Improvements in Machines for Moulding Bricks and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Moulding Bricks and the like.
I, HENRY WARREN MEAD, of 1401, Hampshire Street, in the Town of
Quincy, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Merchant, 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 :—
This invention relates to apparatus for making bricks and the like and it has for
its object to provide a machine which shall be exceedingly simple, compact,
durable and efficient in operation and with these ends in view, the invention
consists in the improved construction arrangement and combination of parts
which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the
claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed,—
Figure 1, (Sheet 1) is a perspective view of a brick machine constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 2, (Sheet 2) is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3, (Sheet 5) is a side elevation.
Figure 4, (Sheet 3) is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through the
plunger carrying the lower followers and through the cam operating said plunger.
Figure 5, (Sheet 4) is a vertical sectional view taken at one side of said plunger
through one of the star-wheels.
Figure 6, (Sheet 4) is a detail side elevation.
Figure 7, (Sheet 1) is a detail transverse sectional view of the upper end of the
plunger carrying the lower followers.
Figure 8, (Sheet 2) is a detail plan view of the mould.
Figure 9, (Sheet 2) is a vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure 10, (Sheet 5) is a detail perspective view of the main shaft having the
operating cams.
Figure 11, (Sheet 5) is a detail perspective view of one of the star-wheels.
Figure 12, (Sheet 5) is a detail perspective view of one of the upper plungers.
Figure 13, (Sheet 4) is a detail view showing in elevation the shaft having the
star-wheels and the shaft having the cams engaging the latter.
Figure 14, (Sheet 5) is a sectional detail view of the lower portion of one of the
upper plungers.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
;
With reference to Figs. 1 (Sheet 1), 2 (Sheet 2), 3 (Sheet 5) and 4 (Sheet 3)
the frame of my improved brick or the like machine comprises the base 1, the side
pieces or uprights 2, 2, and the top or table 3. The latter is preferably com-
posed of the front and rear pieces 4 and 5, (see Fig. 5) the latter of which is
the side
provided with side flanges 6 and with front and rear flanges 7 and 8
flanges may be fitted closely between the side pieces or uprights 2, 2, to which
they are secured by means of bolts 9. The front piece 4 may be also provided
with side flanges 10 and with front and rear flanges 11 and 12. The side flanges 10,
are supported upon shoulders or flanges 1ª upon the inner sides of the side pieces or
uprights and the rear and front edges of the front and rear pieces 4 and 5 respec-
tively are provided with shoulders 2" (see Fig. 4 Sheet 3) to support the mould 3*
which is provided with flanges 4 to rest upon said shoulders.
The mould as will be seen, is thus held securely in position between the sections 4
and 5 of the table and may be additionally secured by means of wedges 5ª (see
Fig. 9 Sheet 2) driven between the upper side edges of the mould box and the
under sides of wedge shaped projections 6* upon the inner sides of the uprights 2, 2,

page_text: The front section 4, of the table is preferably provided with laterally extending
ears or lugs 7 shown in plan at Fig. 2 (Sheet 2), having perforations to receive
bolts by means of which it is secured to the uprights or side pieces of the frame.
The mould 3ª as shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9 (Sheet 2) of the drawings
is composed of the side pieces 8ª having vertical grooves 9 in their inner faces
to receive the vertical flanges 10% of the end pieces 11. The mould may be
provided with one or more openings to adapt the machine to the manufacture
of one or more bricks at each operation; which as in the drawings hereto
annexed the mould box is provided with two such openings 12ª, a central spacing
block is interposed between the side pieces 8ª. The several parts of the
mould box are connected by means of transverse bolts 2" (see Fig. 9) and the
several parts of the said mould box are also provided with openings or channels 3°
for the passage of steam which may be supplied through a pipe 4b shown at Fig. 3
(Sheet 2) connected with one side of the frame of the machine. This is for the
obvious purpose of heating the mould. The perforations 5 through which the
connecting bolts 2 extend are made slightly oblong or elongated; this is for
the purpose of enabling the end blocks 11 to be slightly raised so as to compensate
for wear.
The side pieces or uprights 2, 2, of the frame, are connected a short distance
above the base by a cross brace 14. (See Fig. 4 Sheet 3.) Suitably attached to
said cross brace 14 and to the rear side of the front flange 7 of the section 5 of the
table are the guides 15 and 16 for the vertically movable stem or plunger head 17,
the front side of which is provided with a hood 18 in which is journalled a
roller 19. The upper side of the hood 18 is provided with a block 19 having
recesses 20 and vertical perforations 21 to receive the screw threaded stems 22,
extending downwardly from the lower plungers 23 which may be secured in position
upon the upper side of the block 19 by means of nuts 24 mounted upon the said
stems within the recesses 20. The plungers 23 are thus mounted upon the hood in
such a manner as to fit accurately in the openings of the mould, and so as to enable
them to be readily removed when desired for the substitution of new ones.
25 designates the main shaft which is provided with suitable bearings in the side
pieces 2 of the frame. Said main shaft is provided with a cam 26 adapted to
engage the roller 19" in the hood of the stem or plunger 17 which is in this manner
operated. The cam 26 as will be clearly seen in Fig. 4 (Sheet 3) of the drawings
has the preliminary swell 27 and the main swell 28 so that in the operation of the
machine the plunger head shall first be moved slowly in an upward direction for a
short distance for the purpose of giving the final pressure to the bricks after which,
by means of the swell 28 the plunger head is forced more rapidly in an upward
direction for the purpose of expelling the bricks all as will be hereinafter more
fully described. The side pieces or uprights 2, 2, of the frame are provided near
their upper ends with vertical slots 29 forming bearings for the cross head 30
having the depending arms 31 one at each end, said arms being arranged outside
of the side pieces of the frame. Guide plates 6 (see Fig. 3 Sheet 5) arranged
adjacent to the sides of said slots are secured by means of bolts 7b extending
through oblong slots or perforations in the said plates which are thereby rendered
laterally adjustable to compensate for wear.
The arms 31 are provided with openings 32 to admit the main shaft and to
enable the said arms with the cross head to move freely in an upward and down-
ward direction. To the other sides of the arms 31 respectively above and below
the slots or openings 32 are journalled rollers 33 and 33 which are adapted to be
engaged by cams 34 formed or mounted upon the main shaft. These cams when
engaging the roller 33 serve for the purpose of raising or lifting the cross head
after the bricks have been formed and are ready to be expelled from the press.
When engaging the lower rollers 33ª, the said cams serve to assist the downward
movement of the arms and cross head although as will be presently seen the said
cams are not relied upon to exert the entire downward pressure upon the said arms
and cross head.

page_text: The lower ends of the arms 31 have bearings for a transverse shaft 35 upon
which are mounted a pair of the star shaped wheels 36. Said wheels as their
name indicates, are provided with radial arms 37 separated by recesses 38, the
recesses being for the purpose of accommodating the main shaft 25 when the arms
carrying the cross head are in a raised position. The main shaft 25 is provided
with cams 39 adapted to engage with arms 37 of the star wheels for the purpose
of forcing the latter, the shaft 35, the arms 31, and the cross head 30, in a down-
ward direction to assist in finally compressing the bricks, the engagement of said
cams 39 with the star-wheels being timed to take place at the same time when the
swell 27 of the cam 26 engages the roller 19" in the hood of the plunger head 17.
It is obvious that the side pieces or uprights of the frame are to be provided with
vertical slots or openings as will be seen at 39 for the passage of the shaft 25
carrying the star-wheels and to enable the ends of said shaft to be journalled in the
arms 31.
The cross head 30 is provided with vertical perforations 40 to receive the screw
threaded stems 41 of the upper plungers 41ª which are secured by means of nuts 42.
Said plungers of course are arranged so as to register with the openings of the
mould and it will be understood that they may be readily removed or readjusted
whenever required. The preferred construction of the upper plunger of my
improved brick machine has been shown in detail in Figures 12 and 14 (Sheet 5)
of the drawings. Said plungers are provided at their lower edges with flanges 40'
accurately fitting the openings of the mould and provided with tapering holes or
openings 41 the lower ends of which are considerably contracted in order to
prevent clay from escaping through the said openings which latter are merely
for the purpose of permitting the escape of air thereby preventing the formation of
air bubbles in the bricks that are being pressed.
The arms 37 of one of the star-wheels are provided at their front ends with
outwardly extending studs or projections 43. Similar studs 44 project outwardly
from the rear ends 37 of the arms of the other star-wheel as will be best seen in
Fig. 13 (Sheet 4) of drawings. The cams 39 are provided with recesses 45 and 46
adapted to engage the studs 43 and 44 respectively. By this mechanism the shaft
carrying the star-wheels is partially rotated when the cams 39 engage the outer ends
of the arms 37, the extent of the rotation being sufficient to cause the main shaft to
engage the next recess 38 when the frame composed of the shaft 35 carrying the
star-wheels 36, the arms 31 and the cross head 30 is again forced in an upward
direction by the action of the cams 34 engaging the rollers 33 upon the arms 31.
Cogs may be substituted for the studs 43 and 44, but I prefer the latter
ordinarily because but little strain comes on them and the face of the star-wheel
sections is by their use left smooth and circumferentially flat whereby a better
engaging surface is secured for contact with the cams. To retain the shaft 35 in
the position to which it is carried by cams 39 engaging the arms of the star-
wheels, dogs or pawls 47 are provided which may be pivoted to the inner sile
pieces or uprights 2 of the frame, suitable springs 49 being preferably provided
to hold the said pawls in contact with the adjacent star-wheels. The cams 39
will engage the upper or free ends of the pawls 47 to throw the latter out of
engagement with the star wheels while the latter are being partially rotated.
To regulate the extent of the downward movement of the stem or plunger head
carrying the lower plungers I provide an arm 50 hinged to the rear part of the
base and extending forwardly under the said stem for which it is adapted to form
a support. 51 designates a vertical rod, the upper end of which is journalled in a
cross bar 48 of the frame and the lower end of which is screw threaded as shown
at 52 and engages a screw threaded socket or perforation 52" in the base. Upon
the rod 51, above the screw threaded portion is formed a flange 53 supporting a
stiff spring 54 upon which the front end of the arm 50 rests, said arm being
provided with a perforation 55 for the passage of said rod. It will be seen that by
rotating the screw threaded rod 51 which latter is provided for the purpose with a

page_text: hand wheel 56 the front end of the arm 50 may be raised or lowered thus
regulating the extent to which the plunger head and the lower plungers shall be
permitted to descend. In this manner the capacity of the mould may be very
accurately gauged or regulated, causing it to receive a greater or smaller quantity
of material to be moulded as may be desired according to the condition of the
material and the required density of the product produced by the machine.
The main shaft 25 (see Fig. 1 Sheet 1) is provided at one end with a gear
wheel 57 upon the outer side of which is mounted a cam grooved disc 58. Suitably
mounted in the rear part of the frame is a transverse rock shaft 59 having a
forwardly extending arm or lever 60 which is provided at its front end with a
roller 61 travelling in the cam groove 62 of the disc 58. The rock shaft 59 (see
Fig. 4 Sheet 3) is also provided with an upwardly extending arm or lever 63, the
upper end of which is connected by a link 64 with a feed box 65. The latter
slides upon the top of the table beneath a hopper 66 in which the prepared clay
or other material is placed. Said feed box serves not only to supply the material
from the hopper 66 to the mould but also to push the previously formed bricks
from off the lower plungers onto the front part of the table where they may be readily
removed, the feed box being actuated by the link 64, levers 60 and 63, rock
shaft 59 and cam groove 62, engaging the roller 61, said cam groove being so
formed as to cause the operation of the feed box to be properly timed, that is while
the lower plungers are in an elevated position flush with the table.
The gear wheel 57 upon the main shaft meshes with a spur wheel 67 upon one
end of a shaft 68 which is journalled transversely in the rear part of the frame.
The opposite end of the shaft 68 carries a gear-wheel 69 meshing with a pinion 70
upon a shaft 71. The latter also has the drum or hand wheels 75 and 75º, one loose
and the other fixed and adapted to receive motion from power of any desired
description. It is obvious that the train of gearing just described is used merely
for the purpose of reducing speed and that different gearing may be employed
without departing from my invention.
The top of the table of the machine is provided with guide plates 76 (see Fig. 2
Sheet 2) preferably having upwardly extending flanges 77 between which the feed
box is guided. Said guide plates are secured adjustably by means of screws 78 so
that wear may be compensated for and the feed box be caused to operate evenly
and accurately. The front ends of the guide flanges 77 are for convenience
curved outwardly, as shown at 79.
The operation of my invention is as follows:
While the upper and lower plungers are in a raised position, the feed box is
moved forwardly, carrying a portion of the clay from the hopper, the lower end of
said hopper being meanwhile closed by the horizontal plate 82 which forms a part
of the feed box. While the feed box is in a forward position the cam 26 abruptly
passes from unier the roller 19 in the hood 18 of the stem or plunger head 17,
thus causing the lower plungers to descend somewhat rapidly by their own weight
added to that of the stem and hood to which they are attached. The clay or other
material then drops by gravity and is also drawn into the openings of the mould by
the suction induced by the withdrawal of the plungers. The feed box is then
retracted, levelling up the mould, and the upper plungers now begin to descend, at
first rapidly as the cams 34 pass from under the rollers 33, and afterwards more
slowly and forcibly by the action of the cams 39 engaging the arms 37 of the star-
wheels. At this time the swell 27 of the cam 26 begins to engage the roller 19ª,
forcing the lower plungers in an upward direction, and thus compressing the bricks
or other product. As the cams 9 pass out of engagement with the arms 37 of the
star-wheels, the cams 34 begin to engage the rollers 33, thus forcing the arms 31,
carrying the cross-head and the upper plungers, in an upward direction, the main
shaft being accommodated while this upward movement takes place, in the
recesses 38 of the star-wheels. At the same time, the lower plungers are forced
with the same speed also in an upward direction by the action of the swell 28 of

page_text: the cam 26, thus during the passage of the bricks through the mould for delivery
therefrom they are subject to the pressure of the plungers on both sides conse-
quently cracking or crumbling is avoided, when, however, they reach the level of
the table, then the increased throw of the cams 25 lift the upper plungers more
rapidly than the lower ones and the pressure is thus relieved during the time that
the product is unsustained by the moulds. The feed box now repeats its move-
ment in a forward direction, pushing the bricks or other produce onto the front
part of the table and supplying the mould again with material after which the
operation is repeated.
It is obvious that certain features of my invention are applicable to other
machines than brick machines, I therefore do not restrict my invention to them,
and it is also obvious that many alterations or equivalent mechanical constructions
may be substituted for some of the parts shown and described by me, I therefore
do not limit myself to such details.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First. In a moulding or like machine the combination with a reciprocating stem
or plunger head carrying a plunger, of a frame comprising a reciprocating cross-
head carrying another plunger, depending arms, and a transverse shaft journalled
in said arms, star-wheels mounted on said shaft, and a main shaft carrying cams
for operating the several plungers, said main shaft being extended through
openings in the said arms, and adapted to be accommodated when said frame is
moved in the recesses of the star-wheels substantially as set forth.
Second. In a moulding or like machine, the combination of a frame, a main
shaft journalled in the sides of said frame and having operating cams, an upper
plunger frame having a transverse shaft provided with star-wheels the radial
projections of which form cams adapted to be engaged by cams upon the main
shaft, and the recesses of which are adapted to accommodate said main shaft during
the movement of the plunger frame, substantially as set forth.
Third. In a moulding or like machine the combination with a reciprocating
plunger frame having a transverse shaft, of star-wheels mounted upon said shaft
and provided with studs or like devices extending outwardly from the projecting
portions thereof, and the main shaft extending through openings in the arms of
the plunger frame and having cams provided with recesses to engage the studs of
the star-wheels, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In a moulding or like machine the combination of the upper plunger
frame, the main shaft having cams to force said frame in an upwardly direction, a
shaft journalled transversely between the side pieces of the upper plunger frame,
star-wheels mounted upon said shaft, cams upon the main shaft adapted to engage
said star-wheels to force the upper plunger frame in a downward direction and a
pawl pivoted to the main frame and adapted to engage one of the star-wheels,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a moulding or like machine, the combination of the side pieces or uprights
having wedge-shaped projections upon their inner sides, the front and rear sections
of the bed or table, having downwardly extending flanges and secured detachably
between said uprights or side pieces, said table sections being provided with
shoulders at their upper inner edges, a mould having flanges resting upon said
shoulders and the wedges driven between the ends of said mould and the
wedge shaped projections upon the inner sides of the uprights, substantially as set
forth.
Sixth. In a brick press, the herein described mould box, comprising side pieces
having vertical grooves in their inner sides, end blocks each composed of a single
piece of metal having laterally projecting vertical flanges and oblong bolt holes, a
spacing block and connecting bolts which pass through the said oblong holes in the
end pieces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Seventh. In a moulding or like machine the combination of the side pieces or
uprights, the rear table section having downwardly extending flanges and secured
by means of bolts to the said uprights, the horizontal flanges and wedge shaped
projections formed upon the inner sides of the uprights, a front table section having
downwardly extending flanges resting upon the horizontal flanges of the uprights
and provided with laterally extending ears or lugs bolted to said uprights, the
mould having flanges resting upon shoulders at the upper inner edges of the front
and rear table sections, and the securing wedges driver. between the ends of said
moulds and the wedge shaped projections upon the inner sides of the uprights,
substantially as set forth.
Dated the 28th day of March 180
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.