IMPROVEMENTS IN SAND MOLDING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ARTHUR RICE of New Albany, in the County of Floyd, and State of Indiana,
in the United States of America Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SAND MOLDING MACHINES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained' in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a machine for forming in sand, molds for casting iron,,
and other metals, Heretofore in this class of machines, the cope of the flask has
been put in position and the pattern moved up and pressed into its charge of sand
sufficient to leave its impress therein but in the subsequent withdrawal of the
pattern the mold is not always cleanly cleared by it, and thus the impression in
the sand is mutilated or defaced.
The great power required to operate the machines heretofore used is another
objection to them, it being about twelve to fifteen pounds per square inch for
the entire surface of the templet and pattern, besides the weight of the pattern_
templet, sand etc. Furthermore the pattern and templet in such machines being
actuated by independent mechanisms, under these high pressures, there cannot
possibly be an absolute accuracy in the depth of the pattern as compared with the
face of the templet especially after the machine has worn the least bit. In addition
to this the pattern will dodge when forced into the sand. The object of my
invention is to provide against these objections and to insure uniformity in the
depth of the mold according to the pattern and also uniformity in the weight of
the castings made from such mold and to these ends the invention consists in a
sand molding machine in which the pattern is stationary and rigidly affixed to an
immovable member, in connection with a moving flask member, and moving
follower or templet, combined and arranged substantially as hereinafter particularly
set forth and claimed.
In the drawings referred to, in which like parts are similarly designated
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my machine, parts being broken out to expose
others, behind them, the parts being in the positions they have when the machine,
having completed its upstroke, is returning to position for receiving a fresh flask,
and just prior to assuming such position, this position being chosen in order to

page_text: show the parts when separated so that they may be the better seen. Fig. 2 is a
vertical longitudinal section in the plane of line x. x Fig. 1 with the parts in
position for applying the flask Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on line y. y of
Fig. 2 with the parts in the same position Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2
but showing the parts in position at the end of the down stroke when the
impression is completed. Fig: 5 is a similar view with the parts in position for
unclasping and removing the flask and its finished mold from the machine just
after the limit of the up stroke has been reached. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the
machine with the binder, flask, upper templet-plate and pattern removed. Fig. 7
is a perspective view of the pattern and its bed removed, and Fig. 8 is a
perspective view of the templet carrier and its yokes detached with the templet
shown in broken lines in position thereon. Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views
showing the application of the sprue stick to the machine.
The frame-work a is of approved construction to receive a main driving shaft b
to which power may be applied through the band or other wheel c. The shaft b is
provided with two cams d, d', of similar construction and position and arrangement
'on said shaft, and each cam is surrounded by a yoke e, e¹, in this instance four
sided in outline and wider than high. From these yokes, stems f f¹ extend up
through guides g g g¹ g¹ on the frame-work to a carrier plate h arranged up near
the top of the frame-work, and free to rise and fall therein under the action of the
cams on the yokes and their stems. This plate h carries on its upper face a post
on top of which is affixed a plate j of the internal shape of the pattern to be
molded, and to posts k on the four corners of the plate h is affixed a plate 7 of the
external contour of the pattern, and these plates ; and 1 constitute a compound
templet moving in unison under and with the rise and fall of their common carrier
plate h.
In the present example of my invention I employ a purely conventional
pattern m, (an annulus) which by its bed plate n is stationarily and rigidly
affixed to the frame-work a as for example by screws c.
The pattern may be made with, or rigidly affixed to its bed plate In this
example of pattern the member ; of the templet is a circular disk movable up and
down within the pattern and of close fit to its interior, and the member has a
central opening sufficiently in excess of the perimeter of the pattern to permit
freedom of movement of said member The members of this compound templet
will vary in number and shape with the requisites of the pattern for the mold to
be provided.
The frame-work is rabbeted at its upper end externally at o to receive a box or
false part q which latter is provided with beveled edge shanks r on opposite sides
of the machine, that work in corresponding guides 8 on the frame work and said
box is moved up and down, under the guidance of the rabbeted frame-work and
its shanks and guides, by means of pitment eccentrically secured by wrist pins to
disks u fast on the shaft b outside the frame work The box q is provided with
ears q' which receive lugs v of the half flask v¹ to connect the flask to the machine
and prevent lateral movement and said box is also provided with a vertical post w
to which is pivoted the binder y said binder being thus adapted to be swung
around horizontally over the flask under a hook w¹, also rising from one of the
shanks of the box to hold said binder in place while the mold is being formed As
is obvious the movement of the box by the pitmen carries also the flask and
binder.
The operation of molding with this machine is as follows:-
To receive the flask the parts are brought to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3,
templet resting solidly on the immovable pattern plate and hence on the frame of
the machine, and the top of the box or false part q being in practice about one and
one-half inches above the surface of the templet so as to furnish space for the
surplus sand for compression This box or false part q is held to its position by
latch or hook z engaging in notch 21 in one of the disks u, and then the binder
y

page_text: 18 thrown around out of the way and an empty half flask placed upon the upper
part of box q. Then the half flask is loosely filled with properly tempered sand,
and the binder secured over the half flask.
The shaft b is then rotated in the direction of the arrows Figs. 1 and 3 and the
parts thereby moved to the full limit of the downward stroke (Fig. 4) which,
draws down the half flask binder, box q etc and brings the top edge of the box q
level with the surface of templet l. The surplus sand is thus compressed between
the binder above and the pattern and templet below, all the sand being inside the
half flask, and the mold completed ready to be removed from the pattern. By
further revolution of the shaft the templet 7 box q, half flask with sand, the
binder etc are caused to rise simultaneously, the pitment and stems, f being turned
to work even on the up-stroke, thereby stripping the finished mold from the
stationary pattern the templet supporting the sand in the flask while the pattern
is being stripped.
As the upward movement progresses the cams d d cause, the templet & to keep
up with the flask until after the pattern is stripped, then its (the templet's) motion
is gradually retarded (the flask, binder and box keeping up their motion) causing
it to separate slowly from the sand forming the face of the mold before the
upward limit of the stroke is reached. At the completion of the up-stroke the
parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 5 and then the binder may be released
and the half flask containing the finished mold removed.
Further revolution of the shaft causes the templet to drop suddenly to its
place on the frame of the machine, and the box q and its appurtenances follow.
more slowly to the position as first described (Figs. 2 and 3) thereby setting the
machine for another mold.
The up and down movement of the flask; box q etc is, in practice say two to six
inches (more or less) only about one and one-half inches of the last part of the
down-stroke being used in compressing the sand in the flask.
With my machine uniform thickness and weight of the castings is obtained by
reason of the fact that the templet resting solidly on the frame of the machine,
forms the flat surfaces of the sand in each half flask where they come together
when the half flasks are joined and, as the pattern and templet at the time of
compressing the sand are virtually one solid piece and immovable, there can be no
dodging of the pattern in the sand and the impression in the sand is just the depth
that the pattern extends above the templet, which does not vary, and the castings
are necessarily alike. As compared with other machines not over half the power is
required to operate my machine, as only the pitment, are in operation in pulling
down the movable parts, and they are assisted by the weight of such parts
including the sand instead of having to overcome it.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 9 and 10 which show the application of the
sprue-stick to the machine, to the pattern bed plate is secured as part thereof,
the member A of the sprue-stick which in shape is as the necessities of the case
may demand and composed by preference of metal, and extending up through a
suitable orifice in the templet, B is the other member of said stick, separate from
but cooperating with the former. This member B is recessed to receive within it
the member A and by preference is of funnel shape in order to make a flaring
mouth to the sprue. The pattern may have means for forming the usual gates or,
In using this sprue-stick, the half flask is put in place on the machine and filled
with sand, the member A projecting into it The member B is then pressed into
the sand so as to slip down upon the member A and until its upper surface is on
a level with that of the half-flask. The binder is then swung around in position
and engaged with the hook w¹ and the moulding proceeded with as usual. The
mould being finished, and the machine at the end of its up-stroke the binder is
swung back, the member B removed, and then the flask may be taken off, the
machine, the member A being at this time below the upper surface of the templet,
and hence offering no obstacle to such removal. In the movement of the machine

page_text: the member A. of the stick telescopes in the member B, thus keeping the parts in
alignment and insuring a perfect sprue.
In Fig. 10 the member A is as in Fig. 9 but the member B is made as an
inverted hollow truncated cone with a cylindrical or angular base which projects
into a corresponding opening C in the binder, and is provided with a turn
button D which engages lugs E E on the binder to lock said member thereto.
In using this form of device the binder is swung around and locked as soon as the
flask is filled and then the member B is put in place through the opening C in
the binder and locked thereto by the turn-button D. In removing the flask the
member B is first detached before swinging back the binder. In either case the
binder receives the member B and affords a base of resistance for it, in the formation
of the mould and the member À being a fixture and practically a part of the
pattern cannot well be disarranged, I prefer to screw-tap the member A in the
pattern bed plate so that it may be readily renewed or replaced and so that my
invention may be conveniently and economically applied to machines already built.
The stick may be made in more than two parts if necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a sand molding machine of substantially the construction set forth, having
a moving flask and templet, a stationary pattern in relation to which the flask
and templet are moved to make and clear the mold substantially as described.
2. In a sand molding machine having a stationary pattern and a movable flask,
a templet resting solidly upon the bed of such pattern during the formation of the
mold and means to move it relatively to the pattern and synchronously with the
flask as set forth, to gradually separate the flask or mold from the pattern substan-
tially as described.
3. In a sand molding machine the combination of the stationary pattern m,
rigidly attached to its bed-plate with a templet, both the pattern and the templet
being supported upon the frame of the machine during the time the sand is being
compressed in to the flask and about the pattern and with the box q, flask v and
binder y, and means for moving box, flask and binder downwards to compress the
sand, whereby is insured uniformity in the depth of the mold and the weight of
the finished castings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination of the stationary pattern m, with the box q, half flask v¹,
and binder y, and with a movable templet j l, acting synchronously in an upward
direction to support the sand in the finished mold during its separation from the
pattern substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
' 5. In combination with the rotary shaft, having cams d, d³, and disks u, of the
pitment, the yokes e, e¹, and carrier plate h which impart a simultaneous upward
movement to the box q flask v and binder y and templet j, l, and cause the
templet to move in a downward direction faster than the box, thereby setting
the machine ready for another mold substantially as herein described and for the
purpose set forth."
6. The combination with the stationary pattern of a templet acting as a
follower, a carrier for the latter and a shaft and cams thereon, acting positively
by connecting yokes to raise and lower said templet, a box supporting the flask
and pitmen actuated from the cam shaft to raise and lower the box and flask
harmoniously with the templet substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with the frame work, of a pattern rigidly secured thereto,
a templet acting as a follower with respect to the mold made by the pattern, and
supported firmly and solidly by the frame-work while the mold is being formed,
a flask and binder therefor, and means to raise the templet and flask to gradually
separate the mold from the pattern permitting the templet to support it during its:

page_text: movement from the pattern and to cause said templet to suddenly drop at the
termination of the upward movement of separation substantially as set forth.
8. A sprue-stick composed of a member fixed to the pattern and a movable
member engaged by the binder of a moulding machine and cooperating with the
fixed member substantially as described.
9. A sprue-stick having a recessed or hollow member cooperating with the
binder of a moulding machine and a fixed member telescoping in said hollow
member, combined with the pattern templet and binder, and operåting mechanism,
substantially as described.