IMPROVE- MENTS IN BRICK-MAKING MACHINES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BRICK-MAKING MACHINES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR OPERATING THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by Isaac Gregg,
of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 21st December 1866, and dated the 29th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th June 1866.
J, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK-MAKING MACHINES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad by
Isaac Gregg, of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates partly to certain improvements in the brick-making
machine for which Letters Patent were granted to George Haseltine, bearing
date the 8th of July 1863, No. 1692, and has special reference to that class

page_text: of machines wherein bricks are made from untempered clay, that is to say,
clay granulated and in the slightly moist condition in which it is when dug
from the clay bed; also to a peculiar arrangement and combination of
machinery or apparatus for controlling or stopping and starting brick-making
machines.
According to this Invention it is proposed to place inside the inclined hopper
which supplies the granulated clay to the reciprocating mould plate or frame
a moveable partition vibrating on a fixed centre in the hopper, and actuated by
means of a rod and vertical lever, which derive their motion from the recipro-
cating mould plate. The object of this arrangement is to change periodically
the direction of the current of clay from the set of filled moulds to the set of
empty or partly filled moulds in the mould plate. The pistons or followers,
together with the bricks contained in the moulds, are slightly elevated or
started preparatory to expelling the bricks, by causing the lower ends of the
piston rods to pass on to fixed inclined planes, whilst the mould plate is
moving in one direction or the other. Heads or flanges are formed on the
lower ends of the piston rods of the two sets or groups of moulds in the mould
plate, and these heads or flanges, as well as the two fixed inclines before
referred to, are divided in the direction of motion of the mould plate, one-half
of the contact surfaces being raised or made to project slightly beyond the
other half, the raised surface in the heads or flanges of the two sets of piston
rods and their corresponding inclines being on opposite sides, so that when
the heads of one set of piston rods traverse over one of the said inclines they
will be slightly elevated thereby, but will remain depressed whilst traversing
over the other incline; at the higher end of each of the fixed inclines there is
situate a wheel or pulley of two diameters, the periphery of the larger diameter
projecting slightly above the level of the round side or half of the incline, and
being in a direct line therewith, whilst the smaller diameter coincides with the
sunk portion or half of the incline. Now as the heads or flanges of one set of
pistons pass in succession over this pulley they will each be still further
elevated, thereby causing the corresponding piston to compress the clay in the
mould against the under side of a fixed plate which extends across and is in
contact with the surface of the mould plate. There are two of these fixed
plates, viz., one just outside each side of the hopper, and if desired they may
be made hollow, so as to be heated by the introduction of steam therein; after
passing over the wheels or pulleys above referred to the several heads or
flanges of one set of pistons enter the groove of a lifter, which serves to expel
the bricks from the moulds by elevating the pistons flush with the surface of
the mould plate. These lifters are similar in their construction and mode of

page_text: operating to those described in the Specification of the Patent of George
Haseltine, herein-before referred to, and form no part of the present Invention.
By this time the mould plate has completed its traverse in one direction,
and makes a pause before returning in the opposite direction in order to afford
time for the removal of the moulded bricks and the cleaning and oiling of
the surfaces of the pistons and mould plate. These operations are effected by
means of a rotatory brush and a rotatory oiler, both contained in a box with-
out a bottom, which is caused to slide transversely across the surface of the
mould plate by the aid of a lever arm attached to a rocking shaft herein-after
referred to. As this box moves forward its front face comes in contact with
the bricks and pushes them off the mould plate on to any convenient receiving
surface, leaving the surfaces of the pistons exposed. The rotatory brush inside
the box, by passing over the pistons and mould plate, removes the dirt or loose
particles of clay therefrom, and the rotatory oiler which receives its oil from a
small reservoir below then follows and applies a coating of oil or other lubricant
to such surfaces and prepares the moulds for the next charge of clay from the
hopper; the rotation of the brush and oiler is obtained from a stationary rack,
into the teeth of which gears a spur wheel on the end of the box, which wheel
gives motion to spur pinions on the respective axes of the brush and oiler. A
precisely similar arrangement is adopted to both ends of the machine, but the
two boxes are actuated from separate rocking shafts, situate in a line with
each other, and so worked as to give alternating movements to the two boxes,
one box moving in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction
simultaneously. This is accomplished by having a lever arm on each of the
contiguous ends of the two rocking shafts, one arm being connected by a link
with the upper end of a vibrating lever working on a stud centre of its own,
and the other arm being similarly connected to the lower end of such vibrating
lever. Thus any rocking motion which may be imparted to one shaft will be
transmitted through the levers and links to the other shaft, but in the reverse
direction. This rocking motion of the two shafts, above referred to, is derived
from a grooved cylindrical cam on one of the shafts of a train of driving wheels,
and in the groove of this cam works a pin or antifriction roller on the end of
a short arm fast on a third rocking shaft which is also in a line with the two
others, and is coupled with them by means of an ordinary sliding clutch in
order to afford facility for throwing the sweeping and oiling apparatus out of
action when required.
The machinery or apparatus for controlling or stopping and starting the
brick machine consists of a hand wheel, ratchet wheel, and pulley all
mounted upon a shaft fitted in bearings in suitable standards with a detent

page_text: binged to a fixed bracket and taking into the teeth of the ratchet wheel; this
detent is elevated or released from the ratchet wheel when it is required to
start the machinery by means of a bent foot lever or treadle. To the pulley
there is attached one end of a cord, which after passing round it is carried.up
and passed round an overhead pulley, and thence passes to one end of a
horizontal lever to which it is secured; this horizontal lever works on a pivot
at or near its longitudinal centre, and to its opposite end is attached a rod or
cord which is connected to an inclined arm working on a centre at its lower
extremity, whilst its upper end carries a heavy roller. The object of this roller
is to apply tension to a driving belt which passes under a pulley on the main
driving shaft or crank shaft of the prime mover, and over a similar pulley on
an overhead shaft; this last-mentioned shaft carries a second pulley, which
gives motion by a second driving belt to the first of three shafts carrying
toothed gearing, which forms the driving train of the brick machine. By
turning the hand wheel so as to wind up the cord the heavy roller will be
lifted clear of the first-mentioned driving belt, which being no longer main-
tained in a state of tension will cease to drive the overhead or second motion
shaft, and hence no motion will be transmitted to the train which drives the
brick machine. When it is desired to start the machine the attendant raises
the detent from the ratchet wheel by depressing the foot lever or treadle, and
simultaneously unwinds the cord from its drum, when the weight of the heavy
roller will cause it to fall forward, and by pressing against the slack belt give
tension thereto and cause it to transmit the motion of the main driving shaft
to the shaft overhead, whence by the second belt motion is transmitted to
the machine. The first of the three shafts of the train of gearing carries a
spur pinion in gear with a spur wheel loose on the second shaft; this wheel
drives the second shaft by a stud pin acting on a friction ring on a disc or
collar which is capable of being thrown out of gear by a clutch arrangement.
A pinion on the second shaft gives motion to a spur wheel on the third shaft,
which shaft carries the crank for imparting the reciprocating motion to the
mould plate of the brick machine; a slot in the connecting rod allows a little
free play to the crank pin at the commencement and termination of each
stroke, so as to give a pause or dwell to the motion of the mould plate,
and allow of the sweeper and oiler coming into action, as herein-before
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
IIENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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
BRICK-MAKING MACHINES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OPERATING
THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad by Isaac Gregg, of Philadelphia,
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators,
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
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 John Henry Johnson, 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 accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates partly to certain improvements in the brick-
making machine for which Letters Patent were granted to George Haseltine,
bearing date the Eighth of July 1863, No. 1692, and has special reference to
that class of machines wherein bricks are made from untempered clay, that is
to say, clay granulated and in the slightly moist condition in which it is when
dug from the clay bed; also to a peculiar arrangement and combination of

page_text: machinery or apparatus for controlling or stopping and starting brick-making
machines.
According to this Invention it is proposed to place inside the inclined
hopper which supplies the granulated clay to the reciprocating mould plate
or frame a moveable partition vibrating on a fixed centre in the hopper, and
actuated by means of a rod and vertical lever which derive their motion from
the reciprocating mould plate. The object of this arrangement is to change
periodically the direction of the current of clay from the set of filled moulds
to the set of empty or partly filled moulds in the mould plate. The pistons or
followers, together with the bricks contained in the moulds, are slightly
elevated or started preparatory to expelling the bricks by causing the lower
ends of the piston rods to pass on to fixed inclined planes whilst the mould
plate is moving in one direction or the other. Heads or flanges are formed
on the lower ends of the piston rods of the two sets or groups of moulds in the
mould plate, and these heads or flanges, as well as the two fixed inclines
before referred to, are divided in the direction of motion of the mould plate,
one half of the contact surfaces being raised or made to project slightly beyond
the other half, the raised surface in the heads or flanges of the two sets of
piston rods and their corresponding inclines being on opposite sides, so that
when the heads of one set of piston rods traverse over one of the said inclines
they will be slightly clevated thereby, but will remain depressed whilst tra-
vorsing over the other incline. At the higher end of each of the fixed inclines
there is situate a wheel or pulley of two diameters, the periphery of the larger
diameter projecting slightly above the level of the raised side or half of the
incline, and being in a direct line therewith, whilst the smaller diameter coin-
cides with the sunk portion or half of the incline. Now as the heads or
flanges of one set of pistons pass in succession over this pulley they will each
be still further elevated thereby, causing the corresponding piston to compress
the clay in the mould against the under side of a fixed plate which extends
across and is in contact with the surface of the mould plate. There are two
of these fixed plates, viz., one just outside each side of the hopper, and if
desired they may be made hollow, so as to be heated by the introduction of
steam therein. After passing over the wheels or pulleys above referred to the
several heads or flanges of one set of pistons enter the groove of a lifter which
serves to expel the bricks from the moulds by elevating the pistons flush with
the surface of the mould plate. These lifters are similar in their construction
and mode of operating to those described in the Specification of the Patent of
George Haseltine herein-before referred to, and form no part of the present
Invention. By this time the mould plate has completed its traverse in one

page_text: direction and makes a pause before returning in the opposite direction in
order to afford time for the removal of the moulded bricks and the cleaning
and oiling of the surfaces of the pistons and mould plate. These operations
are effected by means of a rotatory brush and a rotatory oiler, both contained
in a box without a bottom which is caused to slide transversely across the
surface of the mould plate by the aid of a lever arm attached to a rocking
shaft herein-after referred to. As this box moves forward its front face comes
in contact with the bricks and pushes them off the mould plate on to any
convenient receiving surface, leaving the surfaces of the pistons exposed. The
rotatory brush inside the box by passing over the pistons and mould plate
removes the dirt or loose particles of clay therefrom, and the rotatory oiler,
which receives its oil from a small reservoir below, then follows and applies a
coating of oil or other lubricant to such surfaces and prepares the moulds for
the next charge of clay from the hopper. The rotation of the brush and oiler
is obtained from a stationary rack, into the teeth of which gears a spur wheel
on the end of the box, which wheel gives motion to spur pinions on the
respective axes of the brush and oiler. A precisely similar arrangement is
adopted to both ends of the machine, but the two boxes are actuated from
separate rocking shafts situate in a line with each other, and so worked as to
give alternating movements to the two boxes, one box moving in one direction
and the other in the opposite direction simultaneously. This is accomplished
by having a lever arm on each of the contiguous ends of the two rocking
shafts, one arm being connected by a link with the upper end of a vibrating
lever working on a stud centre of its own, and the other arm being similarly
connected to the corner end of such vibrating lever. Thus any rocking motion
which may be imparted to one shaft will be transmitted through the levers
and links to the other shaft, but in the reverse direction. This rocking motion
of the two shafts above referred to is derived from a grooved cylindrical cam
on one of the shafts of a train of driving wheels, and in the groove of this
cam works a pin or antifriction roller on the end of a short arm fast on a
third racking shaft, which is also in a line with the two others, and is coupled
with them by means of an ordinary sliding clutch in order to afford facility for
throwing the sweeping and oiling apparatus out of action when required.
The machinery or apparatus for controlling or stopping and starting the
brick machine consists of a hand wheel, ratchet wheel, and pulley, all mounted
upon a shaft fitted in bearings in suitable standards with a detent binged to a
fixed bracket and taking into the teeth of the ratchet wheel. This detent is
elevated or released from the ratchet wheel when it is required to start the
machinery by means of a bent foot lever or treadle. To the pulley there is

page_text: attached one end of a cord, which after passing round it is carried up and
passed round an overhead pulley, and thence passes to one end of a horizontal
lever, to which it is secured. This horizontal lever works on a pivot at or
near its longitudinal centre, and to its opposite end is attached a rod or cord
which is connected to an inclined arm working on a centre at its lower
extremity, whilst its upper end carries a heavy roller. The object of this
roller is to apply tension to a driving belt which passes under a pulley on the
main driving shaft or crank shaft of the prime mover and over a similar pulley
on an overhead shaft. This last-mentioned shaft carries a second pulley which
gives motion by a second driving belt to the first of three shafts carrying
toothed gearing which forms the driving train of the brick machine. By
turning the hand wheel so as to wind up the cord the heavy roller will be
lifted clear of the first-mentioned driving belt, which being no longer main-
tained in a state of tension will cease to drive the overhead or second motion
shaft, and hence no motion will be transmitted to the train which drives the
brick machine. When it is desired to start the machine the attendant raises
the detent from the ratchet wheel by depressing the foot lever or treadle and
simultaneously unwinds the card from its drum, when the weight of the heavy
roller will cause it to fall forward, and by pressing against the slack belt give
tension thereto and cause it to transmit the motion of the main driving shaft
to the shaft overhead, whence by the second belt motion is transmitted to the
machine. The first of the three shafts of the train of gearing carries a spur
pinion in gear with a spur wheel loose on the second shaft; this wheel drives
the second shaft by a stud pin acting on a friction ring on a disc or collar
which is capable of being thrown out of gear by a clutch arrangement. A
pinion on the second shaft gives motion to a spur wheel on the third shaft,
which shaft carries the crank for imparting the reciprocating motion to the
mould plate of the brick machine. A slot in the connecting rod allows a
little free play to the crank pin at the commencement and termination of
each stroke, so as to give a pause or dwell to the motion of the mould
plate and allow of the sweeper and oiler coming into action, as herein-before
described.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose 1 shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings is a vertical section of the
improved brick machine and of the mechanism for operating the same;
Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3, a rear view of the machine,

page_text: looking in the direction of the arrow 1 in Figure 2; Figure 4, a vertical
section on the line 1, 2, Figure 2; Figure 5, a vertical section on the line 3, 4,
Figure 1; Figure 6, a vertical section on the line 5, 6, Figure 1; Figure 7,
a vertical section on the line 7, 8, Figure 1; Figure 8, a vertical section on
the line 9, 10, Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow 2; Figure 9, a
vertical section on the line 11, 12, Figure 2, looking in the direction of the
arrow 3; Figure 10, a section on the line 13, 14, Figure 2; Figure 11, a
section on the line 15, 16, Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow 4;
Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, detached sectional views of parts of the
machine drawn to an enlarged scale; Figure 17, a detached view of part of
the machine looking in the direction of the arrow 5, Figure 1, and drawn to
an enlarged scale; Figure 18, a section on the line 17, 18, Figure 2; and
Figure 19, a detached sectional view of part of the apparatus. Figures 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 10, 11, and 18, are drawn to a scale of two-thirds of an
inch to a foot.
A and A¹ (Figure 4) are the two side frames of the machine between
which the mould plate B is arranged to slide to and fro freely, the said plate
having on its opposite edges ribs a adapted to grooves in the inside of the two
frames A and A', as best shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the plate being also
supported on and guided by pulleys b, b, b, b, Figures 1, 4, and 5. The
pulley 6 is secured to a shaft C (Figure 4) which turns in the side frames A, A¹,
and both this pulley and the pulleys b', 6', have V-shaped peripheries adapted
to a similarly shaped groove in the under side of the mould plate. The
pulleys are grooved so as to bear against ribs c, c, (Figure 5) at both sides
of a rack a¹ at the under side of the mould plate (Figure 13), and on the
shaft C is a cog wheel c', the teeth of which are adapted to those of the rack a¹
(Figure 5), so that as the mould plate slides back and forth a rotary motion
will be imparted to the shaft C first in one direction, then in the other.
the mould plate there are two sets of moulds & and d', and in the present
instance there are seven moulds in each set, the two sets being separated from
each other by a narrow blank space y. A follower or piston e is fitted accu-
rately, but so as to slide freely in each mould, (Figures 1, 12, and 18,) the stem
or rod of the piston passing through and being guided by a hole in the bottom
of the mould. Each piston and its rod may be made of cast iron and in one
piece, but the lower end of the rod is provided with a detachable edge or
flange for f¹ of wrought iron or steel, which is secured in the manner readily
observed on reference to Figure 16. The heads f secured to the rods of the
pistons in the moulds & are cut away or halved on one side, and the heads f¹
attached to the rods of the pistons in the other set of moulds are cut away or
In

page_text: g
halved on the opposite side in the manner shewn at m³ (Figures 14, 15, and
16,) for a purpose described hereafter. To the framework of the machine are
secured two stands D and D', in each of which turns a shaft E carrying a
halved wheel, or, in other words, two plain wheels F and F, one of which is
of greater diameter than the other, as seen in Figures 12 and 13. The stands
D, D', have each a projection 9, the upper edge of which is inclined or curved
and recessed as shewn at e¹, (Figures 12, 14, and 15,) the recess of one pro-
jection 9 being on one side and that of the other projection on the opposite
side for the purpose described hereafter. This halving or recessing of the
wheels F and F, the projections 9 and g', and of the heads f, f, of the pistons
is such that the pistons of the set of moulds d¹ shall be elevated when passing
over the projection 9 and wheel F, but shall remain undisturbed when passing
over the other projection and wheel F', while the pistons of the set of moulds &
will be elevated on passing over the projection g' and wheel F, but not elevated
on passing over the projection 9 and wheel F. The importance of this
arrangement will be explained hereafter. G and G₁are two plates or "lifters,"
in each of which is a longitudinal chamber a so constructed as to receive the
heads or flanges f, f¹, on the rods of the piston e. Each lifter is connected to
the framework of the machine by two parallel bars H, H, and is provided
with a projection h to be acted upon by hooked projections i and i, on the
opposite side of the mould plate B in the manner described hereafter. I is
n hopper, the upper portion of which is inclined as shewn in Figure 4, and in
the lower portion of the hopper is a segmental roller l' secured to a shaft J,
on the outer end of which are two cog wheels J' and K, the latter gearing
into a cog wheel C¹ on the outer end of the shaft C (Figure 4), so that as the
mould plate slides back and forth the segmental roller 1¹ will be turned first
in one direction and then in the other, making a partial revolution at each
motion. Through the hopper I at each side of the segmental roller I¹ extend
two shafts j,j, on which are vanes or cutters k, and at the outer end of each
of the upper shafts j is a pinion which gears into the cog wheel J¹ and into a
pinion on the end of the shaft j beneath it (see Figures 1 and 3). Across
the lower portion of the hopper extend two adjustable cross pieces n³, n³, the
edges of which are sharpened and are almost in contact with the periphery of
the segmental roller 1'. Within the upper inclined portion of the hopper is
hung a vibrating leaf or partition K', which is of the angular form shewn, and
connected at the upper end by a rod k¹ to a lever L, the latter being hung to
a standard L' secured to the frame of the machine. In suitable guides secured
to the frame of the machine slides a rod 7 (Figure 3) which is jointed to the lower
end of the lever L, and on this rod is a pin m which is struck first by one

page_text: pin n on the side of the wheel K and then by a similar pin on the same
wheel as the latter revolves in opposite directions, an intermittent recipro-
cating motion in opposite directions is thus imparted to the rod, so that the
partition K¹ (through the medium of the lever and rod k¹) is inclined first to
one side of the hopper and then to the other, for the purpose described here-
after. The opposite ends of the hopper I are not in contact with the upper
surface of the mould plate B, but to each end is secured an inclined knife o
(Figures 1 and 12), the edge of which is as near to the face of the mould
plate as possible without being in absolute contact therewith. The hopper is
situate between two plates M and M' which, if desirable, may be hollow, so
as to be heated by the introduction of steam, the under faces of these plates
or boxes being perfectly smooth and close to the upper surface of the mould
plate. N and N¹ are two bottomless boxes, one being situated near each
end of the machine (see Figures 2 and 5), and to these boxes are secured
rods p, p, q, q', which slide in brackets or guides attached to the frame
of the machine, and into slots or openings in the rods q, q', project
the upper ends of arms O, O', secured to shafts P, P¹, which turn in
brackets 8 secured to the frame of the machine. The shafts P, P¹, are
in a line with and nearly meet each other, and to the end of one shaft is
secured an arm R (see Figure 8), and to the end of the other shaft an arm R¹,
cach arm being connected by a rod r to a lever r' hung to a bracket R* on
the frame of the machine, so that when one shaft is turned in one direction
the other will be turned in the opposite direction, consequently when motion
is imparted to one of the said shafts the boxes N, N', will be moved simul-
taneously across the machine, but towards opposite sides of the same. Each
box N, N¹, contains a brush S (Figure 5), and an oiler S¹, which are secured
to shafts projecting through the ends of the box, and on one end of each shaft
is a pinion t (Figure 17), which gears through the medium of a pinion t¹ into
another pinion 2 turning on a pin at the side of the box. The teeth of the
pinion are adapted to those of a rack t³, which extends across the machine,
and is secured to the frame of the same, so that as the box is carried in either
direction a rotary motion will be imparted both to the brush and to the oiler.
The oiler consists of a spindle, round which is wrapped felt, wool, or other
fibrous material, which will absorb the oil contained in a small tank u
(Figure 5), secured to the framework of the machine, each box N, N¹, moving
above this tank, so that the oiler may be introduced into the oil and absorb a
portion of the same. T is the main driving shaft of the machine, or is the
crank shaft of the engine, and turns in suitable bearings on a frame T, in the
upper part of which turns a shaft U, and to the latter are secured two

page_text: pulleys U, U. Round the pulley U and round a pulley Us on the shaft T
passes a belt y', and against one side of the latter bears a heavy roller V,
which turns in the upper end of an arm V jointed at the lower end to a
stud V2 secured to a suitable foundation. The belt y' is of such a length that
when the roller V is not in contact with the same its lower end will hang
below the pulley U³, and the latter will revolve without imparting any motion
to the belt. In suitable bearings secured to a frame W at the upper edge of
a pit turn three shafts X, X, X2, a pinion on the shaft X gearing into
a cog wheel w which turns freely on the shaft X', and a pinion v' on the
latter shaft gearing into a cog wheel w¹ secured to the shaft X, see Figures
1 and 2. On the shaft X is a pulley U, round which and round the pulley
U on the shaft U passes a belt y, On the shaft X is a sleeve Y, which
turns with the shaft, but can slide to and fro on the same to a limited extent,
and is operated by a hand lever Y¹. On this sleeve Y is a disc u¹ (Figure 10),
round the periphery of which is fitted a band or ring u², the said ring being
divided into two portions, and through flanges on the latter pass screws, by
means of which the friction between the ring and periphery of the disc u³ may
be increased or diminished at pleasure. At the side of the cog wheel w is a
pin (Figure 10), against which (when the sleeve Y is in the position shown
in Figure 2) bears a projection on the ring u². By this arrangement when
the wheel w is rotated by the pinion v in the direction of the arrow, the pin =
(Figure 10) by coming in contact with the projection on the collar u³ carries it
round with it, and causes the shaft X to rotate. On the end of the shaft X
is an arm or crank X³, and at one side of the latter is a pin, which projects
into a box 2¹ arranged to slide in a slot 3 in the end of a connecting rod Z.
The opposite end of the rod Z is jointed to a lever Z, which is hinged to a
plate Z secured at the bottom of the pit E, and to the upper end of the
lever is jointed one end of a rod Z³, the opposite end of which is connected to
one end of the mould plate B. To the shaft X is secured a scroll cain 4,
into the groove 5 of which projects a pin on an arm 7, which is secured to a
shaft P turning in brackets 8, 8, attached to the frame of the machine. The
shaft P is on a line with the shafts P and P, and these two shafts may be
coupled together by an ordinary clutch 9, which is operated by a hand
lever 10. The groove 5 is of such a shape that the arm 7 and the shaft P
will only be moved during the time that the box ¹ is passing from one end of
the slot 3 to the other, the box being thus operated when the end of the
connecting rod Z is at the limit of its motion in either direction; the boxes
N, N', therefore (which are operated by the movement of the shafts P1, P³,)
will be carried across the mould plate only when the latter is at rest at one

page_text: end or other of the machine, and while its motion is temporarily arrested.
To a beam or bracket is hung a horizontal lever 11 (Figures 1 and 2), one
end of which is connected by a rod or cord 12 to the upper end of the arm V¹
(Figure 1), and to the opposite end of a lever is secured one end of a rope y*,
which passes round the drum 18 on a shaft turning in a frame E, and is
secured to a lower drum 14 on a shaft 15 turning in the same frame (see
Figures 1 and 9). To the end of the shaft 15 is secured a hand wheel 16,
and at the side of the latter is a ratchet wheel 17, to the teeth of which is
adapted the end of a pawl 18 hung to a standard 19, and against the under
side of the said pawl bears the upper end of a rod secured to a treadle 20
bung to the lower portion of the frame E¹. At one side of the machine is a
pit, in which the clay pulverized to the required extent is placed, and in this
pit turns a drum, round which passes a chain of buckets 21, the latter also
passing round a drum 22 (Figure 19) which turns in a case H³. This case
communicates through a shute 23 with the hopper I, so that the clay which
falls from the buckets into the case will descend into the hopper. In the
case slides a gate 24, which is so situate that when raised it will prevent the
clay from passing into the shute, and will direct it into the inclined portion of
the case, from which it passes back into the pit.
The action of this machine is as follows:-The moulds d', d¹, being already
partially filled with clay, and the different parts of the machine being in the
positions shown in the Drawing the driving engine is started. The different
shafts T, U, X, X, X, with their wheels and pulleys will then turn in the
direction of their arrows (Figure 1), the lever Z¹ and mould board B will be
moved forward in the direction of the arrow 6 (Figure 1) the clay will be
thrown into the shute 23, and will be directed towards that portion of the
hopper over the moulds d¹, d', where it will be broken and divided by the
revolving cutters k, and the segmental roller 1 will rotate in the direction of
the arrow. As the mould plate is moved forward beneath the hopper the clay
is packed into the moulds d', d', by the action of the segmental roller I,
while the projection near the left end of the mould plate strikes the
pin on the lifter G, depresses the latter, and with it the pistons and rods to
the limit of their downward motion, so that as the moulds & are brought
beneath the hopper they will receive their first charge of clay, for it should be
understood that the chamber in the lifters is such that their depression or
elevation insures the simultaneous depression and elevation of the pistons and
their rods. As the mould board continues its movement in the direction of
the arrow 6 the heads or flanges f¹ on the rods of the pistons in the
moulds d', d, will be carried over and in contact with the inclined edge of

page_text: the projection g', and in contact with the periphery of the adjacent wheel F
and into the chamber of the lifter G¹. As the heads or flanges f¹ pass
along the inclined edge of the said projection g' each piston is elevated a short
distance, and the compressed clay in the mould is raised, so that a portion
shall project above the face of the mould plate, this projecting portion,
however, being cut off by the oblique knife o (Figures 1 and 12), and on the
further movement of the mould plate remaining in the hopper, leaving the
surface of the clay perfectly smooth and level with the surface of the mould
plate. As the flanges f¹ pass over the wheel F¹ the pistons will be again
slightly elevated, and the clay in the moulds will be compressed between the
pistons and the under side of the box or plate M', a smooth surface will thus
be imparted to the upper edge of the brick while the latter is condensed.
When the whole of the flanges f¹ have passed into the chamber of the
lifter G the hooked projection i near the right-hand end of the mould plate
will be brought into contact with the projection h, and the said lifter G¹ will
be raised to the limit of its upward motion, the pistons e, e, being simul-
taneously elevated until their surfaces are on a level with that of the mould
plate, so that the newly moulded bricks are pushed from the moulds to the
position shewn in Figure 6. Just prior to the completion of the forward
movement of the mould plate the partition K' will be inclined towards the
side of the hopper opposite that shown, so that the clay will be directed on
its descent towards the already partly filled moulds d, d. As the heads f of
the pistons in the moulds d are carried over the edge of the inclined pro-
jection g the projecting portion of each bead will pass through the recessed
portion of the projection g¹ without elevating the said pistons in the moulds d.
In like manner the recessed portions of these heads fpass over the wheel F'
without the said head or their rods being elevated. After the mould plate is
brought to the limits of its forward motion the box Z' is moved from contact
with the inner end of the slot 8 of the connecting rod Z, and towards the
other end of the said slot, the lever Z' and the mould plate remaining
perfectly stationary for a short time, during which the shafts P, P1, P³, are
so operated by the action of the cam 4 that the boxes N, N', will each be
moved from one side of the machine to the other in contrary directions, as
indicated by their arrows, Figure 2. As the front of the box N¹ is brought
against the end of the newly moulded bricks the latter will be pushed from
the pistons on to any suitable receiving boards, the revolving brush S at the
same time cleansing the dust and particles of clay from the faces of the
pistons and from that of the mould plate, while the oiler S thoroughly
lubricates these faces. After the movement of the boxes N, N', is completed

page_text: the box Z will be brought against the forward end of the slot 3 of the con-
necting rod, and the lever Z' and the mould plate will commence its backward
movement, in the direction of the arrow 7. The motion of the segmental
roller will now be reversed, the plates n³, n³, scraping the clay from the face
of the rollers; the moulds d, d, will be completely filled, packed, and emptied
of their contents, while the moulds d', d', will receive the first charge of clay.
The further operation of this portion of the machine will be readily under-
stood from the foregoing description. It will only be necessary to add that
during each movement of the mould plate one set of moulds and their
appliances completes one set of bricks, while the other set of moulds receive
a first charge of clay, and that at the termination of each movement of the
mould plate while the lat ter is temporarily stationary, the surface of the said
plate and that of the elevated pistons is brushed clear of particles of clay and
properly lubricated. When it is desired to stop the machine the attendant
turns the hand wheel 16 so as to wind up the rope y², operate the lever 11,
and elevate the roller V from contact with the belt y¹, the latter being thus
removed from close contact with the pulley U³, the motion of which is thus
discontinued. Should a stone find its way into the hopper, or other accident
occur to clog the machine and arrest the motion of the latter and of the
shaft X and wheel w', that of the wheel w will continue, as the ring u² will
turn on the disc u¹. Injury to the engine or to the machine by the sudden
stopping of the latter from any cause is thus prevented. When it is desired
to move the mould plate back and forth without operating the boxes N, N₁,
in order to clean the machine the shaft P is thrown out of gear with the
shaft P by moving the clutch 9 in the direction of its arrow, and when it is
desired to arrest the motion of the machine without interrupting that of the
clay elevators 21 the sleeve Y is moved back, so that the ring is carried
from contact with the pin z. When the roller V is to be brought against the
belt y', in order to start the machine, the attendant presses on the treadle 20
(Figure 9) with his foot, and thus raises the pawl 18 from contact with the
ratchet wheel 17, he then turns the hand wheel so as to unwind the rope y³,
turns the lever 11 in the direction of its arrow, and brings the roller V against
the belt. Any tendency of the mould plate to rise is prevented by the ribs a, a,
which project into the grooves in the side frames. Rollers bearing on the
upper edges of the ribs may, however, be used in place of the said grooves.
There are several important features in the above-described improvements,
to the most important of which it will be necessary to refer.
The first is the perfect control under which the entire movements of the
machine may be held by the attendant.

page_text: The second is the directing or the clay in its proper direction through
the hopper.
The third feature is the starting of the pistons of the moulds, together with
their contained bricks by the inclined planes.
The fourth is the manner of insuring the maintenance of the pistons on
the bottoms of the moulds after they have received the first charge of clay.
The fifth feature is the thorough cleansing of the faces of the pistons in
advance of the lubricator.
As to the first, second, and fifth features, the above description will afford
sufficient proof of their importance.
The third feature, which relates to the starting of the pistons of the moulds,
together with their contained bricks by the inclined planes, has for its object
the relieving the lifters from the great strain consequent upon their starting,
and lifting the whole of one set of pistons and bricks at one operation.
The fourth feature, which relates to the maintenance of the pistons at the
bottoms of the moulds after the latter have received the first charge of clay
is most important, as it has been found by repeated experiments that if the
pistons are elevated but a short distance above their proper resting places,
and that if reliance be placed upon the clay and the pressure above it to
depress the pistons to the bottom of the moulds, any inequality in the filling
of the said moulds or any inequality in the granulation of the clay will result
in the production of imperfect and cracked bricks.
This evil has been obviated in the present improvements by maintaining
the pistons at the bottom of the moulds prior to receiving this last charge of
clay, and this proper position has been insured by the halving or recessing of
the wheels and F of the projections g and g', and of the heads f and f¹, of the
pistons, this arrangement permitting the heads of the piston rods of one set
of moulds to pass over one of the inclined projections and wheel F without
being elevated, as described above.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the system or mode of controlling or stopping and starting the
machine by the combination of the band wheel 16, ratchet wheel 17,
pawl 18, pulley 14, cord y², roller V, and the pulleys Us and Us, with the
belt y', the whole operating substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly, the system or mode of periodically changing the direction of the

page_text: current of clay from the set of filled moulds to the set of partly filled, by
means of a moving partition, substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
Thirdly, starting the pistons or followers of the moulds together with their
contained bricks by means of the inclined planes 9, 9', acting upon the rods of
the pistons, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourthly, the combination of the heads or flanges f of the rods of the two
sets of pistons with the stationary inclined projections g and g², when the said
heads and projections are so formed that when the heads of one set of piston
rods traverse over one of the said projections the former will be elevated by
the latter, but will remain depressed while traversing over the other pro-
jection, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifthly, the combination of the wheels F and F with the heads of the rods
of the two sets of pistons when the said wheels and rods are recessed or
halved, or otherwise constructed to operate substantially in the manner and
for the purpose herein-before described.
Sixthly, the application and use of the brush S, so arranged and operated
as to clear the upper surface of the pistons from superfluous clay in advance
of the oiler.
Seventhly, the combination of the revolving brush S and revolving oiler S'
in the same box N, substantially as herein-before described.
Eighthly, imparting an alternating motion to the two lubricators and
sweepers by means of the divided shaft P, P¹, and the mechanism, substantially
as herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 8 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)