IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF ROOFING TILES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brodie, of Belhaven, in the County. of East
Lothian, North Britain, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF ROOFING TILES."
Sealed the 10th March 1857, and dated the 28th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Brodie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
October 1856.
I, WILLIAM BRODIE, of Belhaven, in the County of East Lothian, North
Britain, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby déclare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF
ROOFING TILES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture or
production of roofing tiles from clay or other plastic material, whereby
increased rapidity and economy in the production are obtained. The tiles, to
which the Invention more particularly refers, are of the form ordinarily used
for roofing purposes, namely, slightly curved, with one longitudinal edge or
side slightly bent over to cover the edge of the adjacent tile.
The improvements, however, are not confined to any precise form of tile, but
may be modified to suit special requirements.

page_text: In making roofing tiles according to this improved system, the clay or other
plastic material is suitably prepared in a pug mill or other apparatus, from
which it is made to exude through a die of a horse-shoe form. The issuing
horse-shoe shaped stream of clay is cut into lengths by any suitable appa-
ratus, such as is used in drain tile machines; the lengths, so cut, forming
blanks to be subsequently moulded into the finished roofing tile. The finishing
operation is effected by means of a frame arranged to turn or swivel upon a
vertical axis, and fitted with two mould plates at diametrically opposite points.
An attendant stands at each side of the frame, the first of whom receives a
blank, and laying it upon the mould plate in front of him causes it to assume
the requisite form. The frame is then turned half round, which transfers the
tile to the position occupied by the second attendant, who removes the tile by
means of a lifter or "horse," which he places on the top of the tile, the
mould plate being then turned upon joints, upon which it is carried in the
frame, so as to invert the tile upon the lifter. The second attendant transfers
the tile by means of the lifter to the drying shelves, and at each half turn of
the frame a mould, from which the tile has been removed, is brought round
to the first attendant.
According to another modification, a single mould plate is used, such plate
being jointed upon a stationary frame, whilst the tile is put on and taken off
it by a single attendant.
Roofing tiles formed in this way are of a superior quality to those made by
hand, as the material is well compressed in the formation of the blank, and
the tile is thereby rendered more impervious to moisture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Brodie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BRODIE, of Belhaven, in the County of East Lothian, North Britain, Brick
and Tile Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Brodie, Her special license that I, the said William Brodie, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William

page_text: Brodie, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OR PRODUCTION OF ROOFING TILES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Brodie, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Brodie, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture or
production of roofing tiles from clay or other plastic material, whereby
increased rapidity and economy in such production are obtained. The tiles
to which the Invention more particularly refers are of the form ordinarily
used for roofing purposes, namely, slightly curved, with one longitudinal edge
or side slightly bent over to cover the edge of the adjacent tile when laid
upon the roof.
The improvements, howerer, are not confined to any precise form of tile,
but may be modified to suit special requirements.
In making roofing tiles according to this improved system, the clay or other
plastic material is suitably prepared in a pug mill or other apparatus, from
which it is made to exude through a die of a horse-shoe form.
The issuing horse-shoe shaped stream of clay is cut into lengths by any
suitable apparatus, such as is used in drain tile machines; the lengths, so cut,
forming blanks, to be subsequently moulded into the finished roofing tile.
The finishing operation is effected by means of a frame arranged to turn or
swivel upon a vertical axis, and fitted with two mould plates at diametrically
opposite points. An attendant stands at each side of the frame, the first of
whom receives a blank, and laying it upon the mould plate in front of him.
causes it to assume the requisite form. The frame is then turned half round,
which transfers the tile to the position occupied by the second attendant, who
removes the tile by means of a lifter or "horse," which he places on the top
of the tile, the mould plate being then turned upon joints, upon which it is

page_text: carried in the frame, so as to invert the tile upon the lifter. The second
attendant transfers the tile by means of the lifter to the drying shelves, and at
each half turn of the frame a mould from which the tile has been removed is:
brought round to the first attendant.
According to another modification, a single mould plate is used, such plate
being jointed upon a stationary frame, whilst the tile is put on and taken off
it by a single attendant. Roofing tiles formed in this way are of a quality:
superior to those made by hand, as the material is well compressed in the
formation of the blank, and the tile is thereby rendered more impervious to
moisture.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall.
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing:
certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried
out in practice..
Figure 1 is a-side view or longitudinal elevation, Figure 2 is an end view,
and Figure 3 a plan of my improved machine, to be used for the manufacture
or production of roofing tiles; Figure 4 is an end view of the die or mould
through which the clay is pressed preparatory to submitting it to the operation.
of the machine shown in Figures 1 to 3. The working parts of the machine.
are supported on a wooden framing of a rectangular form, and this framing A
is furnished with hand spokes or handles. B, secured to the uprights which:
support the frame carrying the machine, and by means of these handles the:
machine may be readily removed from place to place. The central metal
column C is fastened to the framing A by means of bolts and nuts, and serves
to support the moulding apparatus. Through the centre of the column Ca
spindle or shaft D passes, and this spindle is secured at the lower part by a
key or cotter, but so as to allow the shaft to turn freely upon its axis. To the
upper part of the spindle or shaft D, the moulding apparatus E is attached;
this portion of the machine consists principally of the moulding plate F, which
is of a concave form, one of its edges is bent over in a convex form, as shown
in Figure 2. These moulding plates are made in duplicate, and arranged in.
the machine one upon each side of the column C. Each moulding plate is.
made to turn upon its axis, so that it can be readily reversed in its position;
for this purpose it is attached, by means of a spindle G, to the bracket H,
which projects from the swivelling part of the machine. A handle I is fitted:
to the side of each moulding plate to facilitate the operations of the workman
in reversing the position of the plate. The clay, after being pugged in a
suitable mill, is pressed by means of suitable apparatus through a dod or die,

page_text: the aperture in which is of a horse-shoe form, as shown in Figure 4. As the
prepared clay exudes through the aperture J of the dod or die, it is cut by
means of suitable apparatus into lengths corresponding to the size of the tile
to be manufactured. The horse-shoe shaped blanks. thus far prepared are.
handed to a workman, who proceeds to lay one of the blanks upon the
moulding plate opposite to him, he then presses the clay into the concavity
of the plate, and over the raised or curved edge on one side of the plate..
This convexly curved portion of the moulding plate is made with a series of
longitudinal lines or indentations on its upper surface, and the clay, when'
pressed on this portion of the moulding plate, is impressed with lines or
corrugations corresponding to those on the moulding plate. The object of
making these corrugations in the under side of the tile is that when used for
roofing, the mortar or cement will fill up these indentations, and thereby hold:
the tiles more securely together than those made in the ordinary way. When
the workman has caused the first blank to take the form of the moulding.
plate by the pressure of his hand upon the surface of the clay he turns the
moulding apparatus round so as to bring the other moulding plate towards
him. An attendant upon the opposite side of the machine removes the
moulded tile by means of a lifter or "horse," which corresponds to the form
of the tile; he places the lifter upon the tile, and by means of the handle 1,
turns the moulding plate upon its axis. The tile being thus transferred to tho
lifter or "horse," is carried away to the drying shelves, and subsequently fired
in a kiln in the ordinary manner.
Another modification of the foregoing improvements consists in constructing
a machine somewhat similar to the foregoing, but with a single moulding
plate instead of two, as herein-before described. In this arrangement the
moulding plate is jointed to a stationary frame, but made to turn upon its
axis, to remove the tile as in the foregoing. This machine is attended by one
person, who moulds the clay, and also removes the tile to the drying shelves.
Tiles manufactured according to my improvements are much more compact
and dense than those of the ordinary kind, and are consequently capable of
withstanding atmospheric influences proportionately longer.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what

page_text: I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the berein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,--
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for moulding or manufacturing tiles for roofing, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of moulding or forming prepared clay or
other suitable plastic material into roofing tiles by means of the machine or
mechanical arrangement, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use in the moulding, manufacture, or production
of roofing tiles of a reversing or swivelling mould plate for the purposes.
herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of moulding or manufacturing roofing tiles,
wherein the clay is first expressed through a die in a stream having a curved
or form in transverse section, such stream being subsequently severed into
lengths to form blanks for being afterwards shaped to the finished form, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Brodie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
WILLIAM BRODIE. (L.8.)