claimed is: 1. A shell molding machine comprising in combination, a single pivotally mounted investment box; a pattern heating and mold curing oven on either side of said box; a shell mold ejector; and two pattern carriers swingable in a horizontal plane about fixed spaced centers; said box, one of said ovens and said ejector being angularly spaced about one of said centers to receive in operative relation a pattern carried by one of said carriers; said box, the other of said ovens and said ejector being an.-ularly spaced about the other of said centers to receive in operative relation a pattem carried by the other of said carriers. 2. A shell molding machine comprising in combination, a single pivotally mounted investment box; a pattern heating and mold curin- oven on either side of said boxa shell mold ejector; and two pattern carriers pivotall@ mounted for movement in a horizontal plane about fixed vertical spaced posts; said box, one of said ovens and said ejector being an.-ularly spaced about one of said posts to receive in operative relation a pattern carried by one of said carriers; said box, the other of said ovens and said ejector being angularly spaced about the other of said centers to receive in operative relation a pattern carried by the other of said carriers; the outer under surfaces of said carriers bein.- spaced above the tops of the vertical posts whereby each carrier may be swung from its adjacent oven, over the ejector, over the post of the other :2@820.997 carrier and beneath said box when the other carrie@ ,is -m its adjacent oven. 3. A shell molding machine comprising in combination, a single pivotally mounted investment box; la pat.5 tern heating and mold curing oven on either side of said box; a shell mold ejector; and two pattem carriers each having U-shaped forked portions and pivotal mountings affording movement of said carriers in a horizontal plane about fixed vertical spaced posts; said box, one of said 10 ovens and said ejector being angularly spaced about one of said posts to receive in operative relation a pattern carried by one of said carriers; said box, the other of said ovens and said ejer-tor being angularly spaced about the other of said centers to receive in operative relation a 15 pattern carried by the other of said carriers; said pivotal carrier mountings being connected to the respective 'Lork-ed portions of the carriers at one side thereof; the outer under surfaces of said carriers being spaced above the tops of the vertical posts whereby each carrier may be 20 swung from its adjacent oven, over the ejector, over the post of the other carrier and beneath said box when the other carrier is in its adjacent oven. 4. A shell molding machine comprisin.- in combination, a single pivotary mounted investment box; a pattem 25 heating and mold curing oven on either side of said box; a sheh mold ejector; two pattem carriers swingable in a horizontal plane about fixed spaced centers; said box, one of said ovens and said ejector being angularly spaced about one of said centers to receive in operative relation 30 a pattern carried by one of said carriers; said box, the other of said ovens and said ejector being angularly sp4ced about the other of said centers to receive in operative relation a pattem carried by the other of said carriers; a clamping member movably mounted on the box to raise 35 and lower a pattern from and to the fork and clamp the pattern to the box; a cylinder and piston mounted ori the box and connected with the clamping member to raise and lower the clamping member; said box having a top feed opening; a feed tube slidably mounted in the top 40 feed opening of the box; a feed gate adapted to @be mounted on a feed supply conduit over the feed tube; and linkage means connecting the feed tube with the clamping member to raise the feed tube to the feed gate when the clamping niember is lowered and lower the feed tube from 45 the feed gate when the clamping member is raised. 5. A shell molding machine comprising in combination, a pivotahy mounted investment box, a paftem heating and mold curing oven at one side of the box with a door opening angularly disposed from the box, a sher 50 mold ejector adjacent the oven at another side of the box for stripping cured shell molds from patterns, a pattem carrier fork pivotally mounted between the box, oven and ejector and pivotable under the box, in and out of the oven through the door opening, and over the ejector, and 55 clamping means to raise and lower a pattern from and back onto the -fork and clamp the pattern to the box. 6. A shell molding machine comprising in combination, a pivotally mounted investment box, a pattern heating and mold curing oven at one side of the box with a 60 door opening angularly disposed from the box, a sheh mold ejector adjacent the oven at another side. of the box for stripping cured shell molds from patterns, a pattem carrier fork having spaced arms and a shank swivelably mounted between the box, oven and ejector and pivotable 65 under the investment box, in and out of the oven and over the ejector, and a clamping member movably mounted on the box to raise and lower a pattern from and to the fork and clamp the pattern to the box, said fork arms straddling the clamping member for free movement of 70 said member between the arms when the fork is under the box and spaced from and to the sides of said member when the box is pivoted. 7. A shell molding machine comprising in combination, a pivotally mounted investment box, a pattem heat75 ing and mold curing oven at one side of the box with a

ning oor.@op6 ' @angularly@disposed@-from-,the box,@zL7@shell mold ejector adjacent the oven at another side (jf@ the box ,:for.'stripping a cured sher mold from a pattern plate, a pattem plate carrier fork swivelably mounted between the box, oven and ejector, said fork having a@ shank @ and 5 spaced' arms each free at one end and pivotable under - the @box, into the oven and over the ejector, a pattern plate i@lamping member movably, mounted on the, box to raise and lower a pattern plate from and to the fork and clamp the cla ing@ member: to,l raise iand ilower -the@ clamping mp memberi; said:-,box having a@,top- feed!,opening, a feed tube @slidably@,mounted in the top feed opening of:@,the@box,-a -feed rgate adapted;to-@be @mounted on.:a feed -supply.conduit over@ the, feed tube,; andlinkage-means connecting @ the -:feed;tubemithl'the.@clamping @member.to. raise the@-feed ''tube:to,thd.-feed !gate-when the clamping member.@is lowered @a-nd lower the @feed tube from the feect gate @when @,the@ ilampin.-:member, is raised. the -plate to the box, said fork arms being disposed at the @:10 @ 10. . AsheH-@molding machine @comprising@ in combinasides of said member when the -fork is under the box and tioni@a@.pivotaHy.Imounted.- investment box, a pair:of . patwhen the box is pivoted, and registrable Tmeans- on the tern@ hea-ting i nd -@mold 7 curing ovens @ubstantially, op.a fork and @ box to position the fork under the box and posed-,:.@ndwith@- .door.@openings angularly disposed from @align said clamping member with a pattem on the fork. the box,,one@ oven at@ one side of the box and@ the, other @ 8. A@ shell molding :machine comprising in combina-" 15 @oven.at-,another,, side of @-the box, a shell @mold;ejector-. betion, a-pivotally mounted investment box, a pattern heat- tween the @ovens and @in@ front of @.the box, a pair of @@c@i-rier ing @and mold curing oven at ona side of the box with a forks, one of said forks being swivelably@mounted@.bedoor opening angularly disposed from Lhe-box, a shell tween the box, ejector and one oven and pivotable under ,mold ejector adjacent the oven at another side of the box the box, into the,oven:aiid@ over the ejectoriand -the other for @stripping a cured shell rnold from a pattern plate a; 20 fork being, swivel@tbly mounted@between the@ box, ejector pattem plate carrier fork- swivelably mounted @between 'i@le box, oven and ejector, said fork having a shank and spaced@ arms each free at @one end and piv6table @under the box, into the oven and over the ejector, a patlem Lplate tlamp;ng metnber movably mounted:on the box to raise and loaver a pattem plate fr6m and to the Lork and clamp :the plate to the box, said @ fork arms being@ disposed at the sides of said member when the fork is under the box 7 and:@when, the box, is pivoted, and registrable means; on @@the.,fork@ and box to position the fork under the box and all:gn said clamping member -viith a pattern on the; fork, @said@clampin.- member having a vertical arm and a hon';:zontal:plate pivotally mounted on the @ vertical @ arm, and spnng means @resilientl to hold @the horizontal plate @y horizontal on the vertical arm. 9. A shell molding @ machine@ comprisirig in coriabina.tion a pivotably mounted @investment box, a pattem heating,land@mold -.curing;oven@at@one;side of the box with a doorl;opening;angularly disposed from @the box,@ a sheh Iniold ejector-: adjacent@ the' oven; at; another side of@ the @ box7 for -stripping cured @shell: molds from patterns, a- pat@tem,r-arrier@fofkihaving@spaced@,arms and a shank swivel@.ably@mounted bttween@-the@,box, oven-and ejector and pivotable -under @,the i iinvestment box, in and out of the I and other oven@ and pivdt@tble. under' the box, over., the ejector_ and into the @other-, oven, a clampingmember movably motinted-.on the box to raise and lower patterns from and to--the@ forks and, clamp them to the investment@ box, 25 a cylinder@mountdd-on@ the box and having a piston,connected with@.the.: @lamping- member to raise and lower,@the clampingimer-nber, -Said box,- having:a. top, feed opening, a feed tube,:-glidably---mounted- in the-..top feed @opening of the,box, ,a@ifeed gate adapted @to;b@,,,mounted on -.a -,feed 30 - supply @ conduit--. over;- -the feed,..tubel and @. linkage@ @means connecting@:,@the feed,-ttibe- .with,@the clamping mdmber; to raise the,@@feedl-,tubc @ to.@.the -@feed-gate !when. the@ clamping I member.@ is.-Jowered-, and -,lower- the -@feed tube from the feed gate@, when:-the clamping%.Member is -raised. @35 References -,Cited,inilthe file of.this.patent UNITED:,STATES PATENTS - 11570,658 Wickl:ind -------- ----- Jan, 26i 1926 1,925,890 Wilberz , ----------------- Sept. 15, 1933 40 21630,608 Granath -L -------------- Mar.@ io,.@1953 21724,158 Davis, et al - ------------ Nov.,?2,,1955 2 724 879 Fischer ------ -- - Nov. 29, 1955 2,733,489 Dahmer -------- -------- Feb., 7, 1956 oven @and.over -the ejector, a clamping@ member movably: 45 FOREIGN -PATENTS @mounted on -th6 -box to riiise @And.@ lower a -pattern firom 512,537 Canada --------------- 'May . 3@ " 1955 -and; to.-tha@fork:@and clamp the @pattern, tb the boxl a cyl- 728,108 Great Br-i tain ---------- Apr, 13,@:-1955 -.inder, andpistonmounted@on thd,box and connected with 733,184 Great Britain --------- July '6,4-1955

2 @ 8 2 O t 9 9 7 United States Pate'nt office P a t 4 @ n t e d J a n . 2 8 - 1 9 5 8 2,820,997 SIRELL MOLDING MACBE[NE 5 Earl W. Jahn, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Production Paftern & Foundry Co., Chicopee, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 22, 1956, Serial No. 593,068 10 10 Claims. (Cl. 22-20) This invention relates to new and useful improvements 15 in sher molding machines. More particularly, the invention relates to a new machine for making shell molds of the type used in the sher molding process described by William W. McCulloch of the Technical Industrial Intelligence Division of 20 the U. S. Department of Commerce in FIAT Report . No. 1168 entitled "The 'C' Process for Making Molds and Cores for Foundry Use" and of the general type shown in the copending application of Jahn et al., Serial No. 340,622, filed March 5, 1953. 25 One object of the invention is to provide a sheu mold-, ing machine which can produce shells at a greater capacity than conventional machines and can produce shells for two different jobs at the same time. Another object of the invention is to provide a "twin" 30 shell making machine havin.- two ovens and with only a single investment box and shell ejector assembly but ..providing two complete sets of work stations so that patterns can be chan.-ed on either set of stations without 35 interruptin.@ production on the other set and without loss of production time in case of pattern trouble, the machine bein.- able to run with both or either set of stations operative. Still further, the invention proposes constructing the 40 shell making machine with a pair of swiveied forked carriers to move two shell mold patterns separately and at different times under the investment box, into the ovens' and over the shell ejection assembly so that a shell on one mold pattern can be baked or ejected while another 45 shell is being formed on the other mold pattern. In the drawings: Fig. I is a front elevational view with parts brokert' away of a shell mold forming machine constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; 50 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown @in Fig. 1 but with the ovens omitted; Fi@. 3 is a plan view of the machine partly diagram-! matic and with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the ejector shown r,5 in Figs. 2 and 3 showing a fork (partly broken away) .holding a carrier borne pattern over the ejector; . Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line .5-5 of Fi.-. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of the clamping Co -mechanism for raising, lowering and clamping a carrier bome pattern to the investment box; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a pattern, carrier and ,portions of a carrier fork; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; 65 Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7 -and with the investment box indicated in dot-dash outline; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fik. 7 wit . h an ejector clamp finger indicated in dot-dash outline; 70 Fig. 1 1 is a fragmentary view, partly broken away and in qotion, of the investment box and feed structLiTe; Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the cut-off gate for the feed structure; and Fig. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of the investment box and of part df the feed structure. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the mlachine is designated generally in the drawin-s @y the refercnce numeral 15. It has four principal assemblies or subassemblies and work stations: an investment box 16 (the investment station), two ovens 17 and 18 (pattern heating and shell baking or curing stations), and a shell ejector or ejecior assembly 19 (the shefl ejectin., station). In addition, the machine 15 has two pattern carrier forks 20 and 21 for moving mold patterns 23 and 24 to and between the work stations and an investment box clamping mechanism 25 for raising and lowering the mold patterns from the carrier forks 20 a.nd 21 an.d clamping them to the investment box. Investment box lL6 is pivotally mounted between spaced upright posts or standards 26 and 27 which are secured to a ship channel frame or base 28. The investment box has trlinnions or axle members journaled on the posts 26 and 27 as at 29 and fixed at opposite sides to the lower rear portion of the box for holdin.- the box upright, and for turning it upside down and right side up. Any suitable electric gear head or hydraulic metor or electric motor and drive may be used to turn the trunnions or axles and the box, such as, for example, the electric motor and cable drive shown in the copending application referred to above. An upper compartment 30 (Fig. 2) and a lower compartment 31 are provided in the investment box 16 with a louver or gate 32 separating the two compartments. The lower compartment 3il has an open lower end 6ver which a carriage borne mold pattern 23 or 24 is clamp6d by the clamping mechanism 25 as will later be more fully described. A sand-resin mix is initially held in the upper compartment 30 of the box 16 by louver or gate 32 and dropped vertically on opening of the louver onto the hot surface of a pattern clamped ovcr the open lower end of lower box compartment 31 to insure dense shells and avoid metal penetration of the sher walls in molding with the shells. The open Iower end of the lower compartment 31,.of box 16 is framed by an adapter 33 secured to an adapter rim plate 34 so as to provide an opening appropriate i6 the dimensions of the pattern plate and size shell degired. A feed assembly 35 is provided at the top of the up@er compartment 30 of the box for refilling the supply,(i f sand-resin investment material in the upper compartment when the box is upright. Louver or gate 32 is arcuate in @hape with edges sl,id ably held at each inner side wall of the investment bbi by suitable guideway structure. A strap 36 fixed acro@'s the outer edge of the gate has end portions which extend laterally of the sides of the box and are attached to the outer end of lever arms 37 and 38. These lev&r arms 37 and 38 are pivotally connected to the box adjaceiit the upper rear portion of the side waJIs of the box. Lp-ver arm 37 has an upwardly angled and inwardly offset bell crank end 39 (Fig. 2). The piston rod 40 of a cylinder 41 secured to the investment box is pivotally connected with the bell crank end 39 of lever arm 37 t.o operate the gate or louver. Piston rod 40 in extended position holds the louver or gate 32 closed and in retr'acted position opens the louver by withdrawing it from the'boi throu h the louver opening at 42. ,9 Clamping means or mechanism 25 is -provided,oii ttie investment box 16 for raising and lowering a cam g . a e borne patterii 23 or 24 from ;i, carrier fork 20 or 21 and ci bgldi@ng it Against thi@ gpen end, pt the@ jnycstm , bg

@"rhe clamping mechanism comprises a pair of spaced castings 43;fixed to the lower end of a channel -44 (Figs 2 and I 1) with a cylinder and, piston rod 45 and 46 to move the channel. vertically. , Cylinder, 45 and channel 44 are housod in a u-shaped @olumn support 47 integral with the rear.wall of the investment.box 16.' Suitable,.guides or -gibs are provided'for th6 chaniael dnd, an, oppositely@ faced U-shaped outer.housing support'49 is@fted-to'the@support,47, -the dividing line @between.@@ppports'- 47.'and @49 being : at-48. @ The cylinder' 45 @ is mounted- on a borizontal bracket 50 @,and - vertically disposed with - the piston rod 46: extending . upwardly. Adjustable nuts z 51 -provide a - seat@ for a@ hori-@zontal Efter plate @52 extending as a web- at right angles @@from the top@ of @ the channel:44. Bellows 53, extend between the cylinder 45 and base of the channel 44,to-provide a dust cover for the channel. @ A pair of@, horizontal clamp 54 (Fig. 6) ard - pivotauy and resiliently mounted on a rod 55@ extending across the% spaced castings 43@ by spaced springs 56 bearing against projections 57 from the spaced castings 43 to lift a carriage- borne pattern plate from a carrier fork as the piston rod 46 raises the channel 44 and@ the castin.-s 43 @ secured thereto. I The ovens are located as follows: oven 17 is at the left and is positioned to the left front of the investment box and the machine, as the machine is viewed in Fig. 1. @Oven 18 is at the right and is positioned to the right front ofthel investment box. The ovens are identical in construction and may @ be: made for any type of heat, @ such as oil, gas or electricity. Both ovens are polygonal in @shape;and;have doors 60 and 61 Whi@h are opened and .closed by levers 63 and 64 @ (Fig. 1). Fixed pistons 65 -and 66 (see Fig. 3) with piston rods 67 and 68 :are provided to open and close @ the oven doors Piston rod 67 -is,- connected with lever 63 for the left oven door and @piston rod. 68 is connected with lever 64 for the right oven door. The ejector is located between thei two ovens @17: and "18,.and in front of the investrnent box. The ejector 19 -.comprises a -cylinder -pedestal 70 having a piston i rod 71 to which is fixed. a platen 72. :. Spaced pattern @ carriage @holding;,clamps 73-and 74 (Fig. 4) are pivotaby:mounted on opposite sides of the @ pede-stal. The clamps '73 and 74 are operated by a piston and -cylinder 75 and have finger portions 76 and 77 which reniovably, clamp - at@ the sides of a carrier fork 20 or 211 and hold a @ pattem @carriage 78 or 79. The patterns 23 and 24 around their -@periphe have spaced oversize holes 80 (Fig. @10) in ,ry -,which are slidably mounted carriage,bolt ejection@pins 81 fitted-@with a sprin ,g 82,@@nut.83,-:and washer .84. VVhen a carri4ge,i borne @ @pattern@ @is held over the ejection, station -by, one .-of , the-,. forks @,,20. or-,21 @ after . leav.ing, one of the 1 7.c,uring, ovens, the--ejector, piston rod 71 and:ejector platen ins;81-,tostrivacuredshell."V'Erom @p the pattern. --@The,@pattern carri ,.qges,or@@carriage:frames.78 and 79 ..which,hold.pattems,23-:,and,24 are identical in construe-tion -each having. a -central ..pattem openin 85 (see Figs. 9 .7, to .,10, @inclusive), and..atop inner flange 86 so that a -pattem can,beinserted from,the bottom or back of the @.camage-,and the marginal @edge of the pattern abutted -against. the, fleknga .86. : @Cam-.members 87 are pivotary mounted on@the.carriages.to,abut-against the bottom of ,a. pattern .,to hold a marginal peripheral portion of @ the .face - of @. the, pattern against -the flange 86 of a -carriage. Spaced-- finger; clamp, brackets 88 @are provided on oppo,.site. -@ides. of -a 7carriage.,at the bottom or rear of the cariiage, for th6@, finger portions 76@ and 77 of ejector clamps @,'73. a@nd- 74 @ to, move, over.. and. prevent the carriage ahd ,pattern from -rising.-whenllthe ejector. piston. platen 72 -raises@@ahd'lifts the sh6ll ejection.pins.,8iL,of the.pattern. Also provided..On@ the, caiTiE@gesare,. spaced end @lianges 89 -,,-vntl@--,vdrti@41y@ disposed dbtlble Pointed, @apered. Oign-ment-piifs 90.' The-- uppe . rpbints@ Of the pizi@ 90 are ad@Lpted iremoivdbly, to fit' in,,sDaced.' i)in - opqnings 91 - on ritcket open end of the box. The lower points of the aligmnent pins 90 are adapted removably to fit in alignment @in openings 93 provided in the carrier forks 20 and 21. The carrier forks 20 and 21 are identical in construction. Each has a base portion 95 (see Fig. 5) fixed to the channel base 28 of the machine between the box 16, ovens 117 and 118 and@.eie6tion..@assembly 19. The base portion of fork@20 is located between-the@left oven 17, box 16 and ejection assembly'-19 and the base portion of 10: fork-21'@is located-- between:the@right,oveii18,'boic,'16, the ejection assembly-is a Mounted on each carrier fotk@:.base @portion@ 95,@ shaft 97 having threaded turned,down,,ends-,,98 and 99, the end'98 exteziding through a central opening in the 15 base portion andsecuted,by@a@@nut:-101 and pin 102. A drive gear 103 fits over the base portion and a cylindrical sleeve 104 is mounted on the gear and over the shaft 97. Each sleeve 104 has @an upper end. opening.,through which the upper threaded tumed - down end 99@ @ t)f a sha'ft 97 20 extends and is secured, by nut, 106 and pin 107. 'HEind - tightening of the nut, 106,will eliminate end. play 6f: the sleeve and allow free movement-Of ther swivel. The, shank portions 108'of the, forks 20 and 21@ are fixed- to, the sleeves @104. @ ' Each fork @ 20- and 21 - has'two 25 -.5paced finge@rs'; arms or @ tynes' 110:@and - 111 @ (see 'Fig@ - - ) connected-at their rear,ends@by a cross--portion or back -112.. The backs or,cross portions 112 in:tum h e ;6nds @1-13; znd '114 and; -the shank portions 108 extend perpendicularly, from one of the angular: ends. 3o '-The :alignment @ pin - openings @ 93 6f the carriers, (Fig. . 9); are @ provided- on @ the- finaers @ or; tynes of each fork ;ilid @will align with @ the openings@ 91'@ in'the br@ckets 92 at the , bottom of the investment box @Nvhen a fork' is squarely under the investmeiit@-box. This permits a carriage@ on 35 @the fork to be-lifted from@the fork@and clamped tolthe investment @ box, -the double headed -pin@ being lifted as the carriage .1 is, lifted the openings 93 in: the @ forks to the openings 91 in' the investment box bra6ket@ 92. Each fork' 20 and 21@ holds@ a cam'age or @ carriage frame 40 which in turn - holds one of the patterns. The tv@o@ 'forks are. so pivoted @.that they can each move rearwardly into an oven, forwardly or rearwardly oyer the ejection platen ,and.ilejector assenibly, and iinder the inves - tment @ box with fork@ finger s dispos edito theisid es-of the@e levato r;or@ patter n :clamp @i25. @This @per mits, @ the elevat or-, orl; patter n 45 clam p-125@mounted.onAthe back @of theinvestment@box't6 !operate between-the fingers withbutany@ obstruction. @lt will @.bD:apparent @thattwo complete sets, of w6rk' stations are ---provided. @ @ One set i of @work @ stations i8 readh6d , by the left fork 20 so that a pattem can be@preheated in 5 u the left oven, moved u -nder the investment box, clamped to the investment box :,:coat6d @ with a shell, removed I @from the investment box and -c left arried; back to,-the@ @oven@@for -then-moved to@ the ejedtion:station @where' the cured shell can be@removed@ and,'the;lsteps, repeated. "@T-he 55 other@@et,6f;work@stations@areT6athedby the@righttfork so that a p - attem can be@;preheatdd@irithe j7ightoven, movdd - :under the@irivestrftent box; clamped to the -box, coated with a @shell;. removed, from -. the box@ @andl:carried '@back:to the right oven@for,:curing@and-then-moved to@the ej@ction@sta60 tion,for..r.emoval of @the@ cured,.sheU.-'- The right fork can be holding a pattem in the right oven or over- the Lejection station'while the left, fork,-has.- moved its-pattern under@the fork -operate while investment --box.. @',Similarly. the leftz @can; therightforkisunder@.the@investme ntbox. The7tw6foiks 6r) can thus,-.either@.operateitogether@ or separately so th@t in the event one must be inoperative; bdcause of pattem trouble there- can@!@tifl,-be@- production@ on the other- f6rk. .The -- sand-resin.ifeed -@ asseinbly'35! for refilli tht @in-ng @-vestment:,boxihas -azsliding tube-- .,,1,15- (see Figs. 1-1, 70 1 1 6 ' w h i c h ;.Mounted@on@an@adapter:'1 17-SOcured@to the'top'bf @theinvestment @box at a top door, or opening -li[8 in the@box. A'flexible dustshi6fd@,or@bellows'119@encir cleg@@ffiO@Wbe investment-ibox-,locat6d3@at'th6-lower 75: 115-betweeii &e'@lower diid of the Wbe Edd the'tdbe

116, being secured at one end to the tube guide and at the other end to the lower end of the tube by a ring 120 and buckle 121. A valve strap 122 secured by a bolt 123 to the investment box inside the box holds a conical valve 124 at the lower end of the tube 115 extending into the tube to spread the sand-plastic inix entering the investment box. A vent 125 is provided in the tube guide 116. Mounted on top of the investment box outside the box is a fulcrum bracket li26 to which a yoke lever 127 is pivotauy secured by a shaft 128. The forked end of the yoke lever 127 is connected with the upper end of the sliding tube li[5 for raising and lowering the tube, a pair of trunnion-like cam followers being secured to the upper end of the tube 115 and the forkcd end of the yoke lever being provided with cam slots or surfaces for such action. A dust retainer 129 is also provided at the upper end of the tube 115. The main supply feed pipe 130 from a hopper or other source of siipply is above and axially aligned with the tube 115 when the investment box is in upright posit:on. A cylinder support casting 131 is fixed to the open lower end of the feed pipe 130 and an air cylinder 132 is pivotally secured at one c-@id by a clevis pin 133 to the support casting 131. A gate 134 (Fig. 11) is also pivotally secured to the casting 131 and aligned with the inside of the feed pipe 130 by a shoulder screw 135. A gate spacer 1136 is provided beneath the casting 131 with a gasket mount 137 and gasket 138 tightly to receive the upper end of the tube 115 when it is raised. The piston rod 139 of the air cylinder 132 is connected with the gate 134 by a clevis 140 (Fig. 12) and clevis pin 141 so that the gate can be opened and closed by actuating the piston rod. Yoke lever 127 has at its rear end a lever arin 143. The lever ann 143 is pivotally attached to a brake yoke 145 by a clevis pin 146. A rod 147 is secured at one end to the brake yoke 145 and slidably connected at the other end with a bracket 148 fixed to one of the castings 43 of the investment box clamoing mechanism 25. Bracket ,148 has a rod opening 149 through which the rod 147 extends and a collar 150 fits on the end of the rod b--neatl-. the bracket. A jam nut 151 is provided on the rod spaced from the bracket 148 above the bracket. Between the .nut 151 and the bracket, a sprin.- 152 encircles the rod and is secured at its upper end to the rod by a set screw collar 153. In this manner the sliding tube 115 is raised .as the investment box clamp is lowered and the tube 16wered as the clamp is raised. What is