Improvements in Machines for Making Bricks, Tiles, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1898-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM RAINY OMOHUNDRO, Attorney-at-Law,
1515, Monadnock Building, Chicago, U.S.A.]
Improvements in Machines for Making Bricks, Tiles, and the like.
I, JOHN LIDDLE, of 154, St. Vincent Street, in the County of the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
This invention comprises certain new and useful improvements in machines
for making bricks, tiles and the like, and it relates more particularly to that
class of machines in which the clay is pressed between two opposing plungers
having differential movements to form the brick, which is then discharged. This
invention consists of two important parts, viz., the machine proper and the mold
for use in connection with the machine. While it is desirable to use the machine
and mold together, it will be understood that the machine is capable of use with
other molds, and, likewise, the mold may be used in other machines. I will
first describe the machine without referring to the particular construction of the
mold and follow this with a detailed description of the mold.
In machines of this general character it is desirable to provide for certain
adjustments which can be easily and readily changed to enable the machine to
operate upon clays of different kinds and to make bricks of the same size and
weight or of different sizes and weight, as desired, out of different clays, it being
a well known fact in the art that more of some kinds of clay is necessary to form
a standard brick than of others. My invention therefore, has to deal primarily
with this feature, which necessarily involves important changes in the general
construction of brick machines.
A primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide simple and effective
means for easily and quickly adjusting the plungers for the purpose of making
bricks out of different kinds of clay, which adjustment may be effected without
modifying the action of the plungers on the clay and thereby insuring the form-
ation of bricks in any desired size and of the proper weight and density. A
further object of the invention, also of primary importance is to provide positive
and simple means for producing the proper movement of the plungers to effect
the desired compression of the clay this compression being accomplished during
one complete operation of the machine and comprising several different inove-
ments of the plungers. This invention also has for its object to simplify and
improve the general and detail construction of machines of this character, to pro-
mote their efficiency, to simplify their operation and to enable them to be
constructed and operated inexpensively and with the best results. With these
and other ends in view, the invention consists in the peculiar construction,
arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described. The operating
mechanism is supported in a suitable frame comprising the sides, a top piece
connecting said sides, a base and the inclined supports. The particular construc-
tion and arrangement of the frame is not essential and may be varied to comply

page_text: with different conditions when desired. Face plates are secured on the sides to
constitute guides for the side bars, which operate vertically between the sides of
the frame and are maintained in their proper relative position by the face plates.
The lower plunger and the upper plunger are carried by the lower crosshead
and the upper crosshead respectively. The lower crosshead is dove-tailed into
the lower plunger, being provided with a tenon which fits snugly in a mortise in
the bottom of the plunger, and the upper plunger is dove-tailed into the upper
crosshead, this plunger being provided with a tenon which fits snugly into the
mortise in the crosshead. By this manner of securing the plungers to the cross-
heads, I am enabled to arrange them quickly in their proper relative positions,
and in such a manner that they will operate properly, it being of great impor-
tance to have the plungers move in a straight vertical line so that they will
enter the mold evenly and properly.
These cross-heads, are secured to, and carried by, vertically movable side bars,
which operate between the sides of the frame. The plungers and side bars are
operated vertically by means of a toggle which is actuated from a crank-shaft
suitably connected with said toggle. The lower member of the toggle is con-
nected to a shaft journalled in suitable bearings in the upper crosshead, and the
upper member of the toggle is connected and carried by a shaft journalled in
bearings in the upper ends of the side bars. The members of the toggle are
pivotally joined together by means of a pin, this pin being the middle pivot pin
of the toggle. The lower member of the toggle is, therefore, connected to the
upper plunger, while the upper member of the toggle is connected to the upper
parts of the side bars, whereby the movement of the side bars control the move-
ment of the upper plunger as well as the movement of the lower plunger, but
the movements of these plungers with relation to each other are differential in
their practical operation.
The crank shaft journalled in suitable bearings in the inclined supports of
the frame, and it has the crank arms which are connected at their outer ends
by the crank pin. This crank-shaft is operated from the main shaft, which
carries a belt pulley and a pinion, said pinion meshing with a gear on the drive-
shaft. The drive-shaft also carries a pinion, which meshes with the large gear
on the crank shaft. A pitman lever is pivotally secured to the middle pivot pin
of the toggle, and its rear end is pivotally secured to the crank pin connecting
the crank arm of the crank shaft. The rear end of this pitman lever is provided
with a socket having inclined side walls, and a box is arranged on the crank pin
and secured in the socket by means of the plate, which plate is fastened to the
pitman lever by means of bolts or other devices. As hereinafter described, it is
desirable that the pitman lever should have a certain adjustment and for this
purpose and also to make a secure connection between the pitman lever and the
pin I provide wedges which are arranged between the inclined sides of the socket
and the sides of the box, and are adjusted and held in place by means of the
screws which operate through the plate, whereby these wedges can be adjusted
so as to secure the pitman lever on the pin in its proper position.
When the parts of the machine are re-adjusted for the purpose of operating
on the different kinds of clay or to make bricks of a different size, it may be
desirable, as a part of this re-adjustment, to change in a greater or less degree.
the distance between the crank pin and the pivot which can be readily
accomplished by moving the wedges in the proper manner, that is to say, by
tightening one wedge and loosening the other to shift the position of the box
in the socket of the pitman lever. The effect of this will be to adjust the opera-
tion of the pitman lever in accordance with the operation of the plunger. This
is an important feature of the invention, not only because it enables the parts
to be adjusted so as to vary the operation of the mechanism as occasion requires,
but also to provide for any possible defects in the construction and arrangement
of these and associated parts of the machine which are liable to occur in the
course of manufacture.

page_text: The pitman lever is arranged to operate on an irregular cam surface, which
may be provided on the lever itself or it may be located on the fulcrum itself,
which is an obvious equivalent to the construction shown. The pitman lever is
provided with an irregular cam surface which is arranged to operate upon and
contact with a fulcrum roller mounted, on a stationary shaft journalled in bear-
ings in the frame of the machine. This cam surface may be formed directly on
the under side of the pitman lever, if desired, but I prefer to form it on a re-
movable plate, which plate is secured in a socket provided for it on the pitman
lever by means of screws or other fastening devices. The cam plate is composed
of two sections, the main body of which is bolted or otherwise rigidly, but re-
movably secured to the pitman lever, but without capability of adjustment on
the lever, while the section is both removably and adjustably secured to the
lever, being adjustable vertically or laterally with relation to the pitman lever.
By making this cam surface on a removable plate I am enabled to replace the
same whenever it becomes worn or should it be desired to employ a cam surface
of a different character.
This cam surface. engages the roller, which acts as a fulcrum for the pitman
lever during a portion of its movement and causes the toggle to operate in the
proper manner, to actuate the plungers, giving to the pitman lever and the
plungers a differential movement by reason of its irregular surface which bears
upon the fixed fulcrum-roller, thereby producing the formation of a brick by a
series of compressions on the clay. The upper plunger is almost at its highest
position, and, while the shaft rotates and the cam surface on the pitman-lever
passes forward over the fulcrum-roller, the lower plunger descends into its lower
position in the mold and receives the supply of clay, the subsequent compression
of the clay being accomplished in several successive movements of the plungers,
so that a brick or tile of the proper density and hardness throughout will be
produced.
'
The mold is changed according to the character and width or length of the
brick desired, but, if it is simply desired to vary the thickness of the brick, face
plate of greater or less thickness are secured in a suitable manner on the
plungers, so that the space between said plungers, when they are in the position
where they exert the greatest pressure on the clay, will be greater or less, as
desired. These face-plates may also be changed for different kinds of clay which
may be used, so that the lower plunger will drop to such a position in the mold
as will permit the proper and predetermined quantity of clay to enter the mold.
But in every instance it is desirable that the face-plate on the lower plunger
should lie flush with the mold table during the time that the feed-box is moved
over the mold, to carry a supply of clay into position on the lower plunger, after
which the lower plunger descends into the mold and receives the proper supply
of clay for making a brick.
In order to adjust the plungers in the mold in their proper position as re-
quired by the, thickness of the brick it is desired to make, or according to the
amount of clay required to make the brick, I provide means for lowering or
raising the side bars to the proper position, which adjustment of the side bars
moves the plungers so that they will operate in their proper position. On each
side of the lower portion of the sides, I provide brackets and screw bolts are
, arranged through said brackets and are operated by means of the hand wheels
on their upper ends. The brackets are provided with conical-shaped seats to
receive the bearings, these bearings being located beneath the collars under the
hand wheels. A cross piece is pivotally supported by these bolts and it carries
at or about its centre a stop più upon which a shoe secured in a socket in the
lower portion of the lower cross-head is adapted to rest during a part of the
operation of the machine a rubber cushion being arranged in the socket and
above the shoe to prevent any sudden jars to the mechanism.
It is a well known fact in the art that the quality of clay required for making
a brick of standard weight, that is seven pounds, varies according to the character

page_text: of the clay used, some clays being lighter than others, and therefore requiring
more clay to make a brick which shall have the same density throughout. When
it is desired to adjust the plungers so that they will operate in the proper manner
upon the predetermined quantity of clay, the hand wheels are operated to raise
the cross-piece and stop pin to such a position that, when the side bars have
descended to their lowest position and the shoe is resting on the stop pin, at that
time the lower plunger will be in its lowest position in the mold and supporting
the proper amount of clay.
During the operation of the machine, the side bars are moved vertically by
reason of their connection with the pitman lever through the toggle, but the
stop-pin limits the downward movement of the side bars and plungers, the shoe
engaging therewith and causing the lower plunger to assume the proper position
in the mold for making the brick.
I have a mold provided with four compartments, a corresponding number of
upper and lower plungers being also provided to operate in said compartments,
the face plates are secured to the plungers to contact with the clay, these face
plates being removably secured to the plungers so that they can be easily and
quickly arranged in position. The feed-box operates back and forth across the
mold-table, and it is supplied with clay from a hopper, which is kept filled in
a suitable manner. On the rear portion of the feed-box is an extension, which
closes the lower end of the hopper when the feed-box is projected forward and to
which an adjustable bar T is pivotally secured in a suitable manner. This bar
is connected at its other end to a crank rigidly secured on the rock-shaft. An
arm is secured rigidly on the rock-shaft and it carries a roller which operates
in a cam groove on the gear.
As the gear revolves, the roller running in the cam-groove actuates the rock-
shaft and causes the crank thereon to reciprocate the feed-box back and forth
across the mold-table, this feed-box, in its operation, carrying forward a supply
of clay for one brick, and, at the same time, pushing the completed brick pre-
viously made off of the lower plunger and out of the way of the subsequent
operation of the plungers. The rod may be adjusted to different lengths, and it
may be connected to the crank arm, at different points thereon, to provide for
making bricks or tiles of different lengths, when mold-tables having molds of
different sizes are arranged in the machine.
Το
In the various adjustments relating to the pitman lever which may be necessary
in connection with the operation of my machine, it is obvious that the length
of said lever varies with the adjustment, which will cause the plungers to exert
their pressure in a different manner and in different parts of the mold.
provide for this I prefer to make the cam-plate in sections, one of which sections
is adjustable laterally by means of the bolt which has a threaded connection with
the wedge block and is prevented from endwise movement by means of the pin
operating in a groove, the wedge having a dove-tail connection with the section
of the cam-plate to hold the same in place. Obviously, many other means for
adjusting this section may be provided without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
The section of the cam-plate can be very easily and readily adjusted to con-
form to the length of the pitman-lever. For example, if the pitman-lever is
lengthened by adjustment the cam section is adjusted upward and if the pitman-
lever is shortened by adjustment, the cam-section is adjusted downward, these
adjustments of the cam section being readily accomplished by operating the
screw bolt which operates the wedge to control the movement of the cam section.
By means of these adjustments, the cam-plate will always present such an opera-
tive face as,will produce the proper pressure at the desired time and place.
The lower plunger is constructed in a peculiar manner whereby its operative
face will always be maintained at a proper degree of heat and the steam passages
therein always be free from the accumulation of water of condensation. The
lower plunger is provided with a steam passage which enters the plunger in one

page_text: end thereof and passes around a partition, this partition having three sides and
its top exposed so that the steam entering may pass around and over the partition,
carrying with it all water of condensation to escape through exits.
This plunger is provided also with recesses for the purpose of lightness and
the steam passage therein is arranged in such a way that the steam will keep
the plunger heated uniformly throughout and prevent the accumulation of water
of condensation which is apt to freeze when the plunger is not in use and destroy
the plunger. Each of the plungers is provided with grooves around the lower
edges to permit the escape of air from between the plungers when they are
brought in contact with the clay in the mold.
The operation of my improved apparatus will be generally understood from
the foregoing description, and it may be described as follows;-
The hopper being supplied with a suitable quantity of clay, and the proper
mold-table and mold having been arranged in position and the proper adjust-
ments made, motion is communicated through the medium of the belt-pulley to
the shaft and by means of the gearing described to the crank shaft and the rock
shaft.
As the crank-shaft rotates, the pitman lever is moved backward and forward
and during a part of this movement it bears upon the fulcrum-roller, the opera-
tion of the pitman-lever and the character of the cam-surface being such that
the toggle and side bars will be operated in the proper manner to secure the
desired compression by the plungers. The pitman-lever therefore controls the
operation of the side bars, the toggle and the plungers and the movement of
these parts is caused entirely by the operation of the pitman-lever, which com-
municates to the side bars the proper vertical movement and also straightens
and flexes the toggle at the proper time to secure the desired compression by the
movement of the plungers.
The rock-shaft causes the feed-box to carry a supply of clay on to the face plate
of the lower plunger and the operation of the machine is so timed that the lower
plunger will now descend and carry the proper quantity of clay into the mold,
after which the plungers will be successively operated to press the clay into the
form of a brick, this compression being exerted in the most approved manner,
first by one plunger and then by the other. This differential movement of the
plungers is caused by the irregular surface on the pitman-lever and the con-
struction of this cam-surface and the operations of the different parts are such
that the clay will be compressed to form a brick of even density throughout and
of the standard weight. When the brick has been formed, the forward move-
ment of the feed-box acting to force the completed brick out of position on the
lower plunger and on to the table after which the same operation is repeated.
The various movements described by the plungers, the toggle and the pitman-
lever during one complete operation of the machine are somewhat involved. As
the crank on the crank shaft begins its upward stroke the pitman-lever moves
forward until the concave on the extreme right of the cam-surface engages the
fulcrum-roller during which movement of the pitman-lever the side bars drop,
so that the lower plunger, with the supply of clay thereon, will be carried to its
lowest position in the mold, the feed-box being returned at the same time to its
normal position beneath the hopper. As the crank continues to rise the pitman-
lever is raised off of the fulcrum-roller, the plungers remaining to all intents
and purposes substantially in the same position. When the crank on the crank
shaft nears its highest position the pitman-lever is on its rearward movement
and still out of contact with the fulcrum-roller, the upper plunger at this time
beginning its downward stroke, and, as the crank-shaft passes its highest position
the toggle is brought almost to a dead centre, at which time the upper plunger
is exerting its maximum pressure on the clay on the lower plunger. As the
crank shaft continues its movement, the pitman-lever moves to the right and
brings the toggle to a dead centre, and then breaks it on the right of said centre.
The upper plunger rests upon the stop-block or blocks and as the toggle is

page_text: straightened, the upper plunger being unable to move downward on account of
its engagement with the stop-block, the side bars must move upward carrying
with them the lower plunger, which thus exerts an upward pressure upon the clay
and against the upper plunger. When the toggle passes the dead centre, the
lower plunger remains substantially in the position it assumes while the toggle
is straight, but the upper plunger rises and, as the direction of movement of the
pitman-lever is changed and the toggle is again straightened, the upper plunger
again presses the clay against the lower plunger, the said lower plunger at that
time being slightly raised. During the subsequent movement of the toggle,
both of the plungers rise, but the upper plunger out-travels the lower plunger,
so that the distance between the plungers will widen to enable the feed-box to
move forward and eject the complete brick and carry a further supply of clay
into position on the lower plunger.
It will thus be observed that pressure is exerted by each of the plungers upon
the clay independently of the other plunger to a certain extent, the upper plunger
first compressing the clay on the lower plunger, then the lower plunger rises and
presses the clay against the upper plunger, after which the upper plunger, gives
a final compression of the clay against the lower plunger and, finally, the two
plungers rise together carrying the brick out of the mold. This method of form-
ing the brick is particularly desirable in order to make a brick of the same
density throughout and avoid any soft places in the brick which are apt to occur
from an incomplete or imperfect compression. It is also important in operating
on different kinds of clay, for, in order to make a brick of standard weight, it is
necessary to use more of some kinds of clay than of others, but, when more is
used, the compression is such that a brick of the proper size will be formed.
When it is desired to make bricks of a different thickness, face-plates of the
proper thickness are secured to the plungers so that, when the plungers are in
the position of maximum compression, the distance between the face plates will
be equal to the thickness of the brick.
If a light clay is employed for making bricks or other articles, it will be found
necessary to use a proportionately greater quantity thereof to produce a brick of
standard weight, and in this case the lower plunger must be allowed to drop in
the mold to a greater distance to provide for the increased quantity of clay in
the mold. For this purpose the side bars are adjusted vertically by operating
the screw bolts, which, in this instance, would be turned to lower the cross piece
and thereby carry the stop pin down into the position where it will constitute a
rest for the cross-head and the side bars when they are in the lowest position.
This will permit the lower plunger to operate in a lower position in the mold,
and the wedges are adjusted to cause the pitman-lever to operate in such a
manner, in this new position, caused by the aforesaid adjustment of the side-bars,
that the relation of the plungers to each other will not be changed and each will
exert the same pressure in the same manner on the clay. The wedges can be
adjusted to throw the pitman-lever forward or backward a limited distance and
the plate carrying the cam-surface can be adjusted, if necessary, by means of
a wedge, the bolts which secure said plate to the pitman-lever being arranged in
slots in said lever so that this adjustment can be made.
Both plungers, it will be observed, are adjusted simultaneously in a simple
and expeditious manner, so that the machine may be adjusted to operate on
different kinds of clay without any material loss of time.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my invention which consists
of a sectional mold whose sides may be simultaneously adjusted to maintain the
proper dimensions of the mold space.
A primary object of this part of the invention is to provide a sectional mold,
the walls of the molding space being removable and adapted to be adjusted so
that the proper area and dimensions of the molding space may be preserved after
the parts have been worn, and then planed down and trued in a manner common
in the art. And a further object of the invention is to provide removable sides

page_text: and ends adapted to be assembled to form the molding spaces, and means for
clamping the sides and ends together in a firm and right manner.
The invention may be embodied in a single mold, or a mold comprising more
compartments, each of which is of substantially the same dimensions and con-
structed in the same manner. The mold-table, which may be of any preferred
form and size, the invention not being limited to any particular form of table,
as it can be embodied in tables of various descriptions, is formed in two parts
and has the two sides which are provided with extensions beyond the sides of the
table proper. These sides are of substantially the same form and size and they
constitute the sides of the mold, being located between them. Each compartment
of the mold comprises the sides plates and the ends plates, the said end plates
being located between the sides plates. The ends of the side plates are pro-
vided with tongues which fit in grooves on the inner opposing faces of the mold
side, and the end plates are also provided with tongues which fit in the same
grooves, so that the end plates and side plates comprising the spacing plates of
the mold, will be maintained in their proper relative positions in the mold.
At each end of the mold is an end block which is provided with tongues
adapted to fit and slide in the grooves on the inner faces of the sides, and each
end block is provided with a groove in its outer face having a bevelled vertical
side. A wedge is arranged to operate in the groove in each of the end blocks.
and these wedges are provided with threaded bolts at each end which project
through openings in the extensions and carry the adjusting nuts, which nuts
bear upon the sides of the extensions and are operated to adjust the wedges for
the purpose of tightening the side plates and end plates which form the com-
partments in the mold.
The spacing plates are made of metal, preferably, having smooth faces, and,
as these faces become worn from constant use, the plates may be removed and
planed down or otherwise trued. The plates are then replaced in the mold in
their proper positions, and it will be observed that when the sides and end blocks
of the mold are simultaneously adjusted and tightened by operating the wedges,
the plates will be forced tightly together and the same dimensions of each com-
partment preserved, it being understood that the end plates and the side plates
will be moved inwardly by the operation of the wedges to compensate for the
loss of thickness in the plates when they are trued. The operation of adjustment
of all the spacing plates is simultaneous and it will be observed, that the adjacent
side plates of two compartments abut against each other, and the end plates of
each compartment are arranged between the side plates, so that the movement
and adjustment of all plates in the mold is simultaneous. Of course when the
spacing plates are planed down, or the sizes of the compartments are changed.
the plungers of the brick press must be correspondingly adjusted to register with
the changed position of the compartments or changed to correspond with the.
changed sizes of the compartments.
The wedges are adjusted very easily by operating the nuts and great pressure
can be Brought to bear upon the side plates and end plates by the simultaneous
adjustment of the sides and the end blocks of the mold, this simultaneous adjust-
ment being accomplished by reason of the fact that the nuts bear against the
outer faces of the extensions and the wedges, to which the bolts carrying said
nuts are secured, operate in the grooves and bear against the bevelled vertical side,
the wedges, of course, having correspondingly bevelled faces to bear against the
bevelled end of the end blocks.
By reason of the fact that the adjacent side plates of two adjoining compart-
ments are located back to back, these side plates may be reversed when the opera-
ting faces thereof become worn, so that the inner abutting faces which are
perfectly straight and smooth, may be made the operating faces, thereby saving
time and expense which would ordinarily be required to plane them down in
the manner customary in the art.
In order that brick machines may be used for the purpose of making bricks

page_text: or tiles of different sizes and shapes it is necessary that the mold should be con-
structed in such a manner that it may be readily changed or altered to correspond
with the brick it is intended to produce. With my improved mold it will be
observed that bricks of any size within the limits of the adjustments can be
made by simply inserting the proper sizes and ends for the compartment and if
dies are provided in the mold or on the plungers an ornamental brick may be
made of any size desired. It is obvious that the size of the compartments can be
enlarged or decreased as desired, and in view of the fact that these compartments
are adjustable laterally and longitudinally of the mold-table they can be readily
disposed in their proper position relative to the plungers. As the compartments
are built up side by side and against each other and are adjustable simulta-
neously, the proper positions of the compartment, with relation to each other,
will always be maintained, and independent adjustments of each compartment
are therefore unnecessary.
With this construction, whether a simple or multiple mold is used, the spacing
plates will absolutely limit the movements of the sides and ends of the mold
toward each other and the stopping of the movement of the sides will not prevent
the continuous movement of the ends, nor will the stopping of the movement of
the ends toward each other prevent the continued movement of the sides, toward
each other, until the movement of all the plates is stopped and limited by engage-
ment with the spacing plates. In other words, one of each of the intermediate
pairs of spacing plates might be removed, and the space occupied thereby could
be taken up without adjusting or changing the distance between the sides. So
also, all of the plates might he removed and substituted by either larger or
shorter plates, without any change whatever in the position of the ends of the
mold. All of this would be equally true if the mold were but a single compart-
ment mold for the mold can be made wider or narrower by the use of longer or
shorter transverse spacing plates, without any change whatever in the length of
the mold or the length of the mold might be increased or decreased without any
change whatever in the width of the mold; so also both the length and breadth of
the mold, by the use of the proper spacing plates, may be changed indefinitely
between the maximum and minimum sizes it is possible to produce. All this
comes about. by the adjustability of the sides and the independent adjustability
of the end blocks, which enables the mold to assume any dimensions fixed by the
spacing plates used, and no matter what change in the spacing
plates, (which determines the length and breadth of the mold) 19
made, the mold will always lock tight in any adjusted position, locking one set of
spacing plates just as firmly as the other.
I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in details of
construction of both the machine and the mold hereinbefore described may be
made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the in-
vention, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes and
modifications as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Dated this 7th day of February 1898.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Bricks, Tiles, and the like.
I, JOHN LIDDLE, 154, St. Vincent Street, in the County of the City of 5
Glasgow, North Britain, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-

page_text: tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention comprises certain new and useful improvements in machines
for making bricks, tiles, and the like, and it relates more particularly to that
class of machines in which the clay is pressed between two opposing plungers
having differential movenients to form the brick, which is then discharged.
This invention consists of two important parts, viz; the machine proper and the
mold for use in connection with the machine. While it is desirable to use the
machine and mold together, it will be understood that the machine is capable
of use with other molds, and, likewise, the mold may be used in other machines.
I will first describe the machine without referring to the particular construction
of the mold and follow this with a detailed description of the mold.
In machines of this general character it is desirable to provide for certain
adjustments which can be easily and readily changed to enable the machine to
operate upon clays of different kinds and to make bricks of the same size and
weight or of different sizes and weight, as desired, out of different clays, it being
a well known fact in the art that more of some kinds of clay is necessary to form
standard brick than of others. My invention, therefore, has to deal primarily
with this feature, which necessarily involves important changes in the general
construction of brick machines.
A primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide simple and effective
means for easily and quickly adjusting the plungers for the purpose of making
bricks out of different kinds of clay, which adjustment may be effected without
modifying the action of the plungers on the clay and thereby insuring the forma-
tion of bricks in any desired size and of the proper weight and density. A
further object of the invention, also of primary importance, is to provide positive
and simple means for producing the proper movement of the plungers to effect
the desired compression of the clay, this compression being accomplished during
one complete operation of the machine and comprising several different movements
of the plungers. The invention also has for its object to simplify and improve
the general and detail construction of machines of this character, to promote
their efficiency, to simplify their operation and to enable them to be constructed
and operated inexpensively and with the best results. With these and other ends
in view, the invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement and
combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which,-referring first to Sheets 1 to 8 inclusive.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. Figure 2 is a top plan view of
the machine. Figure 3 is a side view, in section, showing the general construc-
tion and arrangement of the operative mechanism of my improved machine, and
showing the parts in the position which they assume during the first part of the
operation when the feed-box has carried a supply of clay onto the lower plunger
and the upper plunger is about to descend, its position being designated on the
drawing and hereinafter described in this specification as the "1st position."
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view, showing the toggle, the pitman-lever,
the plungers and the feed-box in the "2nd position." Figure 5 is a similar view
showing the same parts in the "3rd position." Figure is also a similar view,
showing the same parts in the “4th position." Figure 7 is a view similar to
Figure 3 and showing the arrangement of the various parts of the machine in
the 5th position." Figure 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the
toggle, the pitman-lever, the plungers and the feed-box in the "6th_position,"
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken through the side bars, the toggle.
the mold and the other parts in the forward part of the machine. Figure 10 is
a detail enlarged sectional view of the end of the pitman-lever, showing the means
for adjusting a part of the cam on said lever. laterally. Figure 11 is a sectional..
view on the line 12-12 of Figure 10. Figure 12 is, a side view of the lower
plunger. Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view of the lower plunger taken
on the line 14-14 of Figure 14. Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view of the
"

page_text: lower plunger taken on the line 15-15 of Figure 13. Figure 15 is an end view
of the lower plunger; and Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view taken on the
line 17-17 of Figure 14.
Referring to the drawings on Sheets 1 to 8 inclusive in which like letters of
reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, the operating mechanism
is supported in a suitable frame comprising the sides A, a top piece A¹ connecting
said sides, a base a and the inclined supports a¹. The particular construction
and arrangement of the frame is not essential and may be varied to comply with
different conditions when desired, but I have shown this particular form as one
well adapted for the purpose. Face plates a¹¹ are secured on the sides A to con-
.stitute guides for the side bars, which operate vertically between the sides of the
frame and are maintained in their proper relative position by the face plates.
as hereinafter referred to are carried by the lower cross-head and the upper
The lower plunger B and the upper plunger B¹ consisting each of a set of four
as hereinafter referred to are carried by the lower cross-head 6 and the upper
cross-head respectively. The lower cross-head is dove-tailed into the lower
plunger, being provided with a tenon C which fits snugly in a mortise C¹ in
the bottom of the plunger, and the upper plunger is dove-tailed into the upper
cross-head, this plunger being provided with a tenon c which fits snugly into the
mortise in the cross-head. By this manner of securing the plungers to the
cross-heads, I am enabled to arrange them quickly in their proper relative
positions, and in such a manner that they will operate properly, it being of great
importance to have the plungers move in a straight vertical line so that they will
enter the mold evenly and properly. Of course it is to be understood that a
larger or smaller number of plungers may be used as may be required.
The lower cross-head b is connected to, and moves with, the vertically movable
side bars D, which operate between the sides A of the frame. Figs. 1, 3 and 9
while the upper crosshead has an independent movement. The plungers and
side bars are operated vertically by means of a toggle which is actuated from a
crank-shaft F suitably connected with said toggle. The lower member E of the
toggle is connected to the shaft e journalled in suitable bearings in the upper
cross-head b¹, and the upper member E¹ of the toggle is connected and carried
by a shaft e journalled in bearings in the upper ends of the side bars. The
members of the toggle are pivotally joined together by means of a pin d, this
pin being the middle pivot pin of the toggle. The lower member of the toggle
is, therefore, connected to the upper plunger, while the upper member of the
toggle is connected to the upper parts of the side bars, whereby the movement
of the side bars control the movement of the upper plunger as well as the move-
ment of the lower plunger, but the movements of these plungers with relation
to each other are differential in their practical operation.
H
The crank shaft F is journalled in suitable bearings in the inclined supports a¹
of the frame, and it has the crank arms f which are connected at their outer
ends by the crank pin f¹. This crank-shaft is operated from the main-shaft G,
which carries a belt-pulley g and a pinion g', said pinion meshing with. a gear
on the drive-shaft h. The drive shaft also carries a pinion ¹, which meshes
with the large gear I on the crank-shaft F. A pitanan-lever J is pivotally
secured to the middle pivot pin d of the toggle, and its rear end is pivotally
secured to the crank pin fl connecting the crank-arms of the crank-shaft F. The
rear end of this pitman-lever is provided with a socket having inclined side
walls, and a box is arranged on the crank pin f¹ and secured in the socket
by means of the plate K, which plate is fastened to the pitman-lever J by means
of bolts or other devices. As hereinafter described, it is desirable that the pitman-
lever J should have a certain adjustment and for this purpose and also to make
a secure connection between the pitman-lever and the pin f¹ I provide wedges & 5
which are arranged between the inclined sides j of the socket and the sides of the
box, and are adjusted and held in place by means of the screws ¹ which operate

page_text: through the plate K, whereby these wedges can be adjusted so as to secure the
pitman-lever on the pin f in its proper position.
When the parts of the machine are re-adjusted, for the purpose of operating
on the different kinds of clay or to make bricks of a different size, it may be
desirable, as a part of this re-adjustment, to change in a greater or less degree
the distance between the crank pin f¹ and the pivot pin d which can be readily
accomplished by moving the wedges k in the proper manner, that is to say,
by tightening one wedge and loosening the other to shift the position of the
box in the socket of the pitman-lever. The effect of this will be to adjust
the operation of the pitman-lever in accordance with the operation of the plunger.
This is an important feature of the invention, not only because it enables the
parts to be adjusted so as to vary the operation of the mechanism as occasion
requires, but also to provide for any possible defects in the construction and
arrangement of these and associated parts of the machine which are liable to
occur in the course of manufacture.
The pitman-lever is arranged to operate on an irregular cam surface, which
may be provided on the lever itself, as shown in Figure 3 and elsewhere, or it may
be located on the fulcrum itself, which is an obvious equivalent to the con-
struction shown. Referring to Figure 3 the pitman-lever is provided with an
irregular cam surface L which is arranged to operate upon and contact with a
fulcrum roller mounted on a shaft journalled in bearings in the frame of the
machine. This cam surface may be formed directly on the underside of the
pitman-lever, if desired; but I prefer to form it on a removable plate M, as shown,
which plate is secured in a socket provided for it on the pitman-lever by means
of screws or other fastening devices. As shown in the drawing, the cam plate is
composed of two sections, the main body M of which is bolted or otherwise rigidly,
but removably, secured to the pitman-lever, but without capability of adjustment
on the lever, while the section M' is both removably and adjustably secured to
the lever, being adjustable vertically or laterally with relation to the pitman-
lever by the means, and for the purpose, described further on (Fig. 10.). By
making this cam surface on a removable plate I am enabled to replace the same
whenever it becomes worn or should it be desired to employ a cam surface of a
different character.
This cam surface engages the roller 1, which acts as a fulcrum for the pitman-
lever J during a portion of its movement and causes the toggle to operate in the
proper manner to actuate the plungers, giving to the pitman-lever and the plungers
à differential movement by reason of its irregular surface which bears upon the
fixed fulcrum-roller, thereby producing the formation of a brick by a series
of compressions on the clay. In Figure 3, the upper plunger is almost at its
highest position, and, while the shaft Frotates and the cam surface L on the
pitman-lever, passes forward over the fulcrum-roller, the lower plunger
descends into its lower position in the mold and receives the supply of clay, the
subsequent compression of the clay being accomplished in several successive
movements of the plungers, so that a brick or tile of the proper density and hard-
ness throughout will be produced.
The mold is changed according to the character and width or length of the brick
desired, but, if it is simply desired to vary the thickness of the brick, face-
plates of greater or less thickness are secured in a suitable manner on the
plungers, so that the space between said plungers, when they are in the position
where they exert the greatest pressure on the clay, will be greater or less, as
desired. These face-plates may also be changed for different kinds of clay which
may be used, so that the lower plunger will drop to such a position in the mold
as will permit the proper and predetermined quantity of clay to enter the mold.
But in every instance it is desirable that the face-plate on the lower plunger should
lie flush with the mold-table during the time that the feed-box is moved over
the mold, as shown in Figure 3, to carry a supply of clay into position on the

page_text: lower plunger, after which the lower plunger descends into the mold and receives
the proper supply of clay for making a brick.
In order to adjust the plungers in the mold in their proper position as required
by the thickness of the brick it is desired to make, or according to the amount of
clay required to make the brick, I provide means for lowering or raising the
side bars D to the proper position, which adjustment of the side bars moves the
plungers so that they will operate in their proper position. On each side of the
lower portion of the sides A, I provide brackets N, and screw-bolts n are arranged
through said brackets and are operated by means of the hand wheels n¹ on their
upper ends. The brackets are provided with conical -shaped seats 0 to receive the
bearings o, these bearings being located beneath the collars o' under the hand
wheels n'. A cross-piece Q is pivotally supported by these bolts », and it carries
at or about its center a stop-pin q, upon which a shoe q¹, secured in a socket in
the lower portion of the lower cross-head b, is adapted to rest during a part of
the operation of the machine, a rubber cushion q" being arranged in the socket
and above the shoe q Figs. 3 and 7 to prevent any sudden jars to the mechanism.
It is a well known fact in the art that the quality of clay required for making a
brick of standard weight, that is seven pounds, varies according to the character
of the clay used, some clays being lighter than others, and, therefore, requiring
more clay to make a brick which shall have the same density throughout. When
it is desired to adjust the plungers so that they will operate in the proper manner
upon the predetermined quantity of clay, the hand wheels are operated to
raise the cross-piece Q and stop pin q to such a position that, when the side bars
have descended to their lowest position and the shoe q' is resting on the stop pin,
at that time the lower plunger will be in its lowest position in the mold and
supporting the proper amount of clay.
During the operation of the machine, the side bars are moved vertically by
reason of their connection with the pitman-lever through the toggle, but the stop-
pin limits the downward movement of the side bars and plungers, the shoe q
engaging therewith and causing the lower plunger to assume the proper position
in the mold for making the brick.
I have shown in these drawings a mold R provided with four compartments,
a corresponding number of upper and lower plungers being also provided to
operate in said compartments, and face-plates are secured to the plungers to
contact with the clay, these face plates being removably secured to the plungers
so that they can be easily and quickly arranged in position. The feed-box S
operates back and forth across the mold-table, and it is supplied with clay from
a hoppers, which is kept filled in a suitable manner. On the rear portion of the
feed-box is an extension s¹, which closes the lower end of the hopper when the
feed-box is projected forward and to which an adjustable bar T is pivotally secured
in a suitable manner. This bar is connected at its other end to a crank t rigidly
secured on the rock-shaft t¹. An arm U is secured rigidly on the rock-shaft
and it carries a roller which operates in a cam-groove on the gear I.
As the gear I revolves, the roller u, running in the cam-groove u, actuates
the rock-shaft and causes the crank t thereon to reciprocate the feed-box back and
forth across the mold-table, this feed-box, in its operation, carrying forward a
supply of clay for one brick, and, at the same time, pushing the completed brick
previously made off of the lower plunger and out of the way of the subsequent
operation of the plungers. The rod T may be adjusted to different lengths,
and it may be connected to the crank arm t, at different points thereon, to provide
for making bricks or tiles of different lengths, when mold-tables having molds
of different sizes are arranged in the machine.
In the various adjustments relating to the pitman-lever which may be necessary
in connection with the operation of my machine, it is obvious that the length of
said lever varies with the adjustment, which will cause the plungers to exert their
pressure in a different manner and in different parts of the mold. To provide
for this I prefer to make the cam-plate M in sections, one of which sections, M³,

page_text: is adjustable laterally by means of the bolt m¹ which has a threaded connection
with the wedge block m, and is prevented from endwise movement by means of
the pine operating in a groove ¹, the wedge m having a dove-tail connection with
the section of the cam-plate to hold the same in place. Obviously, many
other means for adjusting this section may be provided without departing from
the spirit of my invention.
The section M of the cam-plate can be very easily and readily adjusted to
conform to the length of the pitman-lever. For example, if the pitman-lever
is lengthened by adjustment the cam section M¹ is adjusted upward and if the
pitman-lever is shortened by adjustment, the cam-section is adjusted downward,
these adjustments of the cam section being readily accomplished by operating the
screw bolt m which operates the wedge m to control the movement of the cam
section. By means of these adjustments, the cam-plate will always present such
an operative face as will produce the proper pressure at the desired time and
place.
The lower plunger is constructed in a peculiar manner whereby its operative
face will always be maintained at a proper degree of heat and the steam passages
therein always be free from the accumulation of water of condensation. Referring
to Fig. 13 to 17 inclusive, the lower plunger B is provided with a steam passage X
which enters the plunger in one end thereof at and passes around a partition r²,
this partition having three sides and its top exposed so that the steam entering
through may pass around and over the partition, carrying with it all water of
condensation to escape through the exits a.
This plunger is provided also with recesses W for the purpose of lightness and the
steam passage therein is arranged in such a way that the steam will keep the plunger
heated uniformly throughout and prevent the accumulation of water of condensation
which is apt to freeze when the plunger is not in use and destroy the plunger.
Each of the plungers is provided with grooves w around the upper edges to
permit the escape of air from between the plungers when they are brought in
contact with the clay in the mold.
The operation of my improved apparatus will be generally understood from the
foregoing description, and it may be described as follows:
The hoppers being supplied with a suitable quantity of clay, and the proper
mold-table and mold "having been arranged in position and the proper adjustments
made, motion is communicated through the medium of the belt-pulley to the
shaft G, and, by means of the gearing described, to the crank-shaft F and the
rock-shaft #.
As the crank-shaft F rotates, the pitman-lever is moved backward and forward
and during a part of this movement it bears upon the fulcrum-roller 1, the opera-
tion of the pitman-lever and the character of the cam-surface L being such that
the toggle and side bars will be operated in the proper manner to secure the
desired compression by the plungers. The pitman-lever therefore controls the
operation of the side bars, the toggle and the plungers and the movement of these
parts is caused entirely by the operation of the pitman-lever, which communicates
to the side bars the proper vertical movement and also straightens and flexes the
toggle at the proper time to secure the desired compression by the movement
of the plungers.
The rock-shaft causes the feed-box to carry a supply of clay onto the face plate
of the lower plunger B, and the operation of the machine is so timed that the
lower plunger will now descend and carry the proper quantity of clay into the
mold, after which the plungers will be successively operated to press the clay
into the form of a brick, this compression being exerted in the most approved
manner, first by one plunger and then by the other. This differential movement
of the plungers is caused by the irregular surface L on the pitman-lever J, and
the construction of this cami-surface and the operations of the different parts are
such that the clay will be compressed to form a brick of even density throughout
and of the standard weight. When the brick has been formed, the parts resume
f

page_text: the position illustrated in Figure 3, the forward movement of the feed-box acting
to force the completed brick out of position on the lower plunger and onto the
table R, after which the same operation is repeated.
The various movements described by the plungers, the toggle and the pitman-
lever during one complete operation of the machine are somewhat involved and for
the purpose of better explaining them I have illustrated in Figures 3. to 8 inclusive,
the principal positions assumed by these parts during this operation. In
Figure 3 the parts are in the position which they assume after the machine
is started, which I have designated the "1st position," the lower plunger being
arranged flush with the mold-table and the feed-box having carried a supply of
clay onto said plunger. As the crank on the crank-shaft begins its upward stroke
the pitman-lever moves forward as indicated by the arrow until the concave on
the extreme right of the cam surface L engages the fulcrum-roller during which
movement of the pitman-lever the side bars D drop, so that the lower plunger,
with the supply of clay thereon, will be carried to its lowest position in the mold,
the feed-box being returned at the same time to its normal position beneath
the hopper, as shown in the "2nd position in Fig. 4. As the crank continues
to rise the pitman-lever is raised off the fulcrum-roller, as shown in the 3rd
position in Fig. 5, the plungers remaining to all intents and purposes sub-
stantially in the same position as shown in Fig. 4. When the crank on the crank
shaft nears its highest position, as shown in the "4th position" in Fig. 6, the
pitman-lever is on its rearward movement and still out of contact with the
fulcrum-roller, the upper plunger at this time beginning its downward stroke,
and, as the crank-shaft passes its highest position and moves to the "5th position
as shown in Fig. 7, the toggle is brought almost to a dead center, at which time the
upper plunger is exerting its maximum pressure on the clay on the lower plunger.
As the crank-shaft continues its movement, the pitman-lever moves to the right and
brings the toggle to a dead center, and then brakes it on the right of said center.
While the toggle is in the " 5th position," the upper plunger rests upon the stop-block
or blocks and as the toggle is straightened, the upper plunger being unable to
move downward on account of its engagement with the stop-block, the side bars
must move upward carrying with them the lower plunger, which thus exerts
an upward pressure upon the clay and against the upper plunger. When the
toggle passes the dead center, the lower plunger remains substantially in the
position it assumes while the toggle is straight, but the upper plunger rises and,
as the direction of movement of the pitman-lever is changed and the toggle is
again straightened, the upper plunger again presses the clay against the lower
plunger, the said lower plunger at that time being slightly raised. During the
subsequent movement of the toggle, both of the plungers rise, as shown in the
"6th position
in Fig. 8, but the upper plunger out-travels the lower plunger,
so that the distance between the plungers will widen to enable the feed-box to
move forward and eject the complete brick and carry a further supply of clay
into position on the lower plunger.
33
It will thus be observed that pressure is exerted by each of the plungers upon
the clay independently of the other plunger to a certain extent, the upper plunger
first compressing the clay on the lower plunger, then the lower plunger rises and
presses the clay against the upper plunger, after which the upper plunger gives
a final compression of the clay against the lower plunger and, finally, the two
plungers rise together carrying the brick out of the mold. This method of form-
ing the brick is particularly desirable in order to make a brick of the same density
throughout and avoid any soft places in the brick which are apt to occur from
an incomplete or imperfect compression. It is also important in operating on
different kinds of clay, for, in order to make a brick of standard weight, it is
necessary to use more of some kinds of clay than of others, but, when more is used,
the compression is such that a brick of the proper size will be formed.
When it is desired to make bricks of a different thickness, face-plates r¹ of the
proper thickness, are secured to the plungers so that, when the plungers are in

page_text: the position of maximum compression, the distance between the face plates wi
be equal to the thickness of the brick.
If a light clay is employed for making bricks or other articles, it will be found
necessary to use a proportionately greater quantity thereof to produce a brick of
standard weight, and in this case the lower plunger must be allowed to drop in
the mold to a greater distance to provide for the increased quantity of clay in
the mold. For this purpose the side bars are adjusted vertically by operating
the screw bolts n, which, in this instance, would be turned to lower the cross
piece Q and thereby carry the stop pin q down into the position where it will
constitute a rest for the cross-head 6 and the side bars when they are in the lowest
position. This will permit the lower plunger to operate in a lower position in
the mold, and the wedges m and j are adjusted to cause the pitman-lever J to
operate in such a manner, in this new position, caused by the aforesaid adjust-
ment of the side-bars that the relation of the plungers to each other will not
be changed and each will exert the same pressure in the same manner on the
clay.
Both plungers, it will be observed, are adjusted simultaneously in a simple
and expeditious manner, so that the machine may be adjusted to operate on
different kinds of clay without any material loss of time.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my invention which consists
of a sectional mold whose sides may be simultaneously adjusted to maintain the
proper dimensions of the mold space.
A primary object of this part of the invention is to provide a sectional molil,
the walls of the moulding space being removable and adapted to be adjusted so
that the proper area and dimensions of the molding space may be preserved after
the parts have been worn, and then planed down and trued in a manner common
in the art. And a further object of the invention is to provide removable sides
and ends adapted to be assembled to form the molding spaces, and means for
I have illus
clamping the sides and ends together in a firm and rigid manner.
trated my improved mold on Sheet 9 of the drawings, in which
Figure 17 is a top plan view of a mold-table embodying the invention, and
partly in section to show the adjustable means. Figure 18 is a side elevation
of the mold-table. Figure 19 is a sectional view, on the line 3-3 of Figure 17.
Figure 20 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 17. Figure 21
is also a transverse sectional view, taken through the center of the molds on the
line 5-5 of Figure 17. Figure 22 is a perspective view of one of the sides of
the mold.
The invention may be embodied in a single mold, but, for the purposes of
illustrating a common form, I have shown in the drawing a mold comprising
four compartments, each of which is of substantially the same dimension and
constructed in the same manner, as shown. Referring particularly to the draw-
ings, 10 designates the mold-table, which may be of any preferred form and size,
the invention not being limited to any particular form of table, as it can be
embodied in tables of various descriptions. The mold-table is formed in two parts,
as shown in the drawing, and has the two sides 11 which are provided with exten-
sions 12 beyond the sides of the table proper. These sides 11 are of substantially
the same form and size and they constitute the sides of the mold, which is located
between them. Each compartment 13 of the mold comprises the sides plates 14
and the ends plates 15, the said end plates being located between the sides plates.
The ends of the side plates are provided with tongues 16 which fit in grooves 17
on the inner opposing faces of the mold side 11; and the end plates 15 are also
provided with tongues 18 which fit in the same grooves, so that the end plates
and side plates, comprising the spacing plates of the mold, will be maintained
in their proper relative positions in the mold.
At each end of the mold is an end block 19 which is provided with tongues
adapted to fit and slide in the grooves 17 on the inner faces of the sides 11, and
each end block is provided with a groove 20 in its outer face having a bevelled

page_text: vertical side 21. A wedge 22 is arranged to operate in the groove 20 in each
of the end blocks 19, and these wedges are provided with threaded bolts 23 at
each end which project through openings 24 in the extensions 12 and carry
the adjusting nuts 25, which nuts bear upon the sides of the extensions and
are operated to adjust the wedges for the purpose of tightening the side plates
and end plates which form the compartments in the mold.
The spacing plates are made of metal, preferably, having smooth faces, and,
as these faces become worn from constant use, the plates may be removed and
planed down or otherwise trued. The plates are then replaced in the mold in
their proper positions, and it will be observed that when the sides 11 and end
blocks 19 of the mold are simultaneously adjusted and tightened by operating
the wedges, the plates 14, 15, will be forced tightly together and the same
dimensions of each compartment preserved, it being understood that the end
plates 15 and the side plates 14 will be moved. inwardly by the operation of the
wedges to compensate for the loss of thickness in the plates when they are trued.
The operation of adjustment of all the spacing plates is simultaneous and it will
be observed, by referring to the drawings, that the adjacent side plates of two com-
partments abut against each other, and the end plates of each compartment are
arranged between the side plates, so that the movement and adjustment of all
plates in the mold is simultaneous. Of course when the spacing plates 14 and 15
are planed down, or the sizes of the compartments are changed, the plungers of
the brick press must be correspondingly adjusted to register with the changed
position of the compartments or changed to correspond with the changed sizes
of the compartments.
The wedges 22 are adjusted very easily by operating the nuts 25 and great
pressure can be brought to bear, upon the side plates 14 and end plates 15 by
the simultaneous adjustment of the sides 11 and the end blocks 19 of the mold,
this simultaneous adjustment being accomplished by reason of the fact that the
nuts 25 bear against the outer faces of the extensions 12, and the wedges, 22, to
which the bolts 23, carrying said nuts are secured, operate in the grooves and
bear against the bevelled vertical side 21, the wedges, of course, having corre-
spondingly bevelled faces 26 to bear, against the bevelled,sides 21 of the end blocks
By reason of the fact that the adjacent side plates of two adjoining comipart-
ments are located back to back, these side plates may be, reversed when the
operating faces thereof become worn, so that the inner abutting faces which
are perfectly straight and smooth, may be made the operating faces, thereby
saving much time and expense which would ordinarily be required to plane
them down in the manner customary in the art.
In order that brick, machines may be used for the purpose of making bricks
or tiles of different sizes and shapes it is necessary that the mold should be
constructed in such a manner that it may be readily changed or altered to
correspond with the brick it is intended to produce. With my improved mold
it will be observed that bricks of any size within the limits of the adjust-
ments can be made by simply inserting the proper sizes and ends for the
compartment and if dies are provided in the mold or onl the plungers an
ornamental brick may be made of any size desired. It is obvious that the
size of the compartment can be enlarged or decreased as desired, and in view
of the fact that these compartments are adjustable laterally and longitudinally
of the mold-table they can be readily disposed in their proper position relative
to the plungers. As the compartments are built up side by side and against
each other and are adjustable simultaneously, the proper positions of the com-
partment, with relation to each other, will always be maintained, and indepen-
dent adjustments of each compartment are therefore unnecessary.
With this construction, whether a simple or multiple mold is used, the spacing
plates will absolutely limit the movements of the sides and ends of the mold
toward each other and the stopping of the movement of the sides will not
prevent the continuous movement of the ends, nor will the stopping of the

page_text: ...
+
movement of the ends toward each other: prevent the continued 'move-
ment. of the sides toward each other, until the movement of all the plates
is stopped and limited by engagement with the spacing plates. In other words,
referring to Figure 17 of the drawing, one of each of the intermediate pairs
of spacing plates 14 might be removed, and the space occupied thereby could
be taken up without adjusting or changing the distance between the sides 11, 11.
So, also, all of the plates 14 might be removed and substituted by either larger
or shorter plates, without any change whatever in the position of the ends 19
of the mold. All of this would be equally true if the mold were but a single
compartment, mold for the mold can be made wider or narrower by the use of
longer or shorter transverse spacing plates, without any change whatever in
the length of the mold; or the length of the mold might be increased or decreased
without any change whatever in the width of the mold; so also both the length
and breadth of the mold, by the use of the proper spacing plates, may be changed
indefinitely between the maximum and minimum sizes it is possible to produce.
All this comes about by the adjustability of the sides and the independent
adjustability of the end blocks, which enables the mold to assume any dimen-
sions fixed by the spacing plates used, and no matter what change in the spacing
plates, (which determines the length and breadth of the mold) is made; the mold
will always lock tight in any adjusted position, locking one set of spacing
plates just as firmly as the other.
"
22
I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the
details of construction of both the machine and the mold herein before described
may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages
of the invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes
and modifications as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention...
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 a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
working therein, of side bars carrying the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally
secured at one end to the upper ends of the side bars and carrying the upper
plunger at its lower end and a pitman-lever adapted to actuate the toggle and
the side bars and provided with an irregular surfaced cam, a fulcrum on the
frame of the machine to co-act with the cam to communicate to the plungers a
differential movement during the pressing operation, substantially as described.
2. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers working
therein, of means for operating said plungers comprising the side bars carrying
the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally secured to the side bars and carrying the
upper plunger, a crank shaft and means for operating the same, a pitman-lever
connected to the crank shaft and adapted to actuate the toggle and the side
bars, and provided with an irregular surfaced cam, and a fulcrum on the frame
to co-act with the cam to communicate to the plungers a differential movement
during the pressing operation, substantially as described.
1.
3. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers work-
ing therein, of means for operating said plungers comprising the side bars
carrying the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally secured to the side bars and carry-
ing the upper plunger, a crank shaft and means for operating the same, a
fulcrum on the frame, a pitman-lever connected to the crank shaft and the
toggle and adapted to actuate the toggle and the side bars and provided with
an irregular surfaced cam to engage said fulcrum and communicate to the
plungers a differential movement during both the pressing and ejecting opera-
tion of the machine, substantially as described.
4. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers working
therein, of means for operating said plungers comprising the side bars carrying
the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally secured to the side bars and carrying the

page_text: upper plunger, a crank shaft and means for operating the same, a fulcrum on
the frame, and a pitman-lever connected to the crank pin of said crank shaft.
and the middle pivot pin of the toggle and adapted to actuate the toggle and
the side bars and provided with an irregular surfaced cam operating on said
fulcrum during a part of the movement of said pitman-lover to give a differen-
tial movement to the plungers during the pressing operation, substantially as
described.
5. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers working
therein, of means for operating said plungers comprising the side bars carrying
the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally secured to the side bars and carrying the
upper plunger, a crank shaft and means for operating same, a fulcrum roller
on the frame, a pitman-lever pivotally secured to the toggle and said crank
shaft adapted to actuate the toggle and the side bars and provided with an
irregular surfaced cam on its lower side arranged to engage the fulcrum roller
and to give to the plungers a differential movement during the pressing opera-
tion, substantially as described.
6. In a brick press machine, the combination with
working therein, of means for operating said plungers comprising the side bars
a mold and plungers
carrying the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally secured to the side bars and
carrying the upper plunger, a crank shaft and means for operating the same,
a fulcrum roller on the frame, a pitman-lever connected to the middle pivot
pin of the toggle and the crank pin of said crank shaft and operating over
said fulcrum roller to actuate the toggle and the side bars and an irregular
surfaced cam carried by said pitman-lever and arranged to engage the fulcrum
during a part of its movement to give the plungers a differential movement
during the pressing operation, substantially as described.
7. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
working therein, of means for operating said plungers comprising the side
bars carrying the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally secured to the side bars and
carrying the upper plunger, a crank shaft and means for operating the same, a
stationary fulcrum troller on the frame, a pitman-lever pivotally secured to the
toggle and the crank shaft, an irregular surfaced cam on the lower side of said
pitman-lever adapted to co-act with the fulcrum roller and communicate to the
plungers a differential movement during the pressing operation and means for
operating said pitman-lever to actuate the toggle, the side bars and the plungers
simultaneously, substantially as 'described.
8. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
working therein, of side bars, a toggle pivotally secured to the side bars and
carrying the upper plunger, a crank shaft, a fulcrum on the frame, a pitman-
lever connected to the toggle and said crank shaft and provided with an irregular
surfaced cam operating on said fulcrum to communicate to the plungers
a differential movement during the pressing operation, and means for adjusting
said pitman-lever on the crank shaft and said cam on the pitman-lever, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold, upper and lower
plungers working therein, and a toggle connected with and operating one of said
plungers, of a fulcrum on the frame, a pitman-lever connected with and
operating said toggle, a cam plate secured to said pitman-lever and having an
irregular surface adapted to engage the fulcrum to communicate to the plungers
a differential movement during the pressing operation, and a wedge adapted
to maintain said cam plate in its proper position, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
10. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold, upper and lower
plungers working therein and a toggle connected with and operating one of
said plungers, of a fulcrum on the frame, a pitman lever connected with and
operating said toggle, an irregular surfaced cam plate adjustably secured on
the under side of said pitman-lever and adapted to engage the fulcrum to com-

page_text: municate to the plungers a differential movement during the pressing operation,
a wedge adapted to be adjusted to secure said cam plate in its proper position,
and a screw bolt passing through the end of the pitman-lever to operate the
wedge, substantially as and for the purpose described.
11. In a brick pressing machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
working therein, of side bars carrying the lower plunger, a toggle pivotally
secured to said side bars and carrying the upper plunger, means for adjusting
said side bars vertically to adjust the plungers simultaneously, a fulcrum on
the frame, a pitman-lever adapted to operate the toggle and the side bars and
provided with an irregular surfaced cam to engage the fulcrum and give to
the plungers a differential movement during the pressing operation, and means
for adjusting the pitman-lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.
12. In a brick machine, the combination with a mold and plungers working
therein, of side bars, a toggle pivoted to said side bars and carrying the upper
plunger, a fulcrum on the frame, a crank shaft and means for operating the same,
a pitman-lever pivotally connected to the middle pivot pin of the toggle and
adapted to actuate the toggle, said pitman lever having a socket in its rear
end provided with inclined walls, wedges adapted to be secured between the
boxing and the sides of the socket, a cam plate secured on said pitman-lever
and having an irregular surface adapted to engage the fulcrum to communicate
to the plungers a differential movement during the pressing operation and
means for adjusting said cam plate, substantially as described.
13. In a brick. press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
warking therein, of a pitman-lever adapted to actuate the plungers, a sectional
cam carried by said pitman-lever and a fulcrum on the frame of the machine
for said lever and co-operating with said sectional cam to communicate to the
plungers a differential movement during the pressing operation, substantially
as described.
14. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
working therein, of a pitman-lever adapted to actuate the plungers, a sectional
cam carried by said pitman-lever, and a fulcrum on the frame for said lever
and co-operating with said sectional cam to communicate to the plungers a
differential movement during the pressing operation, one part of said cam being
laterally adjustable with relation to the other part, substantially as described.
15. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
working therein, of a pitman-lever adapted to actuate the plungers, a fulcrum
on the frame for said pitman-lever, a sectional cam carried by the pitman-
lever and co-operating with the fulcrum to communicate to the plungers a
differential movement during the pressing operation, and means for adjusting
one part of said cam with relation to the other part, substantially as described.
16. In a brick press machine, the combination with a mold and plungers
working therein, of a pitman-lever adapted to actuate the plungers, a fulcrum
on the frame for said lever, a sectional cam carried by the pitman-lever and
co-operating with the fulcrum to communicate to the plungers a differential
movement during the pressing operation, a wedge and a screw bolt connected
with the wedge adapted to be operated to adjust one part of the cam laterally
with relation to the other part, substantially as described.
a mold, side bars, a
17. In a brick press machine, the combination with
lower plunger carried by the side bars and a toggle pivoted at its upper end to
the side bars and carrying the upper plunger at its lower end, of a fulcrum on
the frame, and a pitman-lever connected to the middle pivot pin of the toggle
and provided with an irregular surfaced cam operating over said fulcrum to
impart movement to the toggle in different directions during the pressing opera-
tion, substantially as described.
18. In a brick press machine, a plunger having a partition therein and a steam
passage arranged on three sides and the back of said partition, substantially
as described.

page_text: 19. In a brick press machine, the plunger having a partition and a, steam
passage arranged on three sides and the back of said partition, said steam pas-
sage having its entrance and exit in the same end of the plunger and in sub-
stantially the same horizontal plane, substantially as described.
20. A sectional mold comprising a pair of adjustable sides, a pair of inde-
pendently adjustable end blocks arranged between said sides, spacing plates
arranged between said sides and end blocks and means for forcing said sides
and end blocks towards each other, substantially as described.
21. A sectional mold comprising a pair of adjustable sides, a pair of inde-
pendently adjustable and blocks arranged between said sides, spacing plates
arranged between said sides and end blocks and means for forcing said sides
and end blocks towards each other, and locking the same in any adjusted
position, substantially as described.
22. A sectional mold comprising a pair of sides, a pair of end blocks adjust-
ably arranged between said sides, spacing plates arranged between said sides
and end blocks, and wedges interposed between, the sides and end blocks for
simultaneously forcing the same together, substantially as described.
23. A sectional mold comprising a pair of sides, a pair of end blocks adjustably
arranged between said sides, spacing plates arranged between said sides and end
blocks, wedges working through and supported in the side and engaging the
end blocks so as to force the same toward each other, screw threaded extensions
on said wedges and nuts working on said extensions for operating the wedges,
substantially as described.
24. A sectional mold, comprising a pair of sides, end blocks arranged between
said sides, means for simultaneously adjusting the sides and end blocks and
spacing plates forming two or more compartments arranged between said sides
and end blocks and simultaneously adjustable laterally, substantially as described.
25. A sectional mold, comprising a pair of sides, end blocks arranged between
said sides, means for simultaneously adjusting the sides and end blocks and
spacing plates forming two or more compartments arranged between the sides
and end blocks and simultaneously adjustable laterally and longitudinally, sub-
stantially as described.
26. A sectional mold, comprising spacing plates forming two or more com-
partments arranged side by side, a pair of sides and end blocks arranged around
said compartments and holding the plates forming the same in their proper
relation to each other, and adjusting devices adapted to draw the sides and force
the end blocks toward each other, respectively, and against the spacing plates,
substantially as described.
27. A sectional mold comprising a pair of sides having end extensions, end
blocks arranged between said sides, and provided with grooves having a bevelled
vertical face, spacing plates arranged between said sides and ends of the molds
to form the compartments, the wedges operating in the grooves in the end
blocks of the mold and against the bevelled sides thereof, and means for moving
said wedges to adjust the sides and ends of the mold simultaneously, substan-
tially as described.
28. A sectional mold, comprising a pair of sides, having end extensions
thereon, grooved end blocks arranged between said sides, spacing plates forming
the compartments between the sides and end blocks of the mold, wedges arranged
to operate in grooves in the end blocks and against the vertical beveled sides
of said grooves, threaded bolts on the ends of said wedges extending through
openings in the extensions on the sides, and the nuts carried by said bolt and
bearing against the outer faces of the sides, substantially as described.
29. A sectional mold, comprising a pair of grooved sides having end exten-
sions thereon, end blocks arranged between said sides and provided with grooves
having a bevelled vertical side, spacing plates provided with tongues arranged
to fit in grooves on the inner faces of said sides, other spacing plates forming
with the first mentioned plates, the mold compartments and provided with

page_text: tongues on their ends to fit in grooves on the inner faces of said sides, other
spacing plates forming with the first mentioned plates, the mold compartments
and provided with tongues on their ends to fit in the grooves in the inner faces
of said sides, the wedges arranged to operate in the grooves in the end blocks
and provided with bevelled sides to engage the bevelled vertical sides of said
grooves, bolts on the ends of said wedges projecting through openings in the
extensions on the sides, and nuts on said bolts adapted to be operated to move
the wedges and adjust the sides and end blocks of the mold simultaneously,
substantially as described.
30. A sectional mold, comprising a pair of grooved sides, end blocks arranged
between said sides, means for adjusting the same simultaneously, spacing plates
provided with tongues on their ends adapted to fit in the grooves on the inner
faces of said sides, spacing plates forming, with the first mentioned plates, the
compartments of the mold and provided with tongues to fit in the grooves in
said sides, the adjacent side plates of two adjoining compartments being arranged
back to back, and end plates of each compartment being arranged between
the side plates of that compartment, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of June 1898.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Patent Agents.