Improvements in Machinery for Moulding Bricks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1892-1ccepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Moulding Bricks.
I, EBENEZER BREETHING, Manager of Dunton Green Brick and Tile Works,
Sevenoaks, in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In order to compress clay into the moulds in which the clay is to be moulded I
cause each mould as it is to be filled to be brought below an opening in the bottom
of a box within which a plunger works up and down and which is forced down
when the mould is below the opening.
When the plunger is raised a slide at one side of the box is raised also to open a
communication from a pug mill or other clay expressing machinery and allow the
box to be filled with clay from the pug mill. When the plunger commences to
descend the slide is quickly closed and the clay within the box is forced downwards
by the plunger and into the mould, its return to the pug mill being shut off by the
slide. All excess of clay so forced downwards beyond what is required for filling
the mould is allowed to pass from the bottom of the box to the bottom of a second
or pressure relieving box fitted with a heavily weighted plunger. When the
plunger of the pressing box again rises the clay in the second or pressure relief box
is by the action of the heavily weighted plunger forced back from it into the
pressing box-or if the weight of the plunger is insufficient to force the clay back it
is forced downwards by a positive movement.
Preferably carry the moulds by a horizontal circular table which has a step
by step rotating motion given to it. The ends and sides of each mould I hinge to
a bottom block which can be raised or lowered between vertical guide surfaces
carried by the table. When the block is drawn downwards below the table the
sides and ends of the mould turn upwards and the mould closes. As the mould
descends small knobs on the exterior of its sides and ends come against similar knobs
on the vertical guide surfaces and serve to resist the thrust of the clay when it is
being forced into the moulds.
When the mould has been closed it is by the rotation of the table carried below
the orifice in the pressing box from which it is to be filled with clay. When the
mould is below the orifice the plunger in the box is forced downwards preferably
by the action of a crank on a driving shaft. When the mould has been filled it
is on the next movement of the table carried away from below the filling box and
the bottom block of the mould is caused to rise by a wheel on a leg descending
from it then going up a fixed incline.
As the bottom block rises two ends and one side of the mould are caused to turn
downwards this is effected by a projection on the exterior of the lower part of each
end or side coming against a stop at the upper part of the vertical guides.
The bottom of the mould is formed by a plate which rests above the top of the
bottom block above mentioned and is jointed to it by a joint close to and parallel
with the joint by which the side of the mould that is left standing is connected to
the block. When the two ends and one side of a mould have been turned down-
wards as above described a workman turns the bottom of the mould upwards and
thereby simultaneously turns down the remaining side of the mould which was
previously left standing and leaves the brick resting on this side. The brick can
then be lifted away by hand. Afterwards the mould remains open long enough
for it to be cleaned and sanded. When this has been done the mould is made to
descend and closes as it descends and the same operations are repeated.
The plunger of the pressing box may be worked up and down by a crank on a
driving shaft. The same shaft may have upon it a cam or curved arm which as

page_text: the plunger rises is made to raise the slide which controls the admission of clay to
the box it may do this by coming below and acting upon a pin which stands out
from a rod which rises up from the slide.
When the plunger arrives at the top of its stroke the cam passes beyond the pin
leaving the slide free to be at once forced downwards and completely closed. To
close the slide I preferably cause the cam to then act against a lever arm which
in turn acts upon a second lever which is connected to the arm which rises up from
the slide.
The plunger of the second or pressure relief box is forced downwards by the
action of a heavy weight and would usually be made to descend by the action of
this weight whenever the plunger of the pressing box was raised a cam or arm on
the driving shaft might be used to force the plunger downwards should the weight
be insufficient to effect it.
In order to avoid injury to the moulds should they encounter a stone as they pass
from below the opening in the filling and pressing box I form an opening at the
side of the box on which the mould leaves it.
This opening is normally closed by a plate held in place by the action of a heavy
weight, should however a stone obstruct the passing away of the mould from below
the orifice in the bottom of the box the plate would be forced to yield and allow the
stone to be carried out from the box in the mould.
In order that the hinges which carry the sides of the moulds may not be subjected
to pressure whilst the moulds are being filled there are fitted into the vertical
guides for each mould eight screws which come directly under the four corners
of the mould, these screws also allow of the moulds being adjusted exactly to the
level of the pressing box.
Dated this 28th day of Anril 1801
E. BREETHING.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Moulding Bricks.
I, EBENEZER BREETHING, Manager of Dunton Green Brick and Tile Works,
Sevenoaks, in the County of Kent, 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 :-
In order to compress clay into the moulds in which the clay is to be moulded
I cause each mould as it is to be filled to be brought below an opening in the
bottom of a box within which a plunger works up and down and which is forced
down when the mould is below the opening.
When the plunger is raised a slide at one side of the box is raised also to open a
communication from a pug mill or other clay expressing machinery and allow the
box to be filled with clay from the pug mill. When the plunger commences to
descend the slide is quickly closed and the clay within the box is forced downwards
by the plunger and into the mould, its return to the pug mill being shut off by the
slide. All excess of clay so forced downwards beyond what is required for filling
the mould is allowed to pass from the bottom of the box to the bottom of a second
or pressure relieving box fitted with a heavily weighted plunger. When the
plunger of the pressing box again rises the clay in the second or pressure relief
box is by the action of the heavily weighted plunger forced back from it into the
pressing box-or if the weight of the plunger is insufficient to force the clay back
it is forced downwards by a positive movement.
Preferably I carry the moulds by a horizontal circular table which has a step
by step rotating motion given to it. The ends and sides of each mould I hinge to
a bottom block which can be raised or lowered between vertical guide surfaces
carried by the table. When the block is drawn downwards below the table the
sides and ends of the mould turn upwards and the mould closes. As the mould

page_text: descends small knobs on the exterior of its sides and ends come against similar
knobs on the vertical guide surfaces and serve to resist the thrust of the clay when
it is being forced into the moulds.
When the mould has been closed it is by the rotation of the table carried below
the orifice in the pressing box from which it is to be filled with clay. When the
mould is below the orifice the plunger in the box is forced downwards preferably
by the action of a crank on a driving shaft. When the mould has been filled it is
on the next movement of the table carried away from below the filling box and
the bottom block of the mould is caused to rise by a wheel on a leg descending
from it then going up a fixed incline.
As the bottom block rises two ends and one side of the mould are caused to turn
downwards this is effected by a projection on the exterior of the lower part of each
end or side coming against a stop at the upper part of the vertical guides.
The bottom of the mould is formed by a plate which rests above the top of the
bottom block above mentioned and is jointed to it by a joint close to and parallel
with the joint by which the side of the mould that is left standing is connected to
the block. When the two ends and one side of a mould have been turned down-
wards as above described a workman turns the bottom of the mould upwards and
thereby simultaneously turns down the remaining side of the mould which was
previously left standing and leaves the brick resting on this side. The brick can
then be lifted away by hand. Afterwards the mould remains open long enough for
it to be cleaned and sanded. When this has been done the mould is made to
descend and closes as it descends and the same operations are repeated.
The plunger of the pressing box may be worked up and down by a crank on a
driving shaft. The same shaft may have upon it a cam or curved arm which as
the plunger rises is made to raise the slide which controls the admission of clay to
the box-it may do this by coming below and acting upon a pin which stands out
from a rod which rises up from the slide.
When the plunger arrives at the top of its stroke the cam passes beyond the pin
leaving the slide free to be at once forced downwards and completely closed. To
close the slide I preferably cause the cam to then act against a lever arm which in
turn acts upon a second lever which is connected to the arm which rises up from
the slide.
The plunger of the second or pressure relief box is forced downwards by the
action of a heavy weight and would usually be made to descend by the action of
this weight whenever the plunger of the pressing box was raised a cam or arm on
the driving shaft might be used to force the plunger downwards should the weight
be insufficient to effect it.
In order to avoid injury to the moulds should they encounter a stone as they
pass from below the opening in the filling and pressing box I form an opening at
the side of the box on which the mould leaves it."
This opening is normally closed by a plate held in place by the action of a
heavy weight should however a stone obstruct the passing away of the mould
from below the orifice in the bottom of the box the plate would be forced to yield
and allow the stone to be carried out from the box in the mould.
In order that the hinges which carry the sides of the moulds may not be sub-
jected to pressure whilst the moulds are being filled there are fitted into the vertical
guides for each mould eight screws which come directly under the four corners of
the mould-these screws also allow of the moulds being adjusted exactly to the
level of the pressing box.
The drawings hereunto annexed shew various views of apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the pressing box and pressure relieving box.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the pressing box taken at right angles to
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar section of the pressure relieving box.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the bottom of these boxes.

page_text: Figure 5 is another vertical section of the pressing box shewing the slide by
which the clay inlet orifice from the pug mill is at times closed.
Figure 6 is a vertical elevation of the parts by which motion is communicated to
the plungers of the pressing and pressure relieving boxes and to the cut off slide.
Figure 7 is an underside view of the bottom of the mould.
Figure 8 a plan view of the mould when open.
Figure 9 a plan view of the mould when closed.
Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line A B Figure 8.
Figure 11 a vertical section on the line C D Figure 8.
Figure 12 a vertical section on the line E F Figure 8.
Figure 13 a vertical section on the line G H Figure 8.
Figure 14 is a vertical section of the mould when closed.
A is the pressing box and B the pressure relieving box.
A is a plunger working in the box A, and B a plunger working in the box B.
A (see Figure 1) is an opening by which clay can pass into the box A from a
pug mill. An ordinary pug mill may be used if strong enough to pug clay some-
what stiffer than for hand moulding. A³ (see Figures 1 and 5) is a slide by which
this opening can be closed. B2 (see Figure 1) is an opening by which surplus clay
can pass from the box A to the box B.
The plunger A¹ is moved up and down by a connecting rod A* which passes
from it to a crank pin C² carried by a disc C which is fast on a revolving shaft C.
The plunger B is weighted by the weighted lever B³ but as the weight of this
lever may often be insufficient to force the plunger downwards and cause it to
force all clay in the box B back again into the chamber A at the time when the
plunger A¹ is raised a pin A' on the connecting rod Ax is caused when the plunger
is raised to come against one arm of a lever R and raise it so depressing the other
arm of the lever and forcing it down against the weighted lever B³ thereby.ensuring
that the plunger B' shall return to its lowest position at each upward movement of
the plunger A'.
The slide A is moved up and down to open or close the clay inlet A² by means
of a bar A which rises up from it. A crank pin C³ on the disc C' which is fast
on the revolving shaft C comes against a projection A on the bar A and lifts the
bar until the pin is clear of the projection and the slide remains raised until as the
shaft revolves the pin comes down on to the top of a lever D and depresses it.
This lever is as shewn connected by a link D' with a second lever D³ which at its
end bears down upon a pin A' which projects from the bar A' and forces this bar
downwards and so forces down the slide A³ and closes the clay inlet A².
In order that when the clay inlet is closed and the plunger A¹ descends on to
the clay which has previously entered the pressing box there may not be a volume
of air enclosed between the clay and the plunger I provide the plunger as shewn
with a flexible bag preferably of leather on its under side which fits to the top of
the clay in the box and remains adhering to it as the plunger rises the bag then
expanding and air entering into it through an orifice A" in the plunger as shewn
in Figure 2. In this way the formation of air bubbles in the middle of the bricks
is avoided.
Preferably as before stated the moulds which are to be filled in succession with
clay from the pressing box are carried by a horizontal circular table which has
a step by step rotating motion given to it so as to bring each mould in succession
below the orifice A8 in the bottom of the pressing box and hold it there during
the time the plunger of this box makes its downward stroke. Afterwards the
table is caused to make another movement so as to carry the filled mould away
from below the orifice A8 and bring another mould into its place and so on. A° is
a movable piece at that side of the orifice A away from which the filled mould
travels it is carried by a weighted lever A1 and is by this lever normally held
in the position shewn in Figure 2. If however when any one or other of the
moulds is being moved away from below the orifice there should be a stone
projecting up from the clay in the mould the stone is carried against the piece A'

page_text: which then yields and allows the stone to be carried away in the mould from
out of the box A without injury to the machinery.
Various views of one of the moulds are shewn at Figures 7 to 14.
E is the bottom of the mould with a vertical stem E' descending from it and
passing between guide surfaces F which are fixed to the revolving circular table.
At its lower end the stem carries a wheel E2 which rests upon a fixed cam
surface below the table so that as the table rotates the bottom of the mould is
raised or lowered as the wheel passes over undulations in the cam surface. To
prevent clay from getting between the stem E' and guide surfaces F the upper
part of the stem is surrounded by a cylinder G of flexible material as shewn in
Figures 10 to 14.
E is a plate which rests upon the top of the bottom block E. When a brick
has been moulded and the mould has been opened the moulded brick can readily
be turned over on to its side by lifting one edge of this plate and then the plate can
readily be removed from the bottom of the brick.
H H are the sides and ends of the moulds which are hinged to the bottom
plate E as shewn in Figures 8, 12, and 13. When the bottom plate descends the
sides and ends are turned upwards into and held in a vertical position by pro-
jections H¹ on their outer face then coming against projections I¹ on the interior of
a square casing I which is in one piece with the guide surfaces F. In order also
that no strain may be put upon the hinge joints by which the sides and ends are
connected to the bottom plate the sides and ends have other projections upon them
which when the bottom plate descends come against other projections 12 on the
interior of the casing I―these projections are shewn in Figures 8 and 14. At the
same time the bottom edges of the sides and ends come down on to and are supported
by adjustable stops J and the bottom plate comes down on to and is supported by
other adjustable stops K shewn in Figure 10.
When the mould has been filled and the bottom plate is again lifted one of the
sides of the mould and the two ends are made to turn downwards and to leave the
brick by reason of tail pieces H' which project from them then being brought
against inclined projections I³ (shewn in Figures 8 and 10) on the interior of the
casing I. An attendant then turns the brick over from off the bottom plate and
on to the remaining side which he turns downwards in doing so and afterwards
removes the brick from off this side.
After this has been done the mould remaining still open is after it has been
cleaned brought by the revolution of the table below mechanism by which fine
sand is sprinkled over its inner surfaces. The mechanism I use is shewn at
Figures 15, 16 and 17-it consists of a tray or hopper K with a perforated bottom
and containing a quantity of fine sand below this is a similar perforated plate to
which a to and fro motion may be imparted and below this again is another fixed
perforated plate.
The holes or perforations in the bottom plate do not come directly under the
perforations in the upper plate but when the middle plate is moved endwise a
distance the perforations in it are brought to coincide with perforations in the
upper fixed plate and the perforations in the movable plate become filled with sand
-afterwards by a further movement of the middle plate the perforations in it are
brought to coincide with the perforations in the lower plate and the sand falls on
to a sieve L which is suspended on spring supports and to which a rocking motion
is also imparted and the sand drops through this sieve onto the surfaces of the
mould below. When one of the moulds has been brought below this apparatus
the movable perforated plate and the sieve are moved sidewise by a rocking motion
being given to a shaft M which has arms projecting from it that are coupled to
the plate and sieve respectively-at the same time a coarsely perforated plate N
at the bottom of the hopper may be likewise jogged endwise to keep the sand in
the hopper agitated and prevent the sieve holes or perforations from becoming
bridged over and ensure that sand shall always be ready to descend through the
perforations when the perforations in the several plates coincide.

page_text: To give a rocking motion to the shaft M at the proper time a projection C
from the disc C¹ on the shaft C is caused to come first against a projection on one
arm of a lever O and rock it a distance in one direction and then against a pro-
jection on the opposite arm of this lever and rock it in the opposite direction and
the rocking motion so imparted to this lever is transmitted to an arm on the shaft M
by rods and levers P at the proper times.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of machinery for moulding bricks substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
2. The combination of a pug mill or other clay expressing machinery delivering
clay into a pressing box a slide for closing the clay inlet a plunger for forcing the
clay out from the box through a delivery orifice into a mould and a pressure relief
box into which excess of clay can enter and from which it is subsequently discharged
back again substantially as described.
3. The movable side to the clay delivery orifice of the box to allow stones to
pass out from the box substantially as described.
4. The employment of a flexible bag on the underside of the plunger of the box
substantially as described.
5. The mould constructed substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of January 1892.
E. BREETHING.