IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRICKS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Platt, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Engineer, and Harry Chubb, of Brecknock Crescent, Camden
Town, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRICKS OR
Sealed the 10th May 1859, and dated the 17th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Platt and Harry
Chubb at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 17th November 1858.
We, JOHN PLATT, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, and HARRY CHUBB, of Brecknock Crescent, Camden Town, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRICKS
OR TILES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a screen for preparing clay previously to
its being pressed into moulds or other shaping apparatus. For this purpose
we employ a series of weights, which are caused to rise and fall within the
screen, so as to pulverize the material, but allow the stones to be separately
delivered. The weights we attach to levers mounted upon a centre excentric

page_text: to the shaft of the screen, and apply a stop for preventing them from striking
the bars. The revolving screen we mount upon a bush instead of upon the
bare shaft, and adapt flanges so as to prevent the material from reaching the
revolving surfaces.
Another part of this Invention relates particularly to that construction of
brick-making machinery for which Letters Patent were granted to Arad
Woodworth and Samuel Mower, bearing date the 24th of January 1852, but
they are also applicable to other brick-making machinery provided with similar
mechanical parts.
The improvements consist, firstly, in the application of india-rubber or other
elastic material for checking the blow of the ram, so as to prevent it striking
a part of the machine. We also construct the cams or the parts against
which they act with pieces capable of being detached, so that the acting
surfaces may be renewed or adjusted when required. In this manner the cam
for lifting the ram, the ram itself, and also the squeezing apparatus, are
constructed. We likewise mount the bowl or roller upon which the cam acts
for the top squeeze, so as to be capable of adjustment. In the apparatus for
supplying the material we use an additional striker, which removes a first
portion, leaving a second striker to complete the complement of the supply.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Platt and Harry Chubb in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
PLATT, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, and
HARRY CHUBB, of Brecknock Crescent, Camden Town, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said John Platt and Harry Chubb, Her special license that we, the
said John Platt and Harry Chubb, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said John Platt and Harry Chubb, our exe-
cutors, 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

page_text: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR MAKING BRICKS OR TILES," (being partly a communication from abroad,)
upon the condition, amongst others, that we, the said John Platt and Harry
Chubb, or one of us, 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 I, the said John Platt, 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 state-
ment and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to machinery or apparatus for sifting or
screening clay previously to its being pressed into moulds in the manufacture
of bricks; and, secondly, to improvements upon that brick-making machinery
for which Letters Patent were granted to Arad Woodworth and Samuel
Mower, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-two, but which improvements are also applicable to other
brickmaking machinery provided with similar parts.
a
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the screen;
Fig. 2 a plan view in section; and Fig. 3 a transverse section. Upon
fixed shaft A are mounted the ends B, B³, which are open between the
supporting arms, as at C; these ends carry a series of bars D around their
circumference, between which there are spaces for the finer particles of clay
to pass. To the shaft A are attached arms E, to the outward ends of which
is fixed a rod G, upon which stampers F are mounted looseley, so as to turn
upward or downward thereon, but are prevented from striking the bars D by
a stop O; and these stampers are fluted at their outward parts, as seen.at
Fig. 3. One end B' of the screen is provided with an extended and enclosed
part H, formed with an annular opening, within which is situate a tube I,.
leading from a chamber which is in communication with a hopper or other
apparatus by which the material may be supplied. The end B¹ is furnished
with a toothed wheel K gearing into a pinion L, which is driven by
a pulley. The material being fed into the hopper passes through the
tube I and openings C into the screen, which being placed at a slight.
inclination, and being caused to revolve through the gearing described,
causes the material to travel onward towards the end B, but in so doing

page_text: it will necessarily pass under the stampers F, which do not revolve with
the cylinder, and will by them become pulverised, so as to allow a larger
portion of finer particles to pass between the bars D. In case of stones
being mixed with the material, the stampers F will turn upon their
centres, so as to allow them to pass and roll back upon their upper
surfaces, but the clay adhering to the said stones will have become broken
up and separated therefrom. As this action continues, the greater part of
the material suitable for the moulding machine will have passed between
the bars D, and may be collected (to be sifted if desired) as most con-
venient, but the coarser portions and stones will upon arrival at the end B,
pass out, and may be collected in any receptacle. 'A peculiar feature of con-
struction in this apparatus consists in a method of preventing the clay from
getting to the revolving surfaces and their bearings. Upon the fixed shaft A
is attached a collar N, provided with a recess, within which is placed a pro-
jecting part of the end B' of the screen; a similar collar N¹ is then placed
upon the shaft so as to effect a similar joint with the end B, and the inward
ends of the said collars are closed by the bosses E" of the arms E.
In referring to the next part of our Invention, we shall describe generally
the construction and operation of that machinery to which it applies, and
subsequently point out those parts which we claim. The moulding machine is
shewn in side elevation at Fig. 4; Fig. 5 is a front view thereof, and Fig. 6
a vertical transverse section; the other Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, are detached views
of certain parts hereafter to be particularly referred to. The main driving
shaft of the machine is shewn at 1, communicating motion by means of a
pinion 2 to a spur wheel 3, on the axis of which is a pinion Q driving a
spur wheel J, which is in gear with another spur wheel J¹ fixed upon
shafts G, G', which carry the various cams by which the moulding is effected.
The ram H is formed hollow, so as to extend on each side of the shaft G,
and is furnished at bottom with a series of parts H', which act as the sur-
faces of giving pressure to the tops of the articles to be moulded. Upon the
shaft G is a cam T, with two separate elevations by which the ram H is raised,
and then allowed to fall upon the material, the said ram being mounted in
parallel guides attached to the framing. Upon this shaft are also two cams
U which act upon rollers 1, so as to thrust the ram H and parts H' downward
in order to press the top of the bricks by a squeezing action. The moulds
which form the sides of the bricks are shewn at C, and the pistons constituting
the bottoms thereof at F. These pistons are situate above the shaft G¹, and
are acted upon by a cam E, so as to be raised in order to press the bottoms
of the bricks, and to elevate them into a position for removal when finished.

page_text: The hopper which supplies the material is shewn at N, and the mould charger
which receives, it at D. This charger consists of several chambers corre
sponding to the number of dies, which chambers are without bottoms, excepting
those temporarily afforded by a use of the moulds G and a fixed plate 5; it is
mounted upon guides at 6, so as to move inward and outward, and to it is
connected a link 7, the other end thereof being jointed to one arm of a bell
crank lever L, the other arm of which carries a roller 8, situate within a
grooved cam M mounted upon the shaft G¹; as this cam therefore revolves
the charger filled with clay is caused to move from the situation shewn in the
Drawing to a position above the moulds G, so as to permit the material to
pass therein, and subsequently to return for another supply. It has been
found that during the return, a back movement of the mould charger, or its
movement from over the moulds and directly under the hopper, that such
movement causes the clay to pack more closely in the front of each orifice of
the charger than it does in the back part of it; in consequence of this,
the front part of the brick when formed becomes denser than the back part, the
latter in consequence thereof not being likely to be properly formed. In
order to prevent this difficulty, the striker is caused to rise up as the mould
charger moves forward towards the moulds, such rising up being for the pur-
pose of leaving the top surface of the clay in the charger higher at the back
than it is at the front of each orifice thereof. This part of the machine is as
follows: Within the hopper N is a fixed striker q, constituting a portion of
our Invention, which as the charger moves forward towards the moulds
regulates in part the quantity of material that shall be carried forward;
this, however, is determined finally by a second striker O, which is mounted
upon levers, one at each side, and capable of turning upon a fixed centre
at 10. These levers are provided with set screws 11, which descend
to inclined planes moving with the mould charger; as that apparatus there-
fore moves inward, the inclined planes regulate the height of the striker,
and this is so arranged as to leave the material at a higher lever in
the recesses of the charger at the back parts than at the front parts
thereof for the reason above explained, and as fully described in the Specifica-
tion of Woodworth and Mower, before mentioned. The operation of the machine
is as follows:-According to the position shewn in the Drawing, the mould
charger D is drawn back into a position beneath the hopper N and the clay
falling downward is filling the recesses, during which a set of bricks is being
completed in the moulds by the means which will presently be understood.'
While this is taking place the cam M is revolving in the direction of the
arrow, and when its elevation M' arrives in contact with the roller 8, the bell-

page_text: crank lever L, will be caused to turn upon its centre, so as to thrust forward
the charger, the recesses of which are now filled with clay, a plate 13 following
this movement in order to close the aperture of the hopper N. By this time
however, the bricks just made will have been discharged, the ram H will have
been elevated by the cam T, so as to make way for the entrance of the charger,
and the pistons F will be supported by a concentric part of the cam E. The
parts being in this supposed position, the ram will be allowed to fall by the
elevation T of the cam, which revolves in the direction of the arrow, leaving
the part H. This falling of the ram will take place through the chambers
of the charger, and will force forward any remaining clay therein, compressing
the whole by percussive force upon the pistons F, now held stationary by the
cam E. This having been accomplished, the ram will again be immediately
lifted by the elevation T¹ of the cam, and the mould charger will be withdrawn
to the hopper by the roller 8 being acted upon by the interior surface of the
part M2 of the cam, during which the cam E will slightly raise the pressed
clay in the mould; the objects of this movement being to free it in a measure
from its adhesiveness to the sides of the mould, and to permit compressed air
around the edges of the brick to escape the diminution of the adhesiveness,
tending to lessen the friction of the clay against the sides of the mould under
the second percussion of the ram. This having been accomplished, the ram
is allowed to fall by the elevation T' passing the part H³, and then another
cam U upon the shaft G forces the pistons H' downward with a squeezing
action, a similar effect being simultaneously produced upon the under surface
of the bricks by a slight elevation E¹ upon the cam E. The bricks are now
completely moulded and ready for removal from the machine; this is effected
by the part E of the cam, which, as the ram is lifted by the cam T, thrusts
up the pistons, so as to bring their under sides level with the bottom of the
mould charger, which then advancing as before described, with a fresh supply
for the moulds, pushes the bricks on to a table P from whence they are
removed by the attendant, after which the same operations as those above
described are repeated.
The foregoing is a description of the main working parts of the moulding
machine, and of the combined operations thereof, but there are certain methods
of construction to be referred to, which are essential novelties, and which add
considerably to the practical utility of the machine. These are as follows:-
Fig. 7 is a detached view of the upper part of the ram; to this we adapt a
piece of india-rubber or other elastic material a, constituting a buffer, which
breaks the concussion of the ram upon the shaft G, should it descend low
enough to strike it. We also construct the cams or the parts against which

page_text: they act with pieces capable of being detached, so that the acting surfaces may
be renewed or adjusted when required.
Fig. 8 shews a detached view of the cam for lifting the ram, to the
elevations of which cam are adapted separate parts b, attached by screws, so
as to be capable of renewal. To the ram (see Fig. 7) we attach, by means
of a bolt or otherwise, a separate piece H³, which may also be renewed at
pleasure. In like manner the acting part of the cam U, is a separate part c,
which we have shewn attached by means of a V-shaped projection (see
Figs. 8 and 9.
Fig. 10 represents a detached view of the lower squeezing cam E, which
is also furnished with separate parts d, e, attached by means of screws, and in
the same Fig. a piece f is connected to the bottom of the piston F by a bolt
and key. We likewise mount the bowl or roller on which the cam acts for the
top squeeze, so as to be capable of.adjustment. In Figs. 5 and 6 two rollers 1
are shewn, acted upon by the cams U, and mounted in a separate piece 9,
situate within within the ram H, and kept in place by bolts h, but pressure
is communicated through the face i, between which and the ram H packing
may be placed, in order to compensate for wear or for the nature of the clay.
We may mention that we find it desirable to apply heat to those parts with
which the clay is in contact; we therefore form chambers 19, 20, 21, in the
ram H, piston F, and plate 5, into which steam is allowed to flow. The
chambers are connected by flexible pipes 22 with any convenient source of
steam.
Having thus described' and ascertained 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,―
Firstly, as applied to screws for preparing clay, the use therein of the
weights or stampers above described.
And, secondly, the method of mounting the screen, so as to guard the
revolving surfaces from the material under operation.
In reference to the moulding machine of Woodworth and Mower aforesaid,
or to other brick-moulding machinery provided with similar mechanical parts,
we claim,--
Firstly, the application of india-rubber or other elastic material to the ram
for the purpose
aforesaid.
Secondly, constructing the cams or parts against which they act, or both,
with pieces capable of being detached, so as to be adjusted or renewed at

page_text: pleasure; also mounting the bowl or bowls or rollers upon which the cam
acts for the top squeeze, so as to be capable of adjustment.
And, lastly, in the apparatus for supplying the material, we claim the use
of an additional striker, as illustrated at 9, Fig. 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Platt, have hereunto set my 5
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.