US1985942A - Production of castings or the like - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1,1935. R. M ILVAINE 1,985,942

PRGDUCTION 0F CASTINGS OR THE 111KB Filed July 13, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira/211161 Rakfj. ZVL/Zzlzz'ne J 1935. R. L McILVA INE 1,985,942

PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE a? Mar/.1

R. 1.. McILVAINE 1,985,942

IRODUCTION 0F CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1931 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 1, 1935.

Q Q r 2 m I \A. m N. flaw .N.\\. J 4 #3 MY. ml m M. a Z w M w. M 0 a a a j. L 1 r L n 1 m fi a mm Q MN m h. T m Rm a m m P 9 1 l m Jim 1935- R. L. M ILVAINE 1,985,942

' PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, '1931 11 Sheets-Shae; s

Jan. 1, 1935.

R. L. M ILVAINE PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 1, 1935. R. L. M ILVAiNE PRODUCTION oncAs IkGs on THE LIKE Jan.

Filed July 15, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 R. L. M ILVAINE Filed July 13, 1931 PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Jan. 1, 1935.-

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Jan. 1, 1935. R. M ILVAIVNE PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1931 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 w Q ,Q EEM- a I! Y m z hm 1935- R. 1.. McILVAINE 1,985,942

PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1951 11 Sheets-Sheet ll III/II/II/IIII/I/II/l A W MR k Q Ill/10217171171771) 57 Imfent Patented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claim].

This invention relates to methods or means for producing castings more particularly of-metal and by the use of what is known in the trade as green sand, where the same sand, generally speaking, can be used repeatedly.

Among other objects my invention aims to provide improved means for storing the molds for the castings in substantially the location in which the molds are produced.

My invention furthermore provides for the first time unitary means for moving a molding machine and its operator simultaneously, while at the same time picking up sand for molding from the foundry floor, conditioning said sand,

producing molds therefrom and depositing the molds so produced upon the foundry floor from which the sand has been picked up.

My invention also includes unitary means for shaking out the castings from said molds, after pouring, moving the castings away from the floor, and leaving the sand upon the floor to be picked up again for molding purposes.

The invention may be understood by reference to the exempliflcation thereof set forth in the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foundry floor with my invention in use thereon;

Figure 2 is a section through the combine on the plane 2-2 of Figure 3 and showing a plan view of the molding platform of the unitary molding combine included in my invention, but omitting, for simplification, certain parts shown in other views;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the combine on the plane 3-3 of Figure 2, showing parts in elevation:

Figure 4 is a section taken on the plane 4-4 of Figure 3, showing parts in elevation;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the plane 5-5 of Figure 4, showing parts in elevation and somewhat diagrammatic, parts being omitted;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the plane 6-6 of Figure 4, showing parts in elevation;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the molding combine;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the lower flight of the conveyor, parts being shown in section, and being partly diagrammatical showing the sand being picked up by the conveyor;

Figure 9 is an enlarged partial section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5, being somewhat diagrammatical;

Figure 10 is a similar view on the line 10-10 of Figure 5; v

'Figure'll is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 6, but showing the depositing means approaching its lowermost position;

Figure 12' is an end view of the structure of Figure 11 showing the release mechanism about to be operated to release the mold;

Figure 13 is an end elevation similar to Figure 12, but showing'the depositing means approaching uppermost position and showing the release mechanism about to be locked to receive the mold;

Figure 14 is a section taken on the line, 14-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a top view of the structure of Figure 11;

Figure 16 isan enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 6 and showing the depositing means in uppermost position to receive a mold;

Figure 17 is a section taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 16, but showing the depositing means in its lowermost position with the release mechanism actuated to release the mold;

Figure 19 is a top view of the structure shown in Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary section on the line 20-20 of Figure 17;

Figure,21 is an enlarged view of the depositing means speed governor showing parts in section;

Figure 22 is a section taken on the line 22-22 of Figure 21. I

Referring in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 shows means in general embodying my invention and including a foundry floor A having rails B arranged-at each side longitudinally thereof, unitary molding means represented by the molding combine C, and unitary shakeout means represented by the car D. The combine 0 and car D are movable in either direction. on the rails B and span the foundry floor A.

In accordance with my invention, I provide that the sand E is picked up by the molding combine C and after being appropriately conditioned upon the combine, may be used in making molds upon the combine, which molds are then mechanically deposited upon the floor of the foundry from which the sand has been picked up by the molding combine C. A quantity of such molds are shown at F. The molds (after being poured) may be then shaken out by the car D, the sand E being returned to the floor ing the spaced apart bars 2. In this instance exemplary molding machines are indicated by the squeezer machines 3. Thebars 2 are not continuous across the platform 1, but are arranged to leave a central slot 2a through the platform for a purpose presently described.

The sand E which is lying upon the floor of the foundry ahead of the combine (having been left upon the floor A from a previous cycle of operations as presently described) is picked up by the combine as it moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. Means forpicking up the sand is here represented by a conveyor 3a which,

as here shown, comprises the endless link-androller chains 4 (Figure 3) having the buckets 5 fixed at regularly spaced intervals to links of the chains. The endless link-and-roller chains 4 may be driven by means such as the motor 6 (Figure 4) connected with the chains by appropriate speed reduction mechanism 6a to drive the conveyor at a relatively slow speed through a shaft 6b and the sprockets 4b mounted thereon.

The endless chains 4 are trained over sprockets 4a one for each of the chains at the beginning and end of the lower flight of the chains and the sprockets 4b at the corresponding positions of the upper flight of the chains and which sprockets 4b are rotatively secured to the combine C. The lower sprockets 4a are suspended from drums 40 (Figures 3 and 6) through the intermediationof cables 4d and slides 4e which move vertically in guides 4f fixed upon the combine, there being extending practically the length of the combine C a track frame 4f secured to the slides 4e and to which the sprockets 4a are rotatively secured. The track frame 4j also provides a raceway 4g for the rollers of the link and roller chains 4 in their lower flight and which insures that the lower flight of the conveyor will be raised with the track frame. One pair of the sprockets 4a is desirably adjustable longitudinally on the track frame 4] as by means of a take up device 4) to provide for taking up slack in the conveyor chain 4. By manipulation of the hand chain 4h the drums 40 may be rotated tlnough the shaft 42, the worms 47' and the worm wheels 410, to raise or lower the track frame 4/ and the sprockets 4a. The worm wheels 4k are mounted upon the shafts 4m upon which the drums 4c are also mounted. The central slot 2a in the platform 1 permits raising of these parts.

The conveyor 30. may thus be adjusted to pick up or not to pick up sand from the foundry floor, as desired.

In this instance, the buckets 5 perform a double function being each divided into two sections '7 and 8, the sections 7 being all in one plane and the sections 8 being in another parallel plane. As the conveyor 3a moves in the direction of the arrow (Figure 3) the bucket sections 7 which have operative edges depending below the bucket sections 8 in the lower flight of the chain 4 may be adjusted to contact with the sand E on the floor of the foundry, each bucket section 7 thus picking up some of this sand (see Figures 8 and 9) and carrying it, in the movement of the conveyor,.to the chute 9 (Figures 3, 4 and 5). The sand is directed into the buckets as they turn upwardly by the apron 8a rigidly secured to the track frame 4j and disposed around the conveyor at the end of its lower flight. The chute 9 is disposed at the startof the upper flight of the conveyor where each section 7 of each bucket 5, being flxed to the links of the chain 4 turns upon its side and empties its load into the chute. The sand is next suitably conditioned as by exemplary conditioning means next described. As here shown, the sand dropped into the chute 9-falls through the chute upon the endless belt 10 (as best shown in Figure 5) which carries the sand overa magnetic drum '11. The sand not being attracted by the drum drops on the end of the belt into a chute 12, while any. magnetic substances such as ferrous metal particles in the sand are attracted to the drum 11 sufficiently to be carried past the chute l2 and are dropped into the chute 13 as the belt 10 leaves the drum 11. Thus metal particles may be collected in any suitable receptacle such as the hopper 14 from which they may be removed and disposed of, as desired. The sand from the belt 10 is conveyed by the chute 12 into the interior of a revolving cylindrical screener 15 which removes lumps and screens and aerates the sand,

as is well known in the art. The screener 15 may be tilted so that the lumps will roll from the screener 15 into a chute 15a and from the chute into a lump box 15b, from where they may be removed as desired. The screened sand is permittedto drop into a further conditioning mechanism, such as the paddle mixer 16, which may be any suitable commercial mixer; for example, one providing for an addition of an appropriate amount. ;of water to the sand, if desired. This mixer 16 may be driven by a motor indicated generally at 17 and suitably connected therewith by speed reduction mechanism indicated generally at 17a. I

The sand 'thus conditioned is conveyed to an accessible location adjacent each of the molding machines 3. In this instance, the conditioned sand leaving the sand mill 16 is directed by gravity through a chute 18 (Figures 3 and 10) into an arcuate hopper 19 rigidly secured to the track frame 4f and disposed about the conveyor 311 at the end of the lower flight of the conveyor and through which the bucket sections 8 of the conveyor pass, each bucket section 8 picking up some of this sand and carrying it to one of the bins 20 opening into the trough 21, which is disposed along the top of the combine C immediately beneath the upper flight of the bucket sections 8. The bins 20 may be arranged in pairs, each pair having a common mouth 20a opening into the trough 21 (Figures 4 and 6). In this instance, the trough 21 extends also beneath the upper flight of the bucket sections '7 to prevent any sand which may adhere thereto from falling upon the operators below. As thus arranged any send accidentally conveyed by a bucket section '7 will be carried along the trough without falling into the bins 20 through the action of the partitions 21a between the bucket sections 7 and 8. A track 21b parallel with trough 21 is desirably provided for the upper flight of the conveyor. Obviously the bucket sections 8 as they empty their load of conditioned sand into the trough 21 will fill the bins 20 successively. As is clearly shown in the drawings,

when one bin is full. the bucket sections 8 will convey the sand along the trough 21 until it falls into the next bin and so on until all the bins are full. In practice it may be desirable to have the conditioned sand supplied at 'such rate that some of this sand will be ca ied by the bucket sections 8 the entire length of the trough 21,so

as to insure keeping all of the bins20 fullv atv all times. If the last bin, as well as the other bins, is full the excess sand conveyed by the bucket sections 8 will be conveniently returned to the floor of the foundry through the overflow chute 22 (Figures 3 and 4). Thus I have shown a unitary conveyor which .picks up sand from the foundry floor, elevates the sand to the conditioning mechanism and again elevates and distributes thesand to the overhead bins.

As best shown in Figure 6. the discharge end of one of the bins 20 is disposed directly above each of the molding machines 3. These may be commercial molding machines and asalready indicated are here shown for illustration as of the squeezer type comprising, in general. a lower jaw 23 and an upper jaw- 24, the lower jaw 23 being adapted to support a flask 25 and being movable toward the jaw 24. The upper jaw 24 is pivoted upon the pedestal 26 to be swung away from the vertical line of the flask. When so swung away, the operator may pull upon the handle 27 to open the discharge gates 28 at the discharge end of the bin 20 above the flask and cause a desired flask and after the pattern has been appropriately surrounded with sand from one of the bins 20,

the jaw 24 is swung into place over the flask 25 and the customary squeezing is done by elevating the jaw 23, against the jaw 24. The jaw 24 is shown provided with an extension 30 of smaller area than the flask 25 and which enters the flask to press the sand upon the pattern to cause the sand to assume the configuration of the pattern. The molder in accordance with this conventional squeezer method may then remove the pattern and flask 25, leaving the sand mold 31 resting upon the bottom board 29. This as here described may be what is known in the trade as a green sand mold since the mold is not subsequently subjected to heat to produce a dry sand mold. The mold may be formed insections, an upper section or cope 31a and a lower section or drag 31b in accordance with well known practice.

The bottom board 29 with the completed mold 31 thereon may be placed by the operator upon a roller support32 preliminarily to subjecting the.

support 32. There are. desirably anumber of the roller supports 32 each located opposite andimmediately adjacent means arranged at the rear of the combine to deposit the molds 31 on the.

floor of the foundry.

The depositing. means or conveying device I have here shown as. exemplifying my invention includes one or more box-like frames 34 mounted on the combine C to move vertically thereon upon the guides 35., (Figure 7). The frame 34 may include horizontal mainframe members 340., vertical sub-frame members 34]) (certain of which may be provided with vertical slots engaging the guides 35, asat 35:; (Figure 15)) and'diagonal reinforcing. members 34c. The sub-frame mem-.

bers' 34b are conveniently rectangular and of angle formation. g Each of the frames 34 is here shown suspended by cables 36 (Figure '1) upon the drums 37 fixed upon a shaft 38. Through; the intermediation of another drum 39, also mounted on the shaft 38, a counterweight 40 is suspended to rotate the shaft 38 to elevate the frame 34 and maintain the frame normally in its uppermost position. The drum 39 desirably is of larger diameter than the drums 3'lto' provide a lever arm effect which enhances the effec- 1 tiveness of the weight 40. A frame 34 may conveniently comprise a number of compartments 41 each of which, in the uppermost position of the frame, is immediately adjacent and in register with one of the roller supports 32. In this instance, each mold is moved manually' by the.

operator from the support 32 into one of the compartments 41 of-the frame opposite the support 32 upon which the mold was preliminarily placed. As best shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 each of the compartments 41 is formed'by two adjoin- ,ing rectangular sub-frame members 34b within the horizontal portions of which are rotatably mounted the shafts 42 having the cross feet 43 fixed at the bottom thereof and below the subframes 34b. At their upper ends the shafts 42 have fixed thereon horizontal arms 44. The shafts 42 are arranged in pairs, each pair being connected by a link 45 which 'hingedly joins the ends of a pair of arms 44. The space between two of the pairs of shafts 42 constitutes one of the compartments of the depositing frame.

When the frame is at its uppermost position (see Figures 6 and 16) the mold may be rolled.

from the support 32 onto a similar but hinged support 46 disposed, in this position of the parts, in each of the compartments of the frame and in register with the roller supports 32. Each of the supports 46 is keyed upon a rotatable shaft 47. In the position of the parts just described, the supports 46 are maintained in mold supporting position by a bracket 48 whichis notched at 49 to be locked to a locking member 50 fixed upon the combine 'C; The bracket 48'supports the roller supports 46 through the intermediation of an arm 48a to which the bracket is connected and which in turn is fixed upon the shaft 4'1. There may be a bracket 48 for each group of supports 46 for each of theframes 34. I v

My invention contemplates in one aspect thereof that the combine C shall be moved slowly along the foundry floor A upon the rails 15 continuously during the molding operation to enable the sand E to be continuously picked up from the foundry floor and the molds continuously deposited upon the floor from which the sanclhas been removed.

The combine C may be driven by any suitable means such as the motor 51 (Figure 2) through a conventional variable speed control mechanism indicated-generally at 52 and a conventional speed reducer 52a. clutch mechanism 52?: and a countershaft 520 in driving relation with two of the wheels 53 of the combine adjacent the shaft 520 all as by suitable gearing. For example the combine C may be driven in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1) at arate of, say, a foot a minute,

and this speed may be varied to suit the speed with which molds are produced upon the-combine.

Assuming that it takes a minute and a half to produce a mold and deposit'it upon the foundry floor, then as already described, if the combine C is moving at the rate of a foot a minute, during every 18 inches of travel of the combine C a mold will be made and deposited. Thus the molds are stored substantially in the location in which they are produced.

I provide that the depositing frame 34 shall be actuated a predetermined number of times with respect to a given distance of travel of the combine C, depending upon the size of the molds produced. To serve as tripping mechanism to accomplish this I have shown one of the car wheels 53 driving a shaft 54 (Figures 2 and 16) which extends along the combine C. The shaft 54 is driven through the intermediation of a variable speed reduction mechanism 55. By the intermediation of the mechanism 55 the shaft 54 may be caused to rotate, say, three revolutions for each revolution of the car wheel 53 or, in other words, three times for a given distance of travel of the combine. The shaft 54 is provided with two discs 56 fixed thereon adjacent each of the brackets 48, each of which discs has an eccentric finger 57 arranged to strike the tail 58 of the bracket 48 to lift the bracket off of the locking member 50,

permitting the support 46 to drop away from the mold 31. Upon this occurrence the weight of the mold falls upon the cross feet 43 of the four adjacent shafts 42.

The weight of the mold being thus placed upon the frame 34, I provide in this instance that the weight so added shall be sufficient to cause the frame to descend against the action of the counterweight 40, which is but slightly heavier than the frame alone to maintain the frame normally in uppermost position.

Since the frame 34 is actuated in this instance by gravity, I have, provided means for controlling its speed to prevent objectionable jarring of the molds as they meet the fioor of the foundry. I have shown the rotatable shaft 38 which supports the frame 34 provided with a centrifugal governor including a bevel gear 59 (Figures 7 and 21) which engages a bevel pinion 60 mounted upon a shaft 61- journaled in the casing 62. A sleeve 63 is keyed to rotate with the shaft 61 and this sleeve has hinged thereto weights 64 The rotation of the shaft 61 which is determined by the rotation of the shaft 38 will by centrifugal force throw the weights 64 outwardly of the shaft and these weights in their outward movement press correspondingly upon a disc 65 keyed to rotate with the shaft 61 but movable axially thereof. The disc 65 is provided on one face with a friction producing member, such as the fiber ring 66,

which is adapted to bepressed against a ring 67 fixed to the casing 62. Thus as the shaft 38 tends to rotate faster, it will meet with increasing frictional resistance between the rings 66 and 67 and a uniform speed may be therefore maintained for the frame 34 regardless of variations in the weight of the frame and its load.

As the frame 34 approaches the fioor of the foundry (Figures 11 and 12), an arm 68 fixed to the shaft 69 extending along the frame 34, contacts with a stop 70 fixed upon the combine C. This contact throws the arm 68 upwardly rotating the shaft 69 counterclockwise. The shaft 69 has fixed upon ,it at intervals and adjacent each pair .of shafts 42 arms 71 which project loosely through slots 72 in each link 45 connecting a pair of shafts 42. the links 45are reciprocated by the rotation of the shaft 69 and the shafts 42 are rotated by this reciprocation of the links 45 as the arm 68 strikes the stop 70. The shafts 42 being thus rotated Just as the frame 34 is coming to a stop at the fioor of the foundry, the cross feet 43 fixed upon the shafts 42 are turned from under the bottom board 29 and the mold is thus released to remain upon the fioor of the foundry as the frame 34 is subsequently elevated under the action of the counterweight 40. The mold as already indicated is supported upon the bottom board 29 which in turn rests upon the fioor of the foundry through the intermediation of the cleats 73, the cleats 73 facilitating the turn ing movement'of the cross feet 43 from under the mold when the shafts 42 are rotated as set forth.

In the downward movement of the frame 34 the supports 46 are held out of the path of the frame 34 by a series of rollers 77 (Figure 18) mounted upon the frame 34 and riding upon the arm 48a fixed upon the shaft 47.

As the frame 34 ascends by the action of the counterweight 40, after the molds have been deposited upon the floor of the foundry, the arm 68 contacts with a stop 74 (Figure 13) fixed upon the combine C. Thus as the frame 34 approaches the limit of its upward movement, as shown in Figure 13, the arm 68 is moved downwardly rotating the shaft 69 in a clockwise direction and rotating the shafts 42 to turn the cross feet 43 into mold receiving position. I

To insure that the arm 68 and consequently the cross feet 43 shall not be actuated accidentally, I have provided that the arm 68 shall be resiliently held upon one side or the other of the shaft 69 by the coil spring 75 connecting the outer end of the arm 68 to a rigid vertical extension 78 of the horizontal frame member 340. This spring 75 also desirably serves to impel the cross feet 43 into either a mold supporting position or a mold releasing position, since the arm 68 after it strikes either the stop 70 or the stop 74 need only be moved suiiiciently by the stop to bring the spring 75 into action upon the opposite side of the shaft 69. The arm 68 will be moved thereafter by the action of the spring, enhancing the rapidity of movement of the feet 43 into supporting or releasing position.

After the frame 34 has returned to its uppermost position the shaft 47 is then rotated by the action of the counterweight 79 (Figures 6 and 7) through the intermediation of a cable 80 riding over the idler pulley 81 and connected to the outer end of an arm 82 also fixed upon the shaft 47. This rotation of the shaft 47 in a clockwise direction brings the support 46 back to a mold supporting. position, as indicated in Figure 16, at which time the bracket 48 is permitted to engage the locking member 50 and maintain the support 46 in supporting position, until the next rotation of the shaft 54 brings the finger 57 into contact with the tail 58 f the bracket 48.

In this instance, I have shown two of the frames 34, the above description'applying equally to both frames and their associated mechanism. Either or both of these frames may be caused to descend when a mold is placed on at least one of the hinged supports 46 and the bracket 48 is tripped as described. For example, the two shafts 38 each supporting a frame 34 may be connected or disconnected by a suitable coupling indicated generally at 76.

As clearly shown at F in Figure 1, the molds 31 are deposited in transverse and longitudinal rows upon the floor A of the foundry with-aselective I predetermined spacing of the molds transversely and longitudinally of the foundry floor A. selective predetermined spacing longitudinally may be secured by varying the number of times combine C. Now assuming that the molds produced are 12 inches from center to center when two molds are placed in contact, then if thedepositing means deposits a mold three times for each 54 inches of travel of the combine, a mold will be deposited during each 18 inches of travel of the combine and the molds will ,be deposited 18 inches from center to center on the foundry floor leaving 6 inches between each mold and the next.

The selective predetermined spacing of the providing that the sub-frame members .34b shall be adjustable. For example, the sub-frame members 34b may be connected to the horizontal frame members 34a by bolts 83 (Figures 13, 15)- members 34a. Similarly, the vertical guides 35 may be selectively bolted to the combine 0 to suit the position of the sub-frame members 34b which engage the guides (Figure 15). Also to suit the selective spacing of the sub-frame members 3412, the supports 32 and 46 may be adjusted as by means of the bolts 85 (Figure 1'1) and bolt holes 86, for the stationary support 32, and the keyway 87 upon the shaft 47 for the hinged support 46.

' Also the arms '11 may be adjusted upon the shaftv 69 by the set screws 88 (Figure 11).,

If desired, certain of the sub-frame members 34b may remain stationary and may form a common side for each of two compartments 41 as at 874; (Figure '7), while the remaining sub-frame members are adjusted as just. described. This selective adjustment of the compartments of the depositing frame and associated mechanism and consequently of the spacing of the molds transversely of the foundry floor permits the compartments of the depositing frame to be adapted to varying sizes of molds and at the same time provides, for example, for an aisle between each two rows ofmolds longitudinally of the foundry floor to permit of hand pouring of the molds, if desired.

The molds may be poured in accordance with conventional practice, provision beingmade for holding the sections of the molds together during pouring in any suitable manner for example.

by placing a weight upon the upper section or cope 31a of the mold during pouring. Thus the moldsmay be stored awaiting pouring with a minimum handling while the pouring may be done at any convenient time. This efiects a great saving in equipment for handling the molds as well as avoiding damage to the molds by excessive handling. h

After the molds are poured,they are ready to be shaken out to remove the castings therefrom.

Combine C may be returned to the starting position by driving the combine from the motor 51 through the variable speed control mechanism 52, the clutch mechanism 102, (Figure 2) the operation of 'which disengages the clutch mechisasm The molds transversely of the floor A is secured bywhich may be disposed in selective holes 84 in the.

anism 52b and con ects the motor through suit able gearing with thecountershaft 520, thus. cutting out the'speed reducer 52a and permitting a its starting position in the cycle of operations. During this return movement of the combine, the lower flight of the conveyor- 3a may be elevated sufliciently above the floor of the foundry, as already explained, ito be out-of contact with the sand thereon. l Y

My improved method affords great flexibility in foundry operation since it avoids, the necessity for continuous melting furnace operation, while at the same time it permitscontinuous or non continuous moldingfas desired at a minimum'in ,greater speed for the return of the combine to that it is .not indispensable that all of the features be used coniointly as they may be employed in different combinations and sub-combinations.

I claim: i i I 1.-Means for producing castings, comprising, in combination, a movable platform; a plurality of moldingmachines carriedby the platform; driving mechanism for moving the platform-including means for coordinating the rate of movement of the platform with the rate of production of molds bythe machines carried thereon; a

a lowering device carried-by the platform for receiving molds as produced; mechanism operable at intervals controlled by the driving mechanism for actuating said lowering device to lower the molds to the ground; and automatic means for releasing the lowering device from the molds and returning it molds.

2. In a unitary molding combine, the combination of a platform movable over a foundry. floor;

a plurality of molding machines carried by the" platform; apower-driven endless conveyor carried by the platform and having a series of sections in one vertical plane for conveying unconditioned sand from the foundry floor to a conditioning apparatus carried by'the platform and having another series 'of sections in another vertical plane for receiving conditioned sand from the conditioning apparatus; a plurality of storage bins carried by the platform adjacent the molding machines and receiving conditioned sand from the second mentioned series of sections of the conveyor; and means carried by the platform for automatically delivering molds from the platform to the foundry floor.

3, Means for producing castings, comprising,

in combination; a molding combine spanning thefoundry floor andmovable on rails longitudinally of the floor; a plurality of molding machines carried by the combine; a power-driven endless chain conveyor encircling the combine and operating in a plane transverse to the rails for picking up and elevating unconditioned sand from substantially the entire floor as thecombine is moved longitudinally thereof; sand; conditioning apparatus carried by the combine receiving the unconditioned sand from the conveyor; means carried by to position to receive additional the combine for delivering conditioned sand from the conditioning apparatus to adjacent each of the molding machines; and means at the rear of the combine for automatically depositing a plurality of molds in transverse rows on the foundry floor as the combine moves longitudinally thereover.

4. Means for producing castings, including the combination with a molding combine movable longitudinally over a foundry floor and spanning the floor transversely adapted to carry a plurality of molding machines of driving mechanism for moving the combine; a power-driven endless chain conveyor carried by the combine and operating in a plane transverse to the floor for picking up sand from substantially the entire floor as the combine is moved longitudinally thereof and elevating said sand; means at the rear of the combine for'receiving the molds in a transverse row and automatically depositing the molds in transverse rows on the foundry floor as the combine moves longitudinally thereover; and actuating mechanism for the depositing means controlled by thedriving mechanism for the combine at intervals in the travel of the combine coordinated with the speed of production of molds thereon.

5. Means for producing castings, including, n combination, a molding combine movable longitudinally over a foundry floor and spanning the floor transversely; a plurality of molding machines carried by the combine; driving mechanism for moving the combine; a power-driven endless conveyor having a series of sections in one vertical plane for conveying unconditioned sand from the foundry floor to a conditioning apparatus carried by the combine and having another series of sections in another vertical plane for receiving conditioned sand from the conditioning apparatus; a plurality of storage bins carried by the combine adjacent the molding machines and receiving conditioned sand from the second mentioned series of sections of the conveyor; means at the rear of the combine for receiving molds made by the machines and automatically depositing the molds on the foundry floor in transverse rows as the combine moves longitudinally thereover; and actuating mechanism for the depositing means controlled at intervals by the driving mechanism;

6. The combination with a molding combine movable longitudinally over a foundry floor; of an endless chain conveyor having horizontal and vertical flights carried by the combine and movable in a plane transverse to the floor, said conveyor having a horizontal flight substantially spanning the floor for picking up sand from substantially the entire floor and a verticalflight for elevating the sand to the combine as the combine moves longitudinally thereover and the conveyor moves both transversely and longitudinally with respect thereto. v

7. The combination with a molding combine movable longitudinally over a foundry floor; of an endless chain conveyor having horizontal and vertical flights carried by the combine and movable in a plane transverse to the floor, said conveyor having a horizontal flight substantially spanning the floor for picking up sand from substantially theentire floor and a vertical flight for elevating the sand to the combine as the combine moves longitudinally thereover and the conveyor moves both transversely and longitudinally; and means for adjusting the horizontal flight of the conveyor in said transverse plane.

8. The combination with a molding combine adapted to span a foundry floor; of a track frame carried at the bottom of the combine transversely of the floor and adjustable in a vertical plane; a pair of horizontal raceways on the frame; a trough extending in said planealong the top of the combine; an endless chain 'conveyor trained in said raceways and through the trough; a series of buckets on said conveyor for conveying sand from the foundry floor to said trough, said buckets being adjustable toward and from the floor by adjustment of the said track-frame; a sprocket carried by the track-frame in driving relation with the conveyor; and means for driving the sprocket.

9. The combination with a molding combine adapted to span a foundry floor; of a track-frame carried along the bottom of the combine transversely of the floor and adjustable in a vertical plane; a pair of raceways carried by the trackframe; a trough extending in said plane along the top of the combine; an endless chain conveyor trained in said raceways and through the trough; I

a series of buckets on said conveyor, said buckets having sections in one vertical plane for conveying unconditioned sand from the foundry floor to one side of said trough and another section in another parallel vertical plane for conveying conditioned sand to the other side of the trough;

hoppers opening downwardly from the trough to receive sand conveyed thereto a sprocket carried by the track-frame in driving relation with the conveyor; and means for driving the sprocket.

10. The combination with a molding combine spanning a foundry floor and movable longitudinally thereon; of hinged supports at the rear of the combine for receiving a plurality of molds in a row transverse to the foundry floor; a frame movable vertically in the plane of said supports; a pair of horizontallyrotatable feet carried by the frame at each side of'each of said supports but spaced slightly below the supports in the uppermost position of the frame; a counterweight normally maintaining the frame at its uppermost position; means for lowering the supports to cause the molds to be received on said feet and overbalancing'the counterweight to cause the frame to descend; and automatic means at the end of said descent for rotating the feet from under the molds to deposit the molds on the foundry floor, whereupon the counterweight returns the frame to uppermost position.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the supports are keyed upon a common rotatable shaft and the frame is provided with vertically arranged rollers which engage the arm keyed to said shaft to rotate the shaft and swing the supports downwardly out of-the path of the frame.

12., The structure of claim 10 wherein the horizontally rotatable feet are connected with a common shaft having a free lever arm fixed thereon and the combine carriesstops engageable by the lever arm at the bottom and top of the vertical range of movement of the frame to rotate the feet out of and into mold supporting positions respectively.

13. The structure of claim 10 wherein the supports are keyed upon'a common rotatable shaft and automatic means is carried by the combine for rotating the shaft to return the, supports to mold receiving position after the frame has returned to uppermost position.

14. The structure of claim 10 wherein powerdriven means is provided for moving the combine and a tripping mechanism is connected with the supports actuated automatically at selected distances of travel of the combine whereby the transverse rows of molds are spaced longitudinally upon the foundry floor.

15. Means for producing castings or the like gitudinally over a foundry floor and substantially spanning the floor transversely; a power driven endless conveyor carried by the combine having sections in two parallel planes transverse to the floor and direction of travel of the combine; a series of buckets on said conveyor in each section, the buckets in one section having operative edges depending below the operative edges of the buckets in the other section; a pair of aprons fixed to the combine at the end of the lower horizontal flight of the conveyor through which the buckets are trained, said aprons having different arcuations and cooperating with the operative edges of the buckets to direct sand into said buckets respectively.

1'7. In casting producing means for use with a movable platform or the like and a molding machine carried thereby, the combination comprising driving means for moving the platform, a conveying device for receiving molds produced on the platform and removing said molds from the platform, and mechanism associated with the driving means and the conveying device actuated by the driving means for causing operation of the conveying device to deliver molds received thereon from the platform.

18. In the production of castings or the like, the combination with a movable molding machine, of a depositing device for receiving molds produced on the machine, means for causing the operation of the depositing device, and mechanism for actuating said means at predetermined distances of travel of the molding machine.

ROBERT L. mcnivarms.

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