IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Hirst, of Dewsbury, in the County of York,
Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING
MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Hirst at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1879.
ARTHUR HIRST, of Dewsbury, in the County of York, Machine Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in brick making machines of the class
known as "plastic" machines, and comprises improved appliances for measuring
the quantity of clay required and for conveying same to the moulds and plungers,
which compress and form the brick.
A machine according to this my said Invention comprises a feed hopper and
worm, as ordinary; these supply the requisite quantity of clay to a mould or recess
formed in a slide block. The latter is then moved forward until the clay therein
is under a plunger, which forces the clay out of the slide and into a mould thereunder,
in which the clay is compressed. The plunger is then withdrawn; the slide retreats
for fresh supply of clay. The compressed clay is now raised out of the mould by
an under piston. On the slide again advancing with fresh supply of clay its end
comes in contact with and pushes the compressed clay or brick out of the machine.
A blank portion of the slide act as a damper, shutting off the supply of clay when
the recess in the slide is not under the feed hopper and worm. Motion is imparted
to the slide by means of wheel and slotted connecting rod, the slot giving the
necessary dwell to the slide. The plunger is worked by guide rods and eccentric,
as ordinary; the under piston, which also forms the bottom of the pressing mould
when lifting the compressed clay out of the mould is operated by a lever and
tappet. The recess in slide plunger, mould, and under piston may be in duplicate so
as to make two bricks at one operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Hirst in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th March
1880.
25
ARTHUR HIRST, of Dewsbury, in the County of York, Machine Maker.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in brick making machines of the class
known as "plastic" machines, and comprises improved appliances for measuring
the quantity of clay required, and for conveying same to the moulds and plungers,
which compress and form the brick.
A machine according to this my said Invention comprises a feed hopper and
worm, as ordinary; these supply the requisite quantity of clay to a mould or recess
formed in a slide block. The latter is then moved forward until the clay therein
is under a plunger, which forces the clay out of the slide and into a mould there-
under, in which the clay is compressed. The plunger is then withdrawn; tho
slide retreats for fresh supply of clay. The compressed clay is now raised out of
the mould by an under piston. On the slide again advancing with fresh supply
of clay its end comes in contact with and pushes the compressed clay or brick out
of the machine. A blank portion of the slide acts as a damper, shutting off tho
supply of clay when the recess in the slide is not under the feed hopper and worm.
Motion is imparted to the slide by means of wheel and slotted connecting rod, the
slot giving the necessary dwell to the slide. The plunger is worked by guide
rods and eccentric, as ordinary; the under piston, which also forms the bottom of
the pressing mould when lifting the compressed clay out of the mould, is operated
by a lever and tappet. The recess in slide plunger, mould, and under piston may
be in duplicate, so as to make two bricks at one operation.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention I will now proceed
to describe the same in detail, and in order that the same may be fully understood
I have hereunto annexed three Sheets of Drawings, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference. Like letters refer to like parts in the several
views or figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an oblique view of a machine having my improvements applied thereto;
Fig. 2 is a section showing slide block mould; Fig. 3 shows apparatus for operating
slide block; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of slide block and shafting. At 1 is a
feed hopper containing worm or other ordinary appliance, by means of which a
supply of clay (plastic or moist) is fed into the recesses of the slide block 2; the
latter is then moved forward until in position under the plungers 3, 3, attached to
cross head 4, and operated by rods 5, 5, which plungers 3, 3, forco the clay out of
the recesses in the slide block and into moulds thereunder at 6, 6, in which it is
compressed; the plungers 3, 3, are then raised and withdrawn, and the slide block 2
retreats to its original position (see Fig. 2) for a further supply of clay from the
hopper. Meanwhile the under pistons 7, 7, are by the tappet 8 (on the bottom
shaft 9) and the arms 10, 10, suspended by links 11, 11, and balanced lever 11ª, 114,
raised so forcing and lifting the compressed clay or moulded bricks 12, 12, to the
position shown at Fig. 2. The slide block will now be caused to again advance,
whereon its end 13 will push the moulded brick to the platform 14, clear of the
going parts of the machine, and ready for removal. The blank portion 15 of tho
slide block 2 is under the hopper during the time the machine is forming and
delivering the moulded brick. The required motions and gear for driving the
machine are as follows:-
At 16, 17, are loose and fast pulleys on shaft 18, pinion 19 gearing with wheel 20
on shaft 21, on which shaft is pinion 22 gearing with wheel 23 on axis of feed
worm in bonner 24

page_text: Referring now to shaft 21, on its other end is pinion 25 (seo Fig. 4)
which gears with and drives the wheel 26, on the stud 27 of which is slotted
lever 28 (see Fig. 3). As the wheel 28 revolves the end of slot nearest its fulcrum
acts during a portion of the revolution on the friction roller 29 on pin of crank 30
moving the latter to angle shown by line a, b, and giving partial rotation to the
shaft 31, and by crank 32 keyed on shaft 31 and by link 33 moving the sliding
block inwards until its moulds 35, 35, are under the plungers 3, 3, and above the
pressing moulds 6, 6, the further rotation of the wheel 26 will carry the lever 28
along until the end of its slot at 36 comes in contact with friction roller 29, which
during another portion of the revolution of wheel 26 will draw back crank 30 to its
original position, thus reversing the partial rotation of the shaft 31, bringing back
the crank 32, link 33, and slide block 2 that the latter will now again be under the
feed hopper to receive another supply of clay from which to make the next two
bricks. The diagrams show the position of the wheel 20 and lever 28, giving the
requisite dwells for the feed, compressing, and discharge of the moulded and pressed
bricks. The pressure dies 3, 3, are drawn down by means of the guide rods 5, 5,
and cross head 4 through the tappet 8 acting on the cross rail 34, to which the
lower ends of the guide rods 5, 5, are attached, such dies 3, 3, being afterwards
raised through the action of the weighted lever 36, there being a wiper tappet 37
on the shaft 9 for the purpose of acting on the break 39 should the lever 30 from
any causes fail to act and raise the dies as desired.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would have it understood that I lay no claim to the apparatus for
gearing or operating the general going parts of the machine, as such may be varied
or modified in many ways; what I do claim as my Invention is,―
Firstly. The sliding block 2 in connection and combination with the presser
dies 3, 3, and lifting dies 7, substantially as herein described.
Secondly. I clain the use of the recess plate 2 in combination with the slotted.l
lever 28 for operating the same, as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Hirst, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
ARTHUR HIRST. (L.S.)