An Improved Method, of and Means for Preparing Moulds for Casting Pig Iron and for Breaking the Pigs and Separating them from the "Sow."
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1891-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SI DUIFICATION.
An Improved Method, of and Means for Preparing Moulds for Casting
Pig Iron and for Breaking the Pigs and Separating them from
the "Sow."
We, EDWARD PRITCHARD MARTIN, of Dowlais, in the County of Glamorgan,
General Manager of Iron and Steel Works, and ENOCH JAMES, of 195 Newport
Road, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Manager of Iron and Steel Works,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the production of pig iron from the blast furnace the practice has hitherto
been to form separately in the sand each mould for the pigs, the moulds com-
municating, as is well understood, with the " SOW or channel whence they receive
their charge of molten metal.
"
Now, this invention consists, firstly, in forming as one operation a mould for the
sow and a series of moulds for the pigs. This is effected by the use of a moulding
appliance consisting of a moulding block or bar for the sow mould, and a series of
moulding blocks for the pigs, which blocks are united to the sow at equal distances
apart and extend therefrom at a right or other suitable angle thereto. Accordingly,
by one impress of the moulding appliance in the sand, the sow and a series of
moulds for the pigs are formed.
This invention consists, secondly, in an improved method of separating the pigs
from the sow and breaking them before loading into trucks or wagons. The sow
and adhering pigs are, after casting, raised from the sand by a crane and conveyed
to a stamping machine at each down stroke of which two or more of the pigs at a
time are simultaneously separated from the sow at or near the point of union, and
divided also at a different point for sampling.
The detached and broken pigs are passed from below the said machine into a
truck or other receptacle.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1890.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Preparing Moulds for Casting
Pig Iron and for Breaking the Pigs and Separating them from
the "Sow."
We, EDWARD PRITCHARD MARTIN, of Dowlais, in the County of Glamorgan,
General Manager of Iron and Steel Works, and ENOCH JAMES, of 195 Newport
Road, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Manager of Iron and Steel Works,
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 :-
In the production of pig iron from the blast furnace the practice has heretofore
been to form separately in the sand each mould for the pigs, the moulds com-
municating, as is well understood, with the "sow "-mould or channel whence the
pig-moulds receive their charge of molten metal. Now this invention consists in
forining all the moulds, including that for the sow, at one and the same time.
This is effected by means of a specially designed pattern which is composed of a
bar representing the sow and a series of bars representing the pigs and connected to
the sow.
The bars representing the pigs are at equal distances apart. The
го

page_text: pattern, having been brought by a crane or other appliance, to the casting bed, is
lowered on to the bed and impressed into the sand. On removal of the pattern
from the bed a mould for the sow and a set of regular and equidistant moulds for
the pigs are left in the sand. The molten metal is then run in as usual and when
sufficiently hardened the whole mass is lifted as one piece and is ready for breaking
and separation from the sow.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 represents a plan of a pattern designed for forming moulds for casting pig.
iron in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view with the bar a, Fig. 1, removed.
Fig. 3 is an end view.
The pattern consists of a bar representing the sow, and bars e arranged at right
angles to the bar and representing the pigs. At the opposite end to the bar is
a parallel bar a which serves as a gange for the space to intervene between one set
of pigs and the next beyond it. Eyes e are provided for connection of the chains
of a crane or other lifting appliance.
It will be readily understood that when the pattern has been pressed into the
sand of the casting bed and subsequently raised therefrom, a mould for the sow and
a series of regular and equidistant moulds for the pigs remain in the sand. The
channels formed by the short arms which connect the gauge bar a to the pattern
are filled in with sand prior to running in the molten metal. After the removal of
the pattern the molten metal is run into the moulds in the usual way and after
having been allowed to solidify to a sufficient degree the sow and pigs are raised as
one mass and conveyed away for separation and breaking. The pigs, being
equidistant, are fitted for being separated from the sow and otherwise broken in a
machine having a reciprocating hammer or ram. Or breaking may be effected by
other mechanical means. Manual labour in breaking and in conveyance of the
broken iron from the casting bed is superseded and the further advantage is
obtained that as the iron is broken in a machine when cooled or solidified, premature
breaking while hot and consequent "bleeding" and creating scrap are obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In the process of casting pig iron, the simultaneous formation in the casting
bed of a mould for the sow and a series of equidistant moulds for the pigs, so that
the sow and pigs when cast and cooled are capable of being transferred, as one
piece, fitted for breaking by mechanical means, substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.
2. A sow and pig moulding pattern for use in casting pig iron, consisting of a
bar such as for the sow-mould and a series of bars e for the pig-moulds, the said
bars being connected to or formed in one piece with the sow and situated at equal
distances apart and extending therefrom at right angles, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of July 1891.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.