IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING CLAY AND OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR THE
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George William Hick, of Leeds, in the County
of York, Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING CLAY AND OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William Hick
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th December 1870.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM HIOK, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING CLAY AND OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR
THE PRODUCTION OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
According to this Invention apparatus is combined for moulding or
shaping clay or other plastic material for the production of bricks, tiles,
patent fuel, and other articles, fluid pressure or power being preferably
used for moving the working parts.

page_text: The tempered clay or other plastic material is received in one or more
moulds with (vertical or other) sides and ends only, and forming or held
in a feed box, which slides upon a platform or table, a double-acting ram
or two single-acting rams forcing the feed box containing the charged
moulds opposite dies, plungers, or pressers attached to or actuated by
rams, which force them into and through the moulds in the feed box
containing the clay or other material to be moulded, which is forced into
a set of stationary moulds with (vertical or other) fixed sides and ends
only, placed beneath and opposite the dies, plungers, or pressers, (and
having loose bottoms, and sometimes loose ends,) the loose parts being
acted on by rams or other reciprocating agents. As soon as the material
has been forced out of the feed box into the lower moulds, the dies,
plungers, or pressers are withdrawn, and the feed box moved to its
previous position, scraping off in its passage the superfluous material
from the upper surface of the second or fixed moulds. Then the dies,
plungers, or pressers are again forced into the contents of the fixed
moulds, and are returned to position. Thereupon the loose bottoms,
which also assist in effecting the pressing action, force the contents
from their moulds, and retain them until the feed box is brought back
from its last position, and carries the pressed or moulded articles to a
platform or other receiver ready for being burnt, dried, or otherwise
dealt with. Meanwhile the feed box has been again charged, and as it
moves the pressed article away it brings another charge of material
ready for being operated upon. I sometimes provide a loose or moveable
end or side to the feed box to increase its sectional area and press on its
contents. When the moulds are made for articles other than flat, or for
articles of a peculiar shape, their sides and ends are not necessarily
vertical.

page_text: 5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George William Hick in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th June 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WILLIAM HIOK, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her"reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George William Hick, Her special
licence that I, the said George William Hick, my executors, admi-.
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George William
Hiok, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING CLAY AND OTHER PLASTIC
MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER ARTICLES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George William Hick, 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 George William Hick, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accom-

page_text: panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
My Invention consists, first, in an arrangement of apparatus for
using hydraulic or other fluid pressure for driving the working parts of
machinery for making bricks or other moulded or shaped articles from
clay or other plastic materials.
The clay or other plastic material is fed into a mould or feed box, which
is moved so as to present its contents to dies, plungers, or pressers, which
force the clay or material through the mould or feed box into another
set of moulds, both sets of moulds being opposite the dies, plungers, or
pressers. These plungers or pressers are then moved out of the way and
the feed box is slidden back to receive a fresh supply of clay or material,
scraping off in its passage the superfluous clay or material from the surface
or edge and contents of the second-named moulds. The dies, pressers,
or plungers next press the bricks or partially formed or moulded articles
already in the second-named. moulds. Other pressing blocks or dies,
which by preference form the bottom, side, or ends of the second mould
force the bricks or articles out of those moulds, just retaining them
until the feed box returns, and in its passage moves the pressed bricks
or other articles to a slab or receiving surface, whence they are removed
for drying, burning, or firing, or being otherwise operated upon. The
feed box may have a loose end or side moved to and fro to increase
Other action
the space
therein and press on the contents thereof.
besides fluid pressure may be used to work the whole or parts of this
machinery.
I now proceed to describe particularly in what manner the Invention
may be carried into practical effect.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my apparatus, and
Figure 2 is a view, half in transverse section and half in side elevation of
the same.
In these Figures A, A, are plungers attached to and actuated by
hydraulic rams a, a, carrying pistons f,f, working in cylinders cast o
formed in the upper frame B; 9, 9, 9, are leathers or packing for keeping
the parts fluid-tight; H are covers to the cylinders; C is the bed o
lower frame of the machine. Opposite to and beneath the plungers A are
plungers b, b, attached to and actuated by hydraulic rams, 6*, 6*, carry
ing pistons which work in cylinders formed in the lower bed C. These

page_text: rams are of the same description as those above described. These plungers
b, b, are opposite to and form the bottoms of moulds c, c, in which the clay
or other material to be treated is moulded and pressed; D is a moveable
feed box containing the moulds c*, c*. These moulds are moved
simultaneously by the hydraulic ram d; which works in the cylinder d*
fixed to the bed C. Fluid pressure is applied by admitting the pressure
of liquid at M (Figure 2) into a distributing valve box N, which contains
three valves R, S, T. These valves. are formed each with two conical
faces, so that each valve acts in succession as both an inlet and an outlet
valve-according as they allow ingress or egress of the pressure to the
pistons and rams. O is a hollow shaft or revolving pipe, to which
rotary motion- is communicated by an internal shaft P connected with
it by a friction clutch Q, and actuated by ordinary gearing worked by
a driving shaft or by an hydraulic piston and ram worked by the same
pressure as machine.. The valves are lifted by cams or tappets r, s,
t, fixed to the hollow shaft O; the valves fall of themselves, being
forced down by the pressure when released by the cam. The valves
are cylindrical and are carried through the top and bottom of the
chest, and are made water-tight externally by leather packings. The
valves are made by these means nearly in equilbrium, sufficient un-
balanced area being left on the upper part of valves to allow the
pressure of water to force down the valves and keep them tight to their
respective seats in the chest. The internal shaft P is caused to revolve
by ordinary mechanism through a wheel p or equivalent device, and
through friction clutch Q, it drives the hollow shaft O, and so gives
motion to cams working the valves R, S, T. ;, t, are antifriction
wheels having caoutchouc tyres; they are fixed to jaws at the bottom
ends of the valves, which make the joint between conical faces of valves
and seats tight. E is a lever for throwing friction clutch Q in and out
of gear; h, k, are bearings for the support of the internal shaft P and
external shaft O. On water being admitted at a suitable pressure
through the inlet pipe M into the upper portion or chamber of the valve
box N (the valve S being open to pressure, and the valves R and T shut),
the hydraulic pressure is exerted by the passage of the pressing water
through the pipe s* into a feed box cylinder d* behind the piston ram d,
which forces the feed box moulds to come opposite to and between the
top plungers A, A, and bottom plungers b, b. This pressure being
retained in the feed box cylinder the feed box will remain stationary,
,

page_text: and meanwhile its valve S is still kept open by the cam to the ingress
of pressure. The shaft O is made to revolve, and the partial revolution
of the cam lits the valve R, closing the egress of water into a
waste pipe X formed through the lowest chamber of the valve box N,
and admits fluid pressure from the uppermost chamber of the box
through the pipe * to the upper side of the pistons f,f, which forces
the top plungers into the feed box moulds c*, cx, and presses their
contents down into the moulds C, C, in the bed of the machine. The
cam 7, being carried round in the course of the revolution, now lets the
valve R drop, and so opens a passage for the water above the pistons f
which water is forced to return through the pipe * to the waste pipe X.
This is effected by the pressure which is always retained constant in the
annular space formed by the difference in area of the pistons and rams
in their respective cylinders, so that on the pressure being removed
from the larger or full area of the pistons the constant pressure on the
small area or smaller annular space thereof forces the water from the
opposite side of the cylinder into the waste pipe, and brings the plungers
or rams back home to their original position. K, K, are constant
pressure pipes conveying pressure to all the annular spaces of all
the rams. The cam s, being carried round the valve 8 will be raised
and the pressure will be shut off, and water expelled from behind
the piston of the ram d through the pipe 8* into the waste pipe X
by the constant pressure in the annular space around the ram d in
the cylinder d*, which action will bring the feed box back again to
its original position for a fresh supply of material for the next charge,
the feed box in its passage scraping off the superfluous clay from
the surface of the contents of the moulds O, O. The shaft O con-
tinuing to rotate it will cause the cam t to raise the valve T, which
admits pressure to pass along the pipe t* behind the pistons of the
bottom plungers, and also again raises the valve R, which, as has
been before described, forces down the upper plungers into the contents
of the lower moulds, and the contents thereof are thus by the upward
and downward action of the two sets of plungers just mentioned
thoroughly consolidated, moulded, and pressed. The cam r next releases
the pressure as before, from the top plungers, which rise. The bricks are
then raised by the lower plungers (to which pressure is still admitted)
out of and clear of the moulds and held there until the fluid pressure
being again admitted to and allowed to act on the ram d the feed

page_text: box returns with a fresh charge of clay, and in its passage carries off
the pressed and moulded articles on to the receiving table F ready to
be burned, dried, or otherwise operated upon. W, W, are bolts which
secure the upper and lower parts of machine together, and take the
thrusts of rams. through the cotters u. Y are nuts attached to the
spindles of the rams a, a, and 6*, 6*, for adjusting accurately the stroke
of the rams, and thereby the thickness. of the moulded article. The
stroke of the feed-box is accurately adjusted by stops.
In order to prevent the machinery from being injured by any sudden
stoppage occasioned by the casual and accidental presence of any foreign
substance in the clay or other cause a safety valve, which can be variably
loaded at will to any required pressure per square inch, is placed on the
pipe conveying pressure to the machine and connecting it with the
pump or other source of power, whereby any required amount of pressure
can be applied to the surface of the moulded article. Two or more
rams can be attached to one plunger, die or presser, if desired, and by
taking the partitions out of the feed box large slabs, tiles, and blocks can
thus be moulded and pressed, and by inserting variably shaped moulds
in the feed box and bed and by connecting corresponding dies with the
rams differently or variously shaped articles may be produced. The
valves may also be actuated by a cylinder and hydraulic ram actuated
by the same pressure as that which works the machine but so contrived
as to actuate a cam-shaped bar or a bar with irregular projections.
Figure 3 is a plan and Figure 4 a view half in section half in
elevation of a modification of my apparatus, in which A is a table
containing six cavities or moulds a, a, a, a, a, a. This table is mounted
on a boss B so as to revolve and present the moulds opposite to or
in front of corresponding top and bottom pressing blocks about to be
described. O is a feed box containing two moulds &, 6. This feed
box is actuated by a ram c which is also arranged to actuate the table A
through levers S, S, and pawls &³, 8³. Into this feed box the clay is first
fed. The mould b¹ is charged down the hopper D, the other mould b
deriving its supply from a supplementary hopper at E (not shewn in
Drawings); F, F, (Fig. 3) are two rams actuating plungers which force
the clay out of the feed box into the moulds in the table A.
G, G, G*, G*, are four rams actuating plungers which are attached
to them and which mould and press the contents of the moulds in the
table

page_text: stationary (the valve M being held open to exhaust through the outlet O)
while the pressure is admitted through N by the action of the cam, as
before described in Figures 1 and 2, along the ports K to the four upper
cylinders forcing downward the four rams and plungers G, G, F, F, into
the moulds and also passing down the annular spaces i* round the
bolts I, I, forces upward the four rams H, H, G*, G*, placed beneath
the table A to the adjusted length of their respective strokes. The two
rams F, F, above the feed box have a longer stroke than the other rams by
the difference of the depth of the feed box moulds, therefore the contents
of the feed box moulds will be forced down into the corresponding
moulds in the table Ą and the feed box moulds will be emptied and made
ready for another charge of clay. The valve N is now closed to the pressure
and the constant pressure in the annular spaces around each of the eight
rams will force the rams into their original position or clear of the table
and feed box. The feed box is again slidden back to the hoppers D and E
for another supply of clay and on its return with such fresh supply the
table A will have advanced in the direction of the arrow y another sixth
of a revolution and will bring the former contents of the feed box which
are now contained in the table A opposite the rams and plungers G, G,
and G*, G*, when the valve N is now opened to the pressure and as
before the rams G, G, and G*, G*, will thoroughly press the contents
of the moulds presented to their action, and also the contents of the
feed box are forced again as before into the corresponding moulds in
the table A. Similar action again takes place, and the table again
advances its pressed and moulded contents one-sixth of a revolution in
the direction shewn by the arrow y, and the ascent of the rams H, H,
raises the pressed bricks to the level of the upper surface of the table A
ready for being removed for drying, burning, or being otherwise operated
upon.
Of course the valves M and N may be worked by other means than
as described above. The valves may be of the description known as
slide valves, or separate inlet and outlet valves may be employed.
Though I have described particularly one arrangement of causing the
table to rotate it is clear that the table may be rotated by other means.
The table A is prevented from moving round in a reverse direction from
that indicated by the arrow y by ratchet pawls q* in the table falling
into corresponding notches in the bed of machine at every twelfth of
a revolution.

page_text: I do not confine myself to the exact mode of disposing the moulds.
in the table A as of course the disposition as well as the number may
be varied without interfering with the nature of the Invention as.
described.
Y, Y, are nuts for regulating the stroke of rams and consequently 5
regulating the thickness of moulded articles.
Figure 5 is a plan partly in section, and Figure 6. a view, half in
section and half in elevation of a modification of my apparatus, in which
A is a table containing six moulds a¹, a, a³, a', a³, a; this table is
mounted similarly to the table shewn in Figures 3 and 4 on a boss or 1
central pillar B, which is shewn cast with the lower portion of the
machine; this central pillar is. made externally water-tight by leather
packings, thus forming a channel of communication for the pressure to
the full area of the upper rams G, G, and the lower rams H, H..
A bolt I is employed, as described in previous Figures, to unite the 1
upper and lower portions of the machine, and take the thrust of the
pressure in the cylinders, and the annular space surrounding this. bolt is
kept water-tight externally by leather packing, and is employed to
- convey constant pressure to all the annular spaces around all the rams
in conjunction with special ports or passages formed in the castings for 2
that purpose. K, K, are bolts for assisting to secure the upper and
lower portions of the machine together. There are annular spaces:
around these bolts kept water-tight by hydraulic leather packing, as
shewn in the Drawings, and forming a communication for the pressure
between the full or larger areas of the top and bottom rams.
In this modification the feed box and its cylinder and valve are
dispensed with, and hoppers are constructed to supply clay direct into
moulds when they come to the required position.
2
In the Drawing the moulds a², a', are shewn under the hoppers and
ready to receive the clay. When the table A is moved one-sixth of a 3
revolution the clay is moulded and pressed into bricks by the top
plungers G, G, and bottom plungers H, H, and these bricks are again
(on a further sixth of a revolution being performed) forced out of the
moulds by the upward action of the rams H*, H*.
The valve box L containing a valve marked here M, is of the same 3
construction as the valve and valve box before described, but only one
valve is used, and it is worked in this arrangement by the ring or

page_text: rams.
collar R, which fits round the circumference of the table A and works
freely on it (that is to say, revolves partially) and has a two-fold motion,
that is to say, vertical and circumferential. The ring is allowed to rest
upon the six antifriction rollers 8, 8, which revolve on pins $* attached to
the table. This ring has six notches made cam fashion in it, they fit on
to the six rollers S, 8. O is an outlet pipe for the waste water; P, inlet
pipe for pressure; Y, Y, nuts for adjusting the length of stroke of the
On the moulds a¹, a', in the table A being filled with clay from
hoppers placed above them, the ring or collar R is pushed forward by a
rod T, which is actuated by water pressure acting on a ram or by some
equivalent means for carrying the table round in the direction indicated
by the arrow y, the steep part of the notches in the ring pressing against
the antifriction rollers S, S, (which are, as before described, fastened to
the table) until the table has been advanced one-sixth of a revolution,
and the contents of the moulds a¹, a*, are brought immediately opposite
and in front of the plungers G, G, H, H. Ratchet catches or pawls Q, Q,
attached to the table A and entering into corresponding notches in the
fixed bed of the machine, retain the table in this last-named position
during the pressing operation, which is effected during the return motion
of the ring R, which is brought back again to its starting point by its
actuating mechanism, and in so doing is forced up or elevated slightly
by the ring riding on the fixed antifriction wheels opening the valve M,
and admitting pressure to the full or larger areas of the rams G, G,
H, H, and H*, H*, by the passage or ports W, W, formed in both the
upper and lower portions of the machine, and connected together by
the annular Spaces w formed round the bolts K, K, which spaces are
kept water-tight by leathers. The top rams G, G, now descend, and
the bottom rams ascend into (and against the contents of) the moulds
presented to their action and thoroughly press them. The hoppers
meanwhile fill the next moulds, which are by the above action presented
to them. The water pressure is now removed from the full area of
these pressing rams by the descent of the ring occasioned by the anti-
friction wheels entering their next respective notches (the time of return
of the rams being regulated by the shape of the cam in the ring, so that
the rams shall be clear of the moulds before any motion is imparted to
the table A, and the forward-motion of the ring carries the table round
one-sixth of a revolution, when the return of the ring again raising the
valve admits pressure to the rams and presses the unpressed contents of
another pair of moulds. The rams H*, H*, also raise simultaneously

page_text: the pressed contents of the moulds presented to their action. Y, Y, are
nuts for adjusting stroke of rams and thickness of bricks, as above
described in reference to the previous: Figure.
Figure 7 shews. a plan partly in section, and Figure 8 a view half in
section and half in elevation of a modification of my apparatus, in which
there are three moulds a¹, a³, a³, formed in the table A.
The construction and action of this machine are similar to those
described in reference to Figures 5 and 6. The parts marked a!, a³, a³,
G, H, H*, L, are similar to parts marked with same letters of reference
in preceding Figures. The clay is fed into a mould in the table at a¹,
and pressed in the mould at a² by the-rams G and H, and delivered at a³
by the upward action of the ram H*. The pressure is admitted to the
larger or full area of the rams G, H, and H* simultaneously through the
passage formed round the bolt I in the central pillar B in connection
with passages formed in the castings. K is a hollow or tubular bolt
which secures the upper and lower portions of the machine together.
The ends are closed by a thickness, and nuts R* fix the bolt in its place.
Ports are formed in thickness of the bolt, and communicate with the
passages Q³, Q, formed in the casting. The constant pressure is conveyed
down this hollow bolt K to all the annular spaces of all the rams in
conjunction with passages q³. This hollow pipe is secured by nuts R*, R*,
and is kept water-tight by the leathers, as shewn. The hollow bolt K
serves to strengthen the machine and take the thrust of the pressing
rams. The chest L and valve M are of the same construction as those
before described. The valve M is actuated by a cam-cut ring R. in the
same way as described in reference to Figures 5 and 6, which ring also
serves for actuating the table in the same way as in Figures 5 and 6.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 10-an end elevation of
a modification in which A is a feed box containing moulds a', a³, having
loose plates 61, 6ª, fitted so as to form bottoms to moulds a¹, a³. C; C; are
handles attached to the feed box by which it may be moved to and fro
on the lower bed plate D of machine: E is a top plunger attached to
ram e, carrying a piston working in a cylinder E³ formed in casting M;
and ex is a ram carrying a piston acting alternately on loose bottom
plates b', 6*, as each plate is in turn presented to its action. G, G*, are
rams carrying pistons for forcing the pressed articles out and clear of
the moulds. Y, Y, are nuts for adjusting stroke of rams; I, I, are bolts
for connecting the parts of machine more firmly together, and for taking

page_text: the thrust of pressing rams against cotters i, i. The spaces formed
round these bolts being kept externally water-tight form passages for
the transmission of fluid pressure to all the rams (as has been before
described in reference to previous Figures).
The action of this arrangement of my machine is as follows:-Clay is
fed into the mould a¹ of feed box, or a ready moulded article is placed
therein. The feed box is then moved forward by hand until the contents
of the mould a¹ are between the top and bottom rams e and e*. Fluid
pressure is admitted so as to pass through passages in the casting, and
to be applied on the larger areas of all the rams by opening an ordinary
two-way cock or a valve. The contents of the mould a¹ are therefore
pressed by the rams e and e*. The fluid pressure is then taken off the
larger areas of the rams, and the fluid is allowed to escape into the waste
pipe, whereupon the constant normal pressure thereupon acting in the
annular spaces around all the rams brings the rams back to their
original position. While pressure is being exerted on the contents of
the mould a¹ the mould a³ is being charged with clay, or with a ready
moulded article; and when the rams are withdrawn out of the way the
feed box is pushed back by hand until the contents of the mould a³ are
presented to the pressing action of the rams e, e*, and the already
pressed contents of the mould a¹ are also placed over the ram G. Fluid
pressure is again admitted as before to the larger areas of all the rams,
whereupon the plungers e, e*, will exert pressure on the contents of
the mould a³, and the ram G will push the pressed contents out of
the mould a¹ ready for being dried, burnt, or otherwise operated upon.
Levers or other ordinary mechanical contrivances may be employed for
moving the feed box to and fro, and also for delivering the pressed bricks
or pressed articles out of the moulds.
Of course it will be understood that when in describing the Invention
with reference to the Drawings I use the word bricks I include any other
articles shaped, formed, or moulded in and by my apparatus; and when
I use the term clay I include any plastic material (employed in my
apparatus) for the purpose of being shaped, moulded, or formed into such
articles according to my Invention.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim as consti-
tuting my said Invention, the arrangement and combination of parts
constituting the improved apparatus herein-before described for the

page_text: purpose set forth (such apparatus having the method of action above
explained).
In witness whereof, I, the said George William Hick, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
WILLIAM TITLEY,
Cloth Manufacturer,
Leeds.
GEORGE WILLIAM HICK. (L.S.)