US1025438A - Mold for casting circular objects. - Google Patents

Description

T. D. WEST. MOLD FOR CASTING CIRCULAR OBJECTS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1911. RENEWED OOT.18, 1911.

1,025,438, 1 1 Patented May 7, 1912.

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T. D. WE

. FOR OASTIN OBJECTS.

. APPLlO-A FILED FEB. 20, RENEWED OCT. 18, 191]. 1,025,43 I Patented M 1912.

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MOLD FOR CASTING CIRCULAR OBJECTS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1911. RENEWED 001. 1a, 1911 1,025,438, Patented May 7,1912.

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T. -D. WEST.

MOLD FOR CASTING CIRCULAR OBJECTS. APPLICATION TILED FEB. 20, 1911. RENEWED OUT. 18, 191]. 1,025,43

Paivzente d Ma 7, 1912;

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THOMAS D. WEST, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MOLD FOR CASTING CIRCULAR OBJECTS.

Application filed February 20, 1911, Serial No. 609,593.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. Wns'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l Iolds for Casting Circular Objects; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved mold for casting peripherally chilled circular objects, such, for instance, as chilled carwheels and rolls, and pertains more especially to a mold comprising the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged annular chiller or chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the moltenmetal-receiving chamber of the mold, and endwise movable casting-centering members which are spaced circumferentially and placed substantially radially of the chill and normally in position to move inwardly and thereby participate in the centering of a casting within the said chamber, of means for actuating the said casting-centering members inwardly and outwardly relative to the said chamber, said means being con nected to the chill in such a manner that the said casting-centering members are moved inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat and are actuated outwardly during the cooling and horizontal contraction of the expanded chill.

The primary object of this invention is therefore not only to use the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat in moving the aforesaid casting-centering members inwardly, but to utilize the horizontal contraction of the chill during the cooling of the chill in actuating the inwardly shifted casting-centering members outwardly into their normal position.

Another object is to provide for the escape of gases or air from within the said chamberat the internal surface of the chill to and along the under sides of the casting-centering members. I v

Another object is to so arrange and operate the casting-centering members relative to the chill that the said casting-centering members rest upon the chill only at their inner ends and have their central portion Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1912.

Renewed. October 18, 1911. Serial No. 655,397.

and outer end portion exposed all around to the external atmosphere so that the said casting-centering members are not only kept in a comparatively cool condition, but friction between the chill and the said castingcentering members is reducedto a minimum so as to prevent binding of the said castingcentering members during their endwise movements.

Another object is to employ suitably supported levers for actuating the said castingcentering members, which levers are fulcrumed intermediate their ends and independent of the chill and are each operatively connected at one end with a casting-centering member and at the other end with the chill so that each lever is swung in the direction required to move the connected casting-centering member inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat, and swung in the opposite direction during the cooling and horizontal contraction of the chill to actuate the said casting-centering member outwardly.

Another object is to have the said casting V centering members horizontally pivoted to the said levers and to positively prevent upward displacement of the said casting-centering members at their inner ends during the actuation of the said casting-centering members.

Another object is to have the said levers fulcrumed not only independent of the chill but to lugs formed on the casing of the cope of the mold, and to so arrange the said lugs and to have them exposed to the external atmosphere that there is no liability of ma terial expansion of the said lugs and dis placement of the fulcrums of the levers during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat is substantially avoided.

Another object is to be able to assist the aforesaid casting-centering members in centering the casting formed in the chamber of the mold by the sole admission of air under pressure, or fine particles of sand or other material carried with an air pressure, between the internal surface of the chill and the peripheral surface of the casting and thereby laterally support all of the contracting crust or shell of the casting externally during the cooling and contraction of the casting and lateral and outward expansion of the chill and participate in preventing the occurrence of cracks or other de fects in the said shell or crust.

With these objects in view, and to the end of attaining any other advantages hereinafter appearing, this invention consists in certain features of construction, and combinations and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improved mold ready for pouring. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 22, Fig. 1, looking downwardly. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the mold showing a car-wheel H cast within the mold. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 1 1, Fig. 1, looking downwardly. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55, Fig. 1, looking upwardly. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 66, Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 77, Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line S8, Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 9 is a vertical sect-ion 011 line 99, Fig. 8, loo-king inwardly. a horizontal section on line 1010, Fig. 8,

tion on line 11-11, Fig. 8, looking outwardly. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2, 3, i

4 and 5.

My improved mold consists in the main of an upper mold-part or cope, a lower moldpart or drag and a central mold-partin the form of a chiller or chill.

I would here remark that an annular chill employed as the central part or a mold for casting chilled car-wheels or other circular objects expands approximately the maximum extent in a few minutes after the mold has been filled with molten metal, and the mold illustrated and hereinafter described utilizes this expansion, which is gradual and uniform, in controlling the operation of appliances that are instrumental in insuring the production of a chilled car-wheel or other circular object having a peripheral chilled crust or shell which is uniform in thickness circumferentially of the said circular object and concentric relative to the axis or center of the said circular object.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, A indicates an annular metal shell or casing which forms a portion of the lower mold-part or drag and is concentric relative to the center of the mold. The casing A is arranged vertically and rests upon a horizontally arranged metal plate 15 which forms the bottom of the drag, which bottom is provided with vent-holes 16 and a ver tically downwardly projecting annular flange 17 serving to elevate the bottom above Fig. 10 is i ber C.

looking upwardly. Fig. 11 is a vertical sec- E the floor or support upon which the mold is to be mounted. The drag is suitably rammed with sand, and the body of packed sand 18 of the drag fills the chamber formed within the casing A. The top of the sandbody 18 of the drag has the contour required to form the bottom of the casting.

B (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and indicates an annular metal shell or casing which forms a portion of the upper mold-part or cope and is concentric relative to the center of the mold. The casing B is arranged vertically and supported as will. hereinafter appear. The cope is suitably rammed with sand, and the body of packed sand 28 of the cope substantially fills the chamber formed within the casing B. The bottom of the sand-body 28 of the cope has the con tour required to form the top of the casting.

The cope and the drag are spaced vertically. That is, the cope is arranged a suitable distance above the drag to form a chamber C between them, which chamber is shown enlarged diametrically and annularly at its lower end, as at 30 (see Figs. 1 and 4:). The sand-body 18 of the drag and the sandbody 28 of the cope form the bottom and top wall respectively of the cham- D represents the central mold-part known as the chiller or chill which is annular and arranged vertically and centered relative to the drag andthe cope, being instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber C. The chill D is of cast-iron or other metal. The chill D is arranged concentrically relative to the center of the mold.

The flange of the car-wheel to be cast in the mold shown is formed next above the outer portion of the drag, and the lower portion of the chill is shaped internally as required to form the upper portion of the said flange, and the body of packed sand 18 of the drag is contoured as required to form the lower portion of the said flange. The periphery or tread of the said wheel. be tween the flanged end and opposite end of the wheel is formed in the main by the internal surface of the chill D. Obviously therefore the chill is instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber C.

The chill D is supported from the drag. and preferably the drag-casing A (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4:) is provided at its upper end face with an annular recess (I- which extends along the upper end face of the said casing. The recess (I, is arranged externally of and spaced from and surrounds the chamber (T and is shown in registry with an annular recess 0? formed in the under side of the chill, and the last-mentioned recess is arranged externally of and spaced from and surrounds the said chamber. The inner side wall of the recess a is provided in the upper portion thereof, and preferably at the chamber Cand the slots 20 to the lower end face of the chill D and forms the lower end of the surrounding wall of the said chamber as well as a sand partition between the said chamber and the said slots. The recess a is provided between two adjacent slots 20 with an air-inlet 21, and (see Fig. 1) a pipe E, which has a normally closed valve 6, is provided for supplying air under pressure to the said air-inlet. The pipe E is applied to the drag-casing A in any approved manner. By the construction hereinbefore described it will be observed that the recesses a and (Z form an annular chamber; that this chamber is arranged externally and spaced from and extends circumferentially of the molten-metal-receiving chamber C of the mold; that the air-supply pipe E communicates with the chamber formed by the said recesses, and that the slots 20 form air-outlets of the lastmentioned chamber. The chill D is shown centered relative to the drag, and, as shown in Fig. 1, rests upon the dragcasing A at the outer side of the chamber formed by the recesses a and d.

The drag-casing A (see Figs. 1 and 4) is provided at its upper end and externally with laterally and outwardly projecting lugs A which are spaced circumferentially of the drag. Each lug A is provided with a vertically arranged pin G which is suitably attached to the said lug. Preferably the pin G of each lug A is provided with a downwardly facing annular shoulder g which rests upon the top surface of the lug, (as shown in Fig. 1) and the said pin extends below the said shoulder through a correspondingly arranged hole a formed in the said lug and a suitable distance below the lug and is screw-threaded below the lug, and a nut h is screwed onto the said pin atthe under side of the lug, which nut is tightened against the last-mentioned side of the lug and thereby secures the said pin rigidly to the lug.

The upper portion of each pin G (see Fig. 1) projects a suitable distance above the respective pin-supporting lug A of the dragcasing into a slot (Z formed in and extending vertically through a lug D formed on and externally of the chill. The chill is therefore provided at its lower end and externally with as many laterally and out wardly projecting lugs D as there are lugs A formed on the drag-casing, and the slots ti formed in the said lugs of the chill are arranged radially of the chill. Opposite side walls of each slot (Z are spaced just enough to receive the engaging pin G between them so that the said walls and the pins Gr constitute means for preventing circumferential displacement of the chill. The relative arrangement of the parts is such that in the normal condition of the chill, before any lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat, each pin G, as shown in Fig. 1, is arranged next to the outer end wall of the engaging slot d which extends inwardly beyond the said pin toward the chamber C of the mold far enough to accommodate a lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat. Each pin G projects upwardly through and a suitable distance above the engaging slot d in the respective lug D of the chill and tapers toward its upper extremity to facilitate the reception of the said pin by the said slot during the application of the chill to the drag-casing. It will be observed therefore that the outer end walls of the said slots cl and the pins G cooperate in accurately centering the chill relative to the drag-casing during the assemblage of the parts and keep the chill ac curately centered relative to the drag-casing.

The cope-casing B is mounted on and therefore supported from the chill D. Preferably the cope-casing B (see Figs. 1 and 5) is provided at its lower end with downwardly projecting flanges b which are spaced circumferentially of the cope and rest on the'bottom of a recess 14 which is formed in the upper end face of the chill and spaced from and extends circumferentially of the chamber C. Preferably the cope-casing B only rests at its flanges 6 upon the chill so that friction between the cope and the chill during the lateral and outward expansion by heat of the chill independent of the cope is reduced to a minimum.

The chill D (see Figs. 1 and 5) is pro vided at its upper end and externally with laterally and outwardly projecting lugs D which are spaced circumferent-ially of the chill. Each lug D (see also Figs. 6 and 7) is provided with a slot (Z which is arranged radially of the chill and extends vertically through the said lug. The slot (Z in each lug D is engaged by a bolt I which extends vertically through thesaid slot and through a corresponding bolt-hole b formed in and extending vertically through a lug B with which (see also Fig. 2) the cope-casing B is provided. It will be observed therefore that the cope-casing B is provided externally with as many laterally and outwardly projecting lugs B as there are lugs D on the chill; that each lug D is overhung by a lug B that the bolt-hole Z9 in each lug B is just large enough diametrically to receive the engaging bolt and arranged in line vertically and therefore in registry wit-h the outer portion of the slot d in the adjacent lug D and that the bolt has its head shown abutting or bearing against the top surface of the said lug B The shank of the said bolt extends a suitable distance below the said lug D and a nut K (see Figs. 6 and 7) is mounted on the said bolt at the under side of the said lug. A washer L is interposed between the said nut K and the said lug D The said nut K is screwed far enough onto the engaging bolt I to cause the bolt to tightly hold the cope down upon the chill. Preferably opposite side walls of each slot (Z are just spaced enough to receive the engaging bolt I between them so that the said walls and the said bolt constitute means for preventing circumferential displacement of the cope. The relative arrangement of the parts is such that in the normal condition of the chill, before any lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat, each bolt l, as shown in Fig. 1, is arranged next to the outer end wall of the engaging slot d which extends far enough inwardly beyond the said bolt toward the chamber C of the mold to accommodate a lateral and out-ward ex pansion of the chill by heat. It is evident that the outer end walls of the slots (Z and the bolts I cooperate in accurately centering the cops relative to the chill during the semblage of the parts and keep the cope accurately centered relative to the chill preparatory to the operation of the mold.

Preferably the washer L on each bolt 1 (see Figs. 6 and 7 is oblong and uniform in width from end to end and engages a correspondingly oblong recess 13 formed in the under side of the lug D through which the said bolt extends, which recess is arranged radially of the chill and extends to the outer extremity of the said lug to accommodate the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat. The said washer L is wedgeshaped in thickness and tapers toward its outer end so that, although the said washer is clamped against the under side of the contiguous lug D by tightening the nut K on the bolt I extending through the said lug, such. tightening of the said nut does not interfere with the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat because the aforesaid taper of the washer renders the washer loose relative to the lug as soon as any lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat has begun. Preferably the said washer has a horizontally arranged under side, and the top side of the washer and the top wall of the recess engaged by the washer slope upwardly in the direction of the inner end of the washer, and the said recess is wide enough from end to end and extends far enough radially inwardly to accommodate the lateral and outward expansion of the chill. It will be observed also that the bolts I and nuts K removably attach the cope to the chill.

The cope-casing B is enough larger in internal diameter than the chill D at the upper end of the chill to cause the inner portion of the chill to be covered by the sand-body 28 of the cope around the bore in the chill, as shown in F 1 and The sand-body 28 of the cope is shown provided in its under side and centrally with a circular cavity 35 which forms the upper central portion of the chamber C and is arranged in line vertically with a circular cavity 35 forming the lower central portion of the said chamber and shown formed in and centrally of the top of the sand-body 18 of the drag. The sand-body 28 of the cope is provided in its under side and next the internal surface of the chill Dwith an annular recess 36 which is arranged concentrially relative to the chill and forms an upward annular enlargement of the chamber G.

The cope and the drag of the mold illustrated are rammed to more especially lit them for casting a car-wheel which has a hub provided with a central bore extending therethrough, and consequently a baked sand-core f is shown arranged vertically and centrally of the chamber C and extends through the said chamber and through the cavities 25 and 35 from within the bottom of the cavity 25 into the top wall of the cavity 35. The top wall of the cope-cavitv 35 forms the bottom of a circular pouring basin which has the surrounding wall 37 of its chamber built up of sand and inclosed by a metal casing 38 which is connected with the cope-casing B by webs 3f) which are spaced circumferentially of the said basin and instrumental in supporting the said-body 28 of the cope. The pouring basin is formed cent-rally of the sand-body 28 of the cope and has its bottom provided with gates or perforations 40 which establish communication between the said basin and the chamber C. The molten metal employed in pouring the mold is supplied to the pouring basin and thence flows through the gates or perforations 40 into the chamber C and fills every unoccupied portion of the said chamber. The casting formed in the mold obviously contracts horimntally or diametrically when it cools and becomes smaller in external diameter during the cooling process and thereby frees the chill 1).

Means employed in centering the casting at its upper end and keeping the casting accurately centered relative to the center of the mold during the cooling and horizontal contraction of the casting while in the mold comprises movable members such. for instance, (see Figs. 1, 2, 5, S, 9, l0, and 11) as endwise shiftable bars J arranged over and substantially radially of the chill and spaced circumferentially of the chamber C. Each casting-centering bar J extends into a recess 46 formed in the under side of the sandbody 28 of the cope, which recess is arranged externally of and spaced. outwardly from the annular recess 36 in the said side of the said sand-body. Each bar J has bearing at its inner end upon the inner portion of the chill and in its outer and normal position is spaced at its inner extremity from the internal surface of the chill and consequently from the annular recess 36 in the under side of the sand-body of the cope. Each bar J has its inner end face 22 beveled and facing upwardly and inwardly or toward the chamber G, and

the surrounding wall of the recess 36 in the under side of the sand-body of the cope, and consequently the said sand-body, extends in front of, as at 23, and covers the said end face of the said bar. The said wall of the said recess is flush at its lower extremity with the internal surface of the chill D at the upper end of the chill, and consequently the sand-body 28 of the cope has the portion thereof which projects in front of and covers the inner end faces of the bars J in the outer and normal position of the said bars forming the upper end of the surrounding wall of the chamber C and arranged to be forcibly crowded inwardly by the said bars during the inward actuation of the said bars as will hereinafter appear.

The top of the outer portion of the chill and the under side of each bar J are so relatively contoured and arranged, as shown very clearly in Figs. 1 and 8, that the said bar only rests at its inner end upon the chill so as to reduce the friction between the bar and the chill to a minimum during the endwise movement of the bar, and the outer portion of the copecasing B is slotted or cut away, as at 24, to accommodate the application, location and operation. of the said bar. Each bar J extends across the recess 14: in the upper end face of the chill and has its central portion and outer portion exposed all around to the external atmosphere so as to keep the bar in a comparatively cool condition, and the outer side wall of the said recess is preferably recessed, as at 19, under the said bar.

Each bar J extends from the point at which it has bearing upon the inner portion of the chill D laterally and outwardly to an upright lever B (see Figs. 8, l0 and 11) and, at its outer end, is provided with a pivotal pin J which forms a pivotal connection between the lever and the bar and is arranged horizontally and transversely of and extends through the bar and has bearing in the side walls of a slot 26 which is formed in and centrally of the upper portion of the said lever which is arranged between two suitably spaced. lugs B formed on and depending from the outer port-ion of the cope-casing B. The slot 26 in the lever R extends from the central portion of the lever upwardly to the upper extremity of the lever. The said lever is also provided in its lower portion and centrally with a slot 27 which extends from the central portion to the lower extremity of the lever, and av lug 32 which is formed on the chill projects laterally of and outwardly from the chill into the last-mentioned slot. A pin 33, which has bearing in the said lug 32, is arranged horizontally and parallel with the pin J and extends into slots 34 formed in and centrally of the side walls of the slot 27 in the said lever and cooperating with the said walls in forming an operative connection between the said lever and the chill for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The said lever is fulcrumed by a pin r which is arranged above the lastmentioned lug, which pin extends through the lower slot 27 in the lever and through the side walls of the said slot into and has bearing in the adjacent lugs B of the copecasing B. The fulcrum-forming pin r is arranged horizontally and parallel with the axis of the pivotal connection between the said lever and the connected bar J. It will be observed therefore that the said lever is arranged to swing in a vertical plane, and the pin 33 instrumental in forming the operative connection between the lever and the chill is parallel with the axis of the lever, and the slots 34 in the said lever extend from the lower extremity of the lever upwardly a suitable distance so that the said pin 33 is straddled by the lever. By the construction hereinbefore described it will be observed that the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat, which expansion occurs during the cooling and contraction of a casting formed in the mold, results in the swinging of all of the levers R simultaneously outwardly at their operative connection with the lugs 32 of the chill and consequently in the direction required to swing the upper ends of the levers inwardly so as to move the connected bars J endwise and inwardly and so that the sand-body 28 of the cope will have that portion thereof which projects in front of and covers the beveled inner end faces of the said bars crowded inwardly and kept in a tight pressing contact with the cooling and contracting peripheral crust or shell of the casting H shown in Fig. 3.

By the construction hereinbefore described it will be observed that my improved mold, besides comprising the movable members for participating in the centering of the casting during the cooling and contraction of the casting, not only com prises means employed in actuating the said casting-centering members mwardly and having the operation thereof controlled by the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat, but also comprises means whereby the casting-centering members upon the completion of their casting-centering operation are returned into their outer and normal position by the cooling and contraction of the laterally and outwardly panded chill. I would here remark that the utilization of the laterally and outward expansion of the chill by heat to swing the levers It in the direction required to move the casting-centering members J inwardly during the said expansion of the chill constitutes an exceedingly valuable feature of a mold of the character indicated, but equally invaluable in the utilization of the contraction of the chill after the formation and cooling or contraction of the casting in actuating the said levers in the opposite direction and thereby effecting the return of the said casting-centering members into their normal position during the said contraction of the chill.

I would here remark that each castingcentering bar J (see Figs. 2, 5, 9 and 10) is preferably enlarged at its inner end, as at 4:2, in opposite directions circumferentially of the chamber C of the mold to enlarge the bearing of the said bar on or against the chill circumferentially of the said chamber and to enlarge the sphere of operation of the said bar circumferentially of the cooling and contracting casting, and the rest-ing of the said bar on the chill only at the inner end of the bar is not only important to reduce the friction between the said bar and the chill to a minimum, but to avoid the formation of an air-tight joint between the chill and. the said bar. That is, although the joint formed between the chill and each bar J and sand-covering 23 of the inner end face of the said bar is tight enough to prevent the escape of molten metal from the chamber C at the said joint, is not positively air-tight and consequently gases and air are permitted to escape at the said joint from the internal surface of the chill to and outwardly along the under side of the said bar during the pouring of the mold. To facilitate any desired rapid passage of gases or air from the internal surface of the chill outwardly along the under side of the cast ing-centering bars J each bar J is provided in the under side of each extension 42 thereof with recesses 43 which extend transversely of the said extensions from the inner end face of the bar, as shown in Fig, 10, and the said face at. the bottom thereof is also preferably corrugated or roughened, as at 41, (see Fig. 10) from end to end of the face.

The cope-casing 13, above each castingcentering bar J between the ends of the said bar, is provided centrally between the side edges of the bar (see Figs. 1 and 8) with a screw-threaded hole lt which extends vertically through the cope-casing and is engaged by a correspondingly arranged screw T which is screwed very loosely into the cope-casing at the said hole. The said screw is provided at the top of the said bar with a downwardly facing annular shoulder I; (see also F 10) which overlaps the upper side of the said bar and prevents displacement of the bar upwardly from the chill, and the said screw has its lower end portion extending below the said shoulder and engaging a slot to formed in and extending vertically through the central portion of the bar. which slot is arranged centrally between the side edges and longitudinally of the bar and has its side walls spaced just far enough to receive the said portion of the said screw between them so that the said portion of the screw and the said walls positively prevent any displacement of the said bar laterally. In other words the side walls of the said slot to guide the said bar during the endwise movement of the bar, and the said slot extends far enough outwardly beyond the engaging screw and in the direction of the connected lever R to permit the inward movement of the bar in the outer and normal position of the bar.

The joint formedbetween the sand-body 18 of the drag and the chill D externally of the diametrical enlargement 30 of the chamber C is tight enough to prevent the escape from the said chamber at the said joint of molten metal during the pouring of the mold but is not air-tight, and hence any air or fine solid matter supplied to the chamber formed by the recesses a and (Z upon opening the valve 0 of the air-supply pipe E will force its way from the outlets Q0 of the said chamber along the joint between the said sand-body and the chill to the internal surface of the chill, and I would here remark that as soon as the crust or shell of the casting formed in the mold begins to contract the valve 6 is opened to supply air under pressure to the internal surface of the chill and air and accompanying fine solid matter supplied to the said surface will become distributed all around the contracting crust or shell of the casting between the latter and the internal surface of the chill, and will not only assist the bars J and sandcovering of the inner end faces of the said bars in centering the casting, but will afford a lateral support to the casting all around the said shell or crust and. thereby prevent the internal pressure of molten metal within the casting from cracking or otherwise injuring the said crust or shell.

I would have it understood that my in vention embraces broadly the provision of means whereby during the horizontal contraction of the casting a pneumatic pressure, such, for instance, as air under pressure, may be supplied to the space between the periphery of the contracting casting and the casting-surrounding portion of the mold. I would also remark that A in Fig. 4 represents lugs or aprons which are formed on and externally of the upper end of the dragcasing A, which aprons are spaced circumferentially of the drag and project laterally and outwardly, and the said aprons are shown so arranged relative to the levers R that an apron extends under each lever It, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The aprons A are useful .in preventing sand, in ramming the drag when the mold is placed down side up, from dropping onto the levers R, so that there is no liability of sand finding access to the connection between the said levers and the chill, or to the fulcrums of the levers. or to the pivotal connection between the said levers and the bars J.

What I claim is 1. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a chill instrumental in forming the surrounding walls of the molten-metal-receiving chamber of the mold, and casting-centering means normally arranged to be operated to center a casting formed in the said chamber, of means whereby the said casting-centering means is operated to center the casting by the expansion of the chill by heat and then returned to its normal arrangement by the cooling and contraction of the expanded chill.

2. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill .instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the moltenmetal-receiving chamber of the mold, and casting-centering means normally arranged to be operated to center a casting formed in the said chamber, of means whereby the said casting-centering means is operated to center the casting by the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat and then returned to its normal arrangement by the horizontal contraction of the laterally and outwardly expanded chill during the cooling of the chill.

3. In a moldfor casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the molten-metalreceiving chamber of the mold, and suitably supported movable casting-centering members spaced circumferentially of the chill and normally in position to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the said chamber, of means instrumental in actuating the casting-centering members inwardly and outwardly relative to the said chamber and having the operation thereof for effecting the inward movement of the casting-centering members controlled by the expansion of the chill by heat and having the operation thereof, for efiecting the outward movement of the said casting-centering members upon the said expansion of the chill controlled by the contract-ion of the expanded chill.

4. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the moltenmetal-receiving chamber of the mold, and suitably supported casting-centering members spaced circumferentially and movable laterally of the chill and normally in position to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the said chamber, of means instrumental in actuating the casting-centering members inwardly and outwardly relative to the said chamber and having the operation thereof for efiecting the inward movement of the casting-centering members controlled by the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat and having the operation thereof for effecting the outward movement of the said castingcentering members upon the said expansion of the chill controlled by the cooling and horizontal contraction of the laterally expanded chill.

5. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the molten-metalreceiving chamber of the mold, and castingcentering means normally arranged to be operated to center a casting formed in the said chamber, of suitably supported levers operatively connected with the said castingcentering means, which levers operate the said casting-centering means to center the casting during the movement of the levers in one direction and have their said movement controlled by the expansion of the chill by heat.

6. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the molten metalreceiving chamber of the 1nold,and cast ing-centering means normally arranged to be operated to center a casting formed in the said chamber, of suitably supported levers operatively connected with the said castingcentering means, which levers operate the said castingcentering means to center the casting during the swinging of the levers in one direction and have their said movement con trolled by the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat, said levers having their movement .in the opposite direction upon the centering of the casting by the said castingcentering means controlled by the cooling and contraction of the expanded chill.

7. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combinatioinwith a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the molten metal-receiving chamber of the mold, and

movable casting-centering members spaced circumferentially of the chill and normally arranged to move inwardly and thereby participate in the centering of a casting formed in the said chamber, of levers operatively connected with the said casting-centering members and supported independent of the chill, which levers are simultaneously swung to move the casting-centering members inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat.

8. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the molten metal-receiving chamber of the mold, and movable casting-centering members spaced circumferentially of and having bearing on the chill and normally arranged to move inwardly and thereby participate in the centering of a casting formed in the said chamber, of upright levers operatively connected at their upper ends with the said castingcentering members, each lever being operatively connected with the chill below a casting-centering member and fulcrumed independent of the chill at a point between the said casting-centering member and the connection of the lever to the chill, said lever being arranged to be swung in the direction required to move the said casting-centering member inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat.

9. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding-wall of the molten-metalreceiving chamber of the mold, which chill is provided externally with laterally and outwardly projecting lugs which are spaced circumferentially of the chill, and movable casting-centering members spaced circumferentially of and having bearing on the chill and normally arranged to move inwardly and thereby participate in the centering of a casting formed in the said chamber, of upright levers operatively connected at their upper ends with the said casting-centering members, which levers are fulcrumed above the aforesaid lugs and independent of the chill, said levers being operatively connected with the said lugs and swung by the chill to move the said casting-centering members inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat and swung by the chill to actuate the said casting-centering members outwardly during the horizontal contraction of the expanded chill.

10. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a lower moldpart or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamher; a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, and movable casting-centering members spaced circumferent-ially of the chill and arranged to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the said chamber, of levers spaced circumferentially of the chill and supported from the cope, which levers are instrumental in establishing operative connection between the chill and the aforesaid casting-centering members and arranged to be swung by the chill in the direction required to move the said casting-centering members inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat.

11. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a lower moldpart or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber; a substantially vertically arranged chill in strumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, and movable castingcentering members extending over and spaced circumterentially of the chill and arranged to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting forming the said chamber, of upright levers spaced circumferentially of the chill and supported from the cope intermediate their ends, which levers are operatively connected at their upper ends with the aforesaid casting-centering members and at their lower ends with the chill, said levers being arranged to be swung by the chill in the direction required to move the said casting-centering members inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat.

12. In a mold for casting a circular ob ject, the combination, with a lower moldpart or drag; an upper mold-part or cope having a casing and arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal. to the chamber; a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamher, and suitably supported movable casting-centering members spaced circumferentially of the chill and arranged to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the said chamber, of levers spaced circumferentially of the chill and instrumental in establishing operative connection between the chill and the aforesaid casting-centering members, and lugs supporting the levers and formed on the aforesaid casing of the cope and projecting externally of the chill downwardly from the said casing, the levers being arranged to be actuated by the chill to move the aforesaid casting-centering members inwardly during the lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat.

13. In a mold for casting a circular object, a lower mold-part or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber be tween the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, said cope being rammed with a body of packed sand, said sand-body forming the top wall of the chamber; a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber, and suitably actuated endwise movable castingcentering bars arranged over and substantially radially and spaced circumferentially of the chill and being normally in position to move inwardly and thereby'participate in centering a casting formed in the chamber, each bar being spaced at its inner end from the internal surface of the chill and resting at the said end upon the chill, and the aforesaid sand-body of the cope extending in front of and covering the inner end faces of the bars and forming the upper end of the surrounding wall of the chamber.

14:. In a mold for casting a circular object, a lower mold-part or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, said cope bein rammed with a body of packed sand, said sand-body forming the top wall of the chamber; a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber, and suitably actuated endwise movable casting-centering bars arranged over and substantially radially and spaced circumferentially of the chill and be ing normally in position to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the chamber, each bar having its inner end face beveled and facing upwardly and toward the chamber, and the aforesaid sand-body of the cope extending in front of and covering the beveled end faces of the bars and forming the upper end of the surrounding wall of the chamber.

15. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber, and suitably actuated endwise movable casting-centering bars arranged over and substantially radially and spaced circumferentially of the chill and being normally in position to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the chamber, each bar resting only at its inner end upon the chill and having its outer portion exposed all around to th ternal atmosphere, said bar being enlarged at its inner end circumferentially of the chamber and provided in its under side with recesses which extend outwardly from the inner extremity of the bar.

16. In a mold for casting a circular object, a lower mold-part or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten met-a1 to the chamber, said cope being rammed with a body of packed sand, said sand-body forming the top wall of the chamber; a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber, and suitably actuated endwise movable casting-centering bars arranged over and substantially radially and spaced circumferentially of the chill and being normally in posit-ion to move inwardly and thereby participate in center ing a casting formed in the chamber, each bar resting at its inner end upon the chill and having the said end enlarged circumferentially of the chamber and provided at the under side with recesses which extend outwardly from the inner extremity of the bar, the aforesaid sand-body of the cope extending in front of the inner end faces of the bars and forming the upper end of the surrounding wall of the chamber.

17. In a mold for a casting a circular object, a lower mold-part or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, said cope being rammed with a body of packed sand, said sand-body forming the top wall of the chamber; a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber, and suitably actuated endwise movable casting-centering bars arranged over and substantially radially and spaced circumferentially of the chill and being normally in position to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the chamber, each bar being spaced at its inner end from the internal surface of the chill and having its inner end face beveled and facing upwardly and toward the chamber and resting only at its inner end upon the chill and having its central and outer portions exposed all around to the external atmosphere, said bar being enlarged at its inner end in opposite directions circumferentially of the chamber, the aforesaid sand-body of the cope extending in front of and covering the aforesaid end faces of the bars and forming the upper end of the surrounding wall of the chamber.

18. In a mold for casting a circular ob- 'je t, the t mb-inati n, w h a subs antially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the moltenmetal-receiving chamber of the mold, of suitably actuated movable casting-centering bars arranged over the chill and substantially radially and spaced circumferentially of the chamber and being normally in position to move inwardly and thereby participate in centering a casting formed in the chamber, each bar being provided centrally between its ends with a slot which is spaced from the side edges of the bar and extends vertically through and longitudinally of the bar, and a stationary member for guiding the said bar, said guiding member having a shoulder overlapping the upper surface of the bar and extending below the said shoulder into the slot in the bar.

19. In a mold for casting a circular object, a lower mold-part or drag having a casing which is provided externally with lugs which are spaced circumferentially of the drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber; a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the chamber, which chill is provided externally with lugs arranged over the different lugs respectively of the aforesaid drag-casing and provided each with a slot which extends vertically through the respeetive lug and is arranged radially of the chill,

and pins attached to the lugs of the dragcasing and projecting upwardly into the slots in the lugs of the chill and in the unexpanded and normal condition of the chill being arranged next the outer end walls of the said slots, each slot having its side walls just spaced enough to receive the engaging pin between them.

20. In a mold for casting a circular object, a lower mold-part or drag having a casing which is provided at its upper end and externally with several laterally and out wardly projecting lugs which are spaced circumferentially of the drag, each lug being provided with a vertically upwardly projecting and upwardly tapering pin at tached to the lug: an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal .to the chamber, and a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, which chill is provided at its lower end and externally with laterally and outwardly projecting lugs arranged over the different lugs respectively of the aforesaid drag-casing, each lug of the chill being provided, with a slot which extends vertically through the respective lug and is arranged radially of the chill, which slot is normally engaged next its outer end wall by the pin of the adjacent lug of the drag-casing.

21. In a mold for casting a circular object, a lower mold-part or drag; an upper 1noldpart or cope arranged above and spaced from the dragito form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, said cope comprising a cireumferentially extending casing provided externally with lugs which are spaced circumferentially of the cope and provided each with a vertical bolt-hole which is just large enough to receive a bolt; a substantially vertically arranged chill in strmnental in forming the surrounding wall of the aforesaid chamber and provided externally with lugs spaced circumferentially of the chill and arranged below the different lugs respectively of the cope-casing, each lug of the chill being provided centrally with a slot which extends vertically through the said lug and normally has its outer end portion in registry with the bolt-hole in the adjacent lug of the cope-casing and is arranged radially of the chill and provided in its under side with a recess which is arranged radially of the chill; a washer engaging the said recess and having a bolthole which is just large enough to receive a bolt and arranged in line vertically with the bolt-hole in the adjacent lug of the copecasing, the upper side of the said washer and the top wall of the recess sloping upwardly in the direction of the inner end of the washer; a vertically arranged bolt having its shank extending through the bolt-hole in the washer and through the outer end of the aforesaid slot and through the bolt-hole in the adjacent lug of the copecasing, said bolt being provided at one end with a head, and a nut screwed onto the shank of the bolt at the free end of the shank, eachlug of the chill and the adjacent lug of the cope-casing being arranged between the head of the engaging bolt and the nut on the bolt, the bolt in the unexpanded and normal condition of the chill being arranged next the outer end wall of the slot engaged by the bolt, and the aforesaid recess being wide enough from end to end thereof to permit a lateral and outward expansion of the chill by heat.

22. The combination, with a mold-chamber in which a casting is to be formed, of means whereby a pneumatic pressure may, during the contraction of the casting, be introduced circumferentially of the casting between the casting and the casting-surrounding portion of the mold.

23". In a mold for casting a circular ob ject, the combination, with a lower moldpart forming the bottom of the chamber in which a casting is to be formed; an upper mold-part arranged above and spaced from the drag and forming the top wall of the said chamber, and a central mold-part instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, of means whereby a pneumatic pressure may be supplied to the peripheral surface of the casting in the said chamber duringthe contraction of the castmg.

24:. In a mold for casting a circular obj cct, the combination, with a lower mold-part or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced fromthe drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, and a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, of means whereby a pneumatic pressure may be supplied to the peripheral surface of a casting in the said chamber.

25. In a mold for casting a circular obj ect, the combination, with a lower mold-part or drag; an upper mold-part or cope arranged above and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, and a central mold-part instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, of means for centering a casting formed in the said chamber, and means whereby a pneumatic pressure may be supplied to the peripheral surface of a casting in the said chamber.

26. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with an upper moldpart or cope; a lower mold-part or drag arranged below and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, and a central mold part instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, the drag being rammed with a body of pcaked sand, said sand-body forming the bottom of the chamber and extending to the said central mold-part and forming the lower end of the surrounding wall of the said chamber, of a chamber extending circumferentially of and spaced from the aforesaid molten-metal-receiving chamber, said circumferentially extending chamber having an inlet and also havin several outlets which are spaced circumferentially of the molten-metal-receiving chamber and extend to the joint formed between the afore said central mold-part and the aforesaid sand-body of the drag.

27. In a mold for casting a circular object, an upper mold-part or cope; a lower mold-part or drag arranged below and spaced from the drag to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, and a central mold-part instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said. chamber, the drag being rammed wit-h a body of packed sand, said sand-body forming the bottom of the chamber and extending to the said central mold-part and forming the lower end of the surrounding wall of the said chamber, of a chamber extending circumferentially of the lower end of and spaced from the aforesaid moltenmetal-receiving chamber, said circumferentially extending chamber having several outlets which are spaced circumferentially of the molten-metal-receiving chamber and extend to the joint formed between the aforesaid central mold-part and the aforesaid sand-body of the drag, and a valved pipe placed in communication with the said circumferentially extending chamber at a point between two adjacent outlets of the-chamber.

28. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination, with an upper moldpart or cope; a lower mold-part or drag arranged below and spaced from the cope to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, and a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, the drag being rammed with a body of packed sand, said sand-body forming the bottom of the aforesaid chamber and extending to the under side of the chill and forming the lower end of the sur rounding wall of the said chamber, of means whereby a pneumatic pressure may be supplied to the internal surface of the chill at the joint formed between the chill and the aforesaid sand-body of the drag.

29. In a mold for casting a circular object, the combination with an upper moldpart or cope; a lower mold-part or drag arranged below and spaced from the cope to form a chamber between .the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, and a substantially vertically arranged chill in strumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, of means for centering a casting formed in the said chamber, said casting-centering means being arranged at the upper end of the chill, and means whereby a pneumatic pressure may be supplied at one end face of the chill to the peripheral iurface of a casting in the aforesaid cham- 30. In a mold for casting a circular ob ject, the combination, with an upper moldpart or cope; a lower mold-part or drag arranged below and spaced from the cope to form a chamber between the drag and the cope, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, and a central mold-part instrumental in forming the surrounding wall of the said chamber, of means for centering a casting formed in the said chamber, said casting-centering means being arranged at one end of the chamber, and means whereby a pneumatic pressure may be supplied at the other end of the chamber to the peripheral surface of a casting in the said chamber.

81. In a mold for casting a circular object, an upper mold-part or cope, a lower mold-part or drag arranged below and spaced from the cope to form a chamber be tween the cope and the drag, which chamber has an inlet for the passage of molten metal to the chamber, said drag being rammed with a body of packed sand and comprising a circumferentially extending casing provided in its upper end face with a recess which extends along the said end face of the said casing, which recess has an inlet and has its inner side wall provided with lateral slots which are spaced circumferentially of the aforesaid chamber and arranged next the aforesaid end face of the said casing, and a substantially vertically arranged chill instrumental in forming the surrmlnding wall of the said chamber, the aforesaid sandbody forming the bottom of the said chamber and extending to the under side of the chill and forming the lower end of the surrounding wall of the said chamber.

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS D. VEST. \Vitnesses B. C. BROWN, N. L. MoDoNNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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