IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORMING MOULDS FOR CASTING METALS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Noah Moore, Mechanic, and James Crabtree, Moulder, both
of Keighley, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORMING MOULDS FOR CASTING METALS."
Sealed the 7th February 1879, and dated the 20th November 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Noah Moore and James
Crabtree at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th November
1878.
NOAH MOORE, Mechanic, and JAMES CRABTREE, Moulder, both of Keighley, in the
County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORMING
MOULDS FOR CASTING METALS."
This Invention is intended to dispense with certain parts of the manual labour
now used in moulding mechanism, so that more work can be done in a given time
than at present, and this we propose to do by self-acting mechanism, the general
construction of which is as follows:-
The moulding sand is fed in a hopper, at the bottom of which is a feed box or
other receptacle having a backward and forward motion imparted thereto by arms
and levers actuated by a cam or similar means. A sliding table having intermit-
tent backward and forward motion is employed, upon which are placed the
pattern plates" or pattern blocks; one half of an ordinary moulding box is placed
over the pattern plate in the usual manner, when the table travels a certain distance
until the moulding box is opposite the mouth of the hopper and underneath a
number of "rammers," when the table stops. The feed box containing the moulding
sand is then pushed forward, and by means of a grate or fork the sand is
distributed in the moulding box over the pattern. The feed box is so arranged
that on its withdrawal it scrapes or "strickles" the sand on the upper portion of
the moulding box ready for the ramming operation; a rammer or series of rammers
are then caused to fall upon the sand a number of times until the sand is rammed
sufficiently. These rainmers are operated by means of mechanism constructed
somewhat similar to a jacquard machine employed for operating the heald in a

page_text: weaving loom, or they may be operated by a series of levers and cams. After the
ramming operation the table moves forward, bringing the rammed moulding box
with it, and stopping again so that another moulding box, which has been pre-
viously prepared, is under the rammers to be operated upon in like manner to the
one already referred to. After the box has been rammed it is changed and an
empty one put in its place. The sliding table is so constructed that each end thereof
is reversible, turning upon pivots, and having a pattern plate on each side.
"
Two or more tables may be employed. The peculiar feature of this Invention
consists in constructing a machine so that while a moulding box is being fed with
sand and "strickled and "rammed by self-acting mechanism other boxes are
being prepared for the same operation; thus a great saving in time and labour is
effected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Noah Moore and James Crabtree in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th May 1879.
NOAH MOORE, Mechanic, and JAMES CRABTREE, Moulder, both of Keighley, in the
County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORMING
MOULDS FOR CASTING METALS."
This Invention refers to that class of moulding known as plate and matrix
moulding, and the object of our improvements is to reduce the manual labour by
means of suitable self acting mechanism.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood we have hereto annexed
three Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, the same letters of reference being
employed to indicate the same parts in the different Figures.
Fig. 1 represents general elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of
same; and Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are details.
A are the pattern plates or pattern blocks, one of which is mounted upon each
side of the turnover tables B and B', which are carried upon axes a in the frames C,
and ride upon the rails D by pullies D¹. Upon the pattern plates A are placed the
moulding boxes E previous to filling the same with sand and ramming them. In
order to fill the box with sand a feed box or receiver F, having a bottom formed
of a grate or series of ribs or bars b connected by a cross bar c, is filled with sand
from the stationary hopper d, and then drawn over the moulding box and
underneath the rammers G. The grate b is then withdrawn, leaving the sand to
fall into the moulding box.
The rammers G are then released and allowed to fall upon the sand until it is
sufficiently rammed, after which the feed box or receiver is withdrawn, the edge e
serving as a strickle to remove the superfluous saud. The mould box is then removed
by sliding the table from under the rammers, which brings a second box into
position. The table upen which the prepared box is mounted is turned over so as
to bring the box to the underside, wlien it is detached from the pattern plate and

page_text: deposited upon the lowering table H. This lowering table is constructed in a
similar manner to a "Jobson's" machine.
or
Having now described the general features of our machine, we will next specify
the method by which the different movements are obtained. J is the main driving
shaft, upon which is a pinion 1, which, through the intermediates 2, 3, and 4, gives
a slow rotary motion to the cam plate K, which, by means of the lever I and rod I',
imparts the necessary intermittent reciprocatory motion to the feed-box
receiver F. Details of this feed box are given in Figs. 3 and 4, where it is shewn
to consist of four sides open at top and bottom, and provided with holes for the
reception of the bars of the grate b. The feed box is carried upon pulleys, and
the bars upon the pulleys g, as will be seen on reference to Fig. 5. The two
bars C, to which the pulley studs are attached, are placed outside the feed box, and
on commencing operations the grate and feed box are connected together by
catches h, which hook on to the axes of the pulleys g. When the feed box and
grate are drawn over the mould boxes the balance weight k is raised, but when
the ends of the catches h come in contact with the fixed inclines the catches are
raised thereby, and the grate being released is drawn back by the weight /, allowing
the sand to fall into the moulding box.
The rammers are mounted in a frame, and are raised by means of the grate L;
which has a continual rising and falling motion imparted to it by levers M and
rods N, from the crank O, on the shaft P, receiving its motion from the main
drivng shaft J by wheels 5 and 6. A separate view of the rammers is shewn in
Fig. 6,
The rammers are raised by the grate L in its upward movement catching the
projection c, and they are held up by catches n, each catch being actuated by
a needle p and spring in a somewhat similar manner as a jacquard frame. The
catches are removed and the rammers released by means of a pegging barrel Q,
that is, a barrel or cylinder having holes or blanks on its face or faces, the situation
of which determines the release of the rammer.
The barrel has an ossillating motion imparted to it by levers M, R, and S, and
rod T, and when the feed box is brought underneath the rammers the boss s of
the rod I lifts the weighted lever W, and by means of rod t, shewn in dotted line,
the hooked end of the lever V is depressed, catching the ratchet wheel U, which
turn the barrel Q around, and presents holes or blanks against the ends of wires p,
pushing such as are required and releasing such of the rammers as are selected to
drop upon the sand in the moulding box.
When there is no feed box underneath the rainmers the weight of the incline W
and rod t lift the catch V clear of the barrel, and the needles and rammers are not
operated.
The tables are operated by cam X, in the groove of which works a pulley x,
mounted on a lever Y, attached by link to the frame carrying the tables. The
tables may, however, be operated by the person attending the machine.
Z is a
spring stop or catch for keeping the table in the horizontal position; and Z¹ are
hinged lugs for holding the boxes together.
In conclusion, we would remark that in some cases it would be found advan-
tageous to fill the hopper by means of travelling buckets, and also that instead of
the table moving at right angles to the machine it may be a circular table, and
revolve underneath the rammers, taking finished boxes away, and presenting others
in their places; we therefore do not confine ourselves to the precise construction
and arrangement of the part herein shewn and described, as various modifications
may be made without departing from the main features of our Invention, but what
we consider to be new, and therefore claim as our Invention is,-
Firstly. The use and employment of the fork or grate b, operated in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The use and employment of the raminers G arranged so that any given
or desirable number may be operated, in manner and for the purpose substantially
as herein shewn and described.

page_text: Thirdly. The use and employment of the reciprocating tables B and B¹, having
moulding boxes placed thereon, and so arranged that whilst one moulding box is
being operated upon another is in a position to be prepared for a similar operation,
substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Noah Moore and James Crabtree, have
hereunto set our hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
A. B. CROSSLEY,
Tasker & Crossley,
Patent Office,
Halifax.
NOAH MOORE.
(L.S.)
JAMES CRABTREE. (L.S.)