An Improved Die or Mouth-piece for Brick-making Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Die or Mouth-piece for Brick-making Machines.
I, WILLIAM Wood, of No. 7, Whitelind Place, Cathays, Cardiff, in the County
of Glamorgan, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object a more effectual way of treating the clay as it is
delivered from the pug mill, or equivalent, of any class of brick-making machines.
The usual method of arranging the month-piece, or die, is to lubricate the body of
clay as it passes through the die, or perforated box, covered with fustian, in which
water or other lubricant is introduced. This method has many disadvantages that
we will not stop to enquire into.
The principle one has been to cause the bricks delivered from the mouth-pieces
to emerge with edges more or less ragged, besides saturating the clay to such an
extent that the bricks take more drying and of course are liable to get greatly out
of shape.
My improved die is made as follows. I attach to the front of the brick making
machine a mouth-piece, which I prefer to construct in two parts, namely one back
part for screwing on to the machine, and another to form mouth-piece or nozzle.
The interior of the back piece is made of peculiar form, and at the place where the
angles of the brick come, I cause the interior to be hollowed out, and to be made
somewhat of a volute shape. This is for the purpose of allowing the clay to gather
to a larger extent at the corners than in the centre.
At the front face of the back-piece I place my improved lubricating arrange-
ment which is made in the following way. Pipes or passages are cast, or otherwise
formed, at the sides, with a small jet or orifice at each corner of the die. These
jets are placed at a suitable angle from the main supply passage and a steam pipe is
connected to a suitable steam supply, so that when a pressure of steam is applied,
the jets, each, direct a current of steam to play on to the corners of the clay issuing
through the mouthpiece. may use, if I prefer to do so, any other lubricant in the
manner described.
The whole extent of the interior of the mouthpiece to within one inch or so of the
nozzle is formed more or less in the way as described for the back end, of course
lessening in degree as it approaches the face of the nozzle. The issuing orifice is
made of the exact shape of the brick being made.
Dated this 27th day of June 1890.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Die or Mouth-piece for Brick-making Machines.
I, WILLIAM Wood, of No. 7, Whitchurch Place, Cathays, Cardiff, in the County
of Glamorgan, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object, a more effectual way, of treating the clay as
it is delivered from the pug mill, or equivalent, of any class of brick making
machine.
The usual method of arranging the mouth piece or die, is to lubricate the body of
clay as it passes through the die, or perforated box covered with fustian, in which

page_text: water or other lubricant is introduced. This method has many disadvantages that
we will not stop to inquire into.
The principal one has been to cause, the bricks delivered from the mouth pieces, to
emerge with edges more or less ragged, besides saturating the clay to such an extent,
that the bricks take more drying and of course, are liable to get greatly out of
shape.
In order that the improvements, in my invention may be better understood,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through the centre of the die.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is half front view & half a view looking on the flange D from the
line (A A).
Fig. 4 is a view of the back part of the die, looking on the line A. A.
My improved die, is made as follows, I attach to the front of the brick making
machine, a mouthpiece, which I prefer to construct, in two parts namely, one back
part (B) for screwing or bolting on to the machine, and another (C) to form mouth
piece or nozzle. The interior of the back piece (B) is made of peculiar form, and
at the place, where the angles of the bricks come, I cause the interior to be hollowed
out as shown in (Fig. 4), which is a view of the die when looking back from the
flange (E) but this shape is not uniform throughout the back part of the die, as the
shape at the extreme back, say looking on the flange (F) is rectangular, & gradually
alters untill it assumes a volute shape, with hollowed out corners as shown in Fig. 4.
This is for the purpose of allowing the clay to gather to a larger extent at the
corners than in the centre. At the front face of the back part (B), I place my
improved lubricating arrangement, which is made in the following way, pipes or
passages (HH), are cast or otherwise formed all the way round the die, which
allows of a free circulation of steam or other lubricant, & in order that the lubricant
may be applied on the moving body of clay, wherever it is necessary, I form a
number of orifices or jets (R) at a suitable angle, communicating with the main
steam passage (H H), so that when a pressure of steam is applied, the jets each
direct a current of steam to play on to the said moving body of clay. For the
purpose of allowing the lubricant to have full play, if necessary, all the way round
the issuing body of clay, I propose forming a recess (G G) all the way round the
interior of the die, at that point where the jets distribute the steam or lubricant
into the front part of the die, or where the faces of the back & front part of the die
meet. In order that the steam may be regulated in the steam passages & prevent
the body of clay from being damaged by excessive pressure, I fix to the steam
passage an exhaust pipe (K), & regulating valve (W) with which I can regulate
the pressure to suit requirements.
In some types of clay it is sufficient to lubricate the corners only, when this is
the case the perforations are only formed at the corner, and the other parts are not
lubricated. The steam or other suitable lubricant is carried to the main pipes or
passages (HH) by means of suitable connections, screwed or otherwise connected
to the bosses (T). The whole extent of the interior of the mouthpiece, is more or
less formed as shown in (Fig. 4), or as shown on the left hand side of (Fig. 3)
lessening in degree or becoming less rounded, as it approaches the face of the
nozzle (M), within say 2 inches of the face of the nozzle.
The issuing orifice is made the exact shape of the brick being made & for the
purpose of illustration, I show the nozzle of a rectangular shape as in (Fig. 3), and
in order that the same may be made adjustable, to suit various sizes and shapes of
bricks, I line the said orifice with loose plates (N). These plates are planed on
both sides & fastened by means of the screws (O), against the facings (S), which
are also planed or otherwise made true. This insures a true shape to the orifice &
when the plates wear down, it is only necessary to renew these without having also
to renew either of the other portions forming, the front & back part of the die.
I may here state that I do not confine myself to the construction of the die, in
"two or more pieces, as it may be convenient in some cases, to make the die all in

page_text: one piece, & save the necessity of making joints, or using adjustable plates. Also
in some dies, where the material used is favourable, I may form a chamber, or
reservoir round the die, instead of the steam passages & fill the same with lubricant,
which can be fed into the die through the same jets or orifices.
The result of using a die of this description is to produce, a well shaped body of
clay, with well defined corners & coated with a smooth skin or face.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First The general construction & arrangement of parts, forming a brick making
die, substantially as herein described & illustrated.
Second A brick making die round about which, is constructed or otherwise
formed a steam or other suitable lubricating passage, or chamber, substantially as
herein described & illustrated.
Third A brick making die with any suitable number of jets or perforations,
communicating with a lubricating passage or chamber, substantially as herein
described & illustrated.
Fourth-The construction of a brick making die, with an adjustable mouthpiece,
or nozzle formed of removable plates or pieces, substantially as herein described &
illustrated.
Fifth A brick making die the interior of which is formed of a somewhat
volute shape & the corners hollowed out substantially as herein described &
illustrated.
Sixth A brick making die, having a recess formed all the way round the interior
at the point, or place where the lubricant is discharged from the jets or perforations,
substantially as herein described & illustrated.
Seventh A brick making die, constructed entirely in one or more parts,
substantially as herein described & illustrated.
Eighth A brick making die having a steam passage, or lubricating chamber,
supplied with an exhaust regulating valve, substantially as herein described &
illustrated.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1891.
WILLIAM WOOD,
Applicant.