IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF BRICKS
Year: 1852

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Auguste Edward Loradoux
Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th November 1852.-A. communication.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within
the time prescribed by the Act.)
I, AUGUSTE EDWARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of the United Patent
Offices, 16, Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF BRICKS" to be as follows:-
This new process of manufacturing bricks consists, first, of a
circular or polygonal platform, on which are laid a certain number
of moulds the platform represented in the annexed Drawings
(Fig. 1,) is octagonal, and furnished with eight moulds; 2d, in
the manner of placing the dust on the sides of the mould; 3d, in
the manner of placing the clay in the moulds; 4th, in a new dispo-
sition of a press, by means of which the clay is pressed into the
moulds; 5th, in the manner of cutting off the superfluous clay from
the upper part of the mould; 6th, in the manner of polishing the
bricks with blades, and with diluted fine clay, which obtains a smooth
surface, very suitable for conduits; 7th, in the unmoulding, which is
done by the mould opening at the sides; 8th, in the manner of

page_text: drying the products, and placing them on stands, placed around a
central pivot, by which a rotary motion is given; 9th, in a series of
six ovens, of which one commences to heat each day, so as to always
have heat for the stoves in which the stands are placed. These
ovens have at their upper part a horizontal tube, which has twelve
branches, two dipping into each oven; this tube communicates
with a ventilator, which draws in the air of the ovens, and aids
combustion.
Description of the process of manufacture:-Figure 1, represents
a horizontal octagonal platform; it is supported by a shaft
passing through it's centre, which shaft bears a gearing wheel,
by the assistance of which a rotary motion is given to it, as well as
to the platform. m, m, m, are moulds corresponding to each side
of the platform. P, P, P, are planks, on cach of which is fixed one
of the sides of each mould; these sides can, by means of the flanks
P, P, P, P, receive a to and fro motion, for which purpose a button
is fixed under each plank, which traverses the platform and projects
on the other side. These buttons are represented in Figures 2, and
3, by letters D. Below the platform, stops, suitably arranged and
fixed upon a separate piece, serve to open or shut the sides of the
moulds when required. Under the platform is a support furnished
at it's upper part with a wheel, serving as a roller, to diminish the
friction; this support serves to resist the effort of the press in
compressing the bricks, and steadies the platform. The moulding
of the bricks is divided into eight distinct operations, each occupying
about two seconds.
First, placing the dust upon the four sides of the moulds :-
This operation is effected by means of a dust-sieve fixed above
the platform. It is composed of a solid piece S, of the same
dimensions as the brick to be made, excepting an allowance
of five milli-metres more, for the widening of the four sides of
the mould. Upon the four sides of this solid piece is placed a
rectangular box, which is applied to the four faces of the solid S.
The space between the solid S, and the side C, C, of the box, is
filled with dust. S, is fixed, and the case moveable, when one of the

page_text: moulds of the platform comes below the dust-sieve. The case which
rests on the solid S, is raised about one centimetre. A space is made
between the case and the solid, through which the dust is precipi
tated upon the sides of the moulds. The first operation includes
also the placing of small boards, which form the bottom of the
mould, and support the brick. These boards are placed together in
a frame, Figure 4. One falls into each mould by means of a small
mechanism, consisting of a piece of iron E, (Fig. 4,) having its
éxtremities F, F, bevelled, and which, when the piece E, is raised,
turn aside the stops i, i, which allow a board to escape.
2nd. In placing the clay in the moulds, a sieve (filled by an endless
chain, carrying bowls which raise the earth prepared by a puddling
cask,) is arranged above the platform. Two horizontal sharp pieces
on the sides compress the brick, and cut it the required dimension,'
álways leaving the excess of dimension, which it loses under the
action of the press: as the clay is cut, the two pieces are taken
away, and the brick is left on the board.
The third operation consists in lowering the plank on which the
brick is placed, and the closing of the mould. The plank is lowered
by means of a pivot K, Figure 3, on which it rests. This pivot passes
through the platform in such a manner that at a given moment this
projection is caught by a stop fixed upon an immoveable point which
it causes to lower. It is the same for the closing of the sides of the
mould; the two large ones are shut first, and then the two small ones.
The fourth operation consists in the compression of the carth
into the mould. The platform, in turning, passes under the press,
represented in Figure 5, composed of a plate, hooked on the mould,
ánd of a wooden piece Q, fixed, and which turns round the pivot
H. The plank hooked to the mould presents in it's centre an
inclined part, which, passing below the piece Q, produces compression?
The fifth operation consists in taking away the superfluous earth'
which comes from the mould by means of a blade fixed above the
platform, and which scrapes the top of the mould. This blade is
fixed, and it is by the rotary motion of the platform that the
superfluous earth is removed.
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page_text: 6th. The glazing of the brick is obtained by means of a polishing
blade, fixed on a frame set in motion by a fly wheel which derives its
motion from the rotation of the platform. The mould containing the
brick to be polished being brought under the polisher, a stop opens
the pannier of the sieve containing the diluted clay, and allows a
certain quantity to fall on the surface of the brick, and is then
closed by a spring. This clay serves to give a greater polish to
the surface of the brick.
Seventh, the unmoulding, which is effected by the removal of the
four sides of the mould, and by raising the small board on which the
brick rests. The opening and raising are produced by means of
the same stops which have served to cause them to advance, and
which are fixed upon small platforms situated below the large
onc. These platforms are fixed; and it is in consequence of the
rotary motion of the platform bearing the moulds that the buttons
are hooked by the stops fixed to these small platforms. Eighth, the
clearing of the mould by the hand. The moulded bricks are then
paced in the stove, composed of a brick chamber, in which are ar-
ranged wooden axes, which support shelves on which the bricks are
placed. These axes are put in motion by means of leather straps
These
passing over drums, or by any other suitable means.
stoves are heated by an iron pipe, which passes above ovens, and
which plunges two branches into each oven. A ventilator placed
at the end of the pipe draws in the air from the ovens, and
accelerates combustion. The pipes which plunge into each oven
are furnished with registers to regulate the draught and com-
bustion. The ovens are furnished with arches, on which thic
bricks are placed, and grates for the fuel. Openings are made
below, to give access to the air necessary for combusion.
ventilator, instead of wasting the caloric coming from the heated
oven, makes it
pass into the adjoining oven, and prepares the
bricks in it to receive the strong fire, so that no heat is lost.
The
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