IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Thornton, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 8th September 1859, and dated the 12th March 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Thornton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th March 1859.
I, JAMES THORNTON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to manufacture plain, ornamental, and per-
forated bricks, tiles, and other similar articles by machinery. The principal
features in the machinery consist in the so forming the mould or die, that it may
be readily expanded and contracted in all directions, at the same time the sides
remain upright, and the angles are so contrived that no opening takes place
at these points. Previously prepared clay is put into this mould or die when
expanded, which is then drawn between two metal plates, the sides at the
same time being made to collapse or approach each other by means of inclined
rails at each side, thus compressing the clay. The brick when finished is then
drawn from between the two plates which formed the top and bottom edge of

page_text: the brick, when the mould being again expanded, the brick becomes free on
all sides; it is then pushed up by another lump of clay by means of a pallet
worked by a lever and chain.
The motion of the machine is rotatory, and derived from a spur wheel and
pinion and fly wheel. On the shaft of the spur wheel is a crank, which gives
alternate motion to a connecting rod and cross head attached to the arms of
the mould, and thus draws the latter in and out from between the top and
bottom plates, as before described. The plastic material is supplied to the
mould so as to make it self-feeding by means of an endless band, and the
manufactured article is carried away by the same means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Thornton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th September 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
THORNTON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Thornton, Her special licence that I, the said James Thornton
my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Thornton, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Thornton,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 per-
formed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Thornton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
.
The Invention relates to a machine for the purpose of compressing and
forming previously prepared clay into perfectly shaped and highly finished
bricks or tiles, also for embossing, panelling. or impressing architectural
ornaments and enrichments thereon to any pattern required. The principal
feature is in the manner of forming the mould or die, which expands at the time
for introducing the rough clay, the sides remaining upright, and the corners or
angles remaining closed, that is, no opening or aperture takes place; this
prevents all liability of fouling by the clay, and consequently insuring the
well working and durability of the machine. The object of expanding the
die or mould is, that it may hold sufficient clay to insure the brick being sound,
firm, and hard on the mould contracting. The mould is formed of four
vertical sides, two of these sides act as jaws to hold the others; these jaws
traverse backwards and forwards, carrying with them the other two sides, and,
on compressing the clay, slide between two metal plates which form the top
and bottom sides of the bricks.
Having described the nature of the Invention, I will now explain the
manner of working the machine and the action and purpose of the different
parts.
Sheet 1, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine; and Figure 2.
a plan of the same. The letters in both Figures refer to the same or like
parts.
In Figure 1, A represents the driving shaft, on which is fixed the driving
pulley and regulator or fly wheel, as shewn in the Drawing. Upon the samo
shaft is keyed the pinion B (shewn by dotted lines) working into the wheel C,
fastened or keyed on the crank shaft D; the crank is seen more distinctly in
Figure 2. The crank or the shaft D is to give a reciprocating backward and
forward motion to the sliding frames F, F, see Figures 1 and 2, which is
obtained by the connecting rod E. These frames are attached firmly together
by the bolt or bar G, and move as one. Jointed to the extremity of each side
of the traversing frame F, F, are jaws H, H, which carry the cross pieces I
and J. The jaws H, H, move freely round the pivots O, O. The traversing
frame F slides between the guides K, and is made to traverse in a straight
line by a groove or other suitable means. On the crank shaft is fixed a cam
or eccentric L; this cam at every revolution of the crank shaft depresses the
lever M, N, oscillating on the centre S, and consequently raises the lever P
moving on the centre P', to which it is attached by the link Q. At the ond of
the lever is a slot, through which passes a pin or bolt fixed at the end of the bar

page_text: R, consequently the bar rises with the lever L. Fixed to the upper end of this
bar is a plate or piston T, upon which the rough clay is placed. The crank is
shewn in the Drawing at the end of the back stroke, and the brick is com-
pressed between the sides of the mould and the top and bottom plates U and
U. Now on the crank shaft revolving in the direction shewn by the arrow,
the mould is carried forward, and expanding at the same time passes from
under the top plate U and the extremity of the bottom plate U. During this
time the rough clay is placed upon the plate T, and as the mould arrives
:directly over it, the cam bears upon the lever M, N, raises the bar R, together
with the plate T, carrying the rough clay, which, entering the mould, dis-
charges the finished brick, and the rough clay takes its place. To give time to
this operation, and to permit a regular rotatory motion to the crank shaft, one
end H of the connecting rod E is slotted, see Figure 1, which allows the
connected rod to follow the crank a certain distance without drawing the mould
with it. As the mould is carried forward it contracts, and the clay is again
passed between the top and bottom plates U and U', when the brick is com-
pressed and finished, and the same action is again repeated, as heretofore
explained, the plate T descending directly after discharging the finished brick
and refilling the mould.
The action and principle of the mould and the method used of panelling
and perforating bricks will be better understood by reference to Sheet No. 2,
in which Figure 1 represents a sectional plan of the mould to a large scale
with the top plate removed; and Figure 3, a section of the same through. A, B,
Figure 1. These Figures represent the method of panelling which I will first
.describe. F, F, are the ends of the traversing frame, to which are jointed the
jaws C, C, turning upon the pivots or centres D, D. The traversing frame
F, F, slides between the guides E, E, as heretofore explained, bolted firmly
to the top of the framework of the machine. The inside of the jaws C, C,
form the ends of the brick, and carry the two cross pieces I and I, which
enter and rest upon the jaws at the ends, the whole resting upon the bottom
plate U¹, as shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2.
In the Drawing, Figure 1, Sheet 2, the mould is shewn as expanded, and in
Figure 2 in the same Sheet as contracted. Now if the frame is drawn back in
the direction shewn by the arrow, the nose or projecting pieces G, G, will come
in contact with the inclined sides N, N, of the guides E, E, and force inwards
the jaws of the mould, and at the same time draw inwards the cross piece I,
forming one side of the brick, which is thus explained. The curve of the
extremities 0, 0, of the cross piece H, which fits into similar grooves cut in
the jaws, are arcs of a circle described from the centres D, D, of the hinges or

page_text: joints of the jaws; therefore, on opening or shutting the jaws, the cross piece H
will remain at rest, but the curved extremities P, P, of the cross piece I are
described from a centre situated at Q, in middle distance between the centres
and in another plane; therefore, on the jaws being opened or closed, the cross
piece H is thrust outwards or drawn inwards accordingly, but at the same time
remains upright. The corners are kept tight or closed by letting the ends of
the cross pieces enter into the jaws sufficiently to permit of the expansion of
the mould without making an opening, the jaws having notches cut in
to allow of this, as shewn in dotted lines; R, R, are stops used to open the
jaws on making the forward stroke, and thus expand the mould. The panelling
is thus accomplished. L is the panelling die fixed to the end of the bar or
bolt J. This bolt passes freely through a fixing or stop K, bolted to the
bottom plate and terminating in a head or nut M. The panelling die is
shewn as drawn out of the mould, which position it takes before the mould
has completed the forward stroke by the nut M coming in contact with the
fixing K, preventing its further progress with the mould, and is thus drawn
out. On making the return stroke the boss' S comes in contact with the
fixing, and again forces the die into the mould as it passes between the top
and bottom plate.
In Figure 3, L is a front elevation of the die, upon which any design,
ornament, or moulding can be cut as desired.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, represents a plan of the mould used to perforate bricks,
the top plate removed. The action of the jaws and cross pieces to form
the mould is exactly similar as explained in reference to panelling, the only
difference is in the addition of the apparatus for perforating.
To the fixing K is fastened a plate X, carrying a number of perforators
T, T. T, which fit in and slide through holes pierced in the cross pieces H and
1, but as the mould passes between the top and bottom plates the brick is
perforated, as shewn in the Drawing, and on its making the forward stroke
to discharge the so perforated brick and recharge the mould, they are drawn
out. The action is very obvious on considering the perforators remain at rest
and the mould moves backwards and forwards. Y is a layer of sponge, which
is freely supplied with oil to lubricate the perforators, and is held in its position
by a sheet of metal at the back. The same jaws are made to serve for
panelling, moulding, or perforating;, the cross pieces only are required to be
changed with the perforator and panelling die.
The machine can be made self-feeding by the addition of a pug-mill, as
shewn in the Drawing, Figure 2, Sheet 1, and it is then a perfect brick-
making machine.

page_text: Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise arrangements herein described and shewn, as the same
may be varied without departing from the Invention; but what I claim and
desire to secure under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly, the mode of expanding and contracting a mould for compressing or
forming bricks from previously prepared clay, in the manner herein-before
described and shewn by the Drawings.
Secondly, the mode of panelling, perforating, and forming architectural
ornaments or enrichments upon bricks or tiles, as herein-before described.
Thirdly, the use of a pug-mill in combination with the machine herein-
before described to make it self-feeding, and consequently to form bricks from
clay not otherwise previously prepared.
Fourthly, the general arrangement of the machine for compressing, panelling,
or perforating bricks or tiles, and forming architectural ornaments thereon, as
herein-before described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Thornton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
MULAD NON
ES THORNTON.
CITY
(1017)