AN IMPROVED BRICK-MAKING MACHINE
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Cowdery, of Strood, in the County of Kent,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BRICK-MAKING
MACHINE."
Sealed the 14th August 1860, and dated the 16th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Cowdery at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th February 1860.
I, GEORGE COWDERY, of Strood, in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED BRICK-
MAKING MACHINE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of bricks, the object being to
make them at a more speedy rate, and in a more efficient manner than by the
means ordinarily adopted for that purpose, and is effected in the following
propose using an endless chain or band upon which are placed
cases or moulds, into which the clay is pressed by plungers or blocks formed
upon cylindrical rollers, through which the cases pass for the purpose of giving
them the desired shape and kick or indent on one or both beds thereof. The
cylinders are to be so formed that the prominent parts fit exactly into the cases
or clay holders on the endless band, the clay being first placed into the

page_text: moulds by any suitable contrivance, through a hopper or otherwise, when on
passing through the rollers, each brick receives the required pressure and shape.
This machine may be driven by steam or other convenient power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Cowdery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
August 1860.
'
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
COWDERY, of Strood, in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer, send greeting,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Cowdery, Her special licence that I, the said George
Cowdery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Cowdery, my 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 "AN IMPROVED BRICK-
MAKING MACHINE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Cowdery, my executors or administrators, 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 George Cowdery, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of bricks, the object being to
produce them at a more speedy rate, and in a more efficient manner than by
the means ordinarily adopted for that purpose.
In order that my said Invention may be thoroughly understood, I will now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved brick-making machine; Fig. 2,
view of taking-off end; and Fig. 3, top plan view; similar letters of reference
denote corresponding parts, where such parts appear or can be seen at each of
the Figures respectively. I employ a hopper for receiving the brick earth,
having a triangular revolving shaft placed therein (not shewn in the Drawings)
or other suitable contrivance, for the purpose of pressing the clay or loom into
the moulds previous to their entering between the rollers hereafter described,
such means or contrivance forming part of my Invention.
The bricks having been thus partly formed in the brick moulds a, a, of
which a series will be seen connected together as an endless band or chain, the
moulds a, a, now revolve over flat-edged rollers b, b, at each end of the machine,
and on arriving at the centre thereof, they are met by two cylindrical rollers c,
one above the other (Fig. 3), either or both of which are supplied with pro-
jections d, d, which are moveable on the rollers, so that a flat pressure is obtained
though rolling, and by thus passing through said rollers, the clay not only
becomes thoroughly pressed, but receives the "keck" or indent on one or both
beds at the same time; the brick cases or moulds after leaving these rollers,
immediately pass under a series of stampers or plungers c, c, Fig. 1, revolving
at the same speed as rollers c, so that the bricks are forced out of their moulds
on to an endless band f, f, from whence they are taken to be dried and burnt.
This machine can be worked either by horse, steam, or other convenient
power, and mounted on wheels for portability, suitable gearing being used to
obtain the required speed of the various parts.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of "An
Improved Brick-making Machine," together with the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details herein described and shewn in the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, as many slight modifications and variations may be
made therein without in any way departing from the principle of my Invention;
neither do I claim any particular arrangement of gearing whereby the parts of
my Invention are actuated; but what I claim as of my Invention is, the use of
a triangular feeding shaft and endless band or chain of moulds or clay holders,
as shewn and described, together with the moveable projections on the centre

page_text: rollers in combination with the stampers or plungers herein described and
shewn for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Cowdery, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
HENRY HARRISON,
10, St. Margaret's Bank,
Rochester.
GEORGE COWDERY. (L.S.).