Improvements in Wheel Moulds.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN SLATTERY, of Philadelphia, in the State of
Pennsylvania, United State of America, Iron Moulder.]
Improvements in Wheel Moulds.
1 JAMES JOHNSON of 4 Clayton Square, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Patent Agent 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 :-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of half of my improved mould with two of the cover
plates removed; Figure 2 is a vertical central section on the line II-II of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the half mould before tamping;
Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 1 ;
Figures 5 and 6 are plan and sectional views, respectively of the pattern and
follow board;
Figure 7 is a central sectional view of the finished mould; and
Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the same.
My invention relates to the casting of wheels, and more particularly steel wheels
aud wheel centers for locomotives and passenger or freight cars; and it consists in
an improved mould therefor.
Heretofore, in the casting of these wheels in steel when iron moulds were used,
the concentric contraction of the metal in cooling would tear the various portions of
the wheel apart and destroy the wheel and if removable mould portions are
employed, they make the mould extremely expensive on account of the close joints
necessary and are also costly to operate as each mould requires an attendant.
sand moulds it is very difficult to tamp the sand loosely enough or so construct the
mould as to allow for the contraction of the metal, and their manufacture requires
highly skilled labour.
ln
My improved mould combines the advantages of both iron and sand moulds,
while all liability of rupture of the metal is removed, and the moulds are quickly
and cheaply made and operated.
In the drawings, 2 indicates the half of an iron mould, the cope and drag
portions of which are substantially the same and are each provided with a chill-ring
which forms one half of the chill 3 and is secured to the half inould and forms a
part thereof.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the drag consists of a central hollow hub
portion 4, having radiating arms 5, to the outer ends of which are secured the half
chill 6. This chill is provided on its interior with an annular recess 7 for the sand
and a projecting inclined flange 8, having beneath it a square annular shoulder 9.
This
Carried by the intermediate portions of the arms 5, is an annular chill plate 10,
which on its interior, is joined to and preferably integral with the hub 4.
plate upon its underside is provided with a series of radial grooves 11 to receive
the half spokes of the pattern, in case a spoke wheel is to be cast. If a plate wheel
is desired, the spokes are substituted by a plate center. The outer face of the
plate may be recessed between the grooves if desired to lighten it, in either case
leaving an outer ring portion 12, with a projecting flange 13 to retain the sand.
The outer face of the ring 12.is inclined or bevelled outwardly so that a tapering
annular recess is formed between the outer and inner rings which on account of its
downwardly converging sides, will hold the, sand which is tamped loosely therein.
CD071

page_text: This tapering slot is an important feature of my invention as applied to the cope,
since by its use, the sand may be tamped so loosely therein as to allow contraction
of the metal.
With this half mould is employed the follow-board of Figures 5 and 6, having
secured to its face the half of a wheel pattern, consisting of a rim 14, having, if
desired, for extra strength, a lower innerly projecting flange 15 and a series of
spokes 16 extending inwardly therefrom. The face of the follow board or bottom
plate is provided with suitable pins to cause the parts to register correctly, and
when united the pattern-rim fits snugly against the shoulder 9, of the chill 6.
When the half flask and bottom board are so joined, the sand is tamped from above
into the annular space between the chill 6 and the ring 12, and segmental covers 17,
having vent holes for the gases, are placed between the arms 5, and secured in
position by wedge pins 18, driven through slots in the arms thus holding the sand
in place, after which the mould is turned over and the pattern withdrawn. When
two half moulds are thus formed, one of them is turned over to form the drag, and
the other or cope is laid on and secured thereto by suitable clamps, the usual pins
and holes being used to cause a registering of the parts.
With the drag is employed a baked sand core 19, which fills the central hole in
the flask and is provided with a central projecting stem 20, forming the core for the
hub of the cast wheel. Through this sand core passes the gate 21 connecting the
mould cavity and a suitable runner 22; and within the drag is pivotted a swinging
lever 23, by which the sprue may be cut off. An extension 24 of sand may be
formed upon the cope in order to furnish a head of molten metal and preserve its
liquidity, so that it may feed down into the hub as contraction and shrinkage take
place.
Instead of forming the outer chill ring in two parts, one secured to each half of
the mould, I may make the mould in three or more parts as in Figure 8, the chill
ring 31 forming the third part or cheek piece which is properly guided and held in
place between the cope and drag.
The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The mould has all the advantages of a metal mould in quickness of working,
while the use of the loosely packed annular sand portion between the metal interior
part of the mould and the flange portion of the casting allows concentric con-
traction and prevents the spokes or middle part of the casting tearing away from
the rim or hub during such contraction. The taper of the sand recess prevents the
falling of the sand and allows its loose packing, and this is the only part of the
mould which is renewed after each pour. By this mould perfect wheels are
produced quickly and at low cost as little work and no skilled labor is required.
Many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without
departure from my invention, since 1 consider myself the first to use a metal mould
for flanged castings having an intermediate sand-cushion between the flange
portion and the metal interior part of the mould to allow contracting of the steel
or other metal which is cast therein.
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 :-
First. A metal mould for flanged castings having a metal interior portion, and
a cushion of sand between said inner portion and the flanged portion of the matrix ;
substantially as described.
Second. A metal mould for flanged castings, having a metul interior portion, a
cushion of sand between said interior portion and the flange portion of the matrix
and an exterior metal chill with which the outer part of the casting contacts;
substantially as described.
Third. A metal mould having between its periphery and centre a recess to
receive a sand filling, said recess having a narrowed interior mouth, and being
open outwardly to permit access thereto; substantially as described.

page_text: Fourth. A metal mould having between its periphery and centre a downwardly
tapering recess to receive a sand filling, said recess being open outwardly to permit
access thereto; substantially as described.
Fifth. A metal half mould for wheels, consisting of a hollow hub, and an outer
chill ring carried by an arm or arms extending from said hub, said mould
having an annular outwardly open space for sand within the outer ring, substan-
tially as described.
Sixth. A metal half mould for wheels, consisting of a hollow hub, having an
encircling chill plate provided with radial grooves, and an outer chill ring supported
on radial arms, said mould having an annular space for sand within the outer ring ;.
substantially as described.
Seventh. A metal half mould for wheels, consisting of a hollow hub, and an outer
chill ring carried upon radial arms extending from said hub, said mould having an
annular space for sand within the outer ring, and covers for the spaces between the
arms, substantially as described.
Eighth. A metal drag for wheel moulds consisting of a hollow hub, a baked sand
core within the hub, having a gate therethrough, an outer chill connected to the
hub by radial arms, an annular sand filling within the chill, and removable covers
between the arms; substantially as described.
Ninth. A metal half mould consisting of a hollow hub, a chill plate encircling
the same and having radial grooves, an outer chill joined by radial arms to the hub,
sand filling between the two chills, and removable plates arranged to hold tho.
sand in place, substantially as described.
Dated the 12th day of March 1001