IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANufacture of Bricks. TILES, EARTHENWARE, AND CHINA
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hales Turner and William Robert Renshaw,
both of Tunstall, in the County of Stafford, Engineers, for an Invention of
“ IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANufacture of Bricks.
TILES, EARTHENWARE, AND CHINA."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hales Turner and
William Robert Renshaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
13th August 1880.
WILLIAM HALES TURNER and WILLIAM ROBERT RENSHAW, both of Tunstall,
in the County of Stafford, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, EARTHENWARE, AND CHINA."
Our Invention, which relates to the manufacture of bricks, tiles, china, and
earthenware, consists of means or apparatus whereby pulverized clay or other
material used in the said manufacture is compressed in a dry state into moulds
of a shape corresponding to the article which it is desired to produce. The clay
may be pulverized by any suitable apparatus, sucb, for example, as that for which
Letters Patent were granted under date 8th March 1879, No. 928, to the said
William Robert Renshaw in conjunction with the late Charles Cope. According
to our present Invention the powdered clay so produced is placed in a dry
state into moulds and thereafter subjected to great pressure in an hydraulic
or other press. Any number of moulds may be laid together and superposed one
upon the other so as to effect the production of several articles at one operation.
In making flat tiles, for example, the mould may consist of an upright box, the
powdered clay being placed between movable separating plates which divide the
slabs or tiles one from another. When the articles have been thus compressed into
a sufficient state of cohesion they are removed and thereafter subjected to the
baking, glazing, or other finishing operations which they may require.
important feature of the hydraulic press which we prefer to use in the hereinbefore
referred to solidifying process, is the employment in conjunction therewith of a
compound or triple accumulator, whereby we are enabled to increase the final
pressure with an economical expenditure of power. The accumulator rams which
deliver the water to the hydraulic press proper are arranged within the weight
CDC71
An

page_text: box telescopically, one within the other, being fed by three pumps of corresponding
capacities, and each ram having a lift of, say, one third the total lift of the weight
box, suitable relief openings being provided for the escape of surplus water. We
prefer to load the weight box with water as being easily increased or diminished
for varying required pressures. When it is desired to operate the press we admit
water from the largest accumulator ram, then from the second smaller ram, and
finally from the least or third ram. The water pressure from the first ram is
produced by a comparatively small expenditure of power, and quickly filling up
the press cylinder solidifies the material ready for the second or increased pressure,
which in its turn prepares the material for receiving the final pressure without
wasting the pressures already developed. Suitable stops and connexions are
provided between the accumulator and the press, the said stops being worked
either automatically or by hand, as desired. Although we have described the
accumulator as consisting of a triple ram arrangement, we do not confine ourselves
to any stated number of rams, as it is evident the number might be varied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Hales Turner and William Robert Renshaw in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 12th February 1881.
WILLIAM HALES TURNER and WILLIAM ROBERT RENSHAW, both of Tunstall, in
the County of Stafford, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, TILES, EARTHENWARE, AND CHINA."
Our Invention, which relates to the manufacture of bricks, tiles, china, and
earthenware, consists of means or apparatus whereby pulverised clay or material
used in such manufacture is compressed in a dry state in moulds of shapes corre-
sponding to the shapes of the articles to be produced. The clay may be pulverised
by any suitable apparatus, or by the apparatus for which Letters Patent,
Number 928, of the year 1879, were granted to me in conjunction with the late
Charles Cope. The pulverised clay is placed in a mould or in moulds, and is
subjected therein to great pressure in a hydraulic or other press. A number of
moulds are superposed one upon the other so as to effect the production of several
articles at one operation, or a mould constructed to form a number of superposed
articles is used. For example, when making tiles, plates, or dishes, the mould may
consist of an upright box in which the powdered clay or material is placed between
movable separating plates or parts, which divide the box into a number of moulds
and separate the tiles, plates, or dishes one from another. When the articles have
been sufficiently pressed into a cohering state they are removed and subjected to
the baking, glazing, or other finishing operations which may be required to
complete their manufacture. To supply pressure to the hydraulic press when we
employ such a press we prefer to use a compound telescopic accumulator, whereby
we are enabled to increase the final pressure with an economical expenditure of
power. The accumulator rams or cylinders which deliver the water to the press
are arranged telescopically one within the other, and are fed by pumps of different
powers. In a triple accumulator each ram may have a lift of about one third
the entire lift of the load, suitable relief openings being provided for the escape of
surplus water.
The accompanying Drawing is illustrative of the arrangement of the rams or
cylinders in a triple accumulator. In the said Drawing a is a fixed ram which
rests upon a suitable foundation. Upon this ram a cylinder b is fitted to slide.
The water is conveyed into and out of this cylinder through a pipe i and a passage
which is formed in the ram a. Upon the said cylinder a larger cylinder c is fitted
to slide, and is supplied with water by means of a pipe d. Upon the cylinder ca
third cylinder e is fitted to slide, and is supplied with water by means of a pipe f
The cylinder c is formed with a neck c¹ in which is a gland or stuffing-box which
slides on the pipe d, and the cylinder e is formed with a neck e' in which is a gland
which slides on the pipe f. The outer cylinder sustains the weight box or load.
We prefer to load the cylinder e with water contained in a tank k in order that
the load may be readily increased or diminished. When the press is to be operated
we first admit water from the cylinder e through a pipe g, then from the smaller
cylinder c through the pipe h, and finally, from the least cylinder 6 through the
pipe . The water pressure from the first cylinder is produced by a comparatively
small expenditure of power, and quickly filling up the press cylinder solidifies the
the material ready for the second or increased pressure, which in its turn prepares
the material for receiving the final pressure without wasting the pressure already
developed. Suitable stops and connections between the accumulator and the press
are provided, the said stops being worked either automatically or by hand, as
preferred. Although we have described the accumulator as having three cylinders or

page_text: rams, we do not confine ourselves to this number, as more or less than three
cylinders may be arranged together in one accumulator.
Having not set forth the nature of our Invention, we would have it to be
understood that we claim,-
First. The apparatus for simultaneous formation of a number of articles moulded
by pressure, substantially in the manner set forth and indicated.
And, Secondly. The telescopic accumulator, constructed and acting substantially
in the manner set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Renshaw, for myself and on
behalf of the said William Hales Turner, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one.
Signed and sealed in
the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
41, John Dalton Street,
Manchester.
W. R. RENSHAW. (L.S.)