Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Blocks or Briquettes of Fuel or Materials for Smelting and analogous Purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Blocks or Briquettes
of Fuel or Materials for Smelting and analogous Purposes.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to a moulding machine provided with a revolving vertical
plate into the moulds of which the plastic material. has to be intermittently fed.
It is more especially intended to supply a want of uniformity in feeding materials
horizontally to a mould plate in which the main mould is subdivided into a series
of smaller ones. When these subdivisions are unequally filled a danger exists of
bursting the full ones; and even when this does not take place the resulting blocks
are unsatisfactorily pressed when afterwards passed between the pressing dies, the
larger, or thicker, being better pressed than the smaller, or thinner. Again, the
speed of filling the moulds governs the output of the machine, so that a rapid and
uniform feed is of great importance; influencing, as it does, both the quantity and
quality of the pressed blocks. Equality in size and density is further desirable as
enabling the retailers to sell so many for such and such a sum, without further
weighing being necessary.
The class of machine to which I apply my invention is that in which a feed-
plunger advances through a feed-chamber; and it is the proper and uniform filling
of this chamber that I have in view. Not only has the inaterial to be filled into
this chamber, but an over-head regulating pressure is required to hold it down
therein, more especially when the feed-plunger is advancing to fill the subdivided
moulds in the mould-plate.
Above this feed-chamber I arrange a vertical mill into which the material is fed,
and in the lower part of the mill 1 arrange one or two horizontal revolving shafts
fitted with paddles or blades for assisting the gravity-fed material downwards,
and more especially holding it down when the feed-plunger advances as before
described. The action of a blade may be arranged to synchronise with the
advance of the plunger. (Should the mill not be vertical it should be so far so as to
give a gravitating tendency to its contents.) The angles of the paddles or blades
are adjustable, so as to regulate the degree of downward thrust, as found desirable.
The outfall of the mill, the direction of revolution of the shaft (or shafts), and the
outline of the blades, should be so shaped and arranged as to gather the material
together and deliver it down into the feed-chamber to the best advantage against
the advancing plunger.
Fixed knives, or scrapers, which are, of course, arranged so that the blades miss
them, may, if found necessary, be fixed at or near the foot of the outfall to
prevent any undue rising back and travelling round of the downward pressed
material.
Dated this 20th day of April 1894.
WM.
SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Manufacturing Blocks or Briquettes.
of Fuel or Materials for Smelting and analogous Purposes.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
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:-
In order to fully explain my meaning I have annexed a drawing on which,
Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section, showing the general arrangement of my feeding
mill and its gear; and, Fig. 2, is a corresponding front elevation, showing such
parts of the machine as are necessary to a correct understanding of the invention
and its arrangement. Fig. 3, shows, in longitudinal section, a feeding mill
arranged with two paddles; these latter being shown diagrammatically. The same
letters refer to the same parts in all the figures, and the arrows show the directions
of motion.
This invention refers to a moulding machine provided with a revolving vertical
mould plate A, into the moulds B1, B2, of which, the plastic material c c c has to be
intermittently fed. It is more especially intended to supply a want of uniformity
in feeding materials horizontally to a mould plate in which the main mould is
sub-divided into a series of smaller ones, as shown at B1, B2, B3, B4, in Fig. 2.
When these sub-divisions are unequally filled a danger exists of bursting the full
ones; and even where this does not take place, the resulting blocks are
unsatisfactorily pressed when afterwards passed between the pressing dies; the
larger, or thicker, being better pressed than the smaller, or thinner. Again, the
speed in filling the moulds governs the output of the machine; so that a rapid and
uniform feed is of great importance, influencing, as it does, both the quantity and
quality of the pressed blocks. Equality in size and density is further desirable as
enabling the retailers to sell so many for such and such a sum, without further
weighing being necessary.
The class of machine to which I apply my invention is that in which a feed-
plunger, D, advances through a feed-chamber, E; and it is the proper and uniform
filling and emptying forward of this chamber, E, that I have in view.
In order to obtain a greater proportional time for filling the feed chamber than
that due to the half revolution of the disc, F,-which makes an entire revolution
during the time the mould plate moves from one set of moulds to another-!
preferably use the well-known quick return motion had from a slotted link, G, and
die, H, as shown; the direction of revolution being such as gives the slower stroke
when thrusting the material into the moulds; the corresponding quick return
leaving the feed chamber open to the mill for as long a time as possible.
Further, in order to avoid risks arising from too full a feed chamber, I preferably
use the well-known yielding-rod device between the link, G, and the feed-
plunger, D; the arrangement being such as allows the rod, by compressing the
spring, J, to work forward into the hollow space in the base of the plunger.
Not only has the material to be filled into the feed chamber, but an over-head
regulating pressure is required to hold it down therein; more especially when the
feed-plunger, D, is advancing to fill sub-divided moulds in a mould-plate, as berein
before mentioned.
Above this feed chamber I arrange a comparatively small vertical mill K, into
which the material is fed by the spout L from an overhead mixing or heating
mill M as shown; and in the lower part of this lower mill I arrange one or two
horizontal revolving shafts, N, fitted with paddles or blades, O, O, for assisting the
gravity-fed material downwards, and more especially holding it down when the
feed-plunger advances as before described. The action of a blade may be arranged

page_text: to synchronise with the advance of the plunger, but in a general way the blades are
kept revolving at a quicker speed than this."
It must be understood that in this mill, K, there is nothing, fitted beyond the
above mentioned horizontal shaft, or shafts, N, and the paddles, O; these, arranged
as shown, being sufficient for the purpose of stirring and feeding-leaving the top
of the feed mill or pan clear and open, and accessable to the workman, for the
introduction of rods, or the like, for cleaning the paddles, or clearing the entry to
the mould plate, in case the machine has become clogged by improper use or
management.
-
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2; the paddles 0, 0, of which there are four sets
shown in this arrangement, are mounted on the shaft N, which crosses the mill, K,
from side to side. On this same shaft, N, is mounted the wheel P, driven by the
pinion Q, mounted on the upper shaft R. This shaft has one bearing on the side
frame S, and the others on the mill, and is driven by a chain belt which gears with
the chain wheel T. The chain may be driven from any suitable shaft, either on
the machine, or from a countershaft as most convenient. The position of the
spout L, it should be noted, is such as to throw the material e on to the descending
paddles as shown in Fig. 1.
The angles of the paddles or blades are adjustable, so as to regulate the degree
of downward thrust, as found desirable; the ends being preferably screwed and
provided with locking nuts, as shown in Fig. 1, for this purpose. The outfall of
the mill, the direction of revolution of the shaft (or shafts), and the outline of the
blades, should be so shaped and arranged as to gather the material together and
deliver it down into the feed chamber to the best advantage against the advancing
plunger. Should the mill not be vertical it should be so far so as to give a
gravitating tendency to its contents. Fixed narrow knives, or scrapers, which are,
of course, arranged so that the revolving blades miss them, may,
if found necessary,
be fixed at or near the outfall, as shown in dotted lines at U, in order to prevent
any undue rising back and travelling round of the material requiring to be pressed
downward and forward into the mould plate.
The arrangement set out shows how the material is continually stirred and
passed forward by the paddles with the proper degree of pressure into the path of
the plunger D; without however, any unyielding pressure such as would tend to
bring about a breakdown.
The arrangement with two paddles shown in Fig. 3, requires no special
explanation if compared with Fig. 1. The two paddles require to be geared
together by suitable wheels outside the feed mill, and one of these wheels would
then require to be driven in the most convenient way. There is, here again, no
central vertical shaft with the usual revolving arms or knives; the mouth of the
mill being left so as to give easy access to the paddles &c. as mentioned in the
other case.
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 improved feeding mill, with its actuating mechanism, arranged, con-
structed, and operated, substantially as described and shown, with the object and
for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of the feeding mill fitted and stirred with paddles only,
revolving on a horizontal shaft, or shafts; a reciprocating feed plunger working in
a chamber immediately beneath; with a vertical mould plate revolving alongside ;
substantially as described and shown, with the object and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of January 1895.
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks, Agent for the Applicant.