IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR MANUFACTURING CAST-IRON PIPES.
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Yoolow Stewart, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MOULDING OR MANUFACTURING CAST-IRON PIPES."..
Sealed the 21st April 1857, and dated the 27th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Yoolow Stewart
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th January 1857.
I, DAVID YOOLOW STEWART, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR MANUFACTURING CAST-IRON PIPES," to be as
follows, that is to say:
This Invention relates essentially to the manufacture or moulding of cast-
iron pipes of the "faucet class," and consists of a mode of preparing the cores
of such pipes, a mode of placing the cores in the moulds previous to casting,
as well as of a mode of removing the same after the casting has been
accomplished.
The skeletons or unclothed core bars are plain cylinders, which are coated
with a layer of vegetable matter which is swept up to form by a shaping or
sweeping edge.
These faucet pipes, or pipes with an enlarged end, are cast, according to the
routine of this Invention, with their faucets or enlarged ends downwards, and

page_text: the cores, with their faucet ends also disposed downwards, are hoisted up
vertically from below by a chain or tackle passed through down the interior of
the vertically disposed mould, or otherwise.
In this way the plain cylindrical end of the core is entered up into the
mould until the faucet portion attains its proper position in the corresponding
portion of the mould. After the casting is completed, the mould box, with its
newly cast pipe,, and the core within it, are all removed in a mass and placed
horizontally, when a suitable hydrostatic press is employed for forcing out the
core in the direction the reverse of that which it took on entering the mould.
The result of this system of procedure is that the manufacture of the pipes
is greatly facilitated, whilst very superior castings are produced by it.
The formation of moulds for casting pipes is effected by a vertical spindle,
carrying at its lower end a screw-blade arrangement, which ascends within the
mould box as the moulding sand is shaped into form beneath. Instead of
ising counterweights or other apparatus at the upper end of this moulding: 1
spindle, the present Invention provides for the use of an adjustable frictional
nut apparatus in connection with the top of the spindle, for the purpose of
securing increased efficiency in the moulding action.
According to this new arrangement, the moulding screw spindle is cut with
a screw thread, which is embraced by a pair of worm wheels set on parallel 2
spindles geared together.
The contiguous edges of these worm wheels form the nut or fixed threads for
the screw on the spindle, and their spindles being provided with suitable frictional
brake apparatus, the moulder can temper the rise of his screw-blade spindle to
the greatest nicety, and he can thus modify the longitudinal traverse of the 2
spindle, either up or down, in a most convenient and effective manner; for,
when the two worm wheels are held fast they form a completely acting nut,
and as they are slackened off they yield to a greater, or less, extent, and thus
become what may be called a differentially acting nut, as, for example, in the
drilling machinery made by Mr. Joseph Whitworth..
3
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Yoolow Stewart in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
YOOLOW STEWART, of Glasgow, in the. County of Lanark, North Britain, 3
Ironfounder, send.greeting.
.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto"
me, the said David Yoolow Stewart, Her special license that I, the said David
Yoolow Stewart, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said David Yoolow Stewart, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR MANUFACTURING CAST-IRON PIPES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Yoolow Stewart, by an
instrument in writing. under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Yoolow Stewart, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates essentially to the manufacture or moulding of
cast-iron pipes of the "faucet" class, and consists of a mode of preparing the
cores of such pipes, a mode of placing the cores in the moulds previous to
casting, as well as of a mode of removing the same after the casting has been
accomplished. The Invention has reference more or less to an Invention for
which Mr. David Yoolow Stewart. obtained Letters Patent for England on or
about the Fourth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
The skeletons or unclothed core bars are plain cylinders, which are coated
with a layer of vegetable matter which is swept up to form by a shaping or
sweeping edge. These faucet pipes, or pipes with an enlarged end, are cast,.
according to the routine of this Invention, with their faucets or enlarged ends
5 downwards, and the cores, with their faucet ends also disposed downwards, are
hoisted up vertically from below by a chain or tackle passed through and
down the interior of the vertically disposed mould, or otherwise.. In this way
the plain cylindrical end of the core is entered up into the mould until the
faucet portion attains its proper position in the corresponding portion of the

page_text: mould. After the, casting. is. completed, the mould box, with its newly.cast
pipe, and the core, within it, are all removed-in a mass, and. placed horizontally,
when a suitable hydrostatic press is: employed for forcing out the core in the
direction the reverse of that which it took on entering the mould. The result
of this system of procedure is that the manufacture of the pipes is very greatly
facilitated, whilst very superior castings are produced by it.
The Invention also relates,. under another head, to an improvement upon
the arrangements and contrivances specified under, a grant of Letters Patent
for England obtained by Mr. David Yoolow Stewart on or about the four-
teenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, for "Improve-
ments in Moulding Iron and Brass." In those improvements the formation.
of moulds for casting pipes is effected by a vertical spindle, carrying at its
lower end a screw blade-arrangement, which ascends within the mould box. as
the moulding sand is shaped into form beneath. Instead of using .counter.
weights or other apparatus at the upper end of this moulding spindle; the
present Invention provides for the use of an adjustable frictional nut apparatus:
in connection with the top of the spindle, for the purpose of securing increased
efficiency in the moulding action. According to this new arrangement, the
moulding screw spindle is cut with a screw thread, which is embraced by a
pair of worm wheels set on parallel spindles geared together: The contiguous
edges of these worm wheels form the. nut or fixed threads for the screw on the
spindle, and their spindles being provided with a suitable frictional braker
apparatus, the moulder can temper the rise of his screw-blade spindle to the
greatest nicety, and he can thus modify the longitudinal traverse of the spindle,
either up or down, in a most convenient and effective manner; for when-the
two worm wheels: are held fast they form a completely acting nut,, and as they,
are slackened off they yield to a greater or less extent, and thus become what
may be called a differentially acting nut, as, for example, in the drilling.
machinery made by Mr. Joseph Whitworth.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood,. I will
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended, for the purpose of
showing certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously:
carried out in practice:.
The first part of my improvements relates to a mode of forming the moulds,
for pipes in which the faucet portion of the mould is. placed, downwards..
In the modes of casting iron pipes as: ordinarily practised the faucet portion
of the mould is placed uppermost; but this plan is attended. with serious:
disadvantages,, owing to the frequency of air or blown holes in the upper.

page_text: part of the pipe; and moreover the faucet portion is frequently the most
imperfect part of the whole casting, by reason of the impurities in the metal
rising to the top of the casting. By the system or mode of moulding herein-
after described, if any imperfection occurs in the upper part of the casting,
it is only necessary to cut that portion of the pipe off and there is still a
serviceable pipe remaining, whereas if the faucet of the pipe had been removed
the whole would be useless.
In the modification of my improvements as shown in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 is a partially sectional elevation of a mould
box and core. One-half of this Figure shows the clevation of the carriage
on which the mould box is placed, and the exterior of the core; the other
half of the Figure shows these parts drawn in section. Figure 2 is a plan
corresponding to Figure 1; one-half of the Figure, namely, that on tlic
left-hand side, is a sectional plan of the mould box, with carriage as seen
from above; the other half of the Figure is a plan of the under side of the
carriage as it would appear if reversed in its position.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the upper part of the mechanical arrange-
ments for forming the mould; Figure 4 is a view of the machinery taken at
right angles to Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
And to save space
in the Drawing only the upper and lower portions of the mould box and corc
are shown in Figure 1.
The metal mould box A is made by preference in two parts, and bolted
together at the flanges, and is of a funnel shapo at the upper part, for the
convenience of letting in the sand and pouring in the molten metal. At the
lower part of the mould box, where the faucet of the pipe is formed, it swells
outwards and terminates in a flange, by means of which it is bolted to the
table or platform B of the carriage, which is carried on four wheels. The
table B of the carriage has a circular opening C in it, which is accurately
bored to receive the pattern piece for forming the faucet portion of the mould
and the lower end of the core bar. The core bar is a cylindrical or segmental
collapsible tube of metal, through which a spindle D is passed. The lower
end of the core bar has a strong flange E, which is turned to fit the bored
portion C of the table B. Near the lower end of the spindle D is a screw
and large nut F, which fixes the spindle firmly to the core bar. The core
bar and flange E is coated with loam or sand, either by a core making
machine in the ordinary manner, as fully described in the Specification of
Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date on or about the Fourth day
of January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine; and after being
dried is lowered into a pit prepared for the purpose. The faucet end of the

page_text: core bar and flange E is placed downwards. The core bar remains there
until the carriage and mould box are brought over the mouth of the pit:
In preparing the mould the faucet is first formed by a pattern piece or hollow
ring, which is bored to fit the opening C, and is held up in its place by two
or more of the four bolts G; passed through snugs in the flange of the pattern
piece. The mould box being bolted to the table B, as before described; the
faucet portion H of the mould is now formed or rammed by hand. The
plain cylindrical portion I of the mould is formed from the point J, where
the pattern ring ends by means of the moulding machinery described in the
Specification of British Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date on
or about the Fourteenth day of July. One thousand eight hundred and forty-
six. The bolts which retain the pattern piece in its place being removed;
the pattern or hollow ring is then drawn downwards, leaving the mould
completely formed. The pattern pieco or hollow ring which is bored out
to the exact size of the inside of the mould, so that the pattern pulley
descends into it, and answers the purpose of a moulding bead. The mould
being finished in this manner, and subsequently. dried, is, with its carriage,
brought on to the rails, which are formed on a strong rectangular iron frame
K, round the mouth. of the pit, into which the core bar has been previously
lowered. The chain of a crane convenient to the pit is lowered down through
the mould, and attached by a shackle to the hole L in the upper end of
the spindle D, and the core bar is hoisted or drawn up until the flange E
comes up into the bored portion C of the table B. The core is then con-
centric with the outer portion of the mould at its lower end, because the
flange E of the core bar fits the same recess from which the pattern piece
for forming the socket portion H was removed. One advantage of this
method of having the core raised from below, and the flange E made of
the same diameter as the opening C in the carriage, is that it does away
with the "cups" or cakes generally used for forming the socket ends of
the pipes. The upper end of the core is held or kept concentric with
the upper end of the mould by wedge pieces placed at intervals between the
mould and the core round about the circumference. In lieu of the wedge
pieces, a ring or eye with arms may be fitted and secured to the upper end of
the core bar and moulding box for the same purpose, or a ring or cake of
loam, with interstices to form the gates, may be used for the
The
top end of the mould box is made of a funnel shape, for the convenience of
letting in the moulding sand, and being also coated with the loam or sand,
At M, near the upper
forms a good gate for pouring in the molten metal.
end of the core, is formed a projecting strip of loam, the object of which is to
purpose.

page_text: make the casting much thinner at that part, so that the surplus metal or gate
piece may be easily broken off, then leaving the pipes of an uniform length:
The core bar, carriage, and mould box is, when complete, hoisted by the crane,
and removed to the casting pit, in the lower part of which is a bolster or foot-
step, to receive the lower end N of the spindle D, which then bears the entire
weight of the carriage and mould box, and serves to keep the whole steady,
preparatory to casting the pipe. When the core and its bar is to be removed, this
is effected either by means of a lever, screw, or hydrostatic power. The bolster
or footstep being removed from below the spindle D, the core is forced down
into the pit; and in order to take tho strain off the wheels and axles during
this operation, the carriage is supported by means of blocks placed beneath
the deep circular feather at o of its frame, and on the ridge or raised ring on
the frame K.
The second part of my Invention relates to improvements in the machinery
or apparatus for regulating the raising and lowering of the presser and its
spindle and pattern, for the compressing of the sand or loam as it is fed into
the mould box for forming the plain cylindrical portion of the moulds for
casting pipes, described in the Specification of the British Letters Patent
granted to me, and bearing date on or about the Fourteenth day of July, Oné
thousand eight hundred and forty-six. The lower part of this presser, which
also constitutes or carries the pattern, has two or more vanes projecting from
its periphery; these vanes are similar to portions of the thread of a screw;
and when the presser is rotated serve to press down the loam or sand
beneath it.
This part of the moulding machinery is used in the present modification.
The improvements consist in the arrangement of the parts for actuating,
raising, and adjusting the presser.
In my Sheet of Drawings, Figure 3 is an elevation of the top portion of one-
half of a double pipe mould making machine, showing the actuating gearing,
and the new mechanical arrangements for regulating, raising, or lowering of
the rammer and pattern of one machine; Figure 4 is an elevation of the
same at right angles to Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a plan of the same, cor-
responding to Figure 3.
In these views, Figures 3, 4, and 5 of my Sheet of Drawings, A is a small
rectangular cast-iron frame, one half of which only is shown in the Drawings:
This frame, which forms the entablature or top of a double machine, is bolted
to the upper part of two frames or standards B, erected between and bolted
to two walls C, one only of each being shown in the Drawings. The two side
standards B are made the whole width of the frame A, and form the main

page_text: framing of the machine. A central standard D serves to stiffen the framing
and form guides, together with the other standards B, for a traversing frame E
This frame travels up and down the guides or projecting ribs formed on the
standards B and central standard -D. The upper part of the spindle of the
pattern and rammer F passes through the traversing frame E, which at this
part is fitted with brasses and broad collars, and besides serving as a bearing
for the journal of the spindle F, carries the frame E along with it; the upper
end of the spindle is keyed to a hollow screw shaft G; which passes upwards
through the framing A. Just above the frame E is keyed a toothed wheel H,
fast to the spindle F; this wheel gears with the pinious I on the squared
vertical driving shafts J. The pinions I are fixed to the bosses or elongated
eyes which rotate in bearings carried by the transverse sliding frame E;
the squared spindles pass through the centre of the bosses and pinions,
which consequently rotate with them. The upper ends of the shafts J arc
supported in bearings fitted in the overhanging brackets K, which are bolted
to the upper side of the horizontal framing A. A bevilled. wheel L is
keyed to each of the shafts J. This wheel is driven by a pinion M, fast to the
horizontal shaft N. The end of the shaft N is carried in a bearing fitted in a
brackets K. When the shafts N and J are put in motion, the pinions I give
motion to the wheel H and the screw shaft G. At each side of the screw
shaft G is a worm wheel O, which is in gear with the screw shaft. These worm
wheels O are fast to the light shafts P, which also carry the pair of pinions Q
in gear with each other. The shafts P are carried in plummer block bearings;
which are bolted to the framing A, and to the outer end of one of the shafts is
fitted a brake wheel and strap R, one end of which is fast to a stud projecting
from the framing A; the free end of this strap is attached to a rod S, which
is carried downwards and attached to a lever T; the lever oscillates on a stud
fixed to the projecting bracket U, bolted to the side of the lower part of the
central standard D. The lever T is notched on the upper side, and carries a
weight V and counterweight W, by means of which the tension of the strap R
upon the brake wheel may be adjusted. The pattern, with its pressing vanes,
is secured to the lower end of the central spindle F, to which a rotatory motion
is communicated through the pinions I. The worm wheels O, when held tight
by the brake wheel and strap R, act as a solid nut, so that for every revolution
of the screw shaft G the spindle and its appendages are raised one pitch of the
thread. The pressure of the screw shaft upon the worm wheels is controlled by
the frictional brake, and is so tempered by the weight on the lever handle T
that the rising of the spindle and its appendages is assisted during the formation
of the mould. On the contrary, when the worm wheels are perfectly free to

page_text: move, the spindle and its appendages would have no tendency whatever to ascend,
but rather to descend by reason of their weight. The weight may also be so
adjusted that the worm wheels may, if required, be held fast, so that the
spindle will be raised to its full extent, that is to say, one pitch of the screw.
An important advantage connected with this arrangement is that the spindle of
the machine may be lowered into or raised out of the box with much greater
accuracy and speed than by the ordinary means at present in use.
Thus, by
means of this differential motion the degree of hardness or solidity given to the
mould is completely under controul, and may be regulated with the greatest
accuracy.
In the foregoing modifications of my improvements the central shaft is
shown as being driven by two pinions L and their accompanying gearing, which
are fitted diagonally in the framing, as shown in the plan, Figure 5. Pre-
ference is given to this mode, because the steadiness of the action is thereby
increased, although the shaft may be driven, if required, by one pinion and shaft
fitted on a spindle. If necessary to balance the weight of the spindle and its
appendages, preference is given to the arrangement of a cross head fitted to the
lower part of the screw shaft G, chains are attached to the cross head, which
pass over pulleys suspended from the upper part of the framing. To these
chains weights are attached, by means of which the pressure on the loam or
sand may be regulated as required for the different sizes of pipes manufactured
in the machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviati from the principles or main features of my Invention; but
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―.
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for making the moulds for casting pipes, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of making core bars with flanges, whereby cups
and cakes are dispensed with in forming the socket ends of cast-iron pipes, as
hercin-before described.
Third, the system or mode of raising the core from below through the mould
for the manafacture of metal pipes cast with their faucets downwards, as herein-
before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of regulating the raising or lowering of the

page_text: spindle of the pattern and presser by means of a screw spindle actuated by a
pair of worm wheels and frictional brake apparatus in making moulds for the
manufacture of metal pipes, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Yoolow Stewart have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.
DAV. Y. STEWART. (L.S.)