The Soss Die-casting Machine
The Soss die-casting machine, manufactured and sold by the Soss Manufacturing Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., was the first die-casting machine to be placed on the open market. This machine is shown in [Figs. 4] and [5], and in section in [Fig. 6]. The Soss Manufacturing Co. originally manufactured invisible hinges exclusively. At the advent of the die-casting era, they commenced to make these hinges from die-castings, and placed orders with a leading die-casting concern amounting to thousands of dollars each year. After the die-cast hinges had been on the market for a short time, complaints commenced to come in, some to the effect that the hinges were breaking and others that the hinges were corroding. Either of these faults was serious enough to blast the reputation of the hinge, but the first trouble, breakage, was the more important. Examination of the broken hinges showed that the castings were porous and full of flaws, and as the makers of the castings could not produce castings sufficiently strong for the hinges, Mr. Soss started to experiment for himself. This experimenting led to the production of the Soss die-casting machine.
Fig. 4. General View of the Soss Die-casting Machine
Referring to the illustrations [Figs. 5] and [6], A is the base and frame of the machine, B is the heating chamber located at one end of the machine, and within this heating chamber is the tank C, shown in [Fig. 6]. This tank contains the metal from which the die-castings are made, and the metal is heated by the burners D. These burners are fed by air and gas through piping on the side of and beneath the furnace. To facilitate lighting the burners and inspecting their condition at any time, there is an opening (not shown) through the firebrick lining of the furnace and the outer iron wall, on a level with the top of the burners. There is also another opening through the furnace wall to allow the gases due to the combustion to escape. Through the bottom of the tank, well to the inner side of the furnace, runs the cylinder E. Below the bottom of the tank, the cylinder makes a right-angle turn, extending through the furnace wall and terminating just outside of the wall. The orifice of this cylinder is controlled by gate F. In that part of the cylinder that extends upward into the tank, there is an opening G that allows the molten metal to run into the cylinder from the tank. Working in this cylinder, is the piston H, that is used in forcing the metal into the dies. The compression lever I, hinged over the inner furnace wall, is kept normally raised by spring pressure, and is connected to the piston by means of the link J.
Fig. 5. Working Parts of the Soss Die-casting Machine
At the opposite end of the machine from the furnace, is the mechanism for operating the dies. This mechanism consists of a pair of square rods K, upon which are mounted the sleeves L. These sleeves have a long bearing surface and are attached to the die-plate M. Lever N at the end of the operating mechanism controls the movement of these sleeves by means of links O. Upon these sleeves is mounted a secondary set of sleeves P, attached to the other die-plate Q, and whose movement is controlled by lever R, through links S. This second set of sleeves is free to travel with the first set, and in addition has an independent movement of its own on the primary sleeves. It is the function of lever R to bring die-plate Q up to die-plate M by means of links S and sleeves P; and it is the function of lever N to bring both of the die-plates up to the outlet of the cylinder by means of links O and sleeves L. This system of sleeve-mounting is one of the distinctive patented features of the Soss machine. The orifice of the cylinder E is conical in shape and exactly fits the cup-shaped opening in die-plate M, so that when the two are brought together, the joint is metal tight. At the center of this opening, and extending through the die-plate M, is an opening that leads to the dies mounted on the inner faces of the two die-plates, and a continuation of this opening extends through die-plate Q in which the sprue-cutter U works. Attached to the outer side of this die-plate are two slotted brackets. In the slot of one of these is pivoted the lever T, and in the slot in the opposite bracket are bolted two stops that limit the motion of the lever. This lever operates the sprue cutter U, that works through the opening in die-plate Q. The sprue-cutting mechanism is best shown in [Figs. 5] and [6]. At the left of [Fig. 5] may be seen a rubber hose connected to the air piping. This hose is used for cleaning out the dies after each casting operation.