IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, AND IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE, OF BRICKS, TILES, PIPES, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Carter Stafford Percy, Machinist, and
William Craven, Engineer and Tool Maker, both of Vauxhall Iron
Works, Collyhurst Road, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, AND IN MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE, OF BRICKS, TILES, PIPES, AND
OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS."
Sealed the 14th August 1855, and dated the 16th February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Carter Stafford
Percy and William Craven at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 16th February 1855.
We, WILLIAM CARTER STAFFORD PERCY, Machinist, and WILLIAM CRAVEN,
Engineer and Tool Maker, both of Vauxhall Iron Works, Collyhurst Road,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, AND IN MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE, OF BRICKS, TILES, PIPES, AND OTHER
ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates firstly, to a mode of "tempering "clay or other similar
plastic material, and consists in the application of steam for the purpose of
moistening or saturating the plastic material.
Secondly, it relates to an improved arrangement of mechanism or apparatus

page_text: for combining the operation of "pugging" and "screening' or separating
stones, roots, &c., from clay or other plastic materials to prepare it for manu-
facturing purposes, and consists in perforating the sides of the pugging vessel
for the escape of pugged clay, and in forming and arranging the agitators or
knives which are carried round by the revolving of the shaft in the axis of the
pugging vessel, in such manner that their surfaces act to force the clay through
the perforations made in the sides, as well as press the material towards the
bottom of the pugging vessel, so that the stones, roots, &c., which will not pass
through the perforations may be delivered from an orifice at the bottom of the
pugging vessel.
Thirdly, it relates to machinery and apparatus for moulding into suitable
forms, bricks, tiles, and other similar articles, and it consists in the use of a
pair or series of rollers for the purpose of feeding or propelling plastic materials
into and through a chamber which conducts it into a mould box, or a series of
mould boxes, which are brought alternately opposite the mouth of the chamber
to be filled and taken away by a reciprocating motion; it also consists in a
mode of compressing the material in the mould after it has received its full
charge in the chamber, and in the delivery of the moulded material by pistons
fitting in the bottom of the mould boxes, the rods from which are acted upon
by inclines fixed on levers, which levers are also acted upon by inclines fixed on
the reciprocating frame or table carrying the mould boxes.
Fourthly, it relates to a mode of drying articles moulded from plastic
materials, and consists in submitting such articles to the action of a draught
of air produced by mechanical means, which may be most conveniently done
by an arrangement of an endless cloth or "flexible
of any convenient
length, passing round and sustained by a series of rollers, which endless
cloth or "flexible" passes through and is enclosed in a pipe or channel into
which a current or draught of air is caused to enter at each end, by
means of a centrifugal fan communicating with the middle of the pipe or
channel, which draught or current of air (when thus arranged) will act first
on one side and then on the opposite side of the articles placed on the
endless cloth or flexible, as they are carried through the pipe or channel by a
motion (sufficiently slow to give time for the required drying action)
communicated to the endless cloth or flexible.
Fifthly, it relates to an arrangement and combination of mechanism which
may be used in machines (either single or double action ones) where pistons
are employed for forcing clay or other plastic material through moulding
orifices, or through "screening" orifices, and it consists in arranging the
chamber or box (in which the plastic material is placed to be acted upon by the

page_text: piston,) so that it will move horizontally on slides or guides; or it consists in
combining two chambers or boxes together, so that they will move on slides or
guides in such manner that each chamber or box may be alternately brought
opposite the piston rod or mechanism for forcing the clay, or alternately
opposite the place of delivery or moulding orifices, by which arrangement one
chamber or box may be filled with material, while the material in the other
chamber or box is being acted upon by the piston, and forced through the
moulding or screening orifices.
Sixthly, it relates to arrangements for diminishing the frictional or adhesive
force of clay or other plastic materials upon the sides of boxes or chambers
through which it is required to be forced in machines for screening or
moulding plastic materials, by lubricating or keeping the sides of such
chambers wet. It consists in lining such chambers or boxes with a porous sub-
stance; that which we have found to answer best so far being wood placed
with the grain perpendicular to the sides of the boxes or chambers, channels
being cut at the back of the casing, which are kept filled with water which
filters through the pores of the casing, and thus constantly furnishes its entire
surface with lubricating matter.
Seventhly, it relates to a mode of manufacturing hollow bricks, tiles, and
other similar hollow articles, which mode consists in first moulding of near
the external shape and dimensions the form of the article required, and then,
when partially dried, subjecting it to pressure by dies and in moulds, to
make it hollow, and give it the true required external form and dimensions.
It also consists in pressing hollow moulded articles in moulds, and by dies
to give additional shapes to them, such as forming "collars" or sockets on
pipes, tiles, and other articles of like nature.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Carter Stafford Percy and William Craven in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
CARTER STAFFORD PERCY, Machinist, and WILLIAM CRAVEN, Engineer and
Tool Maker, both of Vauxhall Iron Works, Collyhurst Road, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said William Carter Stafford Percy and William Craven, Her especial
license that we, the said William Carter Stafford Percy and William Craven,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
William Carter Stafford Percy and William Craven, our executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, AND IN MACHI-
NERY AND APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE, OF BRICKS, TILES, PIPES, AND
OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said William Carter Stafford Percy and William Craven,
by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of our 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 we, the said William Carter Stafford Percy and
William Craven, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings
(that is to say) :-
:-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to a modo of tempering clay or other similar
plastic materials, and consists in the application of steam for the purpose of
moistening or saturating the plastic material. The apparatus by which we
accomplish this purpose is shewn in Sheet 1 of the two Sheets of Drawings
annexed hereunto by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which represent respectively a side
sectional view, front elevation, and plan view of the apparatus. The apparatus
consists of a square box a, which may be made of plate metal. In the interior
of the box a ledge a' is fixed round that forms a support for a sieve frame b,
which supports two others 6', 62, placed above cach other; they fit loosely in
the box and may be readily withdrawn; any convenient number of them may
be used. The surface of the upper sieve 63 is level or slightly above the
upper front edge of the box; it is so placed that any stones or matters which
do not pass through it may be readily drawn off. The box has as lid a hinged
to a shaft a³, having weights a keyed at each end to counterbalance the lid, so
that it may be easily opened and shut by a small exertion of power. When
the lid is shut down it is secured in that position by two latches a³ that take

page_text: hold of projections from the lid. These latches are connected together by a
rod a, which is jointed to each of the latches, one of them having a weight a
applied to it, which causes them to latch themselves when the lid is shut, the
weight a resting on a projection from the front of the box when the lid is
open. The bottom of the box is formed by another lid or door c hinged at c'
to open
downward; this bottom lid or door is secured when closed by latches
a", of the same arrangement as those described for securing the upper lid, as
will be seen by inspection of the Figs. The bottom lid, it will be seen, fits
between the sides of the box that descend to the ground, and shuts against the
under side of the ledge a', passing round the inside of the box. It has
projections at each side that pass through slots c² in the sides of the box, which
have secured to them one end of a chain or rope c, the other ends being
fastened to pulleys c', keyed on a shaft c³, free on bearings fixed to the sides of
the box; this shaft has also a hand wheel c" fixed upon it, by which the door
may be easily drawn up or let down. When the clay to be tempered is placed
on the upper sieve the lid a² is closed, and the steam (which may be that
exhausted by high pressure steam engines) is admitted to the box through the
pipe d, which has a branch and orifice conducting the steam to the space
between each sieve. The clay as it is tempered will pass through the upper
sieve to the next and next, and then will be received on the bottom lid or
door c. When the space between the bottom sieve and lid or door is supposed
to be full of tempered clay, the steam may be shut off till the bottom lid is
lowered and the clay removed.
Our Invention relates, secondly, to an improved arrangement of mechanisın
or apparatus for combining the operation of pugging and screening or sepa-
rating stones, roots, &c. from clay or other plastic materials to prepare it for
manufacturing purposes, and it consists in perforating the sides of the pugging
vessel for the escape of pugged clay, and in forming and arranging the agitators
or knives, which are carried round by the revolving of the shaft in the axis
of the pugging vessel, in such manner that their surfaces act to force the clay
through the perforations made in the sides, as well as press the material
towards the bottom of the pugging vessel, so that the stones, roots, &c. which
will not pass through the perforations in its side may be delivered from orifices
at the bottom of it. The improved arrangement of mechanism referred to is
represented on Sheet 2 by Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 4 being an elevation partly in
ection, and Fig. 5 a plan, certain portions being supposed broken away. The
bugging vessel (a) represented is of cylindrical form, but may be made
conical; its whole surface is perforated by holes placed as near as possible
onsistent with the required strength of the vessel, but a few only are repre-

page_text: sented in the Fig. 4 at the upper end of the vessel. The bottom end of the
vessel has a flange a' formed upon it by which it is secured to a foundation or
carriage frame a³, and it has two orifices a³ in the bottom to permit the passage
of stones, roots, &c. The shaft 6 for carrying round the agitators or knives c
works in a bearing formed in a bracket a fixed to the top of the vessel as in
ordinary pugging mills, and after passing through the bottom of the vessel in
a foot-step bearing 6' under it, the shaft b may have a dished collar b³ at its
lower end, to cover a ring formed round it and secured to the bottom of the
vessel as shewn. That part of the shaft b, upon which the agitators or knives
are placed may be made of a square, hexagonal, or octagonal form, so that the
agitators or knives c, having similar shaped holes through their bosses, may be
placed loosely on the shaft, and be carried round with it.
Motion may be
imparted to the shaft 6 in the same manner in which motion is given to the
shafts of ordinary pug mills. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 represent respectively plan
and edge views of one of the agitators or knives c, shaped to produce a
lateral and vertical action. The dotted spaces on Fig. 7 represent the sections
of the agitators or knives on the dotted lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, on which they
are respectively placed, and the arrow on Fig. 6 points the direction in which
they revolve. It will be seen that the pugged clay will be expressed on all
sides of the vessel, and to collect and deliver it at one point we make the
following arrangements, namely, encircle the outside of the vessel by a plate
or dish d, which has a concentric bevilled edge turned on its under side, that
rests on a corresponding edge formed on the flange a', by which the pugging
vessel is secured to its foundation (a2). This plate or dish d has formed round
its under side internal teeth, and is geered with a spur wheel & keyed on the
agitator shaft 6 at the under side of the vessel, by an intermediate spur
wheel de free on a stud secured to the foundation a². With this arrangement
it will be seen that the revolving of the shaft 6 will impart motion to the plate
or dish d. Spouts a³ may be fixed to the under side of the vessel of the shape
of the orifices a³ to convey such stones, roots, clay, &c. as are forced through
them clear of the toothed wheels, as shewn, and the inner edge of the dish or
plate & may be turned up to take into a cavity formed by a hoop af, fixed
round the lower end of the pugging vessel, so that the clay dropping from the
perforations cannot get between the dish or plate & and pugging vessel.
the plate & revolves it carries with it the pugged clay which drops from
the perforations, which is intercepted by a scraper or doctor e fixed to the
foundation or carriage which removes it from the dish or plate at the point
required. The material to be pugged is fed into the upper part of the vessel,
as in the ordinary pug mill, and as the action of the agitators or knives iş
As

page_text: principally to force through the perforations all that will pass, very little of
anything but stones, roots, &c. will be delivered through the orifices (a³) at the
bottom of the vessel.
Our Invention relates, thirdly, to machinery and apparatus for moulding into
suitable forms bricks, tiles, and other similar articles; and it consists in the
use of a pair or series of rollers, for the purpose of feeding or propelling plastic
material into and through a chamber, which conducts it into a mould box, or
series of mould boxes, which are brought alternately opposite the mouth of the
chamber to be filled and taken away by a reciprocating motion; and it also
consists in a mode of compressing the material in the mould after it has
received its full charge in the chamber, and in the delivery of the moulded
material by pistons fitted in the bottom of the mould boxes, the rods from
which are acted upon by inclines fixed on levers, which levers are also acted
upon by inclines fixed on the reciprocating frame or table carrying the mould
boxes. Fig. 9, Sheet 2, represents a sectional elevation taken through the
operating parts of the machine. The foundation plate a of the machine may
be placed on wheels to facilitate its locomotion on the foundation plate a.
A bed a may be formed or secured with V slide grooves, and to it may be fitted
a table with corresponding V slides, similar to machines for planing metals.
On this table the mould boxes b are secured; the stems or rods c¹ of the piston
c, for forcing the moulded material out of the box, pass through holes in the
table a. The pistons c of the mould boxes shewn are such as carry with them
the matter to lubricate the sides of the boxes. A plate 6' is fixed between the
boxes to form one plane with the upper surface of the boxes. Two side
frames d are secured to the foundation plate a, which are connected together
at their upper ends by cross stays d. In the side frames the bearings of the
rollers e, e', f. f, are formed, the ends of which work as close to the side
frames or plates d as possible. Between the side frames to which they are
secured are plates d, fitting close to the upper surface of the mould boxes, and
having a space between them through which the material is forced into the
mould boxes by the pair of rollers c, e, the material being removed from the
surface of the rollers by "doctors" g, which have pivots at g', that fit into
bearings in the side frames. From the position and arrangement of the
doctors and direction of revolution of the rollers e, e', as pointed by the arrows
upon them, it will be seen that they have a tendency to carry the upper edges
of the doctors (9) along with them; this is prevented and the closeness of the
edge of the doctors to the surface of the rollers is regulated by set screws g²,
that screw through cars formed on the plates d³. The upper drum f and
rollers and belt f¹ are for the purpose of feeding the rollers e, e', the material

page_text: being placed on the belt f', the drum f pressing it firmly on one of the rollers e.
The reciprocations of the table a³, to bring the mould boxes alternately under
the chamber or space between the plate d, is produced by a crank h, which is
connected to the table by a rod h³, jointed to it, and the table at h²; and in
order the table may stand for a moment while the mould boxes are filling, the
crank is made to have a greater throw or radius than the length of reciprocating
motion required by the mould boxes, and that end of the rod h¹ with which
the crank pin is connected has a slot in it, so that the table remains motionless
after arriving at the extreme of each reciprocation during the time the crank
pin is passing through the length of the slot in the connecting rod. The first
motion shaft may be placed in bearings on the foundation plate at k (k¹ repre-
senting the driving pulleys); the shaft has a pinion upon it, which goers with
a wheel ³ on a shaft working in bearings on the foundation plate at *; the
wheel geers with one () c
on the crank shaft (which also works in bearings
on the foundation plate) as well as with a wheel e, on the axis of the roller c,
which geers with a wheel e', on roller e', and a wheel on the other end of the
axis of the roller e' geers with one on the drum f. The pitches of the
several wheels mentioned are represented in the Figure in dotted line. The
lower ends of the piston rods (c') of the mould boxes have anti-friction bowls
cfixed to them, and as the table a reciprocates, these pass over levers m,
fixed on shafts m', having bearings in the slide bed a. When the mould box
is receiving its charge, the anti-friction bowl is just clear of its lover m, but as
the box moves from under the chamber, the anti-friction bowl comes against
an incline formed on its lever (which is prevented from descending), and causes
the piston to lift, pressing the material in the box against the under side of its
plate d³, as it passes under, and when clear of the plate the incline begins to
force the moulded material (a) out of the box, and to increase this motion
upwards the other end of the lever (which has an anti-friction bowl upon it)
is acted upon by an incline a³, on the under side of the reciprocating table.
Only one lever (m) and incline (a³) on the table is shewn in the Drawing, but
there is another incline on the opposite end of the table which acts on a lever
corresponding to that shewn (m), but which is placed in a direction reverse to it.
There are only two mould boxes shewn, but by making the machine wider,
several boxes might be placed side by side. An orifice n is made in the side
of the chamber to allow the escape of surplus material for which there is no
other outlet when the mould box is full and is passing under the covering
plated. The machines may be worked by either steam or horse power.
Our Invention relates, fourthly, to a mode of drying articles moulded from
plastic materials, and consists in submitting such articles to the action of a

page_text: The
draught of air produced by mechanical means, which may be accomplished by
an endless cloth, flexible, or other suitable arrangement of any convenient
extent, sustained by a series of rollers, which endless cloth, or flexible, or other
arrangement passes through and is enclosed in a pipe or channel, into which a
current or draught of air is caused to enter at each end by means of a centri-
fugal fan communicating with the middle of the pipe or channel, which
draught or current of air (when thus arranged) will act first on one side and
then on the opposite side of the articles placed on the endless cloth, flexible, or
other arrangement, as they are carried through the pipe or channel by a
motion (sufficiently slow to give time for the required drying action,) commu-
nicated to the endless cloth, flexible, or other arrangement. The most conve-
nient arrangements for carrying out this part of our Invention are represented
on Sheet 1 by Figs. 10, 11, and 12, which are respectively a longitudinal
sectional elevation, an end elevation part in section, and a plan view.
sides a, forming the air-tight channel or pipe, are formed of iron, having
flanges or ledges a' at the top and bottom, to which the top and bottom sides
of the channel or pipe are screwed, which may be formed of boards tongued
and grooved together. The iron sides a have also formed or attached to them
ledges a³, which answer as a railway for wheels (6') to rest and run upon, that
are secured to each end of travelling boards b, extending across the channel,
which may in breadth exceed by sufficient clearance the length of the article
to be dried. Two lines of travelling boards with wheels are shewn; the upper
ones carry the article (a) to be dried, and the lower ones are the returning
boards. The travelling boards touch each other, and when the end one is
pushed, all the rest are moved along the way. When the end board is filled
with the articles it is pushed forward, to make way for another board; this is
accomplished by a lever c, which is fixed on a shaft c', extending across the
channel, and working in bearings fixed to the sides a, which has keyed upon it
two arms c², one on each side, to the ends of which are jointed hooks c³, the
ends of which pass through and are free in slots made in the side frames a,
opposite the ends of the boards; these hooks come against and force forward
cach end of the travelling board to the extent of the breadth of a board, leaving
room for an empty one, which is risen from the lower line by two levers, which
are formed of two arms d d', which are keyed on shafts d², having their bear-
ings in brackets or stands d³, fixed to the bottom of the channel. One arm & of
each lever carries an anti-friction roller d', and one arm d' of one of the levers
has an anti-friction bowl on it, which rests against the corresponding arm d'
of the other lever. When the arm with the anti-friction bowl d on it (which
is formed into an handle) is pressed down, the anti-friction rollers d' in the

page_text: arms & will act against the under side of one of the travelling boards, and lift it
up to the level of the other line of way. That the ends of the boards may have
liberty to pass, a portion of the upper line of way equal to the breadth of a board
is cut away, and slots are formed in the sides a of the channel in the place of
the portions cut away; through these slots pieces are made so as to enter and
withdraw, which are mounted on arins e, having their fulcrums fixed on the
sides at e', each having arms e² projecting from their fulcruins e towards cach
other, nearly meeting under the middle of the channel. These projecting arms
e have sufficient weight to cause the pieces (e") mounted on the arms (e²) to
enter and remain in the slots (and thus form a continuation of the way) when
not otherwise acted upon by the foot lever f, one end of which is made to come
against the ends of the projecting arms (e"), causing them when it pressed to
lift simultaneously. It will be understood by the arrangement described, that
the foot leverf is pressed to give liberty to lift the lower travelling boards to
the level of the upper ones, and is then released to retain them at that level;
g are weights attached to the arms d to counterbalance the other arms d. The
same apparatus may be used both to lower and raise the travelling boards b.
The centrifugal fan is placed midway between each end of the channel; it is
formed by two boxes h, placed on each side of the channel, each of which
communicates with it. The shaft h¹ of the fan works in bearings fixed on the
sides of the boxes h, h2, being the fast and loose driving pulleys. The fan is
composed of a drum h", the ends of which are open and project into the side
boxesh through holes formed in them. The drum (h³) has vanes h* fixed upon
its exterior, and slits h³ formed in it at the back of them. The revolving of
the drum (3) causes the vanes to displace the atmosphere in contact with
them, the place of which is supplied through the slits (5) in the drum by air
which enters through the side boxes h from the channel, and thus causes a
current from both ends of the channel, which passes between the articles to be
dried. The speed at which the articles may be traversed through the channel
will depend upon the rapidity of drying; but the longer the channel is made,
and more the speed of travelling may be increased.
The improvement referred to in our Provisional Specification as the fifth
part of our Invention we have discovered since the filing thereof will not be
useful; we therefore make no claim in respect to it.
Our Invention relates, fifthly, to arrangements for diminishing the frictional
or adhesive force of clay or other plastic materials upon the sides of the
boxes or chambers through which it is required to be forced in machines for
screening or moulding plastic materials, by lubricating or keeping the sides of
such boxes or chambers wet. It consists in lining such chambers or boxes

page_text: with a porous substance; that which we have found to answer best being wood
placed with its grain perpendicular to the sides of the boxes or chambers,
channels being cut at the back of the casing or in the sides of the chambers
which are kept filled with water which filters through the pores of the casing,
and thus constantly furnishing its entire surface with lubricating matter. In
Sheet 1, Fig. 13, 14, and 15, we have shewn the manner in which this part
of our Invention may be applied. Fig. 13 is a section through a box or
chamber, and Fig. 14 is a view of one side of it. It will be seen that the
surface of the plate a has grooves a' made in it to admit the water to the back
of the porous wood b, which may be fixed to the surface of the plates a by
boring holes through the wood and plate, and driving wood pegs 6' in, or it may
be secured to the sides by screw bolts. Fig. 15 shews the manner of fixing
the wood to the sides of the cylindrical chambers.
In this case the grooves a
are shewn in the wood; it scarcely requires to be fixed to the sides, but for
security it may be pegged to the sides, as described in reference to Figs. 13
and 14. Water may be supplied to the back of the wood 6 by pipes, in any
convenient manner, which will depend on the arrangement of the machine.
In chambers having a door on one side, water may be supplied as shewn in
Fig. 13, by a vessel c fixed to the door a", which may be filled as occasion may
require by a funnel c', (or other suitable means) provided with a stop-cock to
prevent the escape of water when the door is open.
Our Invention relates, sixthly. to a mode of manufacturing hollow bricks,
tiles, and other similar hollow articles, which mode consists in first moulding
of near the external shape and dimensions the form of the article required,
and then when partially dried subjecting it to pressure by dies and in moulds,
to make it hollow and give it the true required external form and dimensions.
The mechanism by which we accomplish the object of this part of our Inven-
tion is represented in Sheet 2 by Figs. 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, Fig. 16 being
a plan sectional view below the line a, b, Fig. 17, which is a side elevation,
with one moulded box, shewn in section; Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation, and
Fig. 19 and 20 are respectively a detached side and plan view of the upper
piston or plunger. The peculiar feature of this machine consists in the
employment of a table having the mould boxes upon it, and in arranging the
table so that it can be revolved to bring each mould box in succession to be
acted upon by pressing mechanism. Three boxes on one table are the most
convenient number to employ (as shewn in the machine represented), as while
one box is undergoing the pressure one of the others may be discharging, and
the other filling with another article to be pressed and shaped. This machine
is not only adapted to make hollow articles, and give them their true external

page_text: shape and dimensions, but to press and give additional shapes to hollow
moulded articles, and it is also particularly useful for pressing and giving to
solid articles their required external shape and dimensions. a and b are two
pillars, the lower ends being fixed in a beam c, and the upper in another beam;
d, the lower beam, is fixed on axletrees c¹, to which wheels care fixed to
facilitate locomotion. The table (c) carrying the mould (f) is fitted to revolve
freely on the pillar a, resting on a shoulder or collar formed on it. The mould
boxes are provided with pistons (f), having piston rods or stems (f) with
anti-friction bowls f³ fitted at their ends; they are secured on the revolving
table e, in the position shewn. The article within the mould box is pressed
either by forcing a piston into the mould box, or by first placing a cover over
it and forcing up the mould box piston (f¹), or both by forcing a piston into
the mould box and forcing up its piston. The stem (9') of the piston or
plunger g for covering the mould boxes f and pressing the material within
then is fittel free to slide vertically in a socket d¹ in the upper beam d, the
stems (9) having pins g from it that slide in slots made at the sides of the
socket d¹ to keep it from moving round; it has the vertical movements
imparted to it by a lever h, having its fulcrum in the pillar a, and its other end
free in a guide slot b¹ in the pillar b. The piston rod or stem g¹ passes through
a slot in the lever h, and is connected with it by projections g³ from the piston
rod or stem g¹ that take into side slots in the lever h. The piston or stem f
of the mould boxes (f) is also acted upon by a lever j, corresponding with that
for actuating the upper piston; it has its fulcrum in the pillar a, and its
other end works in a guide formed by a bracket k, screwed on the lower cross
beam c. This bracket also serves as a support to the edge of the table e to
resist the action of the upper piston g, and to it is fixed a bolt k¹ to slide up
and down vertically, being kept up when not otherwise acted upon by a
spring, secured to the lower cross beam c. This bolt k¹ shoots into notches e¹
formed in the edge of the under side of the table opposite each mould box;
it stops the table when revolving, and holds it at the point where the mould
box is vertically under the upper piston g, and when its piston rod or stem f
is vertically over the lower lever j. Before the table can be revolved, the bolt
will have to be pressed down out of the notch in the table, k³ being the
handle for the purpose.
The levers h & j may be actuated from cams, but they are shewn in the
Drawings to be actuated by cranks placed on a shaft having bearings in the
pillar b. Two crank pins A, P, are placed opposite each other, as seen best in
Fig. 17 and 18.
Each pin (and 2) is jointed to a rod (m and m¹), which connects it with

page_text: the end of one of the levers h and j. The shaft is intended to make half a
revolution, and the connecting rods m, m³, are bent, as shewn in Fig. 18,
to allow this. The upper piston 9 has to be brought down first to cover the
mould box, and as the lower lever j rests when not in action just clear of
the stem of the piston of the mould box, and both connecting rods m, m³,
are actuated during the time the upper piston is being brought down, a
slot is formed in that end of the connecting rod m¹jointed to the lower lever
to allow a certain length of movement of the connecting rod before it acts
upon the lever j. The upper piston g is brought down to act upon the
mould box f, descending as far as it is allowed to do before its actuating
crank pin gets to its lowest point, and as it cannot descend lower the
shaft is caused by its continued revolution to rise vertically in a slot in
the pillar b; the connecting rods m, m,, and shaft 1, assuming the position
shewn in dotted line (Fig. 18). To cause the shaft to rise parallel at both
ends a cam ³ is keyed on the outside end, which rests upon an anti-friction
bowl, free on a stud fixed to the front of the pillar b, and this cam
is shaped to give to its end of the shaft 7 the same rise, and at the same time
as that given by the peculiar action of the cranks, and connecting rods to the
other end of the shaft. The shaft has motion imparted to it by a hand fly wheel
F. The extent of compression by the mould box piston is regulated by packing
pieces fixed on the lower lever j.
We have before explained that in manufacturing hollow bricks, tiles, and
other similar hollow articles, we first mould of near the external shape and
dimensions the form of the article required, and when partially dry subject it to
pressure by dies and in moulds, to make it hollow and give it the true required
form and dimensions.
The dies to give the hollow form required in the articles are secured to the
under side of the upper piston 9; those we have shown in the Figs. 17, 19,
and 20, being six plugs 9', and they are intended to make hollows of the same
shape as themselves in one side of bricks. The ends of the plugs pass through
a piston plate g', the object of which is to prevent the moulded article from
rising out of the mould box when the dies (9) secured to the under side of the
piston g are withdrawn from it.
Two piston rods or stems are fixed to the plate (9'), and pass through
holes in the piston g, and have cross heads g' at their upper ends, which extend
over the sides of the piston g, round the ends of which strong india-rubber
springs are passed, as well as round pins placed in the side of the piston
plate g, by which arrangement the springs g³ tend to force the plate off the ends
of the plugs or dies g', but this is prevented by nuts 9 screwed on the stems 9º

page_text: which do not allow the lower side of the plate g' to go beyond the end of the
dies or plugs g'. The space between the upper side of the plate 9, and the
under side of the piston g is equal to the length the dies 9 are to penetrate
into the material placed in the mould boxes. The plate g' may be actuated by
other arrangements of springs; but we believe that described is most simple,
and the most easily kept in order.
When the moulded article is placed in the mould box, and is brought under
the piston or plunger arrangement g, by revolving the table c, the fly wheel 15
is revolved, and the plate g5 is caused to enter the mould box till the shoulder
formed round it rests on the upper surface of the box; the india-rubber springs
9 give way, and the plugs or dies g' are forced through the plate into the
material in the mould box till the under side of the piston 9 comes in contact
with the upper side of the plate g³, at which moment the shaft 7 begins to rise
in the vertical slot in the pillar b; the lower lever j acts on the piston rod or
stem f² of the mould box, and gives the final compression; the hand fly wheel />
is then revolved back, the upper piston or plunger g rises, but the plate g"
remains on the mould box till the plugs or dies g* are withdrawn, when it rises
with the piston g clear of it, giving liberty to bring the next box forward by
revolving the table.
During the time the next mould box is undergoing pressure the piston of the
mould box which has been pressed may be lifted by a foot lever to force the
moulded article up out of the box, so that it can be removed and replaced by
an attendant; but this is done in the machine shewn in the Drawings by an
incline n fixed to the pillar a, against which the anti-friction bowl f³ of the
stem or piston rod fcomes as the table e is revolved after the article in
the mould box has undergone the pressure, the incline n beginning to lift
the piston f¹ when the pressed article is clear of the upper piston g. On the
table being revolved to its next division, the piston f¹ drops down on
leaving the incline n, so that the mould box is ready to receive the article
to be pressed.
The machine will be most advantageously worked by one man and two boys,
the man to work the hand fly wheel and pull round the table, while one boy
takes away the pressed articles, and the other places in the moulds the articles
to be pressed.
We have now particularly described the nature of our Invention, and the
methods in which it may be carried into effect, and claim,-
Firstly, the mode and apparatus for tempering clay and other plastic
materials, as described in the first part of our Invention.
Secondly, we claim the improved combination of mechanism for pugging

page_text: clay and screening it from stones, roots, &c., described as the second part of our
Invention, so long as its peculiar mode of action is retained.
Thirdly, we claim the combination of mechanism for moulding bricks, tiles,
and other similar articles from plastic materials, described as the third part of
our Invention.
Fourthly, we claim the mode and mechanism for drying articles moulded
from plastic materials, described as the fourth part of our Invention.
Fifthly, we claim as our Invention the mode of reducing the frictional or
adhesive force of clay or other plastic materials upon the sides of boxes
or chambers through which it is required to be forced in machines for screening
plastic materials or moulding it into required forms, as described in the fifth
part of our Invention.
Sixthly and lastly, we claim the mode of manufacturing hollow bricks, tiles,
and other similar hollow articles, described in the sixth part of our Invention.
And we also claim the combination of mechanism described when used for
the manufacture of hollow bricks, in the manner described, and when used
for pressing and giving additional form and shape to articles previously
moulded in the hollow form, and when used for pressing and giving to solid
articles their required external form and dimensions, so long as its peculiar
characteristics are retained.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Carter Stafford Percy and
William Craven, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth
day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty five.
W. C. S. PERCY.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM CRAVEN. (L.S.)