IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPA- RATUS OR MACHINERY FOR MAKING SAND MOULDS FOR METAL CASTINGS.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, British and International Patent Agent and Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPA-
RATUS OR MACHINERY FOR MAKING SAND MOULDS FOR METAL CASTINGS.".
A communication from abroad by William Aikin and William Whyte
Drummond, both of Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America,
Foundrymen.
Sealed the 14th February 1879, and dated the 28th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th October 1878.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, British and International Patent Agent and Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR MAKING SAND
MOULDS FOR METAL CASTINGS." (A communication froin abroad by William
Aikin and William Whyte Drummond, both of Louisville, Kentucky, United States
of America,) Foundrymen.)
.
This Invention consists in improvements on an Invention for "An Improved
Method and Apparatus or Machinery for Making Sand Moulds for Metal Castings,"
a communication from William Aikin and William Whyte Drummond, for which
Letters Patent were granted to William Robert Lake, and dated the Tenth day of
April 1878, No. 1440. In the Specification of said Letters Patent a moulding
machine is shown and described employed for moulding in flasks filled with sand
by compressing it around the patterns. The quantity of sand required to supply

page_text: the reduction by compression in the flask is supplied from a box adjusted to contain
the required amount. The patterns-and-follower plates fill the bottom of the box,
and by their simultaneous movement they are forced up with the sand into the
flask. Then the patterns are slightly withdrawn from the sand, leaving the sectional
follower plates to support it until the patterns are quite clear; then the follower
plate is also withdrawn, leaving so much of the sand-mould-complete.as.may be con-
tained-in-a-half flask.
One object of this our present Invention is to simplify and increase the effective-
ness of these machines by the improved manner of constructing the pattern head
and the substitution-of-an open-plate to which the patterns are secured independent
of the plunger head, in order to be easily moved, thereby saving much-time-and-
trouble in changing and setting the patterns. This open plate in connection with
the follower plate is operated like the latter by improved self-adjusting spring cam
frames, or their equivalent, by means of which the pattern and follower are with-
drawn from the mould with a steady motion.
The sand box is provided with adjustable guide pins and sockets to hold the half
flask in position while in the process of moulding.. These guide pins and the sockets
on the sand box through which they work are the same size as the pins and sockets
of the flasks. One half of the flask is provided with pins, and therefore requires the
guide pins in the sand box to be drawn back to permit the flask pins to take their
place, while the other half flask is provided with sockets, and requires the pins to
project to receive it, so that when the several parts are moulded up thus and put
together the moulds will match perfectly. In the further carrying out of this our im-
provement, the heretofore sliding bottom of the sand drawer, is now made stationary
with a bridge piece hinged to it in front extending from the hopper to the flasks,
the drawer being operated by suitable mechanisin arranged under it, and driven
by friction from the same shaft that operates the friction pulley that drives the
machine.
As arranged in its most improved form the machine is composed chiefly of the
following parts:-
1st. The frame.
2nd. Friction wheels connecting the driving shaft with the main shaft.
These
can be thrown in and out of gear by another friction wheel on a moveable axis by
means of a starting handle. These wheels are preferably grooved, and the one on
the main shaft is armed with handles to work it by hand if necessary.
3rd. The driving shaft, upon which is the friction pulley already mentioneda nd
another friction pulley working a yoke.
4th. Said yoke with a curved slot or contour in or on which the said pulley
works.
5th. Shaft above supported on excentric bearings, upon which shaft the yoke can
freely rotate through a limited angular distance, the amount of freedom being con-
trolled by stops in a pair of clutch blocks on said shaft.
6th. The link or series of links connecting the yoke with the said drawer, so
that whenever by means of a handle the yoke shaft is turned down the drawer can
be shot in one direction; by turning it up it is shot the other way; while if it is
turned with the excentric on its side neither surface of the yoke touches the friction
pulley, and the apparatus remains stationary.
7th. The sand drawer sliding in a stationary bottom.
8th. The lever giving motion to the sand drawer.
9th. A hinged continuation of the bottom, bridging the cap between the stationary
bottom of the drawer and the sand box.
10th. Lugs to hold this hinged bridge piece in position while in use.
11th. Set screws on the back of said lugs to regulate their height.
12th. The sand hopper, substantially the same as before.
13th. The stand for holding catch for binder bar, as in the previous Speci-

page_text: 15. "The binder bar" or swinging arch.
16th. The binder plate.
17th. Screw to hold binder plate, as in the prior Specification.
18th. Two bolts passing through binder bar into sockets in the binding plate.
19th. The sand box.
20th. Adjustable guide pins and sockets, preferably so arranged that they can be
raised when necessary to use the part of the flask with socket, and lowered out of
the way, so that their sockets or places may receive the pins on the other part of the
flask.
21st. A spiral spring or rod, or its mechanical equivalent, for holding the pins
when set.
22nd. A removable head plate to which the patterns are secured, made with
openings to permit the surplus sand to fall through. This sand can if desirable be
guided to the sides by spouts or channels.
23rd. The follower plate, made to fit neatly round the patterns, and secured to
the top edges of the interior head independent of the pattern plate.
24th. The plunger head.
25th. The bearing or guides for same.
26th. The cam yoke on the lower end of plunger in which a cam on the main
shaft works.
27th. The said cam employed to force up the patterns before the following plate
is withdrawn.
28th. Main shaft.
29th. One or more adjustable spring cam yokes operating the follower plate,
which is made to fit around the pattern. The object of the spring in the yoke is to
keep the joints close and give a smooth steady-motion in withdrawing the patterns
and follower from the sand.
30th. The cam or cams made in such form that their action on their yokes will
hold the follower plate against the sand after the sand is compressed until the
patterns are partially withdrawn.
31st. The spiral or other springs of the cam yokes operating the plate follower,
the strength of which spring is adjusted by nut on the under side, or its equivalent,
the lower end of the bolt answering as a guide to steady the yoke.
In operating the machine one has simply to screw the pattern to the removable
plate, screw it firmly to the plunger head, adjust a follower plate over it, nicely
fitting around the pattern. The adjustable pins are then raised and the part of the
flask having sockets put on the sand box. The bridge is then let down to act as
a continuous bottom for the drawer. The lever of the friction yoke shaft is now
drawn forward, and the friction yoke brought in contact with its friction pulley,
which brings the drawer out over the flask sufficiently to drop the sand into it. The
lever is then reversed and the drawer drawn back under the hopper, where it is
again filled ready for the next flask. The arch bar and binder is then brought over
the flask and secured by the spring catch. The binder plate is now pressed down
by the hand screw, the friction pulleys brought into play by means of the lever
connected with the intermediate one; motion is thus given to the main shaft
and cam yokes which raise the plunger plate with follower plate and patterns,
sinultaneously forcing the patterns and sand into the flask, thus compressing
it around the patterns, and thereby forming the moulds. After this the patterns
are withdrawn, leaving the follower to support the sand; the follower is then
withdrawn, leaving the mould complete. The binder plate is now removed and
the flask with mould taken off, leaving the box ready to receive the other half flask
or cope. This is moulded in a precisely similar manner, except that the guide pins
are drawn back when the half flask with pins is put on. This of course only
applies to cases where both halves of the pattern are alike. In other cases two.

page_text: The
machines side by side are used, one for the drag, the other for the cope.
part of the draw not used to carry sand to the flask can be substituted by a
simple plate closing and sliding under-the-bottom-of-the-hopper-and-well-braced.or
supported.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
April 1879.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, British and International Patent Agent and Civil Engineer.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR MAKING
SAND MOULDS FOR METAL CASTINGS. A communication from abroad by William
Aiken and William Whyte Drummond, both of Louisville, Kentucky, United
States of America, Foundrymen.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the spring cam frame, plunger head,
and pattern plate.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine showing its general construction.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the hopper and sand box showing the hinged
extension of the bottom.
Fig. 4 is a front and end elevation of the guide pins and sockets S.
Fig. 5 is a plan and end elevation of the pattern head plate.
Fig. 6 is a view of spring catch c¹ for securing binder bar W.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing general construction of hand-power reversing
machine.
This Invention consists in improvements on an Invention for "An Improved
Method and Apparatus or Machinery for Making Sand Moulds for Metal Castings,"
a, communication from William Aiken and William Whyte Drummond, for which
Letters Patent were granted to William Robert Lake, and dated the Tenth day of
April 1878, No. 1440. In the Specification of said Letters Patent a moulding
machine is shown and described employed for moulding in flasks filled with sand
by compressing it around the patterns. The quantity of sand required to supply
the reduction by compression in the flask is supplied from a box adjusted to contain
the required amount. The patterns and follower plates fill the bottom of the box,
and by their simultaneous movement they are forced up with the sand into the
flask; then the patterns are slightly withdrawn from the sand, leaving the sectional
follower plates to support it until the patterns are quite clear; then the follower
plate is also withdrawn, leaving so much of the sand mould complete as may be con-
tained in a half flask,
:

page_text: One object of this present Invention is to simplify and increase the effectiveness
of these machines by the improved manner of constructing the pattern head and
the substitution of an open plate to which the patterns are secured independent
of the plunger head in order to be easily removed, thereby saving much time and
trouble in changing and setting the patterns. This open plate in connection with
the follower plate is operated like the latter by improved self-adjusting spring cam
frames or their equivalent by means of which the patterns and follower are with-
drawn from the mould with a steady motion.
The sand box is provided with adjustable guide pins and sockets to hold the half
flask in position while in the process of moulding. These guide pins and the sockets
on the sand box through which they work are the same size as the pins and sockets.
of the flasks. One half of the flask is provided with pins, and therefore requires the
guide pins in the sand box to be drawn back or taken out to permit the flask pins
to take their place, while the other half flask is provided with sockets, and requires
the pins to project to receive it, so that when the several parts are moulded up thus
and put together the moulds will match perfectly. In the further carrying out of
these improvements the heretofore sliding bottom of the said drawer is now made
stationary, with a bridge piece hinged to it in front extending from the hopper to
the flasks, the drawer being operated by suitable mechanism arranged under it, and
driven by friction or other gearing from the same shaft that operates the friction
pulley that drives the machine.
This Invention will be more fully illustrated in detail in sectional view Fig. 1,
perspective views, Figs. 2 and 3, and views, Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawings, in
which A represents the frame of the machine, which is made of metal, and in form
as shown in the Drawings; B, C, and D, are the friction pulleys that drive the
machine, the faces of which are by preference tongue and grooved in a U shape so as
match each other in order to increase friction, and thereby operate the machine
with a smooth steady motion. E is a lever for operating the intermediate pulley c
for starting the machine; F is a lever for giving motion to the sand drawer; G is
the stand with catch for holding binder bar W; H is the sand drawer, which is
operated by friction mechanism; I is the stationary bottom under the drawer; J is
the hinged bridge piece in front, extending from the hopper to the flask, and is held
in position while in use by lugs P' on the under side, which lugs are further pro-
vided with set screws when necessary to adjust the height; K is the sand hopper;
L is the shaft and pulley that drives the inachine; M is the friction pulley for
operating the sand drawer H, which is made with flanges at the sides to hold
the yoke; N is the yoke for operating the sand drawer, which is made in form,
by preference as shown, and is slightly narrower than the pulley, to permit it to
work easily between the flanges when operated in either direction. It is sometimes
made with shallow teeth to gear into a pinion instead of (as shown) operated by a
friction pulley. O is the shaft on which the yoke N is hung so as to work loosely,
the journal bearings of the shaft being set off to one side to constitute it an
eccentric, to raise and lower the yoke N to change the motion in operating the
sand drawer; P, P, are clutches fastened on the shaft O on both sides of the
yoke to keep it in place and to stop it at the right point; Q is the link that
connects the yoke with the drawer; R is the sand box on which the flask is
placed and in which the patterns and follower plate work; S, S, are the adjust-
able guide pins and sockets, which are arranged and made as shown. These
pins are intended to be raised or put in when necessary to use the part of the
flask with sockets, and lowered or taken out of the way to receive the part with
pins; T is a spiral spring on rod for holding the pins when set; U is the Hask, and
V is the binder plate; W is the swinging arch or binder bar; C' is the spring
catch that holds it when set; X is the screw for binder plate; Y is the removable
head plate to which the patterns are secured, and is made with openings as shown
to permit the refuse sand to fall through; Z is the pattern and A' is the follower

page_text: plate, which is made to fit neatly around the patterns, and is secured to the top
edges of the interior head B¹ independent of the pattern plate; D¹ is the plunger
head; El is the bearing through which it works.; Fis the cam yoke on the lower
end; G is the cam made in form to force up and withdraw the patterns before the
follower plate is withdrawn; H', H', are the adjustable spring cam yokes for
operating the follower plate A¹, which is made to fit around the patterns. The
object of the spring in the yoke is to keep-the-joints-close-and-give-a-smooth-steady-
motion in withdrawing the patterns and follower from the sand; I', I', are the cams,
made in form to hold the follower plate against the sand after the sand is com-
pressed until the patterns are partially withdrawn; J, J, are the spiral springs of
__the_cam_yokes H, the strength of which is adjusted by a nut on the under side, the
lower end of the bolt answering as a guide to steady the yoke; K'is the main shaft
that operates the machine; L' is the arch binder bar. Having thus fully described
this Invention, its operation is simply that of securing the pattern to the removable
plate Y and screwing it firmly to the plunger head D¹ with the follower plate A¹
over it around the patterns. The adjustable pins S are then raised or inserted, and
the part of the flask having sockets put on the sand box R; the bridge J is then let
down to act as a continuous bottom for the drawer H, and by means of the lever F
being drawn forward the friction yoke N is brought in contact with the pulley M,
which brings out the sand drawer H over the flask sufficient to drop the sand into
it; the lever is then reversed and the drawer drawn back into the hopper, where it
is again filled ready for the next flask. The arch bar or binder W is then brought
over the flask and secured by the spring catch C¹, the plate V is then pressed down
by the screw X, the lever F is then raised, which brings the friction pulleys in
contact, thereby giving motion to the adjustable spring cam yokes F¹ which raise
the plunger head with follower plate and patterns, simultaneously forcing the
patterns and sand into the flask, thus compressing it around the patterns, thereby
forming the moulds, after which the patterns are first withdrawn, leaving the
follower to support the sand, then witlidrawing the follower, leaving the mould
complete. The binder plate is then removed, and the flask with mould is taken off,
leaving the box ready to receive the other half flask or cope, all of which are
moulded in a similar manner, except that the guide pins S are withdrawn when the
half flask with pins is put on.
Having now described the Invention as communicated to me, and the best known
modes of carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe
to be new and desire to protect under the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
1st. The arrangement of head plate Y to which the patterns are secured inde-
pendent of the plunger head, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
2nd. The adjustable guide pins and sockets S, S, arranged and constructed
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
3rd. The employment in moulding machines of a hinged bridge (J) or extension
of the sand drawer, which when let down forms a temporary bottom for the sand
drawer or its equivalent to travel over, for the purposes described.
4th. The combination of the several devices for operating the sand drawer, sub-
stantially as herein described, consisting of (a), wheel, frictional or toothed, such
as M, for conveying the motive power; (b), yoke or double rack, frictional or
toothed, such as N, linked or otherwise connected to sand drawer; (c), clutch, or
eccentric apparatus, such as eccentric shaft O, for throwing the yoke or its equivalent
into such alternate positions as to cause it to pull the drawer out or in, or be thrown
out of gear with the motive power.
5th. The self-adjusting spring cam frames H₁, H¹, by means of which a steady
positive motion is secured, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth

page_text: 6th. The spring catch C' of the binder plate or its mechanical equivalent, sub-
stantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Phillips Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W. P. THOMPSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN O. O'BRIEN,
Clerk to Wm. P. Thompson& Co.,
British and International Patent Agents,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool,
&
323, High Holborn, W.C.,
London.