IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING OR MANUFACTURING CLAV
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gillespie of the Garnkirk Fire-Clay Company,
Garnkirk in the County of Lanark North Britain for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING OR MANUFACTURING CLAV
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gillespie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1882.
JAMES GILLESPIE, of the Garnkirk Fire Clay Company, Garnkirk, in the county
of Lanark, North Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING OR
MANUFACTURING CLAY AND ITS SUBSTITUTES AND CLAY-WARE AND IN APPLIANCES
THEREFOR,"
This Invention relates to improvements in treating and preparing or manu-
facturing clay and its substitutes of silica and siliceous earths, and clay-ware, and
in appliances used therefor; and the Invention comprises (1) an improved method
and means of expelling air from clay, (2) the preparing of clay for special purposes
by admixture therewith of moss or peat earth, (3) means or appliances for
supporting clay ware when in its plastic condition in course of manufacture,
(4) the shaping or forming of certain articles of clay ware, such as bricks and
chimney-cans, and (5) the making or rendering air-tight or water-tight and
imparting extra strength to pipes or tanks or other articles of clay ware intended
for holding or conveying liquids.
For the purpose of expelling air from clay, either in the mass or during the
process of shaping or forming articles of clay ware, the clay is pressed or shaped in
boxes or moulds having perforations formed in their sides. The sides of the boxes
or moulds and ram face, or any of them, are grooved or hollowed out, and upon the
projecting parts perforated plates, or an inner perforated box is fixed so as to give
the form and measurements required. These perforations open out to the grooves
which are themselves open to the outside and so admit of the escape of the air
when pressure is applied. The perforations are by preference slightly conical with
the base of the cone towards the outside, so as to prevent chocking or filling up
with clay.

page_text: For the manufacture of clay ware in which lightness in weight is of importance,
and for the manufacture of filtering blocks or wares, and slabs for oven soles,
siliceous bricks, and other such like ware, the clay used is specially prepared by
mixing together the ordinary clay or fire-clay and moss or peat earth. The
proportions of the clay and moss or peat earth used may be varied to any extent
to suit the class of ware that is to be made, but in general equal weights of
clay and moss or peat earth may be used to advantage.
In supporting the clay ware in its plastic state, or in process of manufacture, the
article being made is built inside of a casing to which the clay is bolted or pinned
through washers or straps placed inside and so as to prevent the clay from sinking
inwards. The clay is kept from sinking outwards by wedges or straps placed
between the casing and the outside of the retort or pipe being manufactured.
In the manufacture of stable bricks, the groove or channel in them is made
rounded in the bottom (and not V-shaped). When the bricks are laid this form of
groove admits of being more thoroughly cleaned out.
In the manufacture of chimney cans or similar articles of clay ware, holes or
indentations are formed round the base into which the mortar fits itself while the
can is being placed. Where the can is made in two or more pieces the upper piece
is made with indentations in an internal bottom flange, or with internal projections
which fit over or into corresponding projections or indentations formed in the lower
piece of the can. By this means the upper part of the can can be turned to lock
itself upon the lower part. Where owing to the shape of the can, these projections
or indentations or similar check pieces cannot be applied, holes are pierced through
both top and bottom pieces of the can into which pins made of clay or wood
or other material are placed, so as to hold both together.
For the purpose of making or rendering air tight or water tight, and for
imparting extra strength to such articles of clay ware as sanitary and chemical
pipes for conveyance of acid, water, or other liquid, and tanks for holding such
liquids, such pipes, tanks, or other articles, are made double or triplicate with a
space between each inner and outer thickness, which is filled with a suitable
cement. For pipes or tanks used for conveying or holding acid or acidulated
liquids, a mixture of gas-tar and clay is by preference used as the cementing
material. For joining lengths of pipes together, the joint is also made double and
filled with cement. Upon the under half of this joint projecting pieces are made
so as to overlap the thickness of the upper half and admit of cement being placed
between them. This form of joint is made use of at places where it is desirable to
open up the run for cleaning it out, but where this is not required the joint is
made either in the ordinary spigot and faucet way (but double) or in the same way
as the pipe itself, and as above described. Its diameter however is increased so as
to cover in the pipe and to leave a space all round between the inside of the joint
and the outside of the pipe, which space is filled with cement.
Tanks are also made with a double casing of clay ware on every side, and with
double bottoms filled between with cement, and by preference having a groove or
duct cut into the bottom part into which the sides are sunk for giving strength to
the tank.
For large tanks the outer thickness is made in segments jointed together by
shaped pieces, which fit into corresponding grooves or recesses formed in
the sides of the tank on each side. Extra large tanks are also hooped with iron in
the same manner as ordinary barrels are. The inner thickness of the tanks may
be built up of pieces of any convenient size.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Gillespie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th January 1883.
JAMES GILLESPIE, of the Garnkirk Fire-clay Company, Garnkirk, in the County
of Lanark, North-Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING OR
MANUFACTURING CLAY AND ITS SUBSTITUTES, AND CLAY-WARE, AND IN APPLIANCES
THEREFOR
〃
This Invention relates to improvements in treating and preparing or manu-
facturing clay and its substitutes of silica and siliceous earths, and clay-ware, and in
appliances used therefor; and the Invention comprises (1) an improved method and
means of expelling air from clay (2) the preparing of clay for special purposes
by admixture therewith of moss or peat earth, (3) means or appliances for
supporting clay-ware when in its plastic condition in course of manufacture, (4) the
shaping or formning of certain articles of clay-ware, such as bricks and chimney cans,
and (5) the making or rendering air-tight or water-tight and imparting extra
strength to pipes or tanks or other articles of clay-ware intended for holding or
conveying liquids.
Various forms of appliances employed in carrying out my Invention are
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings which are hereinafter referred to.
For the purpose of expelling air from clay, either in the mass or during the
process of shaping or forming articles of clay-ware, the clay is pressed or shaped in
boxes or moulds having perforations formed in their sides. Figure 1 is a perspective
view of a box or mould specially formed for this purpose, Figure 2 shows the
bottom of the box removed, and Figure 3 shows a pressing ram formed to fit into
the box or mould. The sides A of the boxes or moulds and ram face A', or any of
them, are grooved or hollowed out at a, and upon the projecting parts A' perforated
plates b, or an inner perforated box B is fixed, so as to give the form and
measurements required. These perforations open out to the grooves a which are
themselves open to the outside at the top, and so admit of the escape of the air
when pressure is applied. The perforations b in the plates B are by preference
slightly conical with the base of the cone towards the outside, as shown in figure 4,
so as to prevent choking or filling up with clay. This form of box or mould is
advantageously applicable to revolving brick machines, in which the clay, which
may pass through the perforations of the moulds, is discharged at each rotation.
For the manufacture of clay-ware in which lightness in weight is of importance,
and for the manufacture of filtering blocks or wares, and slabs for oven soles,
siliceous bricks and other such like ware, the clay used is specially prepared by
mixing together the ordinary clay or fire-clay and moss or peat earth. The
proportions of the clay and moss or peat earth used may be varied to any extent to
suit the class of ware that is to be made, but in general equal weights of clay and
moss or peat earth may be used with advantage.
In supporting the clay-ware in its plastic state, or in process of manufacture, the
article being made is built inside of a casing C, as indicated in the elevation figure
5, and horizontal section figure 6. To this casing the clay is bolted or pinned
through washers or straps c placed inside, and so as to prevent the clay from sinking
inwards. The clay is kept from sinking outwards by straps C' placed between
the casing C and the outside of the retort D or pipe being manufactured and
secured by wedges or by screws C' pressing against the straps and operated from
the outside.
In the manufacture of stable bricks, the groove or channel in thein is made round

page_text: in the bottom (and not V shaped). When the bricks are laid to form a floor,
as is indicated in figure 7, this form of groove admits of being more thoroughly
cleaned out.
In the manufacture of chimney cans or similar articles of clay-ware, holes or
indentations e are formed round the base into which the mortar fits itself,while the
can is being placed. Figures 8, 9, and 10 show the lower part of chimney cans E
in which such indentations e are formed. When the can is made in two or more
pieces, the upper piece E' is made with indentations c¹ in an internal bottom flange
E2 which fit over corresponding projections or catches e2 formed in the lower piece E,
of the can, as is indicated in figure 8. The projections e may be formed internally
at the lower end of the top part E¹ of the can, to fit into corresponding notches e¹
cut in a flange E² formed at the upper end of the lower piece E of the can as is
shown in figure 9. By these means the upper part E! of the can, can be turned to
Hock itself upon the lower part E and be held by the flange E and projecting
catches e When owing to the shape of the can, these projections or indentations
or similar check pieces cannot be applied, holes es are pierced through both top and
bottom pieces E and E' of the can as shown in figure 10, into which pins made of
clay or wood or other material are placed, so as to hold both together.
:
For the purpose of making or rendering air-tight or water-tight, and for
imparting extra strength to such articles of clay-ware as sanitary and chemical
pipes for conveyance of acid; water, or other liquid, and tanks for holding liquids,
such pipes, tanks, or other articles, are made double or triplicate with a space
between each inner and outer thickness, which is filled with a suitable cement.
For pipes or tanks used for conveying or holding acid or acidulated liquids, a
mixture of gas-tar and clay is by preference used as the cementing material. For
joining lengths of pipes together, the joint is also made double and filled with
cement. Figure 11 is a cross section, and Figure 12 an elevation of a pipe made of
clay-ware in this way, with an inner and outer thickness F and F¹, and an
intermediate layer of cement f. The joint of the outer thickness of piping F¹ is
formed by a double faucet F made in two halves. Upon the under half of this
joint, projecting pieces or shoulders ƒ are made so as to overlap the thickness of
the upper half when fitted, and admit of cement being placed between them.
This form of joint is made use of at places where it is desirable to open up the run
for cleaning it out, but where this is not required, the joint may be made in the
ordinary spigot and faucet way but double; or in the same way as the pipe itself.
by fitting a short length of piping over the joint of the pipe F F, as is indicated
in figure 13. In this case the diameter of the joint piece F is increased so as to
cover in the pipe and to leave a spaco f' all round between the inside of the
joint piece F and the outside of the pipe F¹, which space is filled with cement.
Tanks are also made with a double casing of clay-ware on every side, and with
double bottoms filled between with cement, and by preference having a groove or
duct cut into the bottom part into which the sides are sunk for giving strength to
the tank. Figure 14 is a vertical section of a tank formed in this way. The
bottom: is formed of an inner and outer slab or slabs G, G¹, with an intervening
space g filled with cement. The lower slab G¹ is formed with a groove g¹ into
which the slabs G2 forming the sides of the tank are fitted. The sides of the tank
are also made of two thicknesses G2, G3, with an intervening space g filled with
cement. For large tanks the outer thickness of the sides and bottom is made, as
shown in figure 15 in segments G jointed together by shaped pieces H,
which fit into corresponding grooves or recesses formed in the sides of the tank on
each side. Extra large tanks are also hooped with iron in the same manner as
ordinary barrels are. The inner thickness of the sides and bottom of the tanks
may be built up of pieces of any convenient size.
:
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do. not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and

page_text: therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The forming of boxes or moulds for use in pressing or shaping clay or clay-
ware, with perforations in their sides or pressing faces, for the escape of air,
substantially as herein described and illustrated by figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. Preparing a clay mixture or substitute for use in making filtering blocks,
oven soles, and other clay-ware from ordinary clay or fire-clay mixed with moss or
peat earth, substantially as herein set forth.
Third. As means of supporting pipes, retorts, or other articles of clay-ware
during the process of manufacture, the arrangement of a casing in the form of the
article being made, combined with straps and wedges or bolts supporting the plastic
clay, substantially as herein described and illustrated in figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. Forming stable bricks from clay or clay mixtures with grooves or
channels in their upper faces of rounded or U shape, substantially as herein set
forth and illustrated by figure 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
•
Fifth. Forming chimney cans with holes or indentations round the base into
which the mortar may fit and retain the cans when fixed, substantially as herein
set forth and illustrated in figures 8, 9, and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. Forming chimney cans in two or more pieces with holding catches and
corresponding notched flanges for securing the pieces together, substantially as
herein described and illustrated in figures 8, 9, and 10 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventh. As means of rendering air-tight or water-tight and imparting extra
strength to pipes or other similar articles of clay-ware, the forming of such articles
with an outer and an inner tubular casing, and an intervening space filled with
cement, substantially as herein described and illustrated by figures 11, 12, and 13,
of the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. Forming tanks and similar articles of clay-ware for holding liquids, with
the sides and bottom consisting of two or more casings and intervening spaces
filled in with cement, substantially as herein described and illustrated by figure 14
of the accompanying Drawings.
Ninth. In double cased tanks of large size, forming the outer casing, of segments
jointed and held together by shaped pieces fitting into corresponding grooves
or recesses in the sides of the tanks, substantially as herein described and illustrated
by figure 15 of the accompanying Drawings.
In Witness Whereof, I the said James Gillespie have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E.
Of the firm of
W. R. M. Thomson & Co
Patent Agents
Glasgow.
JAMES GILLESPIE (L.S.)