IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS.
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Joseph Reveley Humes, of Deptford, and
John Giles Sullivan, of New Cross, both in the County of Kent, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS.'
"
Scaled the 17th October 1868, and dated the 20th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Joseph Reveley
Humes and John Giles Sullivan at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 20th April 1868.
We, JOHN JOSEPH REVELEY Hus, of Deptford, and JOHN GILES
SULLIVAN, of New Cross, both in the County of Kent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
MAKING BRICKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in machinery for the
manufacture.of bricks, whereby a greater perfection of work is ensured
and a greater rapidity of operation effected than by other machines
hitherto in use.
The mixture of materials is first made in proper proportions and
taken to the machine cither in barrows or otherwise, and being placed

page_text: in a hopper it will fall by gravitation into the recesses or moulds
formed in the table; these parts being set on standards of iron or
other material, and on the machine being set in motion by steam or
other power in connection with driving pullies and shafts, the
recesses or moulds that have passed under the hopper being filled
with the loose material are brought under pistons, which are pressed
down by a cam motion to such a distance as to form the required
thickness of brick, and compress the material into a compact mass.
The cam then raises the pistons out of the revolving or rotating table,
and the table is made to move round the distance of one set of moulds by.
means of a wheel, segment, cam lever, or other equivalent means. The
recesses or moulds containing the compressed brick are then brought
over such part of the lower table, which being left open permits of the
brick being forced out on to a band or lower table on the next revolution
of the machine, which at the same time projects or compresses the
material that has been brought round under the compressing pistons,
which pistons are then again in their turn brought round ready to be
forced out by the following revolution of the machine; thus the machine
makes and forces out the bricks at cach revolution. There being two
cams.and four pistons for compression acted upon at once there will be
four bricks formed at each revolution of the machine. The machine
being arranged for making thirteen revolutions per minute, there will be
52 bricks made in one minute, or 3120 per hour. The machine consists
of four supports resting on the ground or suitable foundation; upon
these supports the fixed or under table is firmly bolted, upon which the
revolving table moves, being kept in a central position by a centre pin
or friction rollers, and, the table being pushed round by such suitable
combination of levers, catches, wheelwork, as may be desired to suit the
position of the pistons. Upon this revolving table is fixed a plate to
keep the upper table down upon the lower table in such a manner that
it will allow of its freely being put in motion by the means already.
mentioned; this top plate answering as the lower support for the
hopper, and also acts as a guide for the pistons. Upon the lower or
fixed table is fixed a standard at each side of the machine to act as a
support for the pedestals in which the cam shaft revolves. On this.cam
shaft are fixed the cams, driving wheel, and machinery for giving
Attached to the cam frame is a lever, which being
lengthened out beyond its attachment to the cam
frame reaches over the centre of the openings, which allow of the bricks
motion to the table.
fixed at one end and

page_text: being forced out. By these arrangements there is a greater travel given
to the ejecting pistons than to the compressing pistons. At a con-
venient distance from the centre of the cam shaft is fixed a pinion shaft,
which acts also as a driving pulley fixed upon it, and also as a means of
driving the creeper for carrying the bricks to a convenient place for
removal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Joseph Reveley Humes and John Giles
Sullivan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th October
1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
JOSEPH REVELEY HUMES, of Deptford, and JOHN GILES SULLIVAN, of
New Cross, both in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said John Joseph Reveley Humes and John Giles
Sullivan, Her special licence that we, the said John Joseph Reveley
Humes and John Giles Sullivan, our exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Joseph Reveley Humes and
John Giles Sullivan, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
tliereafter 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 MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS," upon the condition.
(amongst others) that we, the said John Joseph Reveley Humes and John
Giles Sullivan, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Joseph Reveley Humes and
John Giles Sullivan,, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed,, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in machinery for the
manufacture of bricks, whereby a greater perfection of work is ensured,
and a greater rapidity of operation effected than by other machines
hitherto in use.
The mixture of materials. is first made in proper proportions and taken
to the machine either in barrows or otherwise, and being placed in a
hopper it will generally fall by gravitation into the recesses or moulds
formed in the table; these parts being set on standards of iron or other
material, and on the machine being set in motion by steam or other
power in connection with driving pullies and shafts, the recesses or
moulds that have passed under the hopper being filled with the loose
material are brought under pistons, which are pressed down by a cam
motion to such a distance as to form the required thickness of brick, and
compress the material into a compact mass, the cam then raises the
pistons out of the revolving or rotating table, and the table is made to.
move round the distance of one set of moulds by means of a wheel
segment, cam, lever, or other equivalent means; the recesses or moulds
containing the compressed brick are then brought over such part of the
lower table, which being left open permits of the brick being forced out
on to a band or lower table on the next revolution of the machine, which
at the same time projects or compresses the material that has been brought
round under the compressing pistons, which pistons are then again in
their turn brought round ready to be forced out by the following revo-
lution of the machine, thus the machine makes and forces out the bricks
at each revolution. There being two cams and four pistons for
compression acted upon at once there will be four bricks formed at
each revolution of the machine. In case the mixture should not fall
readily by gravitation into the cavities of the revolving table we apply
to the hopper two shafts passing through suitable bearings in the hopper
and working or rotating in contrary directions by means of toothed
wheels keyed thereon. The upper shaft is provided with a series of
curvilinear arms which keep the materials in a constant state of
agitation; the lower shaft is provided with four blades extending from

page_text: end to end of the shaft; and within the sides of the hopper, and by their
revolution will have the effect of forcing the material into the recesses.
In order to secure the precise position and immobility of the table while
the pistons are going down, and to enable the table to be brought; into
the exact position each time it is moved, we employ a wedge or tapering
bolt set in a vertical position above the table, and actuated by means of
a lever or other equivalent in such manner as that, it shall be, drawn out
from cavities in the fixed plate and table just before the table revolves,
and shall be forced in just before the pistons enter, thereby effecting by,
the downward stroke of the wedge or bolt the necessary and exact
relative adjustment of the parts at the proper time. The machine being
arranged for making thirteen revolutions per minute there, will be 52
bricks made per minute, or 3120 per hour. The machine is constructed
on four supports resting on the ground or suitable foundation; upon
these supports the fixed or under table is firmly bolted, upon which the
revolving table moves, being kept in a central position by a centre pin
or friction rollers, and the table being pushed round by such, suitable
combination of levers, catches, or wheelwork as may be desired to suit
the position of the pistons. Upon this revolving table is fixed a plate
to keep the upper table down upon the lower table in such a manner
that it will allow of its freely being put in motion by the means already
mentioned; this top plate answering as the lower support for the
hopper, and also acting as. a guide for the pistons. Upon the lower or
fixed table is fixed a standard at each side of the machine to act as a
support for the pedestals in which the cam shaft revolves; on this cam
shaft are fixed the cams, driving wheel, and machinery for giving motion
to the table. Attached to the cam frame is a lever, which being fixed
at one end and lengthened out beyond its attachment to the cam frame
reaches over the centre of the openings which allow of the bricks being
forced out. By these arrangements there is a greater travel given to
the ejecting pistons than to the compressing pistons. At a convenient
distance from the centre of the cam shaft is fixed a pinion shaft, which
acts also as a driving shaft, having a pulley fixed upon it, and also as
a means of driving the creeper for carrying the bricks to a convenient
place for removal.

page_text: By our Invention the bricks composed of mixtures of materials as
above, varied according to the purpose for which they are required, are
subjected to such a degree of pressure that they become set and hardened
ready for use when dry without the necessity of burning them.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into practical effect, we would
remark in conclusion that we do not limit ourselves to the exact details
or description of parts herein expressed, as the same may casily be varied
or modified without in any degree departing from its principles; but
what we claim and desire to be secured to us by the hercin in part
recited Letters Patent is, the application of machinery consisting of a
revolving table and pressing pistons with cam or other equivalent
motions in conjunction with other working parts to the manufacture of
bricks composed of the mixture or mixtures of materials stated, whereby
the bricks are solidified and hardened by excessive pressure, and rendered
fit for use without the necessity of burning, substantially as hercin
specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Joseph Reverley Humes
and John Giles Sullivan, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
ALEX. C. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
J. J. R. HUMES. (L.S.)
J. G. SULLIVAN. (L.S.)