IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF EARTHY CLAYS FOR RENDERING THEM BETTER ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Pickwell, of Lowgate, Kingston upon Hull, in
the County of York, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF EARTHY CLAYS FOR RENDERING THEM BETTER ADAPTED
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"3
Sealed the 30th September 1879, and dated the 2nd April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Pickwell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1879.
ROBERT PICKWELL, of Lowgate, Kingston upon Hull, in the County of York,
Civil Engineer.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF EARTHY CLAYS For
RENDERING THEM BETTER ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR,"
The improvements relate to the treatment of clay or brick earth by mixing there-
with in any suitable manner, or by the use of and in combination with machinery
hereafter described, of certain substances, being sulphate of lime, sulphate of barytes,
carbonate of barytes, and silica, in such manner and proportions as to admit of the
production of bricks of any desired tint or colour from red to white on being burnt,
the proper proportion of each ingredient being predetermined by experimental
trials. The said substances, which may be used and mixed singly or combined with
the clay or brick earth, are to be thoroughly incorporated therewith by grinding or
tearing and passage through a mill constructed as follows:-Said mill consists of
one or more cylindrical barrels laid horizontally by preference, and supplied with
upper feed hole or holes at one end and suitable opening or openings at the other end
and for the escape of the material treated; in said cylinder are fixed cutters arranged
cross ways. Upon a shaft which runs from end to end through the said cylindrical
barrel is fixed a number of arms or beaters made to revolve or otherwise, said arms
being so arranged as to form a spiral shaped screw round the said shaft. At the
exit end of the shaft is a propeller for sending out the material treated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Robert Pickwell in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th October 1879.
ROBERT PICKWELL, of Lowgate, Kingston upon Hull, in the County of York,
Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF EARTHY CLAYS FOR
RENDERING THEM BETTER ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR."
39
The improvements relate to the treament of clay or brick earth by mixing there-
with in any suitable manner, or by the use of and in combination with machinery
hereafter described, of certain substances, being sulphate of lime, sulphate of barytes,
carbonate of barytes, and silica, in such manner and proportions as to admit of the
production of bricks of any desired tint or colour from red to white on being burnt,
the proper proportion of each ingredient being predetermined by experimental
trials. The said substances, which may be used and mixed singly or combined with
the clay or brick earth, are to be thoroughly incorporated therewith by grinding or
tearing and passage through a mill constructed as follows:-Said mill consists of
one or more cylindrical barrels laid horizontally by preference, and supplied with
upper feed hole or holes at one end and suitable opening or openings at the other,
and for the escape of the material treated in said cylinder are fixed cutters arranged
crossways. Upon a shaft which runs from end to end through the said cylindrical
barrel is fixed a number of arms or beaters made to revolve or otherwise, said arms
being so arranged as to form a spiral shaped screw round the said shaft; at the exit
end of the shaft is a propeller for sending out the material treated. The accom-
panying Drawing will serve to illustrate a convenient mode of performing the
Invention by machinery. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of mill and gearing; Fig. 2,
end view of gearing and pulley; Fig. 3, sectional plan of mill and gearing; Fig. 4,
front and side view of cutter. In all the Figures like letters refer to like parts.
A is the mill; A', removable upper cover thereto; B, feed hopper; c, stationary
knives or cutters fixed to bottom of mill as shown; K, revolving shaft, on which is
keyed the rotary knives or cutters H, arranged helically; E, gearing; D, driving
pulley; F, disc furnished with pins G as shown. The operation is as follows:-
The clayey earth mixed with the various substances as previously described is
introduced by the hopper into the mill, where it is ground, torn, and mixed, and
by the helical arrangement of the cutters forced against the disintegrating disc F,
which is revolved at great velocity, and by means of its pius G thoroughly disinte-
grates the mixed earth, which is delivered underneath and at the sides ready for
use in brick making, or it can be passed again and again through the mill.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Pickwell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of October, A.D. 1879.
ROBERT PICKWELL
Gol