Improvements in Brick Making Machines."
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Brick Making Machines."
We, THOMAS C. FAWCETT LIMITED of The Whitehouse Engineering Works,
Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Makers, and THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT.
of the same place, Managing Director, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to plastic brick making machines wherein movable
or intermittent rotary qylinders having the brick moulds formed or cut in the
surfaces or peripheries thereof, are employed, and the clay or substance to form
the brick is forced or pressed into the moulds by means of rams or by screws.
Our invention relates firstly, to the feeding or charging of the moulds with clay
which has been done heretofore by depositing a quantity of the moist granular
clay or substance in front of the ram when at its rear position so that on making
the forward stroke it forces it into the mould opposite thereto. A certain quantity
of clay falls or lodges in the moulds prior to receiving the full charge and in
being carried round by the cylinder to bring each mould successively opposite
the ram this small quantity of clay is liable by weight or pressure to become
partially set or united and present an unequal surface so that when the full
charge is forced into the mould the two portions do not adhere evenly or a space
crack or fault is left between said portions where irregularity of surface occurs
and the bricks are thus reduced in value or are rendered useless. To avoid
liability to the production of faulty or useless bricks from the cause named, we
arrange the trough or hopper to deliver the clav at the top of the cylinder direct
into each mould as they successively pass under said trough, a fence or guide
plate being employed at the front to ensure the deposit of the clay in the moulds.
The moulds are made much deeper than at present so as each to hold a full
charge of the moist granular clar necessary to make a brick with a little in excess
if required. A shield or envelope holds the clay in the moulds as the cylinder
rotates and carries them successively in front of the ram which instead of forcing
the clay into the moulds as previously now simply presses the clay already in
the mould, giving a uniform pressure thereto throughout and making a solid
brick without flaws or cracks.
A further advantage obtained is that each charge of clay is equal or approxi-
mately so, being determined by the capacity of the moulds, and therefore every
brick produced is of equal or nearly equal weight. To prevent the fall of the
brick the distance of the added depth of the moulds when being discharged there-
from we may employ a small rising and falling table or equivalent means to lower
the bricks.
The second part of our invention refers to means for and the method of polishing
or giving a finish to the sides of the bricks after being pressed and pannelled in
the side press common to these machines.
For this purpose we employ a cam adapted to act upon a bowl on the end of
an adjustable rod or link having a confined spiral spring thereon or a cushioning

page_text: device, said rod or link being connected to the ordinary lever for raising the
bricks out of the mould of the finishing press. The said cam is timed to act in
advance of the cam for actuating the lifting lever and it causes said lever to act
prematurely and nip the brick between the bottom plate of the mould and the
ram thus forcing the brick upwardly a certain distance with sufficient pressure
to cause the sides thereof to scrape against the sides of the mould whereby a
superior polish or finish is given to the sides of the brick and all faults or indents
in said surfaces are filled in or equalised. By the time the brick has been raised
partly out of the mould the ordinary cam has come into action and the lifting
lever is then moved thereby to the extent of its motion as heretofore to raise
the brick to the level of the table. The confined spring or yielding cushion in
connection with the adjustable rod gives compensation for bricks of irregular
depth, taking up such movement as is not required. The rod also can be adjusted
to suit the bricks being operated upon.
Our invention refers lastly to the screws for forcing the clay into the moulds
in the cylinders and pressing same, into blocks. Heretofore the said screw has
.been mounted on the pug mill shaft at a considerable distance from the surface
of the cylinder whereby a larger quantity of clay had to be acted upon than was
necessary. In addition to this the rotation of the screw in relation to the motion
of the cylinder was not uniform or regular and consequently its action upon
the clay in each mould finished at different points across the mouths of the
moulds and caused the bricks to be unfinished or imperfect by leaving a corner
or part of the near edge off whereby the production of the machine could not be
depended on. The object of this part of our invention is to ensure, the production
of a perfect brick and this we accomplish by driving the screw shaft at a definite
speed relatively to the motion of the cylinder, that is to say, the screw may be
coarse and revolve once round during the period the cylinder dwells to receive
and have the charge of clay forced into the mould, or by preference, the screw
may be of finer pitch and be driven at such a speed as to rotate twice in the
period of charging and pressing the clay into the mould, this we find giving good
results.
We may however further accelerate the speed but in such ratio as to give a
cycle of complete revolutions at the required times.
The definite rotation of the screw in relation to the action of the cylinder is
effected by suitable gearing. As by above means the said screw always stops at
one point in its action on the clay and this point is at the completion of the
moulding of the brick, there is no liability of a corner or edge being left un-
finnished and therefore the machine is made capable of turning out perfect bricks.
The nose of the screw is brought close to the surface of the cylinder and is
therefore nearer its work and can force the clay into the corners of the moulds
with greater certainty.
Dated this 18th day of December 1896.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Patent Agents.
We, THOMAS C. FAWCETT LIMITED, of The Whitehouse Engineering Works,
Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Makers, and THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT
of the same place, Managing Director, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-

page_text: tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to plastic brick making machines wherein movable
or intermittent rotary oylinders having the brick moulds formed or cut in the
surfaces or peripheries thereof, are employed, and the clay or substance to form
the brick is forced or pressed into the moulds by means of rams, or by screws.
Our improvements relate, Firstly, to the feeding or charging of the moulds
with clay Secondly, to the method of and means for polishing or giving a finish
to the sides of the bricks after being pressed and panelled in the side press; and,
Thirdly, to the actuation of the pug mill screw for forcing the clay into the moulds
in the cylinder and pressing same into blocks.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we herein make reference
to the accompanying drawings illustrative thereof, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is part sectional elevation of so much of a brick making machine as is
essential to shew the first part of our improvements;
Fig. 2 is sectional elevation of the side press of a brick making machine shewing
the second part of our improvements; and
Fig. 3 is sectional elevation of portion of a pug mill illustrative of the third
part of our improvements.
With reference to the first part of our invention, it has been the practice, up
to the present, to deposit a quantity of the moist granular clay or substance to
form the brick, in front of the ram when at its rear position so that on making
the forward stroke it will force the clay into the mould opposite thereto. In this
method of charging the moulds a small quantity of clay falls or lodges in the
moulds prior to their receiving the full charge, and in being carried around by
the intermittent rotary cylinder to bring each mould successively opposite the
ram, this small quantity of clay is liable by weight or pressure to become partially
set or united and present an unequal surface or irregular mass whereby when the
full charge is forced into the mould, the two portions do not adhere evenly, or a
space, crack, or fault is left between said portions and the bricks are consequently
reduced in value, or are rendered useless.
The object of this part of our invention is to prevent the production of faulty
or worthless bricks from the cause named. For this purpose we arrange the feed
trough or hopper A (see Fig. 1) above the cylinder B with the discharge outlet or
mouth A¹ central with the axial line of the said cylinder so that the clay will
be delivered at the top of the cylinder direct into each mould C formed in the
surface of the cylinder B as they successively pass under said trough or hopper,
a fence or guide plate D being employed at the front of the hopper to ensure the
deposit of the clay in the moulds. The moulds C are likewise made much deeper
than at present so as each to hold a full charge of the moist granular clay necessary
to make a full brick, with a little in excess, if required. A fixed shield or guard E
holds the clay in the, moulds as the cylinder rotates, in the direction indicated,
to bring the charged moulds successively opposite the ram box and present an
empty mould under the hopper.
Instead of the clay being forced into the moulds as was previously the case,
the ram now simply presses the clay already in the mould, giving a uniform
pressure thereto, throughout, and making a firm solid brick without flaws or
cracks.
A further advantage derived by our improved method of charging the moulds,
is that each charge of clay is exactly equal, or approximately so, being deter-
mined by the capacity of the moulds, whereby every brick produced is of equal
or practically equal weight.
To prevent the fall of the brick G the distance of the added depth of the moulds
when being discharged therefrom, we may employ a small rising and falling
table G, or equivalent means, which will enter the mould, as shewn, and lower
the brick out of same.

page_text: The second part of our invention relates to the method of and means for polishing
or giving a finish to the sides of the bricks after being pressed and pannelled in
the side press common to these machines.
Referring to Fig. 2 on the drawings, H represents a cam mounted on the
ordinary cam shaft H and adapted to act on a bowl I journalled in hearings in
the unner end of an adjustable rod I supported or guided in a bracket J holted
to the frame of the machine and connected at its lower end to the ordinary
lever K for raising the bricks out of the mould L of the finishing press.
Surrounding the red I and confined hetween a nut and washer M thereon, and
the lever K is a strong spiral spring N for taking up any excess movement between
the parts, or instead of a spring an india rubber or like cushioned device may
be used.
The cam H is timed to act in advance of the cam for actuating the lifting
lever K which work precisely as heretofore, this premature action causing the
said lifting lever to raise the bottom of the press a short distance, thereby nipping
the brick G between the bottom plate L of the mould or press and the rain 0
and forcing it upwardly with sufficient pressure to cause the sides
thereof to bind tightly and scrape against the sides of the mould, whereby
a superior polish or finish
finish is given to the sides of the brick and
all faults or indents in said surfaces are filled in or equalised. By:
the time the brick G has been raised partially out of the mould L the ordinary
cam has come into action and the lifting lever K is then moved therely to the
full extent of its motion as heretofore to raise the brick clear of the mould..
The confined spring or yielding cushion on the adjustable rod I gives com-
pensation for bricks of irregular depth, taking up such movement as is not
required. The rod I is also threaded at its lower end to permit of its connection
with lever K being adjusted to suit the bricks being pressed.
The last part of our invention relates to the operation of the screws in pug mills
for forcing the clay into the moulds in the cylinders.
Heretofore, the said screw has been mounted on the pug mill shaft at a con-
siderable distance from the surface of the cylinder whereby a larger quantity of
clay had to he acted upon than was necessary. In addition to this, the rotation
of the screw in relation to the motion of the cylinder was not uniform or regular
and consequently its action on the clay in each mould finished at different points.
across the mouths thereof and caused the bricks or blocks to be unfinished or
imperfect by leaving off a corner or part of the near edge, whereby the production
of the machine could not he depended on.
The object of this part of our invention is to ensure the production of a perfect
brick.
This we accomplish by driving the serew P (see Fig. 3), at a definite speed
relatively to the motion of the cvlinder B. that is to say, the screw may be coarse
and made th revolve once round.during the period the cylinder dwells to receive
and have the charge of clay forced into the mould C opposite said screw; or, by
preference, the screw may he of finer pitch and be driven at such a speed as to
make two complete revolutions in the period of charging and pressing the clay
into the mould, 'this we find, giving good results. We may, however, further
accelerate the speed of the screw but in such ratio as to give a cycle of complete
revolutions at the required times. The definite rotation of the screw P in relation
to the action of cylinder B is effected by ordinary gearing deriving motion from
any suitable rotating shaft of the machine and which it is not thought necessary
to shew.
As by the above means the said screw always finishes at one point in its action
on the clay in the mould and this point is at the completion of the moulding of
the brick, there is no liability of a corner or edge being left off or unfinished and
therefore, the machine is made capable of turning out perfectly finished bricks
which has not been the case hitherto.
We arrange the screw P so that the nose thereof is brought close to the surface

page_text: of the cylinder B whereby it is nearer its work, has less clay to act upon, and can
force the clay into the corners of the moulds with greater certainty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
Firstly. In brick making machines, the use and employment of a feed trough
or hopper arranged above the cylinder and adapted to deliver the clay to the
moulds at the top of said cylinder, in the manner and for purposes substantially
as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. In brick making machines, the combination of an intermittent rotary
cylinder having moulds in the surface or periphery thereof made of greater depth
than heretofore, a feed hopper or trough arranged to deliver the clay at the top
of the cylinder, a fence or guide plate in front of the hopper and a shield or
guard such as E, all arranged and operating in the manner and for the purposes
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. In brick making machines, the combination, with the ordinary lifting
lever of the side press, of the means for giving a premature lift to the press, in
the manner and for purposes substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly In brick making machinery, the arrangement of the screw of the
pug mill with its nose close to the mould cylinder and the driving of same at a
definite speed or in complete cycles of motion relatively to the action of the
cylinder, in manner and for purposes substantially as herein described.
Dated this 16th day of September, 1897.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax Patent Agents.