Iк- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "Iк-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS."-A
communication from abroad by Emery Ross Gard, of Chicago, in the
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
February 1867.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that.
class of machines for moulding and pressing bricks in which a rotary mould
block is used in connection with mould followers.

page_text: .
The Invention consists in a novel arrangement of the mould wheel and
means employed for operating the followers, striking the superfluous clay
therefrom and discharging the pressed clay from the moulds.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the Invention,
partly in section; Figure 2 a horizontal section of the same taken in the
line a, a, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the same taken in the
line y, y, Figure 2, and Figure 4 a horizontal section of the same taken in the
line 2, 2, Figure 1, and Figure 5 a detached view of the follower pertaining
to the same.
A represents a framing which may be constructed in any proper manner
to support the working parts of the machine, and B is a shaft placed vertically
in said framing, and having a mould block C of circular form keyed or
otherwise secured at its lower part. The block C has holes a inade in it at
equal distances apart four holes being made or used in this instance to receive
followers D, a follower being placed in each hole a, and these holes are made
of rectangular form and constitute the brick moulds. In the under side of
the mould block or mould wheel C there is an annular recess to receive the
upper part of an annular way or track E, which is firmly secured to the base of
the framing. This annular way or track has a portion c higher than any other
part, and adjoining this elevated portion c there is a part ca trifle less
elevated, and adjoining c¹ there is a depressed or lower portion ³, the lowest
of all, and then a portion ca trifle higher than c³, see Figure 3. These
portions of different elevations adjoin each other not abruptly but by inclined
planes the inclined plane d adjoining c, c; the inclined plane joining c³, c³,
the inclined plane f, joining c³, c, and the inclined plane 9 joining c³, c. At
both sides of the way or track E at the upper parts of the same, there is a
lateral rib or flange h, and at the inner side of the way or track E by the
sides of the inclined plane g and the most elevated part c there is an inclined
ib or flange i. The followers D are provided with a hinged lid j having a
projection at their under sides, which projections, when the lids j are down
fit in the upper ends of holes made vertically through the followers and pins F
are fitted in the followers and allowed to slide freely up and down therein.
To each follower there is attached a pendant arm G and an antifriction
roller a* is fitted to the bottom of each arm underneath the flange h, and a
roller 6 is fitted in the bottom of the follower to bear upon the upper
surface of the way or track; H represents a cylindrical case which rests on
a bed piece I on the framing A, and projects over the mould wheel C. This
case is provided with a bottom having a curved opening m made in it as

page_text: shown in Figure 8, which opening is over the mould wheel, and within the
case H there is a central upright shaft J provided with lateral arms' n,
and two spiral pressing or discharging arms o, o, the latter being on the
lower end of the shaft. This case with its central shaft provided with arms
constitute the mud mill, and it is essentially the same as those in common
use, and the shafts J and B are connected by gears K, power being applied
to the shaft J horse or other power being used; L is a plate which projects
from the bottom of the case H, and has a plate or knife M underneath it
which is designed to strike off the superfluous clay from the tops of the
moulds, and N is a striker or scraper attached by a curved elastic bar O to
the plate L, and so arranged as to be capable of being graduated by a set
screw P in order that the pressure of the strike upon the moulds may be
graduated as desired.
The operation is as follows:-The clay properly moistened is thrown into
the upper end of the case H, the shafts J and B being rotated by any
convenient power. The arms n grind and temper the clay and the pressing
or discharging arms o, o, force the clay into the moulds a, as the wheel C
rotates the followers D, being down at the lower parts of the moulds where
the latter receive the clay, and consequently the rollers 6* of the followers are
upon the lowest portion of the way or track E, for it will be understood
that the followers all rest upon the way or track. The followers D when the
moulds receive the clay are at such a depth that the moulds will receive an
excess of clay or rather more than is required for a brick, and as the moulds
by the rotation of the wheel C pass from underneath the opening m, they pass
up the inclined plane f, and the plate M strikes off the superfluous clay and
the slightly prominent portion c³ of the way or track E causes the clay to be
compressed in the moulds as the followers by said portion care slightly
raised. As the followers pass up the inclined plane g, and after the moulded
clay has passed under the strike, they are raised in the moulds a and the
bricks raised out from the moulds, the lids; being elevated by the pins F
passing up the inclined plane i and the bricks discharged upon the wheel C.
As the followers descend the inclined plane d the rollers a* catch under the
ribs or flanges h and draw down the followers and close the lids ;; the
rollers 6* obviate a large amount of friction.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
me,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR. MOULDING AND PRESSING BRICKS," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Emery Ross Gard, of Chicago, in the County
of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
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 follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class
of machines for moulding and pressing bricks in which a rotary mould block
is used in connection with mould followers.
The Invention consists in a novel arrangement of the mould wheel and means
employed for operating the followers, striking the superfluous clay therefrom,
and discharging the pressed clay from the moulds.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the Invention
partly in section; Figure 2, a horizontal section of the same taken in the
line a, a, Figure 1; Figure 3, a side sectional view of the same taken in the
line y, y, Figure 2; Figure 4, a horizontal section of the same taken in the
line z, z, Figure 1; and Figure 5, a detached view of a follower pertaining
to the same.
A represents a framing which may be constructed in any proper manner to
support the working parts of the machine, and B is a shaft placed vertically
in said framing and having a mould block C of circular form keyed or otherwise
secured at its lower part. The block C has holes a made in it at equal
distances apart, four holes being made or used in this instance to receive
followers D, a follower being placed in each hole a, and these holes are made
of rectangular form and constitute the brick moulds. In the under side of
the mould block or mould wheel C there is an annular recess to receive the
upper part of an annular way or track E, which is firmly secured to the base
of the framing. This annular way or track has a portion c higher than any
other part, and adjoining this elevated portion c there is a part c¹ a trifle less
elevated, and adjoining c¹ there is a depressed or lower portion c³, the lowest
of all, and then a portion ca trifle higher than c³, see Figures 2, 5, and 6,
These portions of different elevations adjoin each other not abruptly, but by
inclined planes, the inclined plane d joining c, c', the inclined plane e joining
c', cs, the inclined plane f joining c², c, and the inclined plane 9 joining ³, c,
At both sides of the way or track E at the upper part of the same there is a
lateral rib or flange h, and at the inner side of the way or track E by the
sides of the inclined plane 9 and the most elevated part c there is an inclined
rib or flange i. The followers D are provided with a hinged lid ; having a
projection k at their under sides, which projections when the lids j are down
fit in the upper ends of holes made vertically through the followers, and pins F
are fitted in the followers and allowed to slide freely up and down therein.
To each follower there is attached a pendant arm G and an antifriction
roller a is fitted to the bottom of each arm underneath the flange h, and a
roller 6x is fitted in the bottom of the followers to bear upon the upper surface
of the way or track. I represents a cylindrical case which rests on a bed
piece I ou the framing A and projects over the mould wheel C; this case is
provided with a bottom having a curved opening m made in it, as shown in
Figure 3, which opening is over the mould wheel, and within the case H there
is a central upright shaft J provided with lateral arms n and two spiral
pressing or discharging arms o, o, the latter being on the lower end of the

page_text: shaft. This case with its central shaft provided with arms constitute the mud
mill, and it is essentially the same as those in common use, and the shafts J
and B are connected by gears K, power being applied to the shaft J, horse or
other power being used. L is a plate, which projects from the bottom of
the case H and has a plate or knife M underneath it, which is designed to
strike off the superfluous clay from the tops of the moulds, and N is a striker
or scraper attached by a curved elastic bar O to the plate L, and so arranged
as to be capable of being graduated by a set screw P in order that the
pressure of the strike upon the moulds may be graduated as desired.
The operation is as follows:-The clay properly moistened is thrown into the
upper end of the case H, the shafts J and B being rotated by any convenient
power. The arms n grind and temper the clay, and the pressing or discharging
arms o, o, force the clay into the moulds a as the wheel C rotates, the
followers D being down at the lower parts of the moulds where the latter
receive the clay, and consequently the rollers 6* of the followers are upon the
lowest portion of the way or track E, for it will be understood that the
followers all rest upon the way or track. The followers D when the moulds
receive the clay are at such a depth that the moulds will receive an excess of
clay, or rather more than is required for a brick, and as the moulds by the
rotation of the wheel C pass from underneath the opening m the moulds pass
up the inclined plane f and the plate M strikes off the superfluous clay, and
the slightly prominent portion C³ of the way or track E causes the clay to be
compressed in the moulds as the followers by said portion C³ are slightly
raised. As the followers pass up the incline plane g, and after the moulded
clay has passed under the strike, they are raised in the moulds a and the
bricks raised out from the moulds, the lids j being elevated by pins F passing
up the inclined plane i, and the bricks discharged upon the wheel C. As the
followers descend the inclined plane d the rollers a* catch under the ribs or
flanges h and draw down the followers and close the lids j. The rollers 6*
obviate a large amount of friction.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, a rotary mould block provided with openings or moulds in which are
placed followers operated through the medium of an annular way or track having
an undulating upper surface and the followers connected to the way or track,
substantially as shown and described.
Secondly, the hinged lids j attached to the followers and raised for the purpose

page_text: of discharging the pressed clay through the medium of the pins F and inclined
plane i, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly, the striking plates M, N, either or both arranged and applied
substantially in the manner as and for the purpose specified.
Fourthly, the combination of the rotary mould wheel and followers, clay,
tempering device or mud mill, and annular way or track, all combined and
arranged for joint operation substantially in the manner as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W CLARK
W CLARK
(3.S.)