Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Bricks, Tiles, and other similar Articles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Bricks, Tiles, and
other similar Articles.
I, JULIUS FREDERICK MOORE POLLOCK, Engineer, residing at 176, Leek New
Road, Cobridge, Staffordshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My machine consists of the following principal parts-massive baseplate, carry-
ing six (or such number as requisite) columns, preferably of hollow section, sur-
mounted by a strong box-section entablature, and forming a frame of great
strength, secured together by vertical bolts passing through the columns.
Pugmill in 4 parts, each readily removable, and allowing by the adoption of
changeable parts and by its vertical construction for dealing with either plastic
or pulverized material. One of the lower parts is extended sideways to cover,
and confine the moulded bricks during one motion of the table-vertical pug
shaft constructed in two parts, and coupled, so that the lower part carrying the
pugging knives, can be removed for repair, and the upper part giving its end
thrust to a tail pin bearing carried by tension bolts and cross bar, and capable
of yielding under the desired pressure-such yielding being provided for by
springs, weights, hydraulic ram steam cylinder or other similar appliance.
Mould table, of circular form and containing preferably 6 moulds for the
single, or 12 moulds in pairs for the double machine, which are presented singly
or in pairs under the pug mill to be filled. This table is formed of two main
divisions, the six moulds or pairs of moulds forming an upper division or disc,
of which they are 6 equal sectors, each separately removable; and a massive
circular casting on which rest the sectors and the plates which form the bottom
of the moulds, and which carries suitable adjustable sliding guides, through
which work vertical slides to the top ends of which the said plates are secured
by screws (or similarly). These slides are each provided with a large antifriction
runner, which, as the table rotates, raises, by means of fixed incline beneath
up which it passes, each plate or pair of plates to the level of the table top, to
effect the delivery of the brick. The circular casting also on its under side
carries an outer and inner ring of steel, the latter veed," and resting on a
series of balls running in a similar "veed" ring underneath, and forming a
"ball bearing" of large diameter, and the former resting upon one or more
antifriction rollers, adjustable vertically and placed so as take the main pressure
under the pugmill. A strong vertical pillar secured to the baseplate carries the
lower ring of the said "ball bearing," and extends through the table to which
it forms a vertical bearing-the upper end being used for carrying a horizontal

page_text: bar along which travels the delivery slide by which the moulded brick is pushed
off the table into the press.
A preliminary pressing apparatus is provided when dealing with dry and
pulverized materials under the extended side of the pugmill, by which the bricks
or blocks after being filled are covered. This pressure is effected preferably
by the reciprocating shaft which actuates the table, and which inserts and with-
draws an incline wedge or similar device for that purpose; but a fixed incline
may also be adopted.
A powerful press to which the bricks are fed by the delivery slide above men-
tioned. The pressure is given from a massive eccentric or cam, which imparts
reciprocating motion to crossbars above and below the pressing die. This last
is formed of one or two moulds, the pressing plate or plates being carried by the
upper crossbar, and the lower plate or plates resting on two transverse (steel).
bars, which take the pressure off the baseplate, and allow it to come on the main
vertical tension bolts holding the machine together. Between the bottom plate
and the transverse bars, an elastic medium by spring or balance weight, or other
suitable means, is providea, so that the pressure dwells on the bricks or blocks,
which are moved in the mould under the full pressure.
On rising with the return stroke of the press, the bricks are pushed by the
oncoming bricks on to a delivery belt, which conveys them to the desired distance
from the machine.
The motion is imparted by fast and loose pulleys (or from line shafting or
engine direct) driving through a spur wheel and pinion (all gearing being
preferably of cast steel, and of great strength) the main or central shaft, this
shaft drives at one end the pugmill shaft direct through bevel wheels (the pug-
shaft being free to rise & fall vertically) and near the other or driving end, driven
by means of spur gearing a shaft below it carrying the press eccentric (or cam)
and a disc which imparts reciprocating motion to a vertical shaft at one side of
the machine. This is done by a crank pin and block sliding on a vertical slot
of a transverse bar, and giving reciprocating motion to it horizontally across
the machine. A portion of this bar towards one end of it, carries a toothed rack,
which imparts reciprocating motion through a segment wheel to the vertical shaft,
which carries at its lower end a lever, to which is attached a connecting rod,
which acts as the pawl of ratchet pulling alternately on six pins below the table,
spaced and timed to give the requisite intermittent motion to the same. A guid-
ing groove and spring is provided to ensure the end of the connecting rod (which
1s formed like a hook), passing through its proper orbit and engaging with the
pin at the right time.
The vertical shaft is provided with another lever above the table (which is
held by stops so as to lose part of its motion) which on the return movement of
the shaft, actuates the delivery slide and pushes the moulded brick from the
table to the press.
The whole forms one self-contained, massive, and compact machine, contained
within a solid parallelogram-with no uncertain or unmechanical motion through-
out. Selfacting lubricating motions are 'provided for the dies and the pressing
plates are heated by the passage of steam.
The principal improvements embodied in this machine are in the construction
of the table and the mode of giving it, and the delivery slide intermittent motion.
The construction of the pug shaft and its means of vielding The construction
of the lower portion of the press with crossbars and means of yielding to maintain
pressure. The appliance for a preliminary pressure in the table mould. The
mode of tying the frame together. And many points of minor detail, which
appear in the description.
D
1

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Bricks, Tiles, and
other similar Artieles.
JULIUS FREDERICK MOORE POLLOCK, Stamer Street, Stoke on Trent, formerly
of 176, Leek New Road, Cobridge, Staffordshire, Engineer, 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:-
In the accompanying drawings:
Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 1, are respectively a front and side elevation of my improved
brick making machine.
Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a partial plan, showing how my mould-table is constructed
and actuated.
Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a diagram of the "pawl" action.
Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a partial plan, and
Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a partial elevation, together showing my mode of giving
preliminary pressure to the bricks or similar objects under operation.
The same reference letters denote the same parts throughout.
In Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, a is a baseplate, b, 61, 62, in Fig. 1, represent three
of the pillars or columns, supporting the upper frame, which are repeated at the
opposite side of the machine one of them being seen at 63, Fig. 2
C, c¹ are parts forming an upper frame, and "d, d, d³, are vertical bolts of great
strength, passing through the upper frame, and the pillars above referred to,
and the lower frame or baseplate, and securing all rigidly together. A fourth
of these bolts, (of which there is one to each pillar) is seen at d³, Fig. 2. The
one at Fig. 1 is shown in dotted lines through to the baseplate a.
The pillars and 62, Figs. 1 and 2, are made preferably in one piece of cast
iron, as shown, so as to give additional rigidity.
E is a pug-mill in four parts (e, el, e, e³, Figs. 1 and 3) bolted together, and
allowing of change or renewal. One of the lower parts at is extended over
the table as shown, covering the moulded brick or block, during one motion
or "stroke" of the machine.
Fis a vertical pug-shaft, fl, being the lower or mixing part of the shaft (which
is shown broken off, and without its helical knives, these being of the usual
description). This part f¹ is coupled to the upper part f, at f³, by a "face" or
other convenient form of coupling, so that it may be readily removed for repair
or renewal, without removing any part of the machine, except the front portions
of the pugmill ele. This upper part 2 is formed above the bearing, , with
a collar f, on the upper side of which rest two, three, or more springs, exerting
a downward effort equal to the required resistance, and able to give way should
any solid matter present itself under the helical knives of the shaft. Through
these springs one of which is shown at g, Fig. 1, pass vertical steel pins, one of
which is shown at g¹, which are secured in the bevel wheel K, and pass freely
downwards through the springs g, and the collar f', so that the whole shaft can
rise through the hevel wheel K, through which it is extended as shown at f5:
the pins g act as drivers. The springs may be replaced by hydraulic ram, dead
weight, or other means of giving pressure.
Lis a mould table of circular form, having preferably 6 pairs of moulds, 7, 11,
,, for the "double" machine, which is the one illustrated. or 6 single
moulds in the single machine. This table is formed in two main divisions, the
six moulds or pairs of moulds forming an upper division, each, or each pair

page_text: separately removable, and a massive circular casting, L', forms the lower division,
to which the moulds are attached, and which rotates on a central fixed pillar L³
(capstan-wise) see Figs. 1 and 3. Each mould or pair of moulds is formed as
a sector, as shown in Fig. 3, where the form of the casting beneath is shown in
dotted lines at Fig. 3, and is secured by screws m, m, to the lower division,
and, besides fitting, segment-wise, to its neighbouring moulds, is held in its
true position by the fixed pin n. Being all in place, the moulds are all held
down centrally by the washer or plate o, which partly covers the pins-n (of which
there is one to each mould sector). This washer, o, is secured and rendered
adjustable by the lock nuts o¹, 02, which screw on to the upper end of the fixed
pillar L.
"
"
This pillar L³, is formed with a large base or flange, carrying at its outside
part and as far as possible from the centre, a steel ring p, which is "reed" on
its upper side, concavely, and corresponds with a similar ring, p', which has
a similar vee on its underside, and is carried by the lower division of the
table. In these " vees run steel balls, two of which are shown at p³, 1³, so as
to form a ball bearing of large diameter, to receive the downward pressure. One
or more large rollers or runners 2, are provided under the pug mill side of the
table to assist in easing its motions.
"
The part of the pillar L2, which extends through the table, and forms a vertical
stud round which it rotates, is terminated flat above the lock nuts o¹, o³, and
carries, (screwed to it) a horizontal slide bar r, along which travels the delivery
slider, by which the moulded brick is pushed off the table.
A preliminary pressing apparatus, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, is provided
for certain dry materials and may be used without the subsequent press in
the case of very ductile material. When used as a preliminary presser it
operates from below only, the upward pressure being received against the extended
part of the pug mill e, Fig. 3. The extra mechanism required is shown detached
in Fig. 5, where L is a portion of the table, showing the bricks about to be
pressed in the moulds, which are shaded by section lines. The insertion of a
wedge may be used to effect the pressure, but a screw, or continuous wedge, is
shown in preference. When used as a preliminary pressure, the screw or wedge
usually acts from below only.
In the illustration, Fig. 6, s is the screw acting from below, and receiving
reciprocating motion through the two spur wheels, 3 and 52 (one of which, s,
forms a nut) and the vertical shaft t. The pressure may come against a fixed
plate above the mould, as at e³, Fig. 1, or the pressing screw and spur wheels
may be duplicated and act also from above, as shown by the wheels 53, and the
The frame, a¹, is an additional cross bar, to receive the upward pres-
sure, and a is a portion of the baseplate. Fig. 5 is a diagram plan in which
the moulds are shown at the vertical shaft at t, and the spur wheels by the
screw
pitch circles s¹, s.
The bottom plates in the table moulds rise and fall in vertical slides, as shown
at in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6. is the rising and falling part, carrying a runner 17,
which is between two bearings, these are attached to a plate on the top of which
the mould plates, 79, are suitably bolted or fixed. The runner 17, passes up an
incline as the table rotates, arriving at its highest position at the point to in
Fig. 1 where the brick is pushed off.
A powerful press, v, actuated by the eccentric shaft e¹, receives and compresses
the bricks, as they are delivered to it, and may be used in conjunction with the
· preliminary press; or without it. As in all the parts of this machine, the main
pressures are received between two strong girders, the upper frame C, c¹ carrying
the eccentric shaft, and the transverse wrought iron or steel beams 2, 3, carrying
the mould. The bottom plates when lowered, rest on the wrought iron or
steel beam which is slung to the beams 2, 3, by the tension bolts 5, 6, which
act through powerful compressing springs 7, 8, both to cause the pressure to

page_text: "dweil," and avoid breakage. The strain is therefore ultimately taken by the
main vertical bolts, d', d, and their corresponding bolts on the other side of
the machine.
Motion is given to the machine by the fast and loose pulleys, w, w¹, Figs. 1
and 2, from a line of shafting, or an engine may be attached direct.
These pulleys, through the pinion, , and spur wheel ¹, drive the shaft,
which imparts motion: Ist, to the pug-shaft f2, by means of the bevel wheels K, K.
2nd, to the eccentric shaft e¹, by means of the spur wheel and pinion y, y',
actuating the press by the eccentric formed in the solid shaft, and carrying
at its inner end, a disc or crank y. This disc carries a pin and sliding block,
shown at y', (Figs. 1 and 2,) which latter works in a vertical slot in the trans-
verse sliding bar y Figs. 1 and 2, and shown separate from the framework in
plan in Fig. 3, to which bar is thereby imparted a horizontal reciprocating motion.
This bar, by means of rack teeth formed on it near one end, imparts reciprocating
rotary motion by means of the segment spur wheel y", to the vertical shaft t,
turough the arc required, indicated by the dotted lines at t¹.
The table L receives intermittent rotary motion from the vertical shaft t, by
means of the connecting hooked link &, and the arm which is secured to the
shaft t. This hooked link, 2, has, at its hooked end, a pin t, projecting down-
wards, and by this it is guided in its proper course by the arrangement shown
as a diagram in Fig. 4. This consists of two pieces of flat spring steel to, to,
which allow the hook to follow its orbit in dragging the table round, and to
leave it on the return stroke, and spring into position when arrived at the
required spot to take a fresh hold. The six pins Z attached under the table
(Fig. 3) are thus seized in order, by the action of the hooked link 2, and a sixth
of a revolution is imparted to the table L, or one "stroke," each stroke beginning
and completing the making of one or more bricks or blocks.
On its return stroke the vertical shaft t, by means of the arm A, moves the
delivering slide r along the slide bar r, and transfers the moulded bricks from
the table to the press, the pushing piece being hinged so as to pass over the
on-coming bricks on its backward journey, or it may be lifted as it returns by
a suitable tappet motion. The brick, (or pair of bricks) just arrived at the
position to be pressed, is shown at 3 in Fig. 1.
In the construction of the crossframe B (Figs. 1 and 2) carrying the top end
of the pug-shaft, the same principle is adopted as with the press cross bars,
,, the tension being received by the bolts B1, B2, through the massive
wrought iron or steel crossbars B³, B+
The finished bricks are pushed from the press by the next comers, and are
received on a suitable table or delivery belt, for removal by the attendant.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The arrangement of the frame with reference to the cross-bars and tension
bolts and relieving springs, as described in Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The mode described with disc and rack and segment, with reference to
Fig. 3, of transmitting reciprocating rotary motion to the shaft t, for the purposes
set forth, and the mode of application to those purposes.
3. The construction of the pug shaft, with its upper and lower parts as
described, and the yielding springs or similar appliances, and the mode of driving
from the bevel wheel K.
4. The mode, in combination with the vertical shaft t, of using and guiding
the hooked link 2, as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 for the purpose
set forth.
5. The mode, in combination with the vertical shaft t, of obtaining preliminary,
pressure, as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

page_text: 6. The mode, in combination with the vertical shaft t, of delivering the moulded
bricks by the arm A, and slide r.
7. The general construction of the table L, combining segmental removable
moulds, as described, with guided lifters and runners, and the application, in
combination, of ball bearing in the manner, and for the purpose set forth.
8. The combined machine as described and shown.
Dated this 11th day of February 1899.
JULIUS F. M. POLLOCK.