Improvements in and connected with Moulding Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1893-Accepted, 27th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Moulding Machines.
I WILLIAM EDGAR of Sanford Foundry, and Machine Works, Sandford in the
State of Florida, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines for moulding patterns in sand for castings, and
consists in an improved arrangement or construction of said machines and improved
arrangements and combinations of the parts thereof, the object of my invention
being to obtain a compact machine which is rapid and efficient in its action, allows
ready access to and is suitable for different sizes of the moulding flasks.
The improved machine is arranged as follows: Upon a strong base a hydraulic
press cylinder is mounted vertically, the ram of which carries the press table.and.is
prevented from turning by a key working in a groove in a pillar fixed centrally in
said press cylinder and entering the bore of the ram, or by other internal guide.
Upon the top of the presstable is mounted removeably a second short hydraulic
cylinder, the ram, hereinafter called pattern ram, of which carries a plate to which
the pattern is fixed. This cylinder is surrounded and surmounted by a casing or
pattern flask so arranged that when pressure is admitted to the cylinder the ram
raises the pattern to the top of the pattern flask, suitable stops being arranged to
determine the position of the pattern. Upon the pattern flask the moulding, flask
is fixed as usual and surmounted by a sand box. Sand is filled-in to the required
height into the flask and box, the top of the sand being strickled off to approxi-
mately the reversed outline of the pattern; so as; to be deeper over the recessed
parts of the pattern and thinner. over. the raised parts, in order to obtain, a uniform
compression. After the mould is pressed, the pressure is taken off the pattern ram
herein before referred to and the pattern is withdrawn from the sand before the
flask containing the. mould. is lifted off. If desired the ram and cylinder may, be.so
arranged, as, to effect the withdrawal. by positive. pressure.
The press head to which the rammer head for pressing the sand from the, sand
box into the moulding flask is attached, is carried by two side bars that, are keyed
upon a rocking shaft passed through or underneath the base of the machine and
provided with suitable bearings. Upon the middle or other convenient part of
said rocking, shaft is keyed a bell crank lever, or its equivalent the horizontal limb
of which is weighted so as to swing the side bars and presshead to one side when
left free to act and thus render. the press table and the flasks, mounted thereon
,readily accessible and removeable. The vertical limb of the bell crank is con-
nected by a link to the ram of a horizontal hydraulic cylinder fixed to the base.
When pressure is turned on and the ram forced out, it turns the rocking shaft till
the press head is brought over the press table and flasks, suitable stops being
provided to insure the correct position of the head, and springs (for preventing
shocks, at the end of the motion of the parts in either direction.
Fulcrumed on the top of the press head is a lever to which a vertical pin passing
through the head and, rammer is attached at one end and at the other arod-passing
through a guide on one of (the side bars. To the press, table is connected an
adjustable stud or equivalent piece which when the press table is lifted for, pressing
the mould comes against said rod-and thereby forces the pin connected to the other
end, of the lever down into the sand and by, means of a boss; fixed to said pin forms
the top of the ruuner. or gait for pouring.the metal, into the mould.

page_text: The base of the machine rests on feet formed on or attached to it or on girders
over a brickwork or other pit. For facilitating the moulding of certain kinds of
patterns a fourth hydraulic cylinder is preferably arranged underneath the base
and carried by hangers and cross beam, to the ram of which a cross head is fixed
carrying two vertical rods which slide through openings in the base and suitable
guides mounted thereon and carry arms at the top which, when the ram is forced
out and the rods are raised, seize under round pivots or handles of the moulding
flask, and lift it and hold it up, so that it can be turned over on said pivots or
handles. The different cylinders are connected by pipes to a valve chest with
five ports and a slide valve operated by a screw spindle and handwheel. The
ports communicate by pipes with the different cylinders and are arranged vertically
above each other in the following order from the bottom:-1st port for pattern
ram cylinder, 2nd port for horizontal cylinder, 3rd port for press cylinder, 4th port
for exhaust, 5th port for flask lifting cylinder. The slide valve is a D valve of
such length that when the bottom port is closed, the top port is in communication
with the exhaust. The ports are preferably at such distances from each other
that a quarter turn of the hand wheel will uncover each of the lower ports in
succession.
A
The machine is worked as follows: The valve being to begin with in such a
position that the three lower ports communicate with the exhaust and 5th port
is closed, the press table and pattern will be down and the press head swung to
one side.
The moulding flask and sandbox are placed on the table and the
wheel turned to open the 1st port whereby the pattern is lifted and held level
with the top of the pattern flask. Sand is then filled in as required, when a
further quarter turn of the handwheel opens the 2nd port and the press head
with rammer attached is swung into its acting position over the sand box.
sliding stop is arranged to hold the steering wheel in this position till the press
head has arrived in its acting position, when an eccentric or its equivalent con-
nected with the rocking shaft withdraws the stop, and a further turn of the wheel
moves the valve so as to admit water to the main press cylinder, and the table
with the flasks is lifted against the head and the mould pressed.
The pipes
leading to the pattern ram cylinder are made flexible or jointed to follow the
rise of the table. When the mould is pressed the valve is moved back and the
different cylinders are placed in communication with the exhaust, in the reversed
order so that the table sinks down, the top is swung to one side, and the pattern
drawn, when the moulding flask is taken off and removed to the casting floor.
For some kinds of work, for instance where only a few castings of one pattern
are required and it would not pay to prepare the plate patterns, and in other cases,
the flask lifters are used. The pattern drawing cylinder is then removed from the
table and the pipe connection shut off by a cock. The pattern may for instance be
simply placed on the press table, the flask put over it and sand filled in. The
upward movement of the valve then swings the head into position and afterwards
lifts the table and presses the mould. The valve being moved down the table
drops and the head swings to one side. The valve being moved further down, the
fifth port is opened and the lifters rise and lift up the moulding flask with the pattern
in it. The flask can then be turned over on the lifters and the pattern drawn by
hand.
The rammer head is made removable so that different sizes of rammers can be
used for various sized patterns. For the purpose of regulating the pressure
according to the size of the pattern or flask I arrange in connection with the
press cylinder a safety valve having a large area and loaded by an adjustable
weight, which being set to the required pressure in the hydraulic cylinder does not
permit such pressure to be exceeded.
In order to prevent the springing of the webs or bars in the moulding flask by
the compression of the sand above them they are bevelled to an edge on the top
and kept somewhat below the level of the top of the flask, and the rammer fixed to

page_text: the press head is formed with grooves above and corresponding with the webs or
bars, thereby allowing any excess of said to escape into the grooves.
Dated this 21st day of July 1892.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Moulding Machines.
1, WILLIAM EDGAR of Sanford Foundry and Machine Works, Sanford, in the
State of Florida, Mechanical 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:-
My invention relates to machines for moulding patterns in sand for castings and
consists in an improved arrangement or construction of said machines and improved
arrangements and combinations of the parts thereof, the object of my invention
being to obtain a compact machine which is rapid and efficient in its action and
allows ready access to and is suitable for different sizes of moulding flasks.
On the two sheets of drawings appended hereunto-
Fig. 1 shows a front view of the machine partly in section,
Fig. 2 a section of the valve face and valve controlling the action of the
machine,
Fig. 3 a detail,
Fig. 4 a side view of the machine,
Fig. 5 a view of the rammer head as seen from below,
Figs. 6 and 7 a plan and section of the moulding flask,
Fig. 8 a section of the press cylinder.
The improved machine is arranged as follows:-Upon a strong base A a vertical
hydraulic press cylinder B is mounted the ram of which carries the press table '.
The rain is cast hollow and has a key groove cut in it into which fits a key 62 let
into a pillar 3 which enters the hollow of the ram and is cast with or fixed to the.
press cylinder B. The pillar is preferably turned and the ram bored at the
bottom end to fit and slide on the pillar, some grooves being cut into the neck of
the ram to allow the press water to enter the hollow in the ram. By these means
the ram and press table b' are prevented from turning and the ordinarily used
guide pillars, which impede access to the patterns and moulding flask, are dispensed
with and said parts rendered more conveniently accessible. Instead of a key and
groove, other internal means for preventing the ram band table from turning
may be used, for instance the pillar 3 may be made with one or more flat sides and
the pieces bearing against them fixed to the ram . Upon the top of the table ba
second short hydraulic cylinder C is removeably mounted, the rame of which,
hereinafter called pattern ram, carries a plate or table c to which the pattern P,
shown by a dotted sectional outline, is fixed. This cylinder is surrounded and
surmounted by a casing or pattern flask 2 so arranged that when pressure is
admitted to the cylinder C, the ram e raises the pattern P to the top of the pattern
flask, suitable stops being arranged to determine the position of the pattern. Upon
the pattern flask c² a moulding flask d is placed and fixed in position by the studs d¹
entering lugs or other usual means; upon the moulding Hask da sand box e is
mounted and sand filled into the flask d and box e to the required height, the sand
being strickled off to approximately the reverse outline of the pattern as indicated
by dotted line, so as to be deeper over the recessed parts of the pattern and
shallower over the raised part, in order to obtain a uniform compression. After the
mould is pressed as hereinafter described, the pressure is taken off the pattern ram.c
and the ram and table sink down by their weight and the pattern is thereby

page_text: withdrawn from the sand before the flask d with the sand mould is lifted off the
pattern flask.
This is advantageous where the pattern is deep and requires a
straight draw to prevent injury to the mould. If desired, the ram and cylinder
may be so arranged as to effect the withdrawal by positive pressure in the way
usually employed in hydraulic rivetting and similar machines.
The press head F to which the rammer head F¹ for pressing the. sand from the
sand box e into the moulding flask d is attached is carried by two side bars f
which are keyed upon a rocking shaft passed through or underneath the base A
of the machine and provided with suitable bearings formed on or attached to the
base. Upon the middle or other convenient part of the shaft fa bellcrank lever f
or its equivalent is keyed, the horizontal limb of which is weighted by a weight f³
which will swing the side bars and press head to one side when left free to
act, and thus render the press table and the flasks mounted thereon readily
accessible and removeable. The vertical limb of the bell crank f2 is connected by
a link to the ram of a horizontally arranged hydraulic pressure cylinder R
fixed to the base A. When pressure is turned on and the ramr forced out, it turns
the rocking shaft till the press head F is brought over the press table and the
flasks thereon into the position shewn on the drawings, suitable stops being provided
to ensure the correct position of the head F, and springs and for preventing
shocks at the end of the motion of the parts in either direction. Instead of the
cylinder R being arranged as shown, it may be arranged vertically and connected
to the horizontal limb of the bellcrank, or its equivalent.
On the top of the press head a bracket g is mounted, on which a lever g¹ is
fulcrumed. To this lever a ping is connected passing through the head F and
rammer F, while to the other end of the lever g₁ a rod g³ is attached, which passes
through a guide g', fixed on one of the side bars f. To the press table an
adjustable or exchangeable study or equivalent piece is fixed, which when the
table is lifted for pressing the mould comes against the rod 3 and pushes it up,
thereby forcing the other end of the lever and pin down into the sand, so that
a boss fixed or formed on said pin forms the top of the runner or git for pouring
the metal into the mould.
The base A of the machine rests on feet a formed on or attached to it or on girders
over a brickwork or other pit. For moulding certain kinds of patterns a fourth
hydraulic cylinder H is preferably arranged underneath the base A. and carried by
hangers and a cross beam 2, to the ram of which cylinder a cross beam ³ is
fixed carrying two vertical rods 1, 1, which slide through openings in the base A and.
guide bushes fixed on the same. The rods carry at the top arms, which when
the ram is forced out and the rod raised thereby, seize under 'round pivots or
handles of the moulding flask and lift it and hold it up, so that it can be turned
over on said pivots or handles as hereinafter further described. Cylindrical covers (³
open below are fixed to the rods 1, to protect the guides from sand.
The different cylinders B, C, R, and H, are connected by pipes to a valve
chest M, formed with a valve facing containing five ports. These are shown on the
drawings arranged in the valve chest cover m, but may be arranged in any other
suitable manner. The ports communicate by pipes with the different hydraulic
cylinders and are arranged vertically above each other in the following order from
the bottom first port, connected by pipes m's to pattern ram cylinder C; second
port, connected by m³ to horizontal cylinder R; third port, connected by pipe m³
to the press cylinder B; the fourth port connected to the exhaust pipe m; the
fifth port connected by pipe m³ to the flask lifting cylinder H. The slide valve n
is preferably of the D valve kind and of such length that when the bottom port lis
in communication with the exhaust, the top port is closed and vice versa.
The ports
may be arranged in two rows, as shown, to reduce the length of the valve n, or in
one row if preferred, and are preferably at such distance from each other that each
quarter turn of the spindle by means of the hand. wheel will uncover each of
the lower ports in' succession: The spindle is formed for this purpose with a
quick thread' and' has a nut n³ threaded on it which is held between lugs on the

page_text: מן
back of valve in the usual way. The valve chest is through a pipe m
communication with an accumulator or other source of water under pressure.
Obviously the valve chest and valve may be arranged horizontally instead of
vertically and the slide valve operated in any suitable ordinary way, for instance
the valve spindle may be arranged to slide in the stuffing box and connected by a
link to a lever on a shaft, a long hand lever being fixed on the same shaft to work
the valve. The valve may be a piston valve instead of D valve. The details of
the different parts may be modified to suit special localities and purposes. The
different rams are packed in the usual way.
The machine is used in the following manner: The valve is at the start in the
position in which the three lower ports communicate with the exhaust and the fifth
port is closed. The press ram with table and pattern ram will then be down
in their lowest positions and the press head F swung to one side. The moulding
flask d and sand box e are placed on the table and the wheel n² turned to open the
first port whereby water admitted through pipe m' to the cylinder C and the
pattern P lifted to the top of the pattern flask c² into the position shown on
the Figure 1. Sand is then filled in as required, when a further quarter turn of the
hand wheel n, opens the second port to pipe m², and admits water to the cylinder R,
the ram of which is forced out and swings the press head F into the position over
the flask as shown on the drawings. A sliding stop o is arranged to hold the hand
wheel n² in this position till the press head F has arrived in its acting position in
order to prevent the press table & being lifted before the rammer has assumed its
position over the flask and damage being caused, when an eccentric pin o¹ working
in a slot of the lever o or an equivalent mechanisin depresses the end of the
lever o connected to the stop o and withdraws it from a notch or groove in the
wheel n² and permits it to be turned further, whereby the valve moves further up
and admits water to the main press cylinder B and the table with the flask is lifted
against the rammer and the mould pressed.
In order to permit the cylinder C mounted upon the table to make this move-
ment, the pipe connected with the valve chest M and cylinder C is arranged with
a sliding telescopic connection. The pipe m² from the valve face admits the water
to a small vertical cylinder S into which the pipes communicating with and fixed
to the cylinder C and table enters and is packed with a cup leather or other
suitable packing. A shells attached to the table is passed over the cylinder S
and protects the packing against sand and relieves the pipes from lateral strain.
Instead of the telescopic joint, flexible pipes or pipes connected with swivel joints
may be used.
While the mould is pressed, the pin is forced into it in the
manner before described and the git formed.
After the mould is pressed, the valve is moved downwards and the different
cylinders are placed in connection with the exhaust me so that the table / sinks
down, the press head F is swung to one side by the weight 13, and the pattern
drawn out of the sand mould, when the moulding flask d can be lifted off the
pattern flask c² and removed to the casting floor.
The arrangement for drawing the pattern is chiefly intended for deep patterns or
for castings required in large quantities off the same pattern, where the preparation
of plate patterns is advantageous. For some kinds of work, where only a few
castings are required of one pattern and it would not pay to prepare plate patterns
and in other suitable cases, the pattern drawing cylinder is dispensed with and the
lifters used. The cylinder C is then removed from the table and the pipe m'
shut off by a cock (not shown on drawing). The pattern may for instance, be
simply placed upon the table ', the moulding flask d is placed over it and sand
filled in. The upward movement of the valve n by the handwheel n² then swings
the head into position over the table and afterwards lifts the table and presses the
mould. The valve being moved down, the table sinks and the head swings to
one side. The valve being moved further down till the fifth port is opened, water
enters through pipe m into the cylinder H and lifts ram and lifters l. The
arms of the lifters seize under the pivot d of the moulding flask and lift it with

page_text: the pattern in it. The flisk can then be turned over on the arms 2 and the pattern
drawn by hand in the usual way.
The rammer head F is made removeable so that different sizes of rammers can
be used for various sizes of patterns and moulding flasks. For the purpose of
regulating the pressure according to the size of the pattern or flask, I arrange a
safety valve T connected to the press cylinder B by a pipe t and fitted with a
discharge pipe. This safety valve is made of large area and loaded by an
adjustable weight which being set to the pressure required in the hydraulic
cylinder does not permit such pressure to be exceeded, and also mitigates any
shock resulting from the press ram being brought to a stop by the rammer and
moulding boxes.
In order to prevent the springing of the webs or bars (Figs. 7 and 8) of the
moulding flask d by the compression of the sand above them, they are bevilled to
an edge on the top and kept somewhat below the level of the top of the flask, and
the rammer F fixed to the press head is formed with grooves above and corre-
sponding with the webs or bars ³, thereby allowing any excess of sand to escape
into the grooves and relieving the webs from pressure which might cause them to
spring while the mould is being pressed.
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 general arrangement or construction of a hydraulic sand moulding machine
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine the arrangement of the press head (F)
on swing bars fixed on a rocking shaft which is operated by a hydraulic
cylinder (R) and ram (7) and a balance weight (3) substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine the arrangement of a short hydraulic
cylinder (C) with a ram carrying a plate and pattern, and mounted upon the table
of the main press cylinder B and connected to the valve chest by a telescopic or
flexible pipe, substantially as described and illustrated and for the purpose set
forth.
4. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine, the arrangement or combination of a
mould pressing cylinder B and ram b carrying a table on which a second pattern
drawing cylinder C is mounted, the ram of which supports the plate pattern, a
press head F fixed on swing bars operated by the ram of a third hydraulic
cylinder (R) and a balance weight, pipes connecting said cylinders to a valve
chest (M), and a valve (n) controlling the action of said rams, substantially as
described and illustrated and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine the arrangement or combination of a
mould pressing cylinder (B) and ram (6) carrying a table supporting the pattern
and moulding flasks and a second cylinder (C) and ram (c) supporting the plate
pattern, a third cylinder (R) and ram (7) operating a rocking shaft (¹) having
swing bars (f) fixed thereon which carry the press head (F) and rammer (F), a
fourth cylinder (H) and ram (h) with cross head (½³) to which lifting bars (1) with
arms (2) are fixed, said cylinders being connected by pipes to a valve chest (M),
and a valve (n) controlling the action of said rams, substantially as described and
illustrated and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine containing a press cylinder (B), a
pattern drawing cylinder (C), and a presshead swinging cylinder (R) with or
without a flask lifting cylinder (II), the arrangement of a single slide valve (n) on
a ported valve face (m) for controlling the operation of said cylinders substantially
as described and illustrated by the drawings."
7. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine having a press head (F) supported on
swing bars (f) fixed on a rocking shaft operated by a hydraulic cylinder R and
ram () and a valve controlling the operation of said cylinder as well as that of

page_text: the main press cylinder (B), the arrangement of a stop (o) for holding the valve
shifting hand wheel (²) or its equivalent in its position after admitting water to
the press head operating cylinder (R) until the press head has arrived in its acting
position, before the valve can be moved to admit water to the said main press
cylinder, combined with mechanism for automatically withdrawing said stop when
the press head has arrived at its acting position, substantially as described and
illustrated.
8. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine the arrangement of an internal pillar (63)
with a key (2) or its equivalent inside the mould pressing ram and cylinder for
guiding said ram and preventing it from turning, substantially as described and
illustrated by the drawings.
9. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine the arrangement of a safety valve (T)
of large area and adjustably loaded and connected to the mould pressing cylinder (B)
for the purpose of regulating the pressure on the mould suitably to its size, substan-
tially as described and illustrated.
10. In a hydraulic sand moulding machine the arrangement of a pin (92) with a
boss (g) passing through the press head (F) and rammer (FI) and operated by the
rise of the press table (61) substantially as described and illustrated and for the
purpose set forth.
11. In hydraulic sand moulding machines the combined arrangement of the
moulding flask webs or bars (d³) with bevilled edges, and of grooves () in the
rammer (F) corresponding with said webs, substantially as described and illustrated
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated the Twenty first day of Anil 1000
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.