US2448640A - Wax caster - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 7, 1948. c. F. WESTON WAX CASTER Filedv April l5. 1946 Patented Sept. 7, 1948 NITED :STATES PATENT oFFIcE My invention relates to a wax caster, v,and more specifically to adevice for castingfwaximpressions to be used as models` in .the Vmaking of molds for the casting of jewelry, such as rings.f and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a device in which a multiplicity ofmolds for casting wax impressions can be mounted, and which will align the molds or hold them in positionn during the centrifugal spinning operation which forces the wax into the molds.

In my device a plurality of diiferent wax castings can be formed, or aplurality of `identical wax castings can be made.

Another object of my invention is .to-permit the use of rubber molds'for wax oastlngand to hold the rubber molds together and! prevent leakage or spilling ofthe wax duringithescentrifugal process of casting the same.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a cross section of my wax caster. u

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2D 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a plan view with the lid broken away and the rubber molds removed.

Figure 5 is a circumferential section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line E- of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the central 35 plug.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a rubber mold.

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a rubber mold with the upper half removed.

Referring to the drawings, a wax caster constructed in accordance with my invention has a circular housing l with a hob 2 extending downwardly therefrom into which a shaft 3 of a prime mover is anchored by the set screws 4. The shaft 3 is adapted to rotate and spin the housing I.

The housing l forms a circular cavity 5 with bores 6 for the reception of coil springs 1. A plate 8 rests upon the springs 1. Positioned upon the plate 8 is a mold holder 9 which comprises a bottom plate I and a circular outer wall II with a scalloped inner form I2. Positioned upon the plate I@ are the rubber molds I4. These molds I4 are formed of rubber in the following manner: A model of the desired wax casting 55 is rst formed in metal andlthen is'placed'nwa mold having a configuration to form a mold i4. Rubber is then positioned'in the mold around the casting and vulcanized so as to form a mold I4. The mold I4 isthenV out openi onany. line such as the cut It4 to form upper'andlower halves I3 and I5, and the metalformremoved. The metal form has attached thereto agprojection which leaves apouring port-|1 extending in to the' mold I4 so that waxmayenterthis port and fill the cavity I8 left by the "metall-form. Thev molds I4 preferably are formedto have topV and bottom surfaces IS) and 20,respectiv`ely,

parallel and slightly 'higher` than' the Wall 7' I I.

tioned in the cavity in themold holder 9soas to rest upon theplate 8. The'sidewalls *oft the Vmolds i4 are formed so that the sidejf2| fis shaped to fit in the scallops 22 and thesetaper inwardly in a downward direction as the cavity walls have an inwardly projecting taper 23.

While I have shown the shape of the mold holder 9 as scalloped, it should be understood that any complementary configurations, such as tri'- angular cavities and the like, could be used. The molds I4 are formed to correspond to each other and all to be similar and fit in the mold holder 9 in a pattern shown in the drawings. Each mold has its sides where they contact each other, sloping in the same direction (see Figure 5). A central plug 24' is positioned in the center to hold the molds in position. The inner surfaces of the molds I4 contacting the plug 24 are preferably made with a taper 25 which corresponds to the taper on the circumference of the plug 24. The upper surfaces 20 of the molds I4 are parallel with the upper surface of the mold holder 9, but extend slightly thereabove. Uponthis upper surface is positioned a rubber mat 26. A lid 21 is hinged at 28 to the housing I and is closed down by means of the latch 29. This cover 21, when latched down, slightly compresses the mat 26 which in turn compresses the molds I4 between the cover 21 and the springs 1. As the molds I4 extend above the upper surface of the mold holder 9, they will be slightly compressed and this compression will tend to close the cuts I6 and the taper of the side walls will lock al1 of the molds in position and prevent any leakage between molds or movement of the molds in the holder. If the wax leaks between the molds when they are cast, it will make them Very difcult to remove.

A hole 30 in the lid 21 permits molten wax to be poured in to the cavity 3| on top of the plug 24. When the housing I is lspun centrifugally by the shaft; 3, the molten wax in the cavity 3| will be hurled through the port l1 into the cavity I8 where it will cool and solidify and form animpression of that cavity.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I am not limited to any of the details herein set forth except as described in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a-wax casting device, a housing, a mold holder carried by said housing, a plurality of rubber molds radially heldin said holder, a cavity in the center of said holder, ports in said molds to provide a passage from said cavity to the cavity in `said mold, spring means exerting press-ure on 4. In a wax casting device, a housing, a mold holder carried by said housing having a mold receiving cavity, a plurality of rubber molds radially .positioned in said cavity leaving a central opening, ports in said molds to `provide a passage from said opening into said molds, said molds being in contact with each other, and spring means exerting pressure on one side of said molds, a cover on said housing against which said spring means compress said molds.

5. In a wax casting device, a housing, a mold holder `carried by said housing having mold receiving cavities radially spaced therein, a pluralone side of said molds, a cover on said housing Y against which said spring means compress said molds.

2. In a wax casting device, a housing, a mold holder carried by said housing having mold receiving cavities radially spaced therein, a plurality of rubber molds positioned in said cavities, said molds being in contact with each other, and spring means exerting pressure on one side of said molds, a cover on said housing against which said spring means compress said molds.

3. In a wax casting device, a housing, a mold Iholder carried by said housing having mold receiving cavities radially spaced therein, a plurality of rubber molds positioned in said cavities, said molds being in contact with each other, spring means exerting pressure on one side of said molds, a cover on said housing against which said spring means -compress said molds, and said molds overlapping each other whereby the compression exerted between said cover and said spring means will seal the division between said molds.

ity of rubber molds positioned in said cavities, the walls of said cavities being tapered upwardly, the

Y sides of said mold being tapered oppositely to said tapered walls where they contact said walls, said molds being in contact with each other, spring means exerting pressure on one side of said molds, a cover on said housing against which said spring means compress said molds, and said molds overlapping each other whereby the compression exerted between said cover and said spring means will seal the division between said molds.

CORNELIUS F. WESTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Jeffery Apr. 4,

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