Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 15th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th Sept., 1887.
I, WILLIAM HENRY LINDSAY of 14 South Wharf, Paddington Basin in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The moulds are arranged around a cylinder in pairs at the opposite ends of
diameters. The moveable bottoms of the two moulds of each pair are connected
together so that the act of compressing a block in one mould causes the finished block
in the outer mould to be delivered. The cylinder has a step by step revolving motion
given to it and the moulds are thus brought in turn opposite to a measuring box
which forms the lower part of a hopper. A plunger driven from a crank or eccentric
on the main shaft works to and fro in this box and thereby at each stroke forces the
contents into one of the moulds. The step by step motion is given to the cylinder by
means of a ratchet actuated by the plunger. The cylinder carrying the moulds is not
connected rigidly to the frame of the machine but is free to slide to and fro on the
bed, its motion being restrained by springs.. These springs are preferably spiral
springs having one end abutting against the frame of the machine and the other
against a crosshead or crossheads fixed to rods carried by the cylinder or its support.
This arrangement lessens the shock and chance of breakage and equalizes
compressions required by different qualities of coal dust which vary considerably―
The springs are connected with a break which acts on the fly wheel when undue
pressure is exerted.
1000

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY LINDSAY of 14 South Wharf Paddington Basin in the County
of Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
imanner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The moulds are as in machines heretofore used arranged around a cylinder in pairs
at the opposite ends of diameters. The moveable bottoms of the two moulds of each
pair are connected together so that the act of compressing a block in one mould causes
the finished block in the other mould to be delivered.
The cylinder has a step by step revolving motion given to it and the moulds are
thus brought in turn opposite to a measuring box which forms the lower part of a
hopper.
A plunger driven from a crank or eccentric on the main shaft works to and fro in
this box and thereby at each stroke forces the contents into one of the moulds. The
step by step motion is given to the cylinder by means of a ratchet actuated by the
plunger.
My improvement in machines of the above kind is that in place of connecting the
bearings of the mould cylinder rigidly to the frame of the machine I make it to slide
to and fro on a bed, its motion being restrained by springs. These springs are
preferably spiral springs having one end abutting against the frame of the machine
and the other against a cross head or crossheads fixed to rods carried by the cylinder
or its support. This arrangement lessens the shock and chance of breakage and
equalises compressions required by different qualities of coal dust which vary
considerably. The springs may be connected with a break which acts on the fly
wheel when undue pressure is exerted.
Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 of the drawings hereunto annexed shew various views of a
machine constructed as above described for moulding bricks or blocks.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of the machine. Figure 2 is an elevation of
part of the opposite side. Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section and Figure 4 is
a plan.
In Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 A is the cylinder with four moulds around its circum-
ference and with the moveable bottoms of the moulds which are opposite to one
another connected together in the ordinary manner. B is a plunger worked to and
fro by a crank C on the main shaft D. E is a chamber just in front of the foremost
end of the plunger and the cylinder A. The material to be compressed falls into this
chamber from a hopper F above it.
Each time that the plunger is moved-backwards away from the cylinder a quarter
turn is given to the cylinder by a hook G. The stem of this hook is jointed to the
lower end of a swinging arm H which at its upper end can turn on a fixed pin H'-

page_text: the arm is coupled by a link I to the rear end of the plunger. A balance weight G₁
holds the hook against pins J which are carried by a wheel fixed on the axis of the
cylinder.
When the plunger is drawn back the hook catches one of these pins and gives a
quarter turn to the cylinder.
A spring pawl K engaging with one or other of four notches J' in the circumference
of the wheel prevents the cylinder from being revolved too far. A locking bolt L
worked to and fro by a crank M is made to enter one or other of four recesses in a
disc N fixed on the axis of the cylinder and is so made to lock and retain the cylinder
just before the plunger in making its forward stroke enters the mouth of one or other
of the moulds. A slide O, which also serves as an agitator is also made to close the
passage from the hopper F into the chamber as the plunger makes its forward stroke
and to open the passage as the plunger makes its backward stroke. The slide O is for
this purpose jointed to a lever P which is acted on by a link on the slide block which
carries the plunger.
The bearings for the axes of the cylinder A are formed in a block R which is free
to slide to and fro on a horizontal bed S which forms part of the fixed frame of the
machine.
Two rods Teach having a semi-circular bend in them embrace the block R and
their parallel ends are led back through the portion of the frame in which the bearings
for the main shaft are carried and through coiled springs U to a crosshead V to which
they are secured. The springs U pressing against the crosshead V cause the block R
to be drawn by the rods T constantly up to a fixed stop so that normally the block R
which carries the cylinder A is maintained in one fixed position-but when the
plunger is compressing the material into any one of the moulds the springs yield and
allow the cylinder to move away from the main shaft if the pressure upon the material
in the mould exceeds the desired limit.
Apparatus made as above described is especially useful for compressing coal dust or
small coal into solid blocks either in a cold state admixed with lime and moistened
with sugar as described in the Specification of an application for Patent made by me
and bearing even date herewith No. 13985 or in a heated state with a small percentage
of sugar added to it as described in an application for Patent made by me
No. 1684-1887.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for moulding bricks or blocks in which the material to be moulded
is compressed by a reciprocating plunger into moulds ranged around the circumference
of a rotating cylinder making the cylinder capable of sliding away from the plunger
and restraining it by springs substantially as described.
2. The construction of apparatus for moulding bricks or blocks substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.