IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING MACHINERY
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Ward, John Ward, and William Ward,
the younger, all of Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING MACHINERY”
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING MACHINERY"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Ward, John
Ward, and William Ward at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 8th July 1875.
We, HENRY WARD, JOHN WARD, and WILLIAM WARD, the younger,
all of Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK MAKING MACHINERY," to be
as follows:-
Our Invention relates to machinery for moulding and pressing bricks
into suitable forms from clay or other dry plastic or semi-plastic material,
and the improvements are as hereafter described.
Between suitable framework we provide a table over which are fixed

page_text: rammers or pressers in a similar manner to those used in hydraulic
cylinders. At the end of each rammer or presser is arranged a suitable
form for pressing the brick.
In the table is provided under each rammer or presser a mould of
suitable form, into which the material required for the formation of the
brick is deposited.
On the herein-before mentioned table is provided a box or measure in
which the clay is first passed from a hopper of ordinary construction.
By this arrangement the amount of clay can be regulated according to
the size of brick required. Whilst the box or measure is being filled the
brick is being pressed in each mould.
An intermittent reciprocating motion is imparted to the box or
measure by a cam motion or other equivalent means.
Within each mould in the table is provided another plunger which
is employed for forcing the brick out of the mould. The required
motion is given to these plungers from cams, eccentrics, or other
equivalent means.
In order to prevent breakage of the machine we, by preference, fill
the space above the upper rammer or presser within the cylinder with
water or other equivalent fluid, and in a convenient position on each
cylinder is provided a safety valve on which are used weights in
preference to springs. When any undue pressure is put on the rammer
or presser the fluid contained in the space in the cylinder opens the
safety valve and is allowed to run out; by so doing the pressure is taken
off the rammer or presser, and which is allowed to move back into the
space orignally occupied by the fluid.
Above each upper rammer or presser cylinder may be provided other
sets of moulding apparatus arranged in the same manner as herein-
before described; by this arrangement the upper and lower sets of
moulding apparatus may be driven from the same gearing, and so
arranged that as the lower apparatus is pressing and forming the brick,
the formed brick is being removed from the mould in the upper
apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Henry
Ward, John Ward, and William Ward, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
WARD, JOHN WARD, and WILLIAM WARD, the younger, all of Leeds,
in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Henry Ward, John Ward, and William
Ward, the younger, Her special liccuce that we, the said Henry Ward,
John Ward, and William Ward, the younger, our executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry Ward, John
Ward, and William Ward, the younger, our 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 BRICK MAKING
MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Henry Ward, John Ward, and William Ward, the younger,
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
one of our 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 on or before the Twenty-fourth day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
our
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henry Ward, John Ward, and
William Ward, the younger, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters of reference marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates to machinery for moulding and pressing bricks

page_text: into suitable forms from clay or other dry plastic or semi-plastic
material, and the improvements are as hereafter described.
Between suitable framework we provide a table, over which are fixed
one or more cylinders; in each cylinder is fitted so as to slide freely
rammers or pressers in a similar manner to those used in hydraulic
cylinders. At the end of each rammer or presser is arranged a suitable
form for pressing the brick.
In the table is provided under each rammer or presser a mould of
suitable form, into which the material required for the formation of the
brick is deposited.
On the herein-before mentioned table is provided a box or measure in
which the clay is first passed from a hopper of ordinary construction.
By this arrangement the amount of clay can be regulated according to
the size of the brick required. Whilst the box or measure is being filled
the brick is being pressed in each mould.
"
An intermittent reciprocating motion is imparted to the box or
measure by a cam motion or other equivalent means.
Within each mould in the table is provided another plunger which
is employed for forcing the brick out of the mould. The required
motion is given to these plungers from cams, eccentrics, or other
equivalent means.
In order to prevent breakage of the machine, we by preference fill
the space above the upper rammer or presser within the cylinder with
water or other equivalent fluid, and in a convenient position on cach
cylinder is provided a safety valve, on which are used weights in
preference to springs. When any undue pressure is put on the rammer
or presser the fluid contained in the space in the cylinder opens the
safety valve and is allowed to run out; by so doing the pressure is taken
off the rammer or presser, and which is allowed to move back into the
space originally occupied by the fluid.
Above each upper rammer or presser cylinder may be provided other
sets of moulding apparatus arranged in the same manner as the herein-
before described. By this arrangement the upper and lower sets of
moulding apparatus may be driven from the same gearing, and so
arranged that as the lower apparatus is pressing and forming the brick,

page_text: '
to the plunger i by means of the cam m, rotary motion being imparted
thereto through suitable gearing and driving pulleys n.
In order to regulate the thickness of the brick or other form we
provide the wedge o which is actuated by means of the screw p and
hand wheel q. It will be readily understood that as the wedge o is
withdrawn the plunger i will drop, causing greater space to be left in
the mould g at r, and vice versa.
In order to prevent breakage of the machine we fill the space in the
cylinder c above the upper rammer d with water or other equivalent
fluid; this water may be forced therein by means of a hydraulic pump
of ordinary construction.
:
To prevent undue pressure being put upon the machine, we provide
the safety valve & which is of ordinary construction and in com-
munication with the cylinder c; this valve is caused to lift when any
undue pressure takes place and allows the fluid to pass from the
cylinder, by so doing the pressure is taken off the, rammer or presser d
which is allowed to move back into the space originally occupied by tho
fluid..
Above each rammer or presser cylinder c may be provided other sets
of moulding apparatus, as shewn, which are of a similar construction to
the herein-before described as it will be seen. t is a cylinder similar to
the cylinder c; u is a rammer or presser similar to the rammer or
The table w,
presser d. The form is in every way like the form c.
mould x,
and plunger y are respectively-like-the-table-b,-mould-g,-and-
plunger i. For the purpose of supporting the plunger y in position
during the filling and pressing operation, we provide the catches which
are knocked from under the plunger y by means of the rising of the
cylinder c which also comes in contact with the plunger y causing
it to rise and forces the brick or other form out of the mould x after
being previously pressed therein.
'
In order to give motion to the cylinder for the purpose of pressing
and forming the brick, we provide the eccentrics 1 from which motion is
transmitted to the cylinder, t (containing the rammer or presser ) by
means of the connecting rods 2 and cross heads 3. A similar motion is
imparted to the lower cylinder c, either from other eccentrics or cranks,
motion being transmitted from the crank pins 4, connecting rods 5, and
cross head 6.

page_text: By having the motion of the upper rammer or presser transmitted
through other eccentrics or cranks than those of the lower plungers or
rammers a difference of stroke can be obtained.
We will now proceed to describe the filling apparatus:-For the
purpose of filling the upper and lower moulds we provide the hopper 7
from which the clay is passed into the boxes 8 and 8'; 8' is used for
filling the mould x, and 8 for filling the mould g, but previous to being
conveyed into the mould g the clay is passed down the spout 9 into the
box h by which it is conveyed into the mould g. The required sliding
motion is given to the boxes by means of the connecting rods and
levers 11.
It may be readily understood that in the position shewn in Drawings
the boxes and 8 are in the position of being filled, and the box 8' is
empting itself into the mould x. Behind the box is provided a
plate 12 which passes under the spout 9 and prevents the clay running
out that is being deposited there by the box 8 during the time the
box is empting itself into the mould g. These boxes are also
employed for removing the brick or other form after being raised out of
the mould as in machines of ordinary construction. The boxes may be
heated by steam or water by any convienient known means.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and shewn by
Drawings how the same may be carried into effect, we would have it
understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise limits, details,
or configuration of the various parts we have explained and shewn, but
what we do claim and desire to be secured to us as our improvements in
brick making machinery is,-
First. The arrangement, construction, and application of the various
rammers or pressers, substantially as and for purposes herein set
forth.
Second. The means employed for lubricating the bottom plungers,
substantially as herein set forth.
Third. The arrangement and application of the various parts for
imparting and transmitting motion to the machine, substantially as
herein set forth.
Fourth. The means employed for preventing the breakage of the
machine from over pressure, substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: Fifth. The arrangement and combination of the various parts for
feeding the clay, substantially as herein set forth.
Sixth. The arrangement and combination of the various parts with
modifications of the same, forming the machine for forming and pressing
the bricks and other forms, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Ward, for myself and on
behalf of the said John Ward and William Ward, the younger,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six.