IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
GRIMSLEY, of the City of Oxford, Sculptor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Tenth day of December
(One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine), in the thirteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Grimsley, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas
Grimsley, my exors, adññors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Grimsley, my exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years'
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Thomas Grimsley,
should cause a particular description of the nature of my said Inventicu, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said "
Thomas Grimsley, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, my said Invention consists of certain improvements in machinery
for the manufacture of bricks and tiles.
"
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 a front view, of the machine
adapted to the making of bricks of the particular forms separately shewn in
Figure 2. The brick here delineated is made concave on its upper surface
and on one of its sides, and on one of its ends there are formed grooves a, a,
while on the other side and end it has projecting tongues b, b, so that when
several rows of such bricks are placed side by side and end to end the tongues
of each brick take into and fill the grooves of the two next adjoining bricks,
or vice versa. Each brick has also three or more holes c, c, made right
through it from end to end, which, besides being attended with a saving of
material, serve to facilitate both the drying and the firing. A, A, is the prin-
cipal framework of the machine; B, a chamber for clay; J, a die plate, and
a, a, (see Figure 3) core or mandril in the mouth of this plate, by which the
longitudinal holes c, c, before mentioned are produced; C is the piston of the
cylinder which is worked by means of the rack D and pinion E; F, a pinion
which gears into a spur wheel G affixed to the same shaft as the pinion E; and
Fa crank handle by which the driving power is applied to the pinion
F; H, H, is a travelling bed composed of a number of plates or boards
which are pushed in beneath the cylinder one after the other, according as
they are required to receive the moulded materials on issuing from the die
plate J; K, K, K, are a set of rollers which have their bearings in the frame-
work A, A, and carry the plates or boards of the travelling bed; L, L, are a set
of smaller rollers which convey the moulded clay from the die plate J on to
the travelling bed. These rollers may be dispensed with when the lower edge
of the die plate is near to the bed. A2, A2, is an additional framework, a front
view of which is given separately in Figure 4, which is mounted on the top of
the principal framework A, A, and carries the cutting apparatus. This
apparatus consists of a series of frames N, N, N, each carrying a steel wire
n, n, n. 0, 0, are guide plates, placed one on each side of the frame As; these
plates have a set of slots n³, n², n³, cut in them, which correspond with the
number of the frames N, N, N, and are placed immediately underneath them,
so that when the frames are allowed to drop down for the purpose of the
wires n, n, n, cutting the moulded clay into the proper lengths, the wires fall
into the slots, and are made thereby to descend in a waving line, and, con-
sequently, to cut the ends of the bricks in a waved line instead of straight

page_text: through (as they otherwise would be if there were no guides). The waved
line which is represented in the Drawing corresponds to the groove and tongue
formed on the edges of the brick as before explained. As each plate or board
becomes filled with the moulded bricks or tiles, it is removed, and fresh ones
supplied underneath the cylinder, as already explained.
Should it be desired to make the grooves and tongues of a circular curve
corresponding, for example, to the top concave surface, I employ a cutting
apparatus, such as is represented in Figures 5 and 6, the former being a side
elevation and the latter a front elevation of it. A, A, are two side standards
or supports which carry a cross spindle B, upon one end of which there is
fixed a crank handle C; D, D, are a set of cutters which are affixed to a frame
attached to and moving along with the spindle B. Each of the cutters is bent
at a, a, a, into the form which it is intended to give to the grooves and tongues..
The cross spindle B occupies a position immediately over the travelling bed
and parallel with the line in which the moulded clay is travelling, and at such
a distance above it that as the cutters are made to oscillate from one side of
the machine to the other, they may be made by turning the crank handle C,
to pass through the moulded mass and cut it into the required lengths. As
the cross spindle B may be moved higher up or lower down in the standards
A, A, (its bearings being fixed in slots in these standards), the curvatures
given to the groove and tongue can readily be made to correspond with the
concave surface of the brick.
"
Figure 6 is a front elevation, Figure 7 a cross section, and Figure 8 a
plan of another form of cutting apparatus, in which a single cutter is used,
where the movement of the cutter is effected and regulated by the progression
of the moulded materials, so that the cutter is made to perform its work
regularly at the end of any given length of moulded clay. The machine is
represented as adapted to the cutting of the moulded clay into the lengths of
bricks, that is, about nine inches long, but may obviously be adapted to
the formation of bricks or tiles of any other dimensions. A is the travel-
ling bed of the machine, which is fitted upon its under side with a toothed
rack, which gears into a toothed wheel or pinion affixed to the roller B.
C, C, are two bevel wheels fixed on the ends of the roller B, which gear
into two other bevel wheels D, D'. One end of the latter (D) has attached
to it an arm E, and there is a similar arm E, affixed to a disc F; which
is keyed upon the same spindle as the other bevel wheel D'. G is the
cutter which is attached to a cross spindle H, which has its bearings in
slots formed in the uprights I, I, so that the radius which the cutter has
to describe can be altered at pleasure to suit any curvature of brick..

page_text: K, K, are two levers which are centred at d, and are kept up against the
stops M, by means of strong springs N, N. O, O, are two upright levers,
which are respectively jointed to the levers K, K, and carry at their upper
ends friction pulleys by which they press against the arms P, P, affixed to the
cutter spindle H. R, R, are helical springs which keep the upright levers
O; O, always inclined towards the arms P, P. As the travelling bed moves
forward the bevil wheels revolve and cause the arms E and E' to lay hold
successively of the free ends of the levers K, K, and draw them downward.
When, however, the arm E has got to the further end n of the lever, the
spring N causes the lever K to ascend with considerable force, and makes
the cutter pass through the moulded clay upon the travelling bed and cut off
a piece of the required length. The moment this is effected the same parts
are brought into operation upon the opposite side of the apparatus by means
of the arm Ẹ, which produces a repetition of the movement of the cutter and
the separation of another brick from the mass, and so the work goes on
continuously as long as the travelling bed continues to pass through the
machine.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 10 a plan of an improved
arrangement of machinery, whereby the clay is made to pass through the dies
in a continuous and uninterrupted stream. In the plan, Figure 10, a part of the
cover is supposed to be removed. A, A, is the case or chamber into which
the clay is fed by the hopper B; C is the die plate, which is affixed to the end
of the chamber opposite to B; D, D, are two endless screws which work into
each other, and have motion given to them by the wheels E, E; F is a third
wheel which is fixed on the end of one of the screw spindles, and communicates
motion from a steam engine or other prime mover to the screws. Clay being
fed into the hopper and the screws made to revolve, the clay is gradually and
uniformly pushed forward towards the front end of the case or chamber A, A,
and issues from the die plate in a moulded state.
Figures 11 to 15, both inclusive, exhibit another arrangement of machinery
for pressing clay through dies into the form of bricks or tiles. Here, as in the
preceding case, an uniform.and continuous discharge of the moulded clay from
the die plate in a state ready for being cut into lengths is produced. A, A, is
the clay chamber, which is affixed upon a framework B; C,C, are two rollers,
which have longitudinal teeth and grooves of a peculiar shape and cut upon
their peripheries, and are mounted in such relative positions that the teeth or
projections of the one roller shall gear or take into the grooves in the other.
The bearings of these rollers are made capable of being moved by means of
the screws at D, so that their teeth may be made to gear more or less closely

page_text: into their corresponding grooves, according as the clay to be moulded is more
or less free from grit; E, is the die plate of the machine; F, the hopper; G,
a sliding frame which rests upon and is affixed to the upper edge of the clay
chamber by means of jointed links, G2, G3, by which it is allowed to slide
freely backward and forward upon its seat; H, H, are two small rollers which
have their bearings in the sliding frame G, and are interposed between the
teeth of the rollers C, C, and the ends of the sliding frame to prevent any
escape of clay at that part; the teeth of the rollers are (as shewn) straight on
one side but curved on the other side, and this shape is given to them in order
that the smaller rollers may keep constantly in contact with the sides of the
teeth of the rollers C, C, the convexity or curvature on the one side of the
teeth forming a compensation for the difference in length between the teeth
of the rollers in different positions, which difference arises from the outer ends
of the teeth moving in a larger circle than their inner ends. Clay being fed
into the hopper, it is drawn down by the teeth of the rollers, and when the
chamber is full it can only find a means of escape through the die plate. The
smaller rollers always keep in close contact with the teeth of the rollers, which
causes an oscillating or to-and-fro motion to be given to the sliding frame G,
and thus keeps the clay constantly feeding into the rollers. The machine
when employed without a die plate may be used for crushing, breaking up,
and pugging the clay to be subsequently used in making bricks and the finer
qualities of tiles, the peculiar form of the teeth admitting of the rollers working
very close upon each other.
Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 shew other forms of bricks which may
be manufactured by the machinery described, and which, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, differ from any heretofore in use.
Figure 16 is an
edge view, and Figure 17 a plan of a brick, which may be employed either for
building hollow walls, or for covering flooring, or for paving purposes. It has
grooves a, a, formed in each of its four sides, so that when a number of rows
of such bricks are placed side by side and end to end they may be securely
bonded together by inserting thin bars or rods of iron through the grooves,
some longitudinally and others of them transversely. The bars should in all
cases be made a little shorter than the grooves into which they are inserted,
in order to allow for occasional expansion from heat. Figure 18 shews the
manner in which such bricks combine together when employed in building
hollow walls. Figure 19 is an end elevation, and Figure 20 a side elevation
of a brick suitable for being applied in forming fire-proof flooring, according to
the method for which former Letters Patent were granted to me, dated the
Fourteenth of May, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four. The longi-

page_text: tudinal groove a rests upon the top of a thin iron bar or girder, and bevilled
sides serve as supports for the flooring. Figure 21 is a cross section of a series
of hollow bricks, combined together for the purpose of forming hollow flooring
or roofing, or flooring and roofing having channels through which currents of
cold or heated air or water may be transmitted.
Figure 22 is a side elevation, and Figure 23 a plan of a skew-formed brick
for building chimnies. A chimney built of such bricks would present in its
exterior the form of a screw, as shewn in Figure 23ª.
Secondly, my Invention consists in covering such bricks or tiles as are
employed in the construction of drains, sewers, and other conduits of liquids
and liquid matters, with a glazing upon those parts of their surfaces over
which the liquid or liquid matters are designed to flow, by which the force of
the current flowing through the drains or sewers will be much less impeded,
while the structure will at the same time be rendered more lasting. A brick
of the form first herein-before described, and represented in Figure 2, would,
for example, be covered with the glazing upon the upper concave surface. I
employ for this purpose any of the common sorts of glazing now used for
covering the surface of earthenware by vitrification.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of certain improvements in the mode of
drying and firing bricks and tiles. Figure 24 is a plan, Figure 25 an end
elevation, and Figure 26 a longitudinal section (all the figures being partly in
section) of a kiln composed of four compartments, A, B, C, and D, in which
the bricks or tiles are first partly dried and then fired. E, E, are the furnaces,
of which there are two sets for each of the compartments (A, B, C, and D,),
which are thus fired from both ends; F, F, is a passage between the two
chambers formed at each end of the kiln, which serves for getting to the
furnaces at the inner ends of the firing chambers; G is a drying room, which
is formed over the top of the kiln, and communicates with the firing chambers
by openings or doors in the roof of the latter. The method of working this
kiln is as follows:-Supposing the whole of the chambers to be filled with
bricks or tiles, and that those in the chamber A are to be fired, the fires are
lighted at both ends of the chamber. The heated vapours pass up through
the bricks or tiles at the two ends, then descend through those placed in the
central part of the chamber, and escape by openings or flues formed below the
floor of the chamber, whence they are conveyed into the other chambers, after
circulating through which in the same manner (namely, ascending at the two
ends and descending in the middle) they are allowed to escape from the last of
the series into the drying room. Each chamber has its separate openings into
the chimney, and its separate flues leading into the other chambers, and the

page_text: whole are fitted with dampers, so that any chamber can be made to com-
municate to or be stopped from communicating with the others at pleasure.
By being thus enabled to work any two or three, or the whole of these
chambers at the same time, a great saving of fuel is effected; as, in the first
place, it is only necessary to fire the chamber or chambers intended to be put
in actual use; and the firing of these chambers serves to dry or prepare the
materials in the other chambers to be fired in their turn.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that the improvements which I
claim as comprehended in my said Invention are as follows:-
First, I claim the machinery for manufacturing bricks and tiles represented
in Figures 1, 3, and 4, before described, in so far as regards the bed plates or
running tables, and the cutting frames and the parts in immediate and neces-
sary connection therewith respectively, as also the modifications in the cutting
frames and appendages represented in Figures 5 and 6, and in Figures 6º, 7,
and 8, and before described.
Second, I claim the arrangement of machinery for pressing clay to form
bricks and tiles through dies in a continuous and uninterrupted stream, repre-
sented in Figures 9 and 10, and before described, as also the modification of
the said arrangement represented in Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, and before
described, and the application of the said arrangement and modification to the
crushing, breaking up, and pugging of clay for the purpose of being manu-
factured into bricks and tiles.
Third, I claim the forming of bricks for the purposes aforesaid with longi-
tudinal holes c, c, as also the different forms of bricks represented in Figures 2,
16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, and respectively before described.
Fourth, I claim the employment in the construction of drains and sewers
and other conduits of liquids and liquid matters, of bricks glazed on those
parts of their surfaces over which the said liquids or liquid matters are designed
to flow.
And fifth, I claim the improved drying kiln represented in Figures 24, 25,
and 26, and before described, in so far as regards the combination of four
chambers or compartments (capable of being used collectively or individually),
with the drying room or rooms over the same.
In witness whereof I, the said Thomas Grimsley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Tenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
THOMAS (L.s.) GRIMSLEY.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Thomas Grimsley came before our said Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.