A Machine for Moulding Fuel Blocks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Moulding Fuel Blocks.
We, THÉODORE DUPUY and GUSTAVE DUPUY both of 23 Boulevard de Strasbourg,
Paris, France, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to a machine for moulding fuel blocks, of the following
kind. Around a vertical cylindrical column an annular table is caused to revolve,
this table having formed in it a number of moulds each open at the top and fitted
with a plunger worked from below. Above the table at one side is a feed hopper
in which several horizontal agitators revolve causing the fuel mixture which is fed
into the hopper to enter the moulds as they pass below the agitators. The mould
plungers in this part of their course bear upon adjustable inclines below whereby
the depth of the fuel in each mould is determined. In a farther part of their
course the mouths of the moulds present themselves to plungers projecting from
the face of a wheel that revolves on an axis inclined at about 45° to the axis of
the mould table. One of these plungers entering each of the moulds as they pass
compresses the material therein and then is withdrawn, after which the lower
plungers, encountering fixed inclines below, are caused to ascend, extruding the
moulded blocks which are carried onwards with the table until they meet a fixed
guide by which they are caused to pass off from the table. The form of the moulded
blocks may be varied by varying the shape of the ends of the plungers; for
example, these ends may be flat for producing flat faced blocks, or they may be
hollowed for producing spheroidal or ovoidal blocks. Also the lower plungers
may have in them mandrils, the upper plungers having holes to receive them, and
thus perforated blocks may be produced.
** 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Moulding Fuel Blocks.
We, THEODORE DUPUY and GUSTAVE DUPUY both of 23 Boulevard de Strasbourg,
Paris, France, Manufacturers, 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 :-
This Invention relates to a machine for moulding fuel blocks, of the following kind.
Around a vertical cylindrical column, an annular table is caused to revolve, this table
having formed in it a number of moulds each open at the top and fitted with a plunger
worked from below. Above the table at one side is a feed hopper in which several
horizontal agitators revolve causing the fuel mixture which is fed into the hopper to
enter the moulds as they pass below the agitators. The mould plungers in this part
of their course bear upon adjustable inclines, below, whereby the depth of the fuel in
each mould is determined. In a farther part of their course the mouths of the moulds
present themselves to plungers projecting from the face of a wheel that revolves on an
axis inclined at about 45° to the axis of the mould table. One of these plungers
entering each of the moulds as they pass compresses the material therein and then is
withdrawn after which the lower plungers encountering fixed inclines below, are
caused to ascend, extruding the moulded blocks which are carried onwards with
the table until they meet a fixed guide by which they are caused to pass off from the
table. The form of the moulded blocks may be varied by varying the shape of the

page_text: ends of the plungers; for example, these ends may be flat for producing flat faced
blocks, or they may be hollowed for producing spheroidal or ovoidal blocks. Also the
lower plungers may have in them mandrils, the upper plungers having holes to
receive them, and thus perforated blocks may be produced.
On the accompanying drawings Figures 1, 2 3 and 4 shew respectively a vertical
section, a cross section, a horizontal section and a plan of a machine for moulding fuel
blocks, constructed according to our above described Invention. This machine
consists of a cylindrical base a which serves as pivot to the revolving table b carried
by three rollers d d¹ d¹¹. The driving shaft e carries at one end a bevil pinion/
gearing with the bevil rings fixed to the underside of the table 6 and at the other
.end a fly wheel and fast and loose pullies.
Above the table b, fixed to the support a is the distributing box g which receives
the agglomerated material from the shoot v, and which overhangs the table. The
box g contains a series of revolving discs h fixed on vertical spindles & and serving to
fill the moulds p p carried by the table b, as they are brought underneath the box by
the rotation of the latter.
The bottom of these moulds is formed by pistons P P which are actuated by the
following arrangement; each piston carries a roller which enters a cam groove R
fixed on supports S and which is consequently moved up and down together with the
piston according to the shape of the cam groove.
In order to regulate accurately the proper position of the pistons P in the moulds
at the time of filling the latter, one part of the cam R is made adjustable in height.
For this purpose the said part is hinge-jointed at the end X while the other end Y is
adjusted vertically by a screw A worked by bevil gearing C and a hand wheel D.
The moulds p p, filled to the required extent arrive successively at the point of
contact with an inclined wheel c, the hollows of the moulds being made to coincide
with the teeth or dies q of the lattor, the ends of which constitute the upper half mould
for the blocks.
The movement is similar to that of a bevil wheel C which gears with a crown wheel b.
The wheel c revolves on the axis c¹ fixed to the support a.
After having been subjected to a strong compression when passing the point of
contact of p and 9 the blocks thus formed are raised by the rising pistons p until the
bottom of the mould is on a level with the surface of the table b, so that the protruded
fuel blocks, in coming in contact with the oblique plates ƒ ƒ¹ are removed from the table
as this rotates.
In order to afford the described pressure of the moulds some degree of elasticity, in
order to avoid the straining of the parts through undue pressure, there are arranged
below the point of contact between b and c boxes E containing springs, one such for
each circular row of moulds, which boxes serve as support to the one end of levers F
which are pivotted to supports at the other end, and carry rollers G Figures 3. 56
and 7. At the moment of greatest compression the tails of the pistons P pass on to
the rollers G and transmit the pressure to the spring boxes E. The pressure is
regulated by a wedge H actuated by a screw I worked by a hand wheel Land bevil
gear J. K Figures 2, 3, 4. The rotation of the hand wheel moves the screw I forward
or backward, thereby raising or lowering the spring boxes and thus determining
accurately the pressure to be obtained.
As both the upper and the lower half of the mould are made to advance towards
each other, both sides of the block are uniformly acted upon.
There may be provided in addition a stem t (shewn to an enlarged scale at Figures 8
and 9, which are sections at right angles to each other) for forming a perforation
through the blocks. These stems are carried by supports t¹ fixed underneath each
monld in the table 6 and passing through a hole Z in the pistons p, the upper end
being made to project into holes in the upper moulds, such hole communicates with
a transverse passage y for the escape of any particles of the material that may be
forced up the hole.
The cam R, the supports of the rollers d d' d¹ and the bearings of the shaft e are all
carried by the turned base plate of the support a.

page_text: The boss of the fly wheel M is formed into a pulley which by a strap drives the
pulley of the distributing box, the shaft of which drives the spindle x of one of the
discs by bevil gear, the motion being communicated to the other spindles by spur
gearing.
The hand wheels D and L as also N which actuates the strap fork, are all
conveniently arranged within the reach of the operative so that he can work the one
or the other without leaving his place.
It will be evident that in place of ovoidal blocks the machine may be made to
produce rectangular or other shaped blocks, either perforated or not, by imparting
the desired form to the moulds. The wheel c may be arranged at any angle or it
may be perpendicular to the table b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A machine for moulding fuel blocks in which the material to be treated is
compressed between the piston shaped bottoms of moulds carried by a horizontal
revolving table, and the upper parts of the moulds formed on teeth or projections on
an obliquely placed wheel, which come into gear consecutively with the moulds of the
table, substantially as herein described.
2. In the machine for moulding fuel blocks referred to in the preceding claim, the
use of boxes with springs for affording elastic pressure, such boxes being adjusted in
height by a wedge and screw action, so as to regulate the pressure to which the blocks
are subjected and for effecting an equal pressing action on both sides of the block
substantially as described.
3. In the machine for moulding fuel blocks referred to in the preceding claims,
constructing the cam groove whereby the piston moulds are moved vertically,
with an
adjustable part at the point where the mould receives its charge of material, so as to
regulate the position of the piston and consequently the amount of material filled into
the mould, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of January 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.