Improvements in Machines for Making Sand Molds for Casting Metals.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Sand Molds for Casting
Metals.
I, MATTHEW ROBERT MOORE, of Indianapolis, in the County of Marion and State
of Indiana, one of the United States of America, engineer, 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 :-
There have been many machines to facilitate the manufacture of sand-moldings
for casting metals. One, acting by the pressure of a fluent substance or material
whose particles can change their relative positions under the influence of pressure
excited through a flexible diaphragm is set forth in a British patent to me, dated
July 22nd, 1884, No. 10,436.
My present invention contains, with provisions for giving a yielding pressure
over the main surface, provisions for giving an unyielding pressure at certain
points. I overcome the adhesion of the sand to the flask by a hard rim or tucking-
plate extending down from the platen, and adapted to match closely within the
sand-box which overlies the flask, and is of the same size as the flask. The yielding
pressure may be successfully used in the form of a diaphragm, extending loosely
across the whole flask, with a certain amount of water or any fluent substance or
materials whose particles can change their relative positions under the influence of
pressure strongly confined above it. I prefer to thus work but the fluid may, ᎥᏝ
preferred, be admitted and discharged at each operation, being introduced under any
desired pressure.
However the yielding presser shall be applied, the hard rim in combination
affords a reliable means for pressing down the sand by a positive action around the
exterior of each mold. The flask is always so much larger than the pattern that the
pattern is never struck by this rigid rim. The relative amounts of pressure to bo
exerted upon the sand through the rigid rim and through the flexible diaphragm may
be readily adjusted by varying the quantity of yielding material above or within the
diaphragm. For it is obvious that if the diaphragm be filled to the extent of pro-
jecting beyond the rim, it will come sooner in contact with the sand and hold it back
from the rim, so that at least some portions of sand within the rin must be
compressed further than that on which the rim presses. On the contrary, if the
quantity of yielding material be small the rim will project so far in advance of the
diaphragm that it will transmit most of the pressure, while little or none will be
brought to bear through the diaphragm. It is thus practicable to compress the
outer parts of the mold either more or less than the inner portions as may be desired.
The yielding material is simply allowed to flow into or out of the diaphragm until
the desired effect is produced.
The operation of the machine by bringing the platen down upon and into the sand-
box and flask or, what is obviously the same thing, by forcing upward the sand-box
and its attachment so as to receive the platen within it, causes the hard and
unyielding rim to act on the properly selected and dapened earth, technically
designated "sand" to compress the sand by a positive motion in a narrow border
around the interior of the flask, and causes the flexible diaphragm to yield upward
and downward to allow the upper surface of the sand within this border to be
rregular.
The flexible diaphragm, subject only to the pressure of the yielding material
confined above it will, unless something further is added, give an equal amount of
pressure in pounds per square inch over the whole surface of the Hask within the
previously compressed border. Such action will depress some parts of the surface
more than others, those points over the high portions of the pattern being less
lepressed than the others.

page_text: may touch the sand at various points, but it exerts no pressure thereon. The external
tucking rim C, on the contrary, acts strongly on the sand immediately under it.
As the pattern-box and its load continue to rise, the border of the sand is strongly
compressed by this tucking-rim. At the same time, the downward extensions Di of
the internal tucker act also on their respective portions of the diaphragm, and
These
compel a corresponding depression of their several parts of the sand.
extensions D may be proportioned so as to depress the sand to the same extent as
the rim C, or even greater if desired. They are arranged according to the article
to be produced, being placed so as to act on the diaphragm over those portions of
the surface of the sand which require to he most strongly compressed. As the flask
is raised, the sand ultimately comes in contact with the diaphragm over the whole
surface.
When this latter condition is attained, the mobility of the material over the
diaphragm becomes available in distributing the pressure equally over the whole
remaining surface of the diaphragm. Those portions of the surface of the sand
which are held up most strongly by reason of a high portion of the pattern lying
under them lift the diaphragm, such lift being accommodated by the flow of the
water, or other fluent substance, from those portions to other portions of the diaphragm
where the pattern being less high the sand is less strongly supported, and can afford
to yield downward with less resistance. The fluent substance accommodates itself to
all the inequalities in the resistance of the sand, and when the flask has been fully
raised, the portions of the sand under the tucking-rim C, and under the interior
tucker D, and also the sand in all the other portions of the flask, has been compressed
to the proper degree of firmness at all points.
Next the flask I and sand-box H are lowered, and the flask with the pattern-
box, is moved laterally by the turning of the system on the central post B, the
sand-hox H, being prevented from following the flask by a stop on the platen C,
strikes off the surplus sand from the top of the flask, the action being similar to
that in the machine set forth in my British Patents of July 27th, 1886, Nos. 9663,
and 9664. The pattern R being drawn downward out of the flask either all at once
or in as many parts as may be provided, the flask with its compacted sand may be
lifted off the machine and an empty flask put in its place. Meanwhile the other
pattern-box of the system, which is double, having come into the filling position,
the sand-box II is moved backward or laterally to the top of the empty flask thereon;
sand is dropped in from a suspended hopper, the system revolved to bring this
pattern-chest under the platen C, and the operation of compressing the sand in the
flask gone through with as before described. This second flask having been swung
around to the "taking off" position and being provided with the necessary sprue
and gate is applied to its mate, and the completed mold is ready to receive the
melted metal.
I provide for balancing the weight of the sand-box, and for holding it in its
proper horizontal position while raising and lowering it, as well as moving it laterally.
This is attained by means of the two sets of levers F and G, the uppermost set F
being connected to eyes C at high points on the sand-box, and pivoted at corre-
sponding high points J on the sleeve carried on the central post, while the lower
levers are connected to lower eyes C on the sand-box and to corresponding eyes J2
on the sleeve. The lower set of levers has a screw adjustment whereby the sand-
box may be kept in the horizontal position notwithstanding the wear which may take
place in the lever joints. Both sets of levers are connected to a weight K, which
may be a vessel open at the top, to allow weights to be added or removed so as to
nearly or quite balance the weight of the sand-box.
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the
advantages of the invention. It has already been stated that the internal tucker D'
is exchanged at will. I can substitute a tucker Inving a greater or less number of
projections or rims D¹, or I can substitute a larger or a smaller tucker, or can
remove the internal tucker altogether, according to the different forms of patterns
employed.

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. In a sand-molding machine, the flask support P, and platen C with suitable
means for moving them forcibly together, in combination with each other and in the
flask I and box H having flush interior surfaces, and with a rim rigidily attached to
the platen and arranged to be received within the sand-box, and a yielding presser E
covering the area within such rim and adapted to yield irregularly to conform to the
pattern, all substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
2. In a sand molding machine, the supplementary removable tucking pieces (2)²
in combination with the tucking-rim (the yielding presser E and the platen C, the
parts being arranged as shown, so that the tucking pieces (C² will extend down
and depress the surface of the sand beneath them sooner or to a greater depth than
the adjacent portions of the surface as herein specified.
3. In a sand molding machine, the interior tucking piece D' in combination with
the platen and yielding presser E said interior tucker being arranged to depress
predetermined portions of the surface of the sand to positive extents while other parts
aro subjected to the yielding presser, as herein specified.
4. In a sand molding machine; a rigid platen C, rim C supplementary tucking
piece and an interior tucker D1 in combination with each other and with a yielding
presser E arranged substantially as shown, whereby the relative pressures on different
parts of the surface of the flask may be adjusted by varying the quantity of fluent
material between the yielding presser and the platen as herein specified.
5. In a sand molding machine having a yielding presser acting over a portion
of the sand combined with unyielding pressers exerting a greater pressure on certain
portions, the cock N controlling the communication to the space above the yielding
pr sser adapted to admit or discharge the fluent material and afterward confine a fixed
quantity to act through the medium of the yielding presser, substantially as herein
specified.
6. In a sand molding machine, the post B, sleeve J sand-box H supported by the
two sets of levers F and G pivoted to said sleeve and a balancing weight K combined
and arranged as shown so that the sand box may be moved vertically and laterally
while preserving a horizontal position, as herein specified.
7. In a sand molding machine, the post B, revolving sleeve J, sand-box H, and
weight K, in combination with the two levers F, G, pivoted at different levels at one
end to said sand box, at the other end to the weight, and intermediately to said sleeve
one of the said levers being pivoted with the screw g and nut for adjusting its
length as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 5th day of July 1889.
MATTHEW ROBERT MOORE.