Pig-bed Moulding Apparatus and Pig Carrier for Use at Blast Furnaces.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Combined Pig-bed Moulding Apparatus and Pig Carrier for Use
at Blast Furnaces.
I, GEORGE FISHER of Shotts House, Shotts, in the County of Lanark,
Scotland, Furnace Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention consists in providing a machine or mechanical means for moulding
or, in other words, forming the beds preparatory for receiving the molten iron from
blast furnaces, cupolas and such like, to form the same into "pigs," the object of
my invention being to dispense with the manual labour hitherto connected with
such work and to perform the said work more expeditiously and with less cost.
To attain the foregoing advantages, I employ a travelling carriage mounted on
suitable girders and fitted as follows:-The main or travelling carriage or frame
consists of two girders spanning the pig bed, each end being secured in a suitable
cheek with travelling wheels, after the manner of an ordinary overhead traveller.
Motion in this particular case is communicated to the main driving shaft by an
engine and boiler fixed on the travelling carriage, but the machine may, if
preferred, be driven by a system of rope driving or by a compressed air or electric
motor.
From the main traveller is suspended, by means of two rigid suspension frames,
the combination and arrangements of mechanism, which comprises the main feature
of my invention..
For moulding the pigs, a series of gouge-shaped cutters or scoops are arranged
in conjunction with a similar number of smoothers or finishers, and stamps or
brands, on a stout, canting, girder-shaped bar; the cutters, smoothers and brands
to be in number, size and distance apart as may be deemed suitable. The cutter
frame is arranged to move backwards and forwards to the amount required for the
length of pigs (such movements to be adjustable) by means of an endless pitch
chain, the said bar for carrying the cutters, smoothers and brands is supported at
each end in properly constructed hangers having a vertical movement in the
suspension frames for lifting and lowering the cutters, smoothers and brands when
necessary.
For moulding the "sow" or main runner connected with each particular bed or
set of pigs, a single cutter and smoother is arranged to move in the same line
parallel with the main carriage. The said cutter and smoother are carried in a
similar hanger to the cutter bar for the pigs, and have their movement between two
parallel slide bars similar also to what the pig cutter bar is provided with. Both
the cutter for the said main runner as well as the cutters for the pigs obtain their
motion from the shafting on the main carriage, each being provided with a three-
mitre geared wheels and double-acting clutches; levers for manipulating the same
being placed within easy reach of the operator.
A novel feature of the invention is the tilting or canting gear with which the
pig cutter bars, as well as the sow cutter are provided. The canting gear referred
to consists of a bell crank secured on the pivot on which the cutters are arranged
to make half a revolution. From the bell crank referred to, a link connects the
same with a horizontal lever fixed, so that its boss is allowed to travel vertically on
a corresponding square shaft, so that the canting gear may be operated in whatever
position it may be in, vertically.

page_text: The lateral and transverse motions respectively for the pig and sow cutters are
arranged to impart automatically, the canting movement to the cutters, smoothers
and brands as may be required.
In order that the traveller may serve the combined purpose of a pig carrier and
moulding apparatus, the main carriage is fitted overhead with two hoisting drums
fixed at a suitable distance apart in accordance with the length of beds to be
carried. From the drums are suspended hoisting chains and dogs in the usual
manner, so that the bed of pigs may be hoisted and carried to any desired point in
the works. The hoisting drums are fixed on an independent counter shaft which
obtains its motion by means of a toothed wheel and pinion from the main driving
shaft on the overhead carriage; the reversing motion for hoisting and lowering
being arranged by a three-mitre wheel gearing and double-acting friction clutch on
the driving shaft.
Dated this with day of N 1000
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Combined Pig-bed Moulding Apparatus and Pig Carrier for Use
at Blast Furnaces.
I, GEORGE FISHER, of Shotts House, Shotts, in the County of Lanark,
Scotland, Furnace Manager, 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, that is to say:
"
My invention consists in providing a machine or mechanical means for moulding
or in other words forming the bed preparatory for receiving the molten iron from
blast furnaces, cupolas, and such like, to form the same into "pigs the object of
my invention being to dispense with some of the manual labor hitherto connected
with such work and to perform the said work more-expeditiously and with less
cost.
In carrying out my invention I have a carriage arranged to travel along two
girders and to span the pig bed. To this carriage are fixed rigid suspension frames
for the purpose of carrying a series of moulding instruments such as cutters,
smoothers, and brands fixed on a girder or built bar, which is attached at the ends
to the suspension frames, and is capable of being turned and of moving vertically
whilst it also has a reciprocating movement equal to the length of the pigs. A
cutter and a smoother, are provided for moulding the "sow or main runner of
each set of pigs, capable of turning about an axis and of moving vertically whilst
they also have a reciprocating movement at right angles to that of the series of
instruments herein before mentioned. The main carriage is fitted overhead with
two hoisting drums for the purpose of raising the bed of pigs and carrying it to
any convenient place.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append seven sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and showing my improved apparatus.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a sectional plan of one side of the
apparatus and Figure, 2, on Sheet, 2, is a plan of the other side.
Figure, 3, on Sheet, 3, is an elevation, (corresponding to Figure, 1,) of one side
of the apparatus.
Figure, 4, is a horizontal section, and Figures, 5, and, 6, are respectively a front
and a side elevation of details hereinafter described.
Figure, 7, on Sheet, 4, is an elevation, (corresponding to Figure, 2) of the other
side of the apparatus.
Figure, 8, on Sheet, 5, and Figure, 9, on Sheet, 6, are transverse vertical sections
of the apparatus as seen when looking opposite ways from the middle.

page_text: In Figures, 8, and, 9, the lower parts are shifted laterally for convenience in
arranging the figures.
Figures, 10, 11, and, 12, on Sheet, 7, which are drawn to a smaller scale than
the other figures are respectively a plan, a side elevation, and an end elevation of
the carriage frame.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
An
The main or travelling carriage or frame, A, consists of two girders spanning the
pig bed, and fixed at their ends to cheek frames provided with wheels, A 1, to run
on rails, A 2, after the manner of an ordinary overhead traveller crane.
engine, A 3, and boiler, A 4, on the carriage, A, communicate motion to a main
driving shaft, B, extending the whole length of the carriage; and by means of a
clutch, B1, and pinions, B2, B3, B4, B5, and B6, the main shaft drives an
auxiliary shaft, B 7, which through the pinions, B 8, and spur wheels, B9, at each
side of the carriage, causes the wheels, A 1, to turn and move the carriage along
the rails, A 2, when required. The clutch, B1, is shifted to alter the direction of
travelling of the carriage, A, by means of levers, C, and, C1, on a shaft, C 3,
extending across the carriage, this shaft being actuated directly at the top of the
carriage by a hand lever, C4, and at a lower level by a hand lever, C5, which acts
through a vertical shaft, C 6, a lever, C 7, a rod, C 8, a bell crank, C 9, a vertical
rod, D, and a lever, D 1. Instead of the steam engine, A 3, the apparatus may,
if preferred, be driven by rope driving apparatus or by a compressed-air or electric
inotor.
The main traveller or carriage, A, has suspended from it, by means of two rigid
suspension frames, E, the combination and arrangement of mechanism which
comprises the main feature of my invention. For moulding the pigs, a series of
moulding instruments comprising gouge-shaped cutters or scoops, E1, are arranged
in conjunction with a similar number of smoothers or finishers, E 2, and stamps or
brands (that is "brand" marking plates), E 3, on a strong girder or built bar, E 4,
capable of being turned to bring the cutters, smoothers, or brands into operating
position as required, the number, size, and distance apart of the parts being as may
be deemed suitable. The cutter girder, E 4, is arranged to move backwards and
forwards to the amount required for the length of the pigs (such movements being
made adjustable if desired) by means of endless pitch chains, F. The pitch
chains, F, are driven by sprocket wheels, F 1, on a shaft, F 2, which is driven by
bevil pinions, F 3, and, F 4, the latter being on a horizontal shaft, F 5, on which is
a bevil pinion, F 6, gearing with a bevil pinion, F 7, on a vertical shaft, F 8, having
on it a bevil pinion, F 9, gearing with bevil pinions, G, and G 1, loose on the main
shaft, B. The pinions, G, and G 1, are actuated to give reverse movements of the
pitch chains, F, by means of a clutch, G 2, which is moved by a pair of levers, G 3,
on an overhead horizontal shaft, G 4, having on it a lever, G 5, which is actuated
through a rod, H, a lever, G 6, a shaft, G 7, a lever, G 8, a rod, G 9, and a three-
armed lever, H 1, two arms of which have hand rods, H 2, connected to them
within easy reach of the attendant.
Fixed to the suspension frames, E, and extending across the main carriage, A,
are two pairs of parallel guide bars, E 5, between each pair of which slides a
block, E6, formed with or fixed to a vertical V-shaped guide piece, E 7, the two
V-guide pieces being connected together by a girder, E 8, shown in vertical section
in Figures, 8, and, 9. The V-shaped guide pieces, E7, and sliding blocks, E 6,
are similar to the V-guide piece (E7) and block (E6) delineated in Figures, 4,
5, and, 6, which however belong to the sow cutter and finisher and are hereinafter
described. Sliding up and down on each guide piece, E 7, is a block, E 9, which
has fixed to it a hanger, J. carrying, in a bearing in its lower part (by means of a
The sliding
bell crank hereinafter described) one end of the cutter girder, E4.
block, E 9, has also fixed to it a vertical bar, J 1, formed with rack teeth, and the
upper end of which is connected to one end of a chain, J 2, passing over a
pulley, J 3, supported in bearings in a frame piece, J 4, formed with or fixed to

page_text: .
the top of the guide piece, E 7, the other end of the chain being attached to a
counterbalance weight, J 5. The vertical movement of the block, E 9, on the
guide piece, E 7, and consequently the raising and lowering of the cutter bar, E 4,
is effected through a handwheel, J 6, on a shaft, J7, formed with a worm, J8, at
each end, each of which worms gears with a worm wheel, J 9, on a shaft, H 3, at
each side, each shaft having on it a pinion, H 4, gearing with the toothed rack, J1,
(aforementioned) which is fixed to the sliding block.
An important feature of my invention is the gear for tilting, canting or turning
the moulding instruments. The canting and turning of the pig moulding instru-
ments is effected in the following manner. Each pig hanger, J. has fixed in its
lower part a stud, P, on which is centered loosely a bell-crank, P1, with one arm
carrying the end of the cutter girder, E 4, and the other arm having jointed to it a
horizontal link, P 2. The link, P 2, is connected by a universal joint to one end
of a horizontal lever, P 3, through the other end of which passes a vertical square
shaft, P4, stepped into a projecting part, P5, of the hanger, J. The square
shaft, P 4, has on it a short lever, P 6, which engages in a slot in a round bar, P 7,
fitted to slide in the block, E 6, which is on the vertical guide piece, E 7. The
bar, P 7, has fixed to it a stud or key acted on by the pitch chain, F, and which is
similar to the one, P 8, shown in Figures, 4, 5, and, 6, and projects horizontally out
through a slot in the sliding block, E6, this slot allowing a limited sliding move-
ment of the bar, P 7, in the block. When the vertical guide piece, E 7, with the
hanger, J, and their accessory parts approach the end of their travel the bar, P 7,
encounters a projection on a bar, P 9, sliding in guides, Q, and causes it to act by
a stud, Q3, on it on a bellcrank, Q 4, centered on a fixed bracket, D 3, and having
its other arm connected by a vertical rod, Q 5, which is continuous with the rod, H,
connected, through various parts herein before described, with the clutch, G 2, that
clutch being thereby placed in its middle position. On the commencement of the
return traverse the pitch chain, F, moves the bar, P7, along the slot, D2, and
causes it to turn the square shaft, P 4, by the lever, P 6. The square shaft, P 4,
on being turned acts on the lever, P3, the link, P2, and the bellcrank, P 1, and
moves the girder, E 4, with the moulding instruments, E1, E2, and, E 3, up out
of the operating position, the cutter girder and its accessory parts being counter-
balanced by a weight, Q1, on the end of a lever, Q 2, fixed to the bellcrank.
Fixed on each end of the cutter girder, E 4, is a three-armed piece, Q6, having in
each of the arms a stud, Q7, projecting horizontally out from it. These studs, Q7,
are engaged each at a different time by a gab lever, Q 8, centered on the hanger, J,
which holds the cutter girder, E4, in its proper working position for either the
cutter, E, finisher, E 2, or brand, E 3. When the cutter girder, E 4, has been
turned up out of the working position after making an operative stroke the gab
lever, Q8, is released from whatever one of the studs, Q7, it may happen to be
engaging, by a rod, Q 9, and hand lever, R, the latter being centered on the sliding
block, E 6. The cutter girder, E4, is then turned round so as to change the
operating instruments, by a hand lever, R 1, formed in a piece with a toothed
quadrant, R2, centered loosely on the stud, P, and gearing with a pinion, R 3, fast
on the journal of the cutter girder, E 4. The pitch chain, F, is then put in motion
again by hand (as hereinbefore described) and by the action of the square
shaft, P4, the cutter girder, E 4, is moved downwards to bring the instruments
into the working position.
For moulding the sow or main runner connected with each bed or set of pigs, a
single cutter, K, and a smoother, K 1, are arranged to move parallel with the length
of the carriage, A, that is at right angles to the pig moulds. The cutter, K, and
smoother, K1, are fixed on a spindle carried by a crank or lever, R 7, hereinafter
described and on a short spindle carried in a bearing in a hanger, K 2, similar to
the hangers, J, carrying the pig cutter girders, E4. The hanger, K 2, is fixed to
a block, E 9, sliding on a V-shaped guide piece E 7, which has fixed to it or formed
in a piece with it a block, E6, capable of sliding between two parallel guide
bars, K 3, fixed at the ends to the suspension frames, E. The horizontal movement

page_text: of the hanger, K 2, carrying the cutter, K, and smoother, K 1, is effected from the
main driving shaft, B, by means of bevil pinions, L, and L1, loose on the main
shaft, and gearing with a bevil wheel, L2, on a vertical shaft, L3, having a
pinion, L4, on its bottom end which gears with a pinion, L5, on a shaft, L6,
having fast on it a sprocket wheel, L 7, round which passes a pitch chain, L 8,-
connected by a stud, P8, to the sliding block, E 6. The pitch chain, L 8, passes
round a similar sprocket wheel, L 9, at the other side of the apparatus. The bevil
pinions, L, and L 1, are either of them engaged by a clutch, M, on the main
shaft, B, for driving the pitch chain, L 8, in either direction, and the engagement is
effected by means of levers, M 1, a shaft, M 2, a lever, M 3, a rod, M 4, on a part
of which there is formed a slotted block acting on a lever, M5, on a shaft, M 6, a
lever, M 7, a rod, M 8, a lever, M 9, and a vertical shaft, N, the latter being moved
by the attendant worker by means of a hand lever, N 1. An automatic stoppage
of the movement of the pitch chain, L 8, is effected at the end of a traverse by the
rod, M 4, and a lever, N 2, on the rocking shaft, M 6, the lever, N 2, being con-
nected to the upper end of a vertical rod, N 6, similar to the rod, M 4, both of
which rods are connected to bellcrank levers, N 7, and, N 8, one near each end of the
pitch chain, and the free leg of each of which is encountered by a round bar, N 9,
sliding in the V-shaped guide piece, E 7, at either end of its travel in a manner to
put the clutch, M, on the main shaft, B, midway between the pinions, L, and, L 1,
and so out of gear from both. The vertical movement of the block, E 9, on the
guide piece, E 7, and consequently the raising and lowering of the hanger, K. 2, and
the moulding instruments, K, and, KI, is effected by a handwheel, J6, on a short
shaft, J, formed with a worm, J 8, which gears with a wormwheel, J 9, on a
shaft, H 3, having on it a pinion, H4, gearing with a vertical toothed rack, J 1,
fixed to the block; these parts are all similar to corresponding parts hereinbefore
described with reference to the pig arrangement.
The tilting and turning of the sow moulding instruments are effected in the
following way. The instruments, K, and, K 1, are fixed on a frame, K 4, loose on
a spindle, R4, which has also loose on it a two armed lever, R 5, having a stud, R 6,
at each end. The spindle, R 4, has also fast on it one end of a lever or crank, R 7,
having its other end fast on a spindle, R 8, held in a bearing at the bottom of the
hanger, K 2, and having fixed on it a lever, R 9. The outer end of the lever, R 9,
is jointed to a horizontal link, S, which is also connected by a universal joint to a
lever, S 1, having its other end fixed on a square shaft, S 2, the function of which
is similar to the shaft, P4. As shown clearly in Figures, 4, 5, and 6, the shaft, S 2,
acts through a lever, S3, a round bar, N 9, a stud, P8, the slot, D 2, and the
sliding block, E 6. The stud, P8, projects out through the slot, D2, in the
block, E 6, and is fixed in the pitch chain, L 8, and it is by the action of the pitch
chain on this stud that the square shaft, S2, is turned. On the commencement of
a return traverse the square shaft, S2, is turned and acts on the levers, R9,
and, R 7, and causes them to lift the spindle, R 4, and the moulding instruments, K,
and, K 1. A gab lever, S5, a rod, S 6, a hand lever, S7, are provided, and are
similar in action to corresponding parts herein before described in connection with the
pig arrangement. The two-armed lever, R 5, when released from the gab lever, S5,
can be moved by hand to turn the upper moulding instrument down into the
working position. The pitch chain, L 8, is then put in motion again by the starting
lever, N1, and the moulding instruments are moved downwards again into the
working position.
In order that the main carriage or traveller, A, may serve the combined purposes
of a pig carrier and moulding apparatus the main carriage is fitted overhead with
two hoisting drums, T, fixed on a shaft, T 1, at a suitable distance apart in
accordance with the lengths of beds to be carried. From the drums, T, are
suspended hoisting chains, V, in a usual manner so that the bed of pigs may be
hoisted, and carried where convenient. The drum shaft, T 1, is driven through
pinions, T 2, T3, T4, T5, T 6, and a spurwheel, T 7, the reverse-action clutch, V, for
engaging the pinions, T 2, T3, and, T4, being actuated by a forked lever, V 1, a

page_text: shaft, V 2, a lever, V 3, a rod, V 4, a lever, V 5, and a rod, V 6, having a hand-
lever, V 7, fast on it which is operated by an attendant on a platform, V 8. The
pinion, T 6, may be shifted out of gear from the spurwheel, T 7, by a lever, W, a
shaft, W 1, a lever, W 2, a rod, W 3, and a hand lever, W 4, when lowering the
load the descent of which is then controlled by means of a friction pulley and
brake, X, upon the drum shaft, T 1, and actuated through a lever, X 1, a rod, X 2,
and a foot lever, X 3, from the platform, V 7.
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. The construction and combination or arrangement of parts constituting the
bed moulding apparatus, and comprising an overhead travelling carriage and
framing carrying a turnable girder provided with pig moulding instruments such as
cutters, smoothers, and brands, and also carrying separately sow mould cutting and
smoothing instruments together with mechanism for moving the instruments
horizontally and vertically, and for turning them into and out of operating position,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Combining, on the same overhead travelling carriage, pig moulding apparatus,
such as is referred to in the preceding claim, with hoisting apparatus for carrying
the pig bed away from the casting place, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of August 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.