Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Perforated Bricks or Blocks.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAI, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Perforated
Bricks or Blocks.
I, ALFRED BODLEY, of Commercial Road, Exeter, in the County of Devon,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
perforated bricks or blocks, and has for its object to obtain a simple and efficient
machine which is practically automatic in its action and by the aid of which bricks
or blocks may be pressed and perforated at one operation, and delivered from the
machine in finished condition for drying and burning.
In carrying the invention into effect, a vertically disposed frame is employed at
the upper part of which is mounted in suitable bearings a crank shaft which is
driven from any suitable source of power.
Within this frame is mounted a plunger which is fixed with a crosshead mounted
in suitable guides in the frame with capability of vertical movement, and this
crosshead is formed with a bearing for one end of a link or connecting rod, the other
end of which is mounted upon the crank of the main sbaft of the machine, so that
at each revolution of the crank shaft the crosshead and consequently the plunger
will be raised and depressed.
The die or plunger works in a suitable pressing box which may be fitted with
filling pieces adjustable by means of set screws to the size of the brick or block to
be formed and rising through the bottom of the pressing box are a number of pins
or studs which at their upper ends are coned or tapered to pierce the block of clay,
and at their lower ends these pins or studs are mounted in a fixed part of the
frame whilst the plunger is formed with longitudinal holes corresponding with the
pins or studs.
A number of bricks or blocks of a given size are placed upon a feed table located
upon a level with the top of the pressing box and enclosed by lateral guides, and
these blocks are fed forward a given distance at each operation of the machine by
the lower end of an arm or pusher which at its upper end is mounted upon a centre
of motion and is furnished with a horizontal arm or offset which at its end is provided
with a truck or roller which runs in contact with a cam upon the crank shaft from
which the necessary motion is derived to feed the blocks forward a distance equal
to the width of one brick.
This movement brings the advanced block over the pressing box at which time
the die or plunger is in its raised or retracted position and the bottom of the box
or lower plunger hereinafter more fully described is in its raised or upper position
upon a level with the feed table and the further rotation of the crank shaft causes
the descent to its lowest position of the lower plunger or bottom of the box and the
clay block is thus carried into the pressing box, the die or plunger, which has been
gradually descending then enters the pressing box causing the compression of the
clay block therein, and by the same action the pins or studs which are held
stationary are caused to pierce the required number of perforations in the clay block,
the pins or studs entering the corresponding holes formed in the plunger, as herein-
before described.

page_text: In the next motion of the machine, it is necessary to remove from the pressing
box the clay brick or block which has thus been formed, and for this purpose the
bottom of the pressing box is formed somewhat like the plunger only inverted and
with holes therethrough to receive or travel upon the pins or studs and this
bottom plunger is carried by a suitable crosshead which at its ends is carried by the
lower ends of vertical rods which at their upper ends pass a short distance through
holes in the upper crosshead where they are furnished with nuts or stops so that
in the first upward movement of the die or plunger, the latter will be withdrawn
from the pressing box and the crosshead of the die or plunger will then engage the
nuts or stops on the vertical rods and thus by a delayed movement raise the lower
plunger when in the continued motion the latter will force the formed brick or block
from the pressing chamber into a position upon a level with the feed table.
At the same instant, the feed will again take place, and by the same action the
already formed brick or block will be carried beyond the pressing chamber and on
to a delivery table and each succeeding brick or block will carry it further until it
reaches an endless band or other conveyor by which it may be delivered to its
destination.
The pins or studs in the descent of the die or plunger at each operation force a
small quantity of clay into the holes of the plunger, and in order to clear the same,
the upper ends of these holes are laterally curved and flared, and surrounded by
a box or receptacle, fixed with the frame, into which any loose particles of clay
will fall, and this box or receptacle is in turn cleared of the surplus clay by means
of a scraper or scrapers actuated by a bell crank lever, one arm of which is furnished
with a truck or roller which runs upon one of the arins, or webs of the crank or on
a cam carried by the crank shaft and which is timed to give a quick movement to
the scrapers at the instant that the plunger is in its depressed position and these
several operations are repeated at every revolution of the crank shaft.
Dated this 19th day of September 1895
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
VUMI LEID DI MUITIVATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Perforated
Bricks or Blocks.
I, HENRY JERMAN, of No. 13, Haldon Road, St. David's, Exeter, in the County
of Devon, Solicitor's Clerk, executor to Alfred Bodley, deceased, late of Com-
mercial Road, Exeter, aforesaid, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
perforated bricks or blocks, and has for its object to obtain a simple and efficient
machine which is practically automatic in its action and by the aid of which bricks
or blocks may be pressed and perforated at one operation, and delivered from the
machine in finished condition for drying and burning.
.
In carrying the invention into effect, a vertically disposed frame is employed at
the upper part of which is mounted in suitable bearings a crank shaft which is driven
from any suitable source of power.
Within this frame is mounted a plunger which is fixed with a crosshead mounted
in suitable guides in the frame with capability of vertical movement and this cross-
head is formed with a bearing for one end of a link or connecting rod, the other
end of which is mounted upon the crank of the main shaft of the machine, so
that at each revolution of the crank shaft the crosshead and consequently the
plunger will be raised and depressed.

page_text: The die or plunger works in a suitable pressing box which may be fitted with
filling pieces adjustable by means of set screws to the size of the brick or block to
be formed and rising through the bottom of the pressing box are a number of pins
or studs which at their upper ends are or may be coned or tapered or reduced to
pierce the block of clay, and at their lower ends these pins or studs are mounted
in a fixed part of the frame whilst the plunger is formed with longitudinal holes
corresponding with the pins or studs.
A number of bricks or blocks of a given size are one at a time placed upon a
feed table located upon a level with the top of the pressing box and enclosed by
lateral guides, and each of these blocks is fed forward a given distance at each
operation of the machine by the lower end of an arm or pusher which at its upper
end is mounted upon a centre of motion and is furnished with a horizontal arm or
offset which through suitable means receives a reciprocating movement from
the crank shaft from which the necessary motion is derived to feed the blocks
forward.
This movement brings a block over the pressing box at which time the die or
plunger is in its raised or retracted position and the bottom of the box or lower
plunger hereinafter more fully described is in its raised or upper position upon
a level with the feed table and the further rotation of the crank shaft causes the
descent to its lowest position of the lower plunger or bottom of the box and the
clay block is thus carried into the pressing box, the die or plunger, which has been
gradually descending then enters the pressing box causing the compression of the
clay block therein, and by the same action the pins or studs which are held
stationary are caused to pierce the required number of perforations in the clay
block, the pins or studs entering the corresponding holes formed in the plunger, as
herein before described.
In the next motion of the machine, it is necessary to remove from the pressing
box the clay brick or block which has thus been formed, and for this purpose 'the
bottom of the pressing box is formed somewhat like the plunger only inverted and
with holes therethrough to receive or travel upon the pins or studs and this bottom
plunger is carried by a suitable crosshead which at its ends is carried by the lower
ends of vertical rods which at their upper ends pass a short distance through holes
in the upper crosshead where they are furnished with nuts or stops so that in the
first upward movement of the die or plunger, the latter will be withdrawn from
the pressing box and the crosshead of the die or plunger will then engage the nuts
or stops on the vertical rods and thus by a delayed movement raise the lower
plunger when in the continued motion the latter will force the formed brick or
block from the pressing chamber into a position upon a level with the feed table.
At the same instant, the feed will again take place, and by the same action the
already formed brick or block will be carried beyond the pressing chamber and on
to a delivery table and each succeeding brick or block will carry it further until
it reaches an endless band or other conveyor by which it may be delivered to its
destination.
The pins or studs in the descent of the die or plunger at each operation force
a small quantity of clay into the holes of the plunger, and in order to clear the
same, the upper ends of these holes are laterally curved and flared, and surrounded
by a box or receptacle, fixed with the frame, into which any loose particles of clay
will fall, and this box or receptacle is in turn cleared of the surplus clay by means
of a scraper or scrapers actuated by a bell crank lever, one arm of which is
furnished with a truck or roller which runs upon one of the arms or webs of
the crank or on a cam carried by the crank shaft and which is timed to give a
quick movement to the scrapers at the instant that the plunger is in its raised
position and these several operations are repeated at every revolution of the crank
shaft.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aid by the accompanying drawings more
fully to describe the same.

page_text: Figure 1. is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1. of Figure 2. representing
a machine constructed according to the present invention.
Figure 2. is a similar view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3. is a detail view of parts showing the upper plunger in the act of rising
after having pressed a block of clay into the required form.
Figure 4. is a similar view but showing both plungers in their raised positions with
the formed brick ready for delivery.
Figure 5. is an underside view of the upper die or plunger, with frog plate, and,
Figure 6. is a similar view to Figure 4. but with the block of clay removed.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated. by similar letters of
reference, Figures 3. to 6. are drawn to an increased scale with respect to
Figures and 2.
a. represents the frame of the machine at the upper part of which is mounted,
in suitable bearings a*, a crank shaft b. which may be driven in any suitable
manner but in the present example the shaft b. has fixed thereon a toothed
wheel 6 which engages a pinion c¹ fixed upon a counter shaft c. mounted in suitable
bearings a carried by brackets a¹ bolted to the frame a. of the machine, whilst
upon the end of the shaft c. are provided fast and loose pulleys c³ ³ adapted to
receive a driving strap or band (not shown) from a steam engine or other motor.
Within the frame a. of the machine is arranged a plunger d. which is fixed with
a crosshead d mounted with capability of vertical movement in suitable guides a³
fixed with the frame a., and this crosshead d¹ is formed or provided with a bearing
or pin d to which is coupled one end e¹ of a link or connecting rod e, the other
end of which is mounted upon or coupled with the pin of the crank 6 of the
main shaft b. of the machine so that at each revolution of the crank shaft b. the
crosshead d¹ and consequently the plunger d. will be raised and depressed.
In order that the length of the link or connecting rod e. may be adjusted at will,
it is divided into two parts furnished with right and left hand screw threads
connected together by a correspondingly threaded coupling sleeve or nut e.
The die or plunger d. works in a suitable pressing box which is fitted with steel
filling or facing plates and the walls of this box are adjustable by means of set
screws to the size of the brick or block to be made.
Rising through the bottom of pressing box f. are a number of pins or studs gl
which at their upper ends are reduced or they might be coned or tapered to pierce
the block of clay x. and at their lower ends these pins or studs 9' are mounted
in the manner hereinafter described in a fixed part a' of the frame a. whilst the
plunger d. is formed with longitudinal holes, d³ corresponding with the pins or
studs g¹.
A block a. of given size is placed upon a feed table . located upon a level with,
the top of the pressing box j and enclosed by lateral guides and this block a. is
fed forward a given distance at each operation of the machine by a pusher
coupled by a link with the lower end of an arm i. which at its upper end is
mounted upon a centre of motion i' carried by the frame a. of the machine, and this
arm i. is divided into two parts at pinjointed together whilst at one part is
provided with a slotted quadrant and the other part with a bolt or set screw it by
means of which the extent of traverse of the pusher with relation to the pressing
box f. may be more or less regulated.
The arm i. has pinjointed thereto a horizontal arm or offset which at its end is
fixed with a strap of an eccentric fixed upon the crank shaft b. from which the
necessary motion of the pusher is derived to feed a new block placed upon the
table. into position for pressing and to carry the perforated blocks a. forward a
distance equal to the width of one brick at each revolution of the crank shaft b.
In lieu of the arrangement lastly described for giving motion to the pusher arm i.
it will be evident that a cam may be substituted for the eccentric and a truck or

page_text: roller for the strap carried by the offset i' but the arrangement hereinbefore
described is the preferred one.
The movement of the pusher brings the advanced block a. over the pressing
box f. at which time the die or plunger d. is in its raised or retracted position and
the bottom of the box or the lower plunger g. hereinafter more fully described is
in its raised or upper position upon a level with the feed table h. as represented
more particularly at Figure 4, and the further rotation of the crank shaft b. causes
or permits by gravity the descent to its lowest position of the lower plunger or
bottom of the box g. and the clay block a. is thus carried into the pressing box f.
The die or plunger d. which has been gradually descending then enters the
pressing box f. causing the compression of the clay block . therein and by the
same action the pins or studs g' which are held stationary with the exception that
they are fitted with buffer springs 9* are caused to pierce the required number of
perforations in the clay block a. the tapered ends of the pins or studs g¹ entering
the removeable steel thimbles d' which are held in alignment with the holes or
ways of the plunger d. by means of a clamping or frog plate do fastened to the
face of the plunger d. by means of screws.
By the use of the thimbles d' the holes through the brick are pressed perfectly
clean and the formation of a ragged fringe or burr around the same is avoided.
In some cases, the thimbles d may be dispensed with and the pins or stuls g'
may be caused to enter the holes d³ of the plunger d. as will be readily understood.
In the next motion of the machine it is necessary to remove from the pressing
box f. the clay brick or block . 'which has been formed in the manner above
described, and, for this purpose, the bottom of the pressing box or lower plunger g.
is formed somewhat like the plunger d. but inverted and with holes therethrough
to receive or travel upon the pins or studs g¹ and this bottom plunger g. is carried
by a crosshead which travels in suitable guides a fixed with the frame a, and at
its ends carries by their lower ends vertical rods g* which at their upper
ends pass
loosely through and extend a short distance beyond holes formed in the upper
crosshead where they are furnished with nuts or. stops 95 so that in the first
upward movement of the die or plunger d the latter will be withdrawn or partially
withdrawn from the pressing box f. and the crosshead d¹ of the die or plunger d.
will then engage the nuts or stops 9 of the vertical rods g and thus by a delayed
movement raise the lower plunger g. when in the continued motion the latter, that
is, the lower plunger will force the formed brick or block x. from the pressing
chamber into a position upon a level with the feed table h. as shown more particularly
at Figure 4.
At the same instant the feed will again take place and by the same action after
feeding the new block into position for pressing, the already formed brick or block
which has been discharged will be carried beyond the pressure chamber and on to
the delivery table . and each succeeding brick or block a. will carry it further
until it reaches an endless band or other conveyor (not shown) by which it may be
delivered to its destination.
The pins or studs y' in the descent of the die or plunger d. at each operation
force a small quantity of clay into the holes d³ of the plunger d. and in order to
clear the same the upper ends of these holes are laterally curved and flared as
seen more clearly at Figure 1, and open into a surrounding box or receptacle k.
fixed with the frame a. of the machine into which any loose particles of clay will
fall or be deposited.
This box or receptacle k. is in turn cleared of the deposited or surplus clay by
means of scrapers 1. carried by a rod ' piu-jointed to the long arm of a bell-crank
lever, mounted upon a centre of motion ³, carried by a bracket a from the frame
of the machine, and the short arm of which bell crank lever 12 is furnished with a
truck or roller which runs upon one of the arms or webs of the crank of the
shaft b., or it might be upon a cam carried by the crank shaft b. and these parts
are timed to give a quick movement to the scrapers l. at the instant that the

page_text: plunger d. is in its raised position and these several operations are repeated at every
revolution of the crank shaft b.
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 :-
:-
1. A machine for making perforated pressed bricks, comprising a crank shaft
driven from any suitable source of power, a pressing box fitted with means for
regulating the thickness of the brick, an upper plunger approximately fitting the
pressing box and suitably guided, a link connection between the plunger and the
crank, a lower plunger forming a bottom to the pressing box and carried by a
vertically moveable crosshead adapted to receive a delayed upward movement from
the upper plunger, a number of studs or pins carried by the frame passing through
holes in the lower plunger so as to project into the pressing box and a corresponding
number of holes in the upper plunger, substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
2. A machine for making perforated pressed bricks, comprising a pressing box,
an upper plunger adapted to enter the pressing box, means for depressing and
raising the upper plunger, a lower plunger forming a bottom to the pressing box,
means for depressing and raising the lower plunger differentially with regard to the
upper plunger, a number of pins or studs passing through holes in the lower
plunger, corresponding holes in the upper plunger, a feed table and a pusher
driven from the machine, for carrying the blocks to be perforated into position
when the plungers are raised and a delivery table for receiving the perforated
blocks which are carried forward by the same movement, substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. A machine for making perforated pressed bricks, comprising a pressing box,
an upper plunger adapted to enter the pressing box, means for depressing and
raising the upper plunger, a lower plunger forming a bottom to the pressing box,
means for depressing and raising the lower plunger differentially with regard to
the upper plunger, a number of pins or studs passing through holes in the lower
plunger, corresponding holes in the upper plunger at their upper or delivery ends
flared outwardly, a receiving box surrounding the delivery ends and suitable
scrapers actuated from a moving part of the machine for traversing the receiving
box at the times desired, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
Dated this 10th day of June 1806
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.