Improvements in the Coverings used for Bricks when being Dried in the Open Air.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th July, 1897-Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Coverings used for Bricks when being Dried in
the Open Air.
I, EDWARD PRATT, of the Albert Iron Works, Uxbridge, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of ordinary bricks, they are ordinarily stacked in rows in the
open air, for the purpose of drying them sufficiently before they are burned.
It is necessary that they should not be exposed to rain whilst being so dried, and
for this purpose loose covers are used which are removed during fine weather, but are
replaced in wet weather, and this is frequently a long and tedious process.
My present invention has for its object a method of construction by which a part,
or the whole, of the coverings above rows of undried bricks, can be removed or
replaced simultaneously instead of one by one, so that considerable time and labour
are thereby saved.
For this purpose I make supports for the covers, which are arranged to turn upon
centres, and I connect these several supports one with the other so that by the
movement of one of them, preferably the end one, the whole or any part are also
moved, the covers being thus capable of being raised or lowered according to the
height of the rows of undried bricks.
The covers are also hinged or jointed and so connected that they can be turned up
out of the way in order that the bricks may be exposed to the sun during fine weather
but can all be instantly covered when rain falls.
In order to raise and lower the covers a suitable windlass, or worm wheel and worm,
or other equivalent apparatus may be used.
The weight of the parts to be raised or lowered as described is counterbalanced, so
that only little power is required to operate them.
I do not confine myself to the precise form and arrangement of the apparatus
described, which may be varied more or less in different circumstances, my invention
consisting in so constructing and arranging the covers and the parts connected with
and operating them, that the rows of bricks can be rapidly covered or uncovered as
may be from time to time required.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1896.
Improvements in the Coverings used for Bricks when being Dried in
the Open Air.
I, EDWARD PRATT, of the Albert Iron Works, Uxbridge, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the pature of this invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, and accompanying drawing, that is to say:-
In the manufacture of ordinary bricks, they are usually stacked in rows in the open
air, for the purpose of drying them sufliciently before they are burned.
It is necessary that they should not be exposed to rain whilst heing so dried, and
for this purpose loose covers are ordinarily used, which are removed during fine
weather, but are replaced in wet weather, and this is frequently a necessarily long
and tedious process.
My present invention has for its object a method of construction by which a part,
or the whole, of the coverings above rows of undried bricks, can be removed or replaced
simultaneously instead of one by one, so that considerable time and labour are
thereby saved,
For this purpose I make supports for the covers, which are arranged to turn upon
centres, and I connect these several supports one with the other so that by the
movement of one of them, preferably the end one, the whole or any part are also
moved, the covers being thus capable of being raised or lowered according to the
height of the rows of undried bricks.
The covers are also hinged or jointed and so connected that they can be turned up
out of the way in order that the bricks may be exposed to the sun during fine weather
but can all be instantly covered when rain falls.
In order to raise and lower the covers a suitable windlass, or worm wheel and worm,
or other equivalent apparatus may be used.
The weight of the parts to be raised or lowered as described is counterbalanced, so
that only little power is required to operate them.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, and shows a form of
apparatus which may conveniently be used.
Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, Figure 2 is a plan of part of the same
apparatus, and Figure 3 is an end view.
a, a are the covers, arranged above the rows of bricks which are being dried. b, bare
supports of sufficient length which carry the covers a, and are pivotted and hinged
at c, so that the supports b can be raised into a more or less vertical position,
carrying with them the covers a which are shown pivotted longitudinally upon a
rod or tube e which is carried by supports f upon a longitudinal beam or bar g
to which the upper ends of the supports 6 are pivotted at i, i, so that when one
of the supports b is mised or lowered, the whole of the others are simultaneously
moved, and the covers a are raised or lowered above the rows of bricks, whilst
still retaining their horizontal position.
It is, of course, to be understood that though only two of the supports b and
covers are shewn completed in Figure 1, any number may be used extending
far enough to cover the rows of bricks (shewn at d, d, Figure 3).
In order to raise and lower the supports b, and covers a, the extreme support b¹
is shown connected by a chain k with a toothed sector or worm wheel carried
in a fixed frame m. This sector is provided with an endless screw or worm n
or handle o, by turning which therefore the support and all the other supports b
can be raised or lowered. The supports bare shewn provided with balance
weights p, p upon levers r connected by chains a to the supports, and turning upon
fixed centres t.
The covers a are provided with sockets which turn upon the spindle or tube e, so
that they can be arranged horizontally or turned into a more or less vertical position
whenever desired.
I do not confine myself to the precise form and arrangement of the apparatus
described, the construction and details of which may be varied more or less in
different circumstances, my invention consisting in so constructing and arranging the
covers and the parts connected with and operating them, that the rows of bricks can
be rapidly covered or uncovered as may be from time to time required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.

page_text: invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Apparatus by means of which rows of bricks, whilst being dried, can be
rapidly covered and uncovered as may be from time to time desired, substantially
as described.
2. Apparatus for the purpose claimed in Claim 1, consisting of moveable covers a,
carried upon hinged supports b, and raised or lowered simultaneously by means of a
toothed sector and screw, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In combination with the apparatus claimed in Claim 2, the levers and balance
weights and p, connected to the supports b, substantially as described and
illustrated.
4. The method of supporting the covers a upon longitudinal pivots carried by the
supports b, so that the covers can be turned into a horizontal or more or less vertical
position, substantially as described and illustrated.
CITES DIE
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.