US1925496A - Casting machine - Google Patents

Description

C. A. NICHOLS CASTING MACHINE Sept. 5, 1933.

Filed Nov. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet l 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 CASTING MACHINE Sept. 5, 1933.

Sept. 5, 1933.

C. A. NICHOLS CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 p 3933- c. A. NICHOLS 1,925,496

CASTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 14, 1929 p 1933- c. A. NICHOLS 1,925,496

CASTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet '5 Filed Nov. 14, 1929 p 19330 I c. A. NICHOLS 1,925,496

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CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Q 7 R b r v Q fi Y Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES YPATTENT OFFICE CASTING MACHINE Application November 14, 1929 Serial No. 407,151

10 Claim.

This invention relates to the art of making metal castings, and more particularly to the manufacture of castings from metal which has the property of expanding slightly just after it solidifies at the surface of the casting, the expansion of the casting taking place for a brief period prior to its contraction during cooling.

The present invention takes advantage of this property of certain metal, such as cast iron, by

providing a method and apparatus for making castings with the use of permanent molds and a permanent core locatable in the cavity between the mold parts and capable of being withdrawn at the proper time before contraction of the casting begins after solidification. The apparatus embodying the present invention comprises chiefly a conveyor which supports a plurality of pairs of cooperating mold parts, each pair .providing a mold cavity into which a permanent core may project. The machine is entirely automatic in operation. The conveyor moves at a certain rate of speed, and by the time each pair of mold parts has been moved to the pouring station, the parts will have been closed and the core will have been located within the cavity. When the mold parts have been moved a certain distance from the pouring station the core will be automatically withdrawn while the mold parts remain together. After further movement of the mold from the 39 pouring station, they will be opened in order to discharge the casting from the mold cavity. In I the disclosed embodiment of the invention the cores and movable molds are actuated by fluid pressure means controlled by valves. The closing and opening of each pair of molds and the movement of the core is effected by an individual fluid pressure operated device controlled by an individual valve or set of valves, the valves being moved into different positions of control by stationary devices such as plate cams which are located along the line of travel of the conveyor and at definite distances from the pouring station.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from' the following panying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a casting machine for carrying on the method which forms a part of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, certain parts having been removed for the sake of clearness.

description, reference being had to the accom- (CI. 22-77) v Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view partly on the line 40-41: of Fig. 2 and partly on the line 4b4b of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows the molds closed and the permanent core in position and includes a diagrammatic showing of connections with valve mechanism for controlling a fluid pressure device which effects the opening and closing of the molds and the movements of the permanent core. The valve mechanism shown diagrammatically connected with the fluid pressure cylinder in Fig. 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 4c4c and 4d4d of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the valve mechanism.

Fig. 5a is a sectional view on line -51: of Figure 6.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view and diagram similar to Fig. 4 showing the molds closed but the permanent cores withdrawn from the mold cavities and the corresponding positions of the valve mechanism which control the fluid pressure means.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 6 showing the molds separated and the casting being ejected, and diagrammatically sectional views of the valve mechanism in position for controlling the fluid pressure means so that the movable mold will be' separated from the relatively stationary molds.

Fig. 8 is a view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and shows an end view of one of the permanent cores.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section and includes sectional views on the lines IOa-ltia, 10b-10b and l0c--10c of Fig. 3,-as indicated by the brackets and indicia at the right of the figure.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view simflar to Fig. 10, showing the molds open and the cores withdrawn from the mold cavities.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of an under portion of the machine showing the individual pressure control valves and stationary cams for operating them in recurrent sequence.

' Fig. 13 is a view looking in the'direction of the arrow 13 of Fig. 12 and shows a side elevation of one of the pedestals for supporting one of the valve controlling cams.,

Figs. 14 and 15, which are drawn with Fig. 4 on sheet 4, are respectively front elevations of the movable and stationary permanent molds.

Referring principally to Figs. 2 and 3, the machine comprises a pedestal 20 providing ball bearings 21 and 22 within which a vertical shaft 23 1 tending plates2 f8. The wall 26 is supported by an annular ball 'bearing 29- in turn supported by the pedestal 20. The conveyor hub is rotated intermittently at a certain speed by mechanism operating by a constant speed motor (not shown) which drives ashaft 30 journalled in bearings 31 and 32 provided by a gear housing 33 and driving a bevel gear 34 meshing with a bevel gear 35 connected with a vertical shaft 36 journalled in bearings 37 and 38. The shaft 36 is connected at its upper end with a disc 39 carrying a roller 40 which, during a portion of each of its orbital movements about the axis of the shaft 36 in a counterclockwise direction, as

' viewed in Fig. 2, successively engages the plates 28 in order to effect a certain number of degrees of angular movement of the conveyor hub 25 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. The degrees of movement will, of course, be the same as the angular spacing between the pairs of mold parts which will now be described.

The conveyor hub 25 is provided with an annular wall 41 to which screws 42 attach a plurality of radially extending spokes 43 which support at their outer ends a plurality of rim plates 44 having meeting flanges 45 attached by screws 46 and base flanges 47 attached to the spokes 43 by screws 48. Each rim plate 44 carries a relatively stationary mold 50 shown in front elevation in Fig. 15. The mold 50 is provided with apertured cars 51 by which the mold is attached by tubular bolts 52 and nuts 53 to the rim plate 44 as shown more clearly in Fig. 11. The mold 50 provides a plurality of mold cavities 55 each connected by branch passages 56 with a gate 57. Each cavity 55 may receive an ejector rod 60 attached to an ejector plate 61 which is guided for horizontal sliding movement by bolts 62 threaded at 63 into the mold 50 and surrounded by springs 64 which tend to urge the plate 61 away from the mold 50 until it engages the heads 65 of the bolts 62. 4

The stationary mold 50 is cooled by air issuing from an elbow connected with a pipe 71 leading from the interior of the hub 25 which serves as a chamber for distributing cooling ,air to the various stationary molds. Air for cooling the molds is conducted through a flue 72 attached to a collar 73 having a flange 74 which is journalled upon the central annular flange 75 of a cover 76 attachedto the hub 25 by screws 77.

The relatively movable mold 80, the front elevation of which is shown in Fig. 14, is provided with ears 81 having tap holes each receiving a screw 82 which attaches the mold to a mold frame 83, having apertured ears 84 which receive the screws 82. The mold frame 83 is provided with cylindrical lugs 85 each provided with a bearing 86 which receives a stationary guide. rod 87 extending from a cylindrical boss 88 integral with a guide rod frame 89 having a platform 90 attached to spokes 43. The mold 80 is provided with lugs 91 each carrying a pilot pin 92 having a rounded free end. The pin 92 is adapted to enter a suitable hole provided in an apertured lug 93 integral with the mold 50 for the purpose of properly aligning the molds when they are placed together.

The mold 80 supports rods 94 threaded into maaaee the mold 80 at 94a. The rods 94 support a core carrier 95 which is movable horizontally along the rods 94 and which is normally maintained in close proximity to the back wall 83a of the mold frame 83 by springs 96 each encircling a rod 94. The core carrier 95 is attached to pipes 97, each having a threaded portion 97a passing through a plane hole in the plate 95 and cooperating with nuts 98 by which the pipe 97 may be secured to the plate 95 in the desired position of adfiustment. At 99a each pipe 97 threadedly engages a transverse bridge integral with a permanent core 100 provided with radially arranged cooling fins 101 from which heat is dissipated rapidly since these fins are located in the direct path of currents of compressed air issuing from the pipe 97. The movable mold is provided with a plurality of openings 102 through which a core 100 is movable into a mold cavity 55 or away from the mold cavity after the casting has solidified.

The core carrier plate 95 is stiffened with ribs 103 radiating from a central hub 104 which is centrally apertured to receive the reduced threaded end 105 of a piston rod 106 provided with a flange 107 against which the plate 95 is clamped by screws 108 threaded on the part 105. The rod 106 passes through a hole in the back wall 83a of the mold frame 83, said hole being surrounded by annular bosses 109 and 110 engageable respectively with the flange 107 and a flange 111 spaced from the flange 107 at a distance greater than the horizontal distance between the outer surfaces of the bosses 109 and 110. In this way a lost motion connection is provided between the core carrier 95 and the mold frame 83, for a purpose to be explained later. The flange or collar 111 is attached to the rod 106.

The rod 106 passes through a stuffing box 120 in an end wall of a cylinder 121 which receives a piston 122 attached to the rod 106. The cylinder 121 is attached to a shelf 123 integral with the guide rod frame 89. The front end of the cylinder 121 provides a passage 124 connected by pipe 125 threaded into a valve body supporting block 126 and communicating with a passage 131 in a valve body 130. The rear end of the cylinder 121 is provided with a passage 127 connected by pipe 128 threaded into the plate 126 and communicating with a passage 129 in the valve body 130. Compressed air for moving the piston 122 is conducted from a suitable source of air under pressure by a pipe 132 threaded into the plate 126 and leading into an air inlet 133 provided by the body 130. The pipe 132 is connected with a manifold ring 134 in turn connected by pipe 135, elbow 1 36 and pipe 137 and T 138 with a swivel joint 139 providing a connection with a stationary pipe 140 located in alignment with the axis of shaft 123. The T 138 is connected also by elbow 141, pipe 142, L 143, pipe 144, with an annular air manifold 145. Air for cooling each set, of permanent cores is conducted from manifold 145 through coupling 146, bushing 147, flexible hose 148, Y-pipe 149 and branch pipes 150 and elbows 150a connecting these branch pipes with the pipes 97.

The admission oLair from the passage 133 to either of the passages 129 or 131 leading to the air cylinder 121 and the connection of the air cylinder with a vent passage 151 is controlled by valves which will now be described with reference to Fig. 4.

Referring to section 4c-4c of Fig. 5 shown with Fig. 4, vertically below the passage 131 in the body 130 is a valve 152 for closing a port 153 leading from a passage 154 into a passage 155 connected by passage 156 with a chamber 157 communicating with passage 133. Valve 152 is normally held closed by a spring 158 encircling the stem 159 of valve 152. Vertically below pas-- sage 151 is a valve 161 adapted to close a port 160 which connects the passage 151 with the passage 154. The valve 161 is normally closed by a spring 162 encircling the valve stem 163. Referring to section 4d-4d, vertically below the passage 133 there is located a valve 165 normally closing a port 166 which connects a chamber 167 with a chamber 168, the latter leading into the passage 129. The chamber 167 is connected by a side passage 170 with the passage 151 shown in section 4c-4c. The valve 165 is normally maintained closed by a spring 171 encircling the stem 172 of the valve. Vertically below the passage 129 is located a valve 175 normally closing a port 176 connecting passage 168 with a passage 177 also connected by passage 156 with passage Valve 175 is normally closed by spring 178 surrounding valve stem 179.

The valve stems 158 and 163 are engageable with the arms of an intermediate lever 180 pivoted on pin 181 carried by a bracket 182 which provides a pin 183 pivotally supporting an operating arm 184 carrying a roller 185. Motion is transmitted from the lever 184 to the lever 180 by either of two pins 186 each adapted to be received by a notch 187 provided by the intermediate lever 180. When the lever 184 has been moved into position for lifting the valve 161, it will be yieldingly held in that position due to the fact that while the spring 162 tends to press the lever 180 in a clockwise direction, lever 184 is prevented from moving clockwise due to the locking action between the right hand pin 186 and the notch of the lever 180 which receives it.

The valve stems 172 and 179 are engageable with the arms of an intermediate lever 190 also pivoted on pin 181 carried by bracket 182 and actuated by a lever 194 carrying a roller 195. Motion is transmitted from the lever 194 to the lever 190 through either of pins 196, each adapted to be received by a notch 197 provided by the lever 190. When it is desired to lift the valve 175, the lever 194 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 4, this movement being continued at least far enough for the right hand pin 196 to be received by the right hand notch 197 of the lever 190. When lever 194 has been moved into this position it will be yieldingly maintained therein due to the lockfrom the mold 50 as shown in Fig. 7, the valve levers 184 and 194 being down, before the molds arrive at the pouring station they must be closed and. permanent cores located within the mold cavities. Therefore, the arms 184 and 194 of each individual set of control valves are moved fromthe down position shown in Fig. 7 into the up position shown in Fig. 4, thereby causing the air intake passage 133 to be connected with the rear end of the cylinder 121 through the following passages mentioned in order with reference to Fig. 4: passage 157. passage 156, passage 177, port 176, chamber 168,. passage 129, pipe 128, passage 127. At the same time the front end of the cylinder is vented through the following passages: passages 124, pipe 125, passage 131, passage 154, port 160, passage 151 which is connected with atmosphere through a screen 151a. These connections having been established, the piston 122 is caused to move from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 4. As the core carrier plate 95 moves toward the right to move the cores 100 into the cavities 155 of stationary mold 50, the springs 96 tend to move the mold toward the mold 50. The springs will be compressed while the lost motion is being taken up between the flange 111 of rod 106 and the adjacent boss 110 of the back wall 83a of the mold frame 83. When this lost motion has been taken up, the frame 83 will be moved positively toward the right by the rod 106 in order to move the mold 80 against the mold 50, as shownin Fig. 4. The molds being closed and the cores having been located within the mold cavities, the molds are ready to receive the molten metal which is poured in through the gate 57. The compressed air which issues from the pipes 97 materially assists in cooling the cores 100 so that the casting will be quickly solidified at its surfaces which are in contact with the cores.

After the castings have solidified around the cores and before the castings begin to contract, the cores are withdrawn from the mold cavities while the mold 80 remains in engagement with the mold 50 as shown in Fig. 6. This is accomplished by connecting both ends of the cylinder 121 with the vent passage 151 and the control of these connections is effected by allowing the valve lever 184 to remain in the position it occupied before as shown in Fig. 4 while the lever 194 is moved downwardly as shown in Fig. 6. The rear end cylinder passage 127 will be connected with the vent passage 151 through the following pipes and passages: 128, passage 129, chamber 168, port 166, chamber 167, passage 170. Since both ends of the cylinder are vented and neither end receives air under compression, the springs 96 will be permitted to expand to normal condition thereby causing the core carrier plate 95 to move toward the left with respect to the mold 80. This effects the withdrawal of the cores 100 and movement of the piston 122 toward the left into the position shown in Fig. 6. As the piston 122 moves toward the left, air will be drawn into the front end. of the cylinder while being expelled from the rear end. By the time the springs 96 will have expanded to normal condition the flange 107 will have engaged the boss 109 on the inside of the back wall 83a of the mold frame 83. No further movement of the cores and piston will take place.

In order that the molds may be separated for removal of the castings and the cleaning and resooting of the molds, compressed air must be introduced into the front end of the cylinder 121. This is effected when the lever 184 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, the lever 194 remaining down. Air will flow from the inlet 133 to the front end of the cylinder 121 through the following passages: 157, 156, 155, 153, 154, 131, 125, 124. This will cause the piston 122 to move toward the left carrying with it the core carrier plate 95 and the mold frame 83 and thus separating mold 80 from mold 50 as shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 11 the castings 200 are ejected by a fluid pressure device which, as

shown in Fig. 11, comprises a cy1inder-201 en-- to cause it to move from the position shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 10 to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 11 in order to loosen the castings from. the mold 50.

Referring to Fig. 1, the arrow A indicates the station where the open molds are cleaned by compressed air preparatory to sooting at the station indicated by the arrow B where the molds pass on opposite sides of a sooting flame nozzle 205. Arrow C indicates the station where metal is poured from a ladle 206 into the gate 57 provided by the closed molds 50 and 80. Arrow D indicates approximately the station where the permanent cores are withdrawn, it being understood that the exact location of this point in the movement of the conveyor depends on the size and shape of the casting and the metal used to make the casting. Obviously, station D must be somewhere between station C and the station indicated by arrow E where the molds are opened and the castings are ejected.

As the conveyor rotates intermittently in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, or from right to left as viewed in Fig. 12, each pair of valve controlling levers 184, 194 which controls the actuation by pressure fluid means of each pair of molds is caused to move past cam plates 210, 211 and 212 which are located respectively near the stations C, D and E, these plates being supported respectively by pedestals 213, 214 and 215. Before arriving at station C the rollers 185 and 195 of levers 184 and 194 respectively will be engaged by the plate 210 and will be moved from lower position to upper position as shown for the purpose of closing the molds and locating the permanent cores within the mold cavities as previously described. Before arriving at station D where cores are to be withdrawn, the roller 195 only is engaged by the plate 211 in order to cause the lever 194 to be moved down while the lever 184 remains up as shown in Fig. 6. Roller 195 is made longer than roller 185 so that it may engage the plate 211 which is located at a distance from the pedestal 20 sufficient to clear the roller 185. Before arriving at station E where the molds are opened, the roller 185 which has remained up after arriving at station C is engaged by the plate 212 in order to move it down so that the control valves will be located as shown in Fig. 7 for the purpose of admitting air into the front end of the cylinder 121 in order to open the molds.

In order to adjust the timing of the valve, each of the plates 210, 211 and 212 is horizontally adjustable on its respective pedestal. For example, plate 211 is provided with a horizontal slot 216 through which extend the screws 217 which pass through plane holes in a horizontal angle bar 218 integral with pedestal 214. When the nuts 219 threaded on screws 217 are loosened the plate 211 may be moved horizontally into the desired position of adjustment where it is secured to angle bar 218 by tightening the screws 219. As stated before, the amount of time which should elapse between the filling of the mold and the withdrawing of the cores depends upon the time required for chilling that portion of the casting adjacent the core sufficiently to solidify it. As this time is variable depending on the size of the casting and the material used it is necessary to vary the time required to pass between stations C and D, or more particularly the time which elapses between the filling of the molds and the instant that the lever 194 is moved downwardly. This time can be varied by varying the speed of the motor which drives the power shaft 30 and also by changing the angular location of the plate 211 with respect to the conveyor.

Referring to Fig. 1, the conveyor carries a num ber of equidistant brake shoes 220 having the same angular spacing as the blocks 28 by which the turn table is moved intermittently by the rotating roller 40 shown in Fig. 2. At about the end of each intermittent movement of the conveyor, one of these shoes 220 is engaged by a brake plate 221 carried by the frame 222 and urged upwardly by spring 223. This brake mechanism is described and explained in my copending joint application with A. W. Phelps, Serial No; 392,905 filed Sept. 16, 1929.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable molds providing a cavity, a movable frame supporting one of the molds, a permanent core locatable within the cavity, a core carrier, means for moving the core carrier toward and away from the relatively stationary mold, and means including a lost motion connection for transmitting movement from the core carrier to the mold frame, whereby the core may be withdrawn from the casting before the molds are separated.

2. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable molds providing a cavity, a movable frame supporting one of the molds, a permanent core locatable Within the cavity, a core carrier, a rod for moving the core carrier, said rod passing through an opening in the mold frame and provided with spaced stops engageable with the mold frame and providing a lost motion con nection with the mold frame whereby the core may be withdrawn from the casting before the molds are separated, and means for operating the rod.

3. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable molds providing a cavity, a movable frame supporting one of the molds, a permanent core locatable within the cavity, a core carrier, a rod for moving the core carrier, said rod passing through an opening in the mold frame and provided with spaced stops engageable with the mold frame and providing a lost motion connection with the mold frame whereby the core may be withdrawn from the casting before the molds are separated, a spring for transmitting movement from the core carrier to the mold frame in a direction to move the movable mold against the relatively stationary mold, and fluid pressure means for operating the rod and including a cylinder and cooperating piston connected with the rod.

4. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs of separable molds each pair providing a cavity, permanent cores each locatable within a cavity, a conveyor carrying the molds and cores, means for moving the conveyor at a definite speed, and means responsive to movement of the conveyor for causing the mold parts of each pair to come together and the core to be inserted in the mold cavity before arrival at the pouring station, for causing the core to be withdrawn after a certain movement from the pouring station while the mold parts remain together and then for causing the mold parts to be separated after further movement thereof from the pouring station.

5. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs of separable molds each pair providing a cavity, permanent cores each locatable within a cavity, a conveyor carrying the molds and cores, means for moving the conveyor at a definite speed, individual fluid pressure means for effecting movements of the core and the closing and opening of the mold parts of each pair, individual valves for each fluid pressure means of each pair of mold pairs and associated core, and relatively stationary camming devices located at certain distances from the pouring station for actuating the valves in a manner such that the mold parts of each pair will come together and the core will be inserted in the mold cavity before arrival at the pouring station, that the core will be withdrawn after a certain movement from the pouring station while the mold parts remain together, and that the mold parts will be separated after further movement thereof from the pouring station.

6. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs of separable molds each pair providing a cavity, permanent cores each locatable within a cavity, a conveyor carrying the molds and cores, means for moving the conveyor at a definite speed, a fluid pressure cylinder and cooperating piston associated with each pair of molds and core, means directly connecting the core with the piston, a lost motion connection between the core and one of the bold parts so as to permit withdrawal of the core from the mold cavity without moving the movable mold away from the relatively stationary mold, compression springs transmitting motion from the piston to the movable mold in a direction to close the molds, valves for controlling the admission of pressure fiuid to the ends of the cylinder and the venting thereof, and stationary cams located at certain distances from the pouring station and adapted to actuate the valves in a manner such that the pressure piston will push the core into the mold cavity and that the molds will be closed through pressure transmitted by said springs before the molds arrive at the pouring station, that after moving a certain distance from the pouring station both ends of the cylinder will be vented so as to permit the springs to expand and withdraw the core from the cavity, and that after moving a certain further distance from the pouring station the piston will be actuated in the opposite direction by fluid pressure in order to open the molds.

7. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable molds providing a cavity, one mold being movable relative to the other and having an opening leading into the cavity provided by the other mold, a permanent core movable through said opening, a frame supporting the movable mold, a guide for the frame, a core carrier supported by the frame, springs for transmitting motion from the core carrier to the movable mold in a direction to close the molds, lost motion connection between the core carrier and frame permitting movement of the core away from the cavity without separating the molds, and means operable to push the core carrier toward the stationary mold in order to introduce the core within the mold cavity and to cause the movable mold to engage the stationary mold with spring pressure, .to partially retract the core carrier while the mold remains cold, and to fully retract the core carrier, taking up the lost motion and separating the molds.

8. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable molds providing a plurality of mold cavities, one mold being movable relative to the other and having openings leading into the cavities, permanent cores movable through the openings, a core carrier plate, rods each connecting the plate with a core, means attached to the movable mold for supporting the core carrier plate, springs transmitting motion from the plate to the movable mold in a direction to close the mold, a lost motion connection between the plate andmovable mold to permit partially withdrawing the cores while the molds are together but providing for separation of the molds by further movement of the core carrier plate away from the mold cavities, and means of actuating the plate.

9. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable molds providing a cavity, a permanent core locatable within the cavity, means for closing and opening the molds, and means for supporting and withdrawing the core from the cavity while the molds remain closed, said last-mentioned means comprising a core plate mounted on and movable with respect to the movable one of the molds, means for moving said plate, and a pipe connected to said plate and said core and adapted to conduct a jet of air against said core.

10. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable molds providing a cavity, a permanent core locatable within the cavity, means for closing and opening the molds, and means for supporting and automatically withdrawing the core from the cavity a predetermined time after pouring and whilethe molds remain closed, said last-mentioned means comprising a core plate mounted on and movable with respect to the movable one of the molds, means for moving said plate, and a pipe connected to said plate and said core and adapted to conduct a jet of air against said core.

CHARLES A. NICHOLS.

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