IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS." A commu-
nication from abroad by John Caswell, Adolphuss Sinsheimer, and Oran
William Seely, all of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 28th May 1861, and dated the 8th December 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th December 1860.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD, NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention of improved machinery for making bricks relates to that class
of brick machines designed for making bricks of dry clay through the agency
of a great pressure exerted thereon, and consists in constructing the entire
frame in one large single body to give the machine the necessary strength and
firmness to resist the heavy strain and pressure to which it is constantly sub-
jected, and to give precision to the movements of the pistons and moulds.

page_text: The moulds are formed, arranged, and secured within the frame in such a
manner and are caused to move in such relation to the movements of the
extension plate pistons whilst pressing the clay, as to entirely expel the air
therefrom. A suitable arrangement or combination of parts is also provided
for lifting the bricks from the moulds and placing them between the automatic
grasp of upright springs and standards, which convey them over the pistons
and gently lay them on the upper surface of the same.
The peculiar features of novelty comprised in the present Invention are,-
First, casting the entire frame of the machine in one rectangular piece, with
a horizontal cross tie within it, to which the stationary pistons are secured.
This frame is also provided with bearings at its sides, upon which the moveable
piston frame and moulds bear for their entire length during the whole extent
of their reciprocating movements.
A second feature is, expelling the air from the clay during the operation of
pressing the same by means of the moveable moulds.
Third, the combination and arrangement of right-angled slotted levers con-
nected together at top, sliding lifting platens, having pins or studs at their
lower ends, which enter the slots of the said levers at the proper intervals of
time, and horizontal sliding cross bar having antifriction rollers on its ends
which enter the grooves in the cog wheels on the main. shaft for lifting or
discharging the bricks from the moulds, and pressing them between the
upright springs and standards.
A fourth improvement consists in suspending the frames in which the
sliding platens are secured in horizontal guides below the moulds, so as to
enable their movements to be arrested by the ends of the stop bar coming in s
contact with them during the upward and downward.movements of the lifting
platens.
Another improvement consists in the employment of the upright springs and
standards on the sides of the sliding platen' frame for holding the bricks sus-
pended on a plane sufficiently far above the pistons to clear them. Also the
use of cam bars for releasing the hold of the springs and causing the bricks to
drop on the upper surface of the pistons.
"
Another feature of the Invention consists in combining with the moveable
moulds pistons having extension plates within them, which are operated by
levers and studs.
1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County!
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto:
me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS," being a commu-
nication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
:
This Invention of "improved machinery for making bricks relates relate to
that class of brick machines designed for making bricks of dry clay through the
agency of great pressure exerted thereon, and consists in constructing the
entire frame in one large single body to give the machine the necessary
strength and firmness to resist the heavy strain and pressure to which it is
constantly subjected, and to give precision to the movements of the pistons and
moulds. The moulds are formed, arranged, and secured within the frame in
such a manner and are caused to move in such relation to the movements of
.the extension plate pistons whilst pressing the clay, as to entirely expel the air

page_text: therefrom. A suitable arrangement or combination of parts is also provided
for lifting the bricks from the moulds, and placing them between the
automatic grasp of upright springs and standards, which convey them over the
pistons and gently lay them on the upper surface of the same.
..
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved
brick machine; Fig. 2 is a top or bird's-eye view of the same; Fig. 3 is a
vertical longitudinal section of the-machine taken at the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken at the line 3, 4, of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5, is another transverse section taken at the line 5, 6, of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is
à.top view of the machine with the upper .connected plates of the moulds
removed; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the frame of the machine.
The frame A is made of a rectangular form, and is cast in one.massive piece
for the purpose of giving the greatest possible strength within the narrow
limits of its sides where the powerful longitudinal pressure necessary to form
the bricks is exerted, and thus prevent it from springing laterally or in the
slightest degree yielding to the pressure, and giving precision to the move-
ments of the pistons and moulds, by affording bearings for them to slide on
their entire length. Casting these bearings in or rather with the frame
enables them to be planed perfectly parallel and true.
To the horizontal cross piece B of the frame, which forms a strong brace to
its central portion, are secured the stationary pistons C. These pistons consist
simply of a hollow smoothly planed oblong plate C², exactly corresponding in
cross section with the size and form of the flat surfaces of the bricks and firmly
secured at its central portion to the cross piece B by suitable bolts. This
oblong plate C¹ contains another movable plate C. a little longer than the piston
plate proper, whose ends form the central portion of the faces of the pistons.C,
and are alternately extended a short distance beyond the same during the pro-
cess of filling the moulds, so as to cause à greater quantity of clay to, be
leposited between the stationary portions of the ends of the stationary and
moveable pistons than between the extension plates C of the, same, and
thereby give greater solidity or density to the bricks around the edges than at
tlie central portions. The extension plates C³ contained in the movable pistoris
Dand the extension plates C3 of the stationary pistons C, are extended or fixed
outward from the faces of their respective pistons by means of levers C
attached. by screws, which pass loosely through openings in the ends of the
same to the moveable piston frame E, and at their central portions by similar
screws to the extension plates, in such a manner as to cause their opposite
ends, which extend over the side of the frame A, to come in contact with pins
or studs C, rising from the upper surface of the side of the frame at such
.

page_text: stages in the movements of the moveable piston frame E, as to force the said
extension plates their allotted distance into the moulds before the clay is filled
in the same, and produce the before-mentioned result in the relative quantities
at the centre and around the edges of the moulds. The moveable pistons D
are secured at the ends of a strong iron frame or plate E, whose sides rest and
slide on the upper bearings of the frame A, and between the sides of the same.
and whose upper surface as well as the upper surfaces of the stationary and
moveable pistons C, D, are on the same horizontal plane with the top of the
frame A. This frame or plate E is made in the form of a yoke at one end,
across which is secured a horizontal shaft F, to which is attached by a strap
joint the end of a connecting rod G, strapped at its opposite end to an excen-
tric H, secured to a horizontal transverse shaft I, turning in suitable boxes
near the end of the frame A, and having large cog wheels secured to its ends'
outside the frame. This excentric H is secured on the shaft I immediately:
next the side of the frame A, so as to bring the strain as near the box or
bearing as possible; and thereby prevent the shaft I from springing at the
centre under the heavy strain exerted upon it during the compression of the
clay into bricks.
The extent of throw of the excentric II exactly corresponds with the distance:
the clay is compressed in the moulds, and the distance apart of the faces
of the pistons C, D, when respectively nearest each other to form the bricks
and farthest apart to receive the clay will depend upon the character or
quality of clay used, and may be regulated by inserting the moveable pistons D:
in dovetail guides in the ends of their frame E, and providing them with adjust-
ing screws or other devices for moving their faces nearer to or farther from
the faces of the stationary pistons C, as is done in other brick machines..
The moveable mould K nearest the excentric shaft is formed of two hori-
zontal parallel transverse plates K',' arranged one above the other, the lower
one extending through horizontal slots L in the sides of the frame A, with its
upper surface flush with the lower surfaces of the pistons, and the upper one
extending a like distance, with its lower surface flush with the upper surface
of the pistons. These two plates K' are connected together by upright end
pieces K², from the outer surfaces of which project wrist pins, to which the
ends of connecting rods M, attached at their opposite ends to similar wrist
or crank pins, projecting from the faces of the cog wheels N; in such a manner
as to cause the said mould K. to have a reciprocating movement commensurate
with the throw of the wrist or crank pin on the cog wheels N, at every revolu
tion of the same. The other mould K is also formed of parallel transverse
plates K, situated the same distance apart and in the same relation to tție

page_text: upper and lower surfaces of the mould as the plates K', but instead of extend-
ing beyond the sides of 'the mould as in the former case, the ends of the lower.
plate extend over and rest and slide upon the lower projecting bearing formed
on the inside of the sides of the frame A, while the ends of the upper one
extend even with the outer surfaces of the sides of the frame. The sides of
the moulds K, K³, are formed of two horizontal parallel longitudinal rails O,.
whose ends are secured between the upper and lower transverse plates of the
two moulds. These rails O exactly fill the space between the inner surfaces:
of the moveable mould frame E and the sides of the stationary mould plate C';
and serve to connect the respective upper and lower transverse plates of the
two moulds together.
The upper transverse mould plates K', K, are also connected togetlier.on
top by a longitudinal plate P, in whose ends (which rest and are secured on-
the said transverse plates) are formed openings corresponding with similar,
openings in the plates K', K', immediately above the moulds, with which they
communicate in such a manner as to allow the passage of the clay through
them into the same at the proper stages of their movements.
To the under surfaces of the lower transverse mould plates and next the
sides of the frame A are secured parallel longitudinal ribs or plates Q, bevilled
on their edges next each other, so as to form dovetails for the insertion of cor-
responding horizontal dovetail plates R, secured at one of their ends to grooved
'vertical guide plates R, between which are inserted and slide the shanks or
slides S of the lifting platens S¹. The horizontal plates R. and the guide plates S
connected to them form a right-angled frame for the support of the platens
when at rest, and guide them during their up-and-down movements. The
lower ends of the shanks or slides S are made in the form of yokes or forks,
with horizontal-bolts S extending across them, which bolts, when the platens
are lowered and at rest are situated on the same horizontal plane as the trans-:
verse fulcrum shafts.of right-angled levers T, suspended in suitable boxes in.
the sides of the frame A. The upper ends of the upright portions of these
levers T are connected together by a horizontal rod V, so as to cause them to
move together, and to a transverse bar V passing through a slot in the sides of
the frame A, and having antifriction rollers on its ends, which enter grooves W
on the inner faces of the cog wheels N. These grooves are made circular
nearly the entire distance around the cog wheels, the deviations from this
regular course, which are less than one-sixth of the circumference, each ex-
tending in the form of segments of a circle the reverse of the circle of the
wheels, in such a manner as to give the necessary rocking movement to the
right-angled levers T at the proper times, to raise and lower the lifting platens

page_text: S'. The end of the lower portion of the right-angled lever T farthest from
the cog wheels N has a horizontal slot formed in it, which (when the friction
rollers on the end of the cross bar V are in the concentric circular portion
of the grooves W and the lower portion of said lever is horizontal) is on the
same horizontal plane as the bolt S2, across the yoke or forked end of the
shank or slide S of the lifting platform or platen next the mould. This mould,
moves immediately above it, so as to receive the same at a certain por-
tion of its reciprocating movement, and the corresponding lower end of the
other right-angled lever has a projection 6 on its side, in which a groove is
formed, whose mouth or open end is the reverse of the corresponding part of
the groove in the end of the other lever, so as to admit of the end of a stud or
bolt S, projecting from the lower end of the shank or slide of the lifting platen.
next the cog wheels N, entering the same at the necessary time to lift the
platen above it. To one of the sides of the sliding frames R¹ of the platens S¹
are secured vertical standards X, whose inner surfaces are even with the ends,
of the platens, and on the opposite sides of the frames R¹ (and even with the;
opposite ends of the platens) are secured upright springs Y, whose upper ends,
curve slightly inward toward the standards X, in such a manner as to gradú.:
ally lessen the space between the springs and standards toward the upper ends*
of the same, and thus enable the bricks to be held between the two when raised)
by the platens, until the upper ends of the springs are pressed outward by the
cam bars Z, and made to release their hold of the bricks when they are
These cam bars Z are:
brought fairly over the ends of the moveable pistons D.
formed on studs or blocks secured to the top of the moveable piston frame. E,,
and extend longitudinally toward each other a short distance above the top of
the frame, and are rounded or, made tapering at their ends, so as to give the:
desired outward movements to the tops of the spring. Y when brought against,
the same.
:
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The clay, properly pulverized,
is introduced to the moulds K; K³, through suitable spouts, whose lower ends.
are even or flush. with the upper surface of the longitudinal. plate P, secured,
to the upper transverse mould plates K³, K', in such relation to the openings.
in the same (which alternately communicate with the moulds) as to admit of
the necessary supply of clay being. made to the moulds when their respective
moveable pistons D are farthest from the stationary ones C. Supposing that-
a regular rotary motion is given to the main shaft I, by means of pinions
gearing with the cog wheels N, the moveable pistons D will have the necessary
reciprocating movement at each revolution of the cog wheels, through the
agency of the excentric H on their shaft. The crank G is strapped to the;

page_text: moveable piston frame E, and thereby alternately compresses the clay between
the faces of the moveable. pistons. and the faces of the stationary ones into
the reduced size of bricks. The power. necessary to produce this result, will
be exerted by the excentric H acting. directly on a line with the movements
of the moveable piston D, and as the sides of the frame E of these pistons have
a bearing on the sides of the strong substantial frame A throughout their.
entire length; and these sides are situated. but a short distance from the line
on which the pistons move, the whole strain on the frame A and other parts
will: be longitudinal; and the tendency of the frame, moveable pistons, piston
frame, and in fact all other parts which participate in the pressure to spring
laterally will be counteracted. These characteristics also apply to the moveable:
moulds, whose reciprocating movement is much greater than the throw of the
pistons. The arrangement of the: wrists to which the ends of the crank rods.
M of the moulds are attached in relation to the excentric II, is such as to
cause them to move with the pistons D, but at an increased speed at certain.
stages of their movements, so as to expel the air from the clay in the moulds
during the compression of the same. In order to illustrate the manner in
which the moulds operate to produce this result we will suppose the piston"
D nearest the excentric H to be opened or extended from its stationary piston:
C the full extent it is capable of moving, the piston D at the opposite end.
of the moveable piston frame E will have pressed the clay between it and!
its stationary piston C-into the reduced bulk necessary to form a brick and
the opening in the upper transverse mould plate K³, communicating with the
clay feeding spout, or trunk and mould K nearest the excentric, will be directly*
over, the space between the open or extended pistón, and its stationary one:
so as to allow the mould to be entirely filled with clay. During the closing!
or pressing movement of this piston the movement of its mould K. with it.
and past the clay at an increased speed will cause the inner surfaces of the:
mould to draw upon and flatten the bubbles or globules of air forced toward
and against the same through the clay during the gradual pressure of the
same, and will thus, through the natural tendency of the flattened globules:
of air to adhere-to and move with the smooth mould surfaces sliding past the
surfaces of the clay, cause the air to be discharged therefrom. This movement'
of the surfaces of. the mould past the clay, will in addition to: rolling, as it
were, the air from the surfaces, smooth the same, and in the event of it being
laid at unequal densities in the mould, or of portions of it being lumped
together, the sliding surfaces will roll and intermix the whole mass in the,
mould to one commion density. During this pressing movement of one piston
to form a brick, the opposite one is being opened or removed from its

page_text: stationary piston next which a brick was formed on the previous throw of
the excentric. At the commencement of. this movement of the pistons the
moulds are on the eve of terminating their reverse movement, and just.before
doing so the end of the sliding- frame R, farthest from the excentric strikes
the end of the stationary bar a, and it is held in a state of rest; while the
mould K³ moves 'a very short distance over it to clear the brick before
terminating its stroke, and sufficiently long to enable the lifting platen next
it: to ascend and raise the brick above it;, and leave it suspended between the
spring Yand standard X. This raising of the lifting platen farthest from
the excentric, is effected by the right angled lever T next it, into whose end
slot the bolt S at the lower end of the shank or slide S of. the lifting platen
is caused to enter during its movement with the mould K³.. Both. the right
angled levers T are moved on their shafts to produce this result at the
termination of every reciprocating throw of the moulds, by means of the
irregular portions 6 of the cam groove W in the cog wheels N, operating
on the friction wheels on the end of the transverse bar V. After this lifting
platen has raised the brick and descended to its original position, the brick
is carried between the spring Y and standard X; by which it is held, with
the before-mentioned return, movement of the moulds over the end of the
piston C. which formed it, on which it is laid by the upper end of the spring
Y coming in contact with and sliding past or over the curved surface of the
cam bar Z, which draws the spring from.the brick and thereby. releases it:
The spring Y.is held out of range of the end of the bricks previously laid
and slided over the surface of the piston C by the side of the said cam bar
Z, against which, it slides until it again returns past the curved: end of the
bar. Just before the termination of the stroke of the moulds, the upright
or standard X strikes the end of the moveable, piston frame E, and slides
the lifting-platen frame and its attachments back to its original position. In
this manner a brick is formed between one of the moveable pistons D, and
its stationary one C, while a. previously formed brick is being discharged
from the mould of the corresponding pistons at the opposite end. The
peculiar relation of the excèntric H, crank, or connecting rod wrists M, and
irregular portions 6 of the cam grooves W, in the cog wheels .N, causes the
piston D to act alternately, and the right angled levers T, through their end
slots, in which the bolt S² of the lifting platen shanks or slides 'S alternately
enter, to raise the bricks from the moulds above the lifting platens. Instead
of having only one set of pistons and a single mould at either end, two or
more may be employed, in which event two connecting rods M and excentrics
H will be necessary, and must be arranged immediately next the boxes in

page_text: which the main shaft journals turn, so as to bring the strain upon the shaft
and as near the sides of the frame A. as possible.
Having thus fully described the construction and operation of this improved
brick machine, what I claim therein as new is,
First, casting the entire frame A of the machine in one rectangular piece
with a horizontal cross tie within it, to which certain of the stationary parts
ȧre secured.
Second, I claim expelling the air from the clay during the operation of
pressing the same, by means of the moveable moulds, constructed, arranged,
and operated as herein set forth.
Third, I claim the combination and arrangement of the right-angled slotted
levers for sliding, lifting platens, and a horizontal sliding cross bar worked
by cog wheels on the main shaft for lifting or discharging the bricks from
the moulds, and pressing them between the upright springs and standards as
described. .
Fourth, I claim suspending the frames in which the sliding platens are
secured in horizontal guides below the moulds, so as to enable their movements
to be arrested by the ends of the stop bar coming in contact with them
during the upward and downward movements of the lifting platens.
Fifth, I claim the employment of the upright springs and standards on the
sides of the sliding platen frame, for holding the bricks suspended on a plane
sufficiently far above the pistons to clear them, also the use of cani bars for
releasing the hold of the springs, and causing the bricks to drop on the upper
surface of the pistons, as herein set forth.
Sixth, I also claim combining with the moveable moulds, pistons, having
extension plates within them, which are operated by levers and studs in-the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON.. (L.S.) .