IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING AND STRUCTURAL WORKS AND FITTINGS IN METAL
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Macfarlane, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BUILDING AND STRUCTURAL WORKS AND FITTINGS IN METAL."
Sealed the 23rd May 1856, and dated the 14th February 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Macfarlane at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th February 1856.
I, WALTER MCFARLANE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUILDING AND STRUCTURAL WORKS AND FITTINGS IN METAL"
as follows, that is to say
This Invention relates to an improved system or mode of adapting
cast-iron for building and structural purposes, whereby houses and erec-
tions of various kinds may be built and firmly connected in their details
without the slightest aid from screws, bolts, nails, or other loose binding
apparatus. In carrying this Invention into effect, the main portions of
the building, such as a dwelling house for example, that is to say, the
broad thin plates forming the walls, as well as the pillars, door and
window frames, and other parts, are so formed that all the junctions are
as it were automatically effected by dovetail grooves and feathers, or
dovetailed mortises and tenons. The dovetailed feather or projecting rib
on one edge or surface is produced by a corresponding piece upon the
pattern, whilst the dovetailed groove or recess on the opposite edge is
made by the aid of a clay, sand, or other core, placed in the mould. This

page_text: formation enables the builder to lock the parts together, when the
junction surfaces may be made quite tight and sound by treatment with
white lead, cement, or other material. In making the hinges of
structures of this kind, these details are cast complete in iron. The
hinges are produced by first casting the moveable part with its pivots,
studs, or centres thereon, and these moveable portions are then placed
each in a second mould, coated at the working parts of the finished hinge
with fire-clay powder, glass powder, or other matter. Thus, when the
second mould is cast the entire hinge is completed, and the preparation
of the working parts with clay or other matter prevents the setting of
the metal thereon, and allows of the formation of a good working hinge
joint. Similarly the moveable latches; buttons, catches, or fastenings
are cast in iron, first casting the shifting part of such a shape that it may
be retained in its place by collars or projections. This shifting part is
then placed in a second mould, and when the fastening is com-
pleted by casting the stationary part, the preparation of the working
surfaces, as before, keeps them free. The herein-before described
_system is applicable, in a greater or less degree, in the construction of
tanks, reservoirs, and various other structures, besides houses and
architectural works; similarly the moveable plugs, valves, gratings, and
other details of kitchen and office sinks, and other office apparatus, are
cast in iron complete, first casting such parts separately, and then de-
positing the primarily cast portions in the mould along with the clay,
sand, or other core. The gratings are thus retained in position by the
surrounding mass of metal of the casting, whilst the plugs or valves,
being necessarily moveable, the metal is only cast on the outer edge or
stationary part of the casting. Rain water pipes and ducts are cast with
side branches for receiving other connections by means of green sand
cores and hollow branch patterns of the actual shape of the required
branch. The main or dry sand core of the pipe joins to and rests on the
green sand core of the branch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Macfarlane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th August 1856.
.
TO ALL. TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
MACFARLANE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Walter Macfarlane, Her special license that I, the said
Walter Macfarlane, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Walter Macfarlane, 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 BUILDING AND STRUCTURAL WORKS
AND FITTINGS IN METAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Walter Macfarlane, 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 Walter Macfarlane, 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 to an improved system or mode of adapting
cast-iron for building and structural purposes, whereby houses and
erections of various kinds may be built and firmly connected in their de-
tails without the slightest aid from screws, bolts, nails, or other loose
binding apparatus. My said Invention also relates to an improved system
or mode of casting or forming hinges, latches, fastenings, plugs, valves,
gratings, and other moveable details, of various domestic, and other
articles, formed of cast metal, whereby such parts are produced in a con-
venient manner, and without requiring the usual fitting and finishing
upon the surfaces, which have to work together.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
have hereunto appended two Sheets of explanatory Drawings, to which
I shall refer as I proceed with the description of the said Invention, as
follows: In carrying into effect the portion of my said Invention relating
to buildings, the main portions of the erection, that is to say, the pillars,
arches, door and window frames, wall plates, and other similar parts, are
so formed, that all the junctions are as it were automatically effected by
dovetail mortises and tenons, or dovetail grooves and feathers.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto attached, is a front

page_text: elevation of a cast-iron erection constructed according to my improved
system, and Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the component pillars
and plates thereof. In this instance, the pillars A are formed with dove-
tail grooves or mortises, corresponding dovetail feathers or tenons being
formed upon the edges of the plates B, with which the spaces between
the pillars A are filled up. The horizontal joints between the plates are
formed by plain grooves and feathers. The structure is erected by first
setting up the pillars A, and then entering the feathers of the plates B
into the tops of the grooves in the pillars, the plates being inade finally
to slide down into position one above the other. The dovetail feather
or projecting 'rib on the edges of the plates B is produced by forming a
corresponding piece upon the pattern from which the plate is cast, whilst
the corresponding dovetail groove is formed in the pillar A, or other
detail, receiving the plate by means of a sand or other core, corresponding
in form and size to the rib, and placed in the mould in which the pillar
or other detail is cast. The grooves and feathers may of course be re-
spectively formed on such parts or details as may be found most con-
venient or suitable in practice. This formation enables the builder to
lock the parts well together, and the junctions may be made quite tight
and sound by means of lead, putty, rust cement, or other material selected
in accordance with the particular destination and use of the structure
to which it is applied... In a similar manner may be formed cast-iron
sheeting for casting mine shafts, bridges, tunnels, and reservoirs, and for
tanks, water-closet apparatus, ornamental ridges for roofs, and a great.
variety of other structural details. In constructing mine shafts, strong.
cast-iron plates fitted together by means of dovetail grooves and feathers
may be employed as a lining for the sides of the shaft, the miner adding
ring after ring, or tier after tier of plates in succession, as he gradually
sinks the shaft. In the same way tunnels may be cased internally, the
rows of plates being placed in position as the excavation goes on. The
cast-iron lining will in this case be a substitute for brickwork, and may
be made perfectly tight so as to exclude dripping" and moisture from the
interior of the tunnel.
Figure 3, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a side elevation, and Figure
4 is a transverse vertical section, of a ridge piece and ornament for roofs.
The ridge piece A is cast with a dovetail groove along its apex, to receive
the lower enlarged or dovetail edge of the ornamental piece B. The
groove is formed by means of a sand or other core inserted into the
mould in which the ridge piece is cast. In making hinges or other
appliances appertaining to cast-iron structures, these details are cast com-
plete, that is to say, the entire casting with its moveable details is re-
moved from the moulds in a complete state. The hinges are produced by

page_text: first casting the moveable part with its pivots or centres upon it, and by
subsequently placing this moveable part in a second mould, having first
coated the working part of the hinge with clay, sand, glass powder, tar,
or other matter. Thus, when the second mould is cast the entire hinge
is completed, the sockets being cast in position upon the pivots already
formed upon the moveable part, and the preparation of the working,
parts prevents the setting of the fresh metal thereon, a good working
joint being produced in this manner. Similarly moveable hinged levers,
pulleys, latches, catches, and other fastenings and details are cast in iron,
the moving part being first cast of such a shape that it may be retained
in its place by collars or projections. This moving part is then placed
in a second mould, and the piece is completed by casting the stationary
part, the working surfaces being prepared as before to keep them free.
Figure 5, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a vertical section of a casing
for street water cocks, and Figure 6 is a plan of the same. This casing A.
nas a hinged cover B, which is secured when closed by a latch C, this
latch being actuated by means of a key. These details are all cast
according to my improved system. The latch C being first cast separately,
its working surface is coated with clay, sand, glass powder; tar, or other
matter, and it is inserted in position in a mould formed for casting the
cover B. When the cover B is removed from the mould, the latch will
be found in its place in a working condition, and being enlarged at each
end, cannot be removed from the cover. The cover B is cast with its
hinge, pivots, or spindles D upon it, and it is then inserted in a third
mould formed for casting the casing A, the pivots being placed after
suitable preparation in the portions of the mould corresponding to the
is the hinge sockets, so that these are cast round the pivots. The entire
piece is finally removed from this third mould in a complete state, the
arrangement of the hinge keeping the cover in its place, whilst it moves
with perfect freedom in the manner intended; this mode of production
insuring accurate fitting between the working parts. This portion of my
Invention is applicable not only to the production of such working details
as cannot be separated from the main pieces after completion, but also
in all cases where loose parts have to work upon each other and to fit
accurately together; one of the main objects of this improvement being
to dispense with subsequent expensive fitting and finishing of such parts.
Figure 7, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a vertical section of a wash-
hand basin, one of a range of which, Figure 8, is an elevation, and
Figure 9 a plan. The seat of the valve or plug A is cast with this plug
in place, the plug being previously cast separately. Thus, in casting this
basin, the moveable discharge stopper or valve A being first cast with an
opening for the lever B, by means of which it is lifted, is placed in a core

page_text: box, and all the parts but that which fits the seat of the valve are
surrounded with sand or mould material to form the core of the discharge
and supporting pipe C, and to this core is attached that for the overflow:
passage D, and also that for forming an aperture for the lever B. Then
when the basin is cast, the valve A will be loose in its place, having been
properly coated to prevent adherence, and will accurately fit its valve
seating which has been cast upon it. The several basins of the range
are connected together by dovetail grooves and feathers, as shewn at E
in Figure 8, according to the portion of my Invention first described
herein. Each basin is provided with a water-supply cock F, one of the
three being higher than the others for drinking from, and a drinking
cup G is attached to the range by a chain H; this chain being placed in
the mould in which one of the basins is cast, so as to be held in the casting
without requiring subsequent securing. In carrying out the same system
in the construction of water apparatus for domestic and other purposes,
such as kitchen sinks, and similar details, the perforated fixed grating
and moveable discharge stopper or valve with chain attached are first cast
separately, and are then placed in a core box for forming a core for the
discharge pipe of the sink, this composite core being placed in connec-
tion with the core for the overflow passage in the mould for casting the
sink; the latter is. cast when the valve and grating will be found in their
places, the latter fixed, and the former moveable, having been coated
with a suitable preparation to prevent the adherence of the fresh molten
metal.
Figure 10, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto attached, is a vertical
longitudinal section, and Figure 11 is a plan of a kitchen sink made in
this way. Figure 12 shews the plug A, in plan and elevation, as first cast
separately, with the chain B attached. Figure 13 shews the grating C in
a similar manner. Figure 14 is a vertical section of the composite core
for the discharge pipe D. The plug A and grating C form part of this
core, the edges of the former being coated to prevent the adherence of
the molten metal, whilst the edges of the latter are left clean, as it has
to be fixed in its place; for which purpose it may be arranged to be slightly
embedded in the sides of the pipe D. To this composite core is attached
a common core for the overflow grating and passage E, and the whole
being placed in the mould for casting the sink, with the free end of the
chain B disposed so as to be caught by the cast metal. The sink is cast
and is turned out of the mould in the complete state in which it is repre-
sented in Figures 10 and 11, the sand cores merely having to be removed.
Thus, the grating C and end of the chain B are fixed, whilst the plug A is
moveable, at the same time, however, fitting accurately into its seat..

page_text: In Figures 15 to 18, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto attached, is
represented another application of my improved system of casting, work-
ing, or fitting surfaces, upon the actual details which are to work or fit
upon them. Figure 15 is a front view of a frame for a furnace door or
aperture; Figure 16 is an inside elevation, and Figure 17 is an edge view,
of a sliding door for the frame, and Figure 18 is an edge view of the
frame. The frame is formed with its upper and lower parallel horizontal
bars A enlarged in front, to form dovetail retaining edges to hold the
sliding door B, which is formed with upper and lower overlapping edges
C to clasp the bars A of the door frame. In making this door frame and
door, the door B is first cast separately, and after the working surfaces
are coated with a preparation to keep them free, it is deposited in the
mould formed for casting the door frame, so that when the latter is cast,
the entire piece is removed from the mould, with the door in its place.
In this manner the door fits accurately in its place, and can slide easily
to one side upon the projecting portions of the bars A, without any further
fitting or finishing being requisite.
According to another portion of my Invention, pipes and ducts for
water; gas, or steam are cast with side branches for receiving other
connections by means of green sand, cores, and hollow branch patterns of
the actual shape of the required branch.
Figure 19, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto attached, is an eleva-
tion of a rain-water pipe with branch, of the kind to which this portion of
my Invention refers. The core for the branch is represented in longi-
tudinal section in Figure 20, and in transverse section in Figure 21, and
the branch pattern with which this core and the corresponding external
part of the mould are formed is represented in longitudinal section in
Figure 22, and in end or edge view in Figure 23. In moulding the pipe,
this branch pattern with the core inside it, is laid in the mould, and the
pattern for the outside of the pipe is laid upon it, in the position indicated
in Figure 24, which is a longitudinal section of the completed mould.
Then, after removing the pipe pattern, the branch pattern is withdrawn,
leaving the branch core and a thickness of mould material, as at A.
Figure 24 is made up upon the branch core equal to the thickness of the
pipe, to enable the branch core B to reach or meet the pipe core C. In
the pipe core C a curved bearing plate D is set, to prevent the core from
being floated up by the molten metal, this plate bearing against the gauge
nails in the mould. With the aid of these arrangements, the pipe with its
branch may be moulded with cores of green sand, whilst with the described
arrangements for moulding the branch, there is much less liability to form

page_text: fins at the line of junction of the branch with the main pipe than with the
system commonly adopted for this purpose...
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 deviating 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 system or mode of connecting together the details or com-
ponent parts of cast-iron buildings, erections, house fittings, and domestic
apparatus of various kinds by means of dovetail grooves or morises, and
dovetail feathers or tenons, as herein-before described.
-
Second, the system or mode of forming joints, levers, pulleys, hinges,
latches, fastenings, and other moveable details in or upon various cast-iron
articles or apparatus, by first casting the moveable detail separately and
then placing it in position in a second mould formed for casting the piece
to which the detail is to be connected, the working surfaces of the piece
being formed by or cast upon the working surfaces of the moveable detail,
the latter being first coated with a suitable preparation to keep the parts
free, as herein-before descrbed.
Third, the system or mode of constructing cast-iron articles composed
of two or more parts required to fit or work upon each other, wherein one
of such parts is first cast separately and is then inserted in a mould to form
the surface upon which the corresponding surface of the other part is cast,
as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of making pipes and branches for conveying
water, and other purposes, by means of green sand cores, arranged in the
manner more particularly described herein in reference to Figures 19 to 24
on Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Water Macfarlane, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
WALTER MCFARLANE. (L.S.)