IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES OR MOULDS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN MAKING AND PRESSING BRICKS, BLOCKS, TILES, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Hamblet, of West Bromwich, in the County of
Stafford, Brick Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES
OR MOULDS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN MAKING AND
PRESSING BRICKS, BLOCKS, TILES, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES."
Sealed the 23rd December 1879, and dated the 30th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Hamblet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1879.
JOSEPH HAMBLET, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Brick Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES OR MOULDS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN MAKING AND PRESSING BRICKS, BLOCKS, TILES, AND OTHER LIKE
ARTICLES."
My Invention consists, first, of the improvements hereinafter described in the
construction of dies or moulds to be used in the moulding of bricks, blocks, tiles,
and other like articles, and in machinery or apparatus to be used in connection
with the said dies or moulds, or other dies or moulds.
I will describe my improvements in dies or moulds in conjunction with the
machinery or apparatus which constitutes part of my Invention.
I construct a compound or double die or mould, that is, a die or mould for
moulding two bricks or like articles at a time, essentially of three parts, namely, of
two side parts having a sliding horizontal motion to and from one another and a
middle part carried by a rising and falling table. Each of the said sliding side
parts has the figure internally of the brick or article to be made, and the middle
part carried by the table forms the division between the two parts of the double
mould. When the two side parts are closed upon opposite sides of the middle part
two moulds open at top are formed. The configuration of the side and middle
parts of the double mould is varied according to the articles to be formed. To the
rising and falling table supporting the middle part of the double mould a moveable
or travelling bottom for each side part is affixed by means of guiding pegs. The
said travelling bottom of each side part or mould has in plan the same configuration
as and works closely against the said side part or mould. Under the chamber or
receiver containing the column of clay under pressure the sliding horizontal side

page_text: parts of the double die or mould work the said side parts, being moved simultane-
ously to and from one another by means of levers. The table supporting the
middle part of the double die or mould and travelling bottoms of the same is
supported by means of weighted ropes or chains passing over pulleys, so that by
pulling the said ropes or chains in one or other direction the middle part of the
mould and the appliances connected therewith can be raised immediately under the
chamber containing the column of clay, or be depressed therefrom.
The dies and apparatus are used in the following manner:-The horizontal side
parts of the double die or mould being in their separated positions the table is
raised so as to bring the middle part of the compound or double die or mould
under the clay receiver, the travelling bottoms of the double die or mouid being in
their highest positions. The horizontal side parts are now made to approach one
another and enclose between them the middle part and the travelling bottoms on
the suspended table. A double die or mould is thus formed, the travelling bottoms
of the two parts of the die or mould being situated at the open tops of the said
parts. The column of clay being now admitted into the moulds it forces gradually
the travelling bottoms before it and fills the said moulds, the said bottoms resting,
when forced home, on internal lips at the bottoms of the side parts of the double
mould. By the resistance offered to the motion of the travelling bottoms in their
moulds by the suspended table to which they are connected a uniform pressure is
maintained upon the clay during the filling of the moulds, and hence the bricks or
articles made are free from the imperfections which attend the use of ordinary dies
or moulds. The dies or moulds having been filled with the clay the moulded
bricks or articles in the dies or moulds are separated from the column of clay above
them by means of a cutting wire carried by a sliding frame. The side parts of the
double mould are now unfastened and separated from the middle part, leaving the
moulded bricks or articles supported upon the travelling bottoms of the double
mould. The suspended table being lowered from the clay receiver or chamber the
moulded bricks or articles are removed and the operations described are repeated.
The improvements described in double dies and moulds, and appliances connected
therewith, may be applied to single dies or moulds.
My improvements in machinery for pressing bricks and other like articles consist
of the following construction and arrangement of parts for giving the rising and
falling motion to and arresting the motion of the screw of the pressing machinery
at the proper times. By my improvements the rising and falling motion of the
screw of the press is effected by steam or other motive power, and the action of
the press is readily controlled by the attendant.
To the head of the screw press I affix a wheel of large diameter for driving the
said screw, the periphery of the said driving wheel being flat and covered with
hard leather, so as to convert the said periphery into a frictional or biting surface.
Over the said wheel and crossing it as a diameter is a rotating shaft carrying
two friction discs, one on one side and the other on the opposite side of the said
driving wheel of the screw.
The shaft carrying the friction discs is capable of a sliding motion in its bearings,
so that one or other of the two friction discs may be made to bear forcibly against
the periphery of the driving wheel of the screw and cause the latter to rotate in
one or other direction. When the shaft of the friction discs is moved, say, to the
right hand, that disc by which the forward motion of the screw is produced is
brought into action, and rotation in the proper direction is given to the screw to
effect the pressing operation. When the said shaft is moved in the opposite
direction the disc on the opposite side of the driving wheel of the screw is brought
into action, and the said driving wheel and its screw are rotated in the direction
proper to give the return or rising motion to the screw.
The aliding of the friction disc shaft is effected by means of a vertical lever, a
fork on the upper arm of the said lever embracing a collar on the said disc shaft.
The lower arm of this lever is connected by means of rods with a hand lever, by
means of which hand lever the workman controls the motion of the screw.

page_text: The rising motion of the screw is automatically arrested at the proper time by
means of a sliding brake carrying a weight, the inner side of the said sliding brake
and near the top thereof being furnished with a stud or projection overhanging the
upper face of the driving wheel at one side. The sliding brake is connected by a
cranked lever with the vertical lever by which the friction diso shaft is moved.
When the screw of the press has been raised to the required height its driving
wheel comes against the stud or projection on the sliding brake and lifts the latter,
and the friction disc is thereby thrown out of action and the screw comes to rest.
In order to permit the escape of air from the moulded bricks or articles prior to
being pressed a series of holes is pierced in them by means of a pricker consisting
of a series of rows of pointed pins carried by a base plate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Hamblet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th December
1879.
JOSEPH HAMBLET, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Brick Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES OR MOULDS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN MAKING AND PRESSING BRICKS, BLOCKS, TILES, AND OTHER LIKE
ARTICLES."
My Invention consists, first, of the improvements herein after described in the
construction of dies or moulds to be used in the moulding of bricks, blocks, tiles,
and other like articles, and in machinery or apparatus to be used in connection with
the said dies or moulds, or other dies or moulds.
I will describe my improvements in dies or moulds in conjunction with the
machinery or apparatus which constitutes part of my Invention.
I construct a compound or double die or mould, that is, a die or mould for
moulding two bricks or like articles at a time, essentially of three parts, namely, of
two side parts having a sliding horizontal motion to and from one another, and
middle part carried by a rising and falling table. Each of the said sliding side
parts has the figure internally of the brick or article to be made, and the middle
part carried by the table forms the division between the two parts of the double
mould. When the two side parts are closed upon opposite sides of the middle part,
two moulds open at top are formed. The configuration of the side and middle
parts of the double mould is varied according to the articles to be formed. To the
rising and falling table supporting the middle part of the double mould a moveable
or travelling bottom for each side part is affixed by means of guiding pegs. The
said travelling bottom of each side part or mould has in plan the same configuration
as and works closely against the said side part or mould. Under the chamber or
receiver containing the column of clay under pressure the sliding horizontal side
parts of the double die or mould work, the said side parts being moved simul-
taneously to and from one another by means of levers. The table supporting the
middle part of the double die or mould and travelling bottoms of the same is
suspended by means of weighted ropes or chains passing over pulleys, so that by
pulling the said ropes or chains in one or other direction the middle part of the
mould and the appliances connected therewith can be raised immediately under the
chamber containing the column of clay or be depressed therefrom.
My improvements in machinery for pressing bricks and other like articles consist
of the following construction and arrangement of parts for giving the rising and
falling motion to and arresting the motion of the pressing machinery at the proper
times. By my improvements the rising and falling motion of the screw of the
press is effected by steam or other motive power, and the action of the press is
readily controlled by the attendant.
H
To the head of the screw of the press I affix a wheel of largo diameter for driving
the said screw, the periphery of the said driving wheel being flat and covered with
leather, so as to convert the said periphery into a frictional or biting surface. Over
the said wheel and crossing it as a diameter is a rotating shaft carrying two friction
discs, one on one side, and the other on the opposite side of the said driving wheel 4
of the screw. The shaft carrying the friction discs is capable of a sliding motion
in its bearings, so that one or other of the two friction discs may be made to bear
forcibly against the periphery of the driving wheel of the screw, and cause the
latter to rotate in one or other direction. When the shaft of the friction discs is
moved, say, to the right hand, that disc by which the forward motion of the screw 5
is produced is brought into action, and rotation in the proper direction is given to
the screw to effect the pressing operation. When the said shaft is moved in the
opposite direction, the disc on the opposite side of the driving wheel of the screw is
brought into action, and the said driving wheel and its screw are rotated in the

page_text: direction proper to give the return or rising motion to the screw. The sliding of
the friction disc shaft is effected by means of a vertical lever a fork on the upper
arm of the said lever, embracing a collar on the said disc shaft. The lower arm of
this lever is connected by means of rods with a hand lever, by means of which hand
lever the workman controls the motion of the screw. The rising motion of the
screw is automatically arrested at the proper time by means of a sliding brake
carrying a weight, the inner side of the said sliding brake being furnished with a
roller, or stud, or projection near its top, overhanging the upper face of the driving
wheel at one side. The sliding brake is connected by a cranked lever with the
vertical lover, by which the friction disc shaft is moved. When the screw of the
press has been raised to the required height, its driving wheel comes against the
roller, or stud, or projection on the sliding brake and lifts the latter, and the friction
disc is thereby thrown out of action and the screw comes to rest.
I will now to proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation partly in vertical section a compound or
double die, or mould, and machinery or apparatus connected therewith constructed
according to my Invention, the parts of the die, or mould, and apparatus being
represented in the positions which they respectively occupy just before the clay
under pressure enters the die or mould. Figure 2 represents the same view as
Figure 1 after the clay has been moulded in the double die or mould and two
bricks or blocks formed; Figure 3 represents the same view as Figure 1 without
the sliding side parts of the die or mould; and Figure 4 is a plan of upper side of
Figure 3; Figure 5 represents in side elevation and plan the middle part and base
of the die or mould; and Figure 6 represents in plan and side elevation one of the
moveable or travelling bottoms of the die or mould; Figure 7 represents one of the
bricks or blocks moulded in the die or mould.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7.
.
a, a, are the two side parts of the double or compound die or mould, the said
parts a, a, having a sliding horizontal motion to and from one another. The
sliding of the parts a, a, may be effected by levers or other analogous means ; b, b³,
is the middle part and base of the mould shown separately in Figure 5. The said
middle part and base b, b, is carried by the rising and falling table or support o,
which has on its underside a guide rod d which slides in the guide tube or hollow
cylinder at e, the said table or support c being suspended by the weighted cords or
chains ff, attached to the said table and passing over the pulleys g, g. Each of
the sliding side parts a, a, of the die or mould has the figure internally of the brick
or block, Figure 7, to be made, and the vertical web b of the middle part forms the
division between the two parts of the double die or mould. The base of the middle
part of the die or mould is furnished with flanges at 6³ for the side parts a, a, of the
mould to take upon or engage with. The rising and falling table or support o
carrying the middle part b, b, b, of the double mould, supports a travelling or move-
able bottom for each side part of the die or mould, the said bottoms being fur-
nished with guide pegs i, i, which are connected to or rest upon the table or support c
One of the travelling or moveable bottoms h is represented detached in Figure 6.
The said travelling or moveable bottoms when the mould has been filled with clay
rest upon the base 6 of the middle part b, b³, b³, of the die or mould (see Figure 2),
and each of the said moveable bottoms has in plan the same configuration as, and
works closely against the side parta and the middle web or division 6 of the double
mould or die (see Figure 1). Holes k, k, are made in the base b³ of the mould, and
also in the thickness piece on the table or support o for the guide rods i, i, of the
travelling bottoms h, h, to work in. The side parts a, a, of the mould are fur-
nished with recesses at n, n, which when the said side parts a, a, are closed upon
the middle part 6, 63, 6³, take upon the flanges 6 of the base b³ (see Figures 1
and 2) so as to engage the three parts of the mould together. The sliding
เ

page_text: horizontal side parts a, a, work under the chamber or receiver p containing the
column of clay under pressure. By means of the rising and falling table or
support o, the middle part and base of the double die or mould and the appliances
connected therewith can be readily raised to or depressed from the clay chamber
or receiver p.
:-The
The double die or mould and apparatus are used in the following manner :-
sliding horizontal side parts a, a, of the double die or mould being in their separated
positions, the table or support e is raised so as to bring the middle part b, b², of the
compound or double die or mould under the clay receiver p, the travelling bottoms
h, h, of the double die or mould being in their highest positions (see Figures 1 and
3). The side parts a, a, of the mould are made to approach one another by means
of the levers described, and enclose between them the middle part b, b³, and the
travelling bottoms h, h, on the suspended table or support c. The side parts a, a,
being fastened together, a double mould is formed, the travelling bottoms h, h, of
the two parts of the die or mould being situated at the open tops of the said side
parts a, a, as illustrated in Figure 1. The column of clay from the receiver p being
now admitted into the moulds, the said clay forces gradually the travelling bottoms
h, h, before it, and fills the said moulds, the said bottoms resting when forced home
on the base of the double mould. As the bottoms h, h, are depressed in the
mould, they also depress the balanced or suspended table as represented in Figure 2.
By the resistance offered to the motion of the travelling bottoms h, h, in their
moulds by the suspended table or support c to which they are connected, or against
which they bear by the guide rods i, i, a uniform pressure is maintained upon the
clay during the filling of the moulds, and hence the bricks or articles made are free
from the imperfections which attend the use of ordinary dies or moulds.
The dies or moulds having been filled with the clay, the moulded bricks or
articles in the dies or moulds are separated from the column of clay above them by
means of a cutting wire carried by a sliding frame of the ordinary kind. The two
bricks or blocks moulded in the double mould are marked q, q, in Figure 2. After
the bricks have been moulded and cut off, the side parts a, a, of the double mould
are unfastened and separated from the middle part 6, 63, leaving the moulded blocks
or articles supported upon the travelling bottoms h, h, of the double mould. The
suspended table or support a being lowered from the clay receiver or chamber p,
the moulded bricks or articles are removed, and the operations described are
repented.
The improvements described in double dies or moulds with respect to the arrange-
ment for maintaining a uniform pressure upon the clay during the filling of the
dies or moulds, and the appliances connected therewith may be applied to single
dies or moulds.
I will now describe my improved pressing machinery,―
Figure 8 represents in side elevation, and Figure 9 in plan, a pressing machine
containing my improvements; Figure 10 is a front elevation of the brake of the
said machine, and Figure 11 is a vertical section of the lower die in which the
bricks or other articles are pressed. In Figure 8 the pressing tool is represented
raised from the lower die, and the pressed brick lifted from the said die.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11.
a is the lower die, and b is the plunger or presser carried by the slide c working
in uprights in the frame of the machine as usual. The slide c carrying the plunger
or presser 6 is worked in the following way-d is a horizontal wheel of large
diameter fixed to the head of the screw e by which wheel the said screw is
driven, that is, a rising and falling motion is given to it in its screw box. Over
the said driving wheel d and crossing it as a diameter, is a rotating shaft carrying
two vertical friction discs g, h, the said discs being situated at opposite sides of the
said driving wheel d as represented. The shaft of the friction discs turns in the
benrings i, i, and is driven by a band pulley passing over the first pulley of the fast
and loose pulleys at K. The disc shaft is capable of sliding in its bearings i, i, so
that one or other of its friction discs g or h may be made to bear forcibly against

page_text: the periphery of the driving wheel d, and by frictional contact cause the said wheel to
be rotated in one or other direction, and raise or lower the screw e in its screw box, and
thereby raise or lower the pressing tool b. When the shaft f has a sliding motion given
to it in the direction of the arrow, Figure 8, the disc g is pressed forcibly against the
periphery of the driving wheel d, and the screw e is rotated in a direction proper
to cause the descent of the pressing tool b to effect the pressing operation. When
the shaft has a sliding motion given to it in a direction contrary to that indicated
by the arrow, Figure 8, the disc g is removed from the periphery of the wheel d,
and the disc h is pressed into contact with the said wheel. The motion of the
driving wheel is thereby reversed, the said wheel now moving in a direction proper
to cause the screws to give the return or rising motion to the pressing tool b.
The sliding of the friction disc shaft fis effected by the vertical lever & turning
on the centre t, the forked end of the upper arm of the said lever embracing the
collar mon the shaft f. The lower end of the lever is connected by the rod p
and cranked arm p³ to the hand lever q. By means of the hand lever o the work-
man controls the motion of the screw 6. A strong spring p³ bearing upon the crank
arm p³ maintains the hand lever g and parts connected with it in the positions to
which they have been brought. When the hand lever q is in the position represented
in Figure 8 both the friction discs g, h, are out of action, and the driving wheel &
is at rest. By moving the hand lever to the left the shaft fis moved in the direction
of the arrow, Figure 8, and the disc g is put into action, and by moving the hand
lever g to the right the disc is taken out of action and the disc h put into action.
In this way the raising and lowering of the screw and pressing tool are effected, or
the press brought to rest at the will of the operator.
For the purpose of automatically arresting the rising motion of the screw e at
the proper time I use a vertically sliding braker, shown separately in front elevation
in Figure 10. The said brake consists of a frame sliding in the fixed guides 1ª, 7ª,
and pressed down by the weighted cranked lever 8. Upon the top of the sliding
braker is a roller, or stud, or projection which overhangs the upper face of the
driving wheel d. The horizontal arm of the cranked lever a is connected to the
sliding brake r, by its end engaging in a hole in the cross bar 7, and the other or
vertical arm of the cranked lever is connected by the link n to the vertical lever
by which the required sliding motion is given to the friction disc shaft f. The link
n is connected to the cranked lovers by a pin on the said link working in a slot in
the lever. When the hand lever q is moved in either direction for giving the
ascending or descending motion to the screw e the weighted cranked lever is
unacted upon, the pin of the link working in the slot of the lever without operating
upon the latter. When the screw e is in its lowest position the braker is carried
down to its lowest position by the weighted cranked lever a, the arms of the said
cranked lever being brought respectively into a horizontal and vertical_position.
After the pressing operation the hand lever g is moved as herein before described,
and the friction disc h is put into action and the screw is raised. As soon as the
screw has risen to the required height its driving wheel & comes against the roller
or projection & on the brake 7 and lifts the said brake, and the friction disc h is
thrown out of action by the operation of the cranked lever a, and the screw e is
brought to rest by the action of the said brake r, that is to say, as the brake
is lifted it first operates through the cranked levers upon the link n and lever 1,
and the latter acting upon the shaft throws the friction disc h out of action but
does not put the other disc g into action. The disc h being withdrawn from the
wheel & the action of the brake r upon it brings it rapidly to rest. The several
parts of the pressing machine now occupy the respective positions represented in
Figure 8. Thus the arresting of the upward motion of the screw e at the proper
time is automatically effected. By means of adjustable stops u, u, on the brake r
striking against the upper pair of fixed guides r,, the position to which the brake
may descend ready to arrest the rising motion of the screw may be regulated to
suit the articles being pressed. The cross bar 7 which operates upon the cranked
levers & is also made capable of adjustment on the brake for the same purpose.
8

page_text: The lifter w for raising the pressed bricks or articles from the lower die a is
worked from the slide c in the ordinary way. The lower die a may be heated by
steam; for this purpose I surround the said die with a steam chamber a³ into which
steam is delivered by the pipe a³.
In order to permit of the escape of air from the moulded bricks or articles prior
to being pressed, a series of holes is pierced in them by a pricker consisting of a
series of rows of pointed pins carried by a base plate.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention.
But I claim as my Invention-First. The improvements in dies or moulds and
machinery or apparatus connected therewith for making or moulding bricks, blocks,
tiles, and other likes articles herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1
to 7, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the combination
with single, or double, or compound dies or moulds of a travelling or moveable
bottom or bottoms, the said bottom or bottoms being supported by or connected to
a balanced or suspended table or support carrying the base of the mould or moulds,
the said travelling or moveable bottom or bottoms and the appliances connected
therewith being constructed, arranged, and used substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated; also the combination or arrangement of the parts of the
double die or mould herein before described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The improvements in machinery or apparatus for pressing bricks, blocks,
and other like articles herein before described, and illustrated in Figures 8, 9, and
10 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the construction and combination
of the horizontal driving wheel d fixed on the head of the screw of the press or
machine, and the friction dises g, h, fixed on a rotating and sliding shaft, and the lever
mechanism connected therewith for giving the rising and falling motion to the said
screw and the plunger or pressing tool, substantially as described and illustrated;
also the arrangement or combination of the parts of the sliding braker and parts
connected with it for automatically arresting the rising motion of the screw of the
press or machine at the proper time.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Hamblet, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
JOSEPH H. DAVIES,
High Street,
West Bromwich,
JOSEPH HAMBLET. (L.S.)