IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF CLAY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, SLABS, OR OTHER ARTICLES WHICH MAY BE MADE OF SUCH MATERIAL
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Platt, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Engineer, and William Richardson, of the same Place,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PREPARATION OF CLAY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, SLABS, OR
OTHER ARTICLES WHICH MAY BE MADE OF SUCH MATERIAL."
Sealed the 19th July 1864, and dated the 23rd January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Platt and William
Richardson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 23rd January 1864.
We, JOHN PLATT, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, and WILLIAM RICHARDSON, of the same Place, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PREPARATION OF CLAY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, SLABS, OR
OTHER ARTICLES WHICH MAY BE MADE OF SUCH MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to pulverizers or revolving screens used in the
preparation of clay, and its object is to prevent the material from adhering to
the bars thereof.
One part of our improvements consists in accomplishing this object by the
application of heat to the bars; and this may be effected by a current of
heated air projected against the bars, but other applications of heat will
answer.
Secondly, for the same purpose we propose a mechanical plan consisting of.

page_text: prongs or other instruments, which enter the spaces between the bars as the
pulverizer or screen revolves, whereby the adhering clay is caused to fall.
These instruments may be mounted upon an endless chain, and by gearing
with the bars enter successively the spaces between them.
=
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Platt and William Richardson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
PLATT, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, and
WILLIAM RICHARDSON, of the same Place, Mechanical Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said John Platt and William Richardson, Her special license
that we, the said John Platt and William Richardson, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Platt and William
Richardson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF CLAY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES,
SLABS, OR OTHER ARTICLES WHICH MAY BE MADE OF SUCH MATERIAL," upon the
condition, amongst others, that we, the said John Platt and William
Richardson, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or
under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Platt and William Richardson,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :--

page_text: Our Invention relates to pulverizers or revolving screens used in the
preparation of clay, and its object is to prevent the material adhering to the
bars thereof. One part of our improvements consists in accomplishing this
object by the application of heat to the bars, and this may be effected by a
current of heated air projected against the bars, but other applications of heat
will answer.
Secondly, for the same purpose we propose a mechanical plan consisting.
of prongs or other instruments which enter the spaces between the bars as the
pulverizer or screen revolves, whereby the adhering "clay is caused to fall.
These instruments may be mounted on an endless surface, and by gearing
with the bars enter successively the spaces between them.
The
In the accompanying Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 exhibit a method of carrying
out the first part of our Invention. The revolving screen or pulverizer is:
shewn at a, constructed after the usual manner, that is to say, there are a
series of bars 6-arranged as a cylinder, into which the clay is fed, and which on
being caused to revolve breaks up the lumps into pieces, which then fall
between the bars 6; a few of these bars only are shewn in the Drawing. At
c is a pipe into which heated air is forced by means of a fan or by other
suitable means; at d is a fan-shaped conical pipe extending from and open to
the pipe c, its outward end extending to within a short distance of the bars b.
One end of the pipe c being closed and hot air being forced into the other, the
said air will issue in a stream from the pipe d and impinge upon the bars 6,
thereby heating them and preventing the clay from adhering thereto.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew a modification of this part of our Invention.
revolving screen or pulverizer as before is at a, and the bars at b. Around
one side of the circumference of these bars is a steam chest f supported on
stationary brackets 9. Upon steam being admitted into the chest f, it will by
radiation convey heat to the bars b, and thus the aforesaid object of our
Invention will be accomplished. Figs. 5 and 6 represent in side elevation
and plan views a method of effecting the object of our Invention by mechanism.
A portion of the screen or pulverizer is at a, above which are endless belts b,
to which are rivetted teeth c, and extending between the bars d of the screen or
pulverizer. The endless belts 6 are mounded on one side on a roller e, capable
of turning loosely upon a shaft f, mounted in bearings g. At the other side
the said belts pass over a roller h mounted loosely upon a shaft i, which shaft
is carried by levers k fixed upon the shaft f. It will therefore be perceived
that the levers & will turn downward and allow the belts 6 to rest upon the
surface of the screen or pulverizer, which as it revolves causes the said belts
(through the medium of the teeth c) to be drawn forward, so that the teeth

page_text: thereon successively enter between the bars d, and thrust inward any clay
that may be adhering thereto. At are cross bars between the levers, k,
carrying projecting pieces m, which serve as guides for keeping the belts b
upon the rollers h, e. :
Having thus described the nature of our said. Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be understood that we'
claim as secured to us under the above in part recited Letters Patent and for
the purpose above set forth,-
Firstly, the application of heat to the bars of revolving screens or pul-
verizers.
Secondly, as applied to the said revolving screens or pulverizers, the use of
teeth or other such instruments, which successively enter between the bars
thereof..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Richardson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
WILLIAM RICHARDSON. (L.S.)