IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING MOULDS FOR CASTING GROUND SCREWS FOR FENCE AND OTHER POSTS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Machinists, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING MOULDS FOR CASTING GROUND
SCREWS FOR FENCE AND OTHER POSTS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
Sealed the 5th February 1867, and dated the 10th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Andrew Muir
and James M Ilwham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 10th August 1866.
We, MATTHEW ANDREW MUIR and JAMES MILWHAM, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Machinists, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING MOULDS FOR CASTING
GROUND SCREWS FOR FENCE AND OTHER POSTS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," to
be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an improved system and relative apparatus for
making moulds for casting ground screws for fence and other posts, and the
principal object is to secure the manufacture of these articles in quantity with
accuracy, despatch, and economy.
A modification of the apparatus and arrangements will be described which
is specially adapted for a ground screw, comprising a central spindle with a
socket at its upper end to receive the fence or other post, with a horizontal
flange at or near its upper end to rest upon and compress the ground surface,

page_text: and with a hélical or screw-shaped flange occupying about a third of its
length near its lower end or point. It must, however, be understood that the
said apparatus and arrangements may be easily adapted for moulding ground
screws differing more or less in the arrangement of their parts.
In carrying out the Invention two ground screws are by preference moulded
in one mould box, consisting of two external parts, an under flask and an
upper flask. The under flask is placed in an inverted position upon a plate
formed with a horizontal parting surface, and with half patterns. Each half
pattern comprises the upper part of the spindle with the top flange and
socket, and with a print for the core for the socket; it also comprises the half
of a large cylindrical or slightly conical print to receive a shell containing the
screw part of the mould. When the under flask is rammed it is lifted with
the pattern plate still hooked to it; the two are then turned over and
transferred to apparatus at one side, by means of which the pattern plate is
lifted off, leaving the under flask on a small carriage on which it passes
onwards to receive the screw part, socket core, and upper flask. The upper
flask is rammed on a similar pattern plate, but not requiring to be turned
over; it is lifted off the pattern plate by mechanical appliances, and is passed
along on a carriage to be put upon the under flask. The mechanical
appliances for facilitating and for rendering accurate and certain the
separation of the patterns and flasks are all precisely the same as those in use
by the present applicants for moulding railway chairs and the like. The
screw part is moulded in a cylindrical or slightly conical shell, which when
made up exactly fills the print made for it, as herein-before described, half in
the under and half in the upper flask. The ends of this screw part are made
slightly convex, and the prints are shaped correspondingly to facilitate the
withdrawing of the pattern and the adjustment of the screw part in its place.
The shell is formed with two diametrically opposite ribs or flanges (which are
of course suitably provided for in the prints in the flasks), and which serve for
supporting the shell upon horizontal guides provided for it in the apparatus
used in moulding the screw part, the screw part being placed when in the
moulding apparatus with its axis horizontal. The framing of the apparatus
comprises two vertical plates connected by stays, with the space between
them by preference covered in. The guides for receiving the mould shell
project out horizontally from the front plate on each side of a central aperture.
When the shell is placed in position a cover is brought against the outer end
of it, this cover being connected to a lever which is fixed by a latch lever.
The other end of the shell is closed by being placed close up to the front frame
plate. The sand or mould material is rammed in at an opening in the side of

page_text: the shell which is then uppermost, a small hopper being placed over the
opening, and serving also for scraping the sand flush with the outside of the
shell. The sand is rammed in after the screw-shaped pattern is got into
position in the shell, and after the ramming is completed the pattern is with-
drawn with a screwing motion into the space between the two frame plates of
the apparatus. For this purpose the pattern is formed or fixed on the end of
a horizontal spindle, which has a screw thread or threads (five threads being
preferred) formed on it to work in a stationary nut held by a bracket fixed to
one of the frame plates. The pitch of the screw threads and nut is of
course the same as that of the screw or helical flange of the pattern. The
spindle is continued through a central opening in the back frame plate, and
has a hand wheel fixed on it externally, by turning which the pattern is moved
with a screw-like motion into or out of the mould shell. The outward move-
ment is limited by a stop on the outside of the back frame plate, against
which a spoke of the hand wheel comes, whilst a similar stop on the inside of
the back plate is encountered by a catch piece on the spindle, and limits the
inward movement. The part of the front frame plate up against which the
mould shell is placed, and through an opening in which the screw-shaped
pattern is withdrawn, is not all at right angles to the axis, as that would
cause the formation of a thin fin of sand, which would be inevitably broken
away on removing the shell. A part of the plate is shaped so as to project
into the shell, and this projecting part has one of its sides formed with the
slot or opening for the withdrawal of the screw flange at such a distance from
the plane of the end of the shell as to give the requisite thickness to the sand
at the terminal part of the screw flange. A cavity corresponding to this pro-
jecting part of the plate is left in the shell, but is subsequently filled up with a
core piece, which may be conveniently inserted after withdrawing the shell a
short distance along its guides, and before removing it from the apparatus. The
shell when completed is lifted by means of a handled bow piece with hooks,
and is by its means deposited in the print made for it in the under flask, as
berein-before described. The core pieces for completing the shell moulds are
made in sets of four, each set being made on a plate upon which they are
conveyed into the drying stove. There are two rings which are formed in one
piece for shaping the circumferential parts of the four core pieces, two pieces-
being shaped in each ring, and having their centre parts shaped by projecting
bosses formed on the plates, whilst their remaining sides are shaped by
suitable radial pieces which separate them from each other. The rings being
placed on the plates the core material is rammed in and scraped off; the rings
are then elevated by mechanical appliances similar to those, herein-before

page_text: referred to in connection with the flasks, and the plates with the core pieces
on them are taken into the stove. The formation of the core pieces for the
sockets at the upper ends of the ground screws involves no peculiarity or
novelty.
In another modification of the arrangements the complete mould box
consists of three external parts; two parts comprising the upper part of the
spindle with the top flange and socket, and being divided either at right angles
to the spindle at the top flange, or in the plane of the spindle, whilst the third
part comprises the lower part of the spindle with the screw-shaped flange
upon it, which is moulded by means of mechanical appliances substantially the
same as those herein-before described. In this case the screw part instead of
being moulded in a shell which is enclosed within the main mould box, is
moulded in a box or flask which forms part of the main mould box. It is
preferred to mould and cast the ground screws in the horizontal position, but
the improved appliances herein-before described may be used for or adapted
without difficulty to the vertical or any position that may be considered
convenient. For example, the moulding apparatus may be arranged with
the screw part of the pattern in a vertical position, and so as to withdraw
it either in an upward or downward direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James M Ilwham in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 9th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MATTHEW
ANDREW MUIR and JAMES MCILWHAM, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Machinists, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, Her special licence
that we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Matthew
Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, our executors, administrators, and
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

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING GROUND SCREWS FOR FENCE AND OTHER
POSTS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREPOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James Mellwham, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James
McIlwham, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
f
Our said Invention relates to an improved system and relative apparatus
for making moulds for casting ground screws for fence and other posts, and
our principal object is to secure the manufacture of these articles in quantity
with accuracy, despatch, and economy.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the
same may be properly understood, we have hereunto appended a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing à
modification of our improved apparatus. In these Drawings the same
reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts in all
the Figures.
The modification of apparatus shown in the Drawings is specially
adapted for a ground screw S, such as is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, which.
are respectively an end view as seen from above, a side view,; and an end
view as seen from below; this ground screw comprises a central. spindle 1,
with a socket 2 at its upper end to receive the fence or other post, with a
horizontal flange 3 at or near its upper end to rest upon and compress the
ground surface, and with a helical or screw-shaped flange 4, occupying about
a third of its length near its lower end or point 5. It must, however, be
understood that our improved apparatus and arrangements may be easily
adapted for moulding ground screws, differing more or less in the arrange-
ments and proportions of their parts.
In practically carrying out our Invention two ground screws are (by
preference) moulded in one mould box consisting of two external parts, an
under flask and an upper flask; the under flask is placed in an inverted

page_text: position upon a plate 6 shown in plan in Figure 4, and formed with a hori
zontal parting surface, and with half patterns 7. Figure 5 is a vertical
section showing the pattern plate 6 with the flask 8 placed over it in an
inverted position, the plate 6 being supported on a cast-iron box 9, in which
a few hot metal scraps are put to impart warmth to the patterns which are
of iron in order to facilitate the moulding operations. Each half pattern 7
comprises the upper part of the spindle 1, with the top flange 3 and socket 2,
and with a print for the core of the socket; it also comprises the half of a
large cylindrical or slightly tapered print 10 to receive a shell (11) containing
the screw part of the mould. When the under flask 8 has been rammed a
plate 11 is put on and booked to it, and it is lifted with the pattern plate 6
still hooked to it; the whole is then turned over on trunnions, by which it is
suspended from a crane, and it is transferred to apparatus at one side, by
means of which the pattern plate 6 is lifted off, leaving the under flask 8 on
a small carriage, on which it passes onwards to receive the screw part, socket
core, and upper flask; the upper flask is rammed on a similar pattern plate,
but not requiring to be turned over it is lifted off the pattern plate by
mechanical appliances, and is passed along on a earriage to be put upon the
under flask; the mechanical appliances for facilitating and for rendering
accurate and certain the separation of the patterns and flasks are all precisely
the same as those in use by us for moulding railway chairs and the like; the
screw part is moulded in a cylindrical or slightly conical shell (11); which
when made up exactly fills the print made for it by the part 10 of the pattern
as herein-before described, half in the under and half in the upper flask; the
ends of this screw part are made slightly convex, and the prints are shaped
correspondingly to facilitate the withdrawing of the pattern and the adjustment
of the screw part in its place. The apparatus for moulding the screw part is
represented in plan in Figure 6, and in vertical section in Figure 7. The
shell 11 in which the screw part is moulded is formed with two diametrically
opposite ribs or flanges 12 (which are provided for by prints in the upper flask),
and which serve for supporting the shell upon horizontal guides 13 provided for
it in the apparatus, the screw part being placed when in the moulding apparatus
with its axis horizontal; the framing of the apparatus comprises two vertical
plates 14, 15, connected by stays 16 with the space between them, by prefer-
ence covered in with sheet iron 17, which is however shown only in Figure 7.
The guides 13 for receiving the mould shell 11 project out horizontally from
the front plate 14 on each side of a central aperture. When the shell 11 is
placed in position a cover 18 is brought against the outer end of it, this
cover being connected to a lever 19, which is fixed by a latch lever 20; the

page_text: other end of the shell 11 is closed by being placed close up to the front frame
plate 14; the sand or mould material is rammed in at an opening in the side
of the shell which is then uppermost, and an ordinary scraper is used for
scraping the sand flush with the outside of the shell; the sand or a large
portion of it is rammed in after the screw-shaped pattern P has been got into
position in the shell I, as shown in Figure 6, and after the ramming is com-
pleted the pattern P is withdrawn with a screwing motion into the position
in which it is represented in Figure 7, that is, into the space between the two
frame plates 14, 15. For this purpose the pattern P is formed or fixed on
the end of a horizontal spindle 22, which has a screw thread or threads (five
threads being preferred) formed on it to work in a stationary nut 23, held by
a bracket 24 fixed to one of the frame plates 14; the pitch of the screw
threads 22 and nut 23 is of course the same as that of the screw or helical
flange of the pattern P. The spindle 22 is continued through a central
opening in the back frame plate 15, and has a hand wheel 25 fixed on it
externally, by turning which the pattern P is moved with a screw-like motion
into or out of the mould shell 11. The outward movement is limited by a
stop 26 on the outside of the back frame plate 15, against which a spoke of
the hand wheel 25 comes, whilst a similar stop 27 on the inside of the back
frame plate 15 is encountered by a catch piece 28 on the spindle 22, and limits
the inward movement; the part of the front frame 14 up against which the
mould shell 11 is placed, and through an opening in which the screw-shaped
pattern P is withdrawn, is not all at right angles to the axis as that would
cause the formation of a thin fin of sand, which would be inevitably broken
away on removing the shell 11. A part of the plate 14 is shaped so as or
has a piece a fixed to it to project into the shell, and this projecting part a has
one of its sides formed with the slot or opening for the withdrawal of the
screw flange at such a distance from the plane of the end of the shell as to
give the requisite thickness to the sand at the terminal part of the screw
flange. A cavity corresponding to this projection a is left in the shell, but is
subsequently filled up with a core piece (6); the shell 11 when completed is
lifted by means of a handled bow piece with hooks adapted to the flanges 12,
and is by its means deposited on a stool at one side, when the core piece (6)
is placed in it, and it is afterwards deposited in the print made for it in
the under flask (8) as herein-before described. It has been found in
practice that too much time is occupied in ramming or packing the sand
with the necessary care about that part of the edge of the screw flange
which occupies the bottom of the mould shell 11 when in the moulding appa-
ratus; to obviate such delay a little sand is rammed in the bottom of each

page_text: shell 11 before it is connected to the moulding apparatus, and the screw pat-
tern P is screwed into the shell after the shell is fixed in its position, screwing
its way partly through the sand thus rammed in beforehand; the ramming
of the shell is then completed with the greatest ease and rapidity, with
the sand equally and sufficiently compacted at every part; the preliminary
ramming is effected with the necessary precision by means of the apparatus
represented in Figures 8 and 9, which are vertical sections as taken at right
angles to each other; the shell 11 is placed in a kind of open box, up against
an end plate 29, and a plate 30 formed on a slide is then entered at the other
end by means of a handle 31, which is at the same time shaped to act as a
gauge to determine its position, and as a latch to fix it; the necessary quantity
of sand is then rammed in the plate 30, preventing sand from occupying the
part of the shell corresponding to the projection a on the front frame plate 14
of the moulding apparatus. One of the core pieces b for completing the shell
moulds is shown detached in Figure 10; we make these core pieces in sets of
four, each set being made on a plate 32, Figures 11 and 12, upon which they
are conveyed into the drying stove. There are two rings 33, which are formed
in one piece for shaping the circumferential parts of the four core pieces, two
core pieces being shaped in each ring, and having their centre parts shaped by
projecting bosses 34 formed on the plate 32, whilst their remaining sides are
shaped by suitable radial pieces 35, which separate them from each other; the
rings 33 being placed on the plate 32, the core material is rammed in and
scraped off; the rings are then elevated by mechanical appliances similar to
those herein-before referred to in connection with the flasks, and the plate 32
with the core pieces on it is taken into the stove; we sometimes use hollow
cast-iron core pieces of the form shown in Figure 10 instead of those made of
sand or similar mould material; the formation of the core pieces for the
sockets (2) at the upper ends of the ground screws involves no peculiarity
or novelty.
In another modification of the arrangements the complete mould box
consists of three external parts, two parts comprising the upper part of the
spindle with the top flange and socket, and being divided either at right
angles to the spindle at the top flange, or in the plane of the spindle, whilst
the third part comprises the lower part of the spindle with the screw-shaped
flange upon it, which is moulded by means of mechanical appliances substan-
tially the same as those herein-before described. In this case the screw part
instead of being moulded in a shell which is enclosed within the main mould
box is moulded in a box or flask which forms part of the main mould box.
It is preferred to mould and cast the ground screws in the horizontal position,

page_text: but the improved appliances herein-before described may be used for or
adapted without difficulty to the vertical or any position that may be con-
sidered convenient; for, example, the moulding apparatus may be arranged
with the screw part of the pattern in a vertical position, and so as to withdraw
it either in an upward or downward direction.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner in-
which the same is to be performed, we have to state that we do not restrict
ourselves to the precise details herein described or delineated, but that what
we believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to us
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The making of moulds for casting ground screws for fence and other
posts, substantially in the improved manner herein-before described. And,
2. The forming of the screw part of the mould by means of improved appa-
ratus, the parts of which are arranged and combined together, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James
MoIlwham, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day
of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-seven.
Witness.
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
MATTHEW A. MUIR. (L.s.)
JAMES MILWHAM.
(L.B.)