IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF AND MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Button, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, residing
at Stocksbridge, Deepcar, near Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF AND MACHINES
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES."
Sealed the 22nd August 1876, and dated the 6th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Button at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1876.
DAVID BUTTON, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, residing at Stocksbridge, Deepcar,
"IMPROVEMENTS
near Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York.
IN THE PROCESS OF AND MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND
TILES."
This Invention relates to machinery for subjecting so-called dry clay, semi-dry
clay, or clay, shale bind, coal or coke dust, or other substances in a pulverized or
granulated state to pressure in moulds, whereby bricks, such as are used for
building purposes, and tiles or bricks for use as so-called patent fuel are formed,
and relates to an improved process of manufacture of such bricks and tiles; and
consists essentially in causing the bottom or under piston presser or plunger
(commonly known as the drop box) to assume or be in such positions in the
mould during the interval that the top piston presser or plunger is making two
complete reciprocating motions as will allow of the following process being
performed, namely:-
First. The mould to be filled with the pulverized clay, shale bind, or other
substances which is or are to be formed into a brick or tile in a state of powder.
Secondly. The clay or other substances to assume the form of a brick or tile, by
causing the said bottom piston to rise somewhat, and in a slight degree in the
mould, to the position in which the clay or other substances aforesaid is or are
to receive its or their first pressure between the top and bottom pistons, and by
causing the top piston to descend on the clay in the mould, and thus cause the
clay or other substances to assume the form of a brick or tile; such first pressure
being less than the second or final pressure which the clay or other substances

page_text: will receive when the position of the bottom piston shall have been altered as
fourthly described.
Thirdly. The clay or other substances in the form of a brick or tile to be
raised sufficiently out of the mould as to allow that air to escape therefrom which
by the above-mentioned pressure has been confined therein; by causing the said
bottom piston to rise in the mould until the pressed clay or other substances in
the form of a brick or tile has partly, almost wholly, or wholly protruded from
the mould and appears above the table of the machine, and is exposed sufficiently
to allow that atmospheric air to escape which by the pressure of the pulverized
clay or other substances between the top and bottom pistons in the mould has
been confined therein.
Fourthly. The clay or other substances in the form of a brick or tile to descend
into the same mould from which it has been raised, and there forming it into a
finished moulded brick or tile by subjecting it to a second pressure, such second
pressure being greater than the first pressure of the pulverized clay, by causing
the said bottom piston to descend in the mould to the position in which the
pressed clay will receive its second or final pressure, and by causing the top piston
to descend a second time on the clay or other substance in the mould, and thus
forin it into a finished moulded brick or tile, such second or final pressure being
greater than the first pressure of the pulverized clay or other substances by reason
of the bottom piston not having descended so far in the mould (and the top piston
having descended the same distance as before in the mould) as to leave the same
space between the top face of the bottom piston and the bottom face of the top
piston as there was when the pulverized clay or other substances aforesaid received
its first pressure, and was formed into the shape of a brick or tile.
Fifthly. The finished moulded brick or tile to be ejected from the mould by
causing the said bottom piston with the finished moulded brick or tile to rise so
that the top face of the bottom piston shall be level with the table of the machine,
and so that the finished moulded brick or tile shall be free to be moved by any
suitable means along or away from the table, and clear of the top and bottom
pistons.
Sixthly. The mould to be prepared for the reception of the clay or other
substances, and for the firstly-described operation, by causing the said bottom
piston to return to or again occupy the position it occupied at the commence-
ment of the above firstly, secondly, thirdly, fourthly, and fifthly described opera-
tions.
These improvements further essentially consist in, firstly, obtaining all the move-
ments of the bottom pistons of so-called dry clay brick-making machines (in one
of which said dry clay brick-making machines the above-described improved
process is carried on) from one and the same cam or collar with projections, such
cam or collar with projections acting directly or indirectly on the bottom face of
the said bottom piston, and such cam or collar being made hollow, and having
projecting or extended bosses, so as to allow the driving wheel or wheels to be
keyed thereon, and the said cam bosses to work in suitable bearings, and the said
cam, with its bosses, being hollow, admits of a shaft, and a shaft is arranged to
work through such hollow part, such said shaft revolving in suitable bearings, and
having arranged thereon a suitable wheel or wheels, eccentric or eccentrics, crank or
cranks, or other source of motion to work the top piston.
These improvements further essentially consist in and include an arrangement
by which the connecting rod or rods of so-called dry clay brick-making machines
(in one of which said dry clay brick-making machines the above-described improved
process is carried on), which transmit the power from the driving or other wheels
or other source of its or their motion to the top piston, can be easily and
safely made to complete its or their reciprocating motion, when at the same time
the top piston, which it or they drive, cannot complete its full reciprocating motion
or stroke, by reason of their being some obstruction in the mould, or other impedi-

page_text: ment, which said obstruction or impediment without this improved arrangement
would or might break some part of the machine, and thus cause delay and loss,
by which arrangement also the connecting rod or rods is or are allowed to complete
its or their stroke (technically and commonly called "carried over the centre")
when the clay or other substance shall have received its final pressure, and been
formed into a finished moulded brick or tile. This is carried into effect by means
of a spring or springs placed at that part or place where the connecting rod or rods
is or are connected to the top piston, and so as to form an elastic medium between
the said piston and the said connecting rod or rods, or the connecting rod or rods
may be made in two or more sections, and a spring or springs placed between
each such section, so as to act or deflect only when the brick receives its final
pressure.
The feed box or hopper of a so-called dry clay brick-making machine, in which
the above-described improved process of manufacture is carried on, will be made
to deliver to the mould by any suitable arrangement of well-known sources of
motion the pulverized clay or other substance at every alternate downward stroke
only of the top piston.
In the foregoing description of the improvements in the process of manufacture
of bricks and tiles, and in brick and tile-making machines, the principal details,
such as the "top piston," "bottom piston," "cam," and other similar parts, are
referred to in the singular number as to a process, and for a machine to make one
brick only at one time, but by duplicating, tripling, quadrupling, and such like,
the aforesaid principal details, and making suitable provision in the table or tables,
and in the general designs of the machine, as a whole, and making the machine
generally, as a whole, of suitable strength, two, three, four, or more bricks or tiles
may be made in one machine simultaneously,
در
In the foregoing description of the improvements in the process of and in
machines for the manufacture of bricks and tiles, the words clay or other
substances are intended to refer to (amongst others) all those substances of which
bricks and tiles have been or are made by the so-called "dry clay process," and
so-called "dry clay brick-making machines" are referred to in contradistinction
to the "plastic" or wet clay process of and machines for manufacturing bricks and
tiles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said David Button in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th September
1876.
DAVID BUTTON, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, residing at Stockbridge, Deepcar,
near Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PROCESS OF AND MACHINES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND
TILES."
My Invention relates to improvements in the process of and machines for the
manufacture of bricks and tiles by what is called the " dry clay" process, and
consists essentially in the first place in so actuating the bottom piston pressure or
plunger (commonly called the drop box) of a so-called dry clay brick and tile
inaking machine, during the interval that the top piston pressure or plunger in
making two reciprocating motion, as to allow the mould to be filled with suitable
material, this material to be lightly pressed (as compared with the second or final
pressure) at the first downward stroke of the top piston into the form of a brick
or tile, this to protrude from the mould in which it was framed for the purpose of
allowing the air confined therein to escape, returning this to be returned the
same mould, and pressed into a finished moulded brick or tile by a second pressure,
second downward stroke of the top piston, such second pressure being greater

page_text: than that by which the material in the mould was made to assume the form of a
brick or tile, the finished moulded brick or tile to be ejected from the mould, the
mould to be prepared for the reception of suitable material for the next similar
operation.
My Invention in the second place relates to improvements in certain detail
parts of a so-called dry clay brick and tile making machine (in one of which said
machines the improved process of manufacture above specified is carried into effect),
and consists essentially in obtaining all the movements of the bottom piston of a
so-called dry clay brick and tile making machine from a hollow cam, or hollow
collar, with hollow projections acting directly or indirectly on the bottom face of
the said bottom piston, or on a roller revolving in the said bottom piston, such said
hollow cam having extended hollow bosses, so as to admit a wheel or wheels, cam
or cams, or eccentric or eccentrics, to be fixed thereon, or work loose thereon, and
to admit of the cam bosses revolving in suitable bearings, and to admit a shaft to
work through such hollow part, such said shaft having arranged thereon a suitable
wheel or wheels, eccentric or eccentrics, crank or cranks, to give motion to the top
piston. The top and bottom pistons or pressers being actuated so as to travel
towards each other for the purpose of giving pressure to the material in the mould,
such said top and bottom pistons or pressures being operated or actuated in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before specified, firstly, as for the bottom piston or
presser, by a hollow cam with projecting or extended hollow bosses, and, secondly, as
for the top piston or presser by a shaft rotating in or through the aforesaid hollow
cam. And my Invention in the second place also relates to improvements in the
connecting rods or rods, which I use to transmit motion to the top piston from the
shaft rotating in the hollow cam, as above described, such rod or rods being
furnished with a spring or springs placed at that part or place where the connecting
rod or rods is or are connected to the top piston, and which will principally be
used to deflect and allow the connecting rod or rods to complete its or their stroke
when the brick or tile is receiving or has received its final pressure, and is being or
has been formed into a finished moulded brick or tile; but will also deflect when
some obstruction in the mould or other impediment prevents the top piston from
completing its reciprocating motion.
The feed-box of a so-called dry clay brick and tile making machine, in which my
Invention will be carried into effect, will be actuated by some suitable mechanism,
so that the material to be operated upon will be delivered to the mould at every
alternate downward stroke only of the top position, and I wish it to be clearly
understood that I make no claim of novelty in this arrangement, the same having
been in public use for many years; but in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings I
show in Figure 1 a dotted contre line of the roller path of a cam which will effect
this object, and in Figure 2 on the same Sheet I show in elevation a cam having a
roller path, which would so actuate a roller placed at the end of a rod, which could
be so connected by a lever or levers, rod or rods to the feed box, so that the said
feed box would be moved to and fro at the proper time, and for the required
distance; but as I make no claim herein I leave the details of arrangement to the
designer of the machine.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1 represents in outline and in
elevation a cam of the requisite shape, which in one complete revolution in the
direction of B to A would so actuate the bottom piston of a so-called dry clay
brick and tile making machine, as that in conjunction with two strokes of a top
piston, rightly timed, and a proper delivery of the material to the mould, my
Invention, as firstly described, could be carried into effect. This cam is drawn
quarter full size of that which at present I propose to employ, and around it is
arranged, in the form of a diagram, the bottom piston, mould, feed-box, and top
piston, drawn one-sixteenth of the size I propose at present to employ. This
diagram is designed to show the varying position of the bottom piston in the mould
when the said bottom piston is being actuated by the said cam, or when from the

page_text: shape of the sand can the sand bottom piston is, by its own weight, owed to t
into certain positions in the mould. This Drawing of a cam (Figure 1 and the
diagram is so arranged that when the lines C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, X, Y, Z, A', B, C, D¹, E¹, F¹, G¹, H¹, J¹, K¹, which respectively re-
present a certain line drawn through the bottom piston mould and top piston
are in a vertical position, the position of the bottom piston in the mould is shewn
as due to the shape of the cam, and acting on the bottom piston, or otherwise, at
the point immediately under such said centre of the bottom piston, &c., as denoted
by the centre line. The position, or thereabouts, of the top piston, as governed by
the connecting rods and the action of the springs, and the position of the feed-box,
as governed by the cam (as shewn in elevation in Fig. 2, and by the centre line of
its roller path, as shewn in Fig. 1) are also shewn in the diagram, and will be
easily understood by any duly qualified designer of machinery or practical manu-
facturer of machinery would from this and the Specification of the first part of my
Invention be able to construct a machine that would carry into effect this first
part of my Invention.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings I give, in Fig. 2, a half front end view
and a half sectional view of a machine constructed according to my Invention,
as secondly described; this is drawn one-eighth of the full size. I propose at
present to construct a machine having my improved detailed parts, and Fig. 2
further shews one of the means by which the first part of my Invention may be
carried into effect. This Drawing, together with the Specification of the second part
of my Invention, will enable any duly qualified designer of machinery or practical
manufacturer of the machinery to carry my improvements into effect.
In the foregoing description of the improvements in the process of manufacture
of bricks and tiles, and in brick and tile making machines, the principal details,
such as the "top piston" "bottom piston," cam, &c." are referred to in the singular
number as to a process, and for a machine to make one brick only at one time, but
by duplicating, tripling, quadrupling, &c., the aforesaid principal details, and making
suitable provision in the table or tables, and in the general design of the machine
as a whole, and making the machine generally as a whole of suitable strength, two
(as shewn in Fig. 2 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings), three, four, &c.
bricks or tiles may be made in one machine simultaneously.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be clearly understood
that what I claim to be novel and to be secured to me during the continuance of
these partly recited Letters Patent is―
First. To so construct a so-called dry clay brick and tile making machine as
that by the mechanism herein described and drawn on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, or by any other suitable means, I may carry on the process of making a
brick or tile as firstly, secondly, thirdly, fourthly, fifthly, and sixthly described,
namely―
First. Fill the mould with suitable material.
Second. Lightly (as by comparison with the second pressure) press this material
into the form of a brick or tile.
Third. Cause the material in the form of a brick or tile to protrude from the
mould for the purpose of allowing the air confined therein to escape.
Fourth. Returning the material in the form of a brick or tile to the same mould
from which it has been caused to protrude, and there press it heavily (as by
comparison with the first pressure), thereby forming a finished moulded brick
or tile.
Fifth. Eject the brick or tile from the mould.
Sixth. Prepare the mould for a repetition for this process.
Secondly. The arrangement herein-before specified and shewn in Fig. 2 of the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings of a hollow cam with hollow projecting bosses
actuating the bottom piston of a so-called dry clay brick or tile making machine,

page_text: through which cam a shaft is worked, which said shaft, through the medium,
amongst others, of a connecting rod or rods, filled with a spring or springs,
actuates the top piston of a said so-called dry clay brick or tile making machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Button, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this September day of 2, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
DAVID BUTTON. (L.S.)