Improvements in Machinery for Making Fire-clay Retorts, Sanitary Pipes, and other like Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec.,
1897
66
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Making Fire-clay Retorts,
Sanitary Pipes, and other like Articles.".
We, THOMAS C. FAWCETT LIMITED of the Whitehouse Engineering Works,
Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Makers, and THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT,
of the same place, Managing Director, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that description of machine for making sanitary pipes,
and gas retorts as set forth in a prior patent granted to the second named of the
present Applicants on the 22nd day of October A.D. 1890 No 16808. In this
machine the pipe or retort is forced from the cylinder by compressed water or
steam, and the mouth of the pipe or retort lowered upon a stationary table in
order to form the socket end of the pipe and this has taken a great amount of
pressure.
The primary object of our present invention is to lessen or reduce the pressure
required when forming the socket of the pipe or mouth of the retort, and this I
propose to accomplish by forcing the table upwards, and this may take place just
when the mouth of the pipe or retort has reached the top of the table or immedi-
ately after as thought desirable. In this case the table is placed upon a ram or
piston rod provided with a piston working within a cylinder caused to be raised
by water under pressure supplied from a tank or accumulator having necessary
valves and taps. In order to lower the table quickly after the mouth of the pipe
or retort has been made, an outlet valve at the bottom of the cylinder may be
opened by the foot of the operative or other suitable means may be employed for
that purpose.
The above description refers more particularly when forming the mouths of
sanitary pipes, but when forming the mouths of retorts a slightly modified form
of apparatus is employed in consequence of the extreme length of gas retorts, and
in order to keep the piston or ram of the table in a state of equilibrium when it
is being lowered a valve is opened to regulate the pressure within the cylinder.
This valve is opened automatically in proportion as pressure is required. The
valve is provided with a horizontal rod upon which a weight is placed.
This weight is slided on the said rod as the ram descends, this being effected
by a cord or chain passing over a pulley attached to the said weight which is
caused to slide gradually on the said rod as the ram is descending.
Dated this 27th day of January 1897

page_text: 66
Improvements in Machinery for Making Fire-clay Retorts,
Sanitary Pipes, and other like Articles."
We, THOMAS C. FAWCETT, LIMITED, of the Whitehouse Engineering Works,
Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Makers, and THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT,
of the same place, Managing Director, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly des-
cribed and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to that description of machine for making sanitary pipes,
and gas retorts as set forth in a prior patent granted to the second named of the
present Applicants on the 22nd day of October, A.D. 1890, No. 16,808. In this
machine the pipe or retort is forced from the cylinder by compressed water or
steam, and the mouth of the pipe or retort lowered upon a stationary table in
order to form the socket end of the pipe and this has taken a great amount of
pressure.
The primary object of our present invention is to lessen or reduce the pressure
required when forming the socket of the pipe or mouth of the retort, and this we
propose to accomplish by forcing the table upwards and this may take place just
when the mouth of the pipe or retort has reached the top of the table or immedi-
ately after as thought desirable. In this case the table is placed upon a ram or
piston rod provided with a cylinder caused to be raised by water or steam under
pressure supplied from a tank or accumulator having necessary valves and taps.
In order to illustrate more fully our invention, we will make reference to the
accompanying sheets of drawings wherein Fig. 1 is front elevation, and Fig. 2
side elevation of such parts of a retort making machine as is necessary to illus-
trate our improvements. A is the ordinary cylinder for receiving the clay, and 13
the die or mould for giving shape to the mouth of the retort or pipe. The mouth
or bottom of the pipe or retort rests upon the table C mounted upon the top of
the ram or piston D the bottom of which ram rests upon the lever E hinged or
fulcrummed at F.
When the mouth of the retort or pipe has been formed, we force the table C
slightly upwards so as to compress and establish a thoroughly good solid mouth-
piece, and this we effect by operating handle G which opens valve H permitting
water or steam to pass down the pipe I into the hydraulic or steam chamber_.J
for the purpose of raising piston K whereby the lever E is raised and so is the
ram D consequently we obtain a considerable pressure on the upper side of table C
against the mouth of the retort or pipe. When this is effected the handle G is
reversed and the water or steam in chamber J is ejected by the lowering of the
table when forming the upper portion of the retort or pipe. In order that the
ram D may descend, the bottom of it is removed from the lever E by operating
handle L which places the lever E on to one side as shewn in dotted lines Fig. 2
whereby the ram is free to descend.
To check or arrest the descent of the ram D when required, a brake M is
employed which can be applied against the wood blocks N surrounding the ram.
The workman does this by placing his foot upon the lever O.
The above description refers more particularly when forming the mouths of
sanitary pipes, but when forming the mouths of retorts which are much longer
and heavier than pipes a slightly modified form of apparatus is employed in
consequence of the extreme length of retorts, and in order to keep the piston or ram
of the table balanced or in a state of equilibrium when it is being lowered, a valve
is opened to regulate the pressure within the cylinder. This valve is opened

page_text: automatically in proportion as pressure is required. The valve is provided with
a horizontal rod upon which a weight is placed. This weight is slided on the
said rod as the ram descends, and this is effected by a cord or chain passing over
a pulley attached to the said weight which is caused to slide gradually on the
said rod as the ram is descending.
To carry out this part of our invention with regard to balancing the table
as it descends with the heavy retort upon it, we employ a valve placed in any
suitable position but in connection with the cylinder which is connected by a
pipe à to the part P see Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is sectional elevation of our valve and
parts connected therewith. Fig. 4 is plan view and Fig. 5 part sectional end
elevation. Qis the valve provided with a spindle R in contact with the lower
arm S of the lever T working upon a fulcrum U.
Upon the lever arm T is a trolley or carriage V mounted upon wheels W,
such trolley or carriage being weighted at X. To the carriage or trolley is a
chain or cord Y passing over pulleys Z. Therefore upon the table descending
with the weight of the retort upon it, the trolley T is moved upon the lever T
in such a way as to regulate the valve Q in proportion to the gradually increasing
weight, thus the table is equally balanced and held in a state of equilibrium
whatever be the weight of the retort, resting upon the table.
The method of moving the trolley upon the weighted lever T is shewn in
Fig. 6. One end of a chain a is connected to the table C, the other end of said
chain being connected to a pulley 6 therefore as the table descends the pulley b
is made to rotate and with it the shaft c and consequently pulley Z is made tò
revolve, which in turn makes the chain Y travel whereby the trolley is gradually
made to slide upon lever T and the valve operated accordingly.
.
· Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said In-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
Firstly. In machines for making retorts and sanitary pipes, the means and
method herein shewn and described for compressing the socket or mouth of
retorts and pipes.
Secondly. In machines for making retorts, the application thereto of the
weighted lever T carrying a moving carriage V for operating a valve for balancing
table C, all arranged and operated in the manner substantially as herein shewn
and described.
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