IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND IN THE MEANS OF MAKING PARTS OF THE MACHINERY USED THEREIN
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HART, of Seymour Place, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Seventeenth day of
March (One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one), in the fourteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Hart, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said James Hart, my
exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Hart, my
exors, admiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM
PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND IN THE MEANS OF MAKING PARTS OF THE MACHINERY
USED THEREIN;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I,
the said James Hart, shall cause a particular description of the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Hart, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner of performing the same, are fully described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Hart, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner of performing the same, are fully described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
My Invention relates,-
First, to improvements in the manufacture of bricks, tiles, and other
articles made from plastic materials.
And, secondly, my Invention relates to improvements in the means of making
parts of the machinery used in the manufacture of bricks, tiles, and other
articles made from plastic materials.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
The first part of my improvements in the manufacture of bricks, tiles, and
other articles made from plastic materials, relates to certain improvements in
the construction and arrangement of machinery for making bricks or other
similar articles from plastic materials, for which Letters Patent were granted
to me on the Second day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-eight, and as the nature of such machinery is there fully described it
will not be necessary to repeat the same, except so far as relates to my present
improvements.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, Figures 2 and 3 are side views, and
Figure 4a plan, with some of the parts removed, of a machine for making
bricks or other similar articles from plastic materials, shewing my present
improvements applied thereto. a, a, are endless chains of plates, the
upper surface of cach plate a forming the bottom of the mould upon
which the side and end plates 6, 61, forming the mould are supported whilst
a brick is being moulded therein, and it is the so forming the parts b, b',
which constitute an important part of my present improvements. I have
found that when clay or other plastic material is pressed by machinery into
moulds having their sides and ends parallel from top to bottom, that in
drying and burning the bricks so moulded contrast more in one part than
another, which is caused by the clay being more condensed at the upper than
at the lower part of the mould. And in order to compensate for this unequal
contraction, I construct the parts forming the mould in such manner that
the upper part through which the clay is pressed shall be the narrowest, and
gradually widen or taper to the bottom, the extent of such tapering of the
moulds depending on the character or density of the clay to be moulded, so that

page_text: the under surface of the clay which is least compressed may have sufficient
substance to shrink or contract in drying and burning to the extent required
to produce a brick or other article made from plastic materials, with the sides
and ends parallel to each other. Figure 5 shows separate views of part of a
chain of plates a, and Figure 6 shews separate views of a mould, constructed
according to my Invention. 6 is one side of the mould, and 6' are the ends,
which are jointed to the part b, and it will be seen by the section of the
parts b, b, that the metal at the upper part of the mould is the thickest, and
gradually tapers to a narrow edge at the bottom. 62, 62, are flanges projecting
from the top sides of the ends b' of the moulds, which, together with the
projections, aid the workman in the removal of moulds from the plates a,
and by opening the ends, facilitate the delivery of the brick from the mould.
a', a' are additional stops cast on the plates a, against which the parts of the
mould press, and are kept in their proper position whilst passing through
the machine. c, c, are the hexagon or chain wheels, which give motion to the
endless chain of plates a, and there are projections on the wheels c, c*,
which enter recesses on the under edge of the plates a, and by acting on a
projection or tooth a' aid in giving motion to the chain, and prevent its
slipping. The whole of the wheels c, c*, for giving motion to one of the
endless chains may be fixed on their axes, but-it is desirable to fix one or
two only of the wheels c, c*, for giving motion to the other chain, in order
that the two chains may be readily adjusted. d', d', are projections on the
lower part of pug mill d, which act as guides for the moulds as they enter the
machine. e, c, are bars over which the moulds travel when passing through the
machine. The bars e, c, rest upon the elastic bearings e¹, e', the stems of which
enter into the sockets e, and are supported on spiral springs, the action of
which is capable of being adjusted by the pin and nuts to suit the
thickness of the mould and the pressure to be sustained, all which will be
readily understood on examining the Drawings.
I will now describe my improvements in giving motion to the endless chain
of plates a, and apparatus for stopping and starting the machine. (1) is an
axis carried by the side framings of the machine, to which motion is commu-
nicated by a steam engine or other motive power. (2) is a toothed wheel,
turning loosely on the axis (1), until the clutch (3), sliding on a feather on
the axis (1), is put in connection with the boss of the wheel (2) by the
lever (4). The wheel (2) takes into and drives the toothed wheel (5), fixed
on the axis (6), which passes through the pug mill d, and carries a series of
blades or arms (d), which revolve, and force the clay into the moulds as they
travel underneath. (7) is another toothed wheel, fixed on the axis (6), which

page_text: takes into and drives the toothed wheel (8), affixed to the axis (9), which
also passes through the sides of the pug mill, and carries another series of
blades d³, which work between and revolve in the opposite direction to the
blades d. The axis (9), on the opposite side of the machine, carries a clutch,
which slides on a feather on the axis, and, when acted upon by the lever (10),
enters a corresponding clutch formed on the pinion (11), which at other times
turns freely on the axis (9). The pinion (11) takes into teeth formed on the
inner circumference of the rim of the wheel (12), fixed on the axis 12*, and
which press the
gives motion thereto. On the axis 12* are fixed the rollers,
clay into the moulds; and, in some cases, I apply flanges to the rollers.
The wheel (12) carries the toothed rim (13), which takes into and drives the
toothed wheel (14), fixed on the axis (15), which carries the chain wheels c.
The teeth on the outer circumference of the wheel (12) take into and drive
the toothed wheel (16) on the axis (17), which carries the bevil-toothed
wheels (18), which take into and drive the bevil wheels (19) on the axes (20),
upon which are fixed the revolving scrapers f, shown separately at Figure 7.
The scrapers are carried by sockets formed in the arms f', which contain
spiral springs to press them outwards when they have been compressed by
passing over the moulds, the scrapers f being retained by a pin passing through
the socket into a slot in the scraper. f and f are friction rollers, against
which the stems of the scrapers press, to reduce the friction. g is a vessel
containing water,. which flows through the flexible pipe g' into the pipo g³,
carried by the lever arms h. The pipe g is perforated with small holes on its
under side, through which the water drips on to the bar h¹, also carried by the
arms h; and as the scrapers f revolve they come in contact with the inclined
surface of the bar h', over which the water flows from the pipe 9, and are by
that means scraped and cleansed of any superfluous clay which may adhere
to them after passing over the surface of the moulds. The lover h moves on
axes h, carried by the side framing of the machine, and the arms h³ are con-
stantly drawn downwards by the spiral springs in the sockets h³, all which will
be readily understood on examining the Drawings. The axes 6 and 9, at the
parts which pass through the sides of the pug mill d, have stuffing boxes
applied thereto, as shewn separately at Figure 8; and there is a dividing plate
or partition d in the pug mill d, as shewn, which prevents the clay from being
pressed between the two rows of moulds as they travel through the machine.
n is the sand barrel, shown separately at Figure 8*. The door n is placed in
the centre part, as shown, which is not perforated, no sand being required to
full on the space which divides the two rows of moulds. The door 18 opens on
a hinge or pin joint, and is fastened by a slot in the plate n, passing over a

page_text: projecting eye n³ on the barrel, through which a pin is passed to retain the
door closed when revolving; n is a piece of wire gauze or sieve, suspended
below the sand barrel, and upon the inclined surface of which the sand falls, and
is thereby more evenly distributed over the moulds. o is the road wheel shaft,
supported in bearings on the under side of the side framings of the machine,
and I place leather, or other suitable packing, between the shaft and the
framing at o', to receive any sudden shock, and thereby prevent injury to the
machinery when travelling over inequalities in the road or otherwise. P, P;
are sockets formed in the side framings of the machine to receive the ends of
the shafts p', which are secured by pins p³, passing through the sockets and
shafts as shewn, so that they may be removed and replaced when required.
q, q, are frames or stands upon which the bricks are placed as they
are received from the machine; and r, r, are inclined planes along which
the empty moulds slide, and are returned to be again introduced into the
machine.
I will now describe another of my improvements in the manufacture of
bricks, tiles, and other articles made from plastic materials. Figure 9 shows
a plan with the cover removed, and Figure 10 a longitudinal section of a
machine for making tiles or other articles by forcing plastic materials through
moulding orifices. a, a, is a screw axis, supported at each end by the pistons
a', a', which are caused to travel to and fro in the box or chamber b, so as to
force out the clay or other plastic material through suitably formed orifices at
each ends of the box or chamber 6, in the following manner-c is a bevil-
toothed wheel, having a female screw formed in its axis for the screw a to
work in. The wheel c is retained in its position on the screw a, near the middle
of the box 6, by the friction rollers c¹, c', carried by supports on the cross bar
c, and by the friction roller c³, carried by the bracket c. The bevil-toothed
wheel d, supported in bearings d', d', takes into and drives the wheel c, which
being kept in its position by the rollers c¹, c³, pressing against it at the back
and front, acts as a nut on the screw axis a, and gives a to and fro motion to
the pistons a¹, a', according to the direction in which the axis of the wheel dis
turned by the handle d³, or other power applied thereto. The box or chamber
6 is supported on wheels as shewn, and there are endless bands for receiving
the moulded articles as they are pressed through the orifices in the ends of the
chamber b, as is well understood.
I will now describe another of my improvements in the manufacture of
bricks, tiles, and other articles from plastic materials. Figure 11 shows the
section of a pair of crushing and grinding rollers used in the preparation of
plastic materials, the axes of which being placed out of the centre will work

page_text: as excentrics, and the surface speed of such rollers running together will differ,
and thereby produce an advantageous result in crushing and grinding the
materials under operation.
Another of my improvements consists in the manufacture of bricks, tiles, and
other articles from plastic materials consists in the use or application of ground
coal or cinder separately or combined, which is mixed with the clay or other
plastic material, instead of sifted ashes, as hitherto used in the manufacture of
such articles.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which relates to the
arrangement and construction of apparatus for drilling the holes in the plates.
for forming the joints of the endless chains and friction rollers, and also the
holes in the plates for forming the hinge joints at the ends of the moulds
used in the machinery previously described.
Figure 12 is a plan, Figure 13 a longitudinal section, and Figure 14 a
transverse section of a machine constructed according to this part of my In-
vention. a, a', are the drills or boring instruments supported in the sliding
bearings b, b', which are capable of traversing to and from the centre of the
machine by means of the right and left hand screws c, c', carried by bearings
on the end framing of the machine, there being female screws formed in the
projections 63, on the under side of the slides b, b', corresponding with the
screw on which it travels; and c, c, are hand wheels on the ends of the screw
axis, for giving motion thereto. The plates or other parts to be bored with
holes at opposite points are held securely in the centre of the machine, oppo-
site to the drills or boring instruments, by plates or boxes d, which are
suitably formed to receive the parts to be bored, so that very little adjust-
ment is required. The plate or box d is fixed to the plate e, which is capable of
sliding at right angles to the drills, so as to bring several points of the part to
be bored opposite to the drills. The plate e slides in bearings affixed to the
framing in which the parts b, b', slide, and motion is communicated to the
drills in the following manner: -f is a pulley fixed on the axis of the drum f', s
which is driven by a band from a steam engine or other power. g are endless
bands which pass around the drum f', and over the pulleys h, on the axis of
each of the drills or boring instruments, and by turning the hand wheels
on the ends of the screw axis, the two drills may be caused to approach
or recede from each other, and thus may the holes for the axis of the friction
rollers, and for the joints of the chains and moulds, be bored correctly and with
great facility.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to

page_text: the details herein shown and described, as the same may be varied without
departing from my Invention, so long as the peculiar character of any of my
improvements be retained; but what I claim is,―
First, the making of moulds larger at bottom than at the top or part where
the plastic material is forced in at the top, and thus to ensure uniformity of
substance and form after shrinking.
I also claim the application of a flange projecting from the top sides of the
ends of moulds herein explained.
I also claim the additional stops on the endless chain of plates which form
the bottoms of the moulds, and the application of the means described to pre-
vent the chain from slipping, and allowing two or more of the hexagon or
chain wheels to revolve loosely on their axes.
I also claim the application of projections such as are herein described to
pug mills for guiding the moulds as they enter the machine.
I also claim the supporting the road or way (over which the moulds travel)
on seating resting on springs adjustable to suit the thickness of the moulds and
the pressure to be sustained.
I also claim the application of clutch boxes, to throw the chain in or out of
action, and for stopping and starting the machine.
I also claim the arrangement of wheels for giving motion to the chain of
plates which form part of the moulds.
I also claim the application of revolving scrapers and apparatus working
therewith, as above described.
I also claim the application of stuffing boxes to the shafts which pass through
the sides of the pug mill, and the application of a dividing plate or partition
in pug mills between the two rows of moulds and the flanches on the mould,
in order to keep the material in its proper position.
I also claim the improved door to sand barrel, and an additional riddle or
sieve for distributing the sand more evenly on the moulds.
I also claim the application of leather or other packing to road wheel shaft,
to prevent injury to the machinery when travelling.
I also claim the means herein described for applying or connecting shafts
to the machinery, so that they may be readily applied and removed.
I also claim the application of a screw for moving the piston or pistons for
forcing plastic materials through molding orifices.
I also claim the causing the crushing rollers to move with different surface
speeds, as described.
I also claim the employment of ground coal or cinder, as herein described,
instead of sifted ashes, now used in the manufacture of bricks and tiles.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of September, in
the year
of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid James Hart came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written: And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.