©

Europaisches Patentamt

European Patent Office

Office europeen des brevets © Publication number: 0 0 5 8 6 5 5

A 2

EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

© Application number: 82850024.9

@ Date of filing: 12.02.82

© int. ci.3: B 28 B 7/30

@ Priority: 17.02.81 SE 8101076

© Date of publication of application: 25.08.82 Bulletin 82/34

© Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE GB LI LU NL SE

CM <

Ifl LO (O

00 10 o

© Applicant: A-BETONG AB/SABEMA MATERIAL AB Box 24 S-351 03 Vaxjo(SE)

@ Inventor: Bondpers, Per-Erik Snapphanevagen 5 S-351 03Vaxsj6(SE)

© Representative: Wennborg, Gote et al, KRANSELL & WENNBORG AB Sandhamnsgatan 42 S-11528Stockholm(SE)

© A method and mould core for casting concrete elements. In the casting of a concrete element, such as a column

support block (1), in which there is used a mould core (3) designed to produce one or more recesses or grooves in the element (1), the mould core is provided with one or more apertures (3b) or slots, in each of which there is arranged a recess-forming mould part (3a) which can be moved in said aperture or slot by means of a ram (6; 6'). Prior to a casting operation, the moveable mould part (3a) is moved to an outwardly projecting active position and, subsequent to the cast element hardening, is withdrawn by means of the ram, thereby to enable the cast element and the mould core to be separated from one another. All of the moveable core parts (3a) on one side surface of the mould core can be arranged on a plate (5') extending parallel to the corresponding side surface of the mould core and arranged to be acted upon by the ram.

The invention also relates to a mould core provided with apertures (3b) or slots for moveable mould parts (3a), the mould parts being arranged for movement by means of a ram (6; 6') between an active, casting position and an inactive position in which the cast element (1) can be removed from the mould core (3).

F i e l d of i n v e n t i o n

The p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s to a m e t h o d f o r

c a s t i n g c o n c r e t e e l e m e n t s , f o r e x a m p l e c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n

b l o c k s , in m o u l d s w h i l e u s i n g a m o u l d c o r e d e s i g n e d t o

p r o d u c e one or more r e c e s s e s in t h e e l e m e n t and c o m p r i s i n g

t h e s t e p s of p r o v i d i n g t h e m o u l d c o r e w i t h one or m o r e

a p e r t u r e s or s l o t s in w h i c h a r e c e s s f o r m i n g mou ld p a r t

can be m o v e d , c a u s i n g s a i d m o v e a b l e c o r e p a r t s , p r i o r t o

a c a s t i n g o p e r a t i o n , to t a k e an a c t i v e p o s i t i o n in w h i c h

i t p r o j e c t s o u t w a r d l y t h r o u g h a c o r r e s p o n d i n g a p e r t u r e ,

m o v i n g s a i d c o r e p a r t to an i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n s u b s e q u e n t

to s a i d c a s t i n g o p e r a t i o n and a r r a n g i n g a l l r e c e s s -

f o r m i n g mou ld p a r t s on one s i d e s u r f a c e of t h e mou ld c o r e

on a p l a t e l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e c o r e and e x t e n d i n g

s u b s e q u e n t l y p a r a l l e l to s a i d s i d e s u r f a c e .

B a c k g r o u n d a r t

When u s i n g mou ld c o r e s known h i t h e r t o , t h e t a s k o f

s e t t i n g and s t r i p p i n g t h e m o u l d i s b o t h c o m p l i c a t e d a n d

t i m e c o n s u m i n g . The c o s t of t h e m o u l d s and a s s o c i a t e d

m o u l d c o r e s is a l s o h i g h . C o n t r i b u t o r y h e r e t o i s , i n t e r

a l i a , t h e h a n d l i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s e x p e r i e n c e d as a r e s u l t

of t h e c o m p l e t e l y c l o s e d c o r e s p a c e .

In an a t t e m p t to a v o i d t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s , o n e

m e t h o d p r o p o s e s t h a t t h e mou ld c o r e i s made of s t e e l a n d

s u p p l e m e n t e d w i t h l o o s e mou ld p a r t s . In t h i s way, i t i s

p o s s i b l e to s t r i p t h e s t e e l c o r e s e p a r a t e l y t o w a r d s

one f r e e s i d e , and to t h e n l o o s e n t h e r e m a i n i n g m o u l d

p a r t s , w h i c h form t h e r e c e s s e s in t h e c a s t c o n c r e t e

e l e m e n t , by f o r c i n g s a i d p a r t s i n w a r d l y i n t o t h e f r e e

c o r e s p a c e c r e a t e d when r e m o v i n g t h e s t e e l c o r e .

Even t h i s m e t h o d , h o w e v e r , r e q u i r e s d o u b l i n g o f

t h e mou ld s e t t i n g o p e r a t i o n s and t i m e c o n s u m i n g , h e a v y

work in d i f f i c u l t y r e a c h e d s p a c e s w i t h i n t h e m o u l d c o r e .

In a d d i t i o n , t h e l o o s e m o u l d p a r t s m u s t be c l e a n e d a n d

h a n d l e d , w h i c h a l s o m e a n s h e a v y and d i f f i c u l t w o r k .

In US p a t e n t 2 , 6 8 0 , 2 7 6 ( F i l a n g e r i ) t h e r e i s

d e s c r i b e d a c e s s p o o l mo ld of l a r g e d i m e n s i o n s i n c l u d i n g

i n n e r and o u t e r s e c t i o n a l w a l l s to p r o v i d e a m o u l d i n g

s p a c e , i . e . t h e r e i s no m o u l d c o r e l i k e in t h e p r e s e n t

i n v e n t i o n . The i n n e r w a l l s e c t i o n s a r e p r o v i d e d w i t h

t u b u l a r g u i d e s f o r c o r e p i n s w h i c h a r e p r o j e c t a b l e

a c r o s s t h e m o u l d i n g s p a c e to f o r m d r a i n a g e o p e n i n g s i n

t h e c e s s p o o l w a l l . When a s s e m b l i n g t h e mou ld a w o r k m a n

e n t e r s t h r o u g h a m a n h o l e and c o n n e c t s a p l a t e h o l d i n g

t h e c o r e p i n s w i t h a c e n t r a l p o s t , so t h a t i t w i l l b e

p o s s i b l e to d i s p l a c e t h e c o r e p i n s f rom o u t s i d e of t h e

m o u l d . The a r r a n g e m e n t i s c o m p l i c a t e d and e x p e n s i v e a n d

p o s s i b l e to u s e o n l y in v e r y b i g m o u l d s .

O b j e c t s of i n v e n t i o n

One o b j e c t of t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s to p r o v i d e

a m e t h o d of t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d k i n d by w h i c h t h e d i s -

a d v a n t a g e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h known m e t h o d s a r e a v o i d e d

and w h i c h f a c i l i t a t e s t h e m a n u a l work b o t h when s e t t i n g

t h e mould and when s t r i p p i n g t h e s a m e .

A n o t h e r o b j e c t of t h e i n v e n t i o n i s to p r o v i d e a

n o v e l mould c o r e w h i c h f a c i l i t a t e s t h e t a s k of m o u l d

s e t t i n g and mou ld s t r i p p i n g when c a s t i n g c o n c r e t e ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y in t h o s e c a s e s when t h e c a s t e l e m e n t i s

p r o v i d e d w i t h r e c e s s e s .

B r i e f d e s c r i n t i o n of t h e i n v e n t i o n

The m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g to t he i n v e n t i o n is m a i n l y

c h a r a c t e r i z e d by m o v i n g s a i d p l a t e t o w a r d s and a w a y f rom s a i d s i d e s u r f a c e in a d i r e c t i o n s u b s t a n t i a l l y a t

r i g h t a n g l e s t h e r e t o by means of a ram m o u n t e d w i t h i n

t h e c o r e .

One or more rams a r r a n g e d in t h e i n t e r i o r of t h e

m o u l d c o r e , s a i d rams s u i t a b l y c o m p r i s i n g p n e u m a t i c o r

h y d r a u l i c p i s t o n - c y l i n d e r d e v i c e s or t h e l i k e , f a c i l i t a t e

t h e h a n d l i n g of t h e l o o s e mould p a r t s and may c a u s e a

p l u r a l i t y of mou ld p a r t s to be d i s p l a c e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

on m u t u a l l y o p p o s i n g s i d e s u r f a c e s of t h e mou ld c o r e ,

t h e r e b y f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e o p e r a t i o n .

S t o p means a r e s u i t a b l y p r o v i d e d f o r l i m i t i n g t h e

i n w a r d m o v e m e n t of t h e c o r e p a r t or p a r t s t o w a r d s s a i d

i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n .

Above a l l , t h e i n v e n t i o n a f f o r d s t h e i m p o r t a n t

a d v a n t a g e of e n a b l i n g t h o s e mou ld p a r t s w h i c h form f l u t e s

or r e c e s s e s in t h e c a s t c o n c r e t e e l e m e n t to be s t r i p p e d

f rom t h e mou ld t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e a c t u a l mou ld c o r e , t h e

s t r i p p i n g o p e r a t i o n b e i n g f a c i l i t a t e d by t h e f a c t t h a t

r e l a t i v e d i s p l a c e m e n t of t h e mould c o r e and t h e w a l l o f

t h e c a s t c o n c r e t e e l e m e n t can be e f f e c t e d p a r a l l e l w i t h

t h e s a i d w a l l .

The i n v e n t i o n a l s o r e l a t e s to a m o u l d c o r e f o r u s e

when c a r r y i n g ou t t h e a f o r e d e s c r i b e d m e t h o d , t h e m a i n

c h a r a c t e r i z i n g f e a t u r e s of t h e mou ld c o r e b e i n g s e t

f o r t h in t h e f o l l o w i n g c l a i m s .

A mou ld c o r e of t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d k i n d i s

p a r t i c u l a r l y u s e f u l w i t h m o u l d s f o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g s o -

c a l l e d c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b o x e s , i . e . a f o u n d a t i o n o n

w h i c h c o l u m n s or p i l l a r s can be m o u n t e d . In t h i s r e s p e c t , t h e f l u t e s or o p e n i n g s in t h e c a s t c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n

b l o c k a r e n e c e s s a r y f o r t r a n s f e r r i n g h o r i z o n t a l a n d

v e r t i c a l f o r c e s in t h e c o l u m n to t h e f o u n d a t i o n . T h i s

t r a n s f e r of f o r c e s i s e f f e c t e d t h r o u g h a c o n c r e t e l a y e r

c a s t b e t w e e n t h e f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k and t h e c o l u m n .

An e m b o d i m e n t of t h e i n v e n t i o n w i l l now b e

d e s c r i b e d in more d e t a i l w i t h r e f e r e n c e to t h e

a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g .

B r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e d r a w i n g s

F i g u r e 1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e w of a s o - c a l l e d

c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k m a n u f a c t u r e d by m e a n s of t h e

m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g to t h e i n v e n t i o n , and a c o l u m n a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h s a i d f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k .

F i g u r e 2 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e w of a m o u l d c o r e f o r

u s e when c a r r y i n g o u t t h e m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g to t h e

i n v e n t i o n .

F i g u r e 3 i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e w of a m o u l d c o r e

a c c o r d i n g to F i g u r e 2, a r r a n g e d in a m o u l d , shown i n

c h a i n l i n e s , w i t h t h e r e c e s s - f o r m i n g c o r e p a r t s in a n

a c t i v e p o s i t i o n .

F i g u r e 4 i s a s e c t i o n a l v i e w of a m o u l d c o r e

a c c o r d i n g to F i g u r e 2, and a c a s t c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k

d u r i n g s t r i p p i n g of t h e m o u l d c o r e , t h e r e c e s s - f o r m i n g

p a r t s of t h e m o u l d b e i n g shown in t h e i r i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n .

F i g u r e 5 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e o p e r a t i o n a l mode of t h e

p n e u m a t i c c y l i n d e r s and p i s t o n r o d s w h i c h a c t upon t h e

m o v e a b l e c o r e p a r t s .

D e s c r i p t i o n of p r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t

F i g u r e 1 i l l u s t r a t e s a s o - c a l l e d c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n

b l o c k 1, i . e . a f o u n d a t i o n s u p p o r t f o r m o u n t i n g a c o l u m n

2. In o r d e r to e n s u r e t h a t t h e h o r i z o n t a l and v e r t i c a l

f o r c e s a c t i n g in t h e c o l u m n a r e r e l i a b l y t r a n s f e r r e d t o

t h e c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k , t h e b l o c k has a c e n t r a l

i n n e r , t a p e r i n g f l u t e d p o r t i o n l a .

The s p a c e s b e t w e e n t h e r i d g e s of t h e f l u t e s a r e

c a l l e d h e r e r e c e s s e s and a r e p r o d u c e d by s e p a r a t e , o u t -

w a r d l y p r o j e c t i n g c o r e p a r t s or s e c t i o n s 3a of a m o u l d

c o r e 3 i l l u s t r a t e d in F i g u r e 2. The c o r e mou ld i s u s e d

to fo rm t h e c e n t r a l o p e n i n g la in t h e c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n

b l o c k 1 when c a s t i n g s a i d b l o c k in a mou ld 4 shown i n

c h a i n l i n e s in F i g u r e 3. The r e f e r e n c e 3c i d e n t i f i e s a

p i n f o r f o r m i n g a d r a i n a g e h o l e in t h e c a s t f o u n d a t i o n

b l o c k ( s e e F i g u r e 4 ) .

Each of t h e s i d e s u r f a c e s of t h e mou ld c o r e 3 h a s

a n u m b e r o f o p e n i n g s or s l o t s 3b in w h i c h t h e r e c e s s -

f o r m i n g mou ld p a r t s 3a a r e a r r a n g e d f o r m o v e m e n t b e t w e e n

an a c t i v e , o u t w a r d l y p r o j e c t i n g p o s i t i o n s h o w n in F i g u r e s

2 and 3, and in i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n , shown in F i g u r e 4, i n

w h i c h s a i d mou ld p a r t s a r e p a r t i a l l y w i t h d r a w n i n t o t h e

m o u l d c o r e .

In t h e i l l u s t r a t e d e m b o d i m e n t , a l l m o v e a b l e c o r e

p a r t s 3a l o c a t e d a d j a c e n t one s i d e s u r f a c e of t h e m o u l d

c o r e 3 a r e a r r a n g e d on a p l a t e 5. The p l a t e 5 i s a c t e d

upon by two p n e u m a t i c c y l i n d e r s 6 h a v i n g a s s o c i a t e d

p i s t o n r o d s 6a w h i c h a r e p i v o t a l l y c o n n e c t e d to t h e

p l a t e 5 t h r o u g h p i v o t p i n s 7. The p i v o t p i n s a r e

a c c o m m o d a t e d in h o l d e r s t r i p s 8 e x t e n d i n g a t r i g h t

a n g l e s to t h e s u r f a c e of t h e p l a t e .

In a s i m i l a r m a n n e r , t h e p i s t o n rod 6a of t h e

c y l i n d e r s a r e c o n n e c t e d v i a p i v o t p i n 7 and h o l d e r s t r i p

8 to a p l a t e 5 l o c a t e d on t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e s u r f a c e o f

t h e m o u l d c o r e 3, t h i s l a t t e r p l a t e 5 a l s o c a r r y i n g

m o v e a b l e c o r e p a r t s 3 a .

As i l l u s t r a t e d in F i g u r e 3, t h e mou ld c o r e i s

a r r a n g e d in a mou ld 4, shown in c h a i n l i n e s .

As i l l u s t r a t e d in F i g u r e 4, o t h e r m o v e a b l e c o r e

p a r t s 3a l o c a t e d on two m u t u a l l y o p p o s i n g s i d e s of t h e

m o u l d c o r e a r e a r r a n g e d f o r m o v e m e n t b e t w e e n an a c t i v e

and an i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n , by means of p l a t e s 5 ' , p i v o t

p i n s 7 ' , h o l d e r s t r i p s 8' and p n e u m a t i c c y l i n d e r s 6 '

w i t h a s s o c i a t e d n i s t o n r o d s 6 ' a . In t h i s c a s e , t h e t w o

c y l i n d e r s 6' a r e l o c a t e d on t h e same l e v e l in t h e

i n t e r i o r of t h e mould c o r e 3 and b e t w e e n t h e c y l i n d e r s

6 e x t e n d i n g a t r i g h t a n g l e s to t he a x i s of t h e c y l i n d e r s .

F i g u r e 4 shows t h e m o v e a b l e c o r e p a r t s 3a w i t h -

d r a w n to t h e i r i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n s , in w h i c h s t r i p p i n g

f rom a c a s t c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k 1 can r e a d i l y b e

e f f e c t e d , by d r a w i n g t h e m o u l d c o r e 3 u p w a r d l y so as t o

s e p a r a t e i t f rom t h e f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k l .

A d j u s t a b l e s t o p means 10, 10 ' a r e a r r a n g e d t o

r e s t r i c t t h e i n w a r d movemen t of t h e m o v e a b l e c o r e p a r t s

3 to t h e i r i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n s u n d e r t he a c t i o n o f

r e s p e c t i v e c y l i n d e r 6, 6 ' .

F i g u r e 5 is a d i a g r a m s h o w i n g how t h e c y l i n d e r s

6, 6' and a s s o c i a t e d p i s t o n r o d s a r e c o n t r o l l e d . By

u s i n g T - c o u p l i n g s and c r u c i f o r m c o u p l i n g s 11 and 1 2 ,

r e s p e c t i v e l y , a l l f o u r c y l i n d e r s and a s s o c i a t e d p i s t o n

r o d s a r e a c t i v a t e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , e n a b l i n g a l l m o v e a b l e

m o u l d p a r t s 3a to be moved s i m u l t a n e o u s l y to an a c t i v e

or i n a c t i v e o o s i t i o n by s i m p l e m a n i p u l a t i o n of a n

o p e r a t i n g d e v i c e 1 3 .

When c a s t i n g a c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k , t h e m o u l d

c o r e 3 is p l a c e d in a mou ld 4, i t b e i n g e n s u r e d t h a t t h e

m o v e a b l e mould p a r t s 3a t a k e an a c t i v e p o s i t i o n . C o n c r e t e

i s t h e n p o u r e d i n t o t h e m o u l d and a l l o w e d to h a r d e n w h i l e

b e i n g v i b r a t e d . The mou ld i s t h e n s t r i p p e d , i t b e i n g

a s s u m e d h e r e t h a t F i g u r e 4 i l l u s t r a t e s t h a t t h e o u t e r

m o u l d w a l l s of t h e mould 4 have been r e m o v e d , so t h a t

o n l y t h e c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k 1 and t h e mou ld c o r e 3

r e m a i n . The m o v e a b l e m o u l d p a r t s 3a a r e moved to t h e i r

r e s p e c t i v e i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n s by means of t h e rams 6 ,

6a, 6 ' , 6 ' a , w h e r e a f t e r t h e mou ld c o r e can be r e a d i l y

s e p a r a t e d f rom t h e c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k .

The i n v e n t i o n t h u s s a v e s t i m e and e x p e n s e , s i n c e

m o u l d s e t t i n g and s t r i p p i n g can be e f f e c t e d in o n e

w o r k i n g o p e r a t i o n , and t h a t a l l t he work can be c a r r i e d

out m e c h a n i c a l l y . Heavy h a n d l i n g of l o o s e mou ld s e c t i o n s

is c o m p l e t e l y a v o i d e d .

I n s t e a d of t h e i l l u s t r a t e d p n e u m a t i c o p e r a t i n g

d e v i c e s , i t is p o s s i b l e to u se o t h e r t y p e s of r a m s , f o r e x a m p l e s c r e w j a c k s or t h e l i k e .

The p r i n c i p l e of t h e i n v e n t i o n can be a p p l i e d i n

many o t h e r c o n t e x t s w h e r e t h e c a s t c o n c r e t e e l e m e n t i s

to be p r o v i d e d w i t h r u f f l e s .

1. A m e t h o d f o r c a s t i n g c o n c r e t e e l e m e n t s , f o r e x a m p l e

c o l u m n f o u n d a t i o n b l o c k s ( 1 ) , in m o u l d s (4) w h i l e u s i n g

a m o u l d c o r e (3) a r r a n g e d to p r o d u c e one or more r e c e s s e s

in t h e e l e m e n t (1), c o m p r i s i n g t h e s t e p s of p r o v i d i n g t h e

mou ld c o r e (3) w i t h one or more a p e r t u r e s (3b) or s l o t s

in w h i c h a r e c e s s - f o r m i n g m o u l d p a r t (3a) can be m o v e d ,

c a u s i n g s a i d m o v e a b l e c o r e p a r t s ( 3 a ) , p r i o r to a c a s t i n g

o p e r a t i o n , to t a k e an a c t i v e p o s i t i o n in w h i c h i t p r o j e c t s

o u t w a r d l y t h r o u g h a c o r r e s p o n d i n g a p e r t u r e ( 3 b ) , m o v i n g

s a i d c o r e p a r t to an i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n s u b s e q u e n t t o s a i d

c a s t i n g o p e r a t i o n , and a r r a n g i n g a l l r e c e s s - f o r m i n g m o u l d

p a r t s (3a) on one s i d e s u r f a c e of t h e m o u l d c o r e (3) on a

p l a t e (5, 5 ' ) l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e c o r e and e x t e n d i n g

s u b s t a n t i a l l y p a r a l l e l to s a i d s i d e s u r f a c e , c h a r a c t e r i z e d

by m o v i n g s a i d p l a t e (5, 5 ' ) t o w a r d s and away f r o m s a i d

s i d e s u r f a c e in a d i r e c t i o n s u b s t a n t i a l l y a t r i g h t a n g l e s

t h e r e t o by m e a n s of a ram (6, 6a; 6 ' , 6 ' a ) m o u n t e d w i t h i n

t h e c o r e ( 3 ) .

2. A m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g to C l a i m 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y

c o n n e c t i n g t o g e t h e r p l a t e s (5; 5 ' ) p r o v i d e d w i t h m o u l d

p a r t s on two m u t u a l l y o p p o s i t e s i d e s u r f a c e s of t h e c o r e

by one o r more c o - a c t i n g rams (6, 6a, 6 ' , 6 ' a ) and m o v i n g

t h e p l a t e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y to an a c t i v e and an i n a c t i v e

p o s i t i o n , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

3. A m e t h o d a c c o r d i n g to C l a i m 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y

l i m i t i n g s a i d i n w a r d m o v e m e n t of t h e c o r e p a r t or p a r t s

t o w a r d s s a i d i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n by s t o p means (10; 1 0 ' ) .

4. A m o u l d c o r e f o r c a s t i n g c o n c r e t e e l e m e n t s a n d

a r r a n g e d to fo rm f l u t e s in t h e c o n c r e t e e l e m e n t , s a i d

mou ld c o r e ( 3 ) o n i t s s u r f a c e b e i n g p r o v i d e d w i t h o n e

or more a p e r t u r e s (3b) or s l o t s in w h i c h a c o r r e s p o n d i n g

number of mou ld p a r t s (3a) w h i c h fo rm r e c e s s e s o r

g r o o v e s in t h e c a s t e l e m e n t (1) a r e m o v e a b l e b e t w e e n

an a c t i v e , c a s t i n g p o s i t i o n and an i n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n

in w h i c h t h e c a s t e l e m e n t (1) can be r e m o v e d f rom t h e

mou ld c o r e ( 3 ) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in t h a t a ram (6, 6 a ;

6 ' , 6 ' a ) i s m o u n t e d w i t h i n t h e mou ld c o r e ( 3 ) , s a i d

ram d i s p l a c i n g s a i d p l a t e t o w a r d s and away f rom s a i d

a p e r t u r e d s i d e s u r f a c e in a d i r e c t i o n s u b s t a n t i a l l y a t

r i g h t a n g l e s t h e r e t o .

5. A m o u l d c o r e a c c o r d i n g to C l a i m 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d

in t h a t p l a t e s (5; 5 ' ) a r r a n g e d a t m u t u a l l y o p p o s i n g

s i d e s u r f a c e s of t h e mould c o r e a r e c o n n e c t e d t o g e t h e r

by c o - a c t i n g rams (6, 6a; 6 ' , 6 ' a ) f o r s i m u l t a n e o u s

a c t i v a t i o n .