IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS, BRIQUETTES OF COMPRESSED FUEL OR OTHER SIMILARLY MOULDED FORMS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS, BRIQUETTES OF COMPRESSED FUEL OR OTHER
SIMILARLY MOULDED FORMS, to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a means whereby a quick return motion is given to the
ram or plunger which compresses the material operated upon.
The object of my invention is either to save time, by allowing the machines to
run faster, or, if run at the old speed, to enable the machines to turn out a better
quality of work,-in as much as a greater time is then given for the filling of tho
moulding boxes, or for other accompanying operations.
•
In carrying out my invention I no longer couple the crank-pin direct to the ram,
as in an ordinary machine, but 1 cause the crank-pin, or cranked axle, to work in,
and to actuate a slotted link, which link has its rocking centre so situated in an
eccentric position with the centre of the crank shaft, that the forward and backward
movements, (given to the link when the crank revolves), are at different speeds.
The quicker speed is given to the return stroke of the ram (A similar motion is
often attached to shaping machines used by engineers for cutting metals).
This link I then couple to the ram by means of a connecting rod, and in so doing
I arrange that the centre of the rod end shall be inovable in its attachment to the
link so that by fixing it at different positions (the adjustment of which may be
made by a screw) on the link, any required variation in the length of the stroke
may be given to the ram.
In cases where it is necessary that this motion work should yield, when an
extraordinary strain is thrown upon it, I fit the connecting rod with one or more
springs which compress before the dangerous strain is reached.
The actuating crank-pin may either be fitted in a disc plate at the end of a shaft,
or a suitable link may be fitted over & on a cranked axle, in which case the dies
would be made in halves.

page_text: I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do bereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MAKING BRICKS, BRIQUETTES OF COMPRESSED FUEL, OR OTHER
SIMILARLY MOULDED FORMS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a means whereby a quick return motion is given to the
ram or plunger, which compresses the material operated upon.
The object of my invention is either to save time, by allowing the machines to
run faster, or, if run at the old speed, to enable the machines to turn out a better
quality of work,-in as much as a greater time is then given for the filling of the
moulding boxes, or for other accompanying operations.
In carrying out my invention I no longer couple the crank-pin direct to the ram,
as in an ordinary machine, but I cause the crank-pin, or cranked axle, to work in,
& to actuate, a slotted link, which link has its rocking centre so situated, in an
eccentric position with the centre of the crank shaft, that the forward & backward
movements (given to the link when the crank revolves) are at different speeds. The
quicker speed is given to the return stroke of the ram. (A similar motion is often
attached to shaping machines used by engineers for cutting metals).
The link I then couple to the ram by means of a connecting rod, and in so doing
I arrange that the centre of the rod-end shall be moveable in its attachment to the
link, so that by fixing it at different positions (the adjustment of which may be
made by a screw) on the link, any required variation in the length of the stroke
may be given to the ram.
In cases where it is necessary that this motion work should yield, when an
.extraordinary strain is thrown upon it, I fit the connecting rod with one or more
springs which compress before the dangerous strain is reached.
The actuating crank-pin may either be fitted in a disc-plate at the end of a shaft,
or a suitable link may be fitted over & on a cranked axle, in which case the dies
would be made in halves.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an arrangement to
suit a crank-plate (or disc-plate) fitted on the end of a shaft; in this case it is
shewn with an adjustable crank-pin, together with a yielding connecting rod,
whose pin is permanently fixed, at about the centre of the slotted link.
Fig. 2. shows an adjustable Crank-pin, together with an adjustable attachment
of the connecting rod. By means of these two adjustments the stroke of the ram
may be made of any length, (within the scope of the apparatus) & its angular
advance may be likewise adjusted so that the ram may always be driven forward
to the exact position required.
It will be readily seen that if a cranked axle be used no adjustment of the
advance of the crank-pin can be made; in such a case it would be necessary to 4
arrange for adjusting the length of the connecting rod, by means of suitable screws
& nuts, so that the ram could be made to work forward to the exact point
required.
The same letters refer to the same parts in both figures.

page_text: Referring to fig. 1. A is the driving axle, having a crank-pin B, carrying a die C;
this die is made to suit the slot in the link D D, which rocks on a pin or shaft E,
which acts as a fulcrum. It will be seen that when the crank-pin B rotates in the
direction as shown on the drawing (in this case in the same direction as the hands
of a clock) a slow forward motion will be given when the die occupies that part of
the link furthest from the fulcrum, & a quick return motion is given when the die
reaches the end near the fulcrum.
The crank-pin B is arranged so as to be adjustable in the crank-plate L, by
means of a screw as shown. The peculiar arrangement & position of the screw
will permit the angular position of the Crank-pin to be either advanced or drawn
back, & this without any great alteration in the length of the stroke of the
crank.
The connecting rod attached to the link D D at the point F couples the link to
the ram G. This rod is specially contrived; a sleeve I, which bears solidly against
the rain G, covers about one half of the length of the rod H, whilst a strong
spring K keeps the whole rigidly extended against a certain pressure. If, however,
this pressure is exceeded, the spring gives way, & the sleeve slides up the rod H, &
thus saves the machine from damage.
Fig. 2. which shows only one half of the link D, will be easily understood without
much explanation. The pin F, instead of being fixed as in Fig. 1. is provided with
a die, which die, by means of nuts acting on the screw M, may be fixed at any
point in the range in the slot provided, thereby altering the length of stroke given
to the rain.
Or, where no exact adjustment of length is required, a series of holes may be
arranged in the main link above & below that shown on fig. 1. for receiving
the pin of the connecting rod, & thereby altering the length of stroke given to
the ram.
Whenever a different stroko is given, the ram will bo thereby driven forward to
n different position, & the angular advance of the crank will have to be altered by
its adjusting screw, so as to correct the error.
Where the angle taken up by the connecting rod is practically considerable, a
swivelling movement must be provided for, at the juncture of the connecting rod
(or more correctly speaking at the juncture of the sleeve I.) with the ram G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The giving of a slow advance, & a quick return motion-with an accom-
panying adjusting arrangement-to rains used in machinery for making briquettes
of compressed fuel, with the object & for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. The crank-plate, & its adjustable pin, & the peculiar angle of the adjusting
screw in relation to the arm of the crank itself, in combination with a slotted link,
substantially as described & shewn on the drawing, when used for the purpose of
adjusting tho "advance" of a ram-having a quick return motion-used for making
briquettes of Compressed Fuel.
3. The general arrangement of parts, constituting tho adjustable quick return
motions, substantially as described & shewn on the drawing, when attached to a
ram making briquettes of Compressed Fuel.
4. The combination of a yielding connecting rod, and a quick return motion,
substantially as described & shown on the drawing, when attached to a ram used
for making briquettes of Compressed Fuel.
5. The arrangement of parts constituting the yielding connecting rod, sub-
stantially as described & shewn on the drawing, when attached to a rain-having
a quick return motion-making briquettes of Compressed Fuel.

page_text: 6. The combination of the two sets of gears, one for adjusting the “advance,”
& the other for altering the length of stroke-as described & shewn on the drawing
-of a ram used for making briquettes of Compressed Fuel.
7. The combination of these two last named gears, & the yielding connecting rod,
when applied to a ram used for making briquettes of Compressed Fuel.
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