Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Blocks or Briquettes of Fuel or Materials for Smelting and analogous purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Blocks or Briquettes
of Fuel or Materials for Smelting and analogous purposes.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved mode of turning a vertical mould-
plate round on its axis from centre to centre of the moulds.
The actuating gear has hitherto been arranged to engage with the mould-plate
near its centre, with the accompanying disadvantage of producing a movement
having a tendency to over-run itself when a heavy plate is used. This over-running
tendency is intensified, in the special class of machinery in view, by the mode of
feeding the materials into the moulds, which necessitates the plate shearing through
that standing in the feeding mouth.
On the periphery of the mould-plate I arrange suitable ratchet notches (whose
positions correspond with the centres of the equally-spaced moulds), into which the
tongue or pawl of a saddle, which loosely be-strides the top of the plate, is arranged
to fall, and in that way engage the said notches when the saddle is moved to and
fro. In a line with the plate I arrange a lever with its fulcrum at its foot parallel
with the axis of the plate. The head of this lever is coupled by a suitable rod to
the pawl-carrying saddle aforesaid, so that when suitably rocked, backward and
forward, the mould plate is gradually rotated in the desired manner.
To prevent the mould-plate over-running the pull of the lever, when the material
is shorn through, the saddle arrangement may have a compound ratchet pawl fitted
for this purpose. Otherwise a constant, or an intermittent, brake may be brought
into action, if found more convenient.
The actuating lever, which is slotted, is rocked by the action of a stud projecting
from an adjoining crank plate. By arranging the crank plate to revolve in the
required direction a slow advance is given to the plate, with a quick return to the
lever and saddle; the whole forming a desirable feature in the general arrange-
ment. The usual detent which is advanced against the mould plate, to hold it truly
when a mould is in position, is worked by a cam on the aforesaid crank plate or its
shaft. By arranging this cam with a shielded groove, or other equivalent, the
detent may be locked, as it were, in position, during the desired periods.
The crank plate, etc. may be worked from any convenient shaft, provided its
revolutions are adapted to the required movements of the mould-plate.
Dated this 11th day of July 1892.
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Blocks or Briquettes
of Fuel or Materials for Smelting and analogous purposes.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This invention has reference to an improved mode of turning a vertical mould-
plate round on its axis from centre to centre of the moulds.

page_text: The actuating gear has hitherto been arranged to engage with the mould-plate
near its centre, with the accompanying disadvantage of producing a movement
having a tendency to over-run itself when a heavy plate is used. This over-running
tendency is intensified, in the special class of machinery in view, by the mode of
feeding the materials into the moulds (consisting of what is practically a forward
movement of a column of the material) which necessitates the plate shearing
through that standing in the feeding mouth.
On the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of my arrangement, Fig. 2 being a corresponding side
elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan with portions cut away for explanatory purposes.
The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures, and the arrows
denote the direction in which the parts move. Reference is made to Figs. 4 and 5
later.
On the periphery of the mould-plate A, I arrange suitable ratchet notches B,
(whose positions correspond with the centres of the equally-spaced moulds), into
which the tongue or pawl C of a saddle D, which loosely be-strides the top of the
plate, is arranged to fall, and in that way engage the said notches when the saddle
is moved to and fro. In a line with the plate I arrange a lever E with its
fulcrum, F, at its foot parallel with the axis of the plate. The head of this lever is
coupled by a suitable rod G to the pawl-carrying saddle aforesaid, so that when
suitably rocked, backward and forward, the mould-plate is gradually rotated in the
desired manner.
•
In the particular arrangement shown, the saddle D is arranged to slide in a
groove A, and it is fitted with two pawls, one on each side, and to keep all strains
central it is actuated by two side links G, G, as shown in cross section in Fig. 5.
The saddle when advancing to a new notch has necessarily to clear the groove of
any obstruction that may have gathered therein, and for this purpose its nose is
sharpened as shown at D' in Fig. 2.
To prevent the mould-plate over-running the pull of the lever, when the material
is shorn through, the saddle arrangement may have a compound ratchet pawl fitted
for this purpose. Otherwise a constant, or an intermittent, brake may be brought
into action, if found more convenient.
The actuating lever E, which is slotted, is rocked by the action of a stud H
projecting from an adjoining crank plate J. By arranging the crank plate to
revolve in the required direction (see arrow) a slow advance is given to the plate,
with a quick return to the lever and saddle, the whole forming a desirable feature
in the general arrangement. The usual detent K which is advanced against the
mould-plate, to hold it truly when a mould is in position, is worked by a cam L on
the aforesaid crank plate J. By arranging this cam with a shielded groove, or
other equivalent, the detent may be, as it were, locked in position during the
desired periods.
In the arrangement shown a weight (or spring) on the lever M holds the detent
against the mould-plate at all times, excepting when the cam L, acting on a stud N
fitted on the weighted lever, withdraws the said detent, through the intervention
of the short lever O.
The crank plate, etc., may be worked from any convenient shaft, provided its
revolutions are adapted to the required movements of the mould-plate. Here a
shaft P is brought along the outer framing of the machine, the side framing
stopping short to give room for the cam plate J; the whole being arranged in a
very compact manner, as shown. Qis a portion of the bed-plate on which the
axis of the mould-plate &c., &c., rest, and R, R, are parts of the side framing of
the machine.
Fig. 4 shows a mode of making the crosshead, at the top of the rocking-lever E,
adjustable, for regulating purposes; and this together with the mode of regulating
the screwed ends of the side-rods allows the mould-plate to be traversed round
with any required nicety.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a vertical mould-plate provided with ratchet notches on
its periphery corresponding to the positions of the moulds; a pawl, mounted on a
sliding saddle, engaging with the said notches; adjustable side-rods for connecting
purposes; a slotted rocking-lever; crank and cam plate; and levers actuating a
detent engaging with indents in the said mould-plate, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
2. A rocking-lever fitted, with a quick return motion, having an adjustable cross-
head for accurately regulating the length of the stroke, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. The combination of side-rods and pawls with a central saddle, riding in a
groove in the periphery of the mould-plate, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. The general arrangement of side-rods and pawls, with a central saddle
arranged with a pointed projection for keeping the guiding groove clear from
obstructions, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. The combination of an adjustable crosshead (after the manner of Fig. 4) with
adjustable side-rods, G, whereby the length of the stroke and the throw of the
pawl may be accurately regulated, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The general arrangement of the apparatus, whereby the detent occupies a
central position between the rocking-lever and the mould-plate, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
Dated this 10th dor of April 1893.
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.