IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, OR OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clayton, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BRICKS, TILES, OR OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE
USED THEREFOR.'
"
led the 28th July 1876, and dated the 31st January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clayton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1876.
JOHN CLAYTON, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, OR OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREFOR."
دو
The first part of my Invention consists in the employment of a weight or spring
attached to a lever or otherwise attached, which lifts or forces up the under plunger
or piston (used in the mould for the manufacture of bricks, tiles, and other similar
articles against a moveable or adjustable stop piece which I adjust by means of a
screw spindle. On this screw spindle is a spur wheel gearing into another spur
wheel to which is attached a handle. By turning this handle it gives motion
through the spur wheels to the upright screw spindle, raising or lowering the
adjustable stop piece at pleasure; or an adjustable chain or band may be used for
the same purpose to prevent the piston or plunger going too high when receiving
the clay. The stop piece would allow the under plunger or piston to be forced
more or less up the mould by the action of the weight or spring, thereby regulating
the supply of any required quantity of clay to the mould, and yet still making the
same size of brick. There is sufficient range in this Invention to allow bricks
being made of any required thickness by adjusting the plunger or piston. The
machine being set in motion the upper plunger or piston descends on the clay, and
presses it to such density that it overcomnes the pressure of the weight or spring,
and forces the under plunger or piston down until it is arrested in its downward
movement by a cam, eccentric, or stop piece placed under the lower plunger or
piston; the brick then receives its final mould and pressure. By this arrangement
I am enabled to adjust the machine in such a manner that I can work clay that
would otherwise be difficult to work, besides taking off the friction on the under cam
or eccentric, and requiring less power to work the machine.
The second part of my Invention relates more particularly to the dispensing with

page_text: of what are termed eliminated cracks which so often occur through the presence of
confined air when too much pressure is applied or the machine is put at too great a
speed.
My improvements consist in the machine having one or more moulds, and one or
more plungers which are actuated by cams or eccentrics in the usual way. The
brick after receiving its first mould and pressure which forms it into its ordinary
shape is then pushed forward by the motion at present in use for that purpose into
a second mould (the width of which mould shall determine the width of the brick)
and falls thereinto on its side. This falling of the brick thereinto on its side is a
special feature of the Invention. In this position there being ample unoccupied
space in the second mould, another pressure is given pressing out the clay to the
width of the second mould, and also excluding any fractures or air that was in the
brick in the first mould. A great amount of labour will thus be saved and
superior and more perfect bricks will be obtained. These improvements are
applicable to all existing machines having one or more moulds.
Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a
front elevation; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a modification of my
Invention.
a is the framework; b, the hopper that receives and supplies the clay or other
substances to the mould; c, the driving shaft; d, the pinions which are secured
on and gear with the intermediate wheels e. On the second shaft fare fixed the
pinions; these pinions gear with the wheels on the shaft q, from which shaft q
both the upper and lower plungers are operated; on the wheels are fixed the crank
pins & moving in slots formed in the connecting arms or links j; secured to the
crank pins i are tappets or eccentrics which bear against the friction bowls 7, and
turn on the studs placed on the connecting arms or links, thereby raising up the
upper plunger; the filler trough m then supplies the mould with clay or other
substances; the eccentrics allow the upper plunger n to descends on the clay;
the crank pins i now come in contact with the lower part of the slots formed in the
connecting arms or links j, and in passing the bottom centre give to the brick its
final mould and pressure; it is then pushed out of the mould by the under plunger o
which is operated on by the eccentrics or elevators p keyed on the shaft 9.
To regulate the supply of clay to the mould I employ the weighted lever
adjusted by the screw spindle 8 which raises or lowers the stop piece t, and allows
the under plunger to be forced more or less up the mould, thereby limiting the
supply of clay or other substance to the mould.
The whole of the aforesaid parts are shewn in the Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Figure 4 shews a modification of my Invention; in this arrangement I actuate

page_text: the under plunger o by the weighted lever which comes against the adjustable
stop piece u to prevent the under plunger from going too high; on the second shaft
I secure the cam or eccentric p which takes off the pressure of the weight on the
under plunger o, and thereby allows the descent of the said plunger to receive the
clay. I give to the brick an extra pressure by the wedge linked to the lever a 1,
and resting on the fixture b1 under the plunger o, the said wedge being moved
backwards and forwards by the lever a 1, to which lever motion is imparted by the
pin c 1 on the eccentric p.
To regulate the supply of clay to the mould I make use of the wedge vadjusted by
means of the screw spindle w which forces the wedge v between the cam or
eccentric and the weighted lever ; in this arrangement I place the cam to
actuate the filler trough m. On the second shaft f the crank for raising the upper
plunger still remains on the shaft q, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3. It will be
seen by altering their respective gearing that I am enabled to give one or more
up-and-down motions to the brick in the mould, thereby giving a better face or
skin to the brick.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and particularized the same
by details which answer well in practice, I would have it understood that I do not
confine mysely to the exact details set forth; what I do claim are the uses and
applications of the weighted lever and its adjustable stop pieces t and u, as shown
in the accompanying Drawings operating substantially in the manner described and
for purposes set forth.
2°
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clayton, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this the Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy-six
Witness,
THOMAS RICHMOND,
Patent Agent,
Burnley.
JOHN CLAYTON. (L.S.)