IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING CLAY AND OTHER MATERIALS, APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Sussex Place, Lough-
borough Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING CLAY AND OTHER MATERIALS,
APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."-A com-
munication.
Sealed the 12th May 1857, and dated the 5th March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th March 1857.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Sussex Place, Loughborough Road,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING CLAY AND OTHER
MATERIALS, APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE, OF BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for compressing
clay and other compressible materials, applicable to the manufacture of
bricks and other articles. For this purpose moulds are employed which
correspond in form to the article to be formed from the clay or other
material by compression; one, two, or more of these moulds are attached to

page_text: a mould carrier, which is moved up and down between suitable guides by an
excentric on the main axis of the machine. The moulds carried by the mould
carriers are bottomless, and into them fit pistons or plungers, which receive
motion from cams placed on the same axis as the excentric before mentioned,
and there are also other pistons or plungers attached to the top framing of the
machine, which enter the moulds when they are moved up by the excentric.
The action of the machine is as follows:-When the moulds are at their
lowest position, and the lower pistons are at the bottom of the moulds, which
then contain a charge of clay or other material, the moulds and pistons begin
to rise, and they rise simultaneously until the top pistons enter the moulds
and the clay or other material becomes to some extent compressed, the moulds
then cease to 'rise, the pressure against its sides being sufficient to overcome
a spring which is interposed between the mould carrier and the excentric;
but the bottom pistons still ascend by the action of the cams, so as further to
compress the material in the moulds, and the pressure is maintained until the
moulds are withdrawn, so as almost to expose the articles in the moulds; the
pressure is then relaxed; and the moulds recede until their upper edges.come
to the level of the face of the lower pistons. The moulded articles are now
pushed away on to a receiving board by a pusher actuated by the-machine,
and connected with this pusher is a box, which brings over the moulds another
charge of granulated clay or other material, which it has received from a
hopper, and as the bottom pistons fall. this charge is deposited in the moulds,
and the quantity received by the moulds is regulated by the depth to which
the pistons fall. In order to cause the moulds to remain stationary for a
sufficient time, the rod which connects the mould carrier with the excentric is
'made in two parts, connected together by a-pin, which is fixed to one of the
parts and passes through a slotted hole in the other part, so that for a short
distance the two parts travel independently of each other, and the cams which
move the bottom pistons-have two or more waves formed on them, which, for
'an instant, relax the pressure in the mould so as to allow 'the air to escape
from it. The top pistons are attached to the top framing in' suchia maninër
that they can be raised or lowered to some extent, so as to regulate:.the
thickness of the article moulded; and the pistons may be furnished with
springs, so as to give elasticity to the pressure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Sussex Place, Loughborough Road, Brixton, in the.
County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One!
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did,;
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Georgo Tomlinson Bousfield, Her special licence that I, the said George.
Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, my 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING CLAY AND OTHER MATERIALS,
APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND OTHER ARTICLES," a communication,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Tomlinson
Bousfield, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 George Tomlinson Bousfield, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for compressing
clay and other compressable materials, applicable to the manufacture of bricks:
and other articles. For this purpose moulds are employed which corresponds
in form to the article to be formed from the clay or other material by com-
pression. One, two, or more of these moulds are attached to a mould carrier,
which is moved up and down between suitable guides by an excentric on the
main axis of the machine. The moulds carried by the mould carriers are
bottomless, and into them fit pistons or plungers, which receive motion from:

page_text: cams placed on the same axis as tho excentric before mentioned; and there
are also other pistons or plungers attached to the top framing of the machine,
which enter the moulds when they are moved up by the excentric. The
action of the machine is as follows:-When the moulds are at their lowest
position and the lower pistons are at the bottom of the moulds, which then
contain a charge of clay or other material, the moulds and pistons begin to
rise, and they rise simultaneously until the top pistons enter the moulds and
the clay or other material becomes to some extent compressed, the moulds
then cease to rise, the pressure against its sides being sufficient to overcome
a spring which is interposed between the mould carrier and the eccentric, but
the bottom pistons still ascend by the action of the cams, so as further to
compress the material in the moulds, and the pressure is maintained until the
moulds are withdrawn, so as. almost to expose the articles in the moulds. Tho
pressure is then relaxed and the moulds recedo until their upper edges come
to the level of the face of the lower pistons. The moulded articles are now
pushed away on to a receiving board by a pusher actuated by the machine,
and connected with this pusher is a box, which brings over the moulds another
charge of granulated clay or other material, which it has received from a
hopper, and as the bottom pistons fall this charge is deposited in the moulds,
and the quantity received by the moulds is regulated by the depth to which
the pistons fall. In order to cause the moulds to remain stationary for a
sufficient time, the rod which connects the mould carrier with the excentric is
made in two parts, connected together by a pin, which is fixed to one of the
parts and passes through a slotted hole in the other part, so that for a short
distance the two parts travel independently of each other, and the cams which
move the bottom pistons have two or more waves formed on them, which, for
an instant, relax the pressure in the mould so as to allow the air to escape
from it. The top pistons are attached to the top framing in such a manner
that they can be raised or lowered to some extent, so as to regulate the
thickness of the article moulded, and the pistons may be furnished with
springs, so as to give elasticity to the pressure.
And in order that the said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.

page_text: middle of the same; Figure 5 is an elevation, partly sectional, of the cams.
and excentric of the same; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the adjusting wedge
and its adjusting screw. The frame of the machine consists of two pieces. or
parts, viz, the iron bed A, A, and the upright B, B, the bed of the frame
being sufficiently Jong to allow of the requisite driving gearing, viz', the box C;.
the driving shaft D; and the pinion wheel E, being properly placed on the bed
of the frame, which must be firmly secured to a solid foundation. At right
angles to this frame bed the upright of the frame B, B,. is firmly attached by:
the bolts C, C, and the upright includes the pistons,. moulds,. feeding and:
delivery tables. The machinery is driven by a belt carried round. the pulley.
F, F, fixed upon the shaft D, carrying the pinion E, which gives motion to.
the spur wheel G, G,.keyed upon the main shaft H. This shaft carries two.
similar cams L, L, one on each side of the upright of the frame, and an
excentric R, R, which is placed directly under the mould frame M, M, and
is keyed on the shaft H; the cams and the excentric are represented in:
Figure 5.
Above the main shaft H, and parallel with it, is a bar or beam I, supporting:
the lower pistons J, J; the outer ends of this beam are turned, and upon them.
friction rollers K, K, are fitted, which are moved vertically with the beam by
means of the cams L, L.
For the purpose of giving motion to the mould frame M, M, the ex-
centric R, R, immediately under it is connected with it by means of the strap.
of the excentric Q, Q, which is connected with the connecting rod N, N, by
means of the cross pin O and the slotted projection P of the strap Q. The
use of the slot is to relcaso the mould from motion during a portion of the
action of the camis L, L, and to leave the mould at rest during the time of
delivery of the bricks and of the filling of the mould with clay. The rod N, N,
is connected with the mould frame M by means of a vertical hole in the bottom
of the mould frame sufficiently large to allow the rod N to slide freely in the
hole. On the connecting rod N, above the slotted projection Q, Q, is a
shoulder S, S, upon which rests a spiral spring of steel T, T, encircling the
rod N and carrying the mould framo M, and during a portion of the time also
the lower pistons J, J. On the upper end of the rod N a thread is cut, and a
uut U is affixed for the purpose of pulling down the mould frame by the
downward pull of the eccentric and its strap.
The upper pistons V, V, are securely bolted to the crown of the upright of
the frame, and the bolts are provided with washers and packing, so that the
upper pistons may be raised or lowered a little, and. adjusted as desired.
The filling box or charger W, W, is pushed forward and pulled back

page_text: horizontally by a lever X, X. This reciprocating movement is effected'.by
means of a peculiar forked or two-pronged lever Y, Y, which is attached to
a subsidiary shaft Z, upon which the forked lover Y, Y, is secured, and
the lever is placed in line on the shaft with the outer edge of the. spur
wheel G, G.
In line with the forked lever Y, Y, a small roller A, A, is secured to tho
side of the spur wheel G, G, near its circumference, by means of a stud. The
roller A', A', in its revolution with the spur wheel G, will strike alternately
the prongs or projections of the forked lever Y, Y, which moves the lever X, X,
which is connected by the joint link B', B', with the filling box or charger
'W, W; and it is evident that during a large portion of the time of revolution
of the spur wheel G the. forked lever Y, Y, will not be acted upon by the
roller A, and the forked lever and the charger W, W, will be at rest. And
it is also evident that during the time that the roller A' is passing from tho
lower prong or projection of the forked lever Y to the upper prong or pro-
jection there will be an interval of rest of the forked lever 'Y and of the
charger W; W; and during this interval of rest the charger W will stand
over the mould and deposit the clay in the mould. A hopper C, C, above the
charger W supplies it with clay. The moulds D', D', are attached securely
by bolts to the top of the mould framo M, M. E, E, are adjusting wedges,
which support the lower pistons at their point of lowest depression. The
wedges are pushed in and drawn out by the screw with a hand wheel F¹, F',
and thus the lowest point of descent of the lower pistons is regulated; and
thus the quantity of clay in the moulds is also regulated. The further the
wedges are drawn out the lower the pistons will descend and the more clay
the moulds will hold.
Having thus described the several parts of this machine, I proceed to
describe its action when in motion.
Considering the machine, as shewn in Figure 1, in its state of rest, or at the
commencement of its action, motion being given to the pulley F, F, it is
transmitted through the pinion E, E, to the spur wheel G, G, upon which the
friction roller A' is fastened, which strikes the lower prong or projection of tho
forked lever Y, Y, and, through the medium of the lever X, X, pushes
forward the filling boxes W, W, which have received their supply of clay from
the hopper C, C, and which slide upon a table or platform. The outsido
cams L, L, now allow the dropping of the friction rollers K, K, and of the bar
or beam I, I, and the lower pistons J, J, until they rest upon the adjusting
wedges E', E', which regulate the maximum depression or descent of the
pistons J, J, and so regulate the depth of the moulds and the quantity of clay

page_text: which they will contain. The roller' A' now strikes the upper prong or pro-
jection of the forked lever Y, Y, which thus, by the medium of the lever X, X,
draws back the charger W, W, to its original position under the hopper C¹, C¹,,
The excentric R, R, during this time having taken. up the slot in the slotted'
projection of the strap Q, Q, now commences, by the pressure of the bottom of
the slot upon the pin O, to lift the connecting rod N; and so, by means of the
shoulder S and the spring T, to lift-tho-mould-frame-M-and-moulds.D¹, D¹;
and while the moulds D', D', are thus ascending by means of the upward:
throw of the excentric and of the spring T, the end of the rod N reaches the
bar or beam I, I, and lifts the beam, together with the lower pistons J, J.
When the clay in the moulds has thus been compressed by the ascent of the
moulds and lower pistons to a certain point, and by the entrance of the
stationary upper pistons V, V, into the moulds to a certain point, the tension
of the clay in the moulds will overcome the power of the spring T, and the
mould frame will gradually cease to rise, and the moulds also will gradually.
cease to rise, and will be subject to the elastic pressure of the spring T And
it will be noticed that the effect of this upward movement of the lower pistons
and moulds supported by the spring T upon the clay in the moulds is precisely
the same as though the lower pistons and moulds were stationary and the
upper pistons were moved downwards with the clastic pressure of a spring;
and by this upward movement of the lower pistons and moulds the upper
portion of the clay in the moulds or the top of the brick will be compressed
very much more than the lower portion of the clay or the bottom of the brick:
The excentric is assisted in lifting the lower pistons by the cams L, L, acting
upon the friction rollers K, K, which hold and lift the ends of the beam I, I,
which carries the lower pistons. The excentric R, R, having completed its
upward throw, the rod N will cease to act on the lower pistons, and tho
cams L, L, will continue to raise them by the independent action of the cams ;
and as the moulds will be held stationary or nearly stationary by the tension of
the clay, the motion of the lower pistons will compress the lower portion of the
clay in the moulds or the bottom of the brick, and the brick is thus com-
pressed to nearly its desired thickness. The downward throw of the eccentric
now first takes up the slot of the slotted projection P of the strap Q, Q, before
it acts upon the pin O; and during this interval of rest of the moulds, the
cams L, L, being in this part mado slightly waving as at G, G, alternately
slightly remit and again renew and increase the pressure upon the brick by
their action upon the lower pistons, thus facilitating the escape of condensed
air from the brick. The excentric having now taken up, the slot P. makes ä
direct downward pull upon the mould frame and moulds by means of the

page_text: nut U affixed to the end of the connecting rod N; and during this motion of
the moulds downwards, another slight increase of pressure is given by means
of the cams L, L, upon the lower pistons, and this pressure is retained until
the moulds are drawn down within a little distance of exposing the brick; at
this point the cams L, L, cease their action, and allow the friction rollers K, K,
the beam I, I, and the lower pistons J, J, to descend by their gravity until the
faces of the lower pistons are upon a level with the delivery table H, H'; the
moulds at the same time have been drawn down by the excentric until the tops
of the moulds are on a level with the delivery table and the faces of the lower
pistons and thus the pressed brick stands exposed upon the face of the lower
piston ready for delivery. At this point the friction roller A' strikes the lower
prong or projection of the forked lever Y, Y, as before described, moves.
forward the charger W, W, which by its front end or side pushes tho brick
from the face of the lower piston and delivers it upon the table H, H¹; and
having done this, the charger remains for an instant stationary, while the
lower pistons descend to their lowest point of rest upon the supporting
adjusting wedges E', E', and the clay descends gently and without shock into
the moulds.
Although in the foregoing description I have confined myself to describing
a particular arrangement and combinatian of parts, it is evident that many of
the important elements of this Invention may be differently arranged and
combined, so as to produce good results; thus, instead of the top piston being
made stationary, an excentric cam, slotted projection, and spring may be used
in connection with a moveable upper piston, or a moveable mould box and
stationary lower piston, and a spring may be used in combination with one or
both of the pistons directly, instead of in connection with a moveable mould
box, in order to produce an elastic pressure; or the eccentric cams, slotted
projection, and spring may be used with horizontal instead of vertical pistons..
Such conversions are easily made by persons skilled in machinery. I do not,
therefore, mean to confine myself to the precise arrangement and combination
of parts described, though I consider that the best arrangement and com-
bination.
It should be remarked that the machine herein described, though called a
dry clay brick machine, is applicable to pressing many things besides clay or
bricks; for instance, coal and other material for fuel, which it may be desired
to press into certain shapes.
It may also be suggested that this machine may be constructed with one or
moro moulds, as may be considered most advantageous in particular cir-
cunistances.

page_text: Also, that in many cases a convenient and economical arrangement of these
machines is to make them double, that is to say, two machines placed back to
back, with one frame bed.'
And it may be further suggested that in some cases it may be economical
and desirable to make double machines one above the other, the upper
machine resembling in all-respects the machine herein-before described, and
the lower machine being similar to the upper placed upside down, with certain
equivalent or necessary and obvious changes, easily made by any skilful
workman, the two machines thus placed one over the other being moved
by one main shaft and one set of cams placed between the two machines.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the construction
and operation of the same, I wish it understood that I do not claim the use of
stationary lower pistons or of stationary horizontal pistons, they having been
long used by the public; nor do I claim the use of moveable or sliding mould
boxes or moulds, they being well known and used before; but what I claim
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First, the combination of the essential parts of the machine herein described,
namely, the cams, the excentric, and the slotted projection of the strap, sub-
stantially as herein described, and the special arrangement of the same, as
herein described.
Second, the use of stationary upper pistons in upright machines, substantially
as herein described.
Third, the combination of an excentric and a cam or cams upon onc
shaft to move a piston and a mould box, or a piston, substantially as herein
described.
Fourth, the combination of a sliding mould box with a. stationary upper
piston, substantially as herein described.
Fifth, the use of a spring (or elastic pressure) interposed between an
eccentric or cam and a moveable mould box or a piston, substantially as herein
described.
Sixth, the use of a slotted projection upon or with the strap of an eccentric
and between the eccentric and a moveable piston or moulded box, substantially
as herein described.
Seventh, the manufacture of bricks (and other articles pressed in similar
machines) by more than two direct and steady successive pressures (neither
of them being in the nature of a concussion), substantially as herein
described.
Eighth, the use of a cam or cams, in which a portion of the surface is
made waving or alternately swelled and depressed for the purpose of alternately

page_text: increasing and relaxing, the pressure upon the material pressed; substantially
as herein; described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight-hundred and fifty-seven.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.S.)
Witness,
R. BROWNING,
of New Court, St. Swithin's Lane.