IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, QUARRIES, PIPES, MOULDINGS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES USED FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND ALSO IN ARTICLES USUALLY MADE IN EARTHENWARE
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Evans, of Abergwili, in the County of Carmarthen,
Manager of Slate Quarries, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, QUARRIES, PIPES, MOULDINGS, AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES USED FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND ALSO IN ARTICLES USUALLY
MADE IN EARTHENWARE"
Sealed the 30th July 1878, and dated the 1st February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Evans at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1878..
THOMAS EVANS, of Abergwili, in the County of Carmarthen, Manager of Slate
Quarries. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, QUARRIES,
PIPES, MOULDINGS, AND. SIMILAR ARTICLES USED FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND
ALSO IN ARTICLES USUALLY MADE IN EARTHENWARE."
The object of my Invention is to make use of the slate refuse, large quantities of
which may be seen at every slate quarry, and I propose to use it for the manu-
facture of all kinds of bricks, tiles, quarries, pipes, mouldings, and other articles of
a like nature used for building purposes, such as cornices, lintels of doors and
windows, chimney jambs, and also for the commoner kinds of domestic utensils,
which are usually made of brown earthenware.
Many attempts have been made to utilize this slate refuse in various ways, and
usually with the admixture of some cementitious substance, but hitherto without
any practical result.
In carrying out my Invention I take the slate refuse and grind it up to a suitable
fine state, which will depend upon the nature of the article to be made; thus, for
common bricks and tiles the grinding need not be carried to such a degree of fine:
ness as will be necessary for mouldings or domestic utensils. The ground slate is
then mixed with sufficient water to render it plastic, and is well worked up and
moulded into bricks or other articles either by hand or in a suitable machine.
The articles when made by hand are allowed to dry for a short time, and are
D

page_text: then placed in a kiln where they are burned in the usual way, but the machine-
made articles may be placed at once in the kiln.
The articles for domestic use may be glazed in the usual way.
The bricks and other articles made from this substance are very hard and present
a very good face, besides which they are less absorbent and more weather resisting
than ordinary bricks, and consequently may be used with great advantage in
exposed situations.
If desired the articles may be colored by mixing with the ground slate suitable
pigments.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters' Patent filed
by the said Thomas Evans in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st August
1878.
THOMAS EVANS, of Abergwili, in the County of Carmarthen, Manager of Slate
Quarries. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, QUARRIES,
PIPES, MOULDINGS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES USED FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND
ALSO IN ARTICLES USUALLY MADE IN EARTHENWARE.'
The object of my Invention is to make use of the refuse slate, large quantities of
which may be seen at every slate quarry, and I propose to use it for the manu-
facture of all kinds of bricks, tiles, quarries, pipes, mouldings, and other articles of
a like nature used for building purposes, such as cornices, lintels of doors and
windows, chimney jambs, and also for the commoner kinds of domestic utensils,
which are usually made of brown earthenware.
I am aware that many attempts have been made to utilize in various ways this
refuse slate, which has usually been mixed with some cementitious substance to
assist in binding the mass together, but hitherto no practical results have been
obtained.
In carrying out my Invention I take the refuse slate and grind it up to a
suitable fine state under edge runner rollers, crushers, stampers, or other suitable
crushing apparatus. The degree of fineness to which the slate should be ground
will depend upon the nature of the article to be made; thus, for common bricks and
tiles and rough work the grinding need not be carried to such an extent as will be
necessary for work such as mouldings or domestic utensils. The ground slate is
then mixed with a sufficient quantity of water to render it plastic, and the mass is
well worked up and moulded into bricks or other articles, either by hand or in a
suitable machine.
The articles when they have been made by hand are placed in a stove or other
suitable drying apparatus, where they should remain, say, from three to twelve
hours, until they are sufficiently dry to be placed in a kiln, where they are burned
in the usual way. The actual length of time necessary for the drying operation
will depend upon the particular construction of the stove or drying apparatus used,
and should be left to the judgment of the attendant. The machine-made articles

page_text: will not require drying but are placed at once in the kiln. The time allowed for
burning will depend somewhat upon the construction of the kiln and the quality of
the fuel employed, but it may be set down at from twenty to sixty hours.
The bricks and other articles made from this substance are very hard and present
a very good face, besides which they are less absorbent and more weather resisting
than ordinary bricks, and consequently may be used with great advantage in
exposed situations.
If desired the articles may be colored by mixing with the ground slate suitable
pigments, and the appearance of those articles intended for domestic use may be
improved by glazing or enamelling in any approved manner.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention for "Improvements in the
Manufacture of Bricks, Tiles, Quarries, Pipes, Mouldings, and similar Articles Used
for Building Purposes, and also in Articles usually Made in Earthenware," and
having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim, manufacturing
bricks, tiles, quarries, pipes, mouldings, and similar articles used for building
purposes, and also articles usually made in earthenware from slate. refuse, in the
manner above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Evans, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.