IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODES AND MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING FIRE-CLAY, AND IN THE MOULDING AND MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES THEREBY AND THEREFROM, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER LOAMS AND WARES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gillespie, of Woodhead, Garnkirk, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Brick Maker, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODES AND MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING
FIRE-CLAY, AND IN THE MOULDING AND MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES THEREBY
AND THEREFROM, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER LOAMS AND WARES."
Sealed the 8th March 1872, and dated the 15th September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gillespie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th September 1871.
I, JAMES GILLESPIE, of Woodhead, Garnkirk, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Brick Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODES AND MEANS OR APparatus
FOR PREPARING FIRE-CLAY, AND IN THE MOULDING AND MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES
THEREBY AND THEREFROM, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER LOAMS AND WARES," to be
as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the preparation of fire-clay,
or it may be other clays or loams, such as are made from shales or
☐ A

page_text: stones requiring first to be ground or disintegrated to powder, which
makes them liable to absorb or contain air in the mixing and kneading
(either for or while being compressed into mere preparing moulds or
the actual or particular moulds for forming the articles or wares there-
from) in a more regular and perfect manner and homogeneous mass,
free from confined air and enclosed air spaces within the body of the
clay or the articles so prepared by my said improvements. And the
nature of my said Invention consists first, in kneading and compressing
the roughly or ordinarily partially prepared fire-clay under water into
the preparatory moulds for the purpose, and in new or improved
automatic mechanism for cutting the bands or streams into pieces, or
measured lumps, or blocks of the said clay, or otherwise kneading and
compressing the said roughly or partially prepared clay or the said
improved prepared clay or measured blocks into the said special or
actual moulds in which the articles are to be shaped either by hand
or by automatic mechanism, all so that the particles, or the prepared
pieces, or the sized blocks of fire-clay get joined more closely together,
the water displacing the air and conducting it freely off by its greater
weight or density during the operation and motion of kneading and
joining; and, second, in improved modes and means of automatically
effecting the said kneading and compressing or joining of the said
particles, or the improved prepared pieces, or measured blocks of fire-
clay under water, and to the plastic consistency or "temper" desired
to suit the particular purpose or article to be formed. And which
latter improvements substantially consist in feeding a given or regular
quantity of the said roughly prepared clay or prepared slices or blocks
into one end of a compressing, parallel, or tapered mould or chamber
(either for preparing the streams, or pieces, or blocks of prepared clay
or articles therefrom) closed on its sides, but open at the inlet and
outlet ends, having an intermittent reciprocating stamper or pressing
plunger formed with a new or improved movable ramming face in
two, three, or more loose movable pieces at the ramming face fixed
to it, so as to act with a moving or irregular face by some of the
parts projecting beyond the others, but all capable of assuming the
flat or normal shape at the end of the stroke when the final pressure
is given by the reaction of the increasing pressure against the power
of a spring or springs or other equivalent, which would force out
the pressing pieces again irregularly after the pressure of cach was
relieved, all as used in connection with this second part of my im-

page_text: '
provements (but capable of being applied to other clay pressing
machines). This reciprocating action of the stamper would be given
rapidly for a short distance only into the top or inlet of the mould and
clay kept covered with water by a crank eccentric or cam mechanical
action and revolving or oscillating shaft, or by a steam, air, or water
cylinder or other equivalent motive mechanical arrangement such as
heretofore used for working other ordinary stampers; all so as to free
the air and knead and press the clay, as stated, to the proper hardness,
which is regulated or given and obtained by the amount of clay
regularly fed into the water at the top or inlet of the mould or ramming
box below the stamper every time it rises, which it is made to do
sufficiently high to allow the clay to enter, and by the length of the
mould beyond its ramming part or end, and the necessary force required
to overcome the friction of the clay (so fed in and rammed) on the
sides of the said part at every stroke; and which thus forces out the
stream of clay properly rammed, prepared, and finished in the improved
manner proportionally at the lower or outlet open end. The water
being regulated by a tap and inlet pipe or otherwise to the top or inlet
of the mould, so as to keep water covering the top of (or to a given
level above) the ramming and jointing surface of the clay where it is
fed in below, or between the already rammed surface of the clay and
the irregular or moving surface of the presser or pressers. The quick-
ness of the ramming intermittent action and quantity and dampness
of the roughly prepared clay, or said prepared pieces or blocks fed in
below or in front of the stamper, regulates the dryness or "temper" of
the finished and delivered mass by its solidity or firmness so produced
and the amount of water it consequently takes up in the ramming and
kneading from the water kept in or supplied to the top or inlet end
of the ramming box or mould. The proper clay or said pieces or
blocks prepared by these improvements desired may be regulated and
fed in at the entrance of the mould by any of the ordinary well-known
means heretofore, employed for feeding grain and other materials into
cleaning and grinding mills, as by means of measuring elevators, or
by hoppers with movable or inclined screens, or spouts with regulating
outlets, and such equivalent means, or by hand. ¨·

page_text: mould for producing the before-mentioned improved stream or band of
prepared clay in measured blocks or lumps (for being subsequently
pressed and joined together free from air by the said new means and
mechanism in special finished moulds of and to the shapes required),
the delivered band or stream of finished clay as it leaves the delivery
end of the preparing mould is cut into measured pieces, slices, or
blocks by the new automatic arrangement of cutting mechanism, formed
of a set or sets of moving or revolving knives ranged longitudinally and
circumferentially round a cylinder or cylinders, and fixed or attached
to end discs on spindles forming these, or to chains or belts revolving
on them, the knives being set at the desired distance apart to suit the
size or thickness of the slices or blocks required. The knives and
their cylinders or chains are automatically moved or driven by the
power and motion of the band or stream of clay itself, so that one
knife after the other is turned so as to enter and cut the clay, and pass
round or along with and out of it again in the same manner; leaving
the band of clay cut or divided into the desired sizes or pieces for being
conveniently fed, pressed, and joined into the finishing moulds in one,
two, or more pieces as desired, subsequently either by the hand and
the ordinary mechanical means and mechanism heretofore employed
in the usual manner without being covered with or immersed in water,
or under water in accordance with part first of these improvements,
or by the said new or improved automatic means and mechanism herein
described under part second of these improvements.
This new automatic cutting mechanism is also applicable to the
cutting and dividing of such finished streams of clay from other
machines into sized or measured blocks, and it will be understood that
other ordinary means and mechanism heretofore in use for cutting
streams of prepared clay and other plastic materials may also be
employed to cut the said new or improved prepared stream of clay
described under the second part of these improvements.
The said new or improved preparing moulds may be made of nearly
any desired regular or irregular figure in cross section, as rectangular,
polygonal, round, oval, segmental, or otherwise, and either the same
throughout their length or they may be made larger at the top,
where the new stamper works into them for a short distance, both
being approximately of the same shape; but below this point the

page_text: T
mould might be divided into other compartments or divisions by
cross feathers continued to the discharge end, so as to divide the
finished clay in two or more strips or streams according to the number
of cross feathers and compartments formed in the lower part of the
mould or pressing block; these strips or bands of clay being either
broken, or cut into small picces, or cut into measured sizes or blocks
as desired, to suit the particular purpose and finishing mould such.
pieces or blocks are desired to be used for. The moulds to be used
for measured blocks and for finished articles are by preference made
stationary and of the same shape and configuration' as the articles
to be made, but for long, solid, or hollow articles the outside case and
inner case or core pieces of the mould could be made, short and have
a slight rising automatic motion given to them, or the table carrying
the moulded article could be fed downwards in a like manner at short
intervals as the article is built up, and the rammer or stamper would
also be of the same shape, solid or hollow, corresponding to the shape.
of the interior section of the mould to be rammed, but made with
moving parts at the ramming face for the better discharge or escape
of the air and kneading and joining of the ordinary prepared clay, or
the said improved prepared, broken, or cut pieces, or measured slices
or blocks, whichever were used or fed into the finishing moulds.
Water has been described as the best and most suitable material
for covering the top of the ramming mould and clay when fire-clay
is employed, as especially described throughout this Specification, but
other liquids or substances may be used instead of water, or the water
might have other substances or liquids mixed therewith considered
more suitable for other clays, loams, and cements, and mixtures of these
or any of these with other substances, and still be mere modifications of
my said improvements suited to particular cases and circumstances.
These parts or improvements of my said Invention which I consider
novel and original are,—
First. The kneading, ramming, and joining of fire-clay (or other.
clay or loams made from desiccated shales, or stones, or mixtures of
these with sand or other substance which are in a powdered or partially.
moistened state) under water or other liquid, either in preparatory or.
finishing moulds for the purpose of displacing the air therefrom and
producing the mass or shaped article in a more solid form free from
air and air holes or imperfect joinings.

page_text: Second. The hercin stated improved means and mechanism for per-
forming the above kneading under water (described under the said first
improvement) by the new movable faced or other reciprocating stamper
and open entering and discharge ended moulds, cylinders, or boxes for
automatically delivering a constant stream of prepared, broken, or cut
pieces, or a regular band of prepared or moulded fire-clay, or fire-clay
articles of the density and humidity desired, or other such clays or
loams requiring this treatment as stated.
Third. The use of pressing stampers with movable face pieces for
the compressing or kneading of clays or clay articles for other forms
of moulds, and whether used under water or not as described under
the first improvement.
Fourth. The improved modes and means of actuating or making
a stream of prepared or finished clay automatically actuate the knives
so as to cut or divide it into prepared pieces or measured blocks, all
substantially as herein described under these improvements, which
improvements may either be used individually or jointly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Gillespie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GILLESPIE, of Woodhead, Garnkirk, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Brick Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Gillespie, Her special licence
that I, the said James Gillespie, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Gillespie, 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

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODES AND MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING FIRE-CLAY, AND IN THE
MOULDING AND MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES THEREBY AND THEREFROM, APPLICABLE
ALSO TO OTHER LOAMS AND WARES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Gillespie, 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 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 James Gillespie, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 accompanying Sheet of
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
'
My said Invention has for its object the preparation of fire-clay
(or it may be other clays or loams such as are made from shales or
stonès requiring first to be ground or disintegrated to powder, which
makes them liable to absorb or contain air in the mixing and kneading)
first, either for or while being compressed into mere preparing moulds,
or the actual or particular moulds for shaping and sizing or forming the
articles or wares therefrom, all in a more regular and perfect manner
and more homogeneous mass than has been the case by the modes and
means heretofore used, free from confined air or enclosed air spaces
within the body of the clay and articles so prepared by my said
improvements. And the nature of my said Invention consists (first)
in kneading and compressing the roughly or ordinarily partially pre-
pared fire-clay under water within and through new or improved
constructions of preparing moulds (in the form of strips or bands, tho
mould being made open at the feeding in and discharge ends) for the
purpose; and (second) in the construction and arrangement of the
said moulds and ramming mechanism for so kneading and compressing
the clay under the said first improvements of my said Invention; and
(third) in new or improved automatic mechanism for cutting the said
bands or streams of prepared clay into rough pieces or into measured
lumps or blocks; that is, further and more fully (1st) in kneading

page_text: and compressing the said ordinarily, or roughly, or partially prepared
clay, or the said new or improved prepared clay in rough strips or
pieces or in measured blocks into the said special or the actual
finishing moulds in which the articles are to be shaped either by
hand or by automatic mechanism; all so that the particles, or the
prepared pieces, or the sized blocks of fire-clay get joined more closely
together within the water, which displaces the air and conducts it
freely off to the top of the water by its searching nature and greater
weight or density during the operation and motion of kneading and
joining; and (2nd) in new or improved modes and means, or particular
forms and constructions of the mechanism and their use, for auto-
matically effecting the said kneading, compressing, and joining of the
said ordinarily prepared, pulverized, or moistened clay (either with or
without additional mixing water in the first preparatory compressing
or "caking" moulds and machines), or the improved prepared pieces,
or cakes, or measured blocks, both of the said fire-clay treated under
water, either in the new construction of moulding mechanism or in
ordinary moulds, to the plastic consistency or "temper". desired to
suit the particular purpose or article to be formed. And which latter
improvements (part 2nd) substantially consist as follows:-In feeding a
given or regular quantity of the said ordinarily roughly prepared clay,
pulverized or moistened, or the improved prepared slices or "cakes"
made therefrom, or measured blocks into one end of a compressing
parallel or tapered mould or chamber (either for preparing the streams
or bands, and rough pieces or "cakes," or cut or measured blocks of
prepared clay, or articles therefrom), closed on its sides but open at the
inlet and outlet ends, having a reciprocating stamper or pressing
plunger or rammer, formed by preference with a new or improved
movable ramming face of one, two, three, or more loose movable pieces
fixed at and forming the ramming face, so as to act with a yielding
and irregular pressing face and action by some of the parts projecting
beyond the others, but all capable of assuming the flat or. normal
shape at the end of the stroke when the final pressure is given by
the increasing pressure of the clay against the power of a reacting
spring or springs or other equivalent, which would again force out
the pressing face or pieces (irregularly) after the pressure of each
stroke or depression of the rammer was relieved, all as used in connec-
tion with this second part of my Invention or improvements, but
which improved rammer is also capable of being applied to other clay

page_text: pressing machines. The reciprocating action of the rammer or stamper
is given rapidly for a short distance only into the top or open inlet end
of the mould, where the clay and water are supplied or kept covered
with water in the secondary machine for joining the "cakes" and
blocks, by a crank, eccentric, or cam mechanical action and a revolving
or oscillating shaft, or it might be by a steam, air, or water cylinder
or other equivalent motive mechanical arrangement, such as heretofore
used for working other ordinary reciprocating stampers, all so as to
free the air and knead and press the clay, as stated, to the proper hard-
ness and humidity or "temper" desired, which is regulated (or given'
and obtained) by the amount of clay regularly fed in with the water
at the top or inlet end of the mould or ramming box below the stamper
or rammer every time it rises (which it is made to do sufficiently high
to allow the clay to enter) and by the length of the mould beyond
the ramming part or end, and the necessary force required to overcome
the friction of the clay (so fed in and rammed) on the sides of the said
close parallel or tapered part at every stroke; and which thus forces
out the stream of clay properly prepared, rammed, and finished in
an improved manner at the lower or discharge open end, and at a rate
proportionate to the said feeding action and density of the clay. Tho
supply of the water is regulated by a tap and inlet pipe or other
equivalent means to the top or inlet end of the mould, so as to keep
the water covering the top of (or to a given level above) the ramming
and jointing surface of the clay, which is fed in above this and below.
the rammer, or between the already rammed surface of the clay and
the irregular or moving surface of the presser or pressers. The
quickness of the ramming reciprocating action and the quantity and
dampness of the roughly prepared clay, or said prepared pieces, cakes,
or blocks fed in below or in front of the stamper or rammer, and the
amount of moisture or water necessarily taken up during the ramming
and joining from the water supplied to or kept in the top or inlet end
of the ramming box or mould, regulates the dryness or "temper"
of the finished and delivered mass, that is, to its solidity or firmness
so produced and desired. The proper quantity or proportion desired
of the ordinarily prepared rough clay, or the said pieces, or measured
blocks prepared by these impovements, may be regulated and fed in
at the entrance of the mould by any of the ordinary well-known
means heretofore employed for feeding grain and other materials into
cleaning and grinding mills, and by means of measuring elevators, or

page_text: by hoppers with movable or inclined screens, or spouts with regulating
outlets, and such equivalent means, or by hand in some cases, as for
the large measured pieces or blocks.
-
When these improved automatic means and mechanism or machines
are employed to produce a stream of the said solid homogeneous clay
(more free from air and air holes than by the means heretofore
employed for preparing fire-clays), as described, in mere ramming
and preparing boxes or moulds, the improved bands of prepared clay
are by the third and last improvement cut into measured lumps or
blocks for being subsequently pressed and joined together free from
air by the said new means and mechanism, or by hand into special
finished moulds of and to the shapes required. The said delivered bands
or band of finished clay as it leaves the delivery end of the preparing
mould is cut into rough pieces, or cakes, or measured slices, or blocks
by the before-mentioned new automatic arrangement of cutting
mechanism (3rd) formed of a set or sets of moving or revolving
knives ranged longitudinally and circumferentially round a cylinder
or cylinders, and fixed or attached to end discs on spindles forming
these, or to chains or belts revolving on them, the knives being set
at the desired distance apart to suit the size or thickness of the slices
or blocks required. The knives and their cylinders or chains are
automatically moved or driven by the motion of the band of clay itself,
so that one knife after the other is turned so as to enter and cut the
clay and pass round or along with and out of it again in the same
direction and by its own automatic motion, leaving the band of clay cut
or divided into the desired sizes or pieces ready for being dried and
baked, or for being conveniently and subsequently fed, pressed, and
jointed into the finishing moulds, in one, two, or more pieces as desired,
either by the hand and the ordinary mechanical means and mechanism
heretofore employed without being covered with or immersed in water,
or under water, in accordance with my said improvements (part 1st),
or by the use of the said new or improved automatic means and
mechanism herein described under the second part of my said improve-
ments. The said new or improved preparing moulds may be made
of nearly any desired regular or irregular figure in cross section, as
rectangular, polygonal, round, oval, segmental, or otherwise, and either
the same throughout their length or they may be made larger at the
top where the new stamper or rammer works into them for a short

page_text: distance, both being approximately of the same shape; but below this
point the mould might be divided into other compartments or divisions
by cross feathers continued to the discharge end, so as to divide the
finished clay into two or more strips or streams, according to the
number of cross feathers or compartments formed in the lower part
of the mould or pressing and shaping box. These strips or bands of
clay being either broken or cut into small cakes, or cut into measured
sizes or blocks as desired, to suit the particular purpose and finishing
mould such pieces or blocks are desired to be used for.
The new automatic cutting mechanism is also applicable to the
cutting and dividing of such finished streams of clay from other
machines into sized or measured blocks, and it will be understood that
other ordinary means and mechanism heretofore used for cutting
streams of prepared clay and other plastic materials may also be
employed to cut. the said new or improved prepared streams of clay
described under the second part of these improvements.
1
The moulds and their framing to be used for making the measured
blocks and for making finished articles are by preference made stationary
and of the same transverse sectional shape and configuration as the
article to be made, but for large articles such as pipes or retorts
the outside case and] inner case or core piece of the mould could be.
made short and have a slight rising automatic motion given to them,
and the table carrying the moulded article could be fed downwards
in like manner at short intervals as the article is built up, or the
prepared pieces or measured blocks are pressed or rammed down into
the mould; and the rammer or stamper used would also require to
be approximately of the same shape, solid or annular, corresponding
to the shape of the interior section of the mould to be rammed, and
by preference made with moving parts at the ramming face, as described
in reference to the preparing moulds, for the better discharge or escape
of the air and kneading and joining of the ordinarily prepared clay,
or the said improved prepared broken or cut picces, or measured slices
or blocks, whichever were used or fed into the finishing moulds, and
by preference with water covering the joining and ramming part of
the clay and mould as described under the first part of my said
improvements.
Water has been described as the best and most suitable material
for covering the top of the ramming mould and clay when fire-clav.

page_text: is employed, as especially described throughout the Specification, but
other liquids or substances may be used instead of water, or the water
might have other substances or liquids mixed therewith considered.
more suitable for other clays, loams, and cements, and mixtures of these
or any of these with other substances, and still be mere modifications of
my said improvements suited to particular cases and circumstances.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I will now
proceed to describe the manner of performing the same by reference
to the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which
I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing the best modes
and means I am at present aware of for so doing, the same reference
letters indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a transverse vertical section,
a side elevation, and a plan, both partially in section, of a first ramming
and preparing machine constructed in accordance with the first and
second parts of my said Invention for preparing fire-clay in homogeneous
strips, streams, or bands, either under water or not as desired, which
arc broken or cut off in rough pieces ready for being subsequently
rammed into secondary machines for making larger bands to be cut
off into sized or measured blocks or slices for being subsequently and
more easily compressed into close solid bricks and other articles, or
into ordinary presses and moulds to be jointed and compressed under
water (at once without being made or cut into measured blocks) either
by hand or by motive power mechanism. The main frame of the
machine is formed of two strong side standards 1, 1, firmly secured
below to a proper foundation of beams or masonry 2, 2, and tied
together by the upper and lower two transverse beams or stays 3, 31.
The upper rail 3 carries the actuating shaft 4 revolving in pendent
bearing brackets 5, 5, and is actuated by the fast and loose pulleys 6, 6,
and a driving belt from any adjacent prime motive shaft. The lower
rail 3 carries the new or improved construction of preparing mould A,
formed of a vertical rectangular hollow box shape open at top and
bottom, inserted through à correspondingly shaped hole in the rail 31
resting on sustaining top collars a further secured by pinching screws a¹.
The lower part of the mould A is fitted with a number of thin transverse
division plates, by preference in this case seven in number, placed as
shown in Figure 2 (but there might be more or less, and be placed

page_text: "
longitudinally instead of transversely, or in both directions according
to the size and number of bands of clay desired to be rammed through
the one mould) to within a short distance of the top, leaving this
space the whole size or area of the mould for the rammer 7 to be
worked (by the connecting rod and eccentric 9 and 10 from the
shaft 4) down into and nearly fill it, so that as the ordinary dry ground
or moistened clay (from the ordinary grinding or pug mills) is fed
into the space below the rammer from the spout 11 (or other equivalent
feeding in apparatus) assisted by the filler or guide 12, the clay is
forced down the mould and eight recesses formed by the plates b, and
delivered at the lower discharge end 6' of the mould and divisions in
streams or bands B "tempered" to the proper hardness by the
amount of rough clay fed in between each stroke of the rammer 7,
and by the length of the recess and plates and taper given to these
(as seen in Figure 1), causing the requisite amount of friction or
resistance to the pressure and action of the rammer to deliver the
streams of clay B of the desired hardness all ready for treatment
in the after secondary preparing and sizing or finishing moulds for
forming the articles from, and so close and free from air and air holes
that it absorbs very little of the water covering it in these moulds
while being joined and compressed in the form of these new or improved
prepared parts or "cakes." The rammer 7 is guided in its action and
position over the mould by side feathers 8 working in the slotted
guides 8¹ secured to the frames 1 and 3¹. In some cases when it is
preferred to have water fed into this first preparing mould and machine
(along with or at the time of ramming the ordinarily prepared or slightly
moistened clay) this may be done by a small supply pipe or other
equivalent jet of water being led into the filler 12 and allowed to flow
off at a certain outlet level to prevent too much water remaining there
to mix with the clay, or the level of the supply vessel might regulate
the highest level possible of the water in the mould; which water
would search into the open parts of the clay and displace the air at
every stroke of the rammer, which would beat the clay down through
the division in the lower part of the mould in a homogeneous close
stream of eight bands. Although an eccentric 10 is shown as actuating
the rammer 7, it will be evident to machinists that this may also
be done by equivalent crank or cam mechanical actions, or by the
direct action of gravitating rammers, or reciprocating pressers and
plungers worked by mechanical action, or by steain or air cylinders

page_text: for compressing, forging, and crushing purposes. The set of strips or
bands of clay B so formed after passing down below the end b¹ of
the mould may either be passed and pressed over a short laterally
curved plate or surface so as to break off over the extreme end in
short rough pieces, or be cut into short lengths by ordinary hinged
or reciprocating frames with cutting wires or knives worked by hand
or automatically by the pressure and motion of the stream of clay
according to the stiffness of the clay, and as bands of clay have here-
tofore been cut in the ordinary pug and screw clay preparing and
brick making machines. Or otherwise a flat knife 20 may be secured
on the top of two segmental levers 21 bolted together by side stays 22
so as to form and be made to oscillate as one frame 21, 22, on two
stud fulcrums 23 at its lower ends, which are by preference set on
springs in recesses for the purpose of allowing the knife and frame
to travel down along with the stream or band of clay B for a short
distance while tilting and cutting it. The frame is tilted to and fro at
considerable intervals (according to the length of pieces the bands of
clay are desired to be cut into by the lever 24 fulcrummed on a movable
stud centre to suit different lengths of throw of the knife and lever
frame, and connected at its lower end to a stud in the frame 21, 22,
and at its upper end to an actuating slotting connecting link 25
reciprocated by an antifriction roller 26 on a lateral stud attached
to it, working into a cam groove 27 attached to or formed on the side
of the large wheel 28 in gear with and actuated at a slow speed through
an intermediate shaft 29 and pinion 28¹ (all indicated in red lines in
Figures 1 and 2), and large wheel 30 in gear and actuated by the
pinion 30¹ or the main revolving eccentric or ramming shaft of the
machine. These wheels can be changed and their spindles shifted to suit
the different lengths of pieces approximately into which the stream.
of clay is desired to be cut. The streams or bands of clay B may be
cut by a revolving wheel E formed of two side discs G secured together
by stays G¹ so as to revolve on a fixed stationary spindle H, or be
otherwise secured to this spindle and revolve with it; these discs G
having the cutting knives or thin dividing blades F either fixed
radially between them at their outer periphery suitable for rough
work with approximately shaped angled edges, pieces, or blocks B
as shown in Figure 8ª (pushed out from between the blades by a
spring k or other equivalent, so as thus to be deposited by their own
weight on the travelling band Z, or having the blades fulcrummed

page_text: to the discs G at their ends, and caused to feather or pass parallel
to each other while dividing and travelling with 'the stream of clay
B or B¹ at Es, all as will herein-after be more fully described in reference
to the several modifications shown in Figures 4 to 11 of this new or
improved automatic clay cutting mechanism under the 3rd part of
my Invention.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are respectively a front and a side elevation and
a plan, all partially in section, of another or secondary clay preparing
machine from that shown and described in reference to Figures 1, 2,
and 3, constructed in accordance with and illustrative of one adaptation
and modification of my said Invention, and especially the improvements
described under the second and third improvements thereof for ramming
the prepared clay (or broken or cut pieces or. lumps B¹¹), as produced in
the first preparing machine described in reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3,
by jointing and compressing the same under water into a parallel
or tapered mould A¹ so, as to produce it in a parallel stream B¹ and
cut it into measured lumps, blocks, or slices B³ of the desired sizes and
density free from air and air spaces, all ready for being subsequently
compressed individually as usual, or joined and compressed in two or
more pieces or layers within finishing moulds, by preference under water
or, in the ordinary manner without water, into bricks or other articles
ready for being dried and baked or fired.
The general features or construction of this machine are the same
as that described in reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, except as regards
the mould A', rammer 7¹, and the cutting mechanism. Referring to
the mould A¹, it is in this case made of a long rectangular shape in
cross section to suit and deliver a stream B' of the clay of the length
and thickness of a brick as it leaves the delivery end 6', but made
by preference wider at the top c where the rammer 7¹ or its new or
improved movable compressing face d works, and with which it is
formed in this case and made to slide up in a guiding recess in the
lower part of the ramming block 7¹, having a curvilinear blade spring è
or other equivalent fitted between it and the inner part of the recess,
which forces the compressing face piece d out when it is not pressed
down by the rod and eccentric 9, 10, against the previously prepared
clay B fed in below it from the conducting spout 11, as shown (in red
lines) in Figures 5, 7, but when pressed down as shown in Figure 4
the spring e yields, so that the pressing face d has its blow. or stroke

page_text: upon the clay softened into a yielding elastic squeeze or compression
for a longer period of action than it would have if solid, as shown and
described in reference to Figures 1 to 3, and which in this case by
the elastic yielding face has the effect of delivering a more regular and
better stream B₁ of the clay than with the unyielding pressure. The
presser d is held in its place by a pinching screw d¹, and its acting
face is preferred to be bevelled, as seen in the detached views of the
rammer, Figure 7, but the face might be made flat or of a more irregular
shape, and be made in two, three, or more movable pieces of irregular
height when preferred, or when the rammer is larger each piece having
a yielding spring of its own by preference or otherwise, the rammer
might be made solid with the spring interposed between it and the
connecting rod 9, or that and the eccentric 10. The water is shown as
supplied by the small pipe and regulating tap C, C₁, into the recess cat
the top of the mould A¹ so as to keep it always full up to the regulated
level of the overflow pipe C" at the opposite side, but the height and
supply of this water might be otherwise regulated. The stream or
band of prepared clay B' which is discharged at the lower end 6¹ of
the mould may be cut into any desired lengths by one of the ordinary
constructions of hinge and sliding frames with a set of wires or knives,
by preference for stiff fire-clay folded down or drawn across the band at
intervals by hand or by automatic means so as to cut it into the measured
blocks desired, or this may be done by any one of the new automatic
cutting machines forming the fourth and last improvements under the
third part of my said Invention, and referring to the modification shown
in Figures 4, 5, and 6 and the enlarged detached view, Figure 8. The
thin cutting blades F are placed longitudinally at the desired distance
apart near and between the outer periphery of the two side discs G
forming the revolving automatic wheel E, keyed or otherwise fixed
on its spindle H, which revolves in bearing brackets I secured to the
lower part of the bed 2 of the ramming machine at such a distance
from the stream of clay B¹ that the outer edge of the knives F and
periphery of the wheel work through its course, and is actuated by
it tangentially up to or nearly touching the supporting back plate B",
against which the knives F cut it into the measured blocks B³. This
is effected (in this case) by bringing the outer ends of each blade F to
the rear free end of the short links f, which have their advanced end f¹
jointed to near the outer edge of the discs Ģ on which they each rest
by a projecting pin fin their free end, and by their own weight and

page_text: that of the cutting blade hinged to them in coming up with the wheel
on the back and top side at E¹, and fall out from it on the front and.
lower side in coming down at E just after passing the horizontal
radial line where each front edge of a blade F cuts, through the clay
and clears the end B³ of the supporting plate. The other or inner edge.
of all the cutting blades F at the centre are connected by a loose
chain 9, which allows them thus to fall, but keeps them steady and
allows them to drop gradually and with little jerk or noise; while
pins h in the inner ends of each blade work out through curved slots i, i',
in the discs G and out on to a cam surface J at the top and front side,
which keep up the back edge of all the blades at the part Es where
they enter and while cutting the stream of clay B'. The one bend i
of the curved slots in the disc G allows the studs h thus to rise
at Es in front when raised by the cam J and also support the weight
of the knives when rising at the back; while the other bend of the
slots i, ¹, carries the studs and weight of the blades F and cut blocks B³.
of clay while falling or gliding outwards with them to a wider space.
to deliver the block after it is cut on to the travelling carrying band Z,
driven in the usual manner over pulleys Z'.
"
Another modification of this cutting wheel, driven also by the auto-
matic action of the stream of clay B¹ to be cut, is shown at Figure 9
in a sectional diagram of the front cutting part of the wheel and cutters
sufficient to show its action and difference from that shown and
described in reference to Figures 4 to 8. In this case the front ends
of each blade F are simply fulcrummed in the front of the discs G
at f", and have a stud h¹ at their inner ends working out through
segmental slots 2 through the discs G (drawn from the said front
fulcrums f¹¹), so as to rest on and be raised by an equivalent cam J¹.
to the former J to maintain the blades F all parallel while cutting
and passing through the path of the stream of clay B'; and instead
of allowing them to tumble radially out and down to deliver the cut
blocks B³, a drawing-out plate k is made to slide on the upper surface
of each blade F with rods k¹ at each end working through guides 1,
and having lateral pins k³ at their outer ends working in cam grooves L
in the two fixed plates M, so that as each blade F comes round with
the cut block of clay B³ on it these rods ¹ and plate / behind the block
reach the projecting parts L of the cam groove L (as shown in red
lines), which pull out the cut blocks B³ as they come round and deposit
.
D

page_text: Figures 10 and 11 are a front elevation and a transverse section
respectively of another modification of my improved cutting mechanism
or wheel, in which the cutting blades F are fulcrummed and feathered
(like a feathering paddle wheel) on spindles f" near the centre of their
ends in the disc G, each blade being linked and feathered by a short
crank j and rod j¹ to an eccentric disc or ring j" revolving at one or
both sides on a fixed crank centre H¹ above (or it may be below) that
of the fixed spindle H of the disc wheel E, which in this case revolves
on its spindle H held stationary in the brackets I', the two discs G
being held together as one wheel E for that purpose by the cross
stays G¹. The motion and pressure of the stream of clay B¹ presses
on the blades F (as before stated, and turns the whole wheel E on its
axis H, thus carrying round the blades in succession), which are
feathered, as stated, by their rods and eccentric rings j" as they come
round so as to enter, and cut the band of clay at the part Es into
the rectangular blocks B³ of equal sizes (determined as desired by the
distance the blades are set apart in the wheel), which are each pushed
out of the spaces and off the cutting blade F carrying it on to the
removing travelling band Z (immediately after passing the end of the
plate B against which the clay is cut) by the discharging plate k,
actuated by a single or double ended rod k¹ working into a groove L
in the small cam or cams M fixed on the stationary axle H'.
The improved construction of machines described in reference to
Figures 1 to 6 might be used with other forms and sizes of moulds
A or A¹ and rammers 7 and 7¹ to suit them for other shapes of bands
of clay or of articles of the parallel class particularly of any desired cross
section. And although these machines have been shown and described
as placed and working vertically they might also be constructed so
as to be worked horizontally or vertically or at any angle between these
positions. And further, although fire-clay has mainly been described
as treated in these machines, it is to be understood that other clays
may be similarly treated in them, especially those which have a granular
character tending to contain air and air spaces in them, the removal
of which is the special object of the new treatment and construction
of the improved machinery under the first and second parts of my said

page_text: Invention. Although only one of these wheels E is shown as cutting
the band of clay on one side, two of them might be employed, one on
each side opposite each other, cutting the clay from both sides and
delivering the cut blocks between them; and the knives might be
carried by their end swivelling pivots on chains passed over chain
pulleys and feathers by any of the cam or eccentric mechanism at the
parts where the blocks are cut and delivered, substantially as described..
And although the stream of clay has been shown and described as
traversed and cut in a vertical line, it will be evident that the whole
could be done in a horizontal or angular direction also when the
machine produces the stream of clay in these directions.
The first part and novelty of my said Invention consists of the
improvement of supplying and using water in the top of moulds in the
preparing of clay and shaping of clay articles for the purpose of
displacing and removing 'air and air spaces therefrom while ramming
and jointing the prepared cakes or prepared blocks of clay, all sub-
stantially as herein described under the first and third parts of my
Invention.
The second part of my said Invention consists in the new or improved
construction and arrangement of the parts of machines for so preparing
the clay, the first improvement of which consists specially in the new
or improved construction of the close moulding boxes with divisions
or plates through them and open feeding in and discharge ends and
reciprocating rammer, either solid or having a movable pressing face,
all for so kneading and compressing the clay, either under water or
not, in streams or bands more free from air and air spaces than hereto-
fore, in a first preparatory rough state (Figures 1 to 3) ready for being
subsequently pressed through secondary shaping and sizing machines
(Figures 4 to 6), or in ordinary shaping and finishing moulds, or
otherwise under water in the said secondary finishing machines in a
single stream for being sized into blocks.
And the second improvement of this second part of my Invention
consists specially in the construction of a reciprocating rammer with a.
movable, or yielding, or elastic face in one or more pieces for com-
pressing clay, either into moulds of the said new construction and
arrangement, or of the ordinary forms and constructions, all as described
under the second head or part of my said Invention.

page_text: And the third and last part of my Invention consists of the special.
improvements for cutting streams of clay (either formed or compressed
by the improved modes and means herein-before shown and described
in reference to Figures 1 to 3 under the first and second parts of my
Invention, or as formed heretofore in ordinary clay preparing and 5
brick making machines) by the motion and force of the stream of clay
itself, all subtanstially as herein-before described in reference to Figures
.4 to 11.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be performed, I have 1
to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein
described or delineated, but what I believe to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before-
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of the parts of the various 18
machines and modications of mechanism for preparing, compressing,
shaping, and cutting fire-clay and other clays or loams, all substantially
for the various purposes and in the new and improved manner herein
distinguished, described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The using of water or other liquid for removing air from 20
fire-clay (or other porous or granular clay or loam) while ramming,
joining, or shaping the same in moulds, all substantially in the new
or improved manner herein distinguished, described, and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. The construction and arrangement of the parts of machines 2
or mechanism for preparing fire-clay (or other porous or granular clays
or loams) in numerous strips or bands or in single bands respectively, and
all substantially in the new or improved manner herein distinguished,
described, and shown in reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The construction and use of a reciprocating rammer with a
moving and elastic yielding presssing face in one or more parts for
kneading and compressing clay either under water or not in moulds of
the new construction herein described or of ordinary constructions, all
substantially as herein distinguished, described, and shown in the 3
accompanying Drawings.
30

page_text: Fifth. The construction and arrangement of the parts of mechanism
for cutting bands of clay in approximate or particular sized pieces
or blocks by the automatic motion of the band of clay itself, all
substantially as herein distinguished, described, and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gillespie, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
JOHN THOMSON,
Agent,
20, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow. ¦
JAMES GILLESPIE. (L.S.)