IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOULDING PIPES, SEGMENTAL AND INVERT BLOCKS FOR SEWERS, PAVING BLOCKS, MOULDED COURSES, AND OTHER ARTICLES IN CONCRETE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Sharp, Pipe Manufacturer, of Loseley Hurst,
Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR MOULDING PIPES, SEGMENTAL AND INVERT BLOCKS FOR
SEWERS, PAVING BLOCKS, MOULDED COURSES, AND OTHER ARTICLES IN
CONCRETE."
Sealed the 13th June 1876, and dated the 31st March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Sharp at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st March 1876.
HENRY SHARP, Pipe Manufacturer, of Loseley Hurst, Bournemouth, in the
County of Hants. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOULDING PIPES, SEGMENTAL
AND INVERT BLOCKS FOR SEWERS, PAVING BLOCKS, MOULDED COURSES, AND OTHER
ARTICLES IN CONCRETE."
The first part of my Invention consists in the means of regulating the supply to
the mould of the materials of which the concrete is to be formed, it being very
desirable that these materials should be delivered gradually and regularly in
measured quantities duly proportioned to the form and dimensions of the article to
be moulded, and this object I effect by delivering the materials, after they have
been properly and thoroughly mixed and prepared by any of the usual modes, into
a hopper having its lower extremity stopped by a moveable slide or door, which is
so connected with the other moving parts of the apparatus that the slide or door is
rapidly opened and closed at regulated intervals, and in such a manner that the
extent of its opening can also be readily altered from time to time, and so adjusted,
without stopping the machine, as only to discharge at each movement a measured
quantity of the mixed materials for the concrete. I also so construct the lower end
of the hopper that delivery pipes of different forms and dimensions can be attached
to it, and that these delivery pipes may be made to revolve, so as to be more
easily adjusted to suit the varying forms and dimensions of the articles to be
moulded.
The second part of my Invention consists in so constructing the apparatus that
the mould shall be made to move so as to bring every part of it successively under
the action of a rammer or punner capable of vertical motion, but the position of

page_text: which is otherwise unchangeable. In moulds which are symmetrical about a
vertical axis, such as pipes or columns, I place the mould vertically upon a circular
table made to revolve in a horizontal plane upon a fixed center, the position of
which is capable of adjustment, so that whatever may be the diameter of the pipe
or column every part of the annular channel of the mould shall, as the table and
inould revolve, successively pass under and receive the blows of the rammer or
punner. In cases where it is desired to give any particular form to the upper
surface of the pipe or column, such as a rebate or moulding, I produce such form by
an inclined moulder or compresser fixed over the annular channel of the mould, and
so shaped as to produce the forin required in the upper end of the pipe or coluinn
as the mould containing it revolves beneath this moulder or compresser. The table is
so connected with the other moving parts of the apparatus that it revolves in such
a manner as to bring every part of the mould successively under the action of the
rammer or punner. When the mould is not symmetrical I place it vertically upon
a revolving table, the center of which is made to move in a slot or groove, by which
means every portion of the mould may be readily and successively brought under
and receive the blows of the raminer or punner. In order to avoid undue strain
being caused upon the mould by the blows of the rammer or punner I place a
moveable roller to support that part of the moveable table which is vertically
underneath the rammer or punner, and by giving motion to this roller I can cause
the table to revolve beneath the punner.
The third part of my Invention consists in the method of raising the rammer or
punner; it is essential that the rammer should be laid hold of, lifted, and allowed to
fall through a certain definite space throughout the whole process of making the
article in the mould, and as the mould becomes filled the rammer rises, and is
continually requiring to be laid hold of at a different part, and I effect this object
by having two grooved pullies, one of which is supported in fixed plummer blocks
and caused to revolve with a regular motion; the rims of this pulley on each side
of the groove are so shaped as to form cams or projections at certain regular
intervals. The other pulley is fixed to a moveable frame, and by means of a spring
or weight is kept with its rim, which is of a uniform diameter, in hard contact
with the rim of the fixed pulley. The grooves of these pullies are so arranged as to
grasp tightly between them the upper part of the rainmner or punner, so that as the
fixed pulley revolves the rammer is carried upwards until one of the projecting
portions of its rim coming into contact with the rim of the moveable pulley pushes
the pullies apart and causes the raminer to be released and to fall; as soon however
as the projecting portion of the rim of the fixed pulley has passed the pullies are
again brought together by the action of the spring or weight, and the rammer is
again grasped and lifted, and this action goes on, the rammer being alternately
grasped, lifted, and released so long as the fixed pulley revolves, whatever part of
the rammer rod may be presented to it. If at any time it is desired to stop the
action of the rammer without stopping the movement of the other parts of the
apparatus this may be accomplished by withdrawing the moveable pulley from
contact with the fixed pulley.
The fourth part of my Invention consists of a mode of forming holes in the sides
of concrete pipes and segmental blocks for inserting branches or for other purposes,
and this I effect in the following manner:-I proceed with the moulding of the
pipe until the height has been reached at which the hole is to be formed; I then
insert a block of iron or other hard material of the exact form and dimensions of
the hole required to be left, and then proceed with the moulding of the pipe, taking
care to interrupt the action of the rammer or punner while the block is passing
under it in each revolution of the mould until the block has been buried or covered
by the materials for the concrete. Another mode in which I propose to form a hole
in the sides of the concrete pipes is to forin such pipe in two pieces, cach piece having
half of the hole formed in it by a suitable shaped block placed at the bottom of the
mould, and these two pieces inay afterwards be joined with cement so as to form
que pipe. A third mode in which I propose to form the hole is by cutting it out

page_text: with a revolving circular crown saw of the required diameter after the concrete,
composing the pipe is set, but before it has had time to harden.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Henry Sharp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th September
1876.
HENRY SHARP, Pipe Manufacturer, of Loseley Hurst, Bournemouth, in the
County of Hants. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOULDING PIPES, SEGMENTAL
AND INVERT BLOCKS FOR SEWERS, PAVING BLOCKS, MOULDED COURSES, AND OTHER
ARTICLES IN CONCRETE."
The first part of my Invention consists in the means of regulating the supply to
the mould of the materials of which the concrete is to be formed, it being very
desirable that these materials should be delivered gradually and regularly in mea-
sured quantities duly proportioned to the form and dimensions of the article to be
moulded; and this object I effect by delivering the materials after they have been
properly and thoroughly mixed and prepared by any of the usual modes, into a
hopper having its lower extremity stopped by a moveable slide or door which is so
connected with the other moving parts of the apparatus that the slide or door is
rapidly opened and closed at regulated intervals, and in such a manner that tho
extent of its opening can also be readily altered from time to time, and so adjusted
without stopping the machine, as only to discharge at each movement a measured
quantity of the mixed materials for the concrete. I also so construct the lower end
of the hopper that delivery pipes of different forms and dimensions can be attached
to it, and that these delivery pipes may be made to revolve so as to be more easily
adjusted to suit the varying forms and dimensions of the articles to be moulded.
The second part of my Invention consists in so constructing the apparatus that
the mould shall be made to move so as to bring every part of it successively under
the action of a rammer or punner capable of vertical motion, but the position of
which is otherwise unchangeable. In moulds which are symmetrical about a
vertical axis, such as pipes or columns, I place the mould vertically upon a circular
table made to revolve in a horizontal plane upon a fixed center, the position of
which is capable of adjustment so that whatever may be the diameter of the pipe
or column every part of the annular channel of the mould shall, as the table and
mould revolve, successively pass under and receive the blows of the rammer or
punner: In cases where it is desired to give any particular form to the upper
surface of the pipe or column, such as a rebate or moulding, I produce such form by
an inclined moulder or compresser, fixed over the annular channel of the mould, and
80 shaped as to produce the form required in the upper end of the pipe or column
as the inould containing it revolves beneath this moulder or compresser. The table
is so connected with the other moving parts of the apparatus that it revolves in
such a manner as to bring every part of the mould successively under the action
of the rammer or punner. When the mould is not symmetrical I place it
vertically upon a revolving table the center of which is made to move in a slot or
groove, by which means every portion of the mould may be readily and successively
brought under and receive the blows of the rammer or punner. In order to avoid
undue strain being caused upon the mould by the blows of the rammer or punner,
I place a moveable roller to support that part of the moveable table which is
vertically underneath the rammer or punner, and by giving motion to this roller I can
cause the table to revolve beneath the punner.
The third part of my Invention consists in the method of raising the rammer or
punner it is essential that the rammer should be laid hold of, lifted, and allowed
to fall through a certain definite space throughout the whole process of making the
article in the mould, and as the inould becomes filled the rainmer rises and is con-

page_text: tinually requiring to be laid hold of at a different part; and I effect this object by
having two grooved pullies, one of which is supported in fixed plummer blocks and
caused to revolve with a regular motion, the rims of this pulley on each side of the
groove are so shaped as to form cams or projections at certain regular intervals;
the other pulley is fixed to a moveable frame and by means of a spring or weight
is kept with its rim, which is of a uniform diameter in hard contact with the
rim of the fixed pulley. The grooves of these pullies are so arranged as to grasp
tighthly between them the upper part of the rammer or punner, so that as the
fixed pulley revolves the rammer is carried upwards until one of the projecting
portions of its rim coming into contact with the rim of the moveable pulley pushes
the pullies apart and causes the rammer to be released and to fall; as soon however
as the projecting portion of the rim of the fixed pulley has passed the pullies are
again brought together by the action of the spring or weight, and the rammer is
again grasped and lifted; and this action goes on, the rainmer being alternately
grasped, lifted, and released, so long as the fixed pulley revolves, whatever part of
the raminer rod may be presented to it. If at any time it is desired to stop the
action of the rammer without stopping the movement of the other parts of the
apparatus, this may be accomplished by withdrawing the moveable pulley from
contact with the fixed pulley.
The fourth part of my Invention consists of a mode of forming holes in the sides
of the concrete pipes and segmental blocks, for inserting branches or for other
purposes, and this I effect in the following manner:-I proceed with the moulding
of the pipe until the height has been reached at which the hole is to be formed, I
then insert a block of iron or other hard material of the exact form and dimensions
of the hole required to be left, and then proceed with the moulding of the pipe,
taking care to interrupt the action of the rammer or punner, while the block is
passing under it in each revolution of the mould, until the block has been buried
or covered by the materials for the concrete. Another mode in which I propose to
form a hole in the sides of concrete pipes is to form such pipe in two pieces, each
picce having half of the hole formed in it, by a suitable block placed at the
bottom of the mould, and these two pieces may afterwards be joined with cemont,
so as to form one pipe. A third mode in which I propose to form the hole is, by
cutting it out with a revolving circular crown saw of the required diameter, after
the concrete composing the pipe is set, but before it has had time to harden.
And in order to make the nature of my said Invention more perfectly understood,
I have prepared the Drawing hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine for making oval pipes; Figure 2 is a
sectional plan of the same taken on the line A, A, and with the spout or delivery
pipe for feeding the mould removed; and Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on the
line B, B, and having the revolving table which carries the mould removed.
C is a shaft in communication with the moving power, and which by means of
the bevil wheels D and E causes the vertical shaft F to revolve in the direction
shown by the arrows; the lower part of this shaft carries a pinion G, which is
geared into a toothed wheel H, which also forms the horizontal table for carrying
the mould I in which the pipes are to be formed. The toothed wheel or table H is
supported upon a vertical axis J, turning in a circular recess in a lower frame or
carriage K, which is connected with the bottom step or plummer block L, for
carrying the vertical shaft F in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, so as to
allow the carriage K to move in a horizontal plane in a circular arc, which has the
same center as the vertical shaft F, carrying with it the wheel or table H, which
nevertheless always remains in gear with the pinion G, and is caused to revolve with
a regular motion whatever position the carriago K may assume. The outer end of
the carriage or frame K is supported upon two conical rollers M, M, and it also
carries another conical roller N, which bears against the lower side of the revolving
wheel or table H, and serves to give additional support to that portion of it which
receives the blows of the rammer. The arms of the wheel H are formed with slots
or grooves 0, 0, so as to enable the bed plate P of the mould in which the pipe or

page_text: other article is to be manufactured to be secured to it by bolts Q, Q, whatever may
be its form. In the Drawing the mould is shown of the form required to make an
oval pipe. The bod plate P is made with a projecting rin parallel with the external
form of the mould, and this rim is caused to press against a horizontal guide
wheel R by tho weight S, and chain T, which passes over the pulley U, and is
attached to the lower carriage or frame K. V is the rammer or punner, which is
kept in the same position, namely always opposite to the point at which the guide
wheel R touches the bed plate P of the inould, by means of the guide W. It
results from this arrangement that whatever form the mould may be it is mado
to move in such a manner as to bring every portion of the annular channel of
the mould successively under the rammer or punner V.
The mould shown on the Drawing is oval, but any other form may be equally
well employed in the machine by merely removing the oval mould, and substituting
for it a mould of the form required. When the form of the mould is rectangular,
such as would be required to form paving blocks, or very irregular, as in the case of
segmental blocks for sewers, or for moulded courses, the chain T and the guide
wheel R would be dispensed with, and the lower carriage K would be moved by
means of a handle, shown by dotted lines at X, Figure 3, in such a manner as to
bring every portion of the mould successively under the action of the rammer V, as
the table H revolved beneath it.
Figures 1, 7, 8, and 9 show more particularly the mode which I adopt to enable
the rod of the rammer or punner V to be laid hold of, lifted, and allowed to fall
through a certain definite space, whatever part of the rammer rod may be presented
to the apparatus. Y is a grooved pulley firmly keyed on to the shaft C so as to
revolve in the direction of the arrow with a regular motion, the rims of this pulley
are so shaped as to form cams or projections a, a, at regular intervals; Z is another
grooved pulley having its rim of a uniform diameter, and attached to a hanging
frame b capable of motion about the centre c; the lower part of this frame is
connected with a spring d, in such a manner that the rims of the pullies Y and Z
are always forcibly drawn together. The grooves of these pullies are so arranged
as to grasp tightly between them the rod of the rammer or punner V, so that as the
pulley Y revolves it carries the rammer upwards with it until one of the projecting
portions a of its rim comes into contact with the rim of the other pulley Z, when
they assume the relative positions shown in Figures 7 and 9, the pulley Z being
pushed away so as to release the rammer V and allow it to fall as soon as the
projection a has passed the pullies Y and Z under the action of the spring d, again
approach until they grasp the rammer V, which is then raised as before and this
action goes on, the rammer being successively grasped, lifted, and released, so long
as the pulley Y revolves, whatever part of the rammer rod may be presented to it.
If at any time it is required to stop the action of the rammer without stopping
the movement of the other parts of the apparatus, a hinged strut e is released from
the hook and drawn down until it rests upon the projection y, in doing which the
hanging frame is pushed on one side, so as to separate the pulley Z from contact
with the pulley Y. A weight may be employed in place of the spring d to keep the
pullies in contact with each other if preferred.
The mode in which I regulate the supply to the mould of the materials for
forming the concrete is shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, and 6; I effect this by delivering
the materials after they have been properly and thoroughly mixed by any of the
ordinary modes into a hopper h, having its lower extremity closed by a moveable
slide or door which is fixed upon an axis j which carries a slotted lever k; l is a
forked rod having a pin m at one end by which it is connected with the lever /,
and the other has a projection n which bears against an oval wheel p securely
fixed to the vertical shaft F so as to revolve with it; the projection n is always
kept in contact with the rim of the oval wheel p by means of the weighted lever
By this arrangement as the shaft F revolves the projecting portions of the wheel p
cause the rod to move backwards and forwards alternately, and by means of the
lever k to move the slide i from the position shown by the whole lines in Figure 6,
q.

page_text: to that shown by the dotted lines, so as rapidly to open and close the aperture at
the bottom of the hopper h at regular intervals. The quantity of the materials
delivered from the hopper at each movement depends upon the width to which the
slide or door is opened, and this is regulated by shifting the position of the pin m
which can be moved in the slot of the lever k, and fixed in any position required
by the set screw shown upon the pin m.
If it is desired to stop the supply of the materials for forming the concrete
without stopping the machine it is only necessary to lift the forked rod 1, so that
the projection n may rest upon the top of the wheel p when it will cease to move
the rod l.
The lower chamber of the hopper is constructed with a loose flanger with a
recess for the reception of the upper rim or flange of the delivery pipe or spouts,
as shown in section in Figure 6, so as to allow the spout to be changed in its
position, and adjusted to deliver the materials into the mould so as to suit the
varying forms and dimensions of the articles to be moulded.
Figures 13 and 14 show an alternative mode which I adopt for feeding the
moulds with a regular and measured quantity of the materials. t is a trough open
at the top but closed at the ends, and u is an endless screw, which by means of the
pulley is made to revolve with an equable inotion; w is an aperture forming a
spout to be placed over the mould. As the screw revolves it will carry forward
the materials; and deliver them through the aperture win a quantity which will
be regulated by the speed of the pulley v.
Figures 11 and 12 show a simple mode of causing the table H to revolve by
giving motion to the conical roller M placed under it to support it at the point
where it receives the blows of the raminer V. The roller M is keyed on to the
shaft, which is driven by means of the pulley y, being a loose pulley to receive
the driving band when it is required to stop the motion of the table, and at a pulley
to drive the upper pulley b' which gives motion to the grooved pulley Y for lifting
the rammer or punner V. The step or pluminer block c¹ which supports the
vertical axis upon which the table H revolves, can be moved along the slot or
groove to suit different sized tables for the manufacture of pipes of various
different diameters.
The mode in which I give any particular form to the upper surface of a pipe or
column, such as a rebate or moulding, is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 10. I produce
such form by a moulder or compresser e', having its under side slightly inclined and
working upon the pin f¹, so that upon the completion of the moulding of the pipe,
the raminer V having been removed, the compresser e¹ is brought over the annular
channel of the mould, and is forcibly pressed by means of the handle g¹ upon the
materials therein contained, so as to impart to their upper surface whatever form
may have been given to the under side of the compresser, and to finish the same to
a true and smooth surface.
Figure 15 shows a modification of the apparatus to form pipes of a small
diameter. I is the mould, which is made to revolve upon the vertical axis h¹ by
means of the pulley . The materials for forming the pipe are supplied through
the spout j, and these materials are compressed by the pressure of the tool /¹,
which while by reason of its weight bears forcibly upon the materials in the mould,
is yet capable of rising gradually as the pipe is formed under it, and which leaves
the upper surface of the pipe of whatever form had been given to the lower end of
the tool k¹.
When it is desired to form a hole in the side of a concrete pipe I produce the
same by inserting in the mould at the height required a block of iron or other hard
material of the exact form and dimensions of the hole to be left, and at lin
Figure 11 I show such a block placed in the mould, Figure 16 being a front view,
and Figure 17 a top view of thic block.
Figures 18 and 19 show two pipes in which semicircular holes have been
formed by blocks deposited in the moulds, and which when put together with a
cement joint form one pipe with a circular hole, as shown in Figure 20.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would in conclusion observe that I do not claim the particular form or
configuration of the several parts shown on the Drawing, which are to be regarded
simply as illustrations of the modes in which my said Invention may be carried
out, but that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as my
said Invention is the following:-
Firstly. The general construction and arrangement of the apparatus herein-before
described, and the application of the same for the manufacture of pipes and other
articles in concrete, substantially in the manner herein-before described and
illustrated by the Drawing.
Secondly, The construction and arrangement of apparatus for feeding the concrete
gradually and regularly in quantities capable of adjustment, and the use of the
same in combination with the moulding machinery, substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein-before described.
Thirdly. Placing the moulds upon a moveable and revolving table so constructed
and arranged as to bring every part of the mould successively under the action of a
rammer, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Fourthly. Forming concrete pipes by means of a mould revolving under a com-
pressing tool fixed in position but capable of vertical motion, substantially in the
imanner herein-before described.
Fifthly. The construction and arrangement of machinery for laying hold of,
raising, and dropping the rammer in rapid and regular succession at every part of
its height, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Sixthly. Giving any desired form to the upper surface of the pipe or other
article by a moveable compresser applied to the mould as it revolves beneath it,
substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Seventhly. Forming openings in the sides of concrete pipes, substantially in the
manner herein-before described.
In witness thereof, I, the said Henry Sharp, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
HENRY SHARP. (L.S.)