IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK-MAKING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: $5
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK-MAKING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by Cyrus Chambers, junior, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
Sealed the 12th November 1878, and dated the 24th September 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK-MAKING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by Cyrus Chambers, junior, of Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of brick-making machines in which the clay
is tempered in a case, driven out in a continuous bar through a forming die and
cut into proper lengths by severing mechanism.
The said Invention comprises various improvements in these machines, such
improvements being intended to remedy their defects by rendering a machine of
this class self-contained and better able to sustain the longitudinal strain or thrust
of the pugging shaft, to reduce the power required to drive it, to lessen the density
and improve the molecular arrangement of the clay in the brick, to secure
smoothness of surface on the sides and ends of the brick, to ensure perfect
uniformity of length and to protect the machine as far as possible against the
known causes of injury. and breakage, and finally, to improve its form and pro-
portions and the details of its operative parts.
The said improvements consist in receiving the thrust of the pugging shaft upon
a plate placed upon the end of said shaft, arranged to run true with it, and itself
running in contact with a loose plano-convex plate placed in a corresponding cavity
Prins 6d7

page_text: in the cross head at the rear of the machine. They also consist in obviating the
clogging of the hopper, through which the clay is fed to the case, by making the
lower end of the hopper larger than the upper end to ensure the free discharge of
the clay.
Also in making the inlet through which the clay passes to the case circular, and
inserting it tangentially to the cylindrical portion of the case and on that side on
which the entering clay will meet the tempering knives as they are rising, so that
the clay shall be kept loose and continually agitated, which materially lessens the
clogging of the hopper.
Also in arranging the tempering knives around the pugging shaft in a spiral,
winding in a direction opposite to that of the expressing screw, or the reverse of
that which would tend to force the clay towards the delivery end of the case, for
purposes herein-after explained.
Also in supporting each tempering blade by a projection upon the pugging shaft
placed behind the knife, said projections being set in a spiral upon the shaft, and
having their faces so arranged that in passing through the clay they tend to force
it towards the expressing screw.
Also in giving a peculiar location to the mouth of the expressing screw to
facilitate the delivery of the clay from the knives to the screw and to prevent
clogging.
Also in so reducing the diameter of the expressing screw that the clay delivered
by it through the die will undergo much less compression than in the former
machine, and hence the lamination arising from torsion and compression will be
much lessened, and the brick rendered less dense, more homogeneous, and more
tractable under the trowel. The practical limit I have found, by many experi-
ments, to be a diameter of screw slightly greater than the longest diameter of the
brick to be made.
Also in making the former and die lining all in one piece, to ensure greater
smoothness and more uniform operation on the clay.
Also in enlarging the hinge of the former, and making its two outside sections
equal to about one-third of the circumference of the former, and holding the same
to the screw case by a single swinging bolt k, which turns on a wooden pin m, for
purposes hereafter explained.
Also in a device for cutting the bar of clay into the desired lengths for bricks
by means of a spiral blade and endless chain, which divide the bar into perfectly
uniform lengths, and give smoothness to the surfaces of the ends of the bricks.
Also in mechanism for regulating automatically the relation between the speed
of the bar of clay and that of the cut-off device, so that it shall be uniform under
all conditions.
Also in a peculiar arrangement of the sand scrapers by which they do not come
in contact with each other and form corners in which the clay can lodge.
And, finally, in the improved minor details of construction, herein-after fully
specified.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a top view or plan, partly in section, of a machine constructed
according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the tempering case and hopper on the
line w, w, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the
thrust plate and cross head on the line x, x, of Figure 1.
"
Figure 4 is a face view of the thrust plate, showing the lubricating grooves.
Figure 5 is a face view of the former and sand box.
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line y, y, of Figure 5, of the sand box and
scraper.
Figure 7 is a side view of the automatic feeding mechanism.
Figure 8 is a front view of the safety mechanism on the rear of the chain frame
in front of the former.

page_text: Figure 9 is a diagram showing the relation between the diameter of the feeding
screw and the transverse section of the brick the machine is intended to make.
Figure 10 is a plan, drawn to an enlarged scale, of part of the endless chain N ;
Figure 11 is a transverse vertical section of the same, showing the cap, flanges, and
guiding spring &¹.
Similar letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A is the frame of the said machine, on and in which the operative parts are
supported and attached. The machine when fixed in this frame becomes a single
system, self-contained, and requiring only a proper foundation to support it for
operation. This improvement in the framing enables me to erect the machine at
the factory, and transport it as a whole to the place where it is to be used.
At the rear of the frame is a cross head B (see Figures I and 3) attached to the
frame by the bolt z, zl, and forming a box for the reception of the rear end of the
pugging shaft P and the plates which receive its thrust. This box is provided with
a cover c³, and its lower portion forms an oil chamber for the reception of the
lubricant for the shaft and thrust plate. The rear side of the box is concave to
receive the convex rearward projection of a loose plate U. the front face of which is
flat, as shown. This plate is prevented from turning by the lug lentering a groove
in the rear of the box. In front of the plate U is the thrust plate T, against which
the rear end of the pugging shaft abuts. The thrust plate is shewn in section in
Figure 3, and in face view in Figure 4. Its rear side is flat and runs in loose
contact with the plate U. Its face is provided with a cruciform indentation to
receive a crab on the end of the shaft P, and an annular shoulder to hold the shaft
and plate in line, so that they will run true together and the plate be positively
driven by the shaft. In the face of the plate T are also formed curved grooves
g, g, g, which as the shaft turns constantly lift the lubricant from the oil chamber 7,
in which the plate turns, and apply it to the parts running in frictional contact.
By this construction and arrangement of the box plate and shaft the plate U, when
the thrust of the shaft is received, is enabled to "line up" with the true running
plate T, and thus always present a good working and wearing surface.
C, C, is the tempering case formed in two parts, hinged together at c¹, bolted on
the opposite side, and capable of being thrown open when required. It is nearly
cylindrical in form, its sides approaching each other gradually as they approach the
screw case or delivery end of the machine. Into the rear end of this case the clay
is introduced through a conoidal hopper H projecting downward from a platform D,
Figure 2, and having its larger opening at its lower end to facilitate the delivery.
of the clay and prevent the clogging of the hopper.
The upper end of the hopper is provided with a flange a, covering the opening in
the platform, which opening is made large enough for the passage of the larger end
of the hopper. On the lower face of the flange is an annular rib b, which enters
the opening of the platform and holds the hopper in place. The lower end of the
hopper hangs loose in the upper shell of the tempering case C, so that if the plat-
form should sag the hopper may descend, while the flange or cap a remains flush
with the floor of the platform.
The clay enters the case through a circular inlet pipe I, inserted tangentially
in the upper shell of the case, and on that side where the entering clay will meet
the tempering knives K, on their upward course, and the lumps be continually
agitated, and the clay loosened, which materially lessens the clogging of the
hopper.
The pugging shaft P is provided with a series of tempering knives K, K, arranged
spirally around it on a curve running in the opposite direction to that of the spiral
of the screw S, which is attached to the forward end of the shaft, and presses the
tempered clay out through the die, as herein-after explained. This arrangement
of the knives obviates the tendency they would have if placed on the same spiral
as the screw to drive the clay into the screw case, and compress it there, and pro-
duce clogging and an unnecessary density. Less power is, consequently, required
to drive the tempering knives, the function of each knife being merely to plough

page_text: the clay over into the space left vacant by its predecessor, thus giving each knife
a very narrow strip of clay to operate upon, and relieving it from sustaining the
backward thrust of the entire mass of clay moving in front of it.
There is a projection d upon the pugging shaft P, at the back of each tempering
knife K, intended to support the knife and prevent it from being.forced backward
by the clay as the shaft revolves. These projections are set in a position oblique
to the shaft P, and form a spiral upon it, but their faces are so arranged with
reference to the direction of rotation of the shaft as that they shall, by their
revolution, impel the clay towards the expressing screw S.
The aforesaid conical expressing screw on the forward end of shaft P, rotates in
the conoidal screw case E, provided with a removable lining F, between which and
the outer shell is a steam space G.
The screw case is bolted to the tempering case, as shown.
. The screw S is similar in construction and operation to that heretofore used,
except that its diameter is less, and the arrangement of its mouth or base relatively
to the tempering knives is different.
.
In a former machine the diameter of the screw was large'in proportion to the
size of the brick to be made. Hence the large quantity of clay which the screw
would contain had to be driven through the die at a great expenditure of power,
and with the effect of so condensing, drawing, and laminating the material as to
render the brick extremely hard and heavy, and somewhat difficult to cut with
accuracy under the trowel.
By reducing the diameter of the screw the amount of "drawing" to which the
clay is subjected is greatly lessened, and the lamination in the shorter kinds of clay
almost entirely prevented.
Experiments have led to the adoption of a diameter for the screw a little greater.
than the longest transverse diameter of the brick to be made.
.
It is important that the mouth of the screw should be so arranged relatively to
the tempering knives that the clay should be allowed to pass freely without
clogging between the knives and the base of the screw. The spiral of the screw
being opposite in direction to that of the line of knives, the two form at their point
of junction the ends of a right and left handed thread which would bring the
second tempering knife from the screw end of the shaft so close to the thread of the
screw as to cause the clay to lodge between them. By placing the mouth of the
screw opposite to and a little behind the first knife the said knife will feed the clay
and the
over into the cavity and between the thread of the expressing screw;
second knife will feed it into the path of the first, and the third knife will be
sufficiently far from the screw to allow the clay to pass freely between them.
.
On the forward end of the screw case E is attached the "former," with its die and
lining, both formed in one piece. The walls of the "former" are inclined, as shown,
and guide the clay into the die, gradually imparting to it the rectangular form, and
reducing it to the size of the die, through which it emerges in the shape of a con-
tinuous rectangular bar, whose cross section is that of the brick to be made. The
former is hinged to the screw case by a large hinge j, the extremities of which are
about one-third of the circumference of the former apart. On the side of the screw
case, opposite to the hinge j, is an eye x, to which is hinged by a wooden pin m a
swinging bolt k, which engages with an eye on the former, and locks it to the screw
case. Thus the former is held to the case at three equidistant points around its
circumference, and yet can be opened or closed by the rising of a single bolt. The
wooden pin m is of such a diameter as to be amply strong to hold the former to its
place when the machine is working under normal conditions, but should the clay
become too stiff, or a large stone get in, so as to subject the machine to a dangerous
strain, the wooden pin will be cut off before any other part of the machine will give
way, and thus prevent serious injury.
As heretofore made the former and die lining have been in two parts, the former
being of iron, and the die lining of steel, but it was found that the former wore
away as well as the die, and when a new die was inserted an abrupt shoulder was

page_text: formed at their line of junction, over which the clay had to be forced at the cost of
power and of the perfection of the surface of the bar.
My improved arrangement of the sand scrapers is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6,
and consists in arranging the top and bottom scrapers in different planes from each
other and from the side scrapers, so that there is no contact between any of them to
form corners. I place the upper scraper e nearest to. the die, so that the sand
scraped by it from the top of the bar drops in front of the side scrapers e', e¹, and is
applied to the sides of the bar, and thence falling is caught in the projecting bottom
scraper f, which, by the obliquity of its sides, directs the sand towards the middle
of the under side of the bar.
I provide the bottom of the sand box with a slide for the convenience of re-
moving the surplus sand.
The device for cutting the bar of clay into uniform lengths for bricks is radically
different from that heretofore used. It consists in the main of a spiral severing
blade Q, in combination with an endless chain N, each link n of which equals in
length that of the brick the machine is designed to make. In each link at about
two-thirds the distance from the die end are slits p, through which the spiral blade
runs. The chain is supported upon rollers, and passes around wheels at the end
of the chain stand. The links are held laterally in place by a capt, which laps over
their edges.
The spiral blade Q is made of tempered sheet steel, and has three full turns, the
first two of which gradually increase in diameter from the forward or leading end
of the blade, so that the blade, as it revolves, shall gradually enter and sever the
bar of clay. By this construction the blade is caused to make a long drawing cut,
which rubs out the clay before it, and leaves the ends of the brick perfectly.
smooth.
Any small hard foreign substance that may be in the clay is either pushed out or
to one side, and the rubbing action of the blade immediately fills the cavity thus
made. By this process even a rough variety of clay can be cut quite smooth.
The third round of blade Q prevents the partially severed bar of clay from
yielding under the strain of the cut, and separating before the blade completes the
severing of it.
The links n being turned up at right angles at their sides support the clay at the
bottom and edge. The blade Q being placed a little to one side of the chain, its
drawing cut has a tendency to draw the clay into the angle of the chain, and this
holds the bar in both directions while being cut.
The blade is held between two spiral clamps R, which are adjusted to the
proper length of the brick, and to correspond with the length of the links n by the
screws u, as shown. When this adjustment has been completed the clamps R are
closed upon the blade by the through bolts v, which support the clamps, as clearly
shown in Figure 1.
The winch, Figure 1, shows the point of application of the driving power on the
end of the main shaft W. A gear wheel D² on this shaft, through intermediate gear
wheels E, F, drives the large gear wheel G2 attached to the pugging shaft P.
On the inner end of shaft W is the clutch provided with the gear wheel K³,
which drives the gear wheel J2 on the end of the shaft 12 of the fly wheel H.
On the shaft I is a pulley L³ connected by a band with a pulley M2 on the shaft
X of the spiral blade Q.
When the jaws of the friction clutch V are closely engaged, the fly wheel H2 is.
driven at increased speed, and the shaft X at a corresponding rate; but when the
jaws are less closely in contact the speed of the fly wheel is correspondingly de-
creased. The movements of the friction clutch jaws to and from each other are
controlled by the longitudinal oscillation of the shaft X of the spiral blade Q, and
that oscillation is caused by the action of the bar of clay against the blade, as
herein-after set forth.
The rotation of the spiral blade Q drives the chain N. The speed of the blade.

page_text: -
is controlled by the motion of the bar of clay as it issues from the die, and the
longitudinal movement of the blade governs the friction clutch V upon the end of
the driving shaft W, through which clutch power is communicated to drive the fly
wheel shaft I, and the pulleys L², M², which drives the blade Q. The shaft X, upon
which this spiral blade with its clamp is carried, runs in boxes Y, C³, with universal
joints upon the end of upright levers Z, D¹, supported by rock shafts A', B' (see
Figure 7).
The rock shaft B¹ on the main framing of the machine has upon it a very short
lever engaging with a washer bearing against the nut of the female portion a¹ of the
clutch V, and by its movement increases or decreases the friction of the jaws of
the clutch.
The male portion E³ of the clutch is driven positively by the main driving shaft
W through the adjusting key, as shown. This male clutch Es is covered with
wood in sections set upon its end, so as to be easily renewed and present à wearing
surface that will not cut.
Leather may also be used, or segments of wood may be faced with leather.
Upon the rock shaft A', carrying the cut-off shaft X, at the blade end is a lever F¹,
against which bears a spring G³ adjustable by the hand wheel H', so that the
amount of pressure applied to the clutch may be varied by the spring G³, and
transmitted through the rock shaft A' and cut-off shaft X and lever D¹ to the
female jaw of the clutch.
The operation of this part of the machine is .as follows:--When the clay issues
from the die faster than the spiral blade Q is running, it presses against the blade,
moving it forward, thus forcing the clutch jaws more closely together, increasing the
speed of the fly wheel, and consequently that of the cutting spiral.
Should the spiral Q run too fast for the clay it will by its re-action against the
clay screw itself back, and thus relieve the pressure on the clutch and be retarded
by the diminishing speed of the fly wheel shaft, the blade thereby becoming an
automatic regulating device wholly under the control of the issuing bar of clay, and
much more sensitive than the device heretofore used for the same purpose.
To the same lever F' to which the spring G³ is attached is coupled by a link I'
a hand leyer J', whereby the friction of the clutch may be controlled by hand
when desired.
The arm K' upon the rock shaft A' carrying the spiral end of the cut-off shaft is
made hollow, and through it extends the lever or column Z carrying the box Y,
the lower end of which rests in a notch in the end of a lever L', which is counter-
weighted at M' so as to nearly balance the weight of the spiral blade Q and its
shaft. By this means the power required to raise the spiral Q is reduced to little
more than that required to cut off a brick, so that when the blade Q strikes a hard
substance, which it cannot displace or cut through, the blade rides up over it,
lifting its shaft X and box Y, and thus passes harmless over all such obstructions.
Should the blade be suddenly caught in the chain from any defect, or be wedged by
a nail or other article so as to prevent its revolving the flat friction plate R' against
which the forward head of the spiral drum is forced by a key (the other end turning
loose upon the shaft) slips, allowing the fly wheel H2 and cut-off shaft X to continue
to revolve, thus avoiding the sudden stopping of those parts which would be liable
to cause damage to the machine. The bar of clay, as it issues from the die and
sand box, is received on a table T¹, hinged at the side as shown, so that it can be
turned up laterally out of the way when desired.
The bricks are delivered by the chain to a sliding plate R³, which in turn delivers
them to an off-bearing belt not shown, the said off-bearing belt being always driven
faster than the greatest speed at which the bar of clay issues from the die, thus
separating the bricks for convenience of handling by the off-bearers.
Should the wooden pin m by which the former is held shut break and allow the
former to fly open during the time the hinged table T¹ is down, some part of the
machine would be broken or displaced were it not for the curved incline S' attached

page_text: to table T¹, under which the nut of the "former" bolt K slides, and turns over the
table T out of the way, see Figure 8.
At a point opposite to that at which the chain N reaches a horizontal position is
secured to the cap t which holds down the chain, a slide on the end of which is a
springs for the purpose of guiding and holding the bar of clay against the angular
side of the chain.
To protect the tempering case from the effect of undue internal pressure arising
from any obstruction, or too great stiffness of the clay, a safety valve Z¹ is inserted
in the shell (as shown in Figure 2) and provided with a lever A³ and weight B².
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In combination with the pugging shaft an enlarged thrust plate placed on
the rear end of the said shaft, and in contact with a loose plano-convex plate in
the cavity of the cross head, all as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The conoidal hopper provided with a flange and annulus, and arranged
with its larger opening downward, in the manner and for the purposes specified.
Third. In combination with the shell of the tempering case the inlet pipe inserted
tangentially into the said case on the side which the tempering knives occupy in
the ascending part of their revolution, as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The shaft provided with tempering knives, arranged in a spiral line
opposite in direction to that of the threads of the expressing screw, in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The spirally arranged knives supported at the back by projections on the
pugging shaft, set in a spiral direction, and having their faces set to impel the clay
towards the delivery end of the machine, as above described.
Sixth. The expressing screw having its mouth set a little back from and opposite
to the first tempering knife, and having a diameter at its delivery point not more
than double the greatest diameter of the forming die, as and for the purpose
specified.
Seventh. The former and die lining made in one piece, as and for the purpose
specified.
Eighth. The former provided on one side with the enlarged hinge, and on the
other side with the swinging locking bolt attached by the wooden pin in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth. The sand box provided with flexiblo scrapers arranged in different planes,
so that no corners shall be formed to become clogged by weak and soft clay, and
provided with a sliding bottom, as above described.
Tenth. The cut-off mechanism, consisting of the endless slitted belt, in combina-
tion with the spiral blade, constructed as described, and running in the slits of the
belt, in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Eleventh. The spiral blades, having enlarging diameters held between the adjusting
clamps, and united by through bolts to the circular heads attached to the shaft, as
shown and described.
Twelfth. The blade shaft, running in journal boxes, supported by universal joints
upon oscillating levers, and connected by pulleys with the clutch and fly wheel,
which control the speed of the cut-off mechanism in the manner above described.
Thirteenth. The combination of the weighted lever, the hollow arm, and the rod
with the journal box of the blade shaft, in the manner above described, for the
purpose of balancing the blade and enabling it to clear obstructions, as specified.
Fourteenth. The combination of the main shaft, the clutch, the gear wheel, the
fly wheel shaft, the pulleys, and the shaft of the blade, in the manner and for the
purpose described.
•
Fifteenth. The combination with the hinged former, constructed as described, of.
the hinged table provided with the slide, in the manner and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: Sixteenth. A brick-making machine, consisting of the parts shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings, constructed, combined, and operating as above set forth.
In, witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM RORT LAKE (LS)