Apparatus for Making same.
Year: 1885

page_text: Apparatus for Making same.
I, THOMAS STREET Ings Cottage, Barton on Humber in the County of Lincoln
Manager of Brickworks do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCK-BRICKS AND IN THE APPARATUS
FOR MAKING SAME to be as follows:-
My invention of improvements in the construction of Lock-bricks, has for its
object, first the locking together of the bricks so as to strengthen the brick work by
binding it more firmly together, and secondly, by the construction of the locking
parts, to prevent the passage of moisture through the joints of the brickwork, a
matter of great importance in the construction of sewers, drains, and various
buildings.
In carrying out my invention I make the bricks with a projecting ridge running
longitudinally on its upper surface, and a corresponding groove of rather larger
dimensions is formed on its lower surface, to fit loosely over the projecting ridge of
the adjacent brick; the ridge above described is returned down one end of the
brick, as is also the groove down the opposite end, thus not only are the bricks
locked on the top and bottom or horizontal sides, but they are also interlocked at
the ends in a similar manner.
In the "headers" I make the ridges and grooves transversely, and at a suitable
distance from one end so as to conjoin with the "stretchers."
I prefer that the ridges and grooves should be angular or V shaped, as being the
best adapted for the purpose but other shapes may be used, as I do not bind myself
to the exact shape or configuration.
In the second part of my invention which relates to the apparatus used for
making or shaping the bricks, (and which may be made to suit, and be readily
attached to an ordinary brickpress) I make the moulding box with a false or
moveable bottom plate, capable of being raised and lowered. The centre of the
bottom-plate is a loose strip to form the V groove on the underside of the brick,
and for that purpose it stands up above the other parts, but underneath is a recess
into which it fits so as to bring all the parts to one level when required for
drawing off the brick.

page_text: The top or pressing plate, is prepared so as to form the ridge on the top of the
brick, in fact the interior of the mould is a counterpart, or matrix of the brick,-
This top plate is raised and lowered into the moulding box in the usual manner.
The centre strip before mentioned as being in the bottom of the mould, is held in
position above the recess by screws or rods, which pass through the bottom plate,
and are supported by their collars resting upon a strong bracket, through which
the ends of the screws or rods pass and terminate at a short distance below. The
loose bottom plate is also secured to suitable lifting rods passing through the
bottom of the mould and the bracket aforesaid, and fixed to a lifting plate, which
when in its lowest position is the same depth as that of the recess, below the ends
of the screws or rods attached to the centre strip.
The operation is as follows, clay being put into the moulding box the pressing
plate descends and compresses it into shape, and is again raised to its highest
position above the moulding box.
The lifting plate is brought into action, usually by means of a cam or crank,
underneath it, and raises the false or loose bottom plate with the brick until the
bottom of the centre strip before mentioned, rests on the bottom of the recess when
all the parts are carried up until the brick is clear of the mould, when a pusher
moves it forward on the table, and the operation is repeated.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Lock-bricks and in the
Apparatus for Making same.
I, THOMAS STREET Ings Cottage, Barton on Humber in the County of Lincoln
Manager of Brickworks do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCK-BRICKS, AND IN THE APPARATUS
FOR MAKING SAME and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention of improvements in the construction of lock-bricks, has for its
object chiefly the locking together of bricks so as to strengthen and bind the brick-
work more firmly together; also by the improved construction of the locking parts
to prevent the passage of water or moisture through the joints of the brickwork of
culverts, Tunnels, the side walls of resevoirs and similar works.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood, I have annexed a sheet
of drawings to which I shall refer; the same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in any of the figures in which they occur.
•
Fig. 1, represents a brick press with my improved mould in section.
Fig. 2, cross section of brick mould with the brick pressed into form.
Fig. 3, the same, with first movement to raise the brick out of the mould.
Fig. 4, plan and end of brick, and various arrangements of lock-bricks on smaller
scale.
In carrying out my invention, I make the Bricks with a projecting or elevated
ridge of any suitable shape running longitudinally along the centre of its upper
face, and a corresponding groove of rather larger dimensions is formed on its lower
face to fit upon and enclose the ridge of the adjacent brick.
The ridge above described is marked A and the groove B, see Figs 2. 3. 4-a
similar ridge and groove is formed on the ends of the bricks, see Fig. 4, and for
"through" bricks C, the ridge and groove will be made in the position shown in
Fig. 4.
Thus in brickwork made with bricks as above described, the bricks are not only
locked on the top and bottom or horizontal sides, but also at the ends, thus the
whole mass of brickwork may be interlocked throughout.
I prefer that the ridges and grooves should be angular as shown, as being the
best adapted for the purposes, but other shapes may be used if desired as I do not
bind myself to the exact shape or configuration shown in the Drawings.
The second part of my invention relates to the apparatus used in the manufacture
of the locking bricks and shown in the Figa 1. 2. 3. It may be adapted to an
ordinary Brick press as represented in Fig. 1.-but which forms no part of my
invention. D is a moulding box, and is attached to the table of the brick press, it
may have a bottom plate E, as shown, or be left open; there is a false bottom
consisting of the ridge piece F for forming the groove B, and two side blocks G,
connected under the ridge piece F. The pressing plate H is grooved to form the
ridge A, see Fig. 2. and is raised out of and forced into the mould box D, in the
usual manner.

page_text: The parts F. & G forming the false bottom, are attached to lifting rods I, I,
and J, J, which are raised and lowered by the action of the crosshead K.
The two rods I, I, are attached to the side-blocks G, and the two rods J, J, are
attached to the ridge-piece F, after passing through clearance holes in the part G;
and adjustable stops, or lifting collars L, are secured on the rods by set screws, or
other suitable means.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, the lifting rods being at their lowest
point, as shown in Fig. 1, the false bottom is in the position shown in Fig. 2-
ready to receive the clay. The ridge piece being supported in the position shown
by the two rods J, the fixed upper collars of which rest on the fixed stay M. When
the brick N Figs 2 & 3 is pressed into shape the pressing plate H rises out of the
mould, and the action of the ascending crosshead K, first raises the side-blocks G
to the position shown in Fig. 3, so as to enclose the ridge-piece F, in the recess
between the side blocks, and continues the movement until the brick is raised clear
from the mould when it is moved on to the table by a pusher of ordinary
construction. The false bottom then descends to the bottom of mould box and the
operation is repeated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The manufacture of lock bricks having ridges and corresponding grooves for
the purpose specified, and substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
2. In the manufacture of Lock-bricks, the construction of the moulding box,
having a movable false bottom consisting of the parts F & G, and actuated in the
manner described and substantially as shown.