IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MOULDING AND PRESSING. BRICKS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MOULDING AND PRESSING.
BRICKS." A communication.
Sealed the 3rd July 1857, and dated the 80th April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th April 1857.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MOULDING AND PRESSING
BRICKS," to be as follows:-
In the improved machinery for moulding and pressing bricks, which forms
the subject of the present application for Letters Patent, the clay after being
suitably dried and powdered is thrown into moulds arranged in the periphery
of a revolving wheel or cylinder, where it is subjected to a powerful pressure,
the finished brick being afterwards ejected on to an endless apron and
conveyed away from the machine. At the bottom of the hopper in which the
dry powdered clay is placed there is an opening, through which the clay is

page_text: delivered to the moulds beneath. These moulds are arranged in the periphery
of a cylinder which is secured to the main shaft, the latter turning in boxes
in the framework. The bottoms of the moulds are movable, and are secured
to a piston, from which project rods that are operated by stationary cams, by
which means the bottom is thrown up or down, as will be presently described.
The plunger which enters the mould for the purpose of compressing the clay
s secured to radial arms that turn freely round the main shaft, slots being
mado at the lower end thereof to allow them to play up and down as tho
plunger rises and falls. The plunger is forced into the mould by what may
be called an open or disconnecting toggle, consisting of an arm secured to a
shaft which turns in boxes in the framework above. When not otherwise
operated, this shaft is retained in a vertical position by weights. Pins which
project out from the mould. cylinder aro caused as the latter revolves to
strike against and carry the arms and plunger round with the cylinder, this
takes place at the instant when the plunger is opposite the mouth of one of
the moulds. The arm which forms the upper part of the toggle rests at its
lower end in a suitable bed or cavity in the top of the plunger, and as the
plunger is carried forward with the cylinder it is forced down into the mould
and the requisite pressure is put upon the clay, and as the plunger passes the
centro the upper arm of the toggle escapes from the cavity, and is carried
back to its vertical position by a weight. As the plunger continues to move
round with the cylinder, after the escape of the upper toggle arm, as just
described, it is withdrawn from the mould by means of rollers attached to the
plunger, which strike against the arms pivoted to the frame. These arms are
forced back by the plunger, and as their upper extremities lie immediately
beneath the rollers the latter are raised, and thus the plunger is drawn out of
the mould. The plunger is drawn back by weights and carries with it the
upper toggle arm. The finished brick is ejected from the mould by a cam,
against which a rod strikes, and thus the bottom of the mould is forced out
and the brick is delivered upon an endless apron running upon rollers.
A modification of this machine may be employed either for moulding bricks
of dry clay, or for pressing partially dried bricks moulded of tempered clay.
This part of the Invention has for its object to apply the pressure both upon
the top and bottom of the brick, and also consists in an improved mode of
applying the pressure to the plunger. The standards support the circular
side frames, which are braced together by cross pieces, and between theso
side frames revolves the mould cylinder which carries the moulds; the axle of
this cylinder is hung in suitable bearings in the frame. The mould cylinder
is composed of two heads or discs, having between them radial arms, which do

page_text: not extend out to the periphery of the cylinder. Over the ends of these arms
slide the moulds, and attached to the inner side of each cylinder head are
rebates, which serve as guides in which the moulds slide. These moulds
have projecting from each end pins, which enter slots in the cylinder beads,
and also fit in grooves in the side frames. The grooves are cut excentric to
the cylinder, so that as the latter revolves, the pins being guided in the
grooves, slide in the slots, and the moulds are moved up and down in the
solid radial arms.
The cylinder is caused to revolve by suitable power applied to the main
shaft, which has its bearings in the standards. A broad bar extends across
the machine and rests on the edge of each Iread of the mould cylinder. The
under side of this bar is enlarged, forming a block or plunger, which fits into
the moulds; the upper surface is grooved out, forming a chair, in which fits a
pressing rod, the raised part or back of the bar preventing the pressing rod
from falling over beyond the bar when the latter drops into the notches of the
cylinder heads. To each end of this bar is attached an arm, the other end of
which is enlarged or slotted and embraces the end of the main shaft. To an
axle, having its bearings in pieces which project from the frames, is attached
a bell crank, tho short arm of which extends in between the frame and one of
the driving wheels, and is tripped at stated intervals by pins projecting from
the side of the said driving wheel; to the long arm of this bell crank is
pivoted one end of a rod, the other end of which is pivoted to a projection
on the back of the presser bar.
The above-described arrangement of arms, lever, cam, and crank is in
duplicate, there being one set on each side of the machine. The rod by
which pressure is applied to the plunger or presser bar has attached to each
end a long lever, which at its other end is attached to and vibrates on a
stationary shaft which extends across the machine, having its bearings in the
standards near the foundation. The operation of this machine is as follows:-
The prepared clay or the partially dried brick to be pressed is placed in the
mould which is nearest to the top of the machine; as the mould cylinder is
revolved a cam lifts the plunger bar out of the preceding mould and holds it
up clear of the edge of the cylinder heads, thus avoiding the friction of their
contact. At the time the presser is lifted out of the mould the presser bar
is thrown forward, when the acting cam leaving the trip lever allows the bar
to rest on the edge of the cylinder heads a short distance in front of the second
mould, and as the cylinder moves on the presser bar drops into the mould and
is carried along with the cylinder. As the arc traversed by the presser bar
and its rod intersects the circumference of the mould cylinder at an angle

page_text: more or less acute in proportion to the radii of the two circles, the continued
motion of the cylinder causes a pressure to be applied to the bar and its
plunger which has entered the monld. As the cylinder has been progressing,
the pins attachel to the euls of the moulds have followed the excentric
grooves in the cylinder heads, and at the point where the pressure is first
applied begin to recede from the exterior edge of the frames, this causes the
mould to be slid down over its radial arm (which thus becomes an inside
plunger) a distance equal to one-half of the descent of the top plunger,
bringing an equal pressure on both sides of the brick. When the levers have
passed the centre of rotation of the cylinder the pressure is relieved and the
cam begins to rise and lift the plunger bar out of the mould ready to be
carried back by the crank. After the brick has been pressed the mould is
carried on as the cylinder revolves towards the lower part of the machine, the
pins of the moulds following the grooves, which bere recede still further from
the edge of the frames, the slot in the heads allowing the pins to move
towards the centre, thus drawing the mould still farther over its radial arm,
which thrusts the finished brick out of. the mould on to the travelling apron,
by which it is carried off from the machine. As the emptied mould begins to
ascend, the groove again approaches the edge of the frames and moves out the
mould on its arm, and thereby opens it for the reception of another portion of
clay or another brick.
By the abovo arrangement of parts a simple and durable machine is
obtained, in which pressure is applied on the upper and under sides of tho
brick at the same time without any complicated mechanism for raising the
inside or lower plungers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in tho Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the "Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
1857, in the twentieth year of Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her
special license that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agreo
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 of "IMPROVED MACHINERY.FOR
MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS," being a communication from abroad, upon 'tho
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, by an.
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
samo was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great-
Seal Patent Offico within six calendar months next and immediately after
the late of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declaro 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thercon (that is to say):-
Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a sido view; Fig. 3, a section on the line A, A, of
Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a section on the line X, X, of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a section
through one of the bottoms of the moulds, on the line B, B, of Fig. 3.
In this improved press, the clay, after being suitably dried and powdered, is
thrown into moulds arranged in the periphery of a revolving wheel or cylinder,
where it is subjected to a powerful pressure, the finished brick being afterwards
ejected on to an endless apron, as will be hereafter more fully described. In
the said Figures, B represents the hopper into which the dry powdered clay is
placed, and from an opening a in the bottom of which it is delivered to the
moulds beneath. These moulds C are arranged in the periphery of the
cylinder D, which is secured to the shaft E, the latter turning in boxes in the
framework. The bottoms of the moulds are movable, and are secured to the
piston F, from which project the rods F, which are operated by the stationary
cams G & II, by which means the bottom is thrown up or down, as will be
presently described. I is the plunger, which enters the mould for the purpose
of compressing the clay. This plunger is secured to the radial arins K, that
turn freely round the shaft E, the slot d allowing them to play up and down
as the plunger rises and falls. The plunger is forced into the mould .by
what may be called an open or disconnected toggle, as follows:-L is an arm
secured to the shaft M, which turns in boxes in the framework; when not
ctherwise operated, this shaft is retained in a vertical position by the weights

page_text: N, N, as seen in Fig.
f, seen dotted in Fig. 3, are pins, projecting in
from the radial arms K; 9; 9, are pins, which project out from the cylinder D,
and as the latter revolves strike against the pins f, and carry the arms and
plunger round with the cylinder. This takes place at the instant when the
plunger is opposite the mouth of one of the moulds. As now the plunger is
carried forward with the cylinder, it is forced down into the mould and tho
requisite pressure is put upon tho clay. As the plunger passes the centre, the
arm L escapes from the cavity h; and is carried back to its vertical position by
the weight N2, the tooth attached to which bears upon a corresponding
tooth m attached to the arm and moves it, until the motion of the tooth / is
arrested by another tooth or block p projecting from the framework. As tho
plunger continues round with the cylinder, after the escape of the lever L. as
just described, it is withdrawn from the mould, as follows:- are rollers
attached to the plunger, which strike against the arms O pivoted to the
frame at 9. These arms are forced back by the plunger, and as their upper
extremities lie immediately beneath the rollers, the latter are raised, and thus
the plunger is drawn out of the mould, at the same instant the pin f escaping
from the ping upon the cylinder permits the plunger to be carried back ready
to be again operated when the next mould comes round. The plunger is
drawn back by weights R, and carries with it the arm L, as seen in Fig. 8.
It now remains to show the manner in which the finished brick is ejected from
the mould. This is effected by the cam H, against which the rod F3 strikes,
and thus the bottom of the mould is forced out, and the brick is delivered
upon an endless apron upon rollers T. The arms O are brought back to the
position ready for operation (Fig. 3) by the weight of the rod P attached
thereto. It will be observed, that were it not for the peculiar action of the
disconnecting toggle or arm L, whereby this arm is released from the plunger
before the latter commences to rise, it would not be possible to carry back the
plunger after it was withdrawn from the mould. The machine is set in
motion by power applied to the crank S, which is attached to a sleeve U,
which runs upon the shaft E and also carries the pinion W. This pinion
engages with an intermediate wheel Y upon a short shaft Z, which carries
another pinion V, by which the wheel Q is driven. This wheel is secured to
the shaft E, and thus the operating parts of the machine are set in motion.
In Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 is represented a modification of the machine, which
may be employed either for moulding bricks of dry clay or for repressing par-
tially dried bricks moulded of tempered clay. This part of the Invention bas
for its object to apply the pressure both upon the top and bottom of the brick,
and also consists-in an improved mode of applying the pressure to the plunger

page_text: Fig. 6 is a plan; Fig. 7, an elevation of this machine; Fig. 8, a vertical
section on the line A2, A3, of Fig. 6; Fig. 9, details, to be referred to here-
after. In the said Drawings, B' are standards supporting the circular side
frame C, which are braced together by the cross piece D'; between these side.
frames revolves the mould cylinder E' which carries the moulds. The axle F
of this cylinder is hung on suitable bearings in the frame C; it is composed of
the two heads G', and between them the radial arms H¹, which do not extend:
out to the periphery of the cylinder; over the ends of these arms slide the
moulds I. Attached to the inner side of each cylinder head are the rebates
K', which serve as guides, in which the moulds 1' slide; the moulds 1' (ono
of which is shown in Fig. 9) have projecting from each end pins a', which
enter slots 6' in the cylinder heads G', and also fit in grooves L' (seen dotted
in Fig. 7) in the side frames C'. The grooves L' are cut eccentric to the
cylinder, so that as the latter revolves the pins a' being guided in the grooves
slide in the slots b', and the moulds are moved up and down on the solid arms:
II. The cylinder heads G' have cut in their peripheries notches M'; the
head is a little cut down on one side of these notches at c', that the bar.which
carries the plunger may catch on the opposite side of the notch as the cylinder
revolves and be guided into the mould. The cylinder is caused to revolvo by
suitable power applied to the shaft N', which has its bearings in the standards
B. Cog wheels on this shaft gear with the wheels O' on the outside of each:
head G. P, Figs. 6 and 8, is a broad bar, extending across the machine and
resting on the edge of each head G¹; the under sido of this bar is enlarged,
forming a block or plunger (seen in section in Fig. 3) which fits into tho
moulds I'; the upper surface is grooved out, forming a chair, in which fits the
rod Q', the raised part or back d' preventing the rod from falling over beyond
the bar when the latter drops into the notches M. To each end of the bar P¹
is attached an arm R', the other end of which is enlarged at S' and embraces
the ends of the shaft F in a slot T. Across the portion S' and beyond the end
of the shaft F is attached a bar e¹; to the middle of this bar is pivoted at one
end an arm U', to the other end of which at f¹ is pivoted a lever VI, which
vibrates on the screw g¹ which secures it to the frame C'. On the lower end
of the lever V¹ is a toc h', against which strikes a pin or cam i, attached 'to
the shaft N¹; this cam, by means of the lever and its connections, moves the
arm R' endwise, the slot T allowing it to slide on the shaft F, and raises the
bar P" out of the notches M¹. The toe h' is arranged of such a length that
the bar P shall be held up off the heads G¹ whilst it is being returned into
the position seen in red in Fig. 7. To an axle s¹, having its bearings in the
picces k, which project from the frames C, is attached a bell crank W', the

page_text: short arm of which extends-in between the frame C' and the cog wheel O', and
is tripped at stated intervals by pins m¹ projecting from the side of the wheel
O'. To the long arm of this crank W' is pivoted one end of a rod 7, the other
end of which is pivoted to a projection n' on the back d¹ of the bar P¹.
The above arrangement of arms, lever, cams, and crank is in duplicate, there
being one set on each side of the machine. The rod Q', by which pressure is.
applied to the plunger bar P', has attached to each end a long lever X', which
at its other end is attached to and vibrates on a shaft Y', which extends across
the machine, having its bearings in the standards B' near the foundation. o¹
arc stout pins projecting out from the frames C, one on each side, against
which the levers X' and arms R' stop; p, q, are drums running on shafts,
having their bearings, the former in the standards B and the latter in short
standards, rising from the bed plate of the machine; these drums aro
intended to carry a belt or apron on which the-finished bricks are deposited
and carried off from the machine; motion is communicated to p¹ by a cog
wheel on its shaft, .which gears with one of the wheels on the driving
shaft N¹.
Operation. The prepared clay or the partially dried brick to be repressed
is placed in the mould No. 1, which is nearest to the top of the machine; as
the mould cylinder is revolved in the direction of its arrow, the cam i striking
on the toc ¹ lifts the plunger bar P¹ out of the preceding mould I and notch
M', and holds it up clear of the edge of the heads G', thus avoiding the friction
of their contact; at the same time the bar P¹ is lifted out of the notch M'
one of the pius m' strikes against the short arm of the boll crank W, which
throws the bar P¹ with the arm R' and lever X' into the position seen in red
in Fig. 7, when the cam leaving the toe h allows the bar P¹ to rest on
the edge of the heads G' a short distance in front of the notch M'; as the
cylinder moves on, the bar 1" strikes against the higher side of the notch M'
and drops into it, and is now carried along with the cylinder, the rod Q
following and resting in its groove, the arm of the bell crank having escaped
from the pin m'. As the arc traversed by the rod Q' intersects the circum-
ference of the mould cylinder at an angle moro or less acute in proportion to
the radii of the two circles, the continued motion of the cylinder causes a
pressure to be applied to the bar P' and its plunger which has entered the
mould. As the cylinder has been progressing, the pins a' attached to the ends
of the mould have followed the eccentric grooves L', which, at the point where
prossure is first applied, begin to recedo. from the exterior edge of the
frame C¹; this causes the mould to be slid down over its armi H (which thus
becomes an inside plunger) a distance equal to one-half of the descent of tho
the

page_text: top plunger, bringing an equal pressure on both sides of the brick. The
amount which the plunger descends will depend on the relation existing
between the length of the levers X' and the radius of the mould cylinder
a greater proportionate length of lever causing the plunger to descend a
greater distance.. When the levers X' have passed the centre of. rotation of
the cylinder the pressure is relieved, and the cam i striking the toe h¹ the
arm begins to rise and lift the plunger bar P¹ out of the notch M¹ ready
to be carried back by the crank W' when the next pin m³ comes in contact
with it. The stop o' serves to arrest and support the lever X' and arm R¹
after the bar P is cleared from the cylinder until the piu m' catches the bell
crank W. After the brick has been pressed, the mould is carried on as the
cylinder revolves towards the lower part of the machine, the pins a' following the
grooves L', which here recede still farther from the edge of the frames, the
slot in the heads G' allowing the pins to move towards the centre, thus
drawing the mould still further over its arm II', as at No. 3, Fig. 8, which
thrusts the finished brick out of the mould on to the apron running on the
drums p, q, by which it is carried off from the machine. As the emptied
mould begins to ascend, the groove L' again approaches the edge of the frame
C³, moving out the mould on its arm, and opening the mould for the reception
of another portion of clay or another brick when it has arrived in the
position of No. 1.
By the above arrangement of parts a machine is obtained simple and
durable, on which pressure is applied on the upper and under sides of the
brick at the same time without any complicated mechanism for raising the
inside or the lower plungers.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under
the above recited Letters Patent I claim the combination of the balancel
arm L with the weighted reciprocating plunger I operating in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as herein set forth.
2nd, I claim the means by which the plunger is locked with and dis-
connected from the cylinder D, consisting essentially of the pins fand 9 and
the arms O, operating in the manner substantially as herein described.
3d, I claim the method herein described of applying pressure to the plunger
by means of the radial arms R' and levers X', operating in the manner
substantially as herein set forth, for the purpose specified.
4th, I claim the combination of the radial arms H', II', with tho sliding
moulds I, I, and moving block or plunger P, when said parts are cou-

page_text: structed and arranged to operate in relation to cach other, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lanc.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)