US819883A

US819883A - Molding apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US819883A
Application number: US17735303A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maddra J Hewlett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-10-16
Filing date: 1903-10-16
Publication date: 1906-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1923-05-08

Description

a SHEETS-4mm 1,

PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

A. M. & M. J. HEWLETT. MOLDING APPARATUS. APPLIGATION FILED 00T 1e 1903 au. 2 0 M 9 1 m .lr s a QW V.. T A M M w D no E T N E T A P 3 HSN EU1 LTw. WA. RT E o HAo nm Am MMM MIM .mm Mmm l D.. A M 9a7 8 W 9 l 00 nu N No. 819,883. l l PATENTED MAY 8, 190s.

. A. M. @El M. J. HEWLETT.

MOLDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.16. 1903.

` 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED MAY 8, 190e.

A. M. L M. J. HEWLETT. MOLDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED ocT.1e.19o3.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 819,883. PATENTED MAY 8, 190v6.

A. M. & M.-J. HEWLETTL MOLDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00116. 1903.

` s SHEETS-SHEET 5,

PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

e H M J n v. M u 0 nm 8 r 1 1 @wa T. .m mmm. L 1 WML HPD MMM @.mm Mmm AmMm j 9. w @y No. 8l9,883. PATENTBD MAY 8, 1906.

A. M. a M. J. HEWLETT.

MOLDING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED ocT.16. 1903.

B SHEETS-SHEET '1.

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No. 819,888. lPATENTED MAY 8, T908.'y

' A. M. 8 MJ. HEWLETT. MOLDING APPARATUS.V

APPLICATION FILED 00T.16. 1903,

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

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*narran -sTAIEs PATENT carica?.

ALFRED M. HEWLETT AND MADDRA J. HEWLETT.. OF KEWAN EE, ILLINOIS; SAID MADDRA J. HEWLETT ASSIGNOR TO SAID ALFRED M. HEWLETT.

MoLDlNe APPARATUS.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application mea october is. 190s.' serial Nn. 177.353.

To all whom' it mln/y concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED M. HEWLETT and MADDRA J. HEWLETT, citizens of the United States, and residents of Kewanee, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molding Apparatus, of which the following is a specificatlon, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to the molding of sand or analogous material either for the formation of cores or in making molds, and our present application has to do particularly withl apparatus for so molding sand or analogous material.

Heretofore various attempts have been made to form sand cores by the use of mel chanical devlces; but, so far as we are aware,-

such machines have been unsatisfactor and in many cases inoperative. In some of such machines it has been proposed to em loy compressed air as a motive ower to orce the sand or equivalent materlal in massinto the mold, but without success, so that, so far as we know, compressed air has never before been successfully employed in connection with sand or e uivalent material in a molding-machine. e have discovered, however, .that the moldingof sand may be verysuccessfully accomplis ed by mechanical devices equipped With compressed-air mechanism for distributing and packing the sand in the flask or mold and that by the proper use of compressed air sand cores may be produced which are much superior to 'those produced by hand, since they maybe made much firmer Without employing the bindingkdevices which are essential to the production of cores by hand. i

The invention which forms the subjectmatter of this application is generic in character and has to do particularly with the embodiment of our discovery in a machine arranged to utilize compressed air or equivalent power for molding sand or analogous material. The method involved is not herein claimed, as it forms the subject-matter of a separate application for patent. The machine illustrated is designed for the production-of'sand cores and operates automatically to carry the empt molds into position to receive the sand to fill the molds and afterward to carry them away' from the filling or y vertical section on line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating thelpressed-air supply and exhaust.

charging mechanism, so that they may be readi y removed by the attendant. Our improved machine is further arranged so that the char es of sand are supplied automatically, am? the compressed air by which the sand is distributed and the molds filled and packed is automatically controlled so as to operate at the proper tlmes.

In general our im roved apparatus in the form illustrated in te accompanying drawings consists in (a) a turn-table provided with means for receiving and supporting a plurality of molds (b) a corresponding number of cylinders arranged over said mold-supporting devices, said cylinders, which may be termed compression-cylinders, being adapted to carry the charges of sand and also to receive charges of compressed air, by which the sand is distributed through the molds (c) mechanism for intermittently rotating said molds and com ression-cylinders in unison; (d) mechanism or connecting the different compression-cylinders and molds at the' proper times by substantially air-tight connections with means for supplying compressed air thereto, (e) automatic mechanism for exhausting the compressed air from the compression-cylinders after the charging olperation, and (f) mechanism for releasing t e molds after they have been charged.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our im roved molding-machine. Fig. 2 is also a si e elevation showing the `side o )posite that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an en elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan View, part of the turn-table being broken away. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6 6' of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 7 7 of Fig. 1, illustrating the ar- 8 is an enlarged detail of a part of the turntable, illustrating the mold-holding devices.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail, being a partial Fig. 1()

valve mechanism for controlling the com- Fig. 11 is an enlarged 'sectional detail of the upper end of one of the compression-cylinders and the supporting devices therefor. Fig. 12 is a similar view showing also the connecting devices by which connection is made with the vlo air-supply. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail illustratin the mechanism for operating the valve mec anism shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the arts shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a partial si e elevation illustrating the mechanism for supplying sand to the compression-cylinders. Fig. 16 is a vertical section on line 16 16 of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on line 17 17 of Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a perspective view ofone of the blockswhi'ch compose the mold-supporting devices. Fig. 19 1s an enlarged detail illustrating a art of the mechanism foroperating the sandceding devices, and Fig. 20 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings, 21 indicates the base-plate of the machine, and 22 the top plate thereof. The base-plate is preferabl circular in formand the top plate ellipticaf; but they may be made of any suitable shape. Said plates are rigidly secured together by standards 23 24, which are preferably tubular, as shown in Fig. v5.

25 indicates a shaft centrally disposed, which is supported at its lower end in a bearing-block 26, secured to the base-plate 21, its

upper end rising through the top plate 22 and extending a considerable distance above the said plate, as shown in Fig. 6. The top plate 22 is provided with a boss 27 around the shaftv 25 to provide an extended bea-ring therefor, as shown in Fig. 6.

28 indicates a ratchet-disk which is horizontally disposed and is mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 25, as shown in Fig. 6, said disk having on its under side a boss 29, which fits on the upper end of said shaft and is fixedly secured thereto by a set-screw or other suitable means. The disk 28 has proj ecting above its upper surface a series of pins 30, which perform the function of ratchetteeth, as'will be hereinafter described. The disk 28 is provided at its peripher with a series of notches 31 to receive a loc 'ng device 32, which operates to prevent said diskfrom rotating except' at the proper times, as will be hereinafter described. The disk 28 and shaft 25 are rotated by means of a pawl 33, one end of which'is pivoted 'on a wrist-pin 34, 'carried by a gear. 35, as shown in Fig. 1. The other end of said pawl extends over the disk 28 and is adapted to engage the pins 30, carried thereby, and to that end is preferably bent laterally, as shown at 36 in Fig. 4. The gear 35 is mounted upon a shaft 36, horizontally' arranged and supported in suitable bearings in astandard 37, carried on the top plate 22, as best shown in Fig. 3. The gear meshes `with a pinion 38, mounted on ashaft 39 also mounted in suitable bearings in the standard 37 as shown in Fig. 3 The `shaft 39 carries fast and loose pu leys 40 41, respectively, so that it may be driven by a belt from any suitable source of power. By this construction by siass -disk 28, said disk being rotating the shaft 39 the gear 3,5 ma be rotated, reciprocatin the pawl 33. When the pawl 33 moves to t e left, as shownin Fig. '1, 1t engages one f the pins 30, and consei uent y rotates the disk 28 and shaft. 25 in t edirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. On the return movement of thepawl 33v it rides over the pins 30 Without rotatingthe at such time locked against rotation, as will be hereinafter described. Theresult is thatthe shaft 25 is given an intermittent rotation, moving a distance e ual to the space between successive pins 30 for each rotation of the gear 35. This arrangement may of. course be varied, if desired. A

In order to lock the disk 28 and shaft 25 against lrotation during the return movement of the pawl 33, I provide a -segmental locking-plate 42, which in the construction illustrated extends through an arc of aproximately one hundred and eighty degrees. Iaid vlocking-plate is mounted upon a horizontal shaft 43, journaled in suitable standards' 44 45, mounted on the top late 22, asl shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said sha t being adjacent to the periphery of the disk 28 so that as it rotates the plate 42 is ada ted to enter that notch 31 in the disk 28 w lch registers therewith, as shown in Fig. 4. The parts are so adjusted that when the pawl 33 reaches the limit of its downward stroke andthe disk 28 comes to rest one of the notches 31 will lie inthe path of the locking-plate 42, which enters it as soon as the disk 28 comes to rest, the parts being timed to that end. Consequently the disk 28 is locked during half a revolution of the shaft 43, which corresponds ywith half a revolution of the shaft 36 andv gear 35. In order to secure' this operation, the shaft 43 is driven from the shaft 364 bya chain 46, which passes over sprocket-wheelsV 47 48, mounted on the shafts 36 43, respectively, as show in Figs.v 2 and 4. As the sprocket-wheels 47 48 are of the same size, the gear 35 and locking-plate 42 rotate in umson. p

49 indicates a guide-pin mounted on a supporting-plate 50, carried on a standard 51,

ywhich lscarried on the top plate 22, as shown vin Figs'. 1 and 4. The pin 49 serves to guide `the pawl 33 and hold it properly to its work.

52 indicates a rotary su port or turn-table in the form of a disk, whic is mounted upon the shaft 25 and tightly secured thereto by a set screw or other suitable means. The turn-table is designed to support the molds to be iilled and to carrythem successivelyv into position to receive their charge of sand. In the construction shown the turn-table is provided with accommodation for six molds;

ut a greater or less number may be provided, as desired. The devices for receiving and retainingl the molds in position are best shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, by reference to which vit will be seen that each mold-supporting device consists of a base-plate 53, which is'circular in form and is provided on its under side with a boss 54,I which fits in a suitable recess near the peripher of the turn-table, the lower surfaces of t e'bosses 54 normally being flush with the under sur- Y 4face ofthe turn-table, as shown in Fig. 9.

55 56 indicate side blocks, the construction of which is bes't shown in vFi 18, said` blocks being adjustabl mounte opposite each other upon the p ate 53, so that the space between them may be readily adjusted to accommodate molds of different widths. The side blocks 55 56 are preferably made adjustable by providing them with bottom plates 57, having slots 58 adapted to receive pins 59, screwed into the late 53. The sides of the bottom plates 57 t between guides 60 61, as shown in Fi 8. One of the side blocks, as 55, isv rovlded with a sprin -plate 62, which exten s over the outer face t ereof, as shown in Figs. 8 and 18, so as to yieldingly engagp one side of the mold and press it against t e opposite block-56.

63 indicates the mold, which, in the form illustrated, is designed' for 'the molding of T- sha ed cores. Said mold is split longitudinal y along a central line, one of the members, as a, being rovided with dowel-pins 64, adapted to fit 1n holes in the other member, b, to bind the two members together.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the mold is fitted between the side blocks 55 56, one end resting upon the base-plate 53 and that part of .j the mold which forms the stem of the T being at the back, as shown at ein Fig. 9. Said part of the mold abuts against an adjustable ack plate 65,-which is aiso secured upon the plate 53 and held in place by a set-screw 66, which lies in a slot 67 in the base 68 of the plate 65 and screws into the plate 53. Suitable guides69 are provided for the base 68 of the back plate v65, as shown in Fig. 8. The

back plate 65 serves not only as a stop to limit the extent to which the mold may be inserted between the blocks 55, but also closes that side of the mold tightly enough to limit the escape of sand, although the closure is not tight enough to prevent the escape of a limited amount of air.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when a mold of the character described is placed on the turn-table it is closed at its lower end and at the side, its u per end only being open, and. it is through t e upper end that the air and sand are admitted, as will be hereinafter described. It will be understood, of course, that for molds of (liderent shapes suitable gui'ies angl retaining devices are provi 4e", so as to close the merid at all oints except those through which the air an sand are to be introduced thereinto.

70 indicates a supporting-plate which is preferably circular in form, corresponding with son therewith. The

the turn-table 52, said plate being secured upon the shaft 25, near the upper end thereof, as best shown in Fics. 1 and 6. The plate 7() '1s secured to said shaft by a set-screw 7l or other suitable means, so that it rotates in uniplate 7 0 is provided with a series of openings ycorres ending in number with the plates 53, each o said openings registering with one of said plates.

72 indicates a series of cylinders the upper 'ends of which extend into the openings in the plate 70, as shown in Fig. 6. Each of said cylinders is provided with an annular flange 73, which fits closely upon the under surface of the plate 70 and is secured thereto by bolts 74 or other equivalent means, so that said cylinders are held tightly in ilace. 'lhe cylinders 72 are provided at t eir lower ends with h eads 75, which fit closely thereupon and are tightly secured thereto by bolts 76 or other suitable means. The heads in the construction shown are each provide/l with a constricted passage or central perforation 77, which perforations register with the openings in the upper ends of the molds when said molds are in place. Normally the distance between the turn-table 52 and the lower surfaces of the heads of the cylinders 72 is slightly greater than the length of the inols,

-so that when said molds are in place normally they are out of contact with the heads 75, but may be moved into contact therewith by. slightly raising the plates 53 indepcndenll y oi the turn-table 52. The turn-table 52 may be adjusted vertically upon the shaft 25 by simply loosening the set-screw or other means by which it is secured to the shaft, so as to accommodate molds of diilerent lengths.

The cylinders 72 are adapted to receive char es of sand or equivalent material and to supp y it tothe molds through the openings 77. They are also adapted to receive charges of compressed air, as will be hereinafter r escribed. The cylinders regularly receive charges of sand through their o en upper ends 'from a charging apparatus, w ich is best shown in Figs. 4, 5, 15, 16, and 17. Such charging apparatus consists of a funnelshaped sane-bin 78, supported at one side of the top plate 22, preferably by a strap 79, secured to said top plate, as shown in Fig. 2.. Said funnel 78 receives a constant `supply ol' sand from an endless conveyer 8'0,',driyer'i' from any suitable source oi power. (Best shown in Fig. 4.) A spout 81 extends down from the funnel 78, terminating inuneriately over the path of the cylinders and a'l jacent to the upper surface of the plate 7(), as shown inFig. 2. Between the lower en l of the spout 81 and the upper surface of the plate 70 is provided a reciprocating valve-plate 82 having an opening 83, adapted to overlie the open upper ends of the cylinders 72 when moved to its outermost position and to move intothe spout 81 when the valve-plate 82 is 16. By this construction the Avalve-plate 82;

may be reciprocated tomove the opening 83 into the spout 81 to receive a charge of sand and to move it toits outermost position to supply such sand to the ap ro riate cylinder 72. It will be understoo t at the valveplate 82 is of such thickness that the opening 83 accommodates the desired quantity of sand, sothat each cylinder as it passes under the opening 82 in the valve-plate is supplied with a measured quantity of sand.

The valve-plate 82 is reciprocated from the shaft 43 by means of a cam 86, mounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the upper end of a lever 87, mounted on a pivot 88, carried by a suitable standard 89, mounted on the top plate 22. The lower end of said lever is connected by a link 90 with the valve-plate 82, so that when the upper end of said lever is moved to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, 'by

the action of the cam 86 the lower end' there' n of is carried to the left, moving the valve-plate 82 to the left and carrying its opening 83 over oneof the cylinders 72, as shown in Fig. 5.

The lever 87 and valve-plate 82 are retracted by means of a spring 91, connected to the lower end of said lever ried by the top` plate 22, as shown inFig. 2. Thus the valve-plate 82 normally is in such position that the opening 83 lies under the spout 81.

The cam 86 is so placed upon the shaft 43 that it operates the lever 87 only while the cylinders are at rest. The sand thus supplied to the cylinders 72 does not esca e through the openings 77 in the heads 75, or the reason thatA said openings are made small enough so that they do not contain a larger body of sand than is readily held in such openings'by the natural packing of the sand therein. Where a large uantity of sand at a time must be supplied to the molds instead of a single opemng 77 iii each head, as shown in the drawings, a plurality of small openings would be provided.

After the cylinders 72 have been supplied with sand they are connected with means forl supplying compressed air thereto for distributing the sand throughout the molds and packing it therein. The mechanism by which this is accomplished will now be described.

93 indicates an inverted air-cup which is carried at the lower end ofa vertically-movable rod 94, fitted in a suitable bearing in the top plate 22.

flange 95, which is ada ted to register with the upper ends of the dierent cylinders 72 as said cylinders, respectively, come to rest below said cup. In order to form an air-tight connection between the air-cup 93 and the and to a lug 92, car-' At its lower edge the cup 93 is 'provided with a comparatively sharp annular vided in their upper ends with an annular packing 96 of suitable iiexible material, such as rubber, so that when rthe cup 93vis moved downward far enough its iiange 95 will engage tle packin 96, becoming embedded in it, and thereby orming a tight joint. The cup 93 is provided with an air-pipe 97,.;which communicates with a valve 98. (Best shown in Fig. 10.) Said valve'consists of afvalvechamber 99, in which are a slide-valve 100 and passages 101 102. The passages 101 102 different cylinders 72,-said'cylinders are prolie adjacent to each other and are normally;

cut o' from the valve chamber 99 and4 brought into communication with eachiother by the slide-valve 100, which, as shown in Fig. 10, overlies the inner ends of said passages and is provided with a concavity 103, which affords communication between said passages. K By moving said slide-valve longitudinally in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10 it moves from over the'passage 101, thereby opening the communication between said passage and the valvechamber 99, the passage 102, however, being still cut ofi from said valve-chamber. The passage 102 communicates with an exhaustpipe 104, while the valve-chamber 99 receives compressed air through a supply-pipe 105, which receives compressed air from` any suitable source of power.

By the construction described when the slide-valve is in the position shown in Fig. 10 the `pipe 97 is connected with the exhaustpipe 104 through passage 101, concavity 1 03, and passage 102. When, however, the slidevalve 100 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10, passage 101 is connected with valve-chamber 99 and compressed air is supplied to the pipe 97 and cup 93.

The -slide-valve 100 is automatically operated to control the com ressed-air supply and the exhaustion thereofpfrom the cup 93 and cylinders 72 by means of a lever 106, pivoted upon a standard 107, supported on the top plate 22, as shown in Fig. 2. At its outer end the lever 106 is rovided with a finger 1087 which is adapted) to be engaged by the projecting portion 109 of a cam 1 10, mounted on the shaft 36, as best'shown in Fi s. 2 and 13, so that as said cam rotates in t e direction indicated by the' arrow in Fig. 13 it depresses the outer end of the lever 106, thereby throwing the inner end of said lever upward. The inner end of said lever is connected by a connecting-rod 111 with the slide-valve 100, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10. It follows that when the cam acts upon into position to supply air to the cup 93 and the cylinder 72, with which it 1s in engagement.4 The lever 106 is restored to its noi'- IOO the lever 106 the'slide-valve 100 is lvmoved mal position, which is that shown in Fig. 10,

by a spring 112, connected toits inner end and to the top plate 22, as shown 1n Flg. 2.

inders 72 1n turn with the compressed-air supply by means of an eccentric 113, mounted on the shaft 36, as shown in Fig. 6. Said eccentric is connected b an eccentric-strap 114 and arm 115 with a ever 116, the middle portion of which is connected b a pivot 119 with a head 120 at the upper en of a rod 121, which extends down at one side of the cylinders 72 and turn-table 52, having a suitable bearing in the top plate 22 and in a bracket 122, supported by the standard 24, as shown in Fig. 6. At its lower end the rod 121 carries a bracket 123, in which is secured a pin 124. The pinY 124 is verticall disposed in such position as to register wit the .boss /54 of the different mold-supports when they are in charging position.

\ 125 indicates a collar on the rod 121 above the bracket 122'to limit the downward movement of said rod.

Each of the pivots 117 and'119 alternately serve as a-fulcrum for the lever y116, the operation bein as follows: When the outer or right-han end of the lever 116 is raised by the operation of the eccentric, as the pivot 117 and the parts connected therewith offer less resistance to movement than the ivot 119 and the parts suspended thereom, the pivot 119 acts as a fulcrum for the lever, and the first effect produced is the depression of the inner end of the lever 116 and the downward movement of the rod 94 and cup 93, the cup moving into engagement with the cylinder 72 lying immedlatel be.- low it. As soon as the cup engages sai cylinder further downward movement of the 1nner end of the lever 116 is prevented. The

ivot 117 then becomes the fulcrum of the ever, which is converted from a lever of the first-class to one of the second class. Further upward movement of the outer end ofthe le-` ver therefore raises the pivot 119, and with it the rod 121 and pin 124, the latter moving into engagement with the boss 54 and raisin said boss, and with it the mold-sup ort 53 an the mold carried by it. The moldpis thereby moved into close contact with the lower surface of the head of the cylinder, which is in charging position. This continues until the outer end of the lever 116 again moves downward, when the operations above described are reversed.

The compressed-air-supplying mechanism is so timed with reference to the action of the lever 1 16 that the slide-valve 100 moves away from over the passage 101, and thereby admits air to the cup 93 as soon as the outer end of the lever 116 reaches its highest point, and the cup 93 and the mold are held tightly in contact with the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the cylinder 72. As air is admitted only momentarily by the action of the projecting finger 109 of the cam 110 on the lever 106 immediately after the air is admitted to the cylinder 72 the pipe 97 is connected with the exhaust 104, so that the pressure in the cylinder '72 is relieved before the mold and the cup 93 are mov ed away therefrom.

The general operation ofthe machine is as follows: The turn-table being given an intermittent rotation in the directionl indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7, an attendant standing at about the point :z: on Fig. 7 takes the filled molds from the mold-holders and supplies em ty molds thereto, the empty molds being sli between the blocks 55 56, so that the art c thereof fits closely against the back p ate 65, as shown in Fig. 9. The empty mold thus placed in position is carried around until it reaches the osition y on Figs. 5 and 7,

where the cylin er 72 over it receives a char e of sand from the` valve-plate 82. The mo d then moves under the cup 93, which moves downfinto engagement with the c linder immediately over it, and the -mo d itself is moved up into engagement with the head 75 of such cylinder in the manner already described, thus making comparativel :ti ht connections at both ends of the cylin er. y the action of the cam 110 compressed air is then admitted to the cylinder, forcing the ,sand therein into and through the mold, packing it uniformly therein.

It should be understood that by the use of our apparatus the air is not employed as a motive power to move a body of sand as a mass into a mold. On the contrary, the air permeates the mass of sand and is distributed therein, so that when itleaves the constricted or relatively sn' all openin or openings of the compression-chamber an enters the vacant space of the irold the air by its expansive force carries the sand with 1t in individual particles or very minute masses into and throughout the different portions of the mold,

Aleaving the sand packed uniformly, while the air escapes through the partings and connections of the mold, which are tight enough to retain the sand but not the air. The result is that a certain amount of pressure is a plieddirectly to each particle of sand to pack it in position. The result is verydierent from whatl could be secured by applying pressure to the upper surface of an extensive body of sand, as in the latter case the sand at the` bottom of the rrass would be comparatively unaffected by the air-pressure. By the use of our improved apparatus, however, the sand is packed in a homogeneous mass, the packing being just as solid at the bottom thereof as at the top. The result is that thel core produced is firm and strong throughout, 1r aking'the use of binding devices unnecessary, even for cores of shapes that heretofore invariably have required the use of binding devices to hold them together.

The mold is filled with packed sand instantly upon the admission of the compressed air, so that it is unnecessary to maintain ence lbeing in the arrangement of the devicesv for supporting the asks and for connecting them with the sand carrying and supplying mechanism. For machines designed to operate on very large molds or on flasks it may be desirable to employ other forms of devices for carrying the molds into and out of position to be charged. For example, a reclprocating carrier or conveyer may be employed in lieu of the rotary carrier or turn-table herein shown and described; but while our present application includes generically any suitable carrier, Whether rotary, reci rocating, or of other construction, and the llnroad claims are to be so construed we have not shown such other forms herein, yas they form the subject-matter of separate applications for patent.- Furthermore, we wish it to be understood that in other respects, except in so far as the specic features of the construction described are particularly claimed, we do not limit ourselves to such specific features of construction, but claim generically the subject-matter of the broader claims.

W e believe ourselves to be pioneers in the art of molding sand by the use of the expansive force of compressed air or equivalent gas to distribute andpack the sand in the mold, and our claims are to be construed accordingly.

That which we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sand-molding a paratus, compiising means for supporting t e mold, and means for introducing com ressed air and sand together into the mol to expand in the mold and distribute the sand therein by its expansive force.

2. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a mold-su port, and means for introducing com resse air charged with sand into the mol said means having a contracted discharge-passage.

3. A sand-molding ap aratus, com rising means for supporting t e `mold, an contracted means communicating With the mold for introducing compressed air and sand together thereinto, so that the expansive force `of the compressed air acts to distribute and pack the sand in the mold, substantially as esczibed.

4. A sand-molding ya paratus, comp;ising means forsupporting t evmold, a chamber adapted to containsand, and means vfor introducing com ressed air and sand from said chamber toget er into the mold and permitand permitting the air' ported in adapted to contain sand and having a constricted o .ening for the passage of sand therefrom to t e mold, and means for introducing compressed air and'sand from said cylinder together into the mold.

'7. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising means for supporting the mold, a cylinder above said mold-supportin means and having a constricted opening or the passage of Vsand therefrom to the mold, and means for su plying compressed air to said cylinder, su stantially as described.

8. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a cylinder adapted to contain sand in mass, means for suppo; ting the mold in communication with said cylinder, and means for supplying compressed air to the mass of sand in said cylinder, substantially as described.

9. A sand-molding apparatus, complising a cylinder adapted to contain sand in mass, means for suppo; ting the mold in communication with said cylinder, means for supplying compressed air to the mass of sand in said cylinder, and means for exhausting the compressed air fom said cylinder, substantially as described.

IOO

v10. Asand-moldingapparatus, compiising a sand -holding receptacle having one or more constricted openings in the lower portion thereof, and means for introducing compressed air and sand from said sand-holding receptacle together into the' mold.

11,. Asand-molding apparatus comp; ising a mold-support, means arranged to su port a mass of sand and having a contracte assage at the bottom for introducing sand om above into the mold, and means for introducing compressed air and sand fom said mass together into the mold.

12. A sand-molding apparatus, compiising a sand-holding receptacle having one or more constiicted openings at'its lower end for the discharge of sand there-fiom, means for suppo: ting the mold in communication with said openings, means for supplying sand to said receptacle, and means for supplying compressed air to the sand in said receptacle, substantially as described.

13. A sand-molding a paratus, comprising a sand-holding receptadle open atl-its upper end and having one or more constricted openings at its lower end, means for sup orting the Vmold in communication with sai lower IIO the mold in communication with sai 3o.

openings, means for closing the up er end of said receptacle, and means for supp ying compressed air to the sand therein, substantially as described.

14. A sand-molding a paratus, comprising a sand-holding'receptac e open at its upper end and having one or more constricted openings at its lower end, means for sup orting the mold in communication with said lower openings, means for closing the u per end of said receptacle, means for supp ying compressed air to the sand therein, and means for supplying sand to said receptaclensubstantially as described.

15. A sand-molding appa atus, comprising a sand-holding receptacle open at'its upper end and having one or more consti icted openings at its lower end, means for supporting the mold in communication with sai lower openings, means for closing the upper end of said receptacle, means for supp ying compressed aii` to the sand therein, and means for exhausting said receptacle, substantially asdesciibed.

16. 'A sand-molding a paratus, compising a sand-holding receptac e open at its upper end and having one or more constricted openings at its lower end, means for supporting lower o enings, means fo;` automatically closing t e u pe: end of said receptacle, and means for tllfeieafter supplying compressed air to the sand therein, substantially as described.

17. A sand-molding apparatus, comp; ising a sand-holding receptacle open at its upper end and having one or more constricted openingsat its lower end, means for sup oi ting the mold in communication with said lower o enings, means for automatically closing t e upper end of said receptacle, and means for automatically supplying compressed' air to the sand in said receptacle when the upper end thereof is closed, substantially as described.

18.4 A sand-molding a paratus, comprising a sand-holding receptac e open at its upper end and having one or more constricted openings at its lower` end, means for supporting the mold in communication with said lower openings, means for automatically opening and closing the u per end of said receptacle,

and means for a ternately supplying compressed air to the sand in said receptacle and exhausting it therefrom while the upper end thereof is closed, substantially as described.

19. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a sand-holding receptacle open at its upper end and having one or more constricted openings at its lower end, means for supporting the mold in communication with said lower openings, means for automatically opening and closing the upper end'of said receptacle, means for alternately supplying compressed air to the sand in said receptacle and eX- hausting it therefrom while theupper end thereof is closed, and means for supplying sand to said receptacle, substantially as described.

20. A sand-molding apparatus', comprising a mold, acompression-cylinder adapted to supply sand to said mold, fluic.- fessure mechanism for packing the sand in said mold, and means forautomatically actuating said mechanism.

21. A sand-molding apparatus comprising a sand -receptacle, fluidpressure -supplying mechanism adapted to communicate therewith, for charging the inold with sand from sai'l receptacle and means supporting said sand-receptacle so that it may be moved into and out of operative relation to said fluidpressure-supplying mechanism.

22. A sand-molding apparatus comprising a sand-receptacle, fluid pressure supplying mechanism adapted to communicate therewith for charging the mold with sand from said receptacle, a mold-support, and means supporting said sand-receptacle so that it may be moved into and out of operative relation to said fluid-pressure-supplying `mechanism. i

23. A sand-moldingapparatus, comprising iuid-pressure-su lying mechanism, a sandreceptacle mova e into and out of operative relation to said fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism, and means for automatically supplying sand to said receptacle, substant a y as described.

24. A sand-molding apparatus comprising a sand-receptacle, fluid pressure supplying mechanismfadapted to communicate therewith for charging the mold with sand from said receptacle, means supporting said sandreceptacle so that it may be moved into and out of operative relation to said fluidressure-supplying mechanism,- and means or automatically suppyling sand to said receptacle when it is out of operative relation to said iuid-pressure-supplying mechanism.

25. A sand-molding apparatus comprising a sand-receptacle having one or more openings at its lower end, fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism ada ted to communicate with saidv receptacle or charging the mold with sand therefrom, means supporting said sandreceptacle so that it may be moved into and out of operative relation to said fluid-pressuresupplying mechanism, almold-support, and means for moving said sand-receptacle and mold-support into and out of operative relation to said fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism.

26. A sand-molding apparatus comprising a sand-receptacle having one or more openings at its lower end, fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism ada ted to communicate with said receptacle or charging the mold with sand therefrom, means su porting said sandreceptacle so that it may be moved into and out of operative relation to said Huid-pres- ICO IIO.

IZO

sure-supplying mechanism, a mold-su port, means for moving said sand-receptac e and mold-support into and out of operative relation to said fluid-pressure-supplying mechanv the lower end of said cylinder over said openings, substantially as described 28. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising luid-pressure-supplymg mechanism, a sand' holding cylinder: open at its upper end and having one or more openings at its lower end, a vertically-movable cover for said upper opening, said cover being connected. with said uid pressure supplying mechanism, means for supporting the mold in communication with said lower openings, and means for moving said cover into and out of engagement with said cylinder, substantially as ziescribed.V

'29. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising iiuid-pressure-supplymg mechanism, a sandholding cylinderopen at its upper end and having one or more openings at its lower end, a vertically-movable cover for said upper opening, means for supporting the mold in communication with said lower openirgs, means for moving said cover into and out of engagement with said cylinder, and means for automatically supplying compressed air to said cylinder when said cover is in operative position, substantially as described.`

30. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising uid-pressure-supplying mechanism, a sandholding cylinder open at its upper end and having one or more openings at its lower end, a .vertically-movable cover for said upper opening, a vertically-movable mold-support below said cylinder, means for moving said mold-support to move the mold closely into contact with the lower end of said cylinder over said openings, and means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder while the ends thereof are closed, substantially as described.

31. A sand-molding apparatus comprising means for supporting a plurality ofy molds, means for directing Asand into said molds, iluid-pressure-supplying mechanism for carrying the sand into the molds and means for bringing the molds severally into operative relation to said iiuid-pressure-supplying mechanism.

32. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a plurality of mold-supporting devices, a corresponding number of sand-receptacles for 'supplying' sand to the molds carried by the mold-supporting devices, fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism, and means for moving said mold-supporting devices and sand-receptacles severally into and out of o erative relation to said fluid-pressure-supp ying mechanism, substantially as described.

33. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a plurality of mold-supporting devices, a corresponding number of sand-receptacles for supplying sand to the molds carried by the mold-supporting devices, -1luidpressure-sup plying mechanism, means for moving said mold-supporting devices `and sand-receptacles severally into and out of operative relation to said fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism, and means'for supplying sand to said sand-receptacles, substantially as described.

34. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a plurality of mold-supporting devices, a cor? responding number of sand-receptacles ar- Aranged respectivelyover the mold-supporting devices and having one or more openings at their lower ends for sup lying sand to the molds carried by the m0 d-supporting devices,l fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism, and means for moving said mold-supporting devices and sand-receptacles severally into and out of operative relation to said iiuidpressure-supplying mechanism, substantially as described.

35. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding nurnber of sand-receptacles rotatably supported above said mold-supports and rotatingA in unison therewith, iluid-pressure-supplying mechanism for supplying sand from said sand-receptacles severally to the molds, and means for connecting said fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism with the diierent sand-receptaclcs, substantially as described.

36. A sand-moldng apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding number of sand-receptacles rotatably supported above said mold-sup orts and rotating in unison therewith, an stationary luidressure-supplying mechanism for supp ying sand to the molds'from said sand-receptacles, substantially as described.

37. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding num-V ber of sand-receptacles rotatably supported above said mold-supports and rotating in unison therewith, stationary fluid-pressuresupplying mechanism for supplying sand to the molds from said sand-receptacles, and means for supplying sand to said receptacles, substantially as described. f

38. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding number of sand-holding receptacles, having. one

ilo

or more constricted openin s at their lower ends, rotatably supported a ove said moldholding devices and rotating in unison there' With, means for intermittently rotating said turn-table and sand holding rece tacles, fluid-pressure-supplying mechanism or supplying the molds with sand from said sandrece tacles, and means for connecting said lui -pressure-supplying mechanism with the different sand-receptacles, substantially as described.

39. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding number of sand-holdin receptacles havin one or more constricte openings at their lower ends, rotatably supported above said moldholding devices and rotating in unison therewith, means for intermittently rotating said turn-table and sand holding receptacles, means for holding the molds while in charging position in engagement with the lower ends of said sand-holding rece tacles, and means for sup lying compresse air to said receptacles, suiistantially as described.

40. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding number oi sand-holding receptacles having one or more constricted openings at their lower ends, rotatably supported above said moldholding devices and rotating in unison therewith, means for intermittently rotating said turn-table and sand-holding receptacles, means for holding the molds while in charging position in engagement with the lower ends of said sand-holding rece tacles, and means for supplying compresse air to said receptacles and Jfor exhausting it therefrom while the molds are in engagement with said receptacles, substantially as described.

41. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corres onding number of sand-rece tacles rotatalily supported above said mold-i olding devices and rotating in unison therewith, each of said sand-receptacles consisting of a cylinder open at its upper end and having one or more constricted openings at its lower end, means for intermittently rotatin said mold-holding devices and sand-receptac es, means for closing the upper ends of said receptacles when in charging position, means for moving the mold-su orts to carry the molds into en agement with the lower ends of said receptac es when in charging position, and means for sup lying compressed air to said receptacles or charging the molds, substantially as described.

- 42. Asand-moldin apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a glurallty of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corres onding number of sand-rece tacles rotata ly supported above said moldolding devices and rotating in unison therewith, each of said sand-recep- Vto carry the molds into engagement Wit tacles consisting of a cylinder open at its upper end and having one or more constricted openings at its lower end, means for intermittently rotatin said mold-holding devices and sand-receptac es, means for closing the upper ends of sald receptacles When in charging position, means for moving the mold-supports the lower ends of said receptac es when 1n charging position, and means for sup lying compressed air to said receptacles or charging the molds and for exhausting the air therefrom While the upper end thereof is closed, substantially as described.

43. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding number of sand-rece tacles rotatably supported above said moldolding devices and rotating in unison therewith, each of said sand-receptacles consisting of a cylinder open at its upper end vand having one or more constricted openings at its lower end, means for intermittently rotatin said mold-holding devices and sand-receptac es, means for closing the upper ends of said receptacles when in charging position, means for moving the mold-su orts to carry the molds into en agement wit the lower ends of said receptacgles when in charging position, means for sup lying compressed air to said receptacles for c ar 'ng the molds, and means for supplying san to said receptacles before they reach the charging position, substantiall as described.

44. A sand-mo ding apparatus, comprising a turn-table, a plurality of mold-holding devices carried thereby, a corresponding number of sand-holding receptacles for supplying sand to the molds carried by the turn-table, stationary luid-pressure-supplying mechanism for char ing the molds with sand from said receptac es, means for intermittently rotating sald turn-table, and means for locking said turn-table against rotation while the molds are being charged, substantially as described.

45. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising means for supporting the mold, a sand-receptacle having a constricted opening communieating with theA mold, and means for admittin compressed air directly to the sand in sai receptacle, substantially as described.

46. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising means for supporting t e mold, mechanism for introducing compressed air and sand together into the mold, and means for automatically operating said mechanism.

47. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising movable means for supporting a plurality oi' molds, sand holding means for supplying sand thereto, fluid-pressure mechamsm for charging the molds, and means for automatically operating said parts, substantially as described.

48. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising IOO IOS

'cessively.

means for holding sand, means for moving la lurality of molds into and out of position to he charged with sand, Huid-pressure mechan-4 ism for charging the molds, and means for automatically operating said moving and charging mechanisms.

49. A continuously-operating molding apparatus, comprising means for lsupporting a lurality of molds, Huid-pressure mechanism For successively charging the molds With sand, and means for automatically operating said charging means to charge the molds suc- 50. A sand-molding apparatus, comprising means for supporting the mold, a sand-chamber having a partly-open bottom to'support the sand, and means for supplying compressed air to said sand-chamber ,to carry sand from said sand-chamber and pack the same in the mold.

51. A sand-molding apparatus comprising means for supporting a mold and means for conducting compressed air charged With sand to and causing it to expand in the mold.

52. A sand-molding a paratus com rising a sand-holding receptaclpe adapted to old a said receptacle and carryparticles of sand p into the mold.

53. A sand-molding apparatus comprising means for sup ortinv the mold, a receptacle adapted to ho d sand in mass, and means for conducting compressed air char ed with sand from said receptacle into the mo d.

54. A sand-molding apparatus comprising means for supporting the mold, a compression-chamber adapted to contain sand in mass, and to be laced in communication With the mold, anCFmeans for directing compressed air through the mass of sand 1n said chamber into the mold, to iil-l the mold With sand from the mass.

ALFRED M. HEWLETT.- MADDRA J. HEWLETT.