AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSOLIDATING FLUID STEEL
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Sharp, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONSOLIDATING
FLUID STEEL.”
Sealed the 20th January 1880, and dated the 22nd October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Sharp. at, the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
HENRY SHARP, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CONSOLIDATING FLUID STEEL."
In carrying out my Invention I force air by means of a compressor into a
receiver or accumulator connected by pipes or tubes with the moulds in which the
steel is to be cast, and as soon as the operation of casting is completed and the
orifice through which the molten metal has been introduced is properly closed the
compressed air is admitted into the mould, and the pressure is maintained until
the metal is set.
These improvements may be applied to ingots run in the ordinary manner into
moulds with open tops, also to ingots run up in groups from a central runner, or to
rings for tyres and other castings in steel, whether run into metal moulds, or loam,
or composition moulds. When I apply compressed air to ingots run in groups, or
to castings, I admit the air under pressure into the runner, and in some cases into
the mould also.

page_text: I
'
HENRY SHARP, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CONSOLIDATING FLUID STEED."
My Invention consists of an improved method of consolidating fluid steel by
compressed air.
And in order that it may be fully understood I will describe the two accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked
thereon.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is an elevation in section of an open top mould to which my
improvements are applied. a, a, are the sides of the mould and a' is the bottom,
made in the usual manner; b is the cover; c, c, are bolts cast in the top of the
mould;
and d is the cotter which secures the cover on the top of the mould; e is
the pipe which conveys the compressed air from the receiver into the top of the
mould. When the metal has been poured into the mould and the cover b securely
cottered down, the compressed air is admitted from the receiver through the pipe e,
and the pressure is maintained until the metal is set. If required, compressed air
may also be admitted through the pipe e³.. Fig. 2 is an elevation in section, Fig. 3
is a plan, also in section, and Fig. 4 is a side view of two moulds in which the
metal is run up from a central runner. a, a, are the moulds and a' is the bottom,
provided with runner bricks a³, made as usual; f is the runner, which I make
stronger than usual to resist the pressure of the air, and provided at the top with a
movable mouthpiece g; this mouthpiece is fixed to the runner by bolts and cotters;
b is the cover, which is secured in its place by bolts and cotters, as before
described.
When the metal has risen to the vent holes a² at the top of the moulds the
cover b is placed on top of the mouthpiece and secured in its place by the cotter d,
and the compressed air is admitted through the pipe e, and the pressure is main-
tained until the metal has set. The runner f is made considerably longer than the
moulds, so as to allow time for the cover b to be secured in its place before the steel
has risen to the top of the runner. I make the mouthpiece g separate from the
runner, so that when the runner has been injured by frequent castings the runner
can be replaced and the same mouthpiece applied to it.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 5 is an elevation in section and Fig. 6 is a plan in section of a
mould for large castings, such as crank axles, &c., to which my improvements are
applied a is the mould with a bottom a¹ and runner bricks a³, similar to those
used for casting ingots in groups; h is a riser with loaned sides i to prevent the
metal setting on it. This riser is provided with a cover b', in which is a vent pipe
and tap 62. This cover is secured on the riser by the cotter d', then the metal is
poured in at the top of the mould a until it is nearly filled; as the metal ascends in
the riser the air escapes through the open tap b². When sufficient metal is in the
mould the cover b, provided with a vent a², is secured at the top of the mould, the
tap 62 in the top of the riser is closed, and the compressed air is admitted through
the pipe e¹; the effect of this is to force the molten metal down the riser into the mould,
causing the metal to rise in the mould up to the cover b, and to close the vent a³.
In some cases I admit compressed air through the pipe e at the top of the mould at
the same time that it is admitted through the pipe e' at the top of the riser. Fig. 7
is an elevation in section and Fig. 8 is a plan shewing my improvements applied to
castings made in loam or composition moulds. k is an ordinary mould for a bevel
wheel in a moulding k¹ of the usual construction; this moulding box I place inside
a strong metal case provided with a top m, and also with a mouthpiece g¹ and

page_text: a cover b, similar to those described in reference to Fig. 2. When the mould k has
been prepared in the box k¹ it is placed on a bed of sand inside the case 1, the
space around the box k¹ is then filled with sand and the top m is secured on the
case; the molten metal is then poured into the mould through the mouthpiece g³,
the cover b is secured in its place, and the compressed air is admitted into the
case through the pipe e, as before described. An equal pressure is maintained
both inside and outside the mould so that the form of the mould is kept intact.
I can apply air compressed up to 350 lbs. to castings made in metal moulds of
the ordinary strength, and by increasing the strength of the moulds I can use air
up to 1,200 lbs. per square inch pressure.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, I declare that I claim, consolidating fluid steel by compressed
air, and the method of effecting the same, substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Sharp, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty.
HENRY SHARP. (L.S.)