IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR FORMING MOULDS FOR CASTING SINKING CYLINDERS, LARGE PIPES, HOLLOW PILES, & OTHER LARGE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Fisher at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
November 1875.
I, HENRY FISHER, of the Town and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR FORMING
MOULDS FOR CASTING SINKING CYLINDERS, LARGE PIPES, HOLLOW PILES,
& OTHER
LARGE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of and apparatus for
forming moulds for casting sinking cylinders, large pipes, et cætera, in
such manner that the tubular patterns used in forming the moulds may
when the sand or loam has been moulded into the requisite form, be
readily removed by lowering them into pits provided for that purpose,
the patterns being during such removal well guided, so as to obviate
risk of injury to the moulds.
:
By my Invention the moulding and drying may be effected with great
dispatch, and the services of skilled moulders may be to a great extent
dispensed with. To effect these objects a portion of the foundry floor

page_text: is excavated to a suitable depth, and the lower level is provided with
pits excavated and built round with bricks, these pits being arranged
to allow of the moulding patterns being lowered into them after the
moulds are formed. These pits are so situated that the foundry cranes
will plumb the centres of the pits, overhead travelling cranes being
preferred.
In carrying out my Invention I use apparatus aaranged as herein-after
described.
To form the outside mould of the cylinder or pipe to be cast I use a
metal plate or ring, which I fix on top of the brickwork of one of
the pits. This metal plate or ring is formed with a turned raised face,
on which the outer metal case (cast either in one or in halves to " strip"
more easily) and perforated with holes to hold the sand, is placed
perfectly vertical, its lower flange being faced. The pattern to form the
outside of the cylinder or pipe is a metal cylinder longer than the
intended casting, and having at its upper end an internal flange or other
arrangement for lifting. This metal pattern is accurately turned
throughout its length to the exact size of the outside diameter of the
intended casting. It is lifted by the crane taking hold of the internal
flange, and is lowered into the centre of the outer metal case, being
guided by sliding through the turned metal plate at the bottom. When
it is lowered to its proper position the lower end will project into the
pit, which has built into it another ring or annular plate bored out, or is
provided with other arrangement to further guide the moulding pattern
and keep it perfectly vertical. The pattern being in its proper position
the annular space between its outer diameter and the inner diameter of
the case is rammed up with sand properly prepared, and this being done
the pattern is gently lowered by the crane into the pit, leaving the
mould of the outside of the intended casting perfect in the case and
ready for removal to be dried as may be required previous to receiving
the "core." When not required to be dried it may be removed to that
part of the floor set apart for putting the moulds together ready for
casting. The " core may in the meantime have been made on the
adjoining pit as follows, viz., I fix a strong cast-iron plate upon the
central brickwork of the second pit (which is of annular form); this
plate is turned perfectly true on the outside to the exact diameter of the
intended " core "and faced on top side, and has set upon it perfectly
concentric a loose ring of cast iron, faced top and bottom (on which the
"

page_text: core"
loam cake" to form the base of the " core
"is made up), and having
fixed in it turned pins to receive corresponding holes in snugs cast on
bottom of the core case or spindle, and to be secured thereto by cotters
through their upper ends. The case or spindle to form the "
upon is a cylinder perforated with holes (which may be cast in one
piece or in segments, so as to be more easily removed from the casting),
faced at its top and bottom ends, and having an internal flange at top.
end for lifting it by the crane. This case or spindle is placed by the
crane perfectly vertical upon the loose ring just named, and secured to
it by the pins and cotters.
core.
"
"
The moulding case to form the outside of the " core is a cylinder,
having an external flange at its upper end and accurately bored out to
the exact diameter of the intended "core," and being longer than the
This cylinder having been lifted by the crane, by the flange at
upper end is lowered over the inner case or
66 core spindle and slides
over the turned plate at bottom which guides and keeps it perfectly
vertical, its lower end being further guided by another turned plate
built into the pit, or by other suitable guides. This moulding case or
cylinder being now in its place the annular space between it and the
"core" case or spindle is rammed up with prepared sand, provision
being made at the top end for forming the flange of the intended casting
by the insertion of a ring pattern of the required shape of the flange.
The ramming up being completed the moulding case or cylinder is.
lowered gently by the crane into the pit, leaving the mould of the
outside of the " core perfect upon the case or spindle, and ready to be:
removed and treated as before described in the case of the outer mould
of the cylinder.
"
When it is necessary to cast a " head "
or extra piece upon the
cylinder or pipe to be afterwards cut off, the core for the head piece is
formed as follows:-A plate turned to the diameter of the inside of the
intended cylinder or pipe casting is fixed upon brickwork having a
shallow pit round it.. A short cylinder bored out to the diameter of the
plate forms the pattern for the outside of that part of the core required
to form the "head." Another short cylinder of smaller diameter
perforated with holes and not turned is placed upon the centre of the
flat plate, and the annular space between it and the inside of the outer
cylinder is rammed up with sand, and the outer cylinder then slides:
down into the pit leaving a perfectly smooth ring of sand ready to be)
-

page_text: dried when necessary, and lifted with the inside cylinder, to which it
clings, to its place on top of the mould.
"'
The "cake" to form the base of the whole mould is made upon a ring
or annular plate, having raised turned faces at is inner and outer
diameters corresponding with the faced bottom flange of the outer
moulding case, and with the bottom face of the loose cast-iron ring
which supports the core as before described. This ring or annular plate
is coated with loam in the annular recess between the raised faces, and
shaped with a mould board to form the bottom flange of the intended.
casting, and this "cake" is then dried.
The process of building up the whole mould ready for casting is-
proceeded with on a part of the floor set apart for it as follows:- -The
loam cake or base plate just described is placed perfectly level on the
floor, and the outer case with its lining of sand is lifted by the crane
and placed with its bottom flange fair upon the outside raised face of :
the base plate. The " core case or spindle with its coating of sand is.
now brought by the crane and lowered into the outer case till it rests
with the face of the loose ring, which supports the core fair upon the.
inner raised face of the base plate.
"
When a "head" is required the mould previously described is placed
"
"core
upon the top of the
case or spindle leaving an annular space of
the thickness and depth of the intended "head." When a head is not
required the mould is covered with a flat plate in the ordinary way.
The whole mould is then secured by clambs or bolts ready for casting.
For the proper introduction of the melted metal in casting the outer>
case is provided with one or more box shaped belts running from top to
bottom of the case, and there opening into the interior of the mould.
These belts being lined with sand leaving a channel in the centre have
each a mouth-piece or "gate" formed on top to receive the metal which
runs down the channels and flows into the mould at the bottom. When
the moulds as to length especially are of such dimensions that it is
necessary to dry them, the metal may be introduced at the top of the
mould, the belts being not then required.
The casting being completed the hands may commence to put another-
mould together, the various parts having meanwhile been prepared-
(there being duplicate sets of cases) in the same way, except that the

page_text: cylindrical moulds for outside. and inside of the casting (which have
been lowered into the pit as described) now only require to be raised by
the cranes into their proper position. One set of hands may prepare
the outer mould, a second set the "core," a third set the "head" mould
(when required), and a fourth set the base plate, while another set put
together the parts forming the mould ready for casting.
The casting is stripped and removed, and the cases are got ready for.
using again by another set of hands. Thus the various operations may
be kept progressing together, and the castings be rapidly produced. The
only skilled workmen that need be employed are those engaged in
putting the mould together and conducting the casting; the others may
be apprentices or labourers.