Improvements in Machinery for Making Fireclay Retorts, Slabs, Sanitary Pipes, and other like articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Making Fireclay Retorts, Slabs,
Sanitary Pipes, and other like articles.
I, THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT, of Old Victoria Foundry, Manor Row,
Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to the vertical machines employed for above purposes,
which I propose to operate by means of hydraulic power instead of by steam power
as is usually the case, the principal object of my invention being to economise the
power required to work the machine during the first part of its operation, and this
effect by the assistance of an auxiliary hydraulic power.
In carrying out my invention I use any convenient form of "accumulator" from
which water under compression is conveyed to the upper end of a differential
ram, piston, or plunger, the opposite end of which forces the clay from a pan into
or through the die for forming a retort or pipe. The water which has been used to
operate the ram is forced (as the ram returns) through a two way valve and
conveyed to an elevated water tank which becomes an auxiliary hydraulic power to
be used as hereinafter explained. When the machine is first started, I do not use
water from the accumulator (which is thereby saved) but the piston will commence
to descend by gravitation, whereby a vacuum will be formed in the cylinder above
the piston, whereupon water from the auxiliary water tank will pass through a back
pressure valve and be drawn by the vacuum into the cylinder, forcing the piston
down upon the clay, at which point the operative lets in water from the accumulator,
which completes the downward stroke of the piston. It will thus be seen that the
water from the accumulator is not required to operate the piston the full length of
its stroke, consequently a great saving of power is effected, as the first portion of the
piston's stroke is effected by the reserve in the auxiliary water tank. The piston
is made to return by water from the accumulator, or from a pump, acting on the
underside of the piston, which water is made to overcome the weight of the piston
and the suction upon the clay.
When this form of apparatus is used to press fireclay bricks or other like articles,
the water enters a cylinder and acts upon a pressing plate so as to compress the
block and when the plate has descended into the die and meets the clay, the water
then acts the other way against the end of a piston, which is raised thereby, carrying
with it a bottom or underneath pressing plate, so that a double press is formed,
acting upon both faces of the block, the accumulator and the auxiliary hydraulic
forces being employed, as in the previous case.
Instead of the water acting directly upon the end of the pressing plate and piston,
it may act upon two pistons connected to balanced levers, which on being operated,
the opposite ends thereof act upon both the under and upper pressing plate.
Dated this 21st day of October 1890.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Making Fireclay Retorts, Slabs,
Sanitary Pipes, and other like articles.
I, THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT, of Old Victoria Foundry, Manor Row,
Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Maker, 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 :-
My invention has reference to the vertical machines employed for above purposes,
which I propose to operate by means of hydraulic power, instead of by steam power
as is usually the case, the principal object of my invention being to economise the
power required to work the machine during the first part of its operation, and this I
effect by the assistance of an auxiliary hydraulic power.
In carrying out my invention, I use any convenient form of "accumulator" from
which water under compression is conveyed to the upper end of a differential ram,
piston, or plunger, the opposite end of which forces the clay from a pan into or
through the die for forming a retort or pipe. The water which has been used to
operate the ram is forced (as the ram returns) through a two-way valve and
conveyed to an elevated water tank which becomes an auxiliary hydraulic power to
be used as hereinafter explained.
.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, I will now proceed
to describe the same more fully, and for that purpose make reference to the
accompanying sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is vertical
section of my improved construction of apparatus for making or pressing fireclay
retorts. sanitary pipes, and other like long articles. A represents a cylinder having
a central stationary spindle B. The cylinder also contains a piston C provided at
its upper end with a piston ring D for fitting closely to the bore of the cylinder,
whilst the lower end of said piston carries a pressing plate E for acting upon the
clay in the pressing mould. A two-way valve is shewn at F, which is opened and
closed at the will of the operative by moving lever G. The piston C is forced down
upon the clay by admitting water from an accumulator or from pumps through the
passage H whilst the said piston is raised by the admission of water from an
accumulator through the passage I at the bottom of the cylinder. A water or
auxiliary feeding tank, not shewn in the drawings, is also employed and is connected
to the pipe J, which tank receives the water after it has been used to force the
piston down, but the water in the auxiliary tank is also used to force or assist the
piston down as hereinafter described.
The modus operandi is as follows:-
When first starting my improved press, the attendant operates hand lever F so
as to admit water from an accumulator or from pumps, which water acts on the
upper side of the piston ring D causing the piston to descend, making the plate E
act upon the clay in the pressing mould, after which water is admitted from an
accumulator or from pumps into the opening I which acts with sufficient power to
overcome the suction of the pressing plate E upon the clay, and also to overcome
the weight of the said piston, the water lodging upon the upper end of the piston
being discharged or lifted through one of the two-way valves F up through pipe J
into the auxiliary water feeding tank, which becomes a reserve, therefore at the
next downward motion, when the press is next started, I do not use water from the
accumulator, (which is thereby saved) but the piston will commence to descend by
gravitation, whereby a vacuum will be formed in the cylinder above the piston,
whereupon water from the auxiliary water tank will freely pass through a back
pressure valve and be drawn by the vacuum into the cylinder, forcing the piston
down upon the clay, at which point the operative actuates handle F, closing that
portion of the valve which communicates with the auxiliary feed water tank, but
opening that portion of the valve in communication with the accumulator or pumps,

page_text: so as to let in water from the accumulator or from the pumps, the introduction of
which water completes the downward stroke of the piston. It will thus be seen
that the water from the accumulator is not required to operate the piston the full
length of its stroke, consequently a great saving of water is effected, as the first
portion of the stroke is effected by the reserve in the auxiliary water tank, which
is put back again at every upward stroke of the piston.
When my improved hydraulic apparatus is used to press bricks, slabs, or other
like articles, I employ within the cylinder B two pistons C and K which are forced
apart by water from the accumulator or pump in such a manner as to press the
brick on both the upper and lower surfaces, as illustrated in Fig. 2, which is vertical
section of my improved hydraulic press. L represents the moulding die having a
loose bottom M connected to the beam N which by bolts O is connected to another
beam P to which is attached the piston or ram K. The water under pressure is
admitted from the accumulator or pump through pipe Q between the two pistons,
the lower one of which is caused to descend to squeeze the brick or slab within the
die, and when it has reached the end of its downward stroke, the pressure of water
within the cylinder acts against the underside of the upper ram K, which is raised
thereby, causing the loose bottom M of the die to press against the underside of
the brick or slab, whereby a double press or squeeze is given to the slab. The
operative afterwards lets water in from the accumulator to the aperture I so as to
lift up the bottom ram, discharging the water above the piston into the auxiliary
feeding tank, as described with regard to Fig. 1.
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 :-
Firstly. In machinery for making and pressing retorts, sanitary pipes, slabs, and
other like articles, the manner of actuating the pressing plate or plates, substantially
as described and shewn in the drawings.
Secondly. In machines for making or pressing fireclay retorts, sanitary tubes,
and the like, the use of water from an accumulator or from pumps and the manner
of utilizing the water employed therein substantially as described herein.
Thirdly. In machinery for making and pressing fireclay retorts and sanitary
pipes, the use of hydraulic power as described, in combination with a two-way
valve, together with an accumulator or pumps and an auxiliary feeding tank, all
as described.
This date of T.... 1901
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.