.
A's steel contracts considerably the shells easily leave the chills when cool.
Manufacture of Shells or Projectiles.
We, GEORGE KYNOCH AND COMPANY LIMITED, and EDWARD JONES, both
of Lion Works, Witton, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do hereby
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 relates to the moulding and casting of shells for munitions of
war, and its object is to provide means whereby a large number of shells may be
cast at one operation, and also to secure better and more symmetrical castings than
can be obtained by the ordinary methods.
This invention is specially applicable to casting steel shells.
Our invention consists of a new construction and arrangement of the chills in
which the shells are cast, in conjunction with a moulding box or flask made and
arranged in a manner hereinafter described.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter
referred to;
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of moulding box and chills as
constructed and arranged in accordance with our invention for the casting of steel
shells.
Figure 2 is a plan of the box with one half of the cover removed.
Figure 3 is a section to a larger scale through one of the moulds or chills and
the steel shell within the same.

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan of the core template, and Figure 5 an elevation of the same.
Figure 6 is a section through one of the chills showing the plug or pattern for
the upper part of the shell in position.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
When the shells required are those of the ordinary cylindrical shape, flat at one
end. aud conical at the opposite end, such as A, we make each of the chills B in
the form of a cylinder having its ends of a special construction hereinafter-
described. The hole or recess in which the shell is cast is formed in the cylindrical
chill axially parallel and concentric with it, and the surface of this recess corre-
sponds with the whole outer periphery of the required shell. The shell is cast
vertically with the conical end downwards. The outside bottom part of each
chill B bears a circular conical projection B for resting upon the seating formed
in the shelf or platform C¹ of the moulding box C, while the top part has also a
circular conical projection B for resting upon the seating formed in the upper
shelf or platform C2 of the moulding box.
The moulding box illustrated in the drawings is of sufficient dimensions to
receive twenty chills for enabling as many shells to be cast at one operation.
The cover D is secured to the box by the bolts or dowel pin E, and the cores
and core bars F are suspended from the cover in the manner illustrated. At
the upper end of the box C we form a recess for the reception of the sand G
which is rammed between and around the plugs or patterns H inserted in the
moulding box with their stalks extending to the bottom of the interior of the
chills (previous to the insertion of the cores F) as shown at Figure 6, in order to
The shell proper
mould the upper part or dead head A¹ of each shell A.
terminates with the upper extremity of the chill, the dead end being cut off after
removal from the moulding box.
The head J into which the molten steel is poured is formed in the sand G
rammed into the box cover D, and such head communicates with the gates or
runners K in the manner shown, suitable vents L being provided for the escape of
air or gases.
The runners or feed channels are so formed in the sand that each
runner strikes the diameter of the shell hole in the chill preferably at a tangent as
shown at Figure 2.
The operation of manufacturing shells with our improved apparatus is as
follows.-
The chills B are all placed in position in the box C where they automatically
centre themselves by reason of the coned seatings described.
The plugs or
patterns H are inserted at the top end, as herein before described, and the moulding
sand G rammed around the same. The cover D is rammed with the sand G' and
has the suitably prepared core bars F bolted thereto as illustrated. The position
of the core bars is gauged or proved by meaus of the template M having holes
which pass over the core bars, when the cover is reversed, its position being
accurately set by the holes M' which pass over the dowel pins E bolted to the
cover. The legs or stems N rest upon the edge of the cover and thus support the
template M during the gauging of the core bars. The template is then withdrawn
and the box and its cover secured together by the dowels E.
On pouring the molten metal into the head J it runs along the gates K and into
each of the chills, and we are thus enabled to cast the complete set of shells in the
box at one operation.
As steel contracts considerably the shells are easily removed from the chills
when cool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.-
1. The improved means for casting a large number of shells at one operation
substantially as described.
2. The improved method of arranging and supporting a number of chills within

page_text: a moulding box comprising the provision of conical projections on the exterior of
the chills which rest and automatically adjust or centre themselves upon seatings
formed within or upon the box, the chills being so disposed as to permit of their
being simultaneously fed with molten metal admitted by one common head,
substantially as described.
3. The combination of a series of chills such as B arranged and supported
within a moulding box as C, with a cover D having the cores F attached
thereto, substantially as and for the purposes described and as illustrated in the
drawings.
4. The improved method of forming moulds for the production of cast shells
such as A, by the use of chills B cores F, template M, and plugs such as H,
employed in conjunction with the moulding box C and cover D, substantially as
described and as illustrated in the drawings.
5. The construction and general combination of parts forming the improved
shell moulding apparatus, substantially as described.
ACCE
Say of September 1990.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.