IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR FACING OR ENAMELLING CERTAIN KINDS OF BRICKS OR TILES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick George Pearson, of Dudley, in the County of
Worcester, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND
APPARATUS FOR FACING OR ENAMELLING CERTAIN KINDS OF BRICKS OR
TILES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick George Pearson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd September 1881.
FREDERICK GEORGE PEARSON, of Dudley, in the County of Worcester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR FACING OR ENAMELLING
CERTAIN KINDS OF BRICKS OR TILES."
The improvements forming the subject of this my said Invention consists
principally in the construction or combination of apparatus, and in the combination
or composition forming the enamel for facing or enamelling the said bricks or
tiles.
I will describe my Invention thus --The clay to be enamelled is put into a pug
mill (of the ordinary kind) or brick machine having a die at the end, though
which the pugged clay passes in a continuous stream of stiff consistency. After
leaving this pug or die it enters one side of a box or hopper having adjustable dies
at either end and in the interior, so as to admit any sized stream of clay.
The die of the box or hopper nearest the pug-mill or brick machine is made
slightly larger than the stream of clay, so as to admit it with as little friction as
possible. The stream of clay passes on through one or more dies in the interior of
the box or hopper, each slightly larger than the preceding one, and finally out at
the far end of the box or hopper. The die at the far end of the box or hopper is
adjusted to the exact size required, so as to make the enamel of proper thickness
on the surface of the stream of clay. When the stream of clay has appeared out-
side the far end of the box or hopper, the same is filled with enamel composed of
Cornwall clay, Cornwall stone, and bone ground fine and formed into thick "slip"
in various proportions or with other ingredients, so as to suit the clay to be
operated upon. In the first or other compartments of the box or hopper is fixed
an adjustable brush or other instrument which acts on the surface of the stream of
ID 71

page_text: clay, and thoroughly incorporates the enamel with it. The stream of clay then
passes through the various dies in the interior of the box or hopper and out at the
far side coated with a perfect white enamel. It is then cut off by an ordinary
process with wires or otherwise, and carried into a clean warm drying shed or
stove, where it is placed to assume sufficient hardness to be pressed in any ordinary
brick press. After pressing, the bricks are allowed to become perfectly dry or
white hard, when they are dipped into suitable glaze, and after having the edges
of the bricks brushed with a metallic or other brush and properly finished, the
bricks are ready for the kiln, where they are treated in one or other of the ways
at present in practice in the manufacture of white enamelled bricks. The same
process is applicable to the manufacture of tiles, quarries, and various moulded or
cornice bricks; and by a simple arrangement the enamel may be applied to ode,
two, or three surfaces of the stream or clay simultaneously.
The enamel by this process can be applied to any common clay or marl, fire-
clay, or any argillucious material capable of bearing a fairly smooth face when
burnt; it is of course applicable to all existing manufactories of enamelled bricks
or tiles, and may be used by proprietors of inferior clays or marls to coat or face
common clay bricks with an enamel of superior clay, thus improving the appearance
of the bricks and increasing their market value. By this method of applying.
enamels there is apparent an immense saving of labour as compared with the
ordinary process of applying white or coloured enamel by hand, as the enamelled
bricks are made direct from the pug-mill or brick machine, thus reducing the cost
of production, and making the Invention of practical utility.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick George Pearson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd March 1882.
(
:
FREDERICK GEORGE PEARSON, of Dudley, in the County of Worcester.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR FACING OR ENAMELLING
CERTAIN KINDS OF BRICKS OR TILES."
The improvements forming the subject of this my said Invention consists
principally in the construction or combination of apparatus, and in the mode of
application of the enamel for facing or enamelling the said bricks or tiles.
"
I will describe my Invention thus:-The clay to be enamelled is put into a pug
mill (of the ordinary kind) or brick machine baving a "die" at the end, through
which the pugged clay passes in a continuous stream of stiff consistency. After
leaving this" pug" or "die" it enters one side of a
"box" or hopper having
adjustable dies at either end and in the interior so as to admit any sized stream of
clay. The die of the box or hopper nearest the pug mill or brick machine is made
slightly larger than the stream of clay, so as to admit it with as little friction as
possible. The stream of clay passes on through one or more dies in the interior of
the box or hopper, each slightly larger than the preceding one, and finally out
at the far end of the box or hopper. The die at the far end of the box or hopper
is adjusted to the exact size required, so as to make the enamel of proper thickness
on the surface of the stream of clay. When the stream of clay has appeared
outside the far end of the box or hopper, the same is filled with enamel formed into
thick "slip" in various proportions, so as to suit the clay to be operated upon. In
the first or other compartment of the box or hopper is fixed an adjustable brush
or other instrument, which acts on the surface of the stream of clay, and thoroughly
incorporates the enamel with it. The stream of clay then passes through the
various dies in the interior of the box or hopper, and out at the far side coated
with a perfect enamel. It is then cut off by any ordinary process with wires or
otherwise, and carried into a clean warm drying shed or stove, where it is placed
to assume sufficient hardness to be pressed in an ordinary brick press. After
pressing, the bricks are allowed to become perfectly dry or white hard, when they
are dipped into suitable glaze, and after having the edges of the bricks brushed
with a metallic or other brush and properly finished the bricks are ready for the
kiln, where they are treated in one or other of the ways at present in practice in
the manufacture of enamelled bricks. The same process is applicable to the
manufacture of tiles, quarries, and various moulded or cornice bricks, and by a
simple arrangement the enamel may be applied to one, two, or three surfaces of
the stream of clay simultaneously. The enamel by this process can be applied to
any common clay or marl, fire-clay, or any argillaceous material capable of bearing
a fairly smooth face when burnt. It is of course applicable to all existing manu-
factures of enamelled bricks or tiles, and may be used by proprietors of inferior
clays or marls, to coat or face common clay bricks with an enamel of superior clay,
thus improving the appearance of the bricks and increasing their market value.
By this method of applying enamels there is apparently an immense saving of
labour as compared with the ordinary process of applying white or colored enamel
by hand, as the enamelled bricks are made direct from the pug mill or brick
machine, thus reducing the cost of production, and making the Invention of
practical utility.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and the above mentioned advantages attained, aided
by a reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed which are illustrative thereof

page_text: $
marked with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation, the same letters of reference being used to denote like or
corresponding parts throughout the various views of the Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of apparatus for facing or enamelling bricks or
tiles; Fig. 2, a side view elevation, sectional; Fig. 3, a front view elevation.
a is the box or hopper provided with the adjustable dies b, b, b, b; c is the
stream of clay; d, d, are adjustable brushes acting upon the said stream of clay
by incorporating or uniting the enamel with its surface. So far relates to division ě,
which by the operation or action above described discolours the enamel; but upon
the clay c reaching the division fit is thus prepared and receives the clear enamel.
After the usual process of cutting off, stoving, pressing, glazing, and trimming,
they are ready for the kiln.
The above describes the enamelling of one surface or face of the clay or brick,
but when desirous of enamelling more than one surface or side at one and the same
operation and time, they are controlled or regulated by the moveable templets g, g,
(by reference to Fig. 3 it is there illustrated), by means of the screws h, h, g, g, can
be moved sufficiently to allow the enamel to pass and be deposited of a desired
thickness upon the one or both sides of the clay or brick or tile, as may be
required.
To bricks or tiles that are moulded by hand and intended to be enamelled I
adopt the same mode, but feeding the bricks or tiles consecutively or alternately
by hand, as before described.
The above described is my improved method or process of enamelling bricks,
'tiles, whether common hand made or machine pressed bricks, tiles, and commercially
known, being such as are moulded or made in any ordinary brickyard, and employed
for building or decorative purposes.
Having now described and ascertained the nature and object of this my said
Invention, together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, nevertheless I wish to observe in con-
clusion that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein given and set forth,
as various modifications may be pursued, according to the skill of the artisan
employed, without affecting the character or principle of this my said Invention, I
claim as my Invention,-
1st. The construction, combination, and arrangement of parts forming the
above apparatus, substantially a as and for the purpose herein before described
and shewn on the Drawings.
2nd. The manner and method of facing or enamelling bricks, tiles, made from
common clay or marl, with any prepared enamel or facing, as herein before
described, the same being used in the erection of buildings, the cost of which is
reduced, thus rendering the manufacture capable of greater extension in the con-
structive and decorative part of buildings than they are at present.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick George Pearson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One
FREDERICK GEORGE PEARSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
THOMAS KENDRICK.