Patent GB-190416383-A (GB)
Title: Machines for Laying Bricks in Building Walls.
Inventor: THOMSON JOHN
Filed: 1904-07-25
Granted: 1904-09-22
Abstract: 16,383. Thomson, J. July 25. Walls. - Relates to brick - laying machinery, and comprises means for supporting the machine on the wall being built, reversing and automatically moving the machine in its travel, and brick delivering and setting devices. Figs. 1 and 2 show a side elevation and plan, respectively, of the complete machine, and Fig. 3 shows a sectional elevation on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. The main frame a, b is mounted on adjustable wheeled supports d and provided on each side with guides c and rollers c'. A folding platform e is also carried by the guides, the working parts are carried by two beams g mounted on a circular track f, on which they can rotate to operate the machine in either direction. The track is notched to receive the beams g in their normal positions. Mortar is supplied in determined quantities from a hopper i<1>, Fig. 3, to a shoot i by a plunger actuated by a rack and pinion j<2> driven from a shaft m by a chain k<1>, Fig. 1. The shaft m is normally rotated by the friction wheel n bearing on the wall, but may be turned by a hand-wheel. The plunger is raised, when the apparatus is stationary, by a hand-lever m<10>, Fig. 17, attached to the chain-wheel m<1>, loose on the shaft m but normally rotating therewith by means of a spring- pin m<7>. The bricks are stored in columns between fixed plates o', Figs. 2 and 3, and removable plates o<2>, which are used when laying stretchers. The columns rest on floors p guided in slots p<2> and constrained to move in opposite directions by the linkage s, s', Fig. 9. The bottom brick of each column is released as the floors p recede, and the superimposed bricks are supported by clamps x yieldingly supported at their upper ends and operated by levers y<3> and a cam-groove w<2>, Fig. 9. The bricks are set by a bar u, Fig. 3, guided by side blocks t, Fig. 1, engaging slots t<1>, t<2> in the framing. Starting with the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lever v<1> is moved to the right, thus causing the clamps x to engage and slightly raise the bricks above the lowest. Blocks t, near the end of the stroke, engage a projection s<3> and operate the levers s, thus releasing the bottom brick, which is set by the bar u on the return stroke of the lever v<1>. Springs p<3> return the floors p. The previously-laid bed of mortar is worked up by the setting of the bricks to form the end joint. As the bricks take a bearing before the completion of the backward stroke of the lever v<1>, the whole machine is consequently moved along the wall, the plunger j, being thus operated, forces out the required quantity of mortar, and the parts are again brought to the position shown in Fig. 1. The stroke of the lever v<1> is varied when dropping headers and stretchers. The set bricks are levelled by a roller 1 slidable horizontally in a slot, and acted on by a spring 3. Lateral adjustment of the bricks is effected by means of rollers 11, Fig. 20, mounted on arms 6, one of which has a projection 8 engaged by the brick being set, but is of a length to clear the wall when the brick is in position. The rollers are carried by brackets 4, F:ig. 1, and are returned by a spring 9. A scraper 10 may be provided to remove excess of mortar.