Abstract: A method of producing a mould of particulate material comprises admixing the particulate material with a controlled quantity of water, compacting the mixture to the required shape on a pattern or the like, removing the compacted mass from the pattern, and directing at at least the surface of the compacted mould to be contacted by molten metal a stream of coolant, whereby at least that surface is frozen to a depth sufficient to withstand the conditions imposed during the pouring of molten metal into the mould.

Abstract: A mould for use in the casting of molten metal, comprises one or more generally vertically disposed mould cavities with an ingate to the or each mould cavity, the ingate communicating with a part of the mould adapted to form part of a runner-feeder and the said part of mould adapted to form part of the runner-feeder being so formed as to provide a weir, whereby with several moulds secured in side-by-side relationship, adjacent said parts of the moulds combine to form a generally horizontal runner-feeder, with a weir between longitudinally successive adjacent ingates, the weir being of a height such that the minimum vertical cross-sectional area of the runner-feeder is not less than the cross-sectional area of the ingate or the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the ingates associates with one mould, and the top of the weir is above the uppermost part of the or each mould cavity, so that with molten metal poured into the runner-feeder, molten metal flows into the well associated with a first mould from where