Machine or Apparatus for Laying Bricks for Buildings.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Machine or Apparatus for Laying Bricks for Buildings.
I, JOHN HENRY KNIGHT, Barfield, Farnham, Surrey, Engineer and Landowner,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In place of or in addition to the scaffolding I erect at each corner of the
building to be built a post of iron or wood firmly fixed in the ground and if
necessary supported by guys or stays.
For instance if a wall is to be built, two of these posts are put up, one at each
end or close to each end, but if the wall be of considerable length intermediate
posts can be used. These posts carry a beam or girder to carry the actual
apparatus for putting the bricks in place. The beam or girder is arranged so
that it can be raised or lowered vertically on the posts by means of racks and
pinions, or by screws, ratchets or even pushed up and down by hand, its weight
being balanced by weights and chains running over pullies. It is secured or
fixed to the posts as desired at various heights, corresponding to each course of
brickwork.
On the beam or girder is a rack, or racks, or a long screw to move the actual
machine which adjusts the bricks in their places and presses them down on the
motar or grouting.
This consists of a frame running or sliding on the girder and carrying a toothi
wheel or pinion which gears in the rack by which it is caused to travel from end
to end of the girder, (or if a screw be used to move the machine it is fitted with
a nut to bear into the threads of the screw. If a rack is used the moving frame
carries a roller, preferably but not necessarily, on a prolongation of the axis
which revolves by means of the rack, this roller presses the bricks into place
and causes them to bed down on the motar our grouting. Two or even more
rollers may be used.
A guide board of metal or wood is fixed to the girder or even to the travelling
machine and acts as a straight edge for setting the bricks, a flange on the other
side of the roller brings the bricks into line, or separate wheels or rollers on
vertical spindles or on spindles set at a suitable angle may be used. Rollers
are preferably covered with felt, leather or india rubber, to avoid crushing the
bricks and to allow the rollers to yield to any irregularity in the bricks.
The bricks may be fed by hand to the machine, for instance in 9 inch work, two
bricks disposed length ways on the wall, then one transversely, then two length
ways then one transversely and so on.
In front of the bricklaying machine is a séries of revolving spokes or paddles
which catch the bricks and bring them up close to and abutting against the
last bricks laid; these spokes are either themselves springs, or controlled by
springs so that they yeild when the brick is stopped by resting against the last
brick laid or the revolving spokes or paddles may be driven by a belt or
suitable contrivance which allows slip on the brick being stopped and in place.
The bricklaying machine carries a hopper in which is placed mortar or grout-
ing which is fed down in the proper place, or the mortar or grouting may be

page_text: made in the hopper the ingredients being mixed and stirred automatically as the
work proceeds.
Door and window spaces are arranged for, by substituting for bricks pieces of
wood or even hollow metal of the same height as the bricks, say 3 inches, and
cut to the length of the opening required.
As the machine travels forward on its rack, on coming to a door or window
space, one of these pieces is presented to it which it lays just as if it were a
brick, the same on the next and following courses till the window space is filled
up. A gong or bell being fixed on the beams or moving machine may be arranged
to be rung as it advances to warn the attendant when to substitute a wooden space
blocks for the bricks. To facilitate the removal of the blocks from the window
or door space they may be made in two pieces and divided in the middle and
held together by screws, by turning these screws the length of the blocks is
reduced and they are more easily pulled out. The screws also permit the same
blocks to be used for various widths of openings. The blocks may be made
telescopic and kept to their required lengths by a bolt or bolts, when these are
slackened they readily telescope and are easily taken out of the work.
The above machine is or can be worked by hand, a platform attached to the
travelling machine and running on the girders supports a labourer who works
the machine by turning the tooth wheel on the rack by a wheel or winch handle.
The man feeding the machine can also stand on the platform, or a light platform
can be run along the girder on which the men can walk backwards and forwards
at their work.
It must be understood that at each course the girder is raised a distance equal
to one course of bricks, or that the roller which presses down the bricks together
with its feeding apparatus can be separately lowered and raised, say for 2, 3 or
more courses of brickwork to save the time and labour of lifting the girder at
each course.
When commencing work at the foundation, and the girder is consequently
near the ground the roller and its feeding apparatus of revolving spokes are
so arranged or a movable or swinging arm or frame that they are dropped below
the level of the girder; or the roller can be placed underneath the girder on a
second or inverted rack.
In another method, I arrange a rail or sliding way parallel with the wall that
is to be built and on it a traversing or sliding carriage carrying a vertical arm
or tower, this arm or tower carrys or supports an endless band with brackets on it
similar to a Jacob's ladder, to elevate the bricks to that part of the building where
they are laid. On the traversing tower there is an arm or plunger to push push
the bricks off the endless band and deposit them in their required places, attached
to and moving with the traversing tower is a roller or rollers, to press the bricks
into their places and bed them on to the mortar. In place of a roller or rollers
the bricks may be pressed into their places by the action of a piston working
in a cylinder and actuated by compressed air, or steam, or by hydraulic power.
The tower travelling along its rail or sliding way by manual or mechanical
power and depositing the bricks from the endless band as required, any suitable
and known mechanism being used for that purpose.
In order to make the machine self acting and less liable to delay or to avoid
errors on the part of the men working the machines, I arrange a plate preferably
of metal with a number of holes in it each hole to represent. a brick or series of
bricks, and filling up the holes with balls, a representation of the building to
be erected is thus made. The balls only rest for about half their diameter in the
holes, in the same way as bagattelle balls do, so that wherever a brick is to be
laid a ball projects above the surface of the perforated plate. A wire or contact
piece connected with an electric battery or other source of electricity is caused
to traverse the plate simultaneously with the actual machine for laying the
bricks and passing over each course of balls in succession. This contact piece is
connected with an electro magnet which controlls the discharge of bricks from

page_text: the endless band or hopper or a feeding shoot, so that as the wire or contact piece
passes over each ball a brick or bricks are deposited and presented to the laying
apparatus. When spaces such as doors or windows are shewn in the design there
are of course no balls in the holes and no electric contact is made so that no
bricks are discharged. Instead of balls pegs may be used in the holes.
Or the design may be punched out in cardboard, or thin metal as is done in the
pattern for weaving in looms.
Instead of electricity to liberate the bricks from the hopper or endless bands
compressed air may be used or even an arrangement of cords and wires similar
to those used in looms.
These machines may also be used for laving stones as in masonry
JOHN HENRY KNIGHT, Engineer & Landowner, Barfield, Farnham, County of
Surrey, de 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:
In place of or in addition to scaffolding I erect at each corner of the building
to be built, a post of iron or timber firmly fixed in or on the ground, and if
necessary supported by guys or stays. See Fig. 1 Sheet 1. For instance if a
wall is to be built two of these posts are put up, one at or near each end, but if
the wall be of considerable length intermediate posts can be used.
These posts carry a beam or girder B to carry the actual apparatus I) for
putting the bricks in place, the beam or girder is so arranged that it can be
raised vertically on the posts by means of racks and pinions or by screws or
ratchets or even, pulled up and down by hand; the machine shewn in the drawing
is pushed up and down by hand, resting on pins or pegs in the holes shewn by
black dots in the posts, its weight being balanced or partly balanced by weights W
with chains running over pullies; and it is secured or fixed to posts as desired
at various heights corresponding to each course of brickwork by bolts or
clamps.
On the beam, or girder is a rack or racks or even a long screw to move the
machine which adjusts the bricks in their places, and presses them down on
the mortar or grouting.
The machine consists of a frame D) (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4 Sheet 2) running or
sliding on the girder, and carrying a tooth wheel or pinion E running on the
rack by which it is caused to travel from end to end of the girder, (or if a
screw be used to move the machine it is fitted with a nut to bear into the threads
of the screw).
If a rack is used the tooth wheel or pinion carries a roller R preferably but
not necessarily on a prolongation of its axis which revolving by means of the
rack presses the bricks into place and causes them to bed down on the mortar
or grouting.
Two or more rollers may be used.
A guide board of metal or wood shewn by the thick line L, Figs. 3 and 4, is
fixed to the girder by the screw M. or even to the travelling machine, and acts
as a straight edge for setting the bricks.
A flange on the other side of the roller R brings the bricks into line, or

page_text: separate wheels or rollers on vertical spindles or on spindles set at a suitable angle
may be used in place of the flange on the roller, this arrangement is shewn in
Fig. 10 Sheet 1, where Vis a roller on a vertical stud.
Rollers are preferably covered with felt leather or india rubber to avoid
crushing the bricks and to permit the rollers to yeild to any irregularity in the
bricks.
The bricks may be fed by hand to the machine say for instance in 9 inch work,
two bricks are disposed length ways in the wall, then a transverse brick, then
two length ways, then one transversely and so on.
In front of the bricklaying machine and carried by it is a series of revolving
spokes or paddles which catch the bricks and bring them up close to and butting
against the last bricks laid. These spokes are either themselves springs or
controlled by springs so that they yeild when the brick is stopped by resting
against the last brick laid. Or the revolving spokes or paddles may be driven
by a belt or suitable contrivance such as a friction clutch which allows slip on
the brick being stopped and in place.
In the Figs. 23 and 4 here shewn the revolving spokes F are driven by a
chain H and supported by moveable arms G which allow the revolving spokes to
rise and fall, the chain wheel J is driven through the intervention of the friction
clutch which allows slip.
The bricklaying machine carries a hopper in which is placed mortar or grouting
which is fed down in the proper place, or the mortar or grouting may be made
in the hopper, the ingredients being mixed and stirred automatically as the
work proceeds a simple hopper is shewn in Fig. 15 Sheet 3. In this case the
hopper feeds the mortar as the machine is run back.
Door and window spaces are arranged for by substituting for bricks pieces
of wood or even hollow metal of the same height as the bricks, say 3 inches,
and cut to the length of the opening required:
As the machine travels on its rack, on coming to a door or window space one of
these pieces is presented to it which it lays just as if it were a brick, the same
on the next and following courses till the, window space is filled up.
A gong or bell fixed on the beam and being rung by the machine as it advances
may be used to warn the man feeding the machine when to substitute the wooden
space blocks for the bricks. To facilitate the removal of the blocks from the
door or window space they may be made in two pieces divided in the middle and
held together by screws, on turning these screws the length of the blocks is
reduced and they are more easily taken out.
The screws also permit the same blocks to be used for various widths of open-
ings. The block may be made telescopic and kept to their length by a bolt or
bolts, when these bolts are slackened they will readily telescope and come out of
the work. These blocks are shewn in Figs. 8 9 and 10 Sheet 2.
The machine as here described is or can be worked by hand a platform attached
to the travelling machine and running on the girder supports a labourer who
works the machine by turning the winch handle N. or a light platform can be
run along the girder to carry the men working and feeding the machine.
It must be understood that at each course the girder is raised a height equal
to one course of bricks, or the roller together with its feeding apparatus can be
separately lowered and raised for two, three or more courses of brick work to save
the time and labour of lifting the girder at each course as described below.
When commencing work at the foundation and the girder is consequently
near the ground the roller and the side roller if there be one, are so arranged
on a moveable or swinging arm or frame so that they can be dropped below
the level of the girder or the roller and machine can be placed underneath the
girder on an inverted rack.
The arrangement for lowering the roller is shewn in Fig. 5, where the roller
is driven by the intervention of three spur wheels, one, the centre one being an
idle wheel. The roller and idle wheel are fixed to a swinging arm S shewn by

page_text: vertical fod for moving the arm 4.
10 Rack pinion.
11 Chain for actuating the endless band or Jacobs ladder.
In order to make the machine self-acting, or more so than if fed by hand, or
to avoid errors on the part of the men working the machine and to feed the
machine automaticcally from a hopper or endless band.
.I arrange a plate of metal or of some substance that conducts electricity with
a number of holes in it, each hole representing the space or place occupied by a
brick or series of bricks in the building and by filling up certain holes with balls
a representation of the building to be erected is made, the balls it being under-
stood are also conductors of electricity.
The balls only rest for about half their diameter in the holes in the same way
as bagatelle balls do on a bagatelle board so that where ever bricks are to be
laid a ball projects above the surface of the perforated plate, a wire or contact
piece connected with an electrical battery or other source of electricity is caused
to traverse the plate simultaneously with the actual machine for laying bricks
and passing over each course of balls in succession and connected with an electro
magnet which controls the discharge of the bricks from the endless band or
hopper, or a feeding shoot, so that as the wire or contact piece passes over each
ball a brick or series of bricks is deposited and presented to the laying apparatus.
Where spaces such as door or window, come in the design there are of course no
balls in the holes, and no contact is made so that no brick or bricks are discharged.
This arrangement is shewn in Figs. 16 and 17 Sheet 2.
In these figs.
a is the metal plate with holes in it.
b balls.
ca screw for moving the contact piece simultaneously with the brick laying
machine.
d electrical contact piece.
e insulating block.
f battery or source of electricity.
In place of electricity compressed air may be used, or even an arrangement of
cords and wires similar to those used in looms.
Instead of holes and halls, pegs may be used, or the design may be punched out
in card-board, or thin metal as is done in the patterns of weaving in looms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
_
Claim 1 The girder with rack or screw for carrying the actual machine for
laying bricks.
Claim 2 The guide board of wood or metal.
Claim 3 Machine running on rack with roller or rollers to press bricks home.
Claim 4 The feeder consisting of revolving arms or springs, driven by a belt
or chain and friction cluth that allows slip.
Claim 5 The complete machine as shewn in the drawings.
Claim 6 Side rollers as shewn in Fig. 11 Sheet 2.
Claim 7 Lowering machine with its rollers, feeders for commencing work at or
near the ground level, also to obviate raising the girder at each course of
bricks.
Claim 8 Arrangement of travelling tower or moving carriage with Jacobs
ladder to raise bricks, and automatically push them off by the action of lever
or arm worked mechanically from the motion of the moving tower.
Claim 9 The hopper as described for putting on the mortar.
Claim 10 Bricks pressed home by roller or rollers or by piston or plungers
worked by steam air or hydraulic power.
Claim 11 The arrangement for automatically feeding the bricks by means of

page_text: electricity or compressed air by the use of the perforated or baggatelle-like plate
with balls or pegs.
Claim 12 The use of punched cards or thin metal as is used in looms, for
feeding the bricks.
Claim 13 The use of wooden space blocks for working out window & door
spaces.
Claim 14 The telescopic space blocks.
Claim 15 Placing machine on an inverted rack for beginning work at ground
level.