provements in or connected with Balance-tables employed in Conjunction with Machines for Making Earthenware Pipes, Bricks, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or connected with Balance-tables employed in
Conjunction with Machines for Making Earthenware Pipes,
Bricks, and the like.
1 EDWARD BURKILL BROOKE, of Fieldhouse Fireclay Works, Huddersfield, in
the County of York, Fire Brick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to balance-tables employed in connection with
machines for forming and pressing pipes, bricks, and other articles composed of
clay or fire-clay, and such invention consists in means for securely holding the table
at any desired height while under pressure and for regulating the height of the
table; and also in means for cutting pipes, bricks, or like articles whilst on the said
balance-table.
In order to carry out my invention I form a number of teeth or serrations on the
sides of the vertical spindle or rod carrying the table, which said rod is raised and
Pivotted to a suitable
lowered in the ordinary manner and by the usual means.
part of the framework supporting the aforesaid spindle is a lever, having a slot
therein, through which the spindle passes, the sides of the said slot engaging with
the teeth on one or other side of the spindle, when the lever is moved on its pivot
for that purpose, whereby the spindle is locked, and further movement in either
direction prevented until the lever is disengaged. By these means the table can
be rigidly held at any suitable height when it is desired to permit of pressure being
applied to the plastic substance which is being formed or moulded into pipes,
bricks, or the like. The teeth on one side of the spindle are preferably arranged
opposite the spaces between the teeth on the other side; a quadrant or suitably
arranged recesses being employed to receive the lever and keep it in any position
to which it is moved so as to prevent displacement of said lever by vibration or
other accidental causes.
The parts of the slot engaging with the teeth on the spindle are protected by
loose pieces bolted to the said lever, which enables them to be removed when worn,
and fresh ones substituted.
For the purpose of cutting pipes, bricks, or the like, after being shaped or
moulded, into smaller pieces, I employ a carriage or frame which is capable of
being moved endwise on lines secured to the top of the balance table, such carriage
carrying uprights at each side, between which extends a piece of wire or a knife,
carried in adjustable brackets so that the height of the wire from the carriage can
be adjusted as required. When the substance under treatment has been moulded
and pressed, the carriage is moved endwise so as to cause the wire or knife to pass
through the moulded pipes, bricks, or like articles, thereby severing or cutting them
into smaller sizes as required.
Dated this 24th day of February 1891
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Balance-tables employed in
Conjunction with Machines for Making Earthenware Pipes,
Bricks, and the like.
I EDWARD BURKILL BROOKE, of Fieldhouse Fireclay Works, Huddersfield in
the County of York, Fire Brick Manufacturer, 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 has reference to balance tables employed in connection with
machines for forming and pressing pipes, bricks, and other articles composed of
clay or fire-clay, such invention consisting in means to be employed for securely
holding the table at any desired height while under pressure and for regulating the
height of the said table, and also in means for cutting pipes, bricks, or like articles
whilst on the said balance-table.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, will now proceed
to describe the same more fully, and for that purpose append a sheet of drawings,
wherein
Fig. 1 is sectional side elevation of an ordinary balance-table employed in con-
junction with machines for forming and pressing bricks, pipes, and the like, having
my improvements applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is end elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improvements.
Fig. 4 is plan view and Fig. clevation of a modified construction and
arrangement of my invention more adapted for heavy work.
Figs. 6 and 7 are side elevation and cross section respectively of my improvements
in means for cutting pipes, bricks, and the like.
A represents the balance table, B the vertical spindle, to the upper end of
which the balance table is attached, C the bearings for guiding and supporting the
vertical spindle, which is capable of passing freely therethrough, and E are the
balance weights connected by cords or chains a passing over pulleys F to a plate Fl
fixed to the bottom of spindle B, the aforesaid parts being arranged and operated
in the usual manner. The first portion of my invention comprises means for
locking or holding the table at any desired height, and consists of a suitably shaped
lever G, pivotted at to the beam H, which spans the top of the pit in which the
lower portion of spindle B and the balance weights. are enclosed. This lever G is
made with a slot or opening e through which the spindle passes, the said slot being
rather larger than the diameter of the spindle in order that when the lever is placed
at right angles as shewn in full line in Fig. 3, the sides of the slot are clear of and
do not interfere with the free upward and downward movement of the spindle B.
The spindle B is provided on two of its sides with recesses d (or racks may be
employed) into which the sides e, e', of the slot are capable of entering when the
lever G is moved either to right or left as shown in dotted line in Fig. 3.
The recesses d on one side of the spindle B are, by preference, arranged
alternately to the recesses on the other side of the spindle so that there shall
always be a recess opposite one side of the slot thereby permitting of the
finest adjustment of the height of the table being made. A pin or other device
may be employed to secure the lever G and prevent independent lateral movement
thereof.
In cases where the plastic articles to be formed and pressed by the machine
require a pressure greater than it is possible to give with balance weights E,
the attendant, after the table is raised to its position under the mould or die,
moves the lever G to right or left, so as to place one side of the slot into a
recess d on the spindle, whereby the table is firmly held in position until the
plastic substance between said table and the piston or ram in the clay cylinder
has been sufficiently squeezed or pressed.

page_text: By the use of the slotted lever and the toothed vertical spindle as herein shewn
and described, an increased pressure can be applied, and the table held at any
required height, whereby any size or shape of mould can be used in the same
machine without any alteration thereof beyond the changing of the mould thus
permitting pipes bricks and the like of any size or shape to be made by the same
machine.
'
The sides e, e¹, of the slot c are preferably detachable, so that when worn they
can be removed and replaced by fresh ones without disturbing the lever Gr.
As the form of lever above described and shewn in Figs. 1 to 3 may not be
strong enough for very heavy work, I employ a modified arrangement thereof more
adapted for resisting great pressure upon the table, which consists in using two
levers G, G, (see Figs. 4 and 5) pivotted at b₁respectively, and carrying at
their opposite or free ends nuts g, g', through which works a spindle having right
and left hand screw threads thereon, which said right and left hand screw, on being
rotated by hand wheel J through the medium of toothed wheels K, causes the
levers G, G', to move towards each other or reversely. To each lever is bolted a
half circular clip or casting h, k, of the same radius as the spindle B, upon which
they close and are made to bind tightly thereon by operating the screwed spindle h
so as to draw the levers G, G', towards each other; this arrangement giving a more
powerful hold upon the spindle B and thereby permitting great pressure to be
placed upon the table A. The spindle in this case may be plain, or it may be
provided with recesses or serrations, preferably V shaped, and the opposing
surfaces of the clips or castings k, k¹, also provided with corresponding teeth or
serrations.
In Figs. 6 and 7 I shew means for cutting the moulded substance into smaller
pieces, consisting of wires or knives secured at each end to collars m on vertical
screwed uprights n on which they are made secure by nuts o such said nuts o
permitting the position or height of the wires to be altered or adjusted at will.
The cutting wires are preferably attached to screws m¹ passing through lugs on the
collar m which can be adjusted so as to tighten the said wires by means of thumb-
screw or nut as shewn at Fig. 8. The screwed uprights n are attached at their
upper ends to the horizontal frame p, which is free to move endwise, being
supported in and by the pillars or standards 7 secured to the foundation plate s
carried by the table A, the lower ends of said screwed uprights being connected
together by the plate which give rigidity thereto. The moulded column L rests
on the adjustable table u, which table may be horizontal, or as required,―for
instance, when used for making bricks for arches, it may be arranged at an angle
(as shewn in Fig. 7). The attendant now moves the frame p in the direction of
the arrow, thereby causing the wires or knives to pass through and sever the
moulded brick or pipe into smaller bricks or short lengths of pipe.
I find in practice that the mid portion of the cutting wires when forced through
the moulded column, have a tendency to bow or curve upwards, and thus slightly
curve the article cut. To modify or prevent this arching of the wires, I bend or
curve the frame p slightly downwards, so that in its traverse it will cause the parts
carrying the wires to dip or move out of the horizontal, as the wires pass through
the clay, and thereby give a straighter cut. The same result may be obtained by
fixed arched guide plates placed above the cutting wires, which, engaging with the
undersides of said plates, would thus be depressed or tightened on passing through
the clay.
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 :-
Firstly. In machines for making bricks, pipes, and the like, the combination
with the balance table of a lever such as G, together with a recessed vertical
spindle B, operated in the manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination with slotted lever G and recesses d in the sides

page_text: of spindle B of detachable pieces e, e', forming the inner sides of the slot c
substantially as shewn and for purposes described.
Thirdly. The combination with balance table A, and plain, recessed, or serrated
spindle B of levers G, G', clipping devices k, k₁, secured thereto, and means for
operating said levers for purposes substantially as herein described.
Fourthly. The combination with balance table A of adjustable table u and knives
or wires together with means for adjusting and traversing same for cutting or
severing the moulded substance into smaller pieces, in the manner substantially as
herein shewn and described.
Dated this 13th day of October 1891.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax and Huddersfield, Agents.