Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Cast Metal Pipes
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Cast
Metal Pipes.
"
I, FREDERICK SHICKLE, of St Louis, Missouri, United States of America,
Machinist and Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN' APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF 'CAST METAL PIPES
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 apparatus, of the class described in the Specification of
former Letters Patent dated 15th December, A.D. 1883, N° 5754, for moulding
metal pipes.
My said invention comprises improvements whereby I provide more efficiently
than heretofore for the ramming of the sand or loam, and the formation of the
socket-end of the mould and core; the said invention also comprises improve-
ments whereby I provide for ensuring the introduction of the rammers and cores
into the flasks in a truly central position, and their retention in such position, and
for guiding the rammers in their upward movement; and the said invention further
comprises various improvements hereinafter set forth.
My improvements are more especially applicable to pipe-moulding apparatus in
which the pipes are cast with the socket-end downward, and in which cluster-
flasks are employed instead of single flasks. Some of my said improvements are,
however, applicable to apparatus in which the pipes are otherwise cast, and in which
single flasks are used.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved apparatus, partly in
vertical section through the centre of one of the flasks.
Figure 2 is a plan of the said apparatus, partly in horizontal section on the
line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of the ramming-stand, partly in horizontal section on the
line a, a, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section through the centre of one
of the flasks, shewing the apparatus ready for the moulding operation.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section on the line o³, a³, Figure 4.

page_text: Figure 6 is a plan, partly in horizontal section on the line ³, x³, Figure 4, and
partly in horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 4, with some of the parts
removed.
Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly in central vertical section, of part of the core,
and apparatus for making the same.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus hereinafter described.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of another part thereof, also hereinafter described,
and
Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the socket-cores hereinafter described.
Figures 7 to 10 are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the ramming-stand, the frame-work of which consists essentially of the
base a, the upright or standard a¹, and the top plate a². The apparatus shewn
in the drawings has four flasks, and the ramming-stand is correspondingly con-
structed, that is to say, it has four ramming devices. Each of these devices consists
of a spindle a supported in a vertical position and with a capability of rotation in
a step-bearing a* in the base a. Each spindle a³ is provided with a sleeve a³, which
is fitted to slide up and down upon the said spindle. The said sleeve is provided
with arms a, which support a ring a' fitted to slide up and down a short distance
in an opening in the top plate a*. The ring a' supports another ring a³ which
is suitably shaped externally to form the socket-end of the mould. Arms a¹0 are
fixed upon a shaft a fitted to rotate in a bearing in the spindle a³, and are coupled
to the arms a¹², which extend upward and are adapted to be connected with, and
support, the sleeve a. The arms a¹0, a12 form two toggle-joints, which, when
straightened, operate to lift the sleeve a³, and, when bent, operate to lower the said
sleeve upon the spindle a³. The toggle-joints may be connected with the said sleeve
in any suitable manner; in the apparatus shewn, they are connected as follows,
viz-The arms a¹² are arranged to bear, at their upper ends, against a shoulder a¹³
upon the spindle a³, and are connected by means of a bolt a', which passes trans-
versely through the arms a¹ and the sleeve a³, and through a slot a¹s in the said
spindle. This slot is elongated vertically to permit the requisite vertical movement
of the sleeve. a16 is a lever, which is fixed upon the shaft a", and is thus connected
with the arms a¹. By means of this lever, the spindle a³ can be rotated in its
step a', and the toggle-joints can be straightened and bent.
The operation of this part of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say;-
B indicates the cluster of Blasks to be rammed; this cluster of flasks is placed upon
the ramming-stand A so that its several compartments b shall properly coincide with
the openings as in the top a³ of the ramming-stand. The rammers C are dropped
through the compartments b, and through the rings a³, until their lower ends rest
upon the spindles a³, which are preferably furnished with screws a" for the purpose
of vertically adjusting the said rammers. The sand D is placed in each compartment
around the rammer C and ring aº. Then, by raising the free end of the lever a¹6,
the toggle-joints a¹º, a¹ are straightened and the rings a', a' thus moved upward
upon the rammer C, within the compartment b. The sand is thereby ramined in
an upward direction, in the lower end of the said compartment, and that portion of
the mould which forms the exterior of the socket of the pipe is thus completed.
The sand in each of the compartments 6 is similarly rammed, after which the sand
throughout the main portion of the compartments is rammed by the withdrawal of
the rammers C as hereinafter described. The rings a³, a' are then rotated within
the compartment b in a horizontal plane alternately in either direction by means
of the lever a16, so as to part the sand from the said rings, as otherwig, the sand
would be liable to break away when the rings were moved downward. The said
rings are then moved downward to their original positions by depressing the
lever a¹º
The ramming of the sand in the main portions of the compartments b is, as above
stated, effected by means of the rammers C, which are similar to those described
in the said former specification. These rammers are drawn upward from off the

page_text: screw a, through the ring a' and through the flask, substantially as described in
the said former specification. In the manipulation of the rammers C, several con-
ditions are requisite for the effectual accomplishment of the desired result. In
placing the said rammers in their respective compartments b, they must be properly
centred at the top and bottom of the said compartments. For this purpose, each
rammer C is inade with a conical bottom which will readily enter the ring a³, which
ring will retain the raminer in its central position. Moreover the yoke C, which
unites the rammers above the flasks, is provided with a pin C which, when the
rammers are dropped into the compartments b, enters central perforations or
apertures b¹ in the removable top E and in the part 6. This pin centres the
cluster of rammers, relatively to the flasks. Each rammer is, moreover, properly
centred in the corresponding compartment 6 by means of the frame F and the
prints G. This frame is properly shaped (in the present instance being square, or
approximately so) to brace the rammers as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and hold
them centrally in their respective compartments. The said frame consists of four
bars which are attached to an interior frame f1, Figure 2, and which abut at
their ends f2 against the rammers; these bars are, moreover, turned or bent down-
ward, as shewn at f³, Figure 1, to fit between the print G and the rammer C.
The prints G are annular in form, and, are equal, in diameter, to the largest part c
of the rammer, or to the upper end of the finished mould, they are bevelled at g and
are furnished with a flange or shoulder g', Figure 1, against which bears the under
side of the removable plate or top E. This plate or top has openings e to receive
the prints, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 8. These openings are coincident with the
compartments b. The top E is adapted to be secured, during the ramming, by means
of suitable clamps (not shewn) to the part 62. The top E holds the prints against
the upward pressure exerted by the rammers; the frame F is adapted to be held
down upon the top E, by means of the buttons or catches f* attached to the top E,
as shewn in Figures 2 and 8. Therefore, when the rammers C are drawn upward
out of the compartments b, the top E prevents the lifting of the sand from its place
and holds the prints and centring frame F in position.
The cluster of flasks, when thus rammed, is to be made ready for the casting
operation, for which purpose the socket-forming rings a', a³, are moved downward
by the lever al as above described, the bead-rings K are placed in position, the
cluster of flasks is lifted from the ramming-stand, and the moulds are black-washed,
and, the lower core-portion hereinafter described having been placed in position.
upon the flask-bottom H, the cluster of flasks is set upon the said flask-bottom and
clamped thereto, and the whole is then swung into the oven and dried, after which
it is hung upon the pitwall, the cores are inserted, and the improved devices for
completing the upper end of the mould and for directing the Bow of the molten
metal are placed in position.
I, I, are the cores, each of which is made in two parts, namely, the main portion i
which extends vertically throughout that part of the flask which is above the socket,
and the lower portion ¹ which is used to form the interior of the socket. The last
named portion is prepared by means of the apparatus shewn in Figure 7, in which
J represents a base in the form of a ring or annular piece adapted to hold the part i³
of the core, which is termed the cone. A removable ring J¹ is placed upon the
base J, and encircles the circular, slightly raised central portion of the said base.
The central portion j is equal in diameter to the intended core at its lower end. The
portion of the core is, preferably, enlarged at i³ to form a corresponding recess in
the pipe-socket. The interior of the ring J is, therefore, made slightly conical as
shewn. Another ring J³, which is also removable, is placed upon the ring J¹. A
removable conical part J, which corresponds in diameter and in shape with the
lower end of the portion of the core, is placed on the upper end of the cone .
The portion of the core consists substantially of the cone i' and the earthen
coating. To form the said portion , the parts J,J¹, J³, 12, J³ are placed together
as shewn in Figure 7, and the clay, sand, or other material to be as a coating upon
the cone 1, is rammed or pressed into the space between the said parts as at í';

page_text: the upper ring J2 and the part J³ are then removed, and the parts i³, 14, forming
what I term the core-portion are lifted from the base J and ring J¹ and placed
in or upon the flask-bottom H, as shewn in Figure 9. The handles upon the
rings J, Jenable the said rings to be rotated to part them from the coating and
thus prevent injury to the latter in the lifting off of the ring J, or in the removal
of the core-portion from the rings J, J'. The flask-bottom H, having the recess h
filled with sand to receive the metal as it is poured into the flask, and thereby both
protect the flask-bottom and prevent chilling of the metal at the end of the pipe.
and having the core portion i¹ in place, is then, as above described, suitably clamped
to the cluster of flasks. The core is completed by dropping the portion i thereof
into the portion 21, as shewn in Figure 4. The mould is completed at the top and
the core centred in position, by means of the bead-ring K and the earthen plate L,
Figure 4. The bead-ring is placed in the recess formed by means of the print G.
Its internal diameter is larger than that of the core, and the annular space between
the bead-ring and the core, except at the points where the molten metal is poured
through in casting, is filled by the flange with which the plate L is provided on its
under-side.
M is a runner of improved form for directing the flow of the molten metal in
such a manner as to reduce as much as possible the head of metal left, after the
casting, upon the top of the flask. The said runner is placed upon the plate L; its
peculiar form is shewn more distinctly in Figure 5. Its main portion encloses or
surrounds two of the cores, and it is extended in the form of wings m, m to enclose
or surround the other two cores, as shewn, but so that it does not enclose or surround
the central portion of the flask-top. By pouring the metal into this runner at
a point between the two first mentioned cores, it can flow to the right and left
and reach all the moulds without flowing over the centre of the flask-top. The
said runner may be made in sections m³, which, in use, are clamped together as
shewn. Outside the runner is a band N. The space n between the band and the
runner is filled or packed with earthy material for the purpose of preventing the
escape, by leakage, of molten metal from within the runner.
,
The cluster of flasks shewn in the drawings is made vertically in four parts
65, 66, 6, 8, to permit the removal of the flasks from the moulded pipe. The
parts are hinged together at 6º, the parts 67, 68 are hinged together at 610 and
the two central parts 6, 6' are fastened together by any suitable means such as
rivets. The cluster of flasks is held upon the pitwall by means of the hanger O and
brace P. These parts, in side elevation, resemble each other. They pass between
the parts 66, 67 of the flask, and are secured at o, o, to the inner compartments of
the flask, and at p to the outer compartments of the flask.
To more efficiently ensure the centring of the flasks upon the ramming-stand A
and upon the flask-bottom H, I provide the said flasks with a central pin or rod q
projecting downward from the lower end thereof and adapted to enter guiding
apertures in the said ramming-stand and in the flask-bottom as at A¹, h¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In the ramming-stand of a pipe-moulding apparatus, the employment of
a sleeve fitted to slide up and down upon a spindle for the purpose specified.
Second. The provision of means whereby the said sleeve can be rotated upon
its axis, for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination of parts comprising the flask, the rings or annular
pieces a, a, the sleeve a³, and the spindle a³, substantially as set forth, whereby
I provide for ramming the sand or loam at the socket-end of the mould.
Fourth. The combination, with the spindle a³ and the sleeve a³, of the arms
¹º, a¹³; the shaft all, the bolt a¹, and the lever a¹6, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
:

page_text: Fifth. The improved ramming-stand consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, specified.
Sixth. The combination, with the cluster of flasks and the rammers C, of the
yoke C provided with a downwardly extending pin or rod adapted to enter a
guiding aperture in the top plate of the said flasks, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The combination, with the cluster of flasks and the rammers C, of the
top plate E, the prints G, and the frame F, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Eighth. The combination of parts comprising the base J, the cone i³, and the
rings or annular pieces J', J2, J³, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the cone 2, and the earth coating it, substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Tenth. The combination, with the flask, the bead-ring K, and the core I, of the
plate L provided with the flange l, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eleventh. The combination, with the cluster of flasks, of the runner M made
with the wings m, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. The cluster of flasks B made in parts or sections, as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Thirteenth. The pin or rod q attached to the lower end of the cluster of flasks B
and adapted to enter guiding apertures in the ramming-stand and the flask-bottom,
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
.For the Applicant.