Improvements in Moulds and Machinery for the Manufacture of Glass Switch Slabs for Electrical and other Purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 19th May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moulds and Machinery for the Manufacture of
Glass Switch Slabs for Electrical and other Purposes.
We, DAN RYLANDS, Shepcote House, Stairfoot, near Barnsley, Yorkshire,
Bottle Manufacturer, and BENJAMIN STONER of Stairfoot, aforesaid Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention has for its object the production of switch slabs and other similar
glassware. In carrying out our invention as applied to the making of glass switch
slabs we make a mould of iron or other suitable substance the bottom half of which
is recessed the same depth as the thickness of the slab which we desire to manu-
facture. In this bottom half we fit pegs the length of which is equivalent to about
half the length of the holes which we wish to form through the slab but the length
of these pegs will vary according to requirements. Underneath this bottom half
of the mould we also fit one or two or more levers and we arrange the bottom so
that we can lift a portion of it up with each of these levers and thus these levers
acting simultaneously enable us to lift the switch plate out after it has been pressed.
In the top half of the mould we put the pegs to correspond with those in the
bottom half, only that the pegs in the top half are smaller in diameter where the
hole to be formed is required to be countersunk.
Where the holes are required
parallel we keep the pegs in bottom portion of the mould parallel with those in the
top half of the mould. In this top half of the mould and in any suitable position
we form the hole for allowing the hot metal to pass through. We also form in the
bottom half of the mould two or more suitable pins for holding the top part in
proper position when it is placed over them. We adjust over this plate in the
machine to be worked in any suitable manner a box into which the hot molten
glass is poured and over this box we arrange a suitably shaped plunger and we
work this plunger either by hydraulic power or by hand power or in any other
suitable way.
In some cases we use a rotary table carrying any desired number of
these electrical slab moulds adjusted upon it and in such case there will be a
stopping position for the glass being ladled in, this position being directly under
the plunger. After the glass thus ladled has been plunged, the plunger box is
lifted clear and the table being rotated brings the mould containing the glass slab
where the top can be lifted and the slab lifted out of the mould. Whilst this
operation is going on another glass slab is being ladled and pressed and on the
table there are mounted sufficient moulds to keep at the proper heat for constantly
working. In suitable position on the sides of the mould there are lines or passages
cut so as to enable the air to get out from the mould whilst the hot glass is being
pressed.
Dad 10th I
f A1001
DAN RYLANDS.
BENJAMIN STONER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moulds and Machinery for the Manufacture of
Glass Switch Slabs for Electrical and other Purposes.
We DAN RYLANDS, of Shepcote, Stairfoot, near Barnsley, in the County of
York, Bottle Manufacturer, and BENJAMIN STONER, of Stairfoot, aforesaid,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
[Price 8d.1

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention has for its object the production of switch slabs and other similar
glassware. In carrying out our invention as applied to the making of glass switch
slabs, we make a mould of iron or other suitable substance, the bottom half of
which is recessed the same depth as the thickness of the slab which we desire to
manufacture. In this bottom half we fit pegs the length of which is equivalent to
about half the length of the holes which we wish to form through the slab, but the
length of these pegs will vary according to requirements. Underneath this bottom
half of the mould we also fit one or two or more levers, and we arrange the bottom
so that we can lift a portion of it up with each of these levers, and thus these levers
acting simultaneously enable us to lift the switch plate out after it has been
pressed. In the top half of the mould we put the pegs to correspond with those
in the bottom half, only that the pegs in the top half are smaller in diameter where
the hole to be formed is required to be countersunk. Where the holes are required
parallel we keep the pegs in bottom portion of the mould parallel with those in
the top half of the mould. In this top half of the mould and in any suitable
position we form the hole for allowing the hot metal to pass through. We also
form in the bottom half of the mould two or more suitable pins for holding the top
part in proper position when it is placed over them. We adjust over this plate in
the machine to be worked in any suitable manner a box into which the hot molten
glass is poured, and over this box we arrange a suitably-shaped plunger, and we
work this plunger either by hydraulic or by hand power, or in any other suitable
way.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood we attach drawings
of which the following is a description :-
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a mould, mould cover, plunger box, and portion of
pressing plunger suitably formed for the manufacture of glass switch slabs.
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are sectional elevations; and Fig. 4 a plan view of the
mould.
Referring to the drawings a is the bottom portion of the mould, ba loose mould
bottom, the plunger box, d the pressing plunger, e e handles for operating the
mould, ff steady pins for securing the upper portion of mould g in accurate position
with the lower portion, h cores or pegs carried by the loose mould bottom, i cores
carried by the upper portion of mould.
The mould being closed and brought under the plunger box, and the plunger
box being securely held in the position shown by the usual holding-down apparatus,
molten metal is charged into the plunger box. The pressing piston (which may be
worked by hand lever or hydraulic cylinder) descending displaces the metal from
the plunger box through the "get" hole ; into the interior of the mould, the
incoming metal flowing by the pressure exerted by the pressing plunger around
the cores and i until the interior of the mould is completely filled with metal,
when the formation of the glass slab will be completed.
The plunger and plunger box being now elevated out of the way, the surplus
metal can be removed, the mould opened, the loose mould bottom, and with it
the glass slab raised out of the mould, when the slab can be removed to the
annealing ovens.
The lifting of the loose mould bottom is effected by pistons 11, which may be
operated by hand or foot levers, or in any other convenient way.
In some cases we use a rotary table carrying any desired number of electrical
slab moulds adjusted upon it, and in such case there will be a stopping position for
the glass being ladled in, this position being directly under the pressing plunger.
After the glass thus ladled has been plunged, the plunger box is lifted clear, and
the table being rotated brings the mould containing the glass slab where the top
of the mould can be lifted, and the slab lifted out of the mould. Whilst this
operation is going on another glass slab is being ladled and pressed. This series of

page_text: operations can readily be effected by employing machinery of similar construction
to the machinery illustrated and described by Specification 16184 (1889).
In some cases we dispense with the loose mould bottom b, the cores / being
carried by the bottom of the mould. In this case the finished glass slab is
delivered from the mould by the upper surface of the pistons lifting the slab
away from the mould, and the fixed cores carried by the bottom of the mould.
By the before described apparatus comprising our improvements for the manu-
facture of glass switch slabs we are enabled to manufacture these glass switch
slabs having any number of holes through or partially through, and these holes
may be either parallel or countersunk on one or both sides.
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. The manufacture of glass switch slabs having any number of holes through or
partially through either parallel or countersunk on one or both sides in the way
herein shown and described or any mere modification thereof.
2. The apparatus for the manufacture of the above-named switch slabs sub-
stantially as described and illustrated or any mere modification thereof.
M... 1000
DAN RYLANDS.
BENJAMIN STONER.