Improvements in the Manufacture of Blue Bricks, Tiles, and Fire Bricks, and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: TVE
Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1387
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Sept., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Blue Bricks, Tiles, and Fire
Bricks, and the like.
I, BENJAMIN GREGORY Carlton Hill, Carlton Nottingham, Brick Maker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
"6
This invention has for its object the manufacture of either blue bricks, tiles, and
fire bricks, and the like from a substance composed of various ingredients, without
using what is known as "blue clay" or fire clay "excepting some kinds of clay
requiring an addition of fire clay. For this purpose I use a rock containing silica
and an addition of common clay. The rock has to be broken, by machinery, into small
portions, and when added to the common clay it has to pass through three pairs of
rollers; or, through a pair of crackers and two pairs of rollers, and afterwards through
a pug mill.
The mixture of rock and common clay, will vary, in their proportions, in different
localities, according to the variations of the nature of the rock and common clay.
In addition, to the before mentioned rock and clay, I use iron ore, ground as fine as
it is possible to grind it, by machinery, and, this is the most important part of my
invention.
The composition of rock and common clay as before described, after leaving the pug
mill, in a semi-plastic state, is carried to the brick maker, who, after cutting his "clod,"
rolls it in the above mentioned powdered iron ore, and forces it into the brick mould.
After cutting away the superfluous clay, or composition, he dusts the upper face of
the brick, that is in the mould, with the powdered iron ore.
The brick is then carried
off, in the usual way, for drying and pressing.
In addition to the above, before the brick is dry, I either dip it in a mixture of iron
ore and water, or apply the mixture, to the brick, with a brush.
Bricks, thus treated, after being sufficiently dried, are set and fired in a kiln that
will stand a vitrifying heat.

page_text: If I desire a superior glaze on the bricks, I apply, thereon, a mixture of ground
glass and borax. If I require a darker blue, I use a mixture of manganese and
iron ore.
For the manufacture of fire bricks, tiles, &c., I use the same composition as for the
above mentioned blue bricks, with the exception of iron ore. I also use a greater
proportion of silica with the common clay, which will vary, according to the nature of
rock and clay in different localities. The rock and clay passes through a similar
process, of grinding and pugging, to that of the rock and clay for making blue bricks
and tiles, and is then moulded in the usual way, and dried, and fired in a kiln that will
stand a vitrifying heat.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Blue Bricks, Tiles, and Fire
Bricks, and the like.
I, BENJAMIN GREGORY, Carlton Hill, Carlton, Nottingham Brick Maker 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:
or
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of blue bricks,
tiles, and fire bricks, and the like, without using what is known as "blue clay
"fire clay"-excepting some kinds of clay in some localities, that might require an
addition of fire clay for the manufacture of fire bricks. For the purpose of manu-
facturing blue bricks or fire bricks, I use a rock containing silica, and an addition of
common clay. The rock has to be broken, by machinery, into small portions-
sufficiently fine, for the required purpose, which, added to the common clay, has to
pass through three pairs of rollers, or through a pair of crackers and two pairs of
rollers; and afterwards through a pug mill. The mixture of rock and common clay
will vary, in their proportions, in different localities, according to the variation of the
nature of the rock and clay.
"
In addition to the before mentioned rock and clay, I use iron ore, ground as finely
as it is possible to grind it, by machinery, and this is the most important part of my
invention.
The composition of rock and common clay, as before described, after leaving the
pug mill, in a semi-plastic state, is carried to the brick maker, who, after cutting his
clod," rolls it in the above mentioned powdered iron ore, and forces it into the
brick mould. After cutting away the superfluous clay, or composition, he dusts the
upper face of the brick, that is in the brick mould, with the powdered iron ore, and
planes" it. The brick is then carried off in the usual way for drying and
pressing.
In addition to the above, before the brick is dry, I either dip it in a mixture of iron
ore and water, or apply the mixture, to the brick, with a brush.
Bricks thus treated, after being sufficiently dried are set and fired in a kiln that will
stand a vitrifying heat.
If desire a superior glaze, on the bricks, I apply, thereon, a mixture of
ground glass and borax, added to the above mentioned mixture of iron ore and
water. If I require a darker blue, I use a mixture of manganese and iron ore.
I
For the manufacture of fire bricks, tiles, &c., I use the same composition of rock
and clay, as for the above mentioned blue bricks, with the exception of iron ore.
also use a greater proportion of silica with the common clay which will vary according
to the nature of rock and clay in different localities. The rock and clay passes
through a similar process of grinding and pugging, to that of the rock and clay for

page_text: making blue bricks and tiles, and is then moulded in the usual way, and dried and
fired in a kiln that will stand a vitrifying heat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The use of iron ore to blue the blue bricks, and tiles, and the like.
2nd. To make the blue bricks, tiles, and fire bricks, and the like, without using
"blue clay
or "Fire clay."
39
3rd. For a superior glaze on 'the blue bricks, tiles, and the like, the use of ground
glass and borax, in addition to the mixture of iron ore and water; and, for deepening
the blue, a portion of manganese added.