An Improved Mode of and Means for Manufacturing Blocks of Artificial Stone.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of and Means for Manufacturing Blocks of
Artificial Stone.
I ALEXANDER MCLEAN of 20 Reservoir Road, Brockley in the County of Surrey,
Cement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The object of this invention is to manufacture blocks of artificial stone in a
more effective manner than heretofore, and the invention consists in an improved
mode whereby the artificial stone is produced, and in the means employed for the
purpose of production.
These I
In carrying out my invention, I make the artificial stone of any suitable ingredients
in varying proportions, but I prefer granite chippings and Portland cement.
mix together in any proportions that may be suitable for my purpose, with a
comparatively large quantity of water, and submit the mixture to great pressure
(from one to 2 tons to the inch) in suitable moulds.
The object of the pressure is to thoroughly consolidate the mass and get rid of air
holes, which, besides being unsightly, have a detrimental effect.
I
The effect of the pressure will also be to produce, on the surface, a thin skin of fine
cement, which I remove by rubbing down, or in any other convenient manner.
thus obtain (when the block is made from granite) a beautiful and elegant surface,
which will take a high polish.
The means which I employ to produce these concrete blocks are a novel construction
of hydraulic press with a porous mould.
The press consists of a bed in the form of a box having a central opening in the
bottom to receive the hydraulic cylinder.-Externally, this box is provided, on its two
sides, with a flange and webs, and at rear with a pair of brackets formed with tracks
for runners.
The cylinder contains a ram, the head of which may be formed in one with a
presser plate or follower, to fit into a suitably formed mould or frame so arranged
that it will fit into and be supported by the box. The upper edge of the mould or
frame is formed with tracks corresponding to those on the brackets.
The head of the press, which will be of suitable strength and construction, is
mounted in runners which work on the tracks before mentioned, and is so arranged
that the head may be run onto and off the mould as required.
The head is secured in position by tension bars pivotted to the bed by pins and
excentric blocks, and provided at their upper ends with pins which take over lugs
on the head. The blocks will bear against the flange of the bed, and will he
rocked by means of screw or other leverage, so as to tighten up the head.
The presser plate or follower is grooved on its face, and a perforated plate
with a sheet of felt is placed above it. A strip of felt may also be placed between the
edge of the mould and the head.
The object of the felt is to provide a number of capillary channels by which the
water mixed with the concrete may run off when the pressure is applied, without
taking with it particles of fine cement.
The hydraulic cylinder will be connected with suitable pumps.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of and Means for Manufacturing Blocks of
Artificial Stone.
I ALEXANDER MCLEAN of 20 Reservoir Road, Brockley, in the County of Surrey,
Cement 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:—
The object of this invention is to manufacture blocks of artificial stone of a better
quality and in a more effectual manner than heretofore, and the invention consists in
the mode of manufacturing the stone and in the means employed for producing the
same.
In carrying out my invention, 1 employ, to produce the stone, any suitable
materials, such as granite chippings and Portland cement, in the usual or any
proportions according to durability of the stone required, and I mix these materials
with a larger quantity of water than has usually been employed heretofore in the
manufacture of artificial stone, so that every particle of the cement will become
thoroughly impregnated with water.
I then place the mixture in a porous mould, and apply thereto great pressure, that
is to say, from one to 2 tons to the inch. The pressure will thoroughly consolidate
the mass, and get rid of air holes on the surface and olsewhere, which, besides being
unsightly, have a detrimental effect. A thin skin of fine cement will also be produced
on the surface of the block, which may be removed, if desired, by rubbing down,
or in any other convenient manner.
When granite has been used in the manufacture, I produce a block having a
beautiful and elegant surface, which is capable of taking a high polish.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shewn an arrangement of porous mould, and
a construction of hydraulic pross suitable for carrying out my invention.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the press; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 is a
plan view, with the cover removed; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cover
detached.
A represents the body of the press, which, it will be seen, consists of a box having
a central opening in the bottom to receive a hydraulic cylinder B. Externally this
box is provided at both sides with a flange A, and strengthening ribs A³. At rear,
the box is provided with brackets A³, on which are formed tracks for runners.
The brackets are also provided with racks for a purpose to be explained.
The cylinder B contains a ram B₁, the head of which is attached to, or works
against a presser plate or follower C. This plate O is grooved on its face, and has
perforations coinciding with the grooves (see Fig. 3), by which moisture can run
through into the body A, from which it is carried off by suitably placed pipes.
The plate Centers and works in a mould or frame D, which is .carried by the
body A, by means of the flange D', and in which the material to be compressed is
placed. In the upper edge of this frame, tracks D* are formed for runners.
The frame D is covered by a box-shaped casting E, mounted on runners E¹ E³, and
having lateral lugs E. The runners are preferably pinions mounted at opposite
ends of an axle, and which work in the racks on the brackets A³.
When the cover E is in its proper position, the runners E' will enter recesses
formed in the tracks, so that the cover will be let down on to the top of the frame, but
when the cover is to be run back, by applying a winch handle to the pinion axle, the
runners will be drawn out of the recesses, and the cover will be raised clear of the
frame D.
.
The cover E is secured in position by means of tension bars F, which take over the
lugs E. These bars are mounted upon an axle F', which is provided with
excentric discs, which work in bearings in the ribs A³ of the body A. This
shaft is rotated by means of arms F³, mounted thereon, and actuated by means of a
screw F', as will be understood, or in any other convenient manner. It will thus be

page_text: seen that the raising or lowering of the arms F³ will release or tighten the
tension rods F, as required.
These rods will pass through slots formed in the flange A¹ to receive them.
Upon the prosser plate is arranged a perforated metal plate, and upon this I place
a sheet of felt which has been previously sewn to a sheet of perforated zinc or
other light perforated material, which will keep the felt distended. Above the felt
I lay a sheet of linen or cotton cloth, which is intended to prevent the hairs of the felt
becoming embedded in the block. The cloth will readily peel off the compressed
block.
The felt provides a number of capillary channols by which the water will run
off when pressure is applied, unaccompanied by any fine particles of the cement.
The hydraulic cylinder will be connected with suitable pumps.
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. The mode herein described of producing blocks of artificial stone.
2. The means, as herein shown and described, for producing blocks of artificial
stone.
3. The construction and arrangement of hydraulic press as herein shewn and
described.