Improvements in Moulding Machines for Moulding Ceramic Articles by Hydraulic Pressure.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 2nd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moulding Machines for Moulding Ceramic Articles
by Hydraulic Pressure.
We, ADRIEN BONNARDEL and AUGUSTE BONNARDEL, both of Viviers-sur-Rhone,
Ardèche, France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improved constructions of moulding machines for
moulding ceramic articles by hydraulic pressure, the essential feature of which
consists in arranging the sides of the mould to be automatically moved away from
the moulded object after this has been formed by the joint action of a fixed
bottom plate of the mould and a moveable top plate of the mould, which is
raised and lowered by the main plunger of the hydraulic press.
According to one arrangement we construct such apparatus as follows:-
The base of the press carries the stationary bottom plate of the mould, while
the plunger of the inverted hydraulic cylinder at the top of the press has the
top plate of the mould detachably connected to it; this plunger has laterally
projecting lugs to which are fixed the lower ends of suspension rods the upper
ends of which are fixed to a cross head carried by a plunger of smaller diameter
working in a small auxiliary hydraulic cylinder fixed on the top of the main
cylinder and so arranged that on admitting water pressure into it, the plunger
in rising raises the main plunger and top plate of the mould after these have
performed their working stroke.
The sides of the mould are formed of four separate parts or cheeks, which can
be moved towards and away from the bottom plate of the mould and also vertically
up and down relatively to the same.
For this purpose the four side cheeks are carried on a table which is
supported on the plungers of four small hydraulic cylinders fixed to the base of
the machine so that by admitting water pressure into these, the table and with
it the four side cheeks of the mould are raised. to the requisite height above the
bottom mould plate to form the mould box, while on discharging the water
from the cylinders the table and cheeks sink by gravity below the bottom mould
plate. The side cheeks have downward projecting lugs which are pivotted to the
one end of horizontal levers whose other end is pivotted to a lug on the under
side of the table. At an intermediate point of their length these levers are
also pivotted to the upper end of small plungers, working in other small hydraulic
ylinders fixed to the base of the machine, so that on admitting water pressure
o these cylinders the plungers raise the levers, causing them to turn on their
ivotted connection to the table, whereby their other ends are made to move
he side cheeks of the mould close up against the bottom mould plate and to
old them there during the moulding operation, while on discharging the water
rom these cylinders after the moulding is completed the levers are turned so as
o move the side cheeks away from the bottom mould.
The various above described hydraulic cylinders are all connected by pipes to
orts in a slide valve box having an inlet for the pressure water and a discharge

page_text: port, and it contains a slide valve actuated by hand which is moved into con
secutive positions, for establishing different communications between the several
cylinders and the pressure water supply and discharge port so that the following
consecutive operations take place.
1. Assuming that the moulding of an object has been completed, water
pressure is admitted to the top auxiliary cylinder for raising the main plunger
and top mould plate.
2. Water pressure is discharged from the bottom auxiliary cylinders so as to
lower the side cheeks of the mould and at the same time move them away from
the bottom mould plate thus leaving the moulded object free to be removed.
3. Water pressure is admitted to the bottom cylinders again so as to raise the
side cheeks and move them up against the bottom mould plate, for receiving a
_fresh charge of material to be moulded.
4. Water pressure is admitted to the main hydraulic cylinder so as to lower
the plunger and top mould plate and thus to mould the said material by pressure.
The top and bottom mould plates as also the side cheeks are made hollow so
that heated fluid can be circulated therein for heating the object while it is being
moulded.
According to a modified construction for moulding smaller objects the sides of
the mould are formed of one single plate which is attached firstly to plungers
working in cylinders fixed to the base of the machine and secondly to opposite
plungers of inverted cylinders fixed to the upper part of the framing, so that
on admitting water pressure to the first named cylinders their plungers raise
the middle mould plate above the bottom mould plate, while on discharging the
water pressure from these cylinders and admitting pressure to the top cylinders,
their plungers force the middle plate down below the bottom mould plate. When
in the raised position the middle mould plate fits with the splayed upper part
of the mould opening against the correspondingly splayed sides of the top mould
plate fixed to the main plunger.
The various hydraulic cylinders, are, as before all in communication with a
slide valve box the slide of which in being moved consecutively into different
positions, effects the following operations.
Assuming a ceramic article to have been moulded, then
1. The water pressure is discharged from the main cylinder so that its plunger
together with the top mould plate is raised up by the admission of water
pressure to the top auxiliary cylinder, at the same time water pressure is dis-
charged from the lower auxiliary cylinders acting on the middle.mould plate, so
that this is now forced down by the water pressure admitted to the upper auxiliary
cylinders acting thereon, causing the middle mould plate to descend below the
bottom mould plate and thus leaving the moulded object free to be removed.
2. Water pressure is then admitted to the lower auxiliary cylinders so as to
overcome the downward pressure of the upper cylinders (which are of a smaller
size), and thereby raise the middle mould plate until it butts against the
splayed sides of the raised upper mould plate.
3. Fresh ceramic material having been placed upon the lower mould plate
water pressure is then admitted to the main cylinder so as to force down both
the upper mould plate and the intermediate mould plate, thereby compressing
and moulding the material that had been placed on the lower mould plate.
"Instead of employing a slide valve box for regulating the action of the several
hydraulic cylinders, these may communicate with openings in a chamber that
are closed by a series of lift valves that are held closed by loaded levers which
according to one arrangement are raised by hand according as it is required to
admit or discharge the water pressure to or from the several cylinders: or accord-
ing to another arrangement the weighted levers are situated above a horizontal
shaft carrying cams which, on rotating the shaft by hand, are made to raise the
several levers consecutively in the order to effect the several communications
with the hydraulic cylinders above described. Some of the valves are made with

page_text: couvre action so that when they are raised for admitting water pressure to a
cylinder they at the same time closed a discharge orifice, and vice versa.
Dated this 27th day of June 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
improvements in Moulding Machines for Moulding Ceramic Articles
by Hydraulic Pressure.
We, ADRIEN BONNARDEL and AUGUSTE BONNARDEL, both of Viviers-sur-Rhone,
Ardèche, France, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improved constructions of moulding machines for
moulding ceramic articles by hydraulic pressure, the essential feature of which
consists in arranging the sides of the mould to be automatically moved away
from the moulded object after this has been formed by the joint action of a fixed
bottom plate of the mould and a moveable top plate of the mould, which is raised
and lowered by the main plunger of the hydraulic press..
We shall describe the construction of moulding machines according to our
invention referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 represents in elevation partly sectional, one form of press provided
with a frame divided into four parts which can be separated from one another
at the beginning of removal from the mould; this arrangement allows among
other matters the manufacture of articles laterally moulded. Fig. 2 is a side
view of the whole of the same press. Fig. 3 shews in plan the extensible frame,
and Fig. 4 is a half plan of the base of the machine. Fig. 5 is a section of the
controlling valve worked by hand.
The press consists of a base a connected by columns to the head c which
carries the pressure cylinder d in which moves the pressing plunger e. Above the
cylinder is a cylinder f of smaller diameter, in which there is a plunger g
connected at the top to a crosshead having two rods the lower ends of which
are fixed to ears projecting at the sides of the pressing plunger. On the
lunger e is bolted a matrix having in intaglio the pattern to appear in relief
on the manufactured article; this matrix can be replaced as required, there being
rooves in the lower face of the pressing plunger holding the heads of the
ixing bolts m.
On the base a is fixed in iike manner the die n which forms the bottom of the
ould.
The frame which at the desired time closes in the upper part of the die n so
s to form the side walls of the mould, consists of four parts o which by meeting
ompletely surround the die n forming a rectangle.
Each of the parts o rests on a table carried by plungers which work in
linders r, the sides o being raised or lowered by the ascent or descent of this
ble. They have also each a tails extending down below the plane of the
ble p and jointed to one of two links tt jointed together at u, the other link
ing jointed to a lug e projecting down from the table p. The joint pin u of
ch pair of links t t passes through a slot in a block y which is carried on the
unger of a cylinder w. The plungers z move independently of the plungers q

page_text: and their vertical reciprocations move the joints and consequently the move-
ments of the sides o of the frame towards or away from the die n.
All parts of the mould, the matrix k, the die n and the sides o are hollow and
can be cooled by circulation of water.
The controlling valve shewn separately in Fig. 5 as a slide valve allows of
controlling by hand all the successive movements of the various parts during an
operation. Water under pressure enters the valve box 3 by the inlet 2. The
slide 4 puts the ports 5, 6, 7 and 8 in communication either with the inlet of the
pressure water or with the escape port 9. Each port of the facing of the slide 4
leads to a pipe marked with the same numeral in Fig. 2. The port 5 leads by
pipes 5 to the cylinders having plungers 9 by which the table p and frame o
are raised and lowered. The port 6 leads by pipes 6 to the cylinders to having
plungers for opening and closing the frame of the die. The port 7 leads by
pipe 7 to the top of the great cylinder d, the plunger of which moves the matrix;
and finally the port 8 leads by pipe 8 to the cylinder f the plunger g of which
raises the pressing plunger.
The operation of the press is as follows having four phases or periods.
Referring to Fig. 5 where the slide is in its extreme forward position, the
port 8 communicates with the inlet of pressure water, consequently the cylinder f
being charged, the plunger g is kept up holding up the pressing plunger e and
the matrix k above the die n.
1st Period. On moving the slide to position 10, the port 5 is opened to com-
municate with the inlet 2, ihe cylinders rare charged and the plungers q
ascend, raising the table and the four sides of the frame which remain.
separated. The port 8 is closed, the cylinder f remaining charged and the
pressing plunger remains up above the die.
2nd Period. The slide being moved to 11, the port 5 is still open to pressure
water and the plungers 9 of the cylinders hold up the table so that the die n is
under the level of the upper faces of the sides o of the frame. The port 6 is
also open so that pressure water acts in the cylinders w raising the plungers and
the joints of the links t t causing the sides o to come against the die thus forming
the mould.
3rd Period. The slide being moved to 12, the ports 5 and 6 remain open
and consequently the plungers q and z keep the frame up and closed. The port 7
supplies pressure water to the great cylinder d, and the port 8 communicates
through the hollow of the slide with the outlet 9; thus while the cylinder f
empties and fills, the plunger e descends and compresses.
P
4th Period. The slide is moved back to the position shewn in Fig. 5 putting
the ports 5, 6 and 7 and consequently the cylinders wand d in communication
with the outlet 9, and the port 8 in communication with the supply of pressure
water. The cylinders r are emptied by the weight of the table which descends
lowering the plungers 9, the table presses on the heads y of the plungers
pushing them down and emptying the cylinders w which allows of the sides o
being separated. The plunger 7 ascends raising the plunger e and emptying the
great cylinder d. This completes the series of movements for one operation,
leaving the apparatus ready to operate again.
The machine just described is especially adapted to operate on large pieces. A
modification more simple and adapted to operate on pieces of moderate size is
shewn in elevation partly sectional in Fig. 6 and in side view in Fig. 7. A
controlling valve is shewn in longitudinal section in Fig. 8.
The base 13 is connected to the head 14 by columns 15; the great cylinder 16
is cast with or fixed on the head, it contains the pressing plunger 17; above it
is the small cylinder 18 containing the lifting plunger connected to the
plunger 17 by the crosshead 20 and the rods 21 guided through the: bosses.22:
projecting from the cylinder 16. The matrix 23 is fixed on the lower face of the
plunger 17 by bolts 24 as in the machine previously described: The
die 25 is fixed on the base 13 in the same way. The frame. 26

page_text: is made in one piece; it is guided by the columns 15 and can be raised to me
the matrix which enters it forming the mould. When one operation is complete
it descends below the level of the die to facilitate removal of the moulded article
In order to effect its up and down movements it is pushed either way by tw
5 sets of differential plungers 27 and 28 of different diameter fixed on opposit
sides of the frame, the lower plungers 28 being of greater diameter than th
upper 27.
The slide valve 29 Fig. S moves in a box 30 to which pressure water is supplied
by port 1. Another port 32 always communicates pressure by pipes 32 to the
lifting cylinder 18 and the cylinders 33 which contain the plungers for pushing
down the frame. The slide face has three ports 34 communicating with the
cylinders 65 of the plungers 28 for raising the frame; port 35 communicating
with the pressure cylinder 16; and port 6 being the discharge.
The operation is as follows in three periods.
Before action the slide valve is in the position shewn in Fig. 8, the ports 34
and 35 communicating through the hollow of the slide with the discharge port 36.
1st Period. The slide being moved to 37 the port 34 is opened to the pressure
water inlet 31, supplying the cylinders 65 the plungers 28 of which being
larger than the opposing plungers 27, raise the frame 26 and press it against the
matrix 23
2nd Period. The slide is mored to 38 opening the port 35 thus supplying water
pressure to the cylinder 16, so that the plunger 17 and frame 26 descend cutting
and compressing the article moulded.
3rd Period. The slide is moved back putting the ports 34 and 35 in communi-
cation with the discharge port 36 allowing the cylinders 16 and 65 to empty; the
upper cylinders 18 being always supplied with pressure water, its plunger raises
the pressing plunger 17 and the cylinders 33 being always supplied with
pressure water through port 32 push down the frame 20 below the level of the
die 25 so that the article can be removed from the mould.
A modification of the controlling valve is shewn in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, this
valve being specially applicable to the machine shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
The valve box contains two double valves, the one 40 admitting pressure
water from 41 to the pipe 42 leading to the cylinders 65 and keeping the frame
raised. This valve is opened by the pressure. The other valve 43 is kept seated
by a loaded lever 4 against the pressure. This valve puts the press in com-
munication with the discharge 45 or with the inlet of pressure water according
to the position which it occupies. The one or the other lever is moved by hand
ccording to the operation to be performed.
On pushing down the lever 46 of the valve 40 the passage of pressure water
y 42 to the cylinders 65 is closed, and these are open to discharge,
rame descends. On raising the lever 44, the discharge from the cylinder 16
so that the
closed and the cylinder is opened to pressure so that the plunger and, frame
escend.
Figs. 12 and 13 shew one of the valves 40 or 43 and its seat 47 provided with
vo cross passages 48 in communication with a groove 49 for discharge of the
quid.
Another valve arrangement specially suited to the machine shewn in Figs. 1
4 inclusive is represented in plan Fig. 14, elevation Fig. 15, and longitudinal
ction Fig. 16. The valves 50 to 57 inclusive are pressed on their seats by
aded levers 58. A cam shaft 59 turned by hand raises these valves in the desired
der to effect the different actions of the press, putting its different organs in
mmunication with the supply of pressure water by the ports 60, 61, 62, and 63
ich are respectively connected with the pipes 6, 7, 8, and 5 shewn in Fig. 2.
e ports 64 are for discharges. By raising the valves 50, 53 55, and 56 the
inger is raised. By raising 50, 52, 55, and 56 the pressure is obtained. By
sing 51, 53, 54 and 57 the moulded article can be removed and by raising
53, 54 and 50, the frame is returned to its initial position.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. A machine for moulding ceramic articles by hydraulic pressure, having a
rectangular mould consisting of a fixed bottom, a top removably attached to the
plunger of a vertically acting hydraulic press and from sides which are caused
by hydraulic pressure to advance towards and to recede from each other, and
also to ascend or descend, all the hydraulic actions being governed by a slide
valve or other valves worked by hand substantially as described.
2. The modified machine for moulding smaller articles wherein the sides of the
mould are not separable from each other but are caused to move up and down by
differential hydraulic cylinders substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of March 1900.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.