IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT CLASS OF MACHINERY GENERALLY USED FOR SOLIDIFYING GRANULAR SUB- STANCES, SUCH AS FIRE-CLAY, COAL-DUST, OR OTHER MATERIALS OF LIKE NATURE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Guthrie, of Albert Villa, Victoria Park, Manchester,
in the County of Lancashire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT
CLASS OF MACHINERY GENERALLY USED FOR SOLIDIFYING GRANULAR SUB-
STANCES, SUCH AS FIRE-CLAY, COAL-DUST, OR OTHER MATERIALS OF LIKE
NATURE."
Sealed the 16th March 1877, and dated the 9th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Guthrie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th January 1877.
HERBERT GUTHRIE, of Albert Villa, Victoria Park, Manchester, in the County of
Lancashire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT CLASS OF MACHINERY GENERALLY USED
FOR SOLIDIFYING GRANULAR SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS FIRE-CLAY, COAL-DUST, OR
OTHER MATERIALS OF LIKE NATURE."
This Invention is a further improvement upon my machine for which Letters
Patent have already been granted and dated 3rd January 1876, No. 28, and consists
mainly of two dies and a mould, as in the aforesaid machine, but instead of the
mould being fixed and the two dies working I cause one of the deis to be fixed to
a spring bed and the mould to move in its stead. I accomplish this by doing away
entirely with what was formally the fixed centre of the three-throw crank, and con-
vert it into a single-throw crank, from which all the movements of the several parts
of the machine are directy and indirectly obtained. That centre formally working
the tension connecting rods and top die is now made the fixed centre, and the rods
the main frame of the machine, transmitting the whole of the strain from the main
centre to the fixed die as well as serving for guide rods, upon which the moving die
and mould slide.
The moving die is worked directly from the crank by a compression connecting
rod very similar to that formally used. The mould is worked indirectly from the
same crank by attaching one end of a bar about midway on the connecting rod,
the other end of which is attached to a lever and rocking shaft giving motion to
two side levers fixed upon either end of this shaft and communicating directly by
side rods to the mould. Thus by a peculiar adjustment of these several points a
double reciprocating motion is given to the mould, producing one long and one
short reciprocation alternately to every revolution of the main centre, greatly
[Prins B1

page_text: varying in speed and answering every purpose of a cam without its expense and
objections.
One of the principal advantages in this peculiar movement is that of producing
both a backwards and forwards motion to the mould while.the charge is under
its greatest pressure, and by its friction upon the material sweeping it hard up,
first into one corner and then into the other, and making them equally compact
and sharp. There is also the advantage of being able to use a shorter mould and
a less stroke of the crank, by which much power is saved and less strain transmitted
through the gearing. This same movement may be obtained from separate cranks
on the ends of the main shaft outside the frames of the machine, should circum-
stances render it admisable.
The aforesaid spring bed to which the fixed die is attached is another improve-
ment upon my former machine and serves a double purpose; firstly, that of receiving
the whole of the pressure of the machine and preventing any. breakage or undue
strain that may come upon it; and secondly, by giving part of the spring bed a
longer range so that a portion of the pressure is maintained upon the block till the
mould is quite clear of it and the whole of its sides exposed to the atmosphere, that
of preventing the tendancy to split from the tension of any air that may not have
escaped from the charge previously.
A third improvement is that of forming the measuring box upon the moving
mould and saving the necessity for levers and gearing to give it motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert Guthrie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1877.
HERBERT GUTHRIE, of Albert Villa, Victoria Park, Manchester, in the County of
Lancashire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT CLASS OF MACHINERY GENERALLY USED FOR
SOLIDIFYING GRANULAR SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS FIRE-CLAY, COAL-DUST, OR OTHER
MATERIALS OF LIKE NATURE."
This Invention is a further improvement upon my machine for which Letters
Patent have already been granted, and dated 3rd January 1876, No. 28, and consists
mainly of two dies and a mould as in the aforesaid machine. But instead of the
nould being fixed and the two dies working, I cause one of the dies to be fixed to
a spring bed and the mould to move in its stead. I accomplish this by entirely
doing away with what was formerly the fixed centre of the three-throw crank and
convert it into a single-throw crank, from which all the movements of the several
parts of the machine are directly and indirectly obtained. That centre formerly
working the tension connecting rods and top die is now made the fixed centre, and
the rods the main frame of the machine, transmitting the whole of the strain from
the main centre to the fixed die as well as serving for guide rods, upon which the
moving die and mould slide.
The moving die is worked directly from the crank by a compression connecting
rod very similar to that formerly used. The mould is worked indirectly from the
same crank by attaching one end of a bar about midway on the connecting rod,
the other end of which is attached to a lever and rocking shaft giving motion to
two side levers fixed upon either end of this shaft and communicating directly by
side rods to the mould. Thus by a peculiar adjustment of these several parts a
double reciprocating motion is given to the mould, producing one long and one
short reciprocation alternately for every revolution of the main shaft, greatly
varying in speed and answering every purpose of a cam without its expense and
objections.
One of the principal advantages of this peculiar movement is that of producing
both a backward and forward motion to the mould while the charge is under its

page_text: greatest pressure, and by its friction upon the material of the charge sweeping it
first hard up into one corner and then into the opposite one, making them equally
compact and sharp. There is also the advantage of being able to use a shorter.
inould than I formerly had and a less stroke of crank, by which much power is
gained and less strain transmitted through the gearing. This same movement may.
be obtained from separate cranks on the ends of the main shaft outside the frames.
of the machine, should circumstances render it advisable.
The aforesaid spring bed to which the fixed die is attached is a second improve-
ment upon my former machine and serves a double purpose; firstly, that of receiving
the whole of the pressure of the machine and preventing any breakage or undue
strain that may come upon it; and, secondly, by giving part of the spring bed a
longer range so that a portion of the pressure is maintained upon the material
pressed till the mould is quite clear.of it and the whole of its sides exposed to the
atmosphere, thus preventing any splitting from internal pressure of air and giving
it ample time to disperse before being relieved by the machine.
A third improvement is that of forming the measuring box upon the moving
mould and saving the necessity for levers and gearing to give it motion.
Should this machine be required to work plastic material a pugging cylinder
may be substituted for the hopper and measuring box, the quantity of material
being regulated by the die cutting off the supply at the proper time, which may be
effected by the adjustment of the mould and its gearing.
Referring to the Drawings, the view in the middle of the sheet is a longitudinal
section through the centre of the machine. That on the left is an end view, the
spur wheels not being shewn. The view on the right is a cross section taken in
front of the mould, and the view above it shews the springs and the girder carrying
them.
A is the actuating shaft, having one crank in its centre from which all the motions
are obtained as before described. C is the connecting rod giving motion directly
to the moving die, and indirectly by the pin P, rocking shaft R, and side rods S to
the mould M, M, and measuring box B. The connecting rod is held at the sliding
end by a transom T, upon which the moving die D is secured, a loose plate p being
placed between them so as to allow of the easy removal of that die. G is the girder
carrying the springs 8, 8, and the standing die D. The mould is made in halves
for the easy removal of the lining.
The measuring box is steam jacketted and has one adjustable side regulated by a
screw and hand wheel.
The steam injector is regulated by the small valve v, as described in my former
Patent, or by a small slide valve. H is the hopper under which the measuring. box
slides to receive its charge. A small slide or damper is placed at the bottom of this
hopper for the purpose of stopping the feed at any moment. h is a small supple-
mentary hopper placed immediately over the damper and below the main hopper
for the purpose of watching the supply and clearing any obstruction. K is the kiln
band, on to which the goods are delivered and carried to the kiln and which is
driven by an ordinary wheel and strap from the pinion shaft p, 8. The double
effect of the springs is obtained by forming collars on some of the bolts holding
them, these collars being on the opposite side of the girder to the springs so as
to allow of their being tightened up till they are almost home. Beyond these
collars the bolts are prolonged and run through holes in the standing frame with
nuts on the ends, an amount of length for sliding being left equal to the full range
of the other springs, minus the range remaining in these after being screwed up as
before stated, so that all the springs are brought up home at the same time, each
bearing their share of the ultimate pressure. These other springs are held by
ordinary bolts fixed at one end to the standing frame and running through the
girder like the first-mentioned bolts, but not having any collars, so that the full
pressure of these springs may be used or any part thereof by regulating the
position of their nuts, the range being regulated by the position of the nuts on the

page_text: sliding length of the first-mentioned bolts. Other springs may be used than those
shewn, as long as they are arranged in a similar manner.
Having now stated the nature of my Invention and described the working of the
same, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the details
given so long as the particular character of the Invention be retained. I claim the
right to duplicate, quadruple, or multiply the number of moulds to any extent in
one machine, by placing them side by side or by dividing them into sets and placing
them round the same actuating shaft or any other similar variation. Also the right
to use any form of mould necessary for making bull nosed, side wedge, moulded, or
other shaped bricks; square, octagonal, and such like form for tiles, embossed or
plain, round or square; for the dry Portland cement process and artificial fuel, or
indeed any other form desired. The points I claim and believe to be novel and
original are as follows:―
Firstly. The peculiar mode of obtaining irregular double receprocating motion of
the mould, substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The fixing of one of the dies upon an adjustable spring bed, causing the
said die to hold the compressed material till the mould is clear of it, allowing time
for any residue of air in that material to escape, and serving as well the purpose of
indicating the ultimate pressure obtained and preventing over strain in the machine
itself, substantially as herein-before-described.
Thirdly. The placing of the measuring box upon the moving mould, substantially
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert Guthrie, have hereunto set my hand and
in the year of our Lord One thousand
seal, this
day of
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
>
HERBERT GUTHRIE. (L.S.)