IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLAIN AND ORNAMENTED BRICKS, SLABS, TILES, AND QUARRIES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Thomas Green, of Moreton, in the Parish
of Gnosall, in the County of Stafford, Gentleman, and Samuel Barlow
Wright, of Parkfields, in the Parish of Barlaston, in the said County of
Stafford, Gentleman, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLAIN AND ORNAMENTED BRICKS, SLABS, TILES,
AND QUARRIES."
Sealed the 4th October 1860, and dated the 30th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Thomas Green and
Samuel Barlow Wright at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 30th April 1860.
We, HENRY THOMAS GREEN, of Moreton, in the Parish of Gnosall, in the
County of Stafford, Gentleman, and SAMUEL BARLOW WRIGHT, of Parkfields,
in the Parish of Barlaston, in the said County of Stafford, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLAIN AND ORNAMENIED BRICKS, SLABS, TILES. AND
QUARRIES," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists of a revolving screen with a self-adjusting or elastic
roll squeezer to feed the clay into a pug mill, as heretofore used, and of a
combination of two, three, or more such pug mills, by means of which two,
three, or more streams of clay are delivered into a chamber with adjustable
partitions or tongues, the bottom of which is by preference composed of re-
volving rolls such as have been heretofore used in working clay, which carrying

page_text: the clays past the tongues form them into sheets of the thickness of the space
between the tongues and the surface of the rolls; these streams of clay are
then carried between the jaws of the rolls and squeezed together, and united
into one compact stream; or the two or more streams of clay may be formed
by being driven from the pug mill or otherwise through convenient apertures,
which meeting at a certain point are thence propelled through another opening
of the size required, thereby uniting the two or more streams into one, or the
coating stream of clay may be expressed separately by screw or rolls, and
delivered on to and fixed upon the stream of body clay by rolls or smoothers.
If bricks are required, the clays are propelled by the rolls, as in other brick
machines, working by rolls through a die of peculiar construction. The front
of the die is bolted to the back part, which is held up to the rolls by two bolts
from the frame, so as to be self-adjusting between the rolls and bear equally
hard on both of them. The scrapers which are preferred to be curved
to cover the outside of the rolls more than the ends are held from bulging
outwards and causing undue friction on the rolls by ties of metal rivetted
into both (across the opening), the same being of a dagger section to offer
as little resistance as may be. The ends of the back part of the die
protrude further than the scrapers (fitting closely the contour of the rolls)
to the vertical centre of the rolls. The peculiarity of the interior of the
die consists in having such differing angles of resistance, or of angles of
permission of egress to the clay as shall cause an equal compression to the
issuing clay. For this purpose the narrow rectangle at the back part of the
die (i.e., at the scrapers) expands into a somewhat elliptical section where
the die proper commences. In this front part a contraction or reversed angle
at the middles of the ends and top and bottom, bring the stream again to the
rectangular form for the brick or other article, leaving the corner of the die
with such angle of resistance parallel, or such angle of relief as shall give the
issuing stream of clay (according to the stiffness at which it may be desirable to
work it)an equal compression throughout, or as near as may be. The corners
of the die mouth project and come to a point to gradually release the corners.
After passing the die the stream of clay is carried forward on a belt, and
divided into bricks by a cutter wheel, by preference similar to that described
by us in the Specification of a Patent, granted 27th day of November, 1857,
(No. 2958,) with the difference that the out cut of the wire instead of passing
between doors is received upon a support or revolving roll, so hung on crank
arms that on the exit of the wire the support or roll gives way to release
the wire returning against the clay for the next cut.
In making bricks, and also tiles, slabs, and quarries we use adjustable

page_text: packings between the propelling rolls and the frame or cheeks to prevent the
exit of the clay, and such checks are lubricated to cause the clay the more
easily to slip over them.
In the making of plain and ornamental slabs, tiles, quarries, the before-
mentioned die is not used, but the two or more streams of clay so joined into
one by the rolls are cut off the rolls by scrapers of a peculiar form, and being
received on boards or a belt, or a combination of the two, in a manner before
practised, the stream of clay is then subjected to the action of a self-acting
stamper worked by suitable gearing, or the stream of clay is passed under a
printing roll, as has been before used; we fix cheeks to the frame supporting
the clay under the roll so as to keep the clay from spreading under the pres-
sure, such cheeks being lubricated. The hollow prints made by the stamper
or printing roll are theu filled up with slip or clay, as desired.
In the printing roll apertures are made or left in the pattern or barrel to
allow the escape of air when printing.
The stamper or printing barrel and the boards or belt, or belt and boards,
and the rolls forming the two or more streams of clay into one are geared
together, so as to ensure the clay travelling at one uniform speed. The stream
of clay is then cut into suitable lengths or shapes, either by a cutter affixed to
the stamper or by means of a guillotine cutter, as heretofore used, to be driven
by gearing in connection with the parts geared together, as before mentioned,
the wire of the guillotine working in a guide, as heretofore used;
plate suitably placed gives motion to the guide, which returns as soon as
released by the toothed plate from the action of a spring or weight.
toothed
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Thomas Green and Samuel Barlow Wright in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
THOMAS GREEN, of Moreton, in the Parish of Gnosall, in the County of
Stafford, Gentleman, and SAMUEL BARLOW WRIGHT, of Parkfields, in the
Parish of Barlaston, in the said County of Stafford, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the suid
Henry Thomas Green and Samuel Barlow Wright, Her special licence that

page_text: we. the said Henry Thomas Green and Samuel Barlow Wright, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, er such others as we, the said Henry Thomas
Green and Samuel Barlow Wright, our executors, administrators, and assigns.
should at any time agree 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
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLAIN AND ORNA-
MENTED BRICKS, SLABS. TILES, AND QUARRIES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Henry Thomas Green and Samuel Barlow Wright,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them,
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 Samuel Barlow Wright, on behalf of
myself and the said Henry Thomas Green, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say:-
The Invention consists of a revolving screen with a self-adjusting or elastic
roll squeezer to feed the clay into a pug mill, as heretofore used, and of a
combination of two, three, or more such pug mills, by means of which two,
three, or more streams of clay are delivered into a chamber with adjustable
partitions or tongues, the bottom of which is, by preference, composed of
revolving rolls, such as have been heretofore used in working clay, which
carrying the clays past the tongues, forms them into sheets of the thickness of
the space between the tongues and the surface of the rolls; these streams of
clay are then carried between the jaws of the rolls, and squeezed together and
united into one compact stream. Or the two or more streams of clay may be
formed by being driven from the pug mill, or otherwise, through convenient
apertures, which, meeting at a certain point, are thence propelled through
another opening of the size required, thereby uniting the two or more streams
into one. Or the coating stream of clay may be expressed separately by screw
or rolls, and delivered ou to and fixed upon the stream of body clay by rolls or
smoothers.
If bricks are required the clays are propelled by the rolls, as in other brick
machines working by rolls through a die of peculiar construction. The front

page_text: of the die is bolted to the back part, which is held up to the rolls by two bolts
from the frame, so as to be self-adjusting between the rolls, and bear equally
hard on both of them. The scrapers, which are preferred to be curved, to
cover the middle of the rolls more than the ends, are held from bulging
outwards and causing undue friction on the rolls by ties of metal rivetted into
both (across the opening), the same being of a dagger section, to offer as little
resistance as may be. The ends of the back part of the dic protrude further
than the scrapers fitting closely the contour of the rolls) to the vertical
centre of the rolls. The peculiarity of the interior of the die consists in having
such differing angles of resistance, or of angles of permission of egress to the
clay as shall cause an equal compression to the issuing clay. For this purpose
the narrow rectangle at the back part of the die (i.e. at the scrapers) expands
into a somewhat elliptical section where the die proper commences. In this
front part a contraction, or reversed angle at the middles of the ends and top
and bottom bring the stream again to the rectangular form for the brick or
other article leaving the corners of the die with such angle of resistance
parallel, or such angle of relief as shall give the issuing stream of clay
(according to the stiffness at which it may be desirable to work it) an equal
compression throughout, or as near as may be. The corners of the die mouth
project and come to a point to gradually release the corners.
After passing
the die the stream of clay is carried forward on a belt, and divided into bricks
by a cutter wheel, by preference similar to that described by us in the Speci-
fication of a Patent granted 27th day of November 1857 (No. 2958), with
the difference that the out cut of the wire instead of passing between doors is
received upon a support or revolving roll, so hung on crank arms that on the
exit of the wire the support or roll gives way to release the wire returning
against the clay for the next cut.
In making bricks, and also tiles, slabs, and quarries. we use adjustable
packings between the propelling rolls and the frame or checks to prevent the
exit of the clay, and such cheeks are lubricated to cause the clay the more
easily to slip over them.
In the making of plain and ornamental slabs, tiles, and quarries, the before
mentioned die is not used, but the two or more streams of clay so joined into
one by the rolls are cut off the rolls by scrapers of a peculiar form, and being
received un boards, or a belt, or a combination of the two in a manner before
practised, the streain of clay is then subjected to the action of a self-acting
stamper worked by suitable gearing; or the stream of clay is passed under a
printing roll, as has been before used. We fixcheeks to the frame supporting
the clay under the roll, so as to keep the clay from spreading under the

page_text: pressure, such cheeks being lubricated. The hollow prints made by the
stamper or printing roll are then filled up with slip or clay, as desired.
In the printing roll apertures are made or left in the pattern or barrel, to
allow the escape of air when printing.
The stamper or printing barrel, and the boards or belt, or belt and boards,
and the rolls forming the two or more streams of clay into one are geared
together, so as to ensure the clay travelling at one uniform speed. The
stream of clay is then cut into suitable lengths or shapes, either by a cutter
affixed to the stamper, or by means of a guillotine cutter, as heretofore used,
to be driven by gearing in connection with the parts geared together, as before
mentioned, the wire of the guillotine working in a guide, as heretofore used;
a toothed plate suitably placed gives motion to the guide, which returns as
soon as released by the toothed plate from the action of a spring or weight.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE.
Figures 1 and 2 shew the screen separate from the pug mills for distinctness.
A is a roll made elastic, by preference by a coating of vulcanized india-
rubber, with a water pressure inside by means of a hollow spindle, or one of
the rolls may be made self-adjusting, by means of sliding pedestals and
springs, or weights, to cause the roll to press against the stationary roll; B is
a circular screen, by preference of steel wire or thin bars set edgeways in the
rims; C, D, are connecting wheels, by means of which motion is com-
municated from the engine; E is a shoot to guide the clay into the screen;
F is the lower shoot, to keep separate stones and other matters from the
screened clay; G is a tap to permit water, or it might be air, to be forced into
the roll A. Clay properly damped for the purpose is to be fed between the
elastic roll A and the screen roll B, the stones and other matters are bedded
in the elastic roll, they are carried round and deposited (by scrapers ifrequired)
on the side of the partition F. The screening apparatus, if preferred, may
feed the clay into a pug mill, or be kept separate from the pug mills, and
have the clay as it comes from the screen shovelled into the pug mills.
Another part of our Invention consists in combining machinery in such
manner that screened or otherwise suitably prepared clays may be fed into
the pug mills or machines suitable for producinga series of streams, which are
combined and pressed together. We prefer to use pug mills for obtaining the
series of streams of clay, together with other mechanism for pressing such
streams together.

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 shew machinery combined for carrying out this part of our
Invention, according to the means preferred by us, but the same may be varied
so long as a series of streams of clay are produced and combined together.
A, B, C, are three pug mills of the construction preferred by us, in each of
which there are screws at the lower ends and inclined blades with projections
thereon, to which pug mills separately we make no claim. Fine clays are fed
into the mills A and C of the same or different colors, and coarse or body clay
is fed into the mill B. The pug mills are driven at a speed proportionate to
the quantity of each clay required. The rolls K, K, receive and press together
the three streams of clays between the cheeks M, M, and tongues 0, 0, here-
after fully described. As soon as the joined stream arrives past the grip of the
rolls, a scraper N, more fully drawn and described in Figures 23 and 25, cuts
the combined streams from the back roll, leaving the stream adhering to the
front roll, from which it is cut by a stretched steel scraper at P, more fully
shewn and described on reference to Figures 23, 24, and 26, which deposits
the combined streams upon the boards Q. The said boards are pitched to the
endless belt W, which belt is likewise pitched to the druni R, and this drum
is so connected by gearing S, T, U, V, to the rolls and printing barrel X, that
the rolls, boards, and printing surface X travel at a suitable rate for each
other, that is, the issuing clay, the boards, and the periphery of the printing
barrel travel at the like rate or surface speed. The stream is then printed by
the printing roller X, which, by preference, is made of metal accurately turned,
to receive the prints," and it has brass or other suitable flanges to retain the
prints correct, and also to keep the clay from spreading under the pressure;
these flanges are slightly bevilled. The "prints "are generally of plaster of
Paris, the usual material employed by potters for such purposes, and they are
made to fix between the flanges (one flange being made to slide on the cylin-
der X for that purpose). The "prints "are kept damp and are vented, so us
to prevent any air remaining in any hollow porticns of the prints, such air-
venting being accomplished by small holes or slits at those parts of the prints
in which air would be shut in but for such holes or slits. Y, Y, Y, are sup-
porting rolls for the endless belt. The cutting of a stream of clay when making
tiles and shallow articles, as represented in Figures 5, 6, 7, is done by a guil-
lotine cutter, the wire of which, b, works in a sliding guide c. c. The guillotine
is worked by a cam d, and is, when used by the machinery above described,
to beconnected by genring, not shewn in the Drawing, so that the cutter may
make an equal number of cuts to the number of prints on the printing barrel
X. To cause the wire to make a true cut, the slide e is made to travel at like
rate, and parallel to the clay. c. c, are guide sluts for the cutting wire b; this

page_text: slide e works in guides e', e¹, connected with the frame, and is moved forward
by a ratchet wheel (on the printing barrel axis g), the teeth of which are of
such form that when one of the teeth engages with the snug or projection eon
the slide e, the slide shall be driven forward at the same rate of speed as the
clay. The ratchet wheel has the same number of teeth as there are prints
on the printing barrel X, and for convenience, the wheel is made to move
round on the printing roll axis g, and is adjustable to any position of the print-
ing barrel. When a cam is used, the guillotine inay be lifted from its cut
by a spring or weight. The pitch line of the ratchet wheel should coincide
with the face of the clay or surface of the printing barrel.
The cutting action is performed as follows:-Atthe properly adjusted time
a tooth of the ratchet wheelf catches the snug e on the slide e, carrying the
slide forward; while the slide is thus moving the cam d causes the guillotine
cutter a to make a cut, care being taken that the speed of the cam shall allow
the wire to make the cut and be well free of the clay before the aforesaid tooth
disengages itself from the snug; as soon as the slide is released by a tooth it
returns to its place by a spring or weight ready for the next cut. The "slip-
ping" or filling in of the pattern with other clay is described in our Patent of
February 18,5, and does not require description here.
Figures 23, 24, and 25 shew enlarged views of thescrapers and some of the
parts with which they work. K, K, are the rolls; N is the first scraper for
detaching the clay from the back roll, it is mounted on standards carried by
the framing, as shown. In Figures 23 and 24, P is the stretched scraper (by
preference of steel) for detaching the clay from the front roll; this scraper is
held in standards carried by the framing, as shown. The vice-mouthed pins
hold the scraper P tight by means of nuts; these pins are square where they
enter the standards, and then passing through plates each with a slot and set
pin for adjusting the angle of the scraper.
Figure 26 shew's an inner view of standard, with one of the said slotted
plates and fixing bolts.
Figure 29 is a plan, and Figure 30 a transverse section, of lower frame,
shewing how lubricated cheeks may be used to prevent the spreading of the
clay instead of the flanges on the printing barrel X. In these Figures a is the
clay Q, the boards; W, the belt; b, b, are the cheeks faced next the.clay
with brass scales, as described in the Specification of our Patent of July 1855, or
with finely perforated plates, through which liquid is admitted by means of the
pipes c, c.
The cheeks are firmly bolted to the frame, they prevent the clay
spreading under thepressure, yet allowit toslipeasilybymeausof thelubrication.
The stamper shown by Figures 27 and 28 may be used in place of the

page_text: its
printiug barrel X; it is mounted upon a travelling slide a, worked by a pair of
ratchet wheels on the printing barrel axis, in a similar manner to what has
been above described in regard to the wire guide in Figures 5 and 7. The
stamper will thus be presented exactly over each tile during each impression;
it will make its impression by means of a cam, similar to the cam and spring
lever for the guillotine cutter described with reference to Figures 5 and 7. The
stamper fits accurately into an inverted box which has sharp thin edges;
action is as follows:-The instant the ratchet wheels put the slidea in motion,
it is caused to slide exactly over and parallel to the clay by means of its fixed
guides; the cam also is to be so timed by the gearing as to depress (by means
of the connecting rod d¹) the inverted box c, c, c, which will enclose the clay
about to be impressed by the stamper. Before the inverted box gets to its
lowest position the crosshead 9 arrives on the stamper rod h and causes the
impression to be made by the stamper. On the return motion of the connect-
ing rod, the spring i lifts the stamper clear of the clay, while the connecting
rod, continuing its motion upwards, lifts the inverted box also clear of the clay
ready for the disengagement of the slide a from the ratchet teeth, and when
that takes place the stamper and box will then run back on the slide a, ready
for the next tile.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, shew views of a die or mouth of peculiar con-
struction, where bricks or thick articles are required. A is a die similar in
construction to the one described in the Specification of our Patent of 1855;
it is bolted firmly on to the mouth B, which, for convenience, is made in
halves, and bolted together by the bolts C, C, C, C. D, D, are two steel-
pointed cheeks working in the mouth B, and fixed when adjusted by the
bolts E, E. The object of having these cheeks adjustable is that they may be
set up to the rolls from time to time as they wear. F, F, are scrapers firmly
rivetted to the interior of the mouth B. The interior of the mouth is then
carefully lined with wood G, Figure 8, or it may be plaster of Paris or other
hardening composition. This lining is to be made to the form shown. The
object of thus forming or lining the mouth is, that the form of the interior of
the mouth and die shall be such as to cause as nearly equal travel of the clay
as may be. The top and bottom of the middle of the mouth is as shown in
Figure 8, whilst the form of the ends is brought to approximate to the dotted
lines H, H, according to the stiffness and quality of the clay to be worked, see
sections Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Figure 8.
This apparatus is held to the rollsk, k, by a pair of hinge bolts I, I, Figure 10,
entering the split snugs L, L. The rolls when for making bricks should be of
as large diameter as convenient, and the upper part of the machine in place of

page_text: being arranged as in Figures 3 and 4, should be set at as subtended an angle
as possible with the lower (or printing, cutting, and slipping) parts, so as to
cause the thick stream of clay suitable for bricks to be as little bent as possible.
The cutting off when making brick or tni.k articles is performed by a cutter
similar to that described in the Specification of our Patent of November 27th
1857, with the exception of the doors to guard the clay during the exit of the
wire, for which doors we now substitute the apparatus shown in Figures 12
aud 13, a roll or pad is fixed upon the crank b, which is held by the spindle c
in the bracket d, a spring e, fixed at one end to the frame g, and at the other
to a projection f, from the crank b, causes the roll a to press and revolve
against the travelling stream of clay h, h, which is supported by the belt i on
the barrel k, and by the rolls 2,1,2,; m, n, is the path of the wires of the cutter
wheel (see the Specification of our Patent 27th November 1857) the cutter
wheel is so fixed that the wires make their exit from the clay perpendicularly,
or in the plane of the outer edge of the clay. On a wire leaving the clay the
springe allows the roll or pad a to give way until the roll is clear of the plane
of the wires in the wheel, when the roll returns against the stream of clay
ready for the next wire. The boards are of course not used, but the clay is
received on endless belts similar to our Patent of November 27th, 1857.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 shew a method of packing the rolls with adjustable
packings to privent the exuding of the clay where the cheeks are placed
against the ends of the rolls; a, a, is a portion of a frame cheek firmly
Sixed near the ends of a pair of rolls. The ends of the rolls are bevilled down,
as shewn at b,.b. This is better shewn in the full size section, Figure 16.
c, c, c, c, are rods of triangular section for the most part of their length, but
inade cylindrical at the ends, in order to have screws formed upon them; they
are passed through the suugs d., d, d, d, on the cheek a, and are secured to the
requisite tightness by nuts, as shewn. If preferred thin flat bands may be
used with a packing of hemp or leather, or such like packing, underneath, as
represented in the full size section, Figure 17. F, F, Figure 15, shows the
scrapers with a portion of the mouth; Figure 18 shews an interior view
Figure 19, a transverse section; and Figure 20, a longitudinal section (full
size) of a cheek; M is a check as used when placed upon the rolls with
packings, as above mentioned, they are held by hook bolts d,d, d; Figures 21
and 22 shew the lubrication (similar to our Patent of July 1855) of cheeks
similar to the one shewn in Figure 3 and 4. M is the cheek; K, K, portions
of the rolls; c, c, triangular packings; and d', d', d', the fish scale plates, as
described in the Specification of our Patent of July 1855.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of

page_text: performing the same, we would have it understood that we make no claim to
any of the mechanical parts separately, nor do we confine ourselves to the
precise details shown and described; but what we claim is,-
First, the combined mechanism herein described for screening clay.
Secondly, we claim the simultaneous production of a series of streams
of clay, and the combining the same together into one stream, as above
explained.
Thirdly, we claim the peculiar construction of die or mouth above
described.
Fourthly, we claim the means of packing the rolls to prevent the escape of
clay, as described with reference to Figures 14 to 20 inclusive.
Fifthly, we claim the arrangement and application of scrapers Nand P with
rollers for pressing clay, as herein described.
Sixthly, we claim the combined apparatus for employing a self-acting
stamper in place of a printing roll, the stamper being caused to move with
the clay.
Seventhly, we claim the use of lubricated cheeks in place of flanges on the
printing roll X, for preventing the clay from spreading.
Eighthly, we claim the combined apparatus herein described for actuating
or working the guillotine cutter.
Ninthly, we claim the apparatus herein described for supporting the clay
when the cutting wire is passing out in place of the doors formerly used by us,
and described under our previous Patent.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Barlow Wright, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.