IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND SIMILAR OBJECTS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank' Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Com-
pany, Patent Agency, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND SIMILAR OBJECTS." -(A. communication
from Gustav Boudriot, residing at Hagen, in the Empire of
Germany.)
Sealed the 21st December 1874, and dated the 24th June 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th June 1874.
I, FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency,
of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare.
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND SIMILAR OBJECTS," (a communication from.
Gustav Boudriot, a person resident at Hagen, in the Empire of Germany,)
to be as follows:—
The Invention is designed for the purpose of producing a machine

page_text: that will by self-acting means prepare and temper clay, and then form
it into bricks or tiles and place them on carriages for removal.
The arrangement and construction of parts comprising these improve-
ments relate, first, to an arrangement of apparatus feeding the mill with
unprepared clay, which consists of an endless inclined chain of travelling
buckets, the lower drum around which they traverse being immersed in
water below a tramway on which the undressed clay is brought for the
purpose of being fed to the machine, and the upper drum is placed at an
clevation that will enable the undressed clay to be emptied from the
travelling buckets into the mill. These buckets or elevators are pro-
vided with a pendulous bottom or side that closes when ascending the
incline with clay, and opens when having discharged its load and
descending, thereby enabling each bucket to be successively cleansed
and watered preparatory to receiving a fresh load. The contents of each
bucket as delivered in passing round the top drum is received into a
square hopper, from which it passes downwards into an octagonal space,
in which there revolves a peculiar spiral arrangement of cutters and a
rake or rakes, which thoroughly mix, knead, and work the clay or loam,
and extract therefrom all stones, roots, or other matters.
This extracting of stones or roots is accomplished by means of the
moving tapered rakes passing through a grid which forms the bottom of
the mixing chamber, and upon which the prepared clay is pressed by the
peculiar formation of the revolving blades. Through this grid the pre-
pared clay is passed on to the sole plate, and the stones or roots are passed
through a division or opening behind. The clay on passing through the
grid is forced into a funnel or passage leading to the moulds. The sides
of this funnel, and also the interior mixing chamber, are provided with
valves or entrances through which any disarrangement in the interior can
be got at and rectified. This funnel also governs the direction given to the
prepared clay so that it is lead directly into the moulds and between
the pressure guide rollers. The traversing moulds, sole plate, guide and
pressure rollers entirely close in the bottom of the guide funnel, so that
the only passage for the clay from the funnel is by means of the moulds
as they are intermittently and successively presented for filling.
The moulds are supported on an endless chain, and compose a series
of about twenty-five sets, that is, five in each set or transverse row,
which, when in their working position, are carried by two octagonal

page_text: drums driven by an arrangement of intermittent gearing that will admit
of a slight stoppage in the traverse of the chain whilst the moulds are
being filled, which takes place immediately they pass into the spacc
above the sole plate forming the bottom of the guide funnel.
The moulds, previously to receiving their filling of clay, and whilst
passing between their supporting octagonal drums in their lowest line
of traverse, enter a trough of water, and so become thoroughly washed,
after which, and while traversing in the line above these octagonal
drums, they receive their filling of clay in manner aforesaid, during
which water is freely admitted from a reservoir or cistern above, thus
causing the moulds to slide easily before and after being charged. The
moulds whilst being charged are steadied and guided by means of
friction rollers between which they pass, and also large pressure rollers,
before mentioned, which move in unison with the traversing chain.
These rollers have their surfaces well supplied with water, and also run
above and below the moulds one against the other, thus maintaining a
clean surface, and the sharpness of the corners of the clay in the
moulds is defined by the smallness of the diameter of the guide
rollers, which are caused to revolve much quicker than the large
pressure rollers.
Immediately the moulds filled with clay have been withdrawn by the
intermittent motion of their driving drums from between the pressure
rollers they are subjected to a sprinkling of hot sand which is contained
in two vessels, one above and the other below the line of moulds. This
hot sand not only assists in absorbing any superfluous moisture con-
tained in the newly filled mould, but also gives a stiffness and solidity to
the bricks as they are successively presented to the sprinkling process.
The sand may be heated by a fire placed under the lower box, during
which it is kept agitated by means of a spiral creeper or other equivalent.
The bricks contained in the moulds are now ready for being discharged
therefrom on to a waggon or platform moving transversely to and in
unison with the intermittent motion of the traversing moulds, therefore
so soon as the under and lower surfaces of the bricks have been sanded,
and a stoppage in the traversing moulds takes place, two sets of five
moulds are in position for having their contents discharged on to the
traversing transverse platform simultaneously with the filling in of the
moulds passing through the space of the funnel, and pressure and guide
rolls.

page_text: The process of discharging the bricks from the moulds is effected by
means of plungers fitting exactly to the square of the mould, and which
are actuated by an arrangement of toggle-jointed levers and a catch
faller gearing into and worked by the division formed between the
moulds, which as they move forward causes the plungers to clean the 5
moulds and leave the bricks on the traversing carriage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANK
WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, of
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Frank Wirth, Her special
licence that I, the said Frank Wirth, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frank Wirth, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND SIMILAR OBJECTS," (a commu-
nication from Gustav Boudriot, a person resident at Hagen, in the
Empire of Germany,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frank Wirth, 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.

page_text: may receive the clay which is brought to and emptied into the same by
suitable conveyers. The central part of the mill D" below the funnel D'
is made octagonal and the part below this D square and as large as
the framing will allow for the purpose of receiving stones and other
pernicious substances. This lower part D is provided with doors E, E,
(see Figs. 1 and 5) by which the accumulation of stones and other sub-
stances can be removed from the mill.
A perpendicular shaft F supported by suitable bearings and centrally
situated within the mill is provided with radiating cutters, and also rake
knives G, G, which when revolving pass through a grate H fixed in the
upper part of the square formation of the mill at D
The passage of
the rake knives along the grate separates the stones and other sub.
stances from the clay. The clay cutting knives are securely fastened to
the shaft F, and project therefrom at an angle of about thirty degrees,
and from which again smaller knives project; the combination of knives
thus formed whilst revolving thoroughly mix and cut up the clay during
the time it is passing through the octagonal portion D" of the mill. The
grate bars H form annular rings round the central shaft or spindle F
(see Fig. 5), with the exception of the space H' which is left open so
that stones or other substances in the clay operated on by the knives
may be ejected through the same on to the square bottom part of the
mill D. The section of the grate bars has a conical formation which
prevents them being choked up with stones. The prongs of the
revolving rake pass between the annular spaces of the grate bars b, the
action of which not only cuts the clay but forces it through the same,
and also removes and ejects the stones or other substances therefrom and
passes them through the space H¹ on to the platform opposite the door
E, from and through which they are cleared from the mill. Underneath
the annular spaces of the grate H a funnel or thoroughfare L is made,
and so constructed that the prepared clay as it exudes from the grate is
passed down such funnel direct into moulds C supported on and tra-
velling with the endless chain stretched round the driving and carrier
drums B' and B. The endless or continuous chain is composed of brick
moulds cast together in transverse sets, say, of five moulds to each set,
though a greater or less number may be employed.
These moulds are bottomless, consisting only of side walls with pro-
jecting flanges on the outer sides and at front and back. The projecting
flanges e on front and back touch cach other (see Figs. 1 and 3), where

page_text: the chain forms a straight line to prevent any clay falling between the
same. The projecting flanges d at the sides (see Figs. 2 and 3) are made
with recesses g for the purpose hereafter mentioned. M is a plate attached
to the frame A just below the upper part of the mould chain C and
below the funnel L forming a bottom for the clay which it presses into
the moulds. And to support the mould chain C in a straight line in
front of the plate M, two rollers N, N, are fixed in suitable bearings on
the frame A, one above and one below the mould chain C through which
the clay is pressed into the moulds.
Two smaller rollers P, P, likewise situated above and below the
mould chain C are arranged in front of and close to the rollers N and
bear hard upon the top and against the bottom of the moulds into
which the clay is pressed firmly and any surplus clay at the top and
bottom of the moulds removed.
The forward drum B receives a regular motion and gives thereby a
continuous motion to the endless mould chain C. The lower part of
the chain C passes through a suitable tank O filled with water,
whereby the moulds are always washed and cleaned before the same
pass between the funnel plate L and the bottom plate M. The lower
roller N runs likewise in a tank Q containing water, and a stream of
water is directed upon the upper roller N. Any surplus water is
pressed out by the smaller pressure rollers P, P.
Near the middle of the machine, in front of the pressure rollers N
and P, the sand-sprinkling mechanism is arranged; the same consists
of an inner box R surrounded by an outer shell S. In the central part
an opening T closed on the sides is arranged, through which the upper
part of the mould chain C with the moulds filled with clay passes.
To the top of the inner box a funnel U is fitted to fill the same with
sand. In the bottom of this inner sand box R a roller (see Figs. 1
and 4), having right and left-handed wings on its circumference is
arranged to keep the sand in motion and move the same towards the
middle of the box. In the top and bottom of the central opening T
elongated holes of a length equal to the middle of the mould chain C
are made, and close to these holes fan wheels f,f, are arranged in the
inside of the sand box R; the outer casing S is supplied with steam
through the pipe K (see Fig. 4), and the pipe at the bottom carries
off the condensed water. By this arrangement the sand in the box R

page_text: will always be kept warm and the heated sand will be sprinkled upon
the top and against the under side of the clay in the mould chain C,
which will at the same time more readily absorb any excess of water
in the clay.
After that part of the mould chain C which has been filled with clay
has passed through the sand box and has been sprinkled with warm
sand, as above described, the further motion of the mould chain C
brings such moulds filled and sprinkled under the pressing-out
mechanism (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3). The same consists of plates or
plungers V attached to a cross bar W provided with rollers m, m, on
its ends, guide rolls n, n, projecting upwards, and arms p, p, projecting
downwards in a line with the guide rods n, n. The guide rods n, n,
move in guides q attached to guide rods or frames X moving or sliding
freely horizontally in suitable bearings w fast to the frame A. The
rollers m, m, on the ends of the cross bar W are fitted and move in and
upon frames Y, which are provided with V shaped grooves S open at
the top. The downward projecting arms p, p, rest upon the projecting
side flanges d of the mould chain C (see Figs. 2 and 3). The number
of the plungers V corresponds with the number of moulds in each link
of the mould chain C and are made double, so as to fit into the moulds
of two links at the same time and operation, and, as shewn in the
Drawing, consists consequently of ten plungers attached to the frame or
cross bar W.
The operation of this pressing out mechanism is as follows:-When
the mould chain comes directly under the plungers V the recesses or
notches in the projecting side flanges & are directly under the arms p,p,
which having previously rested upon the flanges & fall into these recesses
or notches g, g, and bring the rollers m, m, on the ends of the cross
bar W into the V shaped grooves S in the frames Y. The further pro-
gress of the chain C will cause the plungers V with their cross frame W
to move with it, causing the plungers to move at the same time down-
wards, so as to press the clay which has been filled into the forms or
moulds out of the same, and then to move upward again out of the forms
or moulds, in consequence of the ends of the cross frame W being forced
through the V shaped recesses s in the frames Y during the forward
motion of the mould chain C, and the plungers V, and cross bar W.
During this forward downward and upward motion of the plungers V
these plungers are caused to move perpendicularly downwards and

page_text: upwards on account of their arms p, p, being held fast, guided in the
recesses g, g, in the side flanges d of the mould chain C, and their guide
rods n, n, being guided in the guides q, q, on the frames X, which latter
are during this operation caused to slide horizontally in their fixed
bearings w. In the end of the frames X levers Z are arranged turning
in suitable bearings v fast to the framing A, and operated at their lower
ends by projections x fast on the side surfaces of the chain drum B.
As soon as the plungers V have moved out of the forms in the mould
chain C, as above described, the projections x on the drum B will act
against the lower ends of the lever Z, causing thereby their upper ends to
act upon the frames X, so as to move the same, and consequently the cross
frame or bar W, together with the plungers V attached backward again
into their original position ready for the next operation, the rollers m, m,
passing during this operation over the curved surface between the
openings of the V shaped recesses s on the frames Y to support the cross
frame W and plungers V. Below the pressing out mechanism, between
upper and lower part of the mould chain C, rails u are attached to
the framing A at right angles to the chain C, upon which suitable
carriages R¹ are placed to receive the bricks or moulded clay as soon as
the same are pressed out of the forms or moulds. These carriages are
moved by suitable bearings driven by a toothed wheel attached to the
side of the chain drum B, and so constructed by leaving out one or more
teeth as to cause the carriage R¹ to stop during the time the pressed clay
or bricks are delivered out of the moulds by the above mentioned
mechanism, and deposited upon said carriage.
the
Instead of heating the sand in the box R by introducing steam into
the space between said box R and the outer casing S a gate for fire may
be arranged in the lower part of the outer box or casing S, and the
sand heated by the circulation of the flame and gases around the sand
box R.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is,―
1st. The endless mould chain C formed of links, cach link consisting
of a number of bottomless moulds or forms cast together, and provided
with projecting end flanges e and side flanges d in the manner substan-
tially as set forth.
2ndly. In combination with the bottomless mould chain C the fixed
plate M below said chain, and the presser rollers N, N, and P, P, situated

page_text: above and below the mould chain C, constructed and arranged in relation
with the clay mill substantially in the manner and for the purpose
specified.
3dly. The sand box R provided with rollers or fan wheels 7 and ƒ, f,
and central opening T, through which the mould chain C passes, in com-
bination with a surrounding casing S supplied with steam or heat, the
whole being constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as set forth.
4thly. The plungers V attached to a cross bar. or frame W, and pro-
vided with arms p and guide rods n in combination with frames Y
provided with V shaped grooves S and frames X moving horizontally in
suitable bearings w, the whole being constructed, arranged, and operating
as set forth; and for the purpose as substantially described.
5ly. In combination with the frames X, the levers Z turning in
suitable bearing attached to the frame A, and acted upon by pro- 1
jections a fast on the sides of the chain drum B, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
6ly. In combination with a mould chain C and the pressing out
mechanism, arranged and constructed as above described, a carriage R¹
running at right angles with said mould chain C upon suitable rails u 2
attached to the framing A, arranged and constructed substantially in
the manner and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hercunto
set my hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- 2
four.
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)