US1907206A - Disk valve water lock for pulp machines - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1933. H. P. 1.. LAUSSUCQ DISK VALVE WATER LOCK FOR PULP MACHINES Filed May 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 2,1933. H. P. LAUSSUCQ DISK VALVE WATER LOOK FOR PULP MACHINES Filed May 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g m: E

gw i '20 1 A further purpose offers a novel form of Patented May 2, 1933 p UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 1 y HENRI P. I. LAUSSUGQ OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR IO BIRDSBORO STEEL FOUNDRY &MAGHIN E COMPANY, OF BIRDSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA I V nrsx VALVE warns LOCK r03 PULP MACHINES Application file-d may as, 1931. SerialNo. 540,156.

My invention relatesto the manufacture of pressed boards from finely'divided fiber. v

One purpose of my invention is to periorm desirable'cycles of operation and to present mechanism adapted to perform the opera tions. i

A further purpose is to control the drain ter loclrcomprising a valve or valvesas sociated with the lower die, forming the bottom of the mold, for opening andclosing the outlet from the drainage grooves formed in said die.

valve for retaining the drainage water within the mold.

A further purpose is to control the water look by a valve which is operated by fluid pressure and normally to hold it in open position, thus maintaining the water locks normally open.

A- further purpose-is to cooperate the valve closing means with the pressure-actuated means employed for lifting the movable die or head, whereby the valves Will 1136610566., making the water locks effective when the die is in the raised position, so that when the die is lowered the valves will be automatically opened and the water locks will be opened.

A further purpose is to use a perforated plate upon the lower die for supporting a wire screen and to use the solid edge portions of the plate to'form covers for troughs leading to the water locks. j

- A further purpose is to seal the joints between the movable deckle and a plate cover in a better way.

Further purposeswill appear in the specification and in the claims.

My invention relates both to themethods or processes involved and to structure by which the methods may be carried out.

I have elected to show one main form only closed 7 position.

' gardedas conventional.

pose of all suchmachlnes 1s.to press thecarperforated .of my invention, selecting form which is practical and efficient in operation and which Well illustrates the principles involved. 7

My invention relates to furthernovel improvements as disclosed and claimed in an 65 application for Letters Patent of the United States filed b me April 4,1931, Serial Number 527,688, or Sheet press and method.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press em-m.

bodying my invention partly in section, as on line 11, Figure 2. Figure 2 is a right end elevation of Figure 1, partly in section, upon line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial transverse'vertical sectional view'on line 3-'3,-Figure 1, drawn on an enlarged scale. j 7

Figure 3a is a View of a modified valve, generally similar to Figure 3, but shown in Figure-4 is a diagram illustrating a suitable hydraulic pressure system for operating the press and the Water lock. '1' v Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating successive cycles. of operation of the press and of the water lock."

Like numbers refer to'like parts in all figures. I

Describingin illustration and not inlimitation and referring to the drawings z+ .80

WVet machines for, forming boards and sheets from paper pulp, leathenfiberjand other commercial fiber suspensions are well known, and therefore much of the illustrati-on, although showing structurefls to beqre- The primary pure valve for controlling, the

rier liquid, usually water, from raw material suspension to form the raW,,m-aterial into a sheet.

c For convenience in designation, Il refer to the raw material, whatever its exact nature, as finely divided" fiber suspended in a liq uid, or as fiber, or-mush, and to the finishedproduct, whatever its dimensions, asa sheet? Y I 1 Fiber suspensions 'are diflicult to press chiefly' because ofthe extreme readiness with I i which the fiber precipitates from the liquid.

This'te'ndency to precipitate makes it'highly 10o important to keep the fiber flowing continuously in one direction with as few interruptions as possible, to project the fiber laterally rather than vertically, avoiding sudden drop ping into final position, to prevent all estape of liquid suspension medium until precipitation is desired and to charge the mold rapidly and accurately without allowing air to be trapped in the mold.

Another difficulty frequently encountered the lower die either unperforated or foraminated. In this case suction is applied to the openings in the upper die, as well known in the art.

While it is customary to construct wet machines with upper movable and lower stationary dies, as illustrated, lower m'ovable dies are sometimes used. It will be evident, of course, that my invention is equally applicable, whether the upper die alone, or the lower die alone, or both dies are movable.

The upper and lower dies are of course both press platens, but the term platen is also applied to parts of the press located above or below the movable die, which are used as fixed heads or bases in the frames required to support the rams.

The principal parts of the illustrated wet board press, or wet machine, include top and bottom fixed platens 6 and 7 respectively, an d tension columns 8, which together form a rigid frame 9. An intermediate movable platen 10 and a surrounding movable deckle are slidably mounted upon the columns 8. The intermediate platen 10 is or carries the upper die or head and the bottom platen 7 is or carries the lower die 11.

The upper die 10 is moved toward the lower die 11 by main hydraulic rams or pistons 12 operatively mounted in cylinders 13,

rigidly secured to the top platen 6. The cylinders 13 are fed through pipe connections 14 from any suitable source of pressure to force the rams 12 downwardly toward the lower or fixed die.

The upper die or head 10 is guided by lugs 15 which slide upon the columns 8 and is moved upwardly (retracted) by bars or links 16, connected to the head 10 and suspended from cross-heads 17 of retracting rams 18. These rams operate in hydraulic cylinders 19, fed with water through suitable pipe connections 20. The cylinders 19 are rigidly mounted upon pedestals or bases 21 secured upon the upper surfaces 22 of the top overhanging end portions 23 and 24 of the frame member or platen 6.

There are two of the cylinders 19 located at opposite ends of the top platen. These cylinders 19 are located along the longitudinal center line of the platen and centrally of each cross-head 17. The cylinders 19 lift the cross-heads, which in turn lift the head 10.

The head 10 is surrounded by a deckle 25 including longitudinal sides 26 and 27, located adjacent to the sides of the head 10, and transverse members in the form of flow boxes 28 and 29 located adjacent to the ends of the head. The fiow boxes 28 and 29 are rigidly connected with and largely comprise the deckle ends which connect the deckle sides 26 and 27.

Guiding lugs 30 upon the deckle sides 26 and 27 slide along the lengths of columns 8, thus making the deckle 25 movable relatively to the movable platen or head 10 and also movable with respect to the upper and lower platens 6 and 7.

3 The deckle sides carry detachable liners 1. against the ends of the vertical walls 32, extending parallel with the flow boxes 28 and 29. The walls 32, together with the liners 31, form a parallelogram defining the sides and ends of the mold. Vertical face plates 33 upon the die or head 10 register properly with the deckle liners 31 and the end walls 32 and take the lateral wear which otherwise would come directly upon this die or head. They insure a working fit between the die or head 10 and the deckle 25 at all times.

The flow boxes 28 and 29 initially receive and distribute the fiber, mush, or other material to be formed into sheets in the press.

The liners are connected with or abut The mush is supplied to the flow boxes 28 and 7 i 29 through suitable pipes, not shown in the drawings. 7 v

The flow boxes 28 and 29 have openings or throats 34, through which the mush flows upon the lower die 11, filling or partly filling the mold when the deckle is in the lower position shown.

Stirrers 35 are located within the flow boxes 28 and 29 adjacent to the throats 34. The .1.

stirrers are rotated by any suitable means, not shown in the drawings, through their shafts 36 to keep the mush agitated and therefore uniformly in suspension.

Gates 37 are carried by the deckles 25 to all inlet gates, vent gates, liners and confining walls whatsoever. I do not regard the-dis tinction between the singular and the plural of the word deckle, nor between the side vdeckle and the end deckle, as critical.

The deckle 25, together with the flow boxes forming part of the deckle, is supported and vertically positioned by hangers 40, having their lower ends rigidly connected at 41 to the transverse frame memb'ers'38 forming the innor walls of the flow boxes 28 and29; The frame members 38 are rigidlyconnected with the end plates 42 of the flow boxes, and the plates 42, in turn, rigidly attached to the ends of the deckle sides 26 and'27.

The upper ends of the hangers 40 are rigidly secured to cross heads 43, having their outer ends mounted upon, deckle rams 44, movable in hydraulic cylinders 45. The cyl} inders are securedat their lower ends upon extension brackets 46 formed upon the'up-' per platen, or rigid frame member 6. The

cylinders are provided with suitable pipe connections 47 for the passage of a fluid pres.- sure medium for lifting the deckle 25'.

The gates 37 extend across the full length of the flow boxes 28 and 29. Near the center of the length of each gate 37, is secured an upright orsuperstructure 48, having its upper end attached at 49130 a plunger or gate ram 50. There is a plunger 50 for each gate 37.

a The plungers 50 are operatively mounted in cylinders 51 having fluid connections 52 through which apressure medium is preferably constantly supplied to the cylinders 51. By this arrangement the gates 37 are normally pressed downwardly into the closed position, as shown in the drawings. .The

cylinders 51, carrying the gate rams 50, are

rigidly mounted upon brackets 53, by bolts or tie rods 54. These brackets 53 are mounted upon the cylinders 19, as shown in Figure 1.

The gates 37 are adapted to be lifted'independently of the deckles, and against the heavy downward ur ing of the constant pressure rams. 50, by means of rocker arms which carry pins 56 fitting in slots 57 of slotted links 58, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The lower ends of slotted'links 58 make pivotal connections at 59 with the gate 37.

The rocker arms are rigidly fastened to a rocker shaft 60, journalled in suitable bearings 61 on the top platen 6, and connected through cranks 62 and rods'63 with the 5 cross head 64 of a horizontal gate-opening ram 65 movable in a cylinder 66 supplied with fluid pressure at 67. A smaller ram 68, operated in cylinder 69, throughpressur-e connections at 70 is opposed to the gate-opening ram 65, and the smaller ram- 68, preferdeckle 25, including the gates 37', as a single unit without changing the positions of the rocker arms 55 and, if the deckle is all the way down, permit opening and closing the gates 37 without movement of the 'deckle.

The gates 37 lift against the downward pressure of the constantpressure rams 50 by the action of the horizontal gate=opening ram 65 through the rocker shaft 60 and links 58,

and close by'action ofcthe constant pressure will return the ram 65 to its original positlon and at the same tune W1llI6l7L11Il the rocker arms-55 to starting position, acting through links 63, rocker arms 62 and shaft 60.

When the deckle 25 is raised, the gates 37 are normally closed under the heavy downward urging from the constant pressure ram 50. 1 V Y The bottom die 11 carries afilter bed 71 permitting easy downward expression of water from the mush. I

As illustrated, the top 7 2 of the main casting or bottom die 11, is provided with a succession of transverse drainage grooves 7 3;

The groove top surfaceiscovered by a foraminated plate 74, which is'in turn: covered by a'prefe rably movable screen, or wire, 75 0f perhaps 40 or 60 mesh, desirably shifted and 'otherwiseattainable. Where this is done the water must be locked against escape until the excess mush has been forced back into the flow boxes.

Overfilling assists in securingeven precipitation of fiber in the mold and complete interlocking of the fiber masses where they have flowed in from opposite ends or sides of the mold.

"75 rams 50, upon releasing the horizontalgate- I opening ram 65. The constant pressure ram not My invention relates not only to the water locks themselves but to interlinkageor interrelation between the water locks and the rest of the pressor its operation at will-so as I to water, lock the mold while the mush is entering the mold and until the head 10 has expelled the air and/0r excess mush from the mold and the head 10 is ready to-start upon its final downward pressing stroke. The waterlocksmust not remain open'a sufficient time before the beginningof the pressing stroke of the die to allow drainage to lower the mush level and thusproduce voidswhich the air will fill; nor should the die 10 start its pressing stroke while the gates 37 are open appreciably. i

. The novel water locks illustrated in the drawings (of which one is illustrated in Figure 3) comprise valves 76 position-ed at opposite sides of the lower die 11. The valves 76 are connected with troughs 77, rigidly mounted upon the opposite sides of the lower die 11.

Said troughs 77 are U-shaped in cross section, formed by side walls 78 and 79, a bottom wall 80 and suitable end walls. The inner walls 79 are supported upon the vertical side surfaces 81 of the lower die 11.

The inner walls 79 of the troughs 77 terminate at or below the level of the drainage grooves 73 and permit the water from the latter to run into the troughs 77.

The outer walls 78 of the troughs extend a sui'licient height to form a water tight jointwith the outer edge portions 82 of the foraminated plate 74 supported upon the top surface of the lower die 11 above the drainage grooves 7 3.

The outer edge portions 82 of the plate 7 1 are not perforated beyond the mold as defined by the vertical liners 31 of the deckle sides 26 and 27.

The lower surface of the deckle 25 carries a pad or gasket 83, preferably of rubber or leather, which rests upon the edges of the wire screen 75, and presses the edges of the screen upon the solid outer portions 82 of the plate 7 1, when the deckle is in the lower position, shown in the drawings, and prevents the escape of mush and liquid between the plate 74 and the deckle confining the flow of water to its passage through the perforations in the plate 74 to the drainage grooves 73 formed in the die 11 and thence into the troughs 77.

The valves 76 are connected with the troughs 77 through traps or seals in the form of pipes 84 whose lower ends 85 enter the troughs through openings 86. The pipes 81 are inclined upwardly from the troughs 77 to the inlet connections 87 of the valves 76. The outlet connections 88 of the valves 76 lead to outlet or drain pipes 89 and to a sump, not shown in the drawings.

Each valve 76 contains a valve 90 pesitioned preferably slightly below the level of the bottom of the drainage grooves 73 formed in the lower die 11, as indicated by the dot and dash line in Figure 3. The top of the outlet opening 85 formed in the trough 77 may be slightly below the level of the valve seat 90, thus forming a seal or trap, for maintaining the water in the trough at the level of the drainage grooves 73, whereby only a very smallquantity of drainage water from the mush will be required to entirely fill the drainage grooves when the valves 76 are closed. The troughs 77 are thus normally filled with water to the level of the valve seats 90.

For the purpose of ready entrance of air into the drainage troughs 77 during the end of the pressure dwell, when no more water is being expressed, I provide check valves 91 in the ends of the troughs 77, capable of opening to atmosphere at 92 and of closing to water escape from the trough 77.

The casing 93 of each valve 7 6 includes a cylinder 94 which forms a pressure chamber. The casing also acts as a guide for a longitudinall'y molvable clapper or plunger 95 carrying a valve closure 96 adapted to engage the valve seat 90 in closed valve positions.

The valve plunger 95 is lifted by a rod 97 extending through the packing 98 and the cap 99 to point outside of the valve casing. A spring 100 expands between a nut 101, the outer end of the rod and the valve cap 99 to hold the valve normally open.

The pressure chamber 102 formed within the cylinder 94 is supplied with hydraulic pressure through pipe 103 so as to force the plunger 95 downwardly and close the valve.

The pipe 103 from the pressure chambers of the valves 93 is connected with the pipe 20 communicating with the cylinder 19 of the hydraulic ram 18 which lifts the movable die or head 10, as shown in rigure l. lVhen pressure is applied through the pipes 20 the die 10 will, he lifted and the plungers of the valves 76 will. be moved against the action of the springs 100, thus closing the valves 76. By this arrangement the valves76 will be held c osed when the movable die or head 10 is lifted and the deelrles are lowered upon the lower die 11. During this time the gates 37 are opened and the mold is filled with mush which flows from the flow boxes 28 and 29. The valves 7 6 meantime prevent the water contained in the mush from draining from the bottom of the mold.

The provision above for maintenance of pressure upon the piston which closes the water lock while the pull-back pressure is on is not inconsistent with maintenance of the water lock closure during movement of the head from its upper stroke position down to engagement with the mush or during expression of the mush through the gates to a predetermined mush depth. This can he secured in a variety of ways.

One way which I find effective is to move the upper die down into engagement with the muse and if desired further down to expel mush from the mold against the action of the pull-back pressure, thus maintaining the water lock closed, and then to release the pull-hack pressure and thus releasethe water lock. This requires a higher total pressure, such as ahigher total pressure through the main plungers (though not necessarily a higher pressure per square inch) to force the movable die downwardly to its intermediate position against or within the mush, notwithstanding the pull-back (in the present case push-back) pressure at 19 so that the pressure in line upon the pull-back and that upon line 103 are maintained during thisdownward movement. My -application previously referred to contains disclosure of a supplemental pressure cylinder for thispurpose.

Another way has beensuggested by the use of a valve 104 at the junction between the lines 20 and 103, whereby pressure can be maintained on valve 103 during this part of the stroke while the pressure on the pull-" back cylinder 19 is released and at other portions of the stroke the same pressure is maintained on both of these lines concurrently.

The movable die 10 is moved downwardly, by reducing the pressure in the cylinder 19, until the die reaches the surface. of the mush, when the gates 37 are closed, In the absence of temporary separation of their lines (asloy -valve 104 described above) ,the'reduction of trol valve,10.7 is open.

the prewure in the cylinder 19 also causes a reduction of the pressure in the pressure chamber 102 of the valve 7 6, thus allowing the spring 100 to open the valve by liftingthe closure 96 from the seat 90,-thereby allowing the water to drain from the troughs 77 and thedrainage grooves 78 formed inthe lower die7. Figure 4 shows a hydraulic system diagrammatically, with manually operated control valves 105, 106, 107,108 connected with the hydraulic plungers adapted to carry out the different cycles of the invention. The valve 105 controls the plungers 44 for l fting the deckle. The valve 106 controls the plunger 65 forlifting the gates. The valve 107 controls the plunger 18 for lifting thedie 10 and also the plungers 95 for closing the valves'76-..

The control valve 107 also acts upon the pilot cylinder 109, which controls the prefilling valve 110 for opening the latter to exhaust,

thus allowing the pressure to beexhausted fromv the main plunger cylinders 13 and-return to the prefilling tank 111when the con- Thecontrol valve 108 is provided for admitting pressure through the pipe 14, to the cylinders 13 controlling the main plungers to force the movable die or head 10 into the mold 4 and thus press the mush into a formedsheetr The pressure is supplied from the usual or any suitable pump, not shown in the drawingsthrough an accumulator 112, which is connected with the control valves. The accumulator 112 is directly. connected through pipes 52 and 7 0. with the cylinders 51 and 69 of the rams for applyinga constant pressure, tending to hold the deckle '25. and the gates 87 in the lower position, shown Figure '4.

, neutral.

Each of the control valves 105 and 108 has a handle or lever 113, that may be pushedin to apply pressure to its ram, and pushed out to place the ram under exhaust, and placed in midposition to; place therams in In Figure 4 the control valve 107 is shown in the open position for supplying pressure to the retracting ram plungers 18 and the plunger 95 of the valve 76. In this position 1 the movable die 10 is elevated and the valve 76 is closed to maintain a water lock to prevent the drainage of liquid through the filter:

bed formed by the perforated plate 74 and the drainage grooves 7 3', in the lower die 11.

Thelother rams controlled by the valves 105,106 and 108 are in release, with the deckle resting upon the lower die 11 and the gates 37 "in the closed position.

Figure 5 illustrates the different cycles of t operation of my invention. At the beginning of thecycle, as indicated bythe vertical line A, the deckle starts to descend to its lower' level, indicated by the heavy line extending downwardly from the line A to line B. During theperiod between positionsA and B, the gate is also lowered with the deckle, and the gates are in the closed position relatively to the deckle for retaining the mush-in the flow boxes when the deckle is elevated. The movable die rams are elevated and the valve 76 formingthe water lock is'closed, as indicated by the heavy horizontal line at the bottom of Figure 5. During the operation indicated as taking place between the vertical lines B andC, the gates are elevated to the open position allowing the mush'to flow into the mold and the gates are closed at-the period indicatedby the line D. The movable die travels downwardly forcing air out through the gates or other vents until it reaches the top surface of the mush, (or squeezes out a predetermined or casualsurplus of mush thro-ugh'the gates) as indicated by the line E. Whenthe movable die reaches the top level of the mush and squeezes out any surplus of mush, I then close the gates and preferably simultaneously exhaust the pull-back cylinders 19 by placing the valve 107 in exhaust position. This perunits the springs to open the valves 76,

thus releasing the water lock and allowing the water to drain from the mold.

The movable die performs the pressing operation between the periods indicated by the of, the water looli has numerous advantages over mechanical ,waterlock actuation.

WVhere thewater lock is mechanically connectedto some part of thepress, whether it be its to the movable die, or'to the gates, or to some other part, motion of that part is obviously necessary before the water lock can function unless someusually complicated loose con nection be inserted.

With hydraulic operation, however, I may,

by regulating the pressure of the spring 100 or the size of the water lock actuating piston, cause the water lock to function in advance of or behind the initial movement of the part to which the water lock is hydraulically interconnected. 'l. here is thus, in hydraulic interconnection, a flexibility not found in purely mechanical interconnection.

Furthermore, where, as in my preferred form, the retracting cylinders of the upper die are connected to the water lock actuating' cylinders, I make the movement of all of the parts of the wet machine entirely Independent of water lock position during the time when the sheet is being formed. I may -9 optionally move the upper die toward the lower die while maintaining the pressure on the retracting cylinders (pullback cylinders) and therefore while the water lock is closed, or after release of the retracting cylinder pressure, and thus while the water lock (In the other hand, however, I may in some instances, connect the water lock opera-ting cylinder to the main ram cylinders so that 9- the water lock will remain open when pressure is applied. to the main ram cylinders In Figure 3a I illustrate a water lock designed to operate in this manner, and comprising springs 100 normally retaining the water -loek closed as shown, and a piston 114, held draulic interconnections, I regard'oneration by retracting cylinder pressure as the preferable form.

I can vary the level of the valve seat with- 0 in a wide range, although I will preferably "if. locate the valve seat slightly below the level of the grooves.

It will of course be evident that my invention may be applied. in a wet machine having a foraminated upper die. although I 'prefer to employ a foraminated lower die.

I believe that I am the first to operate a water lock of a wet machine hydraulically. I also believe that I am the first to hy- .670- draulically interconnect the water lock of a "wet machine with any part of the normal hydraulic system of such a machine.

I further believe that I am the first to operate a water lock by retracting (pullor Qpush-back) cylinder pressure.

I further'believe that I am the first to em-:

ploy a disk type water lock valve.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a wet machine, upper and lower dies, a deckl-e, a discharge outlet located between the deckle and the lower die, a water lock arranged for closing said discharge outlet, and means operatively associated with the dies and the water lock for closing the discharge outlet when. the dies are separated.

2. In a wet machine, a mold. havingdrainage outlets, a water lock controlling the drainage outlets and hydraulic means for opcrating the water lock.

3. In a wet machine, a mold having drainthe mold, a water lock controlling the drainage outlets. means for operating the water lock and an hydraulic connection between the hydraulic mold-operating means and the means for operating the Water lock.

4. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a deckle relatively movable with respect to the dies, an hydraulic system for operating the dies and the deckle, drainage channels in the lower die, a Water lock opening and closing the drainage channels, and hydraulic means foroperating the water lock connected to the hydraulic system.

5. In a wet machine, upper and lower rela tively movable dies, a relatively movab l'e deckle, means for relatively moving the dies and the deckle including an hydraulic retracting cylinder for one of the dies, drainage channels in one of the dies, a water lock opening-and closing the drainage channels and hydraulic means for operating the water lock connected to the retracting cylinder.

6. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, one of the dies having openings through it for fluid passage, a deckle, a foraminous plate with a continuous part of which the deckle engages, a. normally open water drainage outlet between the deckle and the die having openings, and auto matic hydraulic means operatively associated with one of said dies for closing said drainage outlet when the dies are separated.

7. In a wet machine, upper .and lower relatively movable dies, the bottom die having openings through it for fluid passage, a deckle, a foraminous plate with a continuous part of which the deckle engages, a normally normally open water drainage outlet from one of the dies, saiddie having horizontal drainage grooves formed therein, avalve arranged for opening and closing said drainage grooves, and hydraulic means associated with a movable die and with said valve for" closing the latter and lifting the upper die.

9. In a wet machine, upper andlower relatively movable dies, a declzlc movable rela. tively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical walls of a mold, said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, drainage openings in one of the dies, adrainage trough mounted upon the lower die communicating with the drainage openings and having a discharge outlet'formedtherein, and a'valve connected with the trough for closing the'discharge outlet from the trough.

10. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a deckle movable relatively to said dies, said decide forming the vertical walls of a mold, said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, a discharge trough mounted upon the lower die, said trough having a drainage outlet formed therein, said lower die having drainage grooves formed therein communicating w th said trough, and a valve connected with the trough for closing said discharge outlet from the trough.

11. In a wet machine, upper and lower rel atively movable dies, deokle movable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical walls of a mold, said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, a sealing me; ber located between the decide-and the lower die, said lower die having drainage grooves formed therein located below said sealing member, a trough upon the lower die to receive water from said grooves, said trough having a discharge outlet, and a valve connected with the trough for closing said discharge outlet.

12. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a deckle movable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical walls of a mold,said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, said lower die having drainage grooves formed in the top surface thereof, a trough mounted upon the low-er die located adjacent to the sa d wall thereof arranged to receive water from said drainage grooves, a plate upon the top surface of the lower die having its outer edge portions projecting over the trough and forming a cover for the latter, said plate h av ing perforations forming communications belngandclosing said openings and hydraulic tween the mold and said grooves, said trough having a discharge outlet formed therein, and a valve for closing said discharge outlet.

13. In a: wet machine, upper and lower relativelymovable dies, a deckle movable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical walls of'a'mold, sald lower die formthe bottom of the mold, a trough secured to the lower die arranged to receive the drainage'water from the mold, saidtrough having a discharge outlet located adjacent to the level of the top surface of thelower die for maintaining a'constant water level below the mold, and a valve connected with the discharge outlet of the trough for closing said discharge outlet;

14. In a wet machine, upper and lowerrelatively movable dies, a deckle movable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical walls of a mold, said lower die'forming the bottom of the mold, a trough positioned upon the lower die'to receive drainage water from the top surface of the lower die, a discharge pipe connected with said trough, said pipe having a discharge outlet located adjacent to the level of the top surface of the lower die, and a valve connected with said pipe for'olosing said discharge out- 7 let.

'15. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a deckle movable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical wallsof a mold, said lower die having drainage openings and forming the bottom of the mold, a trough positioned upon the lower die arranged to receive drainage water from the top surface ofthe lower die,

a valve casing having a valve seat located adjacent to the level of the-top surface of the lower die, apipe connection "between said trough and the valve casing above said seat, and a valve closure in the casing arranged to shut uponsaid seat and retain the water within said trough. v

16. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively'movable dies and a water lock associated with the lower die includ-' ing a valve casing having inlet and outlet connections, a valve seat surrounding the out let connection, a pipe connection between the mold and the inlet connection of the Valve,

within the from said seat, a spring upon the casing arranged for normally holding the closure off said seat, and means for shutting the closure upon said seat against the action o'l the spring for shutting the water lock.

18. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movable dies and a wa er lock associated with the lower die including a valve casing having inlet and outlet connections, a pipe connection between the inlet c0nnection of the valve casing and the mold, a pressure cylinder associated with the valve casing, a plunger mounted within the pres sure cylinder arranged for closing said out let connection, and a connect-ion upon the pressure cylinder through which fluid pressure is admitted for actuating the plunger.

19. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a hydraulic ram for moving one of said dies relatively to the other one of said. dies, a drainage trough upon the lower die arranged to receive drainage water from the mold, a valve connected with the trough through which passes the drainage water from the trough, a pressure actuated plunger in said valve, and pipe connections from a source of fluid pressure to said hydraulic ram and to said plunger arranged to close the valve when the ram is actuated.

20. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a hydraulic ram for moving one of said dies relatively to the other one of said dies, a drainage trough upon the lower die arranged to receive drainage water from the mold, a valve connected with the trough through which passes the drainage water "from the trough, a pressure actuated plunger in said valve, and pipe connections from a source of fluid pressure to s-aid hydraulic ram and to said plunger arranged to close the valve when the ram is actuated to move said dies relatively farther apart.

21. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a pressure ram for lifting the upper die. a source of fluid pressure, aconnection between said source of pressure and the ram, a water lock associated with the lower die for receiving the drainage water from the mold including a valve, a connection between the valve and the mold. a closure in the valve normally positioned to allow the water to pass from the water lock, a pressure actuated plunger associated. with the valve closure, a connection between the source of fluid pressure and said plunger, and a control valve arranged for simultaneously applying pressure to the ram for lifting the die and the plunger for closing the valve.

22. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a relatively movable deckle, means for relatively moving the dies and the deckle including an hydaulic retracting cylinder for one of the dies, drainage channels in the lower die, a water lock opening and closing the drainage channels and hydraulic means for operating the water lock connected to the retracting cylinder.

In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a decklc movable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical walls of a mold, a sealing member located between the deckle and one of the dies, said die having drainage grooves placed therein and extending horizontally adjacent to said sealing member, a trough communicating with said grooves and a valve connected with the trough for preventing discharge from the trough.

24:. In a wet machine, a mold having drainage outlets, hydraulic means for operating the mold, a water lock controlling the drainoutlets, hydraulic means for operating the water lock, a source of hydraulic pressure and connections from the source of hydraulic pressure to the means for operating the mold and to the means for operating the water lock, whereby the water lock is closed when the mold is open for filling.

HENRI P. L. LAUSSUOQ.

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